186 Miscellanies. 
Singular as it may appear, but one of the Colubride is found in 
Great Britain,—the Natrix torquata, common snake; which we are 
here told, “inhabits most of the countries of Europe, from Scotland 
and the corresponding latitude of the Continent, to Italy and Sicily.” 
The following curious anecdote is related of the manner in which 
they manage their prey and each other: ‘On placing a frog in a 
large box in which were several snakes, cae! As ane latter instantly 
seized it by one of the hinder legs, and i y afterwards anoth- 
er of the snakes took forcible possession of the fore leg of the oppo- 
site side. Each continued its inroads upon the poor frog’s limbs and 
body, until at length the upper jaws of the two snakes met, and one 
of them in the course of its progress slightly bit the jaw of the other; 
this was retaliated, though evidently without any hostile feeling ; but 
after one or two such accidents, the most powerful of the snakes com- 
menced shaking the other, which still had hold of the frog, with great 
violence, from side to side against the sides of the box. After a few 
moments’ rest, the other returned the attack, and at length, the one 
which had last seized the frog, having a less. firm hold, was shaken off, 
and the victor swallowed the prey in quiet. No sooner was this cu- 
rious contest over, than I put another frog into the box, which was 
at once seized and swallowed by the unsuccessful combatant.” Our 
author, immediately after relating this anecdote, observes: “ The frog 
is generally alive, not only during the process of deglutition, but even 
after it has passed into the stomach. I once saw a very small one 
which had been swallowed by a large snake in my possession, leap, 
again out of the mouth of the latter, which happened to gape, as they 
frequent] y do immediately after takin, g food. And on another occa- 
sion, I heard a frog distinctly utter its peculiar cry several minutes 
after it had been swallowed by the snake.” This reminds us of the 
anecdote related by Harlan,* who, speaking of the tenacity of life ex- 
hibited by the Rana clamata, observes: “A dog of Mr. Bartram’s 
having accidentally swallowed one of these animals, it was observed 
to struggle and cry piteously for at least half an hour, to the great di- 
version of the spectators, and no small confusion of the dog, who was 
at a loss to comprehend this species of intestinal eloquence.” Like 
many of our snakes, the torqguata may be easily tamed; our author 
remarks: “I had one many years since, which knew me from all other 
persons; and when let out of his box, would immediately come to 
me, and crawl under the sleeve of my coat, where he was fond of 
lying perfectly still, and enjoying the warmth. He was accustomed 
aia aa 
a Ener at of several new species of Batracian Reptiles, with observations 
: ee of Frogs. By Richard. Harlan, of Philadelphia.” 
