on 
bo 
or 
PENINSULA PROVINCE. 
in this county. At birth the adder is 6 inches long, 
the full-grown males being 24 inches, the adult females 
as much as 27 inches. The ring snake is 7 inches 
long at hatching, attaining a leneth of 3 feet 6 inches 
when full grown. IT have not found the smooth snake.” 
—H. P. Hearder, 26 Westwell Street, Plymouth. 
Mip-Devoy.—* There is a good deal of difference 
of opinion as to which is the more common, the adder 
or the ring snake; probably the latter is. Those who 
live on the hills see the adder most, while those in 
the valleys find the ring snake more common. The 
adder averages just under 2 feet, and the ring snake 
about 30 inches. The small red viper oceurs.”—Dr 
Dale, Tiverton. 
Dartmoor Distrrict.—* The adder is still very 
plentiful here, and is far the most common species. 
During the Easter holidays in 1899 no less than 
nine were secured in the neighbourhood of this house 
without being searched for. The adult adder measures 
about 20 inches long here. In colouring there is 
great variation. Of the nine mentioned, hardly two 
were quite alike, though the dark-brown colouring 
is commonest. The colour seems to depend chiefly 
on locality. he adder found on the red and rich 
land which is so valued in Devon is found to be 
red, and is the same size as those found elsewhere.! 
! This is the most definite example of colour protection I have 
heard of in British adders. —Author. 
