218 THE VIVARIUM. 
those who handle it; indeed, so seldom does it attempt to use 
its teeth in self-defence that it would be almost correct to say 
that it never bites. After years of inquiry concerning and ex- 
perience with this Reptile I have only kuown or heard of two 
instances in which it has bitten, viz., (1) a dealer, from whom I 
have obtained a great many Snakes, told me once, as something 
very extraordinary (as it undoubtedly was), that a Common 
Snake had lately seized one of his fingers with its teeth, making a 
tiny wound ; (2) Dr. Stradling has recorded, in the Zoologist (1 
think), that a 7. natrix of his, which was disturbed while meu- 
bating her eggs, had bitten him. 
The Ringed Snake is a very nervous animal, and not only 
hisses loudly when frightened, but also emits an unpleasant 
smell. This latter capability is its chief means of defence. As 
soon as the creature becomes fairly tame, it ceases to makg this 
disagreeable discharge. Notwithstanding that this Reptile is 
absolutely harmless, most men and boys consider it both a duty 
and a pleasure to kill it whenever they have the opportunity. It 
is rather a difficult matter to persuade such people, when they 
have been guilty of this unnecessary cruelty, that they have not 
at all performed a very meritorious action. For imstance, I was 
riding one day to see a parishioner when I noticed, ahead of me, 
a man whom I knew very well, and who was walking by the side 
of his loaded cart. As he came to the foot of a steep hill I saw 
him suddenly leave his charge, run to the side of the hedge, 
strike violently with his whip, and then with its handle throw 
three objects into the road. I, supposing that the man had killed 
some Vipers, rode quickly forward, and as I did so found that he 
had been attacking three fine Ringed Snakes which had been 
basking in the sun. When I saw my dying favourites, I ex- 
claimed: ‘‘Oh, M———, you should not have killed them, they 
are Grass Snakes and not Vipers; they do no one any harm.” 
‘‘Well, sir,’’ he said, as he pointed with his whip to the quivering 
tongue of one of the poor half-dead Reptiles, ‘‘look at its ‘spear’ ; 
that’s what it stings with.” Hereupon I dismounted, and taking 
the Snake up in my hand held it so that its moving tongue could 
just touch my cheek, while I watched the man’s look of astonish- 
ment as he witnessed my action. He did not speak for the 
