66 NATURE* S STORY OF THE YEAR 



so worked its head into the ground as to lower 

 itself, a compact mass, within the soil, which 

 formed a smooth wall or casing for the reptile. 



The snake can bite but not hurt ; he has no 

 poison. Often has a tame one, when attempting 

 to take a newt or a fish in my hand, seized the soft 

 inner part of a finger and begun to try to swallow 

 it. But after a careful removal of the curious and 

 perhaps painful grasp, no further discomfort has 

 been felt, except a little bleeding from the pattern 

 imprinted by the rows of teeth. Harmless to 

 man, the snake is fatal to the mouse, frog, newt, 

 and many a summer insect. The late Professor 

 Marker, F.L.S., found many wasps in each of the 

 common snakes dissected by him. The snake is 

 of course an expert swimmer ; and he can dive 

 equally well. 1 have seen one voluntarily remain 

 under water for twenty minutes. 



Cold-blooded, cruel to its prey, greedy though 

 the snake may be, yet a creature which cannot 

 place itself in an awkward attitude, whose colours 

 are always harmonious and sometimes exquisite, 

 and which seems to enjoy reposing on your hand 

 is not necessarily despicable. And these were 



