NATURAL HISTORY OF SUTTON PARK. 
109 
The Adder is by no means extinct here. I am frequently 
informed of single specimens having been seen. A large 
retriever dog belonging to a friend of mine died last year 
from the effects of a bite of one of them. 
I captured a specimen last spring, in the bogs near Brace- 
bridge Pool; it measured twenty-three inches in length. Old 
residents inform me that the viper used to literally swarm 
on the Coldfield about twenty years back. 
1 he Ringed Snake is less frequently seen, though a few 
occur near Walmley (about three miles from here) in damp 
situations. 
Pine Marten .—A single specimen of this now somewhat 
rare animal was seen by myself in Upper Nut Hurst last 
summer. I was only about four feet off when I first saw 
it asleep in the sunshine on the low branch of an oak. When 
awakened it darted immediately up the tree and hid itself 
from view, and although I waited about lialf-an-hour after¬ 
wards, and continued to throw up stones with the hope of 
seeing it again, I had to turn away disappointed. 
The Squirrel is still not uncommon in the less-frequented 
woods, and any early morning’s walk will reveal it to the 
enquirer. Their nests may be seen any time; the usual 
situations being in the forket of an oak tree, or at the top of 
some thick pine or holly. They usually breed in May, and 
have from three to five young ones at a birth. A nest at the 
top of a thick holly tree that I found last year contained 
three young ones,—the prettiest little creatures in creation. 
The nest measured about twenty inches in length, and nine 
or ten inches thick. The outside was composed of the twigs 
of the pine tree, and the inside lined with the needles of the 
same ; it was oval in shape, and slanting in order to let the 
rain run off; there were two openings, one at each end, which, 
however, are always kept closed. When I touched the top 
the young ones scrambled out and ran down the branches of 
the tree to the ground, uttering squeaks in doing so. I 
captured one of them and took it home, and fed it upon 
bread and milk; it appeared to be very docile, but only sur¬ 
vived a few days. 
Squirrels seldom become dormant in these parts but remain 
lively all the winter through. They are amply provided with 
food, but their numbers seem to be steadily on the decrease. 
The Glow-Worm. —Mr. T. B. Grove informs me that he saw 
one of these insects last summer on a bank in Holly Hurst. I 
believe this is the first recorded in Sutton Park. Perhaps 
Mr. Blatch can inform us. 
