Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-01-09

rabbits, who showed little sense of their dan
ger. IL was curious TO see them in happy ig-
norance smiling at their dead companion, or
putting up their noses to hand held near
the ga~s. Two ducks were introduced into
the den OF another large boa or, rather.
believe it was python, which is the hos con-
strictOr of the Old world, and similar in size
and habits.
He moved slowly after the birds. which
showed more fear than the rabbits. but made
no attempt to sezs them. While leaning over
the bar to observe better, two or three loud
thumps sounded on the glass front. near my
head, and some byetAnder expressed fear lest
the glass should be broken. The attack was
so sudden that it WAS only when the keeper
requested me to keep further back that was
cunsc QUE that the big snake preferred me
to the ducks. The blows sounded like
those of mans fist, and would probably
throw q person down If they took effect. By
the quick repeutIon of the strOkee it seemed
the reptile was slow to learn that the plate
glass was TOO strong for It's efforts regretted
afterwards not having estimated the slZ, OF
this python at the time, but from memory
should imagine { to be pine or ten feet long.
- Next to these large snakes the 'enomous
kinds seemed TO attract most attention. Seine
rabbits. SO young as to be helpless, were drop
adler. Ihey were soon struck, but the venom
Was much slower IN its actions than | should
have expected The bite of both of these
species Is said to be fatal TO man, yet these
email animals survived about twenty minutes.
Ice oite. were effectively gwen, IS In one in-
stance blood ooBed from the punctures, and
In another Il owed from the pcse and mouth.
L paid particular attention to the act OF strike
ing, having understood that our Englis viper
does not, strictly speaking, bie-shat 10, does
not close the jaws, but with the mouth wide
open dives IN the fangs by downward
stroke OF the upper jaw, like the blow of q
hammer. The puff adder, however, appeared
90 seize its prey with a mo:nentary grip,
leaving go Immediately.
" A haii-grown rabbit was given to anoth-
er venumous species-I think horned vi
per : bus, though the poor little animal was
repeatedly pushed up against the reptile, the
latter would not strike. Every effort was
made 80 Irritste it, and it frequently turned
round vengeiuily, Kissing like small steam
engine all the time, but 1t would not use lts
weapons. The glass snakes appeared more
ready TO feed than most OF the others; mice
were provided for their rejection, and one OF
them disposed of two or three in rapid success
sion. Saortly after, happening to pass the
python den, bang on the glass uprised me
Nhas OfhiOiab iiiCt0 "ao s'iiA bShh OA
Il akIng closer acquaintance.
- \ stout gentleman, who frequently ex-
pressed his anupathy to the whole serpent
tribe, took occasion by this fresh attack to
utter some words OF warning, reminding me oil
the keepers request TO keep back from the
case, and remaI ked that the glasses | had on
at the time probably the attraction. |
replied that the reptile was apparently in a
state 10 strike al anything that came within
reach and two minutes had scarcely elapsed
u hen my friend, with has little boy, crossed
in irlnt Of the den. when the python made a
similar blow az him. HIS alarm was ludi-
crcus with An exclamation OF intense horror
he staggered back half a dozen PAGES; but
! fear has activity would have svailed little but
iOr the stout plate glass between. The evil
dent desire ot this monster to get q human
victim, while IL ignored the ducks within Its
reach seemed to indicate u longing Tor larger
prey. Ii was difficult to imagine that the
snake could really swallow d man, but the
peculiar structure of the jaws In the boa
! tribe aud their immense power of expanti ION
enable theIn to get down animals OF bulk
much exceeding their own. W ben these
creatures were gliding about their dens, gres,
plsy Vi muscle was observable though the
SKID.
During these performances a large box
wAs brought III by two laborers. 1t had
apertures tor ventilation, and contained some
large rock snakes The keeper raised the lid
ana touched one of the reptiles, which were
10 a hali-torpid condtion. This excited the
curiosity OF one OF the workmen, who inquired
snxIously. They be- ant alive, sir, be they I!
| Alive yes,' saii tie keeper do you want
to have one out ? On no, SIT, was the quick
reply ; and he and his companion were gone
III instant The cobra appears TO be one
OF the most irritable species; the glass from,
OF It's case is partially white-washed, to hide
approaching objects from 1t, but notwithstsnd-
ing 1t strikes against the < ass so frequently
that Its nuzze was quite raw.
a. took the opportunity of asking the
keeper If be had ever observed the boAs lick
heir prey before swallowing it, as they are
popularity believed TO d. He replied ex-
Iected, that in several years experience be
n ad never il done. it is not improbable
| | think that while the boa Is examining lis
recently killed prey TO commence the swallCw-
| ing operation IN the most convenient manner
1T may keep hickerlng is tongue in and out al
most serpents are in the habit Of doing, and
this might give an inaccurate observer the
idea mat It WAS licking the prey l fear this
account may appear tediousiy minute, but
send It on the chance OF interesting some who
have never been present at the ssrpents din
ner- house"