^0 Que r it's and Ansxvciis. 



of frogs, which I believe to be their principal food. I have also very fre- 

 quently seen them in pools of water by the road side, with their heads 

 above the surface, watching for their prey; and I have often relieved the 

 poor frog from the fangs of his enemy, having been attracted by his cries 

 to his assistance. Being in search of aquatic plants in a small lake in 

 Upper Canada, in a birch canoe, I was joined by a young Indian whom T 

 was acquainted with. He had come there in search of fish or wild-fowl. 

 He called to me as he approached, and [)ointed out to me a very large 

 black snake, about fifty yards from the shore, which lay coiled up amongst 

 the water-lilies with his head raised about four inches above the surface. 

 I called to the Indian to fire ; he did so, and the snake disappeared under 

 the water, and again made his appearance nearer the shore. I also fired, 

 but with no better success, for we saw no more of him. I enquired of the 

 Indian if the black snakes often went into the water. He replied, " O yes, 

 they go a-fishing." — In Canada I heard many wonderful stories of snakes 

 charming their prey, particularly birds ; but I confess I am myself some- 

 what sceptical on this head. The following, which exactly agreed with my 

 own opinion on the subject, was related to me by a very respectable 

 farmer, who had previously been a true believer in their fascinating 

 qualities. He was walking in a field near his house, when he pei-ceived a 

 bird fluttering above the stump of a tree, uttering an uncommon cry, and 

 by degrees getting nearer to the ground. The farmer's attention being 

 drawn by the uncommon cries and motions of the bird, he walked slowly 

 towards it, but it seemed to take no notice of him, and continued still 

 getting closer to the ground. The farmer at last observed that the bird's 

 attention was drawn towards a large snake, resting against a stump, nearly 

 erect, with its head close to a small hole. The bird (probably encouraged 

 by the presence of the farmer) struck at the snake with his wings, which 

 caused him immediately to drop. On examination, it was found that the 

 bird's nest was within the tree, with five unfledged young ones ; which the 

 snake had been exerting his ingenuity to procure a part of for his dinner. 



I think. Sir, I hear you exclaim, after reading this. What is all this to 

 the purpose about the snakes, without giving their scientific names ? I am 

 sorry to say that I am obliged to plead ignorance on that head, being only 

 acquainted with the local names given to them in America; the most 

 common snake of which country is the garter snake, which I believe 

 seldom attains the size of the common snake of England. The rattle- 

 snake, I think, has not been met with in Lower Canada ; but they are 

 found in considerable quantities in Upper Canada, particularly about Lake 

 Erie. I am, &c.— Thomas Blair. Stamford Hill, Jan. .3. 183L 



The Circumstance of Snakes taking the Water (Vol. III. p. 450.) is to be 

 observed wherever they are common ; and, as far as my observations go, 

 they abound most in those places where there is shallow water, which is 

 favoin-able for their obtaining a due supply of food, such as frogs, &c. — 

 Rusticus. Newark on Trent, Feb. 4^ 1831. 



Hooks detecting Grubs. — A perusal of the Discourse on the Studi/ of Na- 

 tural Philosophy/, by Mr. Herschel (No. 14. of Lardner's Cyclopcedia), will 

 furnish many of your readers with valuable hints for directing their reason 

 and observations to the true and easy solution of what may at first sight 

 seem to be most unaccountable phenomena. I here extract an article for 

 the notice of j'our correspondent L. D. ; he will find it at p. 84. 



" In Captain Head's amusing and vivid description of his journey across 

 the Pampas of South America occurs an anecdote quite in point. His 

 guide one day suddenly stopped him, and, pointing high into the air, cried 

 out * A lion ! ' Surprised at such an exclamation, accompanied with such 

 an act, he turned up his eyes, and with difficulty perceived, at an immea- 

 surable height, a flight of, condors soaring in circles in a particular spot. 

 Beneath that spot, far out of sight of himself or guide, lay the carcass of a 



