228 THE VIVARIUM. 
In a Vivarium arranged in the manner just described, I keep 
some varieties of the Common Snake (7. Natrix), and also of the 
Dice Snake (7. fessellatus). Both kinds of Snakes are non-biters 
and good feeders. They will eat readily, not only frogs, alive or 
dead, but also dead minnows and other little fish. I have often 
placed five or six dead minnows in their water, and within five 
minutes all the fish have disappeared. These Snakes will swallow 
the fish in the presence of strangers. 
It is very interesting to watch the Snakes’ graceful movements 
in the water as they dive after minnows either alive or dead. A 
Grass Snake can easily catch an active minnow under water. — It 
generally seizes the fish by the middle, and then swims with it, 
holding it high in the air, out of the water, and at the water’s edge 
swallows the prey. Sometimes a Snake will carry the fish to its 
retreat in the box or under a piece of cork, and eats it in the 
privacy which it finds there. 
By the skilful use of its jaws, the Snake turns the fish round 
until the head is in a suitable position for swallowing. Anyone 
who had never seen the sight would think it impossible that a 
small Snake could hold and turn with its jaws a large and 
struggling minnow or frog. 
T have timed a small Snake, not 2ft. in length, while it caught 
and swallowed two very large minnows. The first fish was seized 
round the body and had disappeared in a minute and a half, then, 
after yawning, as Snakes do immediately after feeding, the 
reptile again entered the bath and caught the second minnow by 
the head and disposed of it in twenty-five seconds. 
One of the reasons why these Snakes will eat readily dead 
minnows is, I think, that the movement of the reptile in the 
water gives motion, and probably to the Snake, the appearance 
of life to the fish. However, I have known a hungry Snake to 
take a dead minnow when not in water. Generally, when one 
Snake begins to feed, the others, its companions, quickly follow 
its example. 
The Grass Snake is also very fond of frogs, which it frequently 
seizes by the hind leg; this it proceeds slowly to swallow, until it 
has doubled forward the other hind leg, and ultimately the un- 
fortunate batrachian disappears from view. If a Snake happens 
