THE SMOOTH SNAKE. 57 



throat to the snout of the lizard, by slow and almost 

 imperceptible degrees. When once it has the lizard's 

 head fairly in its jaws the process of swallowing is 

 .rapid, and the strong protests of the victim are wholly 

 unavailino- as the snake with its tail knotted round 

 the grass is able to overcome all resistance. In this 

 way it will in five or ten minutes entirely dispose of a 

 lizard as lar^e round as itself and two-thirds of its 

 length. After its meal the snake is somewhat sluggish, 

 and disinclined to exert itself; but in about a fort- 

 night it begins to recover its appetite, and by the end 

 of another week it is again actively engaged in its 

 search for food. 



" While in the viper the markings are all remarkably 

 clear and distinct, in the coronella they are mostly 

 blotched and undefined. The colour, too, of the latter 

 is generally a dull slaty grey or a dusty brown, very 

 different from the rich beauty of tint which adorns the 

 viper. It should, moreover, be clearly understood 

 that although the coronella can, and if irritated will, 

 at times bite hard enough to draw blood, it is not 

 venomous, and possesses no fangs properly so called. 

 Its teeth are mostly hardly larger than those of the 

 lizard, and are barely perceptible without careful 

 examination. But situated at the extremities of the 

 jaws, almost in the throat of the snake, are two long 

 fang-like teeth, unconnected (as far as I can determine) 

 ^ith any poison - glands. Presumably they are in- 

 tended to aid the snake in holding its prey, and 



