Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1872-09-07
sNAKE-CHARMING IN LONDON.
BY FRANK BuCKLASD.


this reason their habits and in
stincts have not been sufficiently
studied. Snakes may be broadly
divided into poisonous and not
poisonous. AS rule poisonous
snakes will get out Of u mans way
if not attacked or insulted. | do
not recommend people trying to
tame poisonous snakes, nor do l
advise them to charm them after
tho fashion OF Indian jugglcrs,
though, as has been often shown,
these poisonous snakes are general
ly "doctorcd" rs regards their fangs
before tho exhibition takes place.
There is now in London gentle
man who has charming family
of pet snakcs-harmless, Of fcourse.
This gcntleman's name is Mann.
lie is a professor of music, and lives
in Cheyne- walk, Chelsea. Mr. Mann
called on me day or two Ego at
my office, and requested mo to give
him assistance, as he has got into
q bother with his neighbors about
keeping his snakes.
Anxious to be Of service to this
gentleman, l called at his house in
order to examine his snakery. He
placed in the middle of the room q
large box, which was carefully lock-
ed. He told me the box was al
ways locked, unless he or his wife
took out the snakes to feed or eX-
anime them. The first he produced
from the box was very fine COM
mon British snake (Coluber natri1).
His snakes have all got names, and
this ones name was Julia. Julia
not long ago laid thirty, six eggs,
which were hatched out successful
ly. The next was also common
British snake. The ring round the
neck was very bright in this snake.
She rcjoices in the namc of Sylvia.
Sylvia is very good at frogs; lately
she ate nine frogs, seven large frogs
and two small ones, at one meal,
ono after the other. Mr.. Mann has
also two other common snakes,
whose names are Proteus and Be-
atricc, or her of the golden hair.
This modern snake -charmer then
dived his hand into the box, and
brought out an exceedingly lively
brown -colored snake. Thu head is
remarkably pretty and lizard like,
and it has the power of moving the
head very quickly from side 10 side;
the eye is also remarkably brilliant.
This snake was bought from JAM
raoh; it is called Laccrtine, and
comes from the coast Of Mogador,
Northern Africa; it is perfectly |
harmless. Mr.. Mann has had the
lacertinc about twenty months. 1t
is. a pretty elegant creature. 1t
feeds on white mice.
Mr.. Mann then showed me the
gem of his collection. II is a re-
markably handsome Brizilian boa,
measuring between five and six
feet long, and weighing from twelve
to fourteen pounds. The name Of
this snake is "CIco," short for Cleo
patra. Continual handling and
pctting has caused this snake to be
come most remarkably tame, and
| think there can be no doubt that
she knows individuals. When
placed on the table "Cleo' would
not come to me at all, but glided
away TO her master, who was sit
ting at the opposite side of the Ia
bic, and stretching her length from
the table to the chair, gradually
pulled her long length on to him.
She then glided up his right side,
and folding her coils round his
neck, placed her head close to her
face, and there she lay for
some minute quivcring her black
forked tongue with evident pleas
urc. Mr.. Mann's two children,
aged five and six respectively, then
came into the room. They immo-
diatcly ran to the snake and began
playing with it, kissing it, and pull
ing it, calling it "Cleo; dear Cleo"
Cleo was then made to glide on
the floor; the children ran after her
and picked her up, and the little
girl, picking her up, put her round
her neck like a boa. q wonder if
this IVES the origin of the word boa.)
"Cleo evidently enjoyed the fun
as much as the children. 1t was
very curious TO see these two little
cncirled in "Cleo,s" pom
dcrous folds, reminding me much :
of the celebrated statue of the Lao
coon, and if / recollect right, the
marble children in the statue are
as about the same age
and size as Mr.. Mann's two chill
dren. "Cleo" is a particular favor
ite of Mrs. Mann's, and | saw a
very nice photograph of her, with
"Cleo" coiled round her neck. /
subsequently saw Mrs. Mann IN
this attitude, with her pet snake.
"Cleo" has shed her skin several
times, and it is curious to remark
that she has shed her skin ten times
in two years. Mr.. Mann has the
last skin shed. 1t is quitc perfect,
and as thin as tissue paper, and l
should think would make good pat
tern for fancy lace work.
"Cleo" feeds principally on pig
cons. Ifa pigeon is put. into her
cage, and she is not hungry, she
seems to make friends with the pig
con, and will mover attempt TO eat
it. Should, however, fresh pig
con be put in her cage, she will de-
YOUR it instantly. She feeds once a
fortnight, and two pigeons will |
about last her for this time. Mr..
Mann has observed that when let
loose "Cleo" always tries to climb
upwards, whereas the lacertine al
ways seeks the ground. "Clco"
most certainly knows her master
and mistress. Once, when they
went out of town, "Cleo" was sent
away. She pined, and would not