the arboreal species, they both drink and moisten the forked tongue, which are distinct operations. The same observation has been made of African Serpents, and equally applies to our own Ringed Snake. It is particularly fond of milk, so that it often creeps into dairies to drink out of the vessels. It has been even accused of twining up the legs of cows, in order to suck their teats, but this is manifestly absurd. The fondness of Mr. Bell’s tame Snake for milk, we have already cited.
The same appetite is observed in the Black Snake (Coluber constrictor, Linn.) of North America. So partial is it to this diet, that it is difficult to keep it out of a cellar where milk is kept, after it has once found its way thither. A pleasing story will be familiar to the memory of some of our readers, of a Black Snake in New England, that was accustomed to come and partake with a little child of its basin of bread and milk, the boy now and then correcting the greediness of his self-invited guest, by raps on the head with the spoon, when he thought it took more than its share.
In the museum of the Zoological Society is a tame Snake that had been eleven years in the possession of a gentleman, to whom it had shown strong attachment. Mr. Jesse mentions that Eton boys have always been great tamers of Snakes, and many school anecdotes are current of the attachment of these reptiles to their owners.[1] The Rev. R. Sheppard had one in his rooms at Caius College, Cambridge, nearly three months. He kept it in a box of bran; and during all that time, he never could discover that it ate any-
- ↑ “Gleanings,” 71.
