46 THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
Cobra comes along and swallows the toad. Lastly, man follows 
and captures or kills the Cobra. 
The habits of the same species of snakes differ in accordance 
with their environment. In some localities snakes are never 
seen at night, because the air is invariably cold after sundown. 
In other localities it is just the reverse. 
Finding themselves under strange and abnormal conditions 
when placed in cages, most snakes refuse to eat, although 
they will regularly drink water and actively crawl around. 
I have never succeeded in keeping Schaapstekers, Grass Snakes, 
or Sand Snakes alive for more than six months in ordinary 
cages indoors, or in other situations where there was a lack 
of sunshine. 
It is only occasionally that Boomslangs will take food. The 
majority take no notice if chameleons, lizards, or nests contain- 
ing fresh pigeons’ and other birds’ eggs are placed in their cages. 
Puff Adders will eat a rat on occasion. As likely as not it will 
be disgorged the following day. Frequently they strike and 
kill the rats, but take no further notice of them. Mole Snakes 
invariably refuse all food. House Snakes, Green Water Snakes, 
Brown Water Snakes, and Night Adders eat freely in captivity. 
The House Snakes eat mice; the other three species prefer 
frogs. 
Snakes, if kept in an enclosure twelve or more feet square, 
out in the open air, with suitable cosy corners, nooks, and crannies 
provided, and plenty of fresh water, will live, thrive, and breed. 
In such a large enclosure many species of snakes may be kept 
together. It is true they sometimes swallow each other, but 
that is not of much consequence if they are of common species, 
for they can easily be replaced. The only really aggressive 
snakes are the Cobras, especially those species which grow to a 
large size, such, for instance, as the Cape Cobra (Nava jlava). 
These big fellows are bold, active, and aggressive, and often 
deliberately attack other snakes. However, after being a few 
months in captivity, they calm down, and will not interfere, as 
a rule, with other species of snakes, except the smaller kinds, 
which they attack, overcome, and swallow when hungry. 
The only drawback I have found in keeping a large number 
of different species of snakes in one large enclosure is that if one 
should seize and begin to swallow a toad, etc., another will often 
