50 OUR REPTILES. 



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, until the head is directed 

 towards the throat of the snake, and it is then 

 swallowed, head foremost." The frog is not 

 only alive during the above process, but often 

 after it has reached the stomach. Mr. Bell says, 

 " 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 imme- 

 diately after taking food." 



During the present summer a gentleman of 

 our acquaintance saw a lad kill a snake in a 

 wood. It was a very large one, and the boy cut 

 it open along the under surface with his pocket- 

 knife. By this means a full-sized frog was 

 liberated from the stomach of the snake. It was 

 very lively and soon hopped away. Why may 

 not young vipers remain as long with equal ease 

 in the stomach of their parent ? 



The snake is very .fond of the water, and may 

 often be surprised coiled up in sunny weather 

 with its head out enjoying the luxury of a bath. 

 It will dive after the water-newts, especially 

 when rather hungry, bringing them to the shore 

 in its month and devouring them upon dry land. 

 Some kinds of snake have been detected catch- 



