Posted by Roger Wardale on August 12, 2014 at 03:20:01 user RogerW.
In Reply to: The Billies' adder posted by andyb on August 12, 2014 at 01:11:35:
An interesting question!
I am no expert, but there are suggestions that the (fairly common) story is a myth put about by the burners to keep people away from their cabins when empty.
On the other hand Kentish burners reckoned that the adder was their mascot and there was a suggestion that the black adders that turn up in Sussex from time to time came from adders changing their colour to bend in with the blackened earth in Ashdown Forest where there were any number of burners.
There must be much more to learn.