912 BRITISH SERPENTS. 
not the amount of colour variation we saw in the 
adder, the only variation being in shade, from bright 
copper colour to a darker mahogany shade. The tail 
is very sharply marked off from the body in females, 
and ends in a very fine point. 
Size.—If the colour of this species is distinctive, 
the size is no less so, As in the adder, the average 
length varies somewhat in different localities, but ¢he 
largest small red viper is hardly the length of the 
smallest adult adder. The adult adder averages from 
18 to 25 inches; the small red viper averages from 10 
to 15 inches in length. The most common measure- 
ment is about 12 inches. This is of some practical 
importance, as only last year my attention was drawn 
to a statement in some newspaper correspondence, 
where a writer informed his readers that they need 
never be afraid of the larger snakes in this country, 
as our sole venomous serpent was only about 10 inches 
long. It turned out that his experience had been 
gained in a part of Devonshire where the small red 
viper occurred, and this was the only kind he was 
familiar with. [mention this beeause it is a proof of 
my contention for the validity of the species. 
Venomous, &c.—In places where the small red 
viper is found it is regarded as being particularly 
venomous, and more to be feared than the ordinary 
adder. Whether this is really so or not I cannot say, 
but there is no doubt that it is more pugnacious and 
less timid. On being disturbed it does not seem to 
