THK VICTOHTAN NATUTt.UJST 27 



the quiverJig motinu of whicli seemed to ronse its cuiiosity, but 

 certainly not its fear. Both rabbits and mice ran to and fro over 

 tlie snakes without showing any sign of fear, and I have seen the 

 Litter occasionally make the snakes move out of their way by 

 nibbling at them. Birds, again, if th<3 snake remains quiet for a 

 short time, will frequently perch upon its back, and prune their 

 feathers, &c , and even try to remain on fffcer the snake has 

 <;ommenced to move. 



The young snakes are born alive, and not hatched out of eggs. 

 I recently received a brood of young Black Snakes which had been : 

 talven out of their mother after her deatli. Tliey were active and 

 lively, and changed their skin about a fortnight after. Black 

 Snakes which were born in captivity a few days ago, changed their 

 skin the day after birth. Snakes usually change their] skin about, 

 €very four months. They shed tlie old skin by first pushing their . 

 heads against any projecting object to loosen the skin from lips and, 

 head, then by still pushing and using their ribs ease it off until the 

 tail is reached. The skin of the tail generally comes off without 

 being reversed, as that of the fore-part usually is. The integument 

 is continued over the eyes, being liere transparent until just before. 

 the change of skin, when it become^ opaqu'^, so that the reptile is 

 then nearly blind. The shed skin is tlms perfect. During the^ 

 sloughing the snake declines all frind, luit is correspondingly hungry 

 .and vigorous wiien the process is CDUipleted. 



Veiumaous snakes destroy their prey by poison. Some, such as 

 the Copper-headed, when they have can.ght and bitten an animal, 

 •cunnnence swallowing it at once, while yet alive, but the T^igeii-, 

 Snake dix^s not touch its prey after it has bitten it until life is quite; 

 extinct. When swallowing, the jaws are iii'^ved alternately. Tliis 

 is possible from the freedom of nntvement which is .obtained by. all 

 the bones of the head being united l^y elastic ligaments', so that the: 

 liead and jaws can stretch considerably, Hen^e also snakes can 

 swallow prey apparently larger- tli:ui th-emselves. Occasionally two 

 snakes Will seize upon tlie same [)rey, and as neitlier will give way^ 

 the larger swallows the lesser, until the latter is compelled to relax 

 its hold on the prey and withdraw from t ha contest.;, I lataljlieard 

 of a case where a large snake had swallowed a smaller one in the 

 manner described, but the latter had gone too far down to be able 

 to recede,' and died, and when the larg\^r snake was opened, it was 

 found to have partially digested its opponent, only the tail remaining 

 uninjured. The L'iger Snakes and Ueath-adders generally prefer 

 mice and rats. Rats do not succumb readily to the poison, and 

 take a long time to die. Lately I saw. a small uati^•e cat bitten 

 severely by three, large Tiger .Snakes, with about live minutes' 

 interval between each bite, and it took an hour and a half to die'. 

 The other snakes prefer frogs as an article of diet. ' ■'..•J';'Mt 



