The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1877-03-30
VOL. 9.
Ghe Bulletin.
A BIG SNAKE.
Arrival OF a Beautiful Anaconda in
the London theological Gardens.

Mr.. Frank auckland describes in Land
and Vate,. the arrival of large snake at
the Geological gardens: with the
commencement OF the London season
has arrived an lllnstrious visitor from
South America. lie IL one OF the largest
OF the bodido family known to our gene
n on. He is an anaconda (Eunectss Ma
Ti,ius), which, az | translate il. means
'the good swimming mouse or dear
eater This immense snake Is now
safely housed in the snake house Of the
Geological gardens, under the parental
care Of Holland, who has for many
years so ably managed the snakes,
poisonous and noupoisonous. orr WIS.,
itor arrived in Liverpool In large
box. Intelligence was given to Mr..
Bartlett, who proceeded to Liverpool TO
inspect him. as matter Of considerable
difficulty. # will not do to buy an eX-
pensive snake OF this kind without a war
ranty. Snakes are very liable TO canker
in the mouth. The gums get swollen
and tabby. and completely conceal the
teeth, 40 that the beast cannot feed.
Again, il snakes are injured in the cap
ture they frequently die in consequence.
IL Is necessary 10 examine the snake as TO
these two points. Having been
shut mp for several months without
food and in the dark, the ana
conda was not in good temper. When the
LID was opened Mr.. Bartlett caught him
tight around the neck with both hands;
1t IS not necessary TO open the mouth,
aud the savage beast did that soon
enough himself, in true anger. mo-
ment's Inspection showed he hand no dis
ease Of the gums. IL was with some
difficulty that Mr.. Bartlett got his head
back into the box, without letting out
foot or two OF his body. The anaconda
has not poisonous teeth, but has great
and dangerous powers OF crushing. The
box with the snake weighed over two
hundred pounds. II was with much
dodgine that tile anaconda was conduct
ed by two keepers TO his new quarters.
where he Eat once retreated into
bath OF warm water, from which, a. yet.
he has only emerged once or twice. II Is
difficult to give the exact length of
the snake. a. lac is not 10 be
measured with as much facility as faith
ON OF rope. lie 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 twen-
" ieet-a tremendous fellow. Ii was
impossible 10 get tape measure around
him. but having measured his diameter
on his thickcst part. we conclude that he
i. two ieet around the body. At present
he is thin. ana his skin tits him very
loosely. 1t is hoped that he viii soon
begin 10 feed. Dir. Bartlett, with his US
ual Ingenuity. has found out how to
make Mr.. Anaconda feed. He covers
his bath over az night, and puts therein
with the snake duck. The duck is al.
ways gone IN the morning. and the snake
appears fatter. Anaconda is decidedly noe
turnal and aquatic in his habits. Like
onr own British snake. 1t Is found In
marshy, damp places. and lie feeds upon
animals which come down to drink at
night. Mr.. Bartlett has ascertained that
the Last snake had consisted of young
peccary, the horny parts OF the hoois
having been discovered in tho stones at
the bottom of the cage. There are also
the hairs of another animal which has TO
be diagnosed by microscopists.I This trop-
ical American snake Is also called
the Aboma. The provincial name is El
tr0g4 ueHGdO, or the deer swallower. He
never interteres with men, although, of
course, he will take his own part il at
tackled. 1t is greatly TO be hoped that
this magnificent snake will in time get
his appetite and recover from his travel
worn appearance. His color may be de-
stribed as buff, with very dark markings
on the upper parts. His companion IN
the cage is magniticently reticulated
python (Uiai- salra), caught at Penang.
He ha. been at the gardens since August.
1876. and has not eaten anything since he
arrived. He shed his skin on Sunday,
February %. and IL now most lovely to
behold. Ii would he impossible TO de-
scribe the tints of the new skin "a splen-
did lacing OF bronze, blue, gold and
black. except by saying that they are
quite az gorgeous a. the peacock's plum