FROGS SNAKES ROE. 197 



I have no doubt that were it not for their numerous 

 enemies, such as birds of prey, crows, ravens, rats, &c., frogs 

 would increase to such a degree as to become a serious 

 nuisance. The snake is another of the frog's devourers. It 

 is a curious, although I cannot venture to say a pleasant 

 sight, to see one of these reptiles attack and swallow a living 

 frog, of a diameter four times as large as its own. After a 

 frog has been pursued for a short time by a snake, it suddenly 

 seems to be fascinated by the bright, sparkling eye of its 

 enemy, and gives up all attempt at escape ; then the snake, 

 with a motion so rapid that the eye cannot keep pace with 

 it, darts on its unhappy prey, generally seizing it by the 

 hind-leg. There now commences a struggle for life and 

 death, the frog clinging pertinaciously to any branch or pro- 

 jection which it can reach with its fore-legs ; but all in vain ; 

 for the snake quietly but surely, by a kind of muscular con- 

 traction, or suction, gradually draws the frog into its mouth, 

 its jaws expanding and stretching in the most extraordinary 

 and inconceivable manner, in order to admit of the dispro- 

 portioned mouthful. 



I have little doubt that many birds and other animals are 

 in reality fascinated by the fixed gaze of a snake, when they 

 once come under the immediate influence of his eye. Their 

 presence of mind and power of escape, or even of moving, 

 seems entirely to desert them when their enemy is near 

 them, and they become so paralyzed with fear, that the 

 snake has nothing to do but to seize them. Any person who 

 has seen one of our common snakes swallow a large frog will 

 readily believe all accounts of deer being swallowed by the 

 giant-serpent of the East. 



Early in December the roebucks lose their horns. I have 

 shot them during the first week of this month with the horns 

 so loose that they have fallen off as the animal was carried 

 home. They are, however, in as good and perhaps even 

 better order for the table in December than at any other 

 time. 



The roe being very much disturbed by woodcutters in 

 most of our woods, keep to the wild, rough extent of 

 cover, too young for the axe, which lies between the upper 

 country and the shore ; there they live in tolerable security, 

 in company with the foxes, black game, and wild fowl which 

 tenant the woods and swamps of that district. Occasionally, 

 while I am woodcock shooting, a roe affords a pleasant variety 



