28 THE VICTORIAN NATURALIST. 



All snakes commence swallowing their prey head first, and seem 

 to use their tongues as a feeler to help them to discover where the 

 head is. The tongue, from its quick quivering motion, has always 

 been one of tlie most interesting parts of a snake, and I think it is 

 used in this way chiefly as an organ of touch, as you frequently 

 See them feeling tlie victim over the better to ascertain its position. 

 There is a copious flow of mucus, but the tongue is not employed to 

 cover the prey with this fluid, as has been supposed. During 

 deglutition, the glottis is sometimes seen to protrude a quarter af an 

 inch from the mouth, so that the animal can breathe freely during 

 the operation. The hiss is caused by the action of the expired air 

 on the margin of the glottis. 



They will only feed in warm weather, and if it becomes cold or 

 dull during sum ner, they refuse to eat until the sun resumes its 

 sway. They hibernate during winter in hollow logs, under stones, 

 or in holes made by other animals, as they do not burrow themselves. 



When they drink they keep tlieir mouths just belowthe level of the 

 water, taking up the liquid by suction. They also often dip their 

 tongues in the water, but not to assist in drinking. When tlie 

 mouth is closed, the tongue protrudes through a small opening in 

 the upper lip a1 the point of the muzzle, which part is free from 

 teeth, and it is drawn back into a sheath on the floor of the mouth 

 for protection while the shake is feeding. 



Snakes shed their teeth, new ones being rapidly produced. There 

 are always a number of immature fangs behind the two in use, and 

 if these are destroyed by any accident, another pair will be fully 

 developed and ready for use in about six days. The point of the 

 fang is extremely fine and solid, the tooth being perforated in its 

 lower three-fourths. The channel is enamelled. The fangs of all 

 our snakes are permanently erect, and when the mouth is closed, fit 

 into a depression in the lower jaw. The jaws do not close on each 

 other, but also fit into depressions. 



If frightened during a meal, snakes sometimes disgorge. I once 

 saw a Tiger Snake kill and swahow five mice in succession. Finding 

 that they were more than could be managed, it retained only three. 

 The digestion is good, and probably assisted by the venom injected, 

 as it has been shown recently that it possesses peptic qualities. 



It is very difficult to draw conclusions as to the relative power of 

 the venom of different snakes, as so many causes exist which affect 

 the time the poison takes to act. In cold weather the reptiles are 

 nearly dormant ; while changing the skin they are sluggish ; the 

 poison-glands may be exhausted by previous bites ; or the animal 



