332) BRITISH SERPENTS. 
till it quite passes through the body, and then it im- 
mediately hardens, and resembles a glass ring, which 
whoever finds shall prosper in his undertakings. The 
rings thus generated are called Gleinau Nadroeth ; in 
Eneghsh 
Borlase). I have heard of similar stories being told 
, snake-stones ” (‘ Antiquities of Cornwall, by 
in Denbighshire. 
A variety of this superstition is found in the Vale 
of Glamorgan, where the idea is that when the reptiles 
congregate they kill one of their species and weave or 
make on the dead serpent’s tail a small ball. The 
snakes are said to be very fierce during the operation, 
and the victim is supposed to give vent to shrieks of 
agony. Here as elsewhere the snake-stone is regarded 
as a charm, and as bringing good luck to the possessor, 
QO 
toe) 
Moving masses of snakes. — Several corre- 
spondents have told me that they have encountered 
masses of snakes writhing together ina ball. I confess 
I do not quite understand this curious phenomenon 
seen on the open land. It would appear to be only 
explainable on the supposition that they had worked 
themselves out of their hibernating quarters en isse 
when thus encountered, or that a number had got 
together in the pairing season. Whatever the real 
signification of this curious circumstance, it would 
seem to be not very uncommon, as I have had no 
less than four accounts of it being seen in six months. 
— Author. 
