SNAKES. 229 
to take a frog by the middle of the body, it will probably turn its 
prey round until the head is in its mouth, and thus the batrachian 
is swallowed head foremost. I tind that Common Snakes, when 
they have been accustomed to feed upon minnows, prefer them to 
frogs. The fish are certainly the easier to swallow. One must 
conclude, I think, after having witnessed a feat of deglutition on 
the part of the Snake, that the act was not conducive to pleasure 
of any sort; but, probably, instead, to something like pain, or at 
any rate, discomfort. And I believe, therefore, that most Snakes, 
as a rule, prefer a small mouthful to a large. 
One often reads that Ringed Snakes eat the eggs of small birds. 
This I very much doubt, for I have never, by any means, been 
able to persuade one of these reptiles to swallow an egg. The 
chief food of these Ophidians consists, undoubtedly, of frogs, 
newts, and small tish. They will eat, if they cannot get any- 
thing they prefer better, young and half-grown toads. Old toads 
disagree with them. The Ringed Snake does not care much for 
young mice or rats, and will only very rarely eat them. I have 
never known it to swallow a young bird, or to drink milk when 
it could get water. 
Sometimes this Snake (Zvropidonotus natrix, Fig. 64, p. 219) 
will swallow while under water a minnow, roach, or other 
small fish ; and sometimes it will take prey of this kind tail fore-~ 
most. Under the latter circumstances the act of deglutition 
is a difficult one because the fins of the fish hook over the 
jaws of the Snake and serve as an impediment. In this case 
there is a good opportunity of witnessing the protrusion of 
the glottis. 
Minnows (Leuciscus phoxinus) can generally be bought in 
towns very cheaply, and as they are very hardy little fish, they 
may easily be kept alive for a long time. They can also be 
caught by those who live in the country, by means of the net, to 
which the fish may be attracted by a piece of red braid tied to or | 
near the centre. These lively little creatures are to be taken, too, 
with a rod and line. The hook, of course, must be very small, 
and baited with worm, paste, or artificial fly. _Minnows may also 
be procured by means of glass traps sold for the purpose, and by 
snaring them. Care must be taken not to give the Snakes either 
