The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1870-04-02
The Reptiles at the Geological Gardens
FROM NATURALISTS NOTE BOOK.

| to disappoint the ordinary observer. Its
occupants in many instances are slowed
away comfortably beneath the blankets
with which they are generally provided;
and those which are visible are lying mo-
tionless on the gravel, or reposing in the
branches of tree. Very little motion is
to be seen, unless it be among the lizards
which are more active than the serpents,
but of whom the larger kinds are in the
habit of standing in apparently the most
uneasy attitudes for considerable time
In this. and many other respects, they re-
semble the serpents, and there are indeed
species which seem to form connecting
links between the two orders.
The OpAidia are, however, seen to much
greater advantage at their feeding time,
which occurs once a week; not that they
are all fed so often, for many will take suf-
ficient food at meal for several weeks, and
some lin particular the pythons) have been
known to fast fer months together. Hav-
ing been present lately on the occasion OF
these creatures receiving their usual allow
ance, we purpose to give short account,
from careful observation. of the manner in
which they seized and killed their prey.
The constructing serpents, as we may
term them, are kept in large cases, the en-
trance to which is either by glass door
in the front, which opens by sliding up
or by similar continuance at the back. in
the wooden partition. The colubrine
snakes are in some of these cases generally,
and indeed are so harmless that little pre-
caution is needed. The venomous serpents
have no opening but small one On the lid
of the case, about two or three inches
square. Through this their fosd is intro
duced; and all necessary operations for the
cleanliness and order of the interior are
performed with rod of stout wire, to the
evident disgust of the occupants, who, it
new corners, strike at it vigorously with
their fangs. The first to be fed were the
yellow snakes, and other species in the
same case. The keeper, having uncere-
moniously removed the blanket, beneath
which most of the occupants of the com
partments were huddled together, as usual,
quickly introduced under the glass door
about dozen sparrows, and one or two
Guinea pigs. The former Immediately re-
tired to the darkest corners, seeming, how
ever to be quite uncencerned as to the
presence of the snakes as in some cases
they stood on the bodies of the latter, which
fer the most part remained metionless.-
The Guinea pigs were more restless, NOV
ing slowly about as if in search of food
They seemed to be preferred by the snakes
to the sparrows: and presently one of the
reptiles, waiting his opportunity. seized a
Guinea pig by the neck, and, jerking it
nearer, thew two or three folds round it.
killing it in a few seconds.
The other snakes rapidly dispatched the
sparrows III the same way. when seized;
but they were apparently in no hurry. as
there were number of the birds in one
corner for more than an hour, which had
not been touched during that time. 1t
may be well to remark that there is moth
ing revolving in the spectacle of serpent
taking its food. It's victim suffers neither
the m entail or bodily torture ordinarily sup
posed When seized. it is killed without
delay, especially if it struggles to escape;
and before its seizure it is never conscious
of danger. Not only is this well known to
those in charge of the creatures, but we
can verify it from actual and careful obser-
walton. A rabbit will approach snake
out of mere curiosity, and, after shifting at
its head, and even being touched by its
tongue, will start to anoter part Of the in
closure, and resume its composure. return
ing again i'll the course of its explorations
to the same snake without the least UNI
easiness, except what arises from want
of cabbage leaves, and the indigestibility Of
the gravel flooring. Guinea pigs show even
less concern and are not so easily startled
by any moving object.
The snakes which had seized the spar
rows, etc, waited till their prey was quite
dead before they uncoiled and began slowly
to prepare for swallowing it. The pythons,
which occupy an adjoining case, and are
the largest serpents in the collection, were
next supplied with two OF three ducks
The largest python instantly seized one,
and threw one fold around it. He then re-
manned perfectly motionless appearing to
he satisfied with having secured the bird,
and did not at once kill it. The duck did
not seem at first much concerned at such
unusual treatment, but soon became rest
less. on which the python frightened the
fold and in about minute had quite des-
troyed it. Having waited some minutes,
as if to make sure that life was extinct, he
slowly unwound his coil from the body, and
touched it with his muzzle, moving it about
till it had found the head. The idea of
fabrication with saliva, now quite exploded,
evidently arose from this habit of feeling
| ever the body with the mouth. Having
taken the head into his mouth, he began to
swallow the carcass, his jaws stretching to
an immense extent to allsw its passage
| When he found any difficulty, he used the
| part of his body which lay nearest to it to
push it gently, and considering the appar-
ent difficulty, was not long in completing
his meal. The supply of food is never
stinted, and we believe that it is not un-
common for python to devonr six or
eight ducks and rabbits in one day. OF
course full meal takes long period to di
gsst, as is the case in all reptiles.
! The colubrine snakes might with pro-
priety be termed legless lizards, as, with
the exception Of the want Of limbs, they
are in most respects similar in structure to
the saurians. A fine lively specimen of the
Bengal ratsnake was fed with half dozen
frogs, which he pursued with great speed
round the Enclosure, and, driving them one
by one into the corner, seized and swal
lowed them, in spite of their struggles.
We will now turn to the venomous ser
pents and in particular the rattlesnakes.-
The keeper having put two young Guinea
pigs into the case, one Of the snakes in
stantly struck at that nearest to him. The
| ,o+;o, IF &, vauomouS sprpent in wOundinp