336 BRITISH SERPENTS. 
season for an adder to be astir, and, curiously enough, 
there had been a snowstorm on the previous night. 
The average length of adders in this area I should 
put at 18 inches. 
“T have never met with the ring snake in the 
district, nor do I believe that the species is_ so 
common as some state.’—W. Johuson, Burnopfield, 
Newcastle-on-Tyne. 
“The common ring or dunghill snake (as it is 
sometimes called) is much more common than the 
adder, with which it is often confounded, and is found 
on dry and moist heaths and moors. It averages 
from 24 to 50 inches. 
“The adder or viper (called edder or ether in 
Durham) is rare, and found chiefly on stony ground, 
especially on the western moors of the county, in 
Teesdale, Weardale, and Derwentdale, averaging in 
leneth from 20 to 24 inches. 
“The smooth snake does not occur, to my know- 
ledge." —J. W. Fawcett, Satley, Darlington. 
