Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1892-06-11
The pythons of the Philippine Islands.


notice All article on boa constructors IN
which mention Is made OF the pythons
of this region. Thinking that some
additional facls might he Of Interest,
we submit the following:
Pyth0ns are abundant IN the Philip
pines, the species being identical with
that found in Bornco. During our
stay of eighteen months in these is-
lands We have heard many arcounls
of the enormous size attained 10y these
snakes and recently have obtained
three fine specimens. The smallest Of
these measured nineteen feet eleven
and one-half inches IN length and
eighteen inches in greatest circumter-
ence. 1t had evidently been without
food for some time and was In an
emaciated condition, but was still u
heavy load for two men. The next in
size inca sured twenty-five feet six
inches in length aud twenty-fOur inch
es in greatest circumference. The
head was six inches wide at the angle
of the jaws and the mouth opened
thirteen inches without any OF the
stretching of the skin or displacement
of tie bones of which II is capable.
The third specimen measured twenty
two feet and eight inches in length,
and twenty-five inches in greatest cir
conference. 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 an idea of the
enormous increase in size that would
take place If gorged with food.
Above the length of nineteen or
twenty feet, these snakes increase
greatly in bulk for every foot in
length, so that a snake nineteen feet
long looks small beside one twenty
two feet long. II is difficult 10 esti-
mate the weight Of an animal Of this
kind, and We had no means of de-
lermining II accurately. A quarter OF
it was a heavy lift for IA strong man,
and il was all that two men could do
to drag il few feet along the ground,
one man being unable to do so. The
second specimen displayed its enor.
nous strength by swapping in two 10y
q steady pull one Of ito fastenings a rat
tan between Onc-half and three-quar-
tiers of an inch in diameter, The snake
being securely fastened by rattans
around the neck. two lnen aud hoy
who attempted to hold 1t by the tail
were DoWerlpss to do so.
From the log in which the third
specimen was caught, elghty-hll'e
eggs were taken. They were white
and nearly round, about the size of all
ordinary base ball, and were covered
with u soft leathery shell or skin.
They adhered to each other, forming
large mass, which had to be literally
torn apart 10 separate them. So far
as observed, all were fertile, each
specimen examined containing a liv-'
ing embryo about four inches in
length. When discovered the snake
was coiled upon its eggs, apparently
incubating. Upon being removed
from the log the eggs dried up rapidly.
As the temperature within the log
was noticeable above that of the at
mosphere, it is probable that the close
coils of the snake prevented evapora-
ton.
A snake of this size could bring
down q medium sized buffalo, aud
could crush out the life OF a man in u
fraction of a minute: and we have no
hesitation in expressing the opinion
that it could swallow him. We know
of the case of q snake Of about this
size swallowing full-grOwn buck
with antlers, u male deer of this spe-
cies being larger around the belly
than is q man around the shoulders.
IF the stories told here about large
snakes can be believed, the specimens
described are small indeed IN c0lnpar-
ison with really large snakes, but we
find that such snakes decrease greatly
in size when brought in contact with
the deadly foot rule. An intclli-
gent half caste recently told us that
his brO:her-in-law had killed. measur-
ed, and skinned u snake f0riy.four
feet long. We did not wish 10 ques-
ton the mans veracity, hut heartily
sympathized with the remark of a
Spanish gentleman, that torty-tour
feet were great many feet.
We inrlose photograph of the skin
of the second specimen. The tail does
not show distinctly, as it is not ex-
tended. The stick held by the man
behind is just five feet long, and is
held parallel TO the skin auIl near 10 it.
The specimens described will be
shipped to the Minnesota Acadeinp OF
Natural Sciences at Minneapolis.
II ~ WnurpcTED