106 BRITISH REPTILES 
gliding in and among the branches of bushes and 
trees. The perfect ease and rapidity with which they 
will glide over the slender branches must be seen to 
be properly understood. 
At times they may be seen hanging head down- 
wards ; and at the first glance you might think it 
was a dead snake flung up in the branches, so 
apparently lifeless does the creature hang, motionless. 
It is all a sham ; it is only watching for some 
dormouse or bird to come near. Break off one of 
the long rush-stems close at hand, and touch the 
nose of the snake ; it draws its body up in a flash, 
and all you will see afterwards will be a shining 
streak shooting through and over the branches and 
twigs. 
These creatures are frequently represented in 
unnatural positions ; as, for instance, coiled round the 
branches of trees. This is not correct ; they do at 
times coil round objects for the purpose of conceal- 
ment when pursued, or they fit themselves into the 
angles of old masonry or brick-work in the most 
surprising manner ; but when they travel over the 
trees or bushes, they simply glide about like ani- 
mated whip-lashes. Some consider reptiles, the snake 
family especially, to belong to the lowest order of 
created beings ; but this is not the case, and their 
