SNAKES. 207 
the under parts of their bodies are of a beautiful, pale, glittering 
blue. Altogether, they are real little beauties.” 
Since the above was written these Snakes have been frequently 
born in captivity. The young, when produced in confinement, 
should be fed on very small lizards. This is their natural food. 
Unlike the Common Snake (7. natrix), C. levis prefers dry and 
rather hilly ground, such as moors and commons. In such 
situations as these, its prey (the lizard) abounds. Though 
lizards form the principal food of the Smooth Snake, it 
will occasionally take young and hairless mice, and now 
and then a slow-worm. This Reptile, if properly treated, 
soon becomes very tame, and will sometimes accept food from 
the fingers. I have possessed a specimen which would readily 
take at one meal several small lizards, either alive or dead, 
from the hand; and I have known of others which would eat 
young mice in the same way. 
One naturalist, Dr. Opel, has given in the Zoologist a very 
interesting account of a Smooth Snake of his own-attacking and 
eating a Slow- worm (Angwis fragilis) nearly as large as its captor 
and devourer. 
The Smooth Snakes, to a certain extent, constrict their prey. 
This may readily be seen when C. levis seizes a victim. The 
lizard is generally swallowed head-foremost ; and the small Snake 
shows not a little skill in the way he manages to turn the lizard 
with its jaws, until it is in a position suitable for being swallowed. - 
Dr. Giinther has recorded that a certain Smooth Snake of his 
own got into the habit of eating only the tails of lizards. This 
particular Snake showed a great readiness to profit by experience. 
It had been fed for some time upon viviparous lizards and others 
of similar size. One day, however, the naturalist thought he 
would test the strength of his captive by giving it a large Sand 
Lizard (Lacerta agilis). “The lizard was immediately seized ; 
- but after a long fight, during which the lizard several times 
appeared to be entangled in the writhings of the Snake, always 
managing, however, to free its head, which had been seized by 
the Snake, the latter changed the point of attack, and got hold of 
the tail of the lizard. This, of course, broke off, and was de- 
voured by the Snake. From this time the Snake always seized 
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