British Reptiles and Amphibians 



saliva. And when the food is swallowed, the body of 

 the Snake can accommodate itself to its bulk owing to 

 the arrangement of the ribs, which are not joined to a 

 breast-bone on the ventral side. The gullet, too, 

 stretches so that food of good proportions can pass 

 along it. The Snake is not choked during the slow 

 act of swallowing because the breathing apparatus 

 extends over the floor of the mouth nearly to the chin, 

 so that breathing can take place quite easily while food 

 is being swallowed. 



It would be harmful to a man to bolt his food with- 

 out mastication, but a Snake can dispense with the 

 ordinary business of mastication, because its stomach 

 secretes very strong digestive juices. It is well known 

 that Snakes can endure long fasts without discomfort, 

 and this is due to the great bulk of food which they 

 can swallow at a single meal. 



The Adder, or Viper (Viper a berus, Plate IX.). 



Although Adders are by no means limited to any well- 

 defined area, yet there is no doubt that the mountainous 

 regions of northern Britain harbour more of these 

 creatures than any other portion of our country. There 

 is a quietness about such places that is inviting to the 

 Adder and which it can seldom find upon the lower 

 grounds. 



Standing alone upon the higher peaks of the Grampian 

 range when the mid-summer sun glimmers amongst the 

 wiry heather stems, mocking the trickling stream oozing 



40 



