what an awesome post!! though the part about
"The Exam
The cold-hearted killer, sensing it's prey's demise, cautiously examines it's meal, making sure that there is no life, and therefore, no potential threat of injury to itself."
not all corns are this intelligent, the other day my friends snake (one of my hatchlings) decided that eating a fuzzy ALIVE was the best route. i'll give her credit though, she TRIED to constrict it, but i guess she was so obviously STARVING that she had to eat it RIGHT. THAT. MINUTE. unfortunately you could see the prey kicking as it went down the toob!
at least your snake is smart!