BIRD ENEMIES. 239 



mother once told me that while gathering wild straw- 

 berries she had on one occasion come upon a hird 

 fluttering about the head of a snake as if held there 

 by a spell. On her appearance, the snake lowered its 

 head and made off, and the panting bird flew away. 

 A black snake was killed by a neighbor of mine 

 which had swallowed a full-grown red squirrel, prob- 

 ably captured by the same power of fascination. 



