AD Animal Life 
These snakes are remarkably good swimmers, and, considering their length, far from 
ungraceful. I have frequently cbserved that, on first taking the water, they often 
slide right beneath the surface, quickly reappearing, however, and swimming in a direct 
line for the opposite bank. The wriggling motion common to snakes when moving 
on terra firma seems to be exaggerated when they take to water, for by means of a 
similar wrigelineg motion—though far more rapid in water—the reptile, its elegant 
head always raised some few inches above the surface, propels its whip-like body from 
bank to bank. 
Judging from a pathetic incident which came under my notice a short while ago 
it would seem that snakes recognise, in the blue-tongued lizard, a natural enemy. The 
illustration will testify to the hate these reptiles possess the one for the other. In a 
dark gully beneath the shade of drooping tree-ferns the enraged combatants must have 
fought and struggled till overcome by the poison they freely injected. Thus they lay, 
side by side in the throes of death, mcapable of further enjoying the freedom of 
the bush. 
I have failed to obtain veritable elucidation respecting the matter of accustomed 
antagonism between these two occupants of the bush; also it seems, so far as bush 
knowledge extends, to be a doubtful pomt whether the bite of the blue-tongued 
lizard, or dew lizard, as it is commonly called, is indeed poisonous. By some it is 
averred that its fine but powerful teeth alone inflict the wounds which cause the 
death of its opponents. 
Snakes by no means enjoy entire despotism in the bush, for numbers of these 
reptiles, when in youthful stages, are destroyed by the merry “Laughing Jackass ” 
(great kingfisher). Bush fires, also, and floods are responsible for the annual extermination 
of a great many. Although I have not had the opportunity of proving the following 
statement for myself, I am nevertheless aware that it is an accepted belief with many 
that the porcupine-anteater, when encountering a snake in the vicinity of its hunting- 
ground, will instantly assume a ball-hke shape and roll upon its unfortunate companion, 
with a full array of sharp spines bristling defiance and inflicting fearful wounds. 
BLACK SNAKE TAKING AN EVENING DRINK. 
