COUNTY AND DISTRICT DISTRIBUTION. 241 
county the length varies greatly, being estimated at 
12 inches in one part and at 27 in another part of 
Devon. The former figure refers in all probability to 
the small red viper. The most usual average over the 
whole area is 18 to 20 inches. 
Tropidonotus natriv.—The ring snake is frequently 
found in Devon and Somerset, but not so often in 
Cornwall. The ordinary length of 2) to 3 feet is 
observed, 
The small red viper occurs in Devon, but Coronella 
wustriaca is not found anywhere in this area. 
II. Channel Province. 
Vipera berus—In the Isle of Wight the adder is 
the most common snake, and is very frequent in all 
this area with the exception of the county of Wilt- 
shire. It is perhaps most common in Mid-Dorset, 
though there are, of course, numbers in the New 
Forest. In Dorset its period of hibernation seems 
shorter than in most places, as it is often found 
active in February. It averages 18 inches over the 
vreater part of this area. 
Tropidonotus natria.—The ring snake is universally 
custributed in the Channel Province, being extremely 
frequent in parts of Wiltshire. In the New Forest 
its proportion in numbers to the adder is estimated 
at 10 to 1. It was from this place that Lord Londes- 
borough obtained his large specimen of 5 feet 8 inches. 
In this forest also the famous Brusher Mills has 
Q 
