SNAKE AND FROG. 53 



newts were liberally supplied. So the boys settled 

 the matter by opening the mouth of the snake, and 

 pushing a newt fairly down its throat. 



One of the largest snakes that I have seen was 

 engaged in feeding himself, not trusting to boys for 

 any help. I was walking in a field, and heard a 

 strange cry from a neighbouring ditch. On going 

 towards the spot, I saw there a large snake struggling 

 with a frog. The frog was comparatively as large as 

 the snake, and as it had a plain objection to being 

 swallowed, there was some turmoil. 



The snake was stretched along the bottom of the 

 ditch, which at this time was dry, and he held in his 

 mouth both hind feet of the frog, who was also 

 stretched forward at full length, resisting with its 

 forelegs the attempts of the snake to draw it back, 

 and croaking dismally. The strife continued for 

 some time, when I made a sudden movement, and 

 the snake, loosing its hold of the frog, glided up the 

 opposite bank. The frog slowly gathered itself to- 

 gether, sat still for some little time, and then hopped 

 away. 



The entire empty skin of the snake may often be 

 found among bushes, where the creature has gone in 

 order to assist itself in casting off its old skin. Snakes, 

 as well as other animals, wear out their coats, and 

 are obliged to change them for others. When the 

 change is about to take place, and a new coat has 

 formed under the old, like a new skin under a blister, 



