FOOD 99 



eat worms and insects, and drink milk. In all cases 

 snakes do not chew their food, but gulp it, often while 

 it is jet alive. It is well known, however, that the 

 great crushing snakes suffocate their prej before swal- 

 lowing it, and that the poisonous kinds kill it first with 

 their fan^s, and then eat it some time after. Their 

 poison causes the flesh to tend rapidly to decay and 

 thus aids in digestion. All the reptiles, unlike the 

 amphibians, have salivary glands, and in the serpents 

 these are large. As snakes begin to swallow their 

 prey these glands are very active, but the snakes do 

 not slime their victims over with the tonoue, as is 

 often reported. They doubtless pass it over their vic- 

 tims for the purpose of examination, for the tongue is 

 their best investigating organ. Perhaps the size of 

 objects swallowed even by the anaconda has been 

 much exaggerated. A sheep or a calf or other small 

 young cattle is about the limit of what they can do in 

 this respect. 



We have noted the special arrangement of teeth 

 in serpents. It is said that some tree-snakes — not 

 poisonous — which capture birds, have an extra long 

 tooth, designed perhaj)s for penetrating through the 

 feathers. 



As to a snake's ability to charm a bird there is 

 much uncertainty and some strong assertions and 

 denials. But it is certain, at least, that the presence 

 of a snake is often so terrorizing to some small crea- 

 tures that they seem unable to move or escape, and 

 that birds do often approach a quiet serpent gradu- 

 ally nearer and nearer till they come within its reach. 



