NOTES FROM THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. 581 



in a row peeping out from under their blanket, and watching 

 with their large round black eyes, but vanishing like a shot 

 at your approach. ' They cut away the moment you go 

 near them,' said the keeper. When they did give us an 

 opportunity of looking at them, we found that one was quite 

 black, and another was speckled with white ; they erected 

 their heads and distended their necks defiantly. Their eyes 

 had a white rim round them, and were bright and undeniably 

 beautiful, even though belonging to a venomous snake. 

 Whether because they were young and inexperienced, or 

 naturally stupid, I could not decide; but of all the snakes 

 none ever went so awkwardly to work in feeding, or put their 

 victims to such unnecessary torture, as did these ridiculous 

 little Najas, The feeding observations were made in August, 

 when they had grown considerably, and had become 

 accustomed to their home. They seemed to bite the prey 

 anywhere without much effect, sometimes retaining it in 

 their mouth, and at other times beginning at once to eat it. 

 One frog was ten minutes from the time It was struck until 

 it was swallowed, and for no reason beyond the feeder's 

 awkwardness. The little snake began at a hind leg, and not 

 being able to get the frog Into Its mouth, put It down and 

 began again at the side, but with no better result, the legs 

 being in the way. Then he gave It up and let the frog go, 

 and presently his comrade struck the half-dead thing and 

 took five minutes to eat It. One might decide from this 

 that frogs were not their natural food ; but with very young 

 sparrows the same mismanagement was observable. The 

 bird was awkwardly bitten on the tip of the wing, and the 

 snake held it helplessly for a quarter of an hour while the 



