The sun., 1873-03-05
HNxKFs ISPETg.
4 New and vivid IIiustrntior sf TIE Fewer
Of Kindness.

tThe eminent English zo1logist, Mr..
Prank Buckland, editor ~ Land and Water. tells
Tho following extraordinary story1;
Snakes are regarded with horror and repuG-
nance by the generality OF mankind and woman
kind, and for this reason their habits and In
tncts have hsuoeu ana nos
poisonous. As a rule, poisonous snakes Will get
out of mans way u not ATTACKED or insulted.
sonous snakes. nor do advise them to charm
them after the fashion OF the Indian jugglers,
ens .I,nkes @ are Generally doctorcd," as regards
their fanRs, before the exhibition takos place.
pb"pmins ia family nj OF pet snakes harmless, Of
soursc. This genlcmans name ts Mann. meis
. professor OF music, ana lives In Cheyne Walk.
Chelsea Mr.. Mann called on me a dav or two
ago Al my oiiicc, and requested ne 70 gre nun
assistance, as ne hau got into bother with MS
neighb rs aDout keeping his snakes.
Anxious to be of service to this gentleman
called at his hopie 70 eIamlne ms n snaksfy, cry,
which was carefully locked. He told me tho
box was always locked, unless he or ms VIE
took out the snakes to examine them. The hIst
he produced from the box was very line com
mon British snake (COlld,r pltIiI). His snakes
have all got namos, and this ones name was
Julia. Julia had long ago laid thirty six cggs,
which were hatChed out successfully. The next
was also a common British snake. The ring
.omnd the neck was very bright in this snake
She reIoices in the name of sylvia, sylvia ~
very good at frogs lately she ate nine frogs
ono after the other. Mr.. Mann has also two
other snakes, whose names are Pr9tens and
p y
srn snake charmer then dvcd his hand into tho
box aud brought out an exceedingly brown-col,
ored snake The head Is remarkably pretty and
izard-ike. nd = ha- the power of moving the
1ead very quickly from side to side; the eye Ia
i Msn te,%rhS1S p,'eit, 7, I, caIled Lnccrtine
and comes from the coast uf Mogador North
Africa; il is perfectly harmless. Mr. Mann has
lad the Laccftinc about twenty months. IL is
pretty, elegant creature. II feeds on white mice.
Mr.. Mann then showed me the gem ~ his col
ection. II is remarkably handsome braliilan
2oa, measuring between five and six feet long,
and weighing from twelve TO fourteen pounds
The name Of this snake IL Cleo. short for Cleo
patra. Continual handling and petting has
caused this snake to become most remarkably
.ame, aud think there can be no doubt she
snows individuals. When placed on the table
Cleo would not come to me at all, but glided
away to her master, who was sitting az the oI,-
poste side of the table, and. stretching her body
from the table to the chair, gradually pulled her
long length on to him. She then glided up his
placing her head close to her masters face, and
there she lay for some minutes. quiyerlng her
black forked tongue with evident pleasure. Nr
Nann's two little children, aged Ave and six
respectively then came into the room. They
immediately ran to the snake and began playing
With Il, kissng II and pulling H. calling !, cleo,
dear Cleo IT, cleo was then made to glide on
the floor. The children ran after her and picked
her her round r % her neck like boa Il wonder 4 tiis
was the origin OF the word boa - Cleo evidently
very curious TO see these two little children en-
eirclcd In tleos ponderous folds, reminuing
coon and II recollect rightly, the marble chill
dren In the statue are represented MS about the
same age ana size ns Mr.. Mann's two children.
Cleo "a a particular favorite OF Mrs. Mann's and
I saw very nice photograph OF her, with Cleo
eo,led around her neck. | subsequently saw
Mrs. Marn In this attitude with her pet snake.
Cleo has shed her skin several times, and II Is
curious to remark that she shed her skin ten
times In two years. Mr.. Mann has the LAT skin
shed. IL Is quite perfect, and as thin as tissue
papo.; and should think would make good
pattern for fancy lace work. Cleo feeds princi-
paily on pigeons. II pigeon Is put into her
cage, and she Is not hungry, she seems to make
friends with the pigeon, and will never attempt
10 eat II. should, however, fresh pigeon be
put into her cage, she will devour II Instantly.
5he feeds once n fortnight. and two pigeons Will
about last her for this time. Mr.. Mann has OBJ
Ierved hat, when let loose, Cleo always tries to
climb upward, whereas the Lacertine always
,eeks the ground. Cleo most certainly knows
aer master and mistress. Once. when they went
out OF town. Cleo was left behind. She pired
and would not feed during their absence. when
Mr.. and Mrs. Mann returned, after six weeks
tbsence, Cleo, on hearing her mistresss voice. In
Itantly rushed out of her box, coiled herself
'ound her; and kissed her face. She evidently
recognized her kind friend and protector.
Mr.. Mann has also another large Indian py-
hon, nut this snake Is not very well, and has
private apartments to itself in n leather carpet
oag. The snakes will feed out of Mr.. Mann =
hand. The common snakes eat frogs, and frogs
only the Lacertine eats white mice the python
delights In guinea pigs. Altogether, was ex-
eoedingly pleased with Mr.. Manns collection Of
snakes. BY his very successful snake tanning
he has opened up quite new chapter in natura
history, and has shown what persevering kind
hess will do in tanning snakes, poor creatures,
which have hitherto been thought to have little
srnO int diligence.