The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1875-04-22
Nlt~, , Aa'rfppsn
SNAKES AS,PETS.

Snakes are regarded with horror and
repugnance by the generality oimahkihd
and Womankind, and for this reason their
habits and instincts have not been sutll-
eientIy studied. Snakes may be broadly
divided into poisonous and unpoisonOus.
As rule, poisonous snakes VIII get oul
Of a mans way if not attacked or insult
cd. do not recommend people trying
to tame poisonous snakes, nor 90 ad-
wise them to charm them after the fashion
OF the Indian jugglers, though, as has
often been hoWn, these poisonou snakeh
ere generally "doctored' as lesardS their
Mngs. before the exhibition takes place.
There is now in London gentleman
who has acl1armingfamily Of pet sltakes
harmless, of course. Thisgenteman's |
name is.Mann. He is aproiessor OF lnu-
sic, and lives in Cheyneg Walk, Chelsea.
Mr.. Mann called on me day or two ago |
at my office, and requested me to give |
him assistance, as he had got into y |
bother with his neighbors about keeping |
his snakes.
Anxious to be service to the gentleman,
1 called at his house to examine his
Snakery. He placed ih the mddleIotI
, the room q large box which was faFeful y
: locked He t0ld. me the box was always
locked, unless he or his wife took out the
anakes stoeexamneythem to The first be
produced froh hebox was,a seE tpe
common British snalYe tColubT APtrtf)'
His snakes have an got names, and TIM
One's name was julia Julia had long
SroAaid thir(y4six eggsS Which Were 9llY
hltched out successfully! Fhe next was
also common British snake, Tbs ring
round the neck was very bright in TINS
Snake, She rejoices in the name OF Syl-
via. Sylvia ID very good at frogs lIfly
6he ate nihe frogs, Seven lirEe frogs Snd
two small, at 0ile neal one atIergthe
ether Mr. Mann has also two lotherT
Snakes. whose names are Protens and
Beatrice, or she of the golden hair. This
modern snake charner then dived hls
hand into the box and brough Mt out an
excellent ,brown-colored snake. The
head is remarkably pretty .and ward.
like, and it has the powero OF moving'the
head very quickly from side to side; the
ave 10 also remarkably brilliant. Tbs
snake was brought from Jamrach; it is
called Lacertine, and comes from the
coast of Magador, North Afrieaiit is,peer-
fectly harmless. Mr., Mann has had the
dacertine about twenty months. us a
pretty, elO ant creature. 1t feeds Oh
white mice. 49,.
Mr. Mann showed me the gemof bis
collection, 1t is a remarkably handsome
BRAZILIAN boa, measuring between hVe
And six feet long, and weighing from
twelve, tosfourteenu pounds Inc name
of this snake is Cleo, short for Cleopatra;
Continual handling and petting has
caused this snake to become most re.
markably tame, and,I think there can pc
no doubt she knows individuaIl$ Mheh
placed on the table Cleo would not come
10 me ut all, but glided away to her mas
ter, who was sitting at the opposite. 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 right side, and folded
her coils round his neck, placing gher
head close to her masters face. andthere
ehe lay for some minutes, quiverlng her
black forkvd tongue with evident !eaS-
are. Mr.. Mann's two little children,
aged five and six respectively, then came
Into the room. They Immediately ran
to the snake and began playing with 1t.
kissing it and pulling it, calling 1t, GEO.
dear Cleop Cleo was then made 10
glide ON the floor. The children ran after
and picked her up, and the little glrll,
picking her up, put her round her neck
like a boa. Il wonder if this was the
origin of tee word boa2) Cleoevidently
eniOyed the fun rs much as the children.
It was very curious to see these two little
children encircled in Cleos ponderous
folds. reminding me much OF the cele,
brated statue Of the LAGOON; ana, II
recoIlect rightly, the marble children III
Khe statue are represented as about the
dime age and size as Mr.. Mann's Two
d lldren.
Cleo ia a particular hvorite of Mrs.
Mann's, and saw avery nice photograph
of her. with Cleo cOiled around her neck
subsequently saw Mrs. Mann IN THIS al,
titude with her pei snake. Cleo haSsheu
her SKIN several times, and 1t is curious
10 remark tn she shed her SKIN ten
times in two years. Mr.. Mann has the
last skin shed. 1t is qnite perfect, ana
as thin as tissue paper; and should
&hink would make good pattern t'r
fancy lace wor. Cleo feeds principally
On pigeons. If pigon is put into her
cage. and she is not hungry, she seems
10 make friends with the pigeon, ana
will never attempt to eat it. Should,
however, fresh pigon be put INTO her
cage, she will devour 1t Instantly. one
feeds once fortnight, and two plgohS
will last her for this time. Mr. Mann
mas observed that, when let loose, Cleo
always tries to climb upward, whereas
4he Lacertine always seeks the ground
Cleo most certainly knows her master
and mistress. Once, when they went
mt Of town. Cleo was left behind. She
mined and would not feed during their
absence. When Mr.. and Mrs. Mann re-
turned after six wees absence, Cleo,
nn hearing her mistress voice, Instantly
rushed out of her box, coiled herself
Tound her, and kissed her fate. She evl.
IDENTITY recognized her KIND irlehd anu
MIR, Mann has also another large In
dian python, but this snake is not very
well, and has private apartments 10 ltseil
in a carpet-bag. The snake will feed out
ofMr Mann's hand. The common snakes
eat frogs, and frogs only; the Lacertlne
eats white mice; the python delights III
Guinea pigs. Altogether | was exceed
inply pleased with Mr.. Mann's collection
of snakes. BY his very successful snake
tanning he has opened up quite y new
chapter in natural history, and hass hown
what persevering kindness Will do IN
tanning snakes, poor creatures, when
have Hitherto been thought to have little
hr M Intelligence,