THE ADDER. 191 
under a large stone. | could show yon the exact spot 
on Garway Hill where this oceurred.”—L. Davies, 
High Meadow, Kentchurch, Herefordshire, June 3, 
1898. 
I have many other statements of a similar char- 
acter to these quoted, but no good purpose would be 
served by giving them all. I must, however, quote 
a letter from Tyrrell, the Keeper of the Reptile House 
at the Zoological Gardens, London, which F. G. 
Aflalo has kindly sent me. It runs as follows :— 
“Tn answer to your question with regard to snakes 
swallowing their young, I am aware that it is a 
common opinion that snakes hide their young in this 
manner, but I candidly believe it never happened. I 
have had many kinds of vipers with young ones, and 
have tried several methods of frightening them, but 
have never seen the event take place, or any action 
J. Tyrrell, 
Reptile-Keeper, 27 Lawford Road, Kentish Town, 
July 12, 1900. 
to cause me to believe it even possible.” 
I have no intention of offering a detailed eriticisin 
on these statements: my readers can compare them 
for themselves, and form their own opinion upon their 
relative value. I would only add that the t/alics in 
this chapter are mine, and that they draw attention 
to what I consider the points to be particularly noted. 
Too much stress should not be laid on the very 
