HERPETOLOGY OF THE GRAND DUCHY OF BADEN. 257 



in some parts of the country. Its metallic coppery hue — the 

 German popular " Kupfernatter " applies therefore equally to 

 both — as well as the ferocity with which it resents attacks, are 

 no doubt accountable for this confusion. 



On the whole, I should call this species decidedly scarce (in 

 comparison to other countries) in Baden, having not once met 

 with it, even in the most suitable localities. Nusslin* states that 

 it is confined to the Black Forest with the river Murg as the 

 northern boundary of its range, and he mentions the occurrence 

 of the var. prester at Herrenwies, near Baden Baden, t At this 

 latter place many claim to have observed it, but my belief has 

 received a severe shock since a friend has written to say that 

 after much trouble he succeeded in obtaining a "local" adder, 

 which proved, however, to be merely a blindworm. I have 

 myself spent several afternoons in looking for it on the rocks 

 above the town, where it is said to be numerous. 



Towards the eastern side of the Schwarzwald this species 

 becomes more common, being reported as very frequent in the 

 Swabian Hills ; whereas in the entire central Rhine district it is 

 referred to as scarce by all who have paid attention to this point. 

 In the Bavarian Palatinate its presence has not yet been 

 authenticated. 



The colouring of this class of ophidians has been less 

 influenced than that of others by the effects of " age, sex, season 

 and locality " ; terms which are often called into requisition to 

 assist in explaining difficulties. This is partially true of the 

 size, which varies both according to sex, the female being of 

 larger dimensions, and locality, mountainous forms being some- 

 what smaller in size. I should consider it a mistake to attribute 

 its absence in this part of Germany (as has been done) to the 

 mildness of the climate, for on referring to a map, it will appear 

 that its distribution has been determined by social rather than 

 by physical causes, i. e., that it has been less successful in its 

 combat with other species than with the conditions of nature. 



* In ' Grosherzogthum Baden,' 1883. 



f A local paper recorded the capture of a pair in July, 1887, near Wein- 

 heim, as a great rarity in that district. I note this because more recently 

 it has been stated that the north of the Grand Duchy is entirely exempt 

 from this species. Of course this may again be the result of an error of 

 identification. 



ZOOLOGIST. JULY, 1891. X 



