They all, however, crept a little nearer--so as the better to observe the further movements of the serpent.

They kept as well as possible behind the screen of leaves and bushes.
The snake, after having killed the lizard, remained out in the open ground; and, stretching himself along the grass, commenced devouring it.
Snakes do not masticate their food.

Their teeth are not formed for this, but only for seizing and killing.

The blood-snake is not venomous, and is, therefore, without fangs such as venomous snakes possess.

In lieu of these he possesses a double row of sharp teeth; and, like the "black snake," the "whip," and others of the genus coluber, he is extremely swift, and possesses certain powers of constriction, which are mostly wanting in serpents of the venomous tribes.