THE BLACK SNAKE. 



329 



TOP OF HEAD (A), UNDER PART OF BODY AND 

 SUB-CAUDALS (B), OF COMMON SNAKE. 



When hungry, this Snake moves with great rapidity after its favourite prey, and the frog 

 leaps away quickly enough at first, but soon gives up the struggle. It may seize the frog by the 

 hind leg or quarter, and Bell says that the victim stretches itself out convulsively before it is 

 slowly enclosed within the jaws and gradually swallowed. Sometimes the frog is taken by the 

 Snake so that it leaves three limbs out of the mouth, after the body has disappeared, but they 

 gradually move in and down, and the body of the Snake becomes so much the larger as the food 

 moves into the stomach. The author just quoted once saw a frog which had been swallowed by an 

 unusually large Snake, leap out of the mouth of the latter which happened to gape, as they frequently 

 do immediately after taking food. And on another 

 occasion he heard a frog croaking several minutes 

 after it had been swallowed. In taking lizards and 

 birds the Snake swallows them head first. After 

 a meal the Snake remains inactive for many days, and 

 does not seek a fresh meal until the former one 

 has digested. This Snake is, of course, not venomous, 

 and its little bite does no harm to man or child. 

 They change their skins twice or more in the summer, 

 according to the temperature of the air, and the 

 rapidity of growth. This Snake is found in most 

 of the countries of Europe, from Scotland and 

 the corresponding latitude of the Continent to Italy 

 and Sicily. Mr. Bell says that not only is the 

 Common Snake not a native of Ireland, but at- 

 tempts to introduce it have failed, not from any 

 peculiarity of the climate, or any sacredness of the beautiful green island, but rather owing to the 

 prejudices of the inhabitants, which led to their destruction directly they were introduced artificially. 

 The genus has an immense range, and the Moccasin Snake, Garter and Ribbon Snakes, are 

 well known in North America. The Hog-nosed Snakes of America (genus Heterodon) and of 

 Madagascar belong to this sub-family. 



SUB-FAMILY COLUBRIN^. 



The True Colubrides sub-family Colubrinse afford, according to Giinther, the most perfect 

 examples of the innocuous Snake, and they are not characterised by the excessive development of 

 some particular organ, but by the fairness of the proportions of all parts. They are Land Snakes, but 

 they swim well when driven into the water, and they climb in search of food. The genus Coluber is 

 almost world wide, being found in North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. The Schlangenbad 

 Snakes belong to this genus, and the species was sacred to ^Esculapius. 



The Snakes of the genus Compsosoma, like those just mentioned, have the maxillary teeth equal 

 in length, and are Indian, the genus Spilotes being their American representative. 



The Black Snake* is slender, with smooth lustrous scales. It is black above and 

 blackish-ashy below, with a white throat, and is common in North America. It grows to a con- 

 siderable size, and is a most active and bold Snake, possessing, moreover, great powers of constriction. 

 Hunting after small birds, it climbs trees easily and robs their nests. In the "West it is a persistent 

 enemy of the Rattlesnakes. It hunts them, and boldly seizes them, enveloping their bodies in its con- 

 stricting folds. It is sometimes included in the genus Coryphodon, which has species in America, 

 Africa, and the East Indies. The Pantherine Snake t of the Brazils is one of its species. 



The Indian Bat Snake J belongs to the group, and is very common on the continent of India 

 and Ceylon. It is scarcer in the Archipelago and in the Himalayas, which it ascends to 5,240 feet 

 above the level of the sea. It is a powerful Snake, attaining to the length of seven feet, and its food 

 consists of mammals, birds, and frogs. It frequently enters dwellings in search of mice, rats, and 

 young fowls, and is of fierce habits, always ready to bite, and they are not to be tamed readily. 



Bascanium constrictor. 



t Coryphodon panther inus. 



Ptyas mucoxus. 



