260 BRITISH SERPENTS. 
Weymouti District.—* The rine snake is the most 
common snake in the Weymouth district, though I 
have found the adder frequently in other parts of the 
county, restricted, however, to certain localities. I 
have one specimen of the adder preserved which 
measures 15 inches. Probably they are often larger, 
perhaps 18 inches. I have two specimens of the ring 
snake preserved measuring 26 and 31 inches respec- 
tively. The smooth snake occurs oceasionally on the 
heaths.” — Nelson M. Richardson, Montevideo, nr. 
Weymouth. 
“During the last thirteen years I have caught over 
150 adders and more than double that number of ring 
snakes. I have been bitten four times by adders, and 
have the marks of the fangs on my finger now after 
5 
two years. After the first two bites I did not suffer 
much, though the part swelled up and throbbed, but 
I sucked it well and apphed ammonia. 
“T have found the ring snake to be the most com- 
mon, the average length being 30 inches, though of 
course they do occur much larger, the females being 
the loneest. The adder is found up to 2 feet, not 
often larger, and in this species also the female is the 
larger. [have seen the smooth snake, but never caught 
it, though they are caught in the New Forest, Hants. 
“Two adders T had in captivity brought forth 
young, one having eleven, the other nine youne ones. 
I brought six of the young upon milk and the minced 
flesh of rats, 
