Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1882-10-28
Surfeited with a blanket.


Boa-constrictors gorge themselves at
one meal, and then remain torpid for o
week or a fortnight, or even longer
periods. Their powers Of abstinence are
only equaled by their powers of guttony.
One boa at the Geological Gardens,
London, remained for one year and ten
months without eating anything, and
yet was in good condition. An English
magazine tells the story of boa which
died OF too much blanket:
One of the largest boas, if not tho
largest, ever kept in captivity, was until
lately ut tho Geological Gardens. 1t was
female, which was captured ut Ceylon
while in torpid state. 1t then meas.
ured about twenty feet, but was very
thin.
Regular diet, however, and the care
taken,of it at the Gardens, where ii was
sent, soon improved its condition; and
Mt the end Of some six years it had
grown to the length OF more than
twenty-nne feet, and as thick round as
mans thigh.
This monster was called "Bess," and
to the last moment Of her captivity, or
rather of her life, she remained intoler-
ably vicious. Even her keepers were
afraid OF her.
Once she rose with such a reckless
plunge against the attendant who was
cleaning her cage Az to knock him COM
pletely out of the opening Ivy which he
had entered, though fortunately not
hurting him, and leaving him ample
strength and time to close the slide be-
fore she could follow him, which she
was quite prepared to 90.
This magnificent reptile died Of n sur
felt of her own blankets.
She was casting her skin, and was, as
is always the case ut that time, partially
blind when her meal of rabbits was driven
into her cage.
The first she seized, crushed, and in
stantly gorged. With the others she
was less successful. Warned, perhaps,
by the fate OF their companion, they
were most agile in keeping out of Tie
way.
The second sho struck MT she missed
altogether, but caught her blanket III
stead, around the imrcsisting mass of
which she coiled and twined till she was
tired, aud thendeliberatcly Proceeded to
gorge it.
No effort could get it from her tena-
cious jaws, and indeed III her then saw
age humor it was hot spfo to persist in
the attempts.
50 at her leisure, though not without
considerable cxertion, owing, no doubt,
to the woolIy nature Of tho textures she
succeeded i'll swallowing her rug, equal
in size and thickness to the ordinary
covering Of Il bed.
After this g.,stronomic feat she lay
torpid for about n week, when, with
great effur's, she diseorgcd both the
blanket and the rabbit she had previous
ly swallowed. Both had evidently dis
agreed with her.
After this she seemed i'll, and, refusing
food Tor month or more, coiicd herself
: up and laid about seventy eggs.
Then, though she was evidently very
i'll, she tried to hatch them.
In all the bistosy of serpents no boa
constructor had ever laid eggs in cap
tivity.
However, after some weeks watch
ing, the cggs, having been prematurely
extrudea, became bal SO they were re-
moved with no htt.o difficulty from un-
der Boss.
Alter tilclr uDStricilcn sic oScIneu
very restless and refused all food even
the temptation of live ducks, generally
q quite Irresistible bait to ailing boas,
was taken no notice OF.
Nothing conld tempt her appetite,
and her fits of anger g'se to perfect fury
when her cage had to bc cleaned. In
the end this almost necessary process
had to he given over, but still she re-
fused her meals.
After languishing n few weeks more,
she suddenly stretched herself out and
died.