CHAPTER XVII. 
EXAMINATION AND RECORDING OF SPECIMENS. 
Every field naturalist who wishes to make his obser- 
vations of permanent value, or to record them in the 
transactions of a society, should keep careful notes of 
all specimens examined. A definite scheme ought to 
be adopted for each species or class, and the follow- 
ing is the method advocated for keeping records of 
serpents. The figures are taken from the record of 
the most recent adder in my collection. 
Species.— Vipera berus, common adder. 
Date of capture.—March 15, 1901. 
Locality. —N orton, Skenfrith, Monmouthshire. 
Sev—Female. (This is determined by the tail being 
sharply marked off from the body, and its shortness ; 
the general colouring, the throat colour, the belly 
colour, and number of shields.) 
Total length.—254 inches. (Note whether above or 
below the average for the particular locality.) 
Length of tail.—2* inches. 
Head-plates—Show the normal arrangement. (Note 
the size of the parietals and their relation to the 
