The Zoologist— May, 1869. 1655 



aiistriaca [Coluber austiiacus], five or six years ago, in June, near 

 Ringwood, Hants, when I was after Eulepia cribrum : I tliought at 

 the time I had something new, but, not taking much interest in the 

 reptiles, it was put into spirits and forgotten until I saw Dr. Gray's 

 notice in the ' Zoologist.' I have sent the specimen to the British 

 Museum, so that any one may see it. If this species always accom- 

 panies the Sand Lizard {Lacerta Slirpium), it may possibly be found 

 nearer London, as I have found the Sand Lizard at Weybridge, 

 Snrrey." — Frederick Bond, in ' Zoologist^ p. 6787. 



This communication was afterwards supplemented by a third from 

 Dr. Blaclimore, who found not only our three British Snakes, but also 

 our two British Lizards, within the compass of fifty yards, at Mr. 

 Bond's Bournemouth Station. He took two specimens of the Lizard 

 Snake home, and kindly sent me the following notice of their pro- 

 ceedings : — 



" My friends, the Smooth Snakes, when first caught, hiss and bite 

 freely, but soon release their hold ; unlike the ringed snake, they do 

 not emit any disgusting secretion when irritated; their voice, if I may 

 use the term, is a difierent lone, being softer and more feeble than 

 either that of the adder or common snake ; they are also far less shy 

 and more easily tamed than the common snake. On the second day- 

 after the capture I procured three full-sized viviparous lizards, and 

 placed them in the glass jar with the snake : it immediately became 

 excited, and in a iew minutes seized one of the lizards a little in front 

 of the hiud legs : the lizard was perfectly undaunted by this pro- 

 cedure, and returned the compliment by turning and seizing with its 

 mouth a small piece of the skin about the middle of the snake's body. 

 The snake, after twisting in every direction, shifted its hold and bit 

 the lizard across the middle of the body, and finally set to work at the 

 head, gnawing it like a dog does a bone, but still, in spite of this, the 

 lizard held firmly on. This contest lasted for more than ten minutes, 

 and then the snake seemed to consider it a bad job, and ceased biting 

 the lizard, which, having gained a victory, soon let go its hold and ran 

 away : the poor lizard had, however, suffered most in the conflict, and 

 died the next day. The snake now turned its attention to another of 

 the lizards, and this lime seized it by the root of the tail, which of 

 course came off, and was quickly swallowed : barely had the tip dis- 

 appeared from sight, before the snake suddenly caught the tailless 

 lizard by the head, and, by the usual slow process commenced gorging 

 its prey — an operation that took exactly sixteen minutes by my watch. 



