SCOTLAND. 345 
to be over 30 inches in length are well worth pres- 
ervation and recording ; but till that is done I must, 
like the majority of naturalists, remain sceptical of 
the yard-long specimens so frequently spoken about. 
—I an, &c., Eon. 
CHAMBERS, 136 GEORGE STREET, 
Eprnsorau, June 21, 1900. 
Sir —With reference to the challenge thrown out 
by “Eoin” in this morning’s ‘Seotsman,’ to produce 
an adder over 28 inches in length, I have to state 
that in 1867, when driving with my father from 
Callander to the Port of Menteith, we captured an 
adder 36 inches in length. We preserved this adder 
in spirits for many years, but ultimately my father 
gave the adder to the late Mr Jenner, of Easter 
Duddingston, and I have no doubt that this adder 
is still in the possession of his legatees.—I am, &e., 
GEORGE L. BEATTIE. 
Tue Incn, Epinpuran, June 21, 1900. 
Sm,—It may interest your readers to know that 
yesterday I found an adder sunning itself on a small 
patch of grassy ground in a moorland district of 
Areyleshire. I did not measure it, but thought it 
was from 18 to 20 inches in length. After dis- 
patching it with my stick, I proceeded to dissect 
it with the view of ascertaining on what it had 
been feeding, and was surprised to find no less than 
three young larks almost fledged, evidently the con- 
