The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-04-28
A Live Anaconda.

and Water the arrival of large snake at
the London Geological Gardens: "With
the commencement of the London season
has arrived an illustrious visitor from
South America. He is one of the largest
of the Boaid9 family known to our gen
Grafton. He is an anaconda (EunecteS
murinus), which, as l translate 1t, means
the good swimming mouse or deer-eater.
This immense snake is now safely housed
in the Geological Gardens, under the pa
rental care of Holland, who has for
many years so ably managed the snakes,
poisonous and n-poisonous. Our Wis
itor arrived at Liverpool in a large box.
Intelligence was given to Mr. Bartlett,
who proceeded to Liverpool to inspect
him, matter of considerable difficulty.
1t will not do to buy an expensive snake
of this kind without warranty Snakes
are very liable to canker in the mouth.
The gums get swollen and tlabby, and
completely conceal the teeth, so that the
beast cannot feed. Again, if snakes are
injured in their capture they frequently
die in consequence. 1t was necessary
to examine the snake as to these two
points. Having been shut up for several
months without food, and in the dark,
the anaconda was not in good temper.
| When the lid was opened Mr.. Bartlett
caught him tight around the neck with
both hands; it was not necessary to open
the mouth, as the savage snake did that
| soon enough of himself, in true anger
A moments inspection showed he had no
! disease of the gums. 1t was with some
difficulty that Mr. Bartlett got his head
back into the box without letting out
more than foot or two Of his body.
The anaconda has not poisonous teeth,
orusnlns Inc 100 pS dangerous rRR9weEs Of
weighed over 200 pounds. 1t was with
much lodging that the anaconda was con-
Quoted by two keepers to his new quar-
tiers, where he at once retreated into a
bath of warm water, from which, as vet,
he has only emerged once or twice. Ii
is difficult to give the exact length of the
snake, as he is not to be measured with
as much facility as fathom of rope.
tie is now lying IN three parallel folds in
his bath; we know the length of the bath,
and we calculate his length to be between
eighteen and twenty feet-a tremendous
fellow. 1t was impossible to get a tape
measure around him; but having measured
his diameter in his thickest part, we con-
clude that he is over two feet round the
body. AT present he is thin and his skin fits
him very loosely 1t is hoped that he will
soon begin to feed. Mr.. Bartlett, with
his usual ingenuity, has found out how
to make Mr.. Anaconda feed He covers
his bath over at night, and puts therein
with the snake a duck The duck is al
ways gone in the morning and the snake
appears fatter. The anaconda is decidedly
nocturnal and aquatic in its habits. Like
our own British snake, it is found in
marshy, damp places, and he feeds upon
animals which come down TO drink at
night Mr.. Bartle 1T has ascertained that
the last meal this snake had consisted of
young peccary, the horny part of the
hoofs having been discovered in the
stones at the bottom of the cage; there
are also the hairs of another animal
which has been diagnosed by microsco-
psts. This tropical American snake is
also called the Aboma. The provincial
name is EE trag0 0enad0, or the deer
swallower. He never interferes with
men, although, of course, he will take
his own part if attacked 1t is greatly
to be hoped that this magnificent snake
will, in time, get an appetite and recover
from his travel worn appearance. His
companion in the cage is magnificent
reticulated python (UIar sawa), caught
at Penang. He has been at the gardens
since August, 1876, and has not eaten
anything since he arrived He shed his
skin on Sunday, Feb. %, aud is now
most lovely to behold. 1t would be i'm
possible to describe the tints of the new
skin IA splendid lacing of bronze, blue,
gold and black, except by saying that
they are quite as gorgeous as the pea
cocks plumage"