New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1891-09-23
THE PYTHON.
Some Interesting Facts Concerning
the Habits of the Python.

Z &
Some Interesting Facts Concerning
the Habits of the Python.
An English naturalist, who has
made special study of snakes, gives
some interesting facts concerning the
habits ofthe Observation-Disclosures, hav-
ing a skin bearing the appearance OF a
net-python, which he claims to be q
much misunderstood reptile.
There are two kinds OF constructing,
nonpoisonous snakes which are found
IN Asia. The resiculated python is an
inhabitant Of the Malay countries.
The other species is the rock snake OF
India and Ceylon. They are general
II akin to the boas OF South America:
but, whereas it is q disputed point
whether boas lays eggs OF produce
their young alive, pythons are IN
doubtedly ov1parous.
There was a famous python IN the
Jardin des Plantes, which actually
Matched a brood OF young ones in the
year 1871, after lying on fifteen eggs,
which she had collected In a conlcal
pie. iOr ABOUT e1gnL weeks.
1t is more than probable that most
OF the s'snake stories" which are told
against the python are gross ibels on
its character. It rarely attacks hum
IN beings; and though there is an
authenticated case OF a python hay
ing killed a Malay, he is supposed to
have ''given himself away" by going
to sleep on the bench.
Again, it is hardly necessary to say
that those pictures OF a full-grown
buffalo Or deer in the act OF being de
voured by a python, which decorated
the natural-history books OF our
youth, are due entirely to the imagi-
nation OF the artist.
The largest python in tho Zoologi-
cal Gardens OF London is fed habitual-
y On ducks, and these competent to
speak with authority on the subject.
are certain that he could not swallow
an animal larger than g. haE-grown
sheep.
Nor can you honestly say that the
python is voraclous. It takes him a
month to digest an animal OF any
size, and he frequently goes for many
weeks without any food. a fast OF
twenty-five weeks is quite common,
when the reptile is in a sen,i-torpid
| condition: and there is a recorded in
stance OF a prolonged abstinence from
food OF Il year and eleven months,
which was accomplished without any
| perceptible Ill effects He is also a
slow eater, the operation OF soreing
taking about two hours
The method by which the python
bags his game is sportsnlanlike in the
extreme. At one time he will lie low in
the water and seize his victim by the
nose when in the act OF drinking. At
another he Will swing lazily from
tree by his prehensile tail, and as the
animal passes underneath. will fix his
Jaws in the neck. In a Jwinkling the
coils are round the body OF the prey
and all life IS crushed out OF it.
Nothing can exceed the wonderful
serpent, unalded by the eye, are used
to get the victim into an attitude con-
venient for swallowing instanee,
in dealing with the outstretched wings
OF duck. Indeed. when very hungry,
a python can tackle three birds al
once, holding one in his mouth and
two more in his coils. So far from be-
ing petritied with horror, as helegend
has it, the victim appears absolutely
Indifferent to the snake until it is
seized. and then there is small time
for reflection. Rabbits have actually
| been seen TO nibble at the monster
! which was about to devour them, and
an enCerprising rat once bit piece
out OF a python which was in lethar-
gic condition.
Again, the stories OF constructors
covering their prey with saliva before
swallowing them must be rejected.
No doubt saliva flows freely during
the process, but a mere glance at the
reptiles slender tongue demonstrates
how untitled it is for its supposed OF
fee.
It is, at least. certain that pythons
do not go through the saliva opera
ton in captivity, and it is unlikely
that any spectator has had the op-
portunity. asweli as nerve, to scien-
tiflcally note the performance OF a py-
thon in MS native wilds.