172 GARTER-SNAKE. 



thing with the appearance of which they are un- 

 familiar, frequently induces them to come within 

 range of his rifle. Towards the afternoon, when we 

 struck the margin of a diminutive water-course 

 flowing to the north, I felt convinced that the little 

 stream was a tributary of the long-looked-for river 

 Missouri. 



While searching for the nest of a wild duck that 

 flushed within a few yards of me, a protracted noise, 

 between a croak and a squeak, attracted my 

 attention. After endeavouring to determine the 

 exact spot from which the sound emanated, I disco- 

 vered that it proceeded from an unfortunate frog 

 which the fates had cast within reach of a large 

 garter-snake. As this variety of serpent is not 

 poisonous, I made it a captive without hesitation, 

 and carried it home. During this operation it never 

 left hold of its prey ; and when it was shaken out 

 of my bag beside the camp-fire, poor froggy had 

 disappeared down its capacious throat. Anxious to 

 become thoroughly conversant with the habits of 

 snakes, I retained the captive for some time. At 

 first he exhibited the greatest disinclination to feed, 

 but at length the cravings of appetite compelled 

 him to take his food. Selecting a large frog, I placed 

 it within the temporary cage in which the serpent 

 was inclosed. 



When the frog became conscious of its proximity 

 to its deadly foe, it appeared to lose all power of 

 making any effort to escape. The serpent ap- 



