Show The Boyle King Snake takes a Meal J. J W. W Thornton Ranger Naturalist in Nature Notes Yes that king snake was hungry anc and lost no time in getting ready for action when the gopher snake was introduced Introduce into his apartment de which h he occupied in Reptile Row He seemed to realize that his visitor was waa not hi his hated adversary the rattler and showed showed showed show show- ed less IrS caution in his attack He lIe came cam upon the gopher snake and clamped his jaws on his body about two thirds of the way dow Then he hi his bod body around the gopher snake in a series of twists that would make th the hammer lock and the toe hold beautiful ful dreams In comparison After thus getting the gopher snake securely held he let loose the hold that tha he had first taken with Uh his mouth and be began an moving cautiously up towards toward the head but the gopher snake was wa too wise to let him get a chance to ge gehis get his head in his mouth Falling Failing in this attempt he again clamped his Jawon jaws Jaw jawson on the others other's body about six Inches from the head Then he started slowly to make his way towards the head by loosening one side of his Jaw at a time and moving it up while holding with the other side This he did until the head hrad was reached The goner snake realizing that the end was approaching opened his mouth as wide as he could so that the king snake could not get hold of his head But the king was king of the situation He worked his mouth over the top o othe of the others head and closed his jaws By Dy this time he had wrapped Tapped his body around the thc gopher snake about four fou inches below the head Now he began pulling and twisting the gopher snake snakelike snakelike like a hair rope until he released the hold that his teeth had taken on the inside of the king snakes snake's mouth anc and the whole head soon disappeared I Iwas It was then but a question of a few minutes minutes minutes min min- utes until the king snake had finished his dinner and crawled under the rock for his nis dally daily be be uty sleep |