2 04 SNAKES. 



a good deal of the posterior portion of the reptile was still 

 disengaged when a bird passed across its tail, and instantly 

 that was captured. All this was done by a sense of feeling 

 only, as the snakes did not once turn their heads. Two of 

 these * four-rayed' snakes were so close together, so rapid in 

 their movements, so excited and eager for their prey, that 

 which of them first began his bird, and which one caught the 

 third, it is impossible to affirm confidently. 



Whenever either of them was in the same position for 

 one quiet minute, a few hurried strokes of the pencil fixed 

 them in my notebook, and of the hasty though faithful 

 sketches thus made, I present three to the reader on the 

 opposite page. 



April 1st, 1 88 1. — After this date nothing more was to be 

 seen ! Henceforth visitors were to be excluded, and the 

 reptiles were to be fed after sunset. 



Now, however painfully and sympathetically we may 

 regard those poor little birds so unceremoniously seized, 

 crushed, and devoured, we can but reverently, and almost 

 with aw^e, admire the astonishing facility with which these 

 limbless, toolless reptiles provide themselves with food. 

 With still deeper awe and reverence we shall admire when 

 we examine their anatomical structure, and see by what 

 marvellous development it has been adapted to their 

 necessities. 



We feel sadly for the finches, it is true ; because finches 

 are often our pets, and are sweet songsters. Were a toad 

 or a rat thus treated, we should care less, perhaps ; because 

 there is as much repugnance towards toads and 'vermin,' as 

 towards snakes. 



