Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-11-14
Feeding Snakes,
REMARKABLE APPETITE OF REPTILES RATS
AND RABBITS EXTERMINATED.

| hEMAEh ABLE ABGEillf- of hEl1ll-i-sf IA Il
AND RABBITS EXTERSIINATED.
From the Philadelphia Recordl
As feeder the snake is mighty irregu
lar, and his appetite is always about foul
times too large for his organs of diges
ton They have long since found this
out at the Zoo and Mr.. Brown, the
Superintendent, is Just now in dilemma
to know how he will be able to find the
proper food for the serpent family under
his care. The small species of lant
snakes feed on toads. lizards, grasshop
pers and other members of the insect and
reptile world, and at times il is very diff
ficult to supply the demands of these in
satiate ''varlnints The king and calico
snakes belong to this same class, but if a
famine should occur these two species
are cannibalisticallv inclined, and would
weather the hard times by swallowing
each other
In the big case i'll the snake house are
twenty-six boas, the largest of which is
| II feet in length and 2i inches in circum-
| ference. The business OF the bon is simply
to load his stomach to repletion, and then
to tie himself up in graceful knot and
doZe camiy for several weeks, while the
spectators gaze on him and speculate on
his easy job, and what they would do if
they were to encounter him alone in II
jungle with nothing but Barlow knife
as weapon of defence.
Though not particular 10 . shade as to
what their diet shall be, yet
your geological boa is something Of
an epicure in his way. Nature has pro-
vided him and other members of the rep
tile family with an accommodating head.
the roof Of which i'll manner lifts off and
allows the introduction of toothsome
morsels that would crowd quarter peck
measure to hold. Up to the present time
these monster boas have been fed upon
rabbits and rats, and Just now rabbits
and rats are becoming scarce. They have
been tempted with sportive and innocent
little kittens, and an occasional pup has
been placed at their disposal, and at
times spring chickens and pigeons ; but
the boa cannot stomach cat, has little
appetite for the dog, and goes square
back on the feathery tribe Hence it is
that his diets reduced right down TO rats,
with now and then rabbit to regulate
his liver.
Everyzoological garden grows immense
crops of rats. and rabbits are popped into
Ine world III astonishing numbers but
the appetites of the snakes at the Zoo
have been telling on both families, and
the prospect is that the supply Will short
ly have to obtain from the outside Each
Of the twenty-six boas consumes from
three to four month, and in the course
of II year they manage to absorb about
four tons of these little animals. Not
long since prairie dog was forced into
the cage, but the big snake only winked
at him and allowed him the liberty Of the
inclosurc without moiestation.
Having coiled its body about its little
victim, and squeezed the life ont Of it,
the snake proceeds to swallow it leisurely
Having got it bacl. Of lis jaws. it coils up
gracefully, drops into "A torpid state. and
remains oblivious to the peanut mum
chers and nervous old ladies who peep at
1t through the glass from day to day.