The activity of these animals is astonishing, for, in speed, they will sometimes equal a horse. Their different motions are very diverting: they will at times climb the trees in quest of treefrogs; or, for other prey, they will glide at full length along the ground. On 30me occasions, they present themselves half erect, and in this posture their eyes and their heads appear to great advantage. The former display a fiery bright

BLACK SNAKE.

ness, by means of which we are told they are able to fascinate birds and the smaller quadrupeds, in a manner similar to the Rattle-snake. Their body is said to be so brittle, that if, when pursued, they get their head into a hole, and a person seize hold of the tail, this will often twist itself to pieces.

The Black Snake is sometimes bold enough to attack mankind, but it may be driven off by a smart stroke from a stick, or whatever other weapon he may chance to have in his hand. When the snake overtakes a person who has endeavored to escape, (not having had courage enough to oppose it,) it is said to wind itself round his legs in such a manner as to throw him down, and then to bite him in the leg, or wherever else it can lay hold of, and run off again.

The following description of a contest between the Black Snake, and another species, is extracted from Mr. St. John's Letters of an American Farmer:-" As I was one day sitting, solitary and pensive, in the arbor, my attention was engaged by a strange sort of rustling noise, at some paces distant. I looked all around without distinguishing any thing, until I climbed up one of my great hemp-stalks; when, to my astonishment, I beheld two snakes of considerable length, the one pursuing the other with great celerity, through a hemp stubble field. The aggressor was of the black kind, six feet long; the fugitive was a Water-snake, nearly of equal dimensions. They soon met, and, in the fury of their first encounter, appeared in an instant firmly twisted together; and, whilst their united tails beat the ground, they mutually tried with open jaws to lacerate each other. What a fell aspect did they present! Their heads were compressed to a very small size; their eyes flashed fire; and after this conflict had lasted about five minutes, the second found means to disengage itself from the first, and hurried towards the ditch. Its antagonist instantly assumed a new posture, and half creeping, half erect, with a majestic mien, overtook and attacked the other again, which placed itself in a similar attitude, and prepared to resist. The scene was uncommon and beautiful, for thus opposed, they fought with their jaws, biting each other with the utmost rage; but notwithstanding this appearance of mutual courage and fury, the Water-snake still seemed desirous of retreating towards the ditch, its natural element. This was no sooner

perceived by the keen-eyed black one, than, twisting its tail twice round a stalk of hemp, and seizing its adversary by the throat, not by

means of its jaws, but by twisting its own neck twice round that of the Main Water-snake, he pulled it back from the ditch. To prevent a defeat, the latter took hold likewise of a stalk on the bank, and, by the acquisition of that point of resistance, became a match for his fierce antagonist. Their eyes appeared on fire, and ready to start out of their heads. At one time the conflict seemed decided; the Water-snake bent itself into great folds, and by that operation rendered the other more than commonly outstretched; the next minute the new struggles of the black one gained an unexpected superiority, it acquired e two great folds likewise, which necessarily extended the body of its adversary, in proportion as it had contracted its own. These efforts were alternate victory seemed doubtful, inclining sometimes to one side, sometimes to the other; until at last the stalk to which the Black Snake was fastened, suddenly gave way, and, in consequence of this accident, they both plunged into the ditch. The water did not extinguish their vindictive rage, for by their agitations I could still trace, though I could not distinguish, their attacks. They soon re-appeared on the surface, twisted together, as in their first onset: but the Black Snake seemed to retain its wonted superiority; for its head was exactly fixed above that of the other, which it incessantly pressed down under the water, until its opponent was stifled, and sunk. The victor no sooner perceived its enemy incapable of further resistance, than, abandoning it to the current, it returned to the shore and disappeared.'

WATER-SNAKE.

than correct, as snakes do not attack unless suddenly surprised or irritated. The size of the Cerastes is by no means great, as its average length is only eighteen inches. The snake charmers of Egypt employ these reptiles precisely as their brethren of India employ the Cobra di Capello.

THE AMPHISBÆNA.

The Amphisbæna, or Double- Walkers, are a still smaller group, intermediate in some respects between the true serpents and slow-worms. They derive their name from the power of moving either backwards or forwards. with equal facility. The two extremities of the body are so much alike, that they would not be distinguished by a superficial observer, the eyes being so very small as sometimes to appear wanting;

AMPHISBENA.

the whole body is of nearly equal diameter. This group is restricted to the warmest parts of South America. Notwithstanding the common idea of its venomous properties, it is quite harmless, and subsists on ants and other small insects. It has not the power of separating the bones of the jaws, which distinguishes the true serpents.

FISHES.

APODAL FISH.

OF THE EEL TRIBE IN GENERAL.

THE Apodal Fish, of which the Eel forms the first Linnean tribe,

GROUP OF FISHES.

in their appearance and manners, approach, in some instances, very nearly to the serpents. They have a smooth and slippery skin, and are in general naked, or covered only with small, soft, and distant scales. Their bodies are long and slender, and they are supposed to live entirely on animal substances.

There are about nine species, most of which are found only in the One of these frequents our fresh waters, and three others occasionally visit our shores.

scas.

THE COMMON EEL.

The Common Eel evidently forms a connecting link, in the chain of nature, between the serpents and the fishes. It possesses not only the serpent form, but also many of the habits of serpents.

The Eel is frequently known to quit its own element, and to wander, in the evening or night, over meadows, in search of snails and other prey, or to other ponds for change of habitation. This will account for Eels being found in waters that have not been suspected to contain them.

COMMON ERL.

The usual haunts of Eels are in mud, among weeds, under the roots or stumps of trees or in holes in the banks or the bottom of rivers. They are partial to still waters, and particularly to such as

are muddy at the bottom. Here they often grow to an enormous size, sometimes weighing fifteen or sixteen pounds.

When kept in ponds, these fish had been known to destroy young ducks. Eels seldom come out of their hiding-places except in the night, during which time they are caught with lines that have several baited hooks. In winter they bury themselves deep in the mud, and, like the serpent tribe, remain in a state of torpor. They are so impatient of cold, as eagerly to take shelter even in a wisp of straw, if flung into a pond in severe weather; and this has sometimes been practised as a mode of catching them.

Eels are viviparous, or produce living offspring. They are so tenacious of life, that their parts will continue to move for a considerable time after they are skinned and cut into pieces; and no other fish whatever will live so long out of water as these. They are best in season from May to July; but they may be caught with a line till September. When the water is thick with rains, they may be fished for during the whole day; but the largest and best are caught by night-lines.

THE CONGER EEL.

When at its full size, the Conger Eel has sometimes been known

to measure

more than ten feet in length, and from fourteen to sixteen inches in circumference. It is one of the most dangerous and most powerful enemies with which the fish

CONGER EEL

ermen of the British Islands have to contend. Being usually canght by a hook and line, it requires some care to land and kill the large ones without injury. We are informed, that on such occasions they have been known to entwine themselves round the legs of a fisherman, and to fight with the utmost fury. A Conger, six feet in length, was caught in the Wash at Yarmouth, in April, 1808; but not until after a severe contest with the man who had seized it. The animal is stated to have risen half erect, and to have actually knocked the fisherman down before he could secure it. This Conger weighed only about sixty pounds; but some of the largest exceed even a hundred weight.

The voracity of these fish is enormously great. They often lie concealed, in the mud or sand, at the mouths of large rivers, for the purpose of seizing upon any prey which passes either in or out. I