British Snakes 



53 



BRITISH SNAKES. 



We have in Great Britain only three representatives of 

 the class Reptilia which come under the name of Snake 

 They are the Common Snake, the Smooth Snake and the 

 Viper. In Ireland there are — as the result of events to 

 which we referred in our previous number — none at all. Of 

 the three British Snakes, one, the Smooth Snake, 1 is so rare 

 that it is of interest only to the naturalist. It is met with in 

 Hampshire and Dorset, and perhaps in Scotland, but it is 

 nowhere frequent. It is more nearly allied to the Common 

 Snake than to the Viper, and is quite harmless. It is much 

 smaller than the others. We will concern ourselves for the 

 present only with the other two. The Common Snake 2 is 

 quite harmless and should never be injured by any humane 

 person. The Viper 3 is venomous, and should be destroyed 

 without mercy. It is easy enough to distinguish between the 

 two even when in movement. The Common Snake is always, 

 when full grown, much longer than the Viper. It may 

 measure 4 feet and is usually 3, whilst the Viper is never 

 more than 2. The Common Snake tapers off very gradually 

 at its tail, whilst the Viper has a short tail, which is abruptly 

 constricted at its base. The Viper is usually brown, often 

 deeply coloured, whilst the Snake is much lighter coloured, 

 of a light grey-brown tinged with green. The Common 

 Snake has only spots of black, whilst the Viper is marked 

 down the whole of its back with large zig-zag black lozenges. 

 This is a most important feature, is characteristic at all 

 ages of the animal, and is easily seen under all conditions. 



1 Coronella Icevis, or austriaca. 



2 Tropidonotus natrix, or Natrix vulgaris. 



3 Pelias dents, or Co/uber verns. 



