The Sun.
London, England, 1851-11-18 00:00:00

THE SIAGULAR ZOOLOGICAL

PROBLEM

The blanket or wrapper swallowed by the boa con-
strictor at the Zoological Gardens, in the Regent's Park,
was disgorged by the reptile in the night of Saturday,
the Bth instant, after having bees five weeks and one
day in the animal's body. The watchman on going his
rounds that night saw the animal labouring to get rid of
the blanket, a part of which protruded from its mouth,
and he assisted it in doing so by taking hold of and
pulling the blanket gently, for which act of kindness it
was thought that the boa seemed grateful, inasmuch as
it offered no opposition, and did not strive to injure him.
On examination the blanket was found to be much
shrunken in size, and it was divested of the greater
portion of the loose wool or hairy filaments composing
its surface; it was much saturated with moisture, and in
many parts covered by a slimy saliva. Originally the
blanket measured about five feet by four feet, but like all
those used in the reptile house, it had been folded in half
and sewn together. There seems to be no doubt that
the following circumstances led to the gorging of the
blanket: Every Friday afternoon live rabbits or
pigeons are given to the boas, and these are devoured
by them, or suffered to remain in the cage, according
as these reptiles are hungry or otherwise. On the night
of the occurrence in question two rabbits had been given
to the boa, only one of which was eaten. It is conjec-
tured that when the boa coiled its body and seized the
rabbit, it must also have taken hold of a portion of the
blanket, which it slavered over as well as the body
of the rabbit, and then swallowed the blanket as a con-
tinuity of the rabbit. The boa was a present to the
Zoological Society; it was brought to England by an
officer, who gave it about four months ago; it is a very
fine one, but had not been in a healthy state, and was
just becoming lively and agile when the casualty took
place; it has now an extremely attenuated appearance,
and drinks frequently, probably because of the great
absorption of the liquids of its body by the blanket.
No blame whatever can attach to any person for neglect
or want of attention to the boa, because Mr. Hunt, the
head keeper, who was in bed when the watchman went
to him, homediately dressed himself, and hastened to
the reptile house; but his apartments are on the oppo-
site side, and at a considerable distance from the tunnel,
and when he reached the place the whole of the blanket
had disappeared. To guard against a similar occur-
rence, it has been determined to take away the blankets
at the time the reptiles of this class have their food left
in the cage.—Sunday Piper.

Dispatches were received yesterday at the Colonial-
office from the Governor of Gibraltar.

An inquiry has been held at Wolverhampton,
before the Under-Sheriff' and a special jury, to assess the
compensation to be paid by the Oxford, Worcester, and Wol-
verhampton Railway Company for 423 yards of freehold
land, forming part of the site of Mr. William Bailey's exten-
sive chemical works in Horsley-fields, and also for 2,011
square yards of prebendal lands adjoining the works, and
running parallel with the intended goods statio❑ of the
Stour Valley line. The total sum claimed by the plaintiff
was 3,7411, UN 9d.; the jury goo a verdict for 1,7061.