British reptiles and batrachians . atyoung birds or field mice, and for lack of frogs will sometimes takea toad for supper, but not by preference. The ring snake has fewer synonyms than most of its relatives,and all apply well to its characteristics. Thus it is the Colubernatrix of one herpetologist, the Natrix torquata of another, whilea third considers the collar a generic distinction, and calls itTorquata natrix; and by the latest ophiologists the keeled scalesmark the genus, and it becomes Tropidonotus natrix. As a pet it is the most popular of our English snakes. Accountsof its behaviour
British reptiles and batrachians . atyoung birds or field mice, and for lack of frogs will sometimes takea toad for supper, but not by preference. The ring snake has fewer synonyms than most of its relatives,and all apply well to its characteristics. Thus it is the Colubernatrix of one herpetologist, the Natrix torquata of another, whilea third considers the collar a generic distinction, and calls itTorquata natrix; and by the latest ophiologists the keeled scalesmark the genus, and it becomes Tropidonotus natrix. As a pet it is the most popular of our English snakes. Accountsof its behaviour in captivity, its tameness, its attachment to thosewho feed and caress it, its coming to drink what water or milk isplaced in a saucer near it, with numerous anecdotes of its docilityand intelligence, abound in natural history books. But, to itsprejudice, it has the character of being very offensive. Whentamed and accustomed to its keepers this ceases to be the is provided with glands near the anus, and in self-protection,. Fig. 14.—a, Ventral scales, b, Sub-caudal scales. when alarmed or excited, emits a very offensive odour, not otherwise, or so many friends would not have written in its favour. Those who for the first time see it feed are filled with wonderat the process, and with good reason. The frog is so much biggerthan the head of the snake that holds it, that to swallow itundivided seems an impossibility. But now we witness theadaptation of those loosely articulated jaws to suit the the snake has been pursuing the frog the latter is probablycaught by a hind leg, and is making violent efforts to escape. But,without loosening its hold, the snake, by alternate movements ofthe jaws,—first the right then the left, like two hands hauling arope,—contrives to work the frog round till the head is in its mouth,and then you see the jaws stretch apart, and the head wideningout of all shape while froggy gradually disappears. Those rowsof slanting teeth, d
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, bookidbritishrepti, bookyear1888
