WILD LIFE IN A SOUTHERN COUNTY. 337 



This is the snake's head, which he holds above the 

 surface, and which vibrates a little from side to side 

 with the exertions of the muscular body. As he 

 comes nearer a slight swell undulates on each side, 

 marking his progress. Snakes never seem to ven- 

 ture so far from shore except when it is perfectly 

 calm. The movement of the body is exactly the 

 same as on land the snake glides over the surface, 

 the bends of its body seeming to act like a screw. 

 They go at a good pace, and with the greatest appar- 

 ent ease. In walking beside the meadow brooks, not 

 everywhere, but in localities where these reptiles are 

 common, every now and then you may see a snake 

 strike off from the shore and swim across, twining 

 in and out the stems of the green flags till he reaches 

 the aquatic grass on the mud and disappears among it. 



One warm summer's day I sat down on the sward 

 under an oak, and leaned my gun against it, intend- 

 ing to watch the movements of a pair of woodpeckers 

 who had young close by. But the drowsy warmth 

 induced slumber, and on waking probably after the 

 lapse of some time I found a snake coiled on the 

 grass under one of my legs. I kept perfectly still, 

 being curious to see what the snake would do. He 

 watched me with his keen eyes as closely as I watched 

 him. So long as there was absolute stillness he re- 

 mained ; the moment I moved, out shot his forked 

 black tongue, and away he went into the ditch as 

 rapidly as possible. 



Some country people say they can ascertain if a 



