344 BRITISH SERPENTS. 
than in other parts of the country, and some are of 
opinion that the species has a somewhat different 
build) from the English serpent. Comparatively 
little attention has been paid to this subject, and 
it offers a good field of investigation to Scottish 
naturalists, 
Regarding the size of adders in Scotland, the follow- 
ing correspondence appeared in the ‘Scotsman’ in 
the summer of 1900, and is reproduced here by kind 
permission of the editor :— 
SIZE OF THE ADDER. 
Guascow, Jine 20, 1900, 
Sir,—<A statement was current in the press two 
weeks ago that an adder had been killed in Ross-shire 
36 inches long. I have made inquiry regarding it, and 
find that the animal in question was not measured, 
the length being only guessed at. As at this season 
of the year the adder is often seen in suitable 
localities, I showld like to be allowed to repeat, 
what I have over and over again said, that no adder 
has ever been killed in Seotland of the above dimen- 
sions, and to challenge any one to produce a speci- 
men of that length. Last year a correspondent made 
the assertion that they were common in Ross-shire, 
and frequently found a yard or more in length, but 
since my former challenge no one has yet been pro- 
duced. The maximum leneth is about 28 inches, 
and any which are killed and found on measurement 
