The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-02-27
BIG SNAKES AT DINNER.
The Dime Museum Boa Constructor That
Swallowed His Bed Blanket to Keep Warm.

The Dime Museum Boa Constructor That
Swallowed His Bed Blanket to Keep Warm.
Philadelphia News.
The big anaconda at the Dime Museum was
RECALLED with a rabbit dinner last night. A ten
days fast prepared him for the feast. In the
warIn-air case were pythons and
wriggling boa constructors, but the anaconda
alone seemed to appreciate the delicate repast.
The introduction of half a dozen small gray rab-
bits INTO the big snake house attracted scarcely
any attention from the writing reptiles, and the
little animals, equally unconscious, scampered
from side to side without the faintest show of
fear. In the corner a python lay lazily blinking
his ewes. Six months had elapsed since he had
dozen snakes just as lazy, and istless, and
sleepy.
Near the side of the case, in a box sunk sew
eral inches below the level of the surrounding
platform, the anaconda lay coiled, fast asleep.
The invasion of his privacy by one of the rab-
bits awakened him. He caught sight of the little
animal and his eyes glistened. His fangs darted
rapidly from side to side. The glistening eye
balls became baleful. The folds drew up into q
tight coil, and the head of the reptile oscillated
to and fro. The rabbit, unconscious of the fate
in store for it, sportively jumped about its mar
row prison. Presently the rabbit turned its head
toward the snake, when, quick as a flash, therep
tile drove his fangs at the head of the diminutiVe
animal, firmly catching it nearly to its ears.
Then, rapidly coiling around the rabbit, the snake
forced the life from the little body, crushing the
bones, and pulling 1t out into a long, shapeless
mass. In a few minutes. as though satisfied that
life was extinct, the great reptile began to draw
the rabbit into his nav. The lower jaw fell, en-
larging the mouth to a wonderful extent, and
disclosing small, sharp teeth, similar to those of
d fish.
Inch by inch the lifeless creature disappeared
in the NAV of the great snake, and when, finally,
the last vestige of the rabbit had disappeared,
the impression of its body could be seen as the
cOmpressive muscles of the anaconda still forced
it downward. A rest Of a few minutes and the
unsated reptile essayed another rabbit, this time
swallowing it quietly and with greater leisure.
The other snakes apparently took no interest in
the commanding Of their big brother in the pit,
but a dozen sleek-lo0king rabbits were put in the
case, to tempt their a%ppetites during the night.
In another box a mammoth boa-constrictor
was discovered, writing as if in extreme dis
comfort. From his mouth protruded something
that resembled a heavy piece of cloth. When
the snake-keeper drew near the case he stopped
in establishment.
Heavens he calculated; chat snakes swal-
lowed its blanket"
''Thats nothing responded Mr.. Hagar. of the
management, demurely. ''They often do that
in winter"
But the blanket-devouring snake will be
watched with great interest, and whether it will
be able to exist for several months ON the nutri-
ment from the bed blanket, or whether its efforts
to keep warm inside will result in a fatal indi
gestion, time alone will determine.