SNAKE AND FROG PRATTLE 245 



still on the complicated lips, while beside it was a huge 

 wolf spider, "tremendous still in death," with head 

 crushed to pulp. One may theorise that the spider 

 invaded the crab's burrow and was promptly evicted; 

 a fight took place for possession of the retreat, resulting 

 in untoned tragedy. Venom and ponderous weapon 

 each had done its work. Each participant had been 

 victorious, each a victim. 



A still more singular bush conflict was witnessed by a 

 friend. He heard, and not without concern, the plead- 

 ing of a frog from the assaults of an enemy, but having far 

 too many of them about the premises decided on non- 

 interference, thinking that the hungry snake would soon 

 silence the clamour. But the cries becoming shriller 

 and more piteous, he investigated, finding among the 

 leaves of a creeper on the verandah a large green 

 Mantis religiosa, too voraciously making a meal off 

 the hind-leg of a little green frog, which it grasped 

 firmly. Almost the whole of the flesh of the limb had 

 been eaten, and the observer was of opinion from the 

 rapacity of the insect that there would have been little 

 left of the screaming frog if he had not interfered. 



