THE GRASS SNAKE. 



51i 



BRiNiE, the members of which are known by the broad band-like plates 

 of the abdomen, the shielded head, the conical tail, and the teeth of 

 both jaws. Some of them are harmless and unfurnished with fangs, 

 whereas some are extremely venomous and are furnished with poison- 

 fangs in the upper jaw. These, however, do not fold down like those 

 of the viper and rattlesnake, but remain perfectly erect. 



Our common Grass Snake, or Ringed Snake, is a good example 

 of these reptiles. 



It is extremely plentiful throughout England, being found in almost 

 every wood, copse, or hedgerow, where it may be seen during the warm 

 months of the year sunning itself on the banks or gently gliding along 

 in search of prey, always, however, betraying itself to the initiated ear 



The Grass Snake or Ringed Snake (Tropidonotus natrix). 



by a peculiar rustling among the herbage. Sometimes it may be de- 

 tected while in the act of creeping up a perpendicular trunk or stem — a 

 feat which it accomplishes, not by a spiral movement, as is generally 

 represented by artists, but by pressing itself firmly against the object, 

 so as to render its body flatter and wider, and crawling up by the 

 movement of the large banded scales of the belly, the body being 

 straight and rigid as a stick, and ascending in a manner that seems 

 almost inexplicable. 



The Ringed Snake is perfectly harmless, having no venomous fangs, 

 and all its teeth being of so small a size that, even if the creature were 

 to snap at the hand, the skin would not be injured. 



The food of the Ringed Snake consists mostly of insects and reptiles, 

 frogs being the favorite prey. I have known snakes to eat the com- 

 mon newt, and in such cases the victim was invariably swallowed head 



2 H 



