SNAKES. 221 
moment, but as so many Devonshire people do, when expressing 
surprise, drew in his breath with a hissing noise through his 
closed teeth, and presently said, ‘‘ Well, if I had not seen that I 
should never have believed it.”’ 
As I returned home in the evening, I put one of the dead 
Snakes in my pocket for the supper of a great pet of mine, a 
beautiful Indian mongoose. 
The Ringed Snake, especially when young, has a great many 
other enemies besides men and boys, such as various birds, par- 
ticularly the peacock and the barndoor fewl, hedgehogs, cats, 
pigs, and the like. 
T. natrix inhabits every part of Europe, with the exception of 
Ireland and Northern Russia. It is also found in Algeria and 
West Central Asia. Its favourite place of resort during the 
warmer months of the year is the neighbourhood of ponds, 
streams, and damp, undrained land. Here it naturally finds its 
most suitable food. 
This Snake is not so common a Reptile in England as the 
Viper (Vipera berus) and the Viviparous Lizard (Lacerta 
vivipara) ; however, it is by no means rare, though far rarer than 
formerly. 
The Grass Snake can generally be bought, in this country, 
during the spring and suminer months, for sums which range 
from 9d. to 2s. 6d., according to its size and condition. However, 
it is much more interesting for the amateur, if he should have the 
opportunity, to catch his specimens himself than to purchase 
them. Their capture is by no means a difficult matter if he goes 
to work wisely. First of all, before he makes any Snake-hunting 
excursions, he should learn to distinguish the Viper from the 
object of his search. Though the former is a very handsome and 
useful, little Reptile, I think that it ought always to be killed 
‘when met with. For it not seldom injures dogs and cattle by 
biting them, and, of course, it is an extremely serious matter for 
any person to be wounded by this small Snake. The wound, 
however, very rarely indeed proves fatal to a healthy human 
being ; but evil consequences are likely to be felt throughout the 
subsequent life of the unfortunate individual. 
Luckily, Vipers are very nervous little creatures, and do their 
MH) 
