OPHIDIA. SERPENTIA. 51 



often witnessed ; and I once saw two Snakes seize 

 upon the same hapless frog. As this circumstance 

 is not unlikely to happen in their native state, it 

 may not be out of place to mention the result. On 

 placing a frog in a large box, in which were several 

 Snakes, one of the latter instantly seized it by one 

 of the hinder legs, and immediately afterwards an- 

 other of the Snakes took forcible possession of the 

 fore-leg of the opposite side. Each continued its 

 inroads upon the poor frog's limb and body, until 

 at length the upper jaws of the two Snakes met, 

 and one of them in the course of its progress slightly 

 bit the jaw of the other. This was retaliated, though 

 evidently without any hostile feeling ; but, after one 

 or two such accidents, the more powerful of the 

 Snakes commenced shaking the other, which still 

 had hold of the frog, with great violence from side to 

 side against the sides of the box. After a few mo- 

 ments' rest, the other returned the attack, and at 

 length the one which had last seized the frog, having 

 a less firm hold, was shaken off, and the victor swal- 

 lowed the prey in quiet. No sooner was this curious 

 contest over, than I put another frog into the box, 

 which was at once seized and swallowed by the 

 unsuccessful combatant. 



" The frog is generally alive not only during the 

 process of swallowing, but even after it has passed 

 into the stomach. I once saw a very small one, 

 which had been swallowed by a large Snake in my 

 possession, leap again out of the mouth of the latter, 

 which happened to gape, as they frequently do, 



D 2 



