234 CONFESSIONS OF A BEACHCOMBER 



once it has firmly seized with its teeth its prey, a snake 

 must swallow it whole or burst in the attempt. Nature 

 has denied some species the privilege of rejection. Now the 

 chicks were several sizes too large for the snake, and con- 

 sequently the sides of its mouth, its neck and body, for a 

 length of about 4 inches, had been ripped in the vain 

 endeavour to perform an impossibility. 



A SWALLOWING FEAT 



Everyone knows that small snakes are capable of 

 swallowing comparatively large eggs. But is the way in 

 which the feat is accomplished generally understood ? That 

 is the question. No doubt a big snake glides jauntily to a 

 moderately-sized egg, grips it with its incurved teeth, the 

 jaws loosen and begin their alternating movement, and un- 

 hook themselves at the bases to permit of the eggs passing 

 down the throat. That is easy. But how does a small 

 snake, the neck of which is an inch and a half in circum- 

 ference, swallow whole an egg 5 inches and more in circum- 

 ference? Actual observation enables me to explain. If 

 the snake were to begin the act straightforwardly, the egg, 

 presenting but little resistance, would be continuously 

 pushed away. The snake slides its head and neck over the 

 egg, and pressing downward upon it with that part of its 

 body which for the present purpose may be termed the 

 bosom, prevents it moving. The head turns over as if the 

 snake was preparing for a somersault ; the jaws fit over the 

 end of the egg, the upper below and the lower above, and 

 begin to work. Presently the upper and lower jaws become 

 entirely disassociated, the egg is encompassed and forced 

 down into the throat. The process seems a most distressing 

 one to the snake, for so great is the distension of the flesh 

 tissues and the skin that they become semi-transparent, 

 revealing the colour of the egg. When the egg is safe in 

 the stomach, the shell submits to the action of the gastric 

 juices, and the meal is digested. That is if it is a hen's egg. 

 A porcelain counterfeit, which the most subtle snake cannot 

 distinguish from a natural egg, passes on its way unblemished. 



