62 



NATURE'S STORY OF THE YEAR 



tainly become gradually larger and its jaw more 

 strong. 



At a spot farther from the high-road than that 

 in which we might expect to find lizard or blind- 



RINGED-SNAKE, WATCHFUL, BUT ALERT. 



worm, where dead brackens have most firmly 

 withstood the winter, or where the bramble-litter 

 is thickest, yet in direct sunshine, lies a small green 

 snake, his lissom length now compactly arranged in 

 many a graceful curv r e, against one of which the 

 broad yellow mark or collar on his neck shows 



