SNAKES 139 



by Cantor, who, with some justification, compares the 

 notes to those produced by a gently struck tuning-fork. 

 The food of the Rat Snake does not, as its name suggests, 

 consist entirely of rats, for it is partial to birds and frogs, 

 while specimens have been caught in the act of devouring 

 lizards and the soft-shelled turtles of the genus Trionyx. 



The legends connected with this snake are many. In 

 some parts of India, where it is held in some respect, being, 

 in fact, believed to mate with the cobra, it is said, in spite 

 of its long, pointed teeth, to suck the udders of cows. 

 In Ceylon, however, it is considered a very low caste snake, 

 the Singalese believing that once a man has been bitten 

 by it, no other snake will bite him. 



The eggs of the Rat Snake, which number from ten to 

 about twenty to a clutch, are laid in holes in earth ; the 

 young on emerging immediately shift for themselves, 

 and are as bold and ill-tempered as their parents. 



The Dark Green Snake, Zamenis gemonensis, one of the 

 commonest and largest of European snakes, attaining a 

 length of over seven feet, is often known as the Angry 

 Snake, in reference to its particularly savage temper, and 

 the individuals in the Zoological Gardens seldom become 

 at all tame, but continue to strike at the glass of their cages, 

 sometimes for months after their arrival. The upper parts 

 may vary in colour from pale olive to dark greenish brown 

 or black, with yellow spots or longitudinal streaks, which 

 frequently form transverse series on the anterior parts of 

 the body, and regular longitudinal streaks on the tail ; 

 the lower parts are yellow or greenish-white, sometimes 

 uniform, sometimes with dark spots, uniform orange or 

 red in the variety caspius. 



