OPHIDIA. SERPENTIA. 



49 



COMMON SNAKE (Coluber Natrix). 



on the manners of the whole Order. After observ- 

 ing that it preys on small animals, but especially 

 on frogs, Mr. Bell goes on to say, " I have seen 

 one of these voracious creatures in pursuit of a frog, 

 which appeared perfectly conscious of its approach- 

 ing fate, leaping with less and less power as it found 

 its situation more hopeless and the crisis of its fate 

 approaching, and uttering its peculiar weak cry with 

 more than usual shrillness, until at length it was 

 seized by its pursuer by the hinder leg, and gradu- 

 ally devoured. The manner in which the Snake 

 takes its prey is very curious. If it be a frog, it 

 generally seizes it by the hinder leg, because it is 

 usually taken in pursuit. As soon as this takes 



VOL. II. D 



