SERPENTS AND REPTILES. 213 
carriage, by the river, along the road, which is here 
very narrow, with the water on one side, and a steep 
bank covered by bushes on the other. 
27. “ Our attention was in this place arrested by 
a number of small birds, of different species, flying 
across the road and then back again, and turning 
and wheeling in manifold gyrations, and with much 
chirping, yet making no progress from the particular 
place over which they fluttered. 
28. u We were not left long in doubt, when we 
observed a Black Snake of considerable size, partly 
coiled and partly erect from the ground, with the 
appearance of great animation, his eyes brilliant, and 
his tongue rapidly and incessantly brandished. 
29. “ This reptile we perceived to be the cause 
and the centre of the wild motions of the birds, 
which ceased as soon as the snake, alarmed by the 
approach of the carriage, retired into the bushes ; 
the birds, however, alighted upon the neighbouring 
branches, probably awaiting the reappearance of 
their tormentor and enemy.” 
THE ANNULATED SNAKE. 
30. The ground of this snake is white, with 
brown transverse bars, which are straight and dis- 
Describe the Annulated Snake. 
