Snake Haunts 271 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



6NAKE-L0RE — SHAKES SWALLOWING FROGS — SWIMMING — BOND OT 

 MILK — TRAPPLNG SNAKES — EROGS CLIMBING — TOADS IN TREES — 

 THE BROOK — THE HATCH — KINGFISHERS' HAUNTS. 



There are three kinds of snakes, according to the cottage 

 people — namely, water snakes, grass snakes, and black 

 snakes. The first frequent the brooks, ponds, and withy- 

 beds ; the second live in the mounds and hedges, and go 

 out into the grass to find their prey; the third are so 

 distinguished because of a darker colour. The cottage 

 people should know, as they see so many during the 

 summer ; but they have simply given the same snake a 

 different name because they notice it in different places. 

 The common snake is, in fact, partial to the water, and 

 takes to it readily. It does, however, seem to be correct 

 that some individuals are of a blacker hue than the rest, 

 and so have been supposed to constitute a distinct kind. 



These creatures, like every other, have their favourite 

 localities ; and, while you may search whole fields in vain, 

 along one single dry sandy bank you may sometimes find 

 half a dozen, and they haunt the same spot year after year. 

 So soon as the violets push up and open their sweet-scented 

 flowers under the first warm gleams of the spring sunshine, 

 the snake ventures forth from his hole to bask on the south 

 side of the bank. In looking for violets it is not unusual 

 to hear a rustling of the dead leaves that still strew the 



