138 DARWINISM AND THE PROBLEMS OF LIFE 



determined by instincts, and they have therefore no 

 period of protected youth. When the little reptiles 

 issue from the eggs, which have been hatched under 

 the action of the sun's rays in a moist place, they have 

 nothing to expect from their parents. All their instincts 

 are rigidly formed from the first ; their mobility is 

 considerable at once, and the young of the viper 

 have their deadly weapon, the poison, from the first 

 day. 



Still, some of the reptiles, especially the lizards, have 

 a certain amount of intelligence. If a caterpillar creeps 

 across their path, they know that the victim cannot fly 

 away quickly, and they observe it with a certain 

 curiosity for some time. Then the head is suddenly 

 lifted up horizontally, and the snout, pointing down- 

 ward, pounces on the prey. It is crushed with rapid 

 movements of the jaws, brought into the right position 

 and swallowed, and the little tongue passes for some 

 time afterwards over the nose, as if it were smacking 

 its lips after the delicacy. A quicker insect, such as 

 a grasshopper, is not watched for some time, but is 

 captured at one swift bound. 



The serpent takes a great deal more trouble in 

 capturing and swallowing his food. The smooth adder 

 seizes its prey, which generally consists of lizards, winds 

 itself quickly round it in three coils, lifts up its head, 

 and opens its jaws wide to swallow the head of the 

 victim. But the lizard also knows the only way in 

 which it can escape, and opens its mouth wide ; if the 

 snake approaches, it tries to seize its lower jaw, and if 

 it gets hold of it will not let it go until the snake 



