CHANNEL PROVINCE. 259 
heaps of dead leaves and other vegetable refuse. It 
appears to possess an instinctive knowledge of these 
heaps, as at a-distance of two or three fields I have 
seen them emerging from the woods and making their 
way in a direct»line for them. The largest ring snake 
I ever met with myself was on Bloxworth Heath, and 
it measured exactly 4 feet 2 inches in length. I have 
a variety found on Bloxworth Heath which I imagine 
to be unique. It is of a uniform pale-whitish colour, 
with a well-defined longitudinal central dorsal pale 
yellow-brown band. No trace of the characteristic 
yellow ring at the back of the head was visible. 
“Smooth snake—This snake was first discovered in 
England by the late Mr Frederick Bond and myself, 
between Ringwood and Wimborne, in 1855. It was 
only recorded as British in 1859. It is not infrequent 
on the Dorsetshire and Hampshire heaths, where it is 
often nmustaken for the adder, and suffers accordingly. 
It is of a browner hue than the common ring snake, 
and so far bears a superficial resemblance to the adder, 
but lacks the dark zigzag line of the latter, and is of 
a more slender form. Its length is from 18 to 25 
inches. 
“ Adder.—It is certainly not abundant, though 
frequent in the Bloxworth district, and is found more 
in the woodlands bordering the heaths than on the 
heaths themselves. Its length is from 18 to 24 
inches.” —‘Teptiles of Dorset, by Rev. O. P. Cam- 
bridge, M.A., F.RS, 
