Snake bolting a Frog 275 



Now and then a peculiar squealing sound may be 

 heard proceeding from the grass ; on looking about it is 

 found to be made by a frog in the extremity of mortal terror. 

 A snake has seized one of his hind legs and has already 

 swallowed a large part of it. The frog struggles and squeals, 

 but it is in vain ; the snake, if once he takes hold, will 

 gradually get him down. I have several times released 

 frogs from this horrible position ; they hop off apparently 

 unhurt if only the leg has been swallowed. But on one 

 occasion I found a frog quite half gone down the throat of 

 its dread persecutor : I compelled the snake to disgorge it, 

 but the frog died soon afterwards. The frog being a broad 

 creature, wide across the back — at least twice the width of 

 the snake — it appears surprising how the snake can absorb 

 so large a thing. 



In the nesting season snakes are the terror of those 

 birds that build in low bushes. I have never seen a snake 

 in a tree (though I have heard of their getting up trees), 

 but I have seen them in hawthorn bushes several feet 

 from the ground, and apparently proceeding along the 

 boughs with ease. I once found one in a bird's nest : the 

 nest was empty — the snake had doubtless had a feast, and 

 was enjoying deglutition. In some places where snakes 

 are numerous, boys when bird's-nesting always give the 

 nest a gentle thrust with a stick first before putting the 

 hand in, lest they should grasp a snake instead of eggs. 

 The snake is also accused of breaking and sacking eggs — 

 some say it is the hardset-eggs he prefers ; whether that 

 be so or no, eggs are certainly often found broken and the 

 yolk gone. When the young fledglings fall out of the 

 nest on to the ground they run great risk from snakes. 



When sitting in a punt in summer, moored a hundred 

 yards or more from shore, I have often watched a snake 



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