Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-01-24
SNAKES AT DINNER.

7, UeOrge UuTOn, IN tne Sc2ence G0SSlp, gives
curious account of the feeding Of the snakes in the
London Geological Gardens
As probably not many of my readers have wit
messed the operation of feeding the reptiles at the
Geological Gardens, perhaps short account Of
what was seen during visit few weeks ago may
be interesting.
1t was quite by accident that happened to en-
ter the reptilehouse few minutes before the feed
Before beginning the keeper locked the door, ap-
parently to prevent persons crowding In, as not
many can see well at the same time. He then
brought supplies of the different kinds of prey, and
cast them into the serpents' dens, the doomed ami
mails being young rabbits, young mice, white mice,
ducks, fowls, sparrows and frogs, which were dis
ributed to suit the size of the various snakes, ex
cept the frogs, which were provided for the aquatic
species.
The large boa constructors, into whose cage three
rabbits, grown specimens, were introduced, SEEM
ed the principal attraction, but their mightnesses
were in no hurry to dine. As is generally the case
else when there was an exclamation, He's got it !!
and l found one of these large snakes was coied
round rabbit. The latter, I thought, struggled a
little, but it might be fancy; all remained quiet for
a few minutes and then the huge reptile uncoiled
himself, and the rabbit lay. perfectly dead. The
boa showed no inclination to eat its victim, but
glided about in languid manner after the other
rabbits, who showed little sense of their danger
1t was curious to see them in happy Ignorance
shifting at their dead companion, or putting up
their noses to hand held near the glass Two
ducks were introduced into the den of another large
boa, or rather, believe it was python, which is
the boa constructor 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 seize them. While leaning over the bar, to OBJ
serve better, two or three loud thumps sounded on
the glass front near my head, and some bystanders
expressed fear lest the glass should be broken
The attack wins so sudden, that it was only when
the keeper requested me to keep further back,
that was conscious that the big snake preferred
me to the ducks The blows sounded like those
Of a mans fist, and would probably throw per-
son down if they took effect. By the quick repe-
tition of the strokes it seemed the reptile was
slow to learn that the plate-glass was two strong
for its efforts l regretted afterward not having
estimated the size of this python at the time, but
from memory should imagine it to be nine or ten
feet long.
''Next to these large snakes the venomous kinds
seemed to attract most attention. Some rabbits,
so young as to be almost helpless were dropped
into the cases of the rattesnakes and puff adder.
ucy Wcic SOOu Oh iuCA, Uue e1iC fChOA1 Woo ItoSn
slower in its action than I should have expected
The bite of both these species is said to be fatal to
man, yet these small animals survived about twen-
ty minutes. The bites were effectively given, as
in one instance, blood oozed from the punctures,
and in another it flowed from the nose and mouth.
paid particular attention to the act of striking,
having understood that our English viper does not
strictly speaking, bite is does not close the
jaws, but with the mouth wide open drives in the
fangs by a downward stroke of the upper jaw, like
the blow of hammer, The puff adder, however,
appeared to seize its prey with momentary grip,
leaving 60 Immediately.
"a halfgown rabbit was given to another ven
emous species-I think horned viper ) but,
though the poor little animal was repeatedly pushed
up against the reptile, the latter would not strike
Every effort was made to rritate it, and it frequent,
ly turned round yengefuiy, kissing like a small
steam engine all the time, but it would not use Its
weapons. The glass snakes appeared more ready
to feed than most of the others; mice were provi,,
ded for their rejection, and one Of them disposed
of two or three in rapid succession. Shortly after,
happening to pass the python den, bang on the
glass apprised me that my Ophidian friend was
still bent on making closer acquaintance.