The morning call., 1892-07-03

measured 10 feet 11h inches in length and
Is inches IN greatest circumference. 1t had
evidently been without food for some time
and was in an emaciated condition, bat was
still heavy load for two men, The next
IN size measured % feet inches in length
aud "A inches in greatest circumference.
The head was inches wide at the angle of
the Jaws and the mouth opened Is inches
without day of the stretching Of the skin
or displacement OF the bones, of which il Is
capable. The third specimen measured %
feet and inches in length aud % iuehes in
greatest circumference. The cape was the
same as In the second specimen. In each
case the stomach was entirely empty and
one familiar with such animals can easily
form all idea of the enormous increase in
size that would take place IL gorged with
food.
Above the length of 10 or 90 feet these
snakes increase greatly in bulk for every
loot IN length, so that snake 10 feet long
looks small beside one 22 feet long. 1t is
difficult 10 estimate the weight of an animal
OF this kind, and we had no means of deter
mining II accurately. A quarter of it was
heavy lift for strong man, and ii was all
that two men could do to drag it few feet
along the ground, one man being nnable to
do so. The second specimen displayed its
enormous strength by swapping in two by a
steady pull one of its fastenings-a rattan
between one-half and three-quarters of an
inch In diameter. The snake being securely
fastened by rattans around the neck. two
men and boy who ATTEMPTED to hold it by
the tail were powerless to do so.
From the log IN which the third specimen
was caught SO eggs were taken. They were
white and nearly round, about the size of an
ordinary baseball, and were covered with
a soft leathery shell or skin; They ad-
hered 10 each other forming large mass,
which had TO be literally torn apart to sepa-
rate them. So far rs observed, all were
fertile. each specimen examined containing
living embryo about four inches in length.
When discovered. the snake was eoiled
upon its eggs, apparently incubating. Upon
being removed from the log the eggs dried
up rapidly. AS the temperature in the log
was noticeably above that of the atmo-
sphere, ii Is pr0babls that the close coils of
the snake prevented evaporation.
A snake this size could bring down
medium-sized buffalo, and could crush out
the life OF man in fraction OF minute,
and we have no hesitation in expressing the
opinion that it could swallow him. We
know OF The case of a snake OF about this
size swallowing full-grown buck with ant
lers, male deer Of this species being larger
around the belly thal is man around the
shoulders.
If the stories told here about large snakes
can be believed the specimens described are
small indeed in comparison with really large
snakes, but we find that such snakes de-
crease greatly in size when brought In con-
tact with the deadly foot-rule. An intelli-
gent haif-caste recently told us that his
brother-in-law had killed, measured and
skinned a snake Al feet long. We did not
wish TO question the mans veracity, but
heartily sympathized with the remark of q
Spanish gentleman, that A feet were
great many feet.
We inclose a photograph Of the skin of