Page:Natural History, Reptiles.djvu/207

Rh two Snakes met, and one of them, in the course of its progress, slightly bit the jaw of the other; this was retaliated, though evidently without any hostile feeling; but after one or two such accidents, the most powerful of the Snakes commenced shaking the other, which still had hold of the frog, with great violence, from side to side, against the sides of the box. After a few moments’ rest, the other returned the attack, and at length, the one which had last seized the frog, having a less firm hold, was shaken off, and the victor swallowed the prey in quiet. No sooner was this curious contest over, than I put another frog into the box, which was at once seized and swallowed by the unsuccessful combatant.

“The frog is generally alive, not only during the process of deglutition, but even after it has passed into the stomach. I once saw a very small one, which had been swallowed by a large Snake in my possession, leap again out of the mouth of the latter, which happened to gape, as they frequently do immediately after taking food; and, on another occasion, I heard a frog distinctly utter its peculiar cry, several minutes after it had been swallowed by the Snake. In taking lizards or birds, it always, as far as my observation goes, swallows the head foremost. After it has taken its food, it usually remains inactive for many days, not usually seeking a fresh meal until the former one is digested.”

Notwithstanding the high authority of Schlegel, who asserts that Snakes never drink, repeated observations have proved that they do. Dr. Cantor observes that the majority of Indian Serpents are partial to water, and that with the exception of