NATTER-JACK. 205 



nor could I perceive that they ate any thing which 

 happened to fall in their way, though they retained 

 both their plumpness and activity. At the end of 

 that period, however, they became more reconciled 

 'to their situation, and readily devoured flies and 

 other insects that were placed before them, although 

 it was absolutely necessary that these should be 

 given them alive : indeed, in no instance could they 

 be induced to touch their prey, till it began to move, 

 and to shew signs of preparing to escape. Their 

 manner of seizing their food was very curious. As 

 soon as an insect was thrown down into the cage in 

 which they were kept, the first individual that saw 

 it immediately pricked up his head, turned quickly 

 round, and ran towards it till it got within a certain 

 distance, when it would again stop, crouch down 

 upon its belly with its hind-legs stretched out, and 

 gaze at it with all the silent eagerness of a staunch 

 pointer. In this position it would always remain 

 till its prey began to move ; when, just as the victim 

 was about to make its escape, it would suddenly 

 dart out its tongue, and lick it up with a rapidity 

 too quick for the eye to follow. Sometimes, how- 

 ever, especially if the insect were nimble, it would 

 follow it about the cage for a considerable time 

 before it would attempt to secure it, stopping every 

 now and then to gaze at it, apparently with much 

 delight, for many seconds together. Nor, in its 

 endeavour to seize its food, was it always able to 

 measure its distance with correctness ; often falling 

 short of its aim, and making two or three fruitless 

 attempts, before it was finally secured. When, how- 



