COLU BRINE GROUP. 



201 



south-eastern race the collar, although well marked, is divided in the middle, and 

 there is a yellowish streak along each side of the back. 



In England the ringed snake is one of the most common reptiles, inhabiting 

 woods, heaths, and hedges, especially where water is abundant. Although its chief 

 food consists of frogs, it also preys upon voles, mice, young birds, and fish, and is 

 stated occasionally to consume eggs. When a frog is pursued by one of these 

 snakes, it seems paralysed with fear, and, instead of making any effort to escape, 

 sits still and gives vent to a shrill cry never heard at any other time. Generally 

 the frog is seized by the hind-leg, and gradually swallowed by the snake without 

 its position being changed. On this point Bell observes that " when a frog is in 

 the progress of being swallowed in this manner, as soon as the snake's jaws have 

 reached the body, the other hind-leg becomes turned forwards, and as the body 



RINGED SNAKE SEIZING ITS PEEY (I nat. size). 



gradually disappears, the three legs and head are seen standing forwards out of 

 the snake's mouth in a very singular manner. Should the snake, however, have 

 taken the frog by the middle of the body, it invariably turns it by several 

 movements of the jaws, until the head is directed towards the throat of the snake, 

 and it is then swallowed head-foremost." As a rule, the frog remains alive during 

 the swallowing process, and it may sometimes be heard to croak when buried in 

 the stomach of its captor, while instances are on record where a frog has returned 

 after being thus entombed. When swimming, the ringed snake carries its head 

 and neck raised above the surface of the water. The skin, as in the case of other 

 serpents, is shed several times during the year, and is drawn off turned inside out, 

 so that the lenses covering the eye appear concave instead of convex. Previous 

 to changing its coat, the reptile becomes almost if not completely blind, and 

 evidently ill at ease, and the change is accomplished by the old skin bursting at 



