306 



HARMLESSNESS OF SNAKES. 



enveloping the young snake, imperfect, yet the 

 eyes and form sufficiently defined. Snakes must 

 protrude their eggs singly, but probably all at 

 one time, as they preserve no regular disposition of 

 them, but place them in a promiscuous heap. At 

 the time of protrusion they appear to be surround- 

 ed with a clammy substance, which, drying in the 

 air, leaves the mass of eggs united wherever they 

 touch each other. I have heard of forty eggs being 

 found in these deposits ; yet, notwithstanding such 

 provision for multitudes, the snake, generally 

 speaking, is not a very common animal. The 

 kite, the buzzard, and the raven, which prey on it 

 occasionally, are too seldom found greatly to reduce 

 the race ; and its deep retirement in the winter 

 seems to secure it from fatal injuries by the seve- 

 rity of the weather : yet in the warm days of spring, 

 when it awakens from its torpidity and basks upon 

 our sunny banks, the numbers that appear are not 

 proportionate to what might be expected from the 

 number of eggs produced. Few creatures can as- 

 sail it in its dormitory, yet its paucity proves that 

 it is not exempt from mortality and loss. The 

 mole may follow it in its retirement, but would 

 hardly attempt to seize so large an animal. The 

 polecat and the weazel too can enter its runs ; are 

 sufficiently bold and strong to attempt the conquest ; 

 and not improbably in the winter season resort to 

 such food, the poor snake having no power of de- 



