120 
The Queensland Naturalist, 
Jan., 1921 
Broadbent, this bird is very common. Every morning he 
decorates his bower with fresh grapes; he makes a bower 
of sticks, and hangs the small bunches of green grapes on 
the front of the bower. ’ ’ 
By Heber a. Longman, Director Queensland- jMuseum. 
On Wednesday, 3rd November, a live specimen of the 
common house mouse, 'mivseuluSy was placed in a case 
eontaining a living death addei‘, Aca}ithopkis antarcticus. 
After a few minutes the snake was attracted, and its 
(piivering, sensitive tongue was protruded towards the 
mouse, which sat unconcernedly a few inches away. The 
fore part of the snake’s body was advanced in a sinuous 
fold. It then struck witii surprising swiftness, seizing the 
mouse b}' the fore-quarters. 
The death adder hung on 'dike a bulJ-dog” for fifteen 
minutes, but, as the mouse gave convuLsive movements 
fully ten minutes after being struck, probably little venom 
was injected. Aftei* relaxing its first holtl the snake seized 
tlie mouse by the head, and proceeded very leisurely to 
swallow it by more or less alternate forward movements of 
the lower jaws. This pi‘ocCvSS took just over half an hour, 
when the ti]> of the tail finally disappeared. Subsequently, 
musculai* movements of the body marked the passage of 
the meal towards the stomach. 
As is usual after fe(Hting, the snake repeatedly yawned, 
and then leisui*ely crawled under a board. Although so 
lethargic, remaining for day^s partly covered with sand, 
the death adder, when roused, strikes sideways with 
marvellous swiftness. 
This specimen has been living in the Queensland 
]\Iuseum since 16th November, 1918, and during that period 
it has fed only on five occasions. 
A DEATH ADDER’S MEAL. 
