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drake swallow a large snake, which had just before gorged itself 

 with a living prey. The drake came on shore to exercise him- 

 self in getting down the snake, which continued for some hours 

 working within the bird's craw; who seemed rather uneasy at its 

 troublesome guest. It is therefore most probable there were three 

 different creatures alive at the same time in this singular con- 

 neclion. The serpent swallows small animals alive without much 

 suction or bruising, and a living frog is frequently found within the 

 snake's stomach. How long the frog continues alive within the 

 serpent, and the serpent within the bird, I cannot say, as the 

 digestive faculties of the stomach may vary in different animals. 

 The ostrich swallows stones, iron, and similar substances; the 

 shark voraciously devours carpenters' tools, pieces of wood, clasp- 

 knives, and thick ropes, that fall from the ship; the peacocks and 

 aquatic fowl of Guzerat prey upon living serpents, and small 

 reptiles of every description. I mentioned this propensity in the 

 falco serpen tarius, or secretary-bird, in the menagerie at the Cape 

 of Good Mope. Barrow relates a very curious circumstance re- 

 specting living serpents in the stomach of one of these birds after 

 its death, which puts the matter beyond all doubt. " An English 

 gentleman, who held an official situation at the Cape of Good 

 Hope, being out on a shooting parly, killed a secretary-bird, which 

 he carried home with the intention of having an accurate drawing 

 made from it. He threw it on the floor of the balcony near the 

 house; where, after it had remained some time, and been examined 

 and tossed about, one of the company observed the head of a 

 large snake pushing open the bill; out of which it speedily 

 crawled, in perfect vigour, and free from any injury. On the suppo- 



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