THE SMOOTH SNAKE. 61 



if tailless lizards were put to him, would he attempt 

 to devour them."* 



Still more recently Dr. Opel has contributed to 

 our knowledge of the habits of this snake, especially 

 when under confinement.t From his observations 

 it would appear that the ground colour for the six 

 or seven days succeeding " sloughing " is of a 

 beautiful steel-blue, which from that time gradually 

 fades, until at last it settles into a dirty brownish - 

 yellow. One of the specimens on which Dr. Opel's 

 observations were made was captured by him in the 

 Fiirstensteiner (xrund, near Salzbrunn, in Silesia, 

 and carried to Dresden closely packed in a tin case. 

 After a journey of eight days in this manner, it was 

 in good health, and gave no signs of exhaustion. 

 Minute particulars are given of three separate 

 " sloughings," which took place during one year in 

 the months of June, July, and August ; but he adds 

 there can be no doubt that, in the wild state, the 

 first sloughing commences in April. " Immediately 

 upon losing its skin follows a desire for food ; at the 

 same time the prisoner makes numerous attempts 

 to escape, and is altogether restless and excited, 

 though at other times it lies quietly in a corner of 

 its cage." After alluding to the fact that it is of 



* The Field, September 13th, 1862 

 ■f The Zoologist, p. 9505. 



