. THE SMOOTH SNAKE. 39 



the pressure of a row of pins. Grasp a snake close behind the 

 head so that it cannot turn to inflict a bite ; but to catch it press 

 a stick across its back to arrest its escape and to fetter its move- 

 ments, and then you can take it up by the neck. 



C. Iczvis produces its young alive, so far as has been observed 

 of it in captivity, but some of its foreign relatives lay eggs. Its 

 natural food is lizards, which are plentiful in the same localities 

 where the snake itself is found, namely, on heaths and commons, 

 particularly those in Hampshire and near Poole and Bournemouth. 

 Like other snakes in a hungry fit, if its favourite food is not at 

 hand, it will take what it can get of a convenient size. It is said 

 to partake of a grasshopper now and then, and possibly would 

 not in that case wait to discriminate between a slender saurian 

 and a green arthropod. No doubt young slow-worms are a 

 seasonable dainty, their form and size suiting Coronella' s small 

 mouth and swallowing capacities admirably. Occasions are, 

 albeit, on record when the little snake has brought itself into 

 difficulties through a lack of discrimination. A gentleman had 

 a C. Iczvis and a slow-worm in the same cage, Anguis fragilis^ 

 a very large one, being very nearly as big as its companion. For 

 a time they lived together on excellent terms, Anguis being served 

 with worms and Coronella with small lizards. There came a time, 

 however, when lizards ran short. It was, if I remember rightly, 

 during the winter, and the snake had no food for a long while, 

 nor did it seem to require any. But one fine morning the gentle- 

 man came down to witness a great scuffling in the cage. Coro- 

 nella had the head of the slow-worm in its mouth, the two strug- 

 gling together, Anguis lashing itself about in desperate style. For 

 a time the battle went on with doubtful results, for though 

 Coronella retained its hold, the vigorous gyrations of the captive 

 considerably retarded proceedings ; but by degrees the little jaws 

 advanced as if they had watched their opportunity ; and the per- 

 severing Coronella, after three hours of very hard work, succeeded 

 in swallowing the last inch of its unoffending companion. There 

 are many stories of ill-judged snakes taking inconveniently bulky 

 prey, and even injuring themselves by so doing. As a rule, how- 

 ever, their adjustable jaws and ribs and their expansive skin 

 accommodate themselves to the occasion, and then a long repose 

 ensues. Many days or even weeks may elapse before the snake 

 is inclined to partake of another meal. 



Though I have spoken of this little snake as Coronella Iczvis, 

 because it has become popularly known by that name, M. 

 Boulenger considers it is best entitled to preserve its original 

 name of C. austriaca, " as the oldest and that most generally in 



