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Life and Immortality. 



upon small animals. The female shows the same regard for 

 her young as other kinds, suffering them, even when three 

 or four inches long, to take shelter in her throat, when she 

 will clumsily turn in search of some place of concealment. 



Water-snakes generally affect water-courses, often hanging 

 from the branches of trees over streams, into which they 

 drop when disturbed. Dr. Bell, an English naturalist of dis- 

 tinction, once tamed a European species of this genus. This 



WATER SNAKE. 

 Swallowing Her Young. 



pet could distinguish him among a crowd, and would crawl 

 to him, passing into his sleeve, where it would curl up for a 

 nap. Every morning found it at the doctor's table for its 

 share of milk. For strangers it had an aversion, flying and 

 hissing at them when any familiarities were attempted. 



Were these grovelling creatures better known, there would 

 be found much in them to admire and commend. They are 

 not the hideous beings they are represented to be. The 



