340 Wild Life ina Southern County. 
reaches the aquatic grass on the mud and disappears 
among it. 
One warm summer’s day I sat down on the sward 
under an oak, and leaned my gun against it, intending 
to watch the movements of a pair of woodpeckers 
who had young close by. But the drowsy warmth 
induced slumber, and on waking—probably after the 
lapse of some time—I found a snake coiled on the 
grass under one of my legs. I kept perfectly still, 
being curious to see what the snake would do. He 
watched me with his keen eyes as closely as I watched 
him, So long as there was absolute stillness, he 
remained ; the moment I moved, out shot his forked 
black tongue, and away he went into the ditch as 
rapidly as possible. 
Some country people say they can ascertain if a 
hedge is frequented by snakes, by a peculiar smell: it 
is certain that if one is killed, especially if worried by 
a dog, there is an unpleasant odour. That they lie 
torpid during the winter is generally understood; but 
though I have kept an eye on the grubbing of many 
hedges for the purpose of observing what was found, 
I never saw a snake disturbed from his winter sleep. 
But that may be accounted for by their taking alarm 
at the jar and vibration of the earth under the strokes 
of the axe at the tough roots of thorn stoles and 
ash, and so getting away. Besides which it is likely 
enough that these particular hedges may not have 
been favourite localities with them. They are said to 
