The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-09-10
STRATEGY OF REPTILES.
Making Rabbits Believe Their Open
Jaws an Avenue of Escape.
From the Philadelnhia Press

Jaws an Avenue OF Escape
From the Philadelphia Press.
In addition topossessing many wonder
full traits that distinguish them from the
other members of the big family of snakes
at the Geological garden, the two pythons
have recently developed some new
wrinkles which they must have brought
over from India. While visitors TO the
garden were marvelling at the recent
luncheon the reptiles made of their skins,
the pythons regained their pristine
freshness and are now almost entirely re-
covered from the state of lethargy into
which they fall when the skin transition
takes place.
The reptiles were given their first
hearty meal some time on Friday and in
con sequence are now enjoying a long
sleep that comes from gorging. This is
not at all strange, but the manner in
which they got their meal is novel, to say
the least, and shows that some of the
customs Of their native country still cling
to them. A dozen rabbits were put in the
large case and Immediately there was a
scurrying, The snakes did their part and
the rabbits more than exhibited their
agility. As soon as the big python got a
chance he grabbed one of the animals by
the nape of the neck, threw it in the air
and caught it when it came down, with a
half hitch he had taken in his body. This
performance was repeated several times
and finally when all the bones had been
broken the python swallowed the raj bit,
ears, legs and all.
In the meantime, out of difference, evi.
den thy to his companion, the small python
lay quiet. He watched the rabbits, how
ever and his eyes sparkled like diamonds
in the anticipation of the feed. Having
swallowed the rabbit the big python re-
peated his performance until eight of the
twelve rabbits remained. He moved
about lazily and tried to catch another
| rabbit but the animals he had swallowed
made his movements necessarily slow,
| and finally he gave up the job and lay on
| the floor with part of his body concealed
| by the foliage. His head lay directly I'M
der bunch of leaves and he was evi-
| IDENTIFY preparing for coup d'etat that
| would net him more rabbits.
The onlookers were not disappointed
for presently the big python opened his
mouth and the cavity looked for all the
world like hole in the case. One of the
| rabbits though it was an avenue of es-
cape and made bolt headlong into the
| capaciOus NAV. The Jaws closed, there
was peculiar movement of the snakes
| body and there was one less rabbit in the
| cage. The smaller python fell in with
! the ideas of his companion at
| once and he too slid into corner
| and opened his mouth. Seeing their
companion had apparently made his es.
cape and that there was another cavity
| open to them another of the rabbits dived
| into the mouth of the small snake. He
had not been gOrged like his big brother
and he soon dispatched the rabbit and
| came up smiling for another 60 Mean
| time the large snake had recovered and
was prepared for another nice fat rabbit
| He opened his nav and gave a vicious
| hiss that started the small snake as well
as the rabbits and there was additional
agitation all around,
The small snake had evidently been
trained in this service, for he immediately
began to move about the cage gathering
| the rabbits in circle made with his
body. Meantime the big snake had not
moved and his mouth was as wide open
| as a CLAIMS at high water. The small
snake must have sulked in fashion pc
culiar to his family, for the larger one
closed his jaws with a snap that sounded
like pistol shot and his forked tongue
darted forth in an alarming manner and
a sharp kissing sound started the rabbits
on a steeplechase around the cage over
the small snakes body.
For minute all was quiet, the small
snake evidently turning the matter over
in his mind and coming to the conclusion
that he was not to get any mere abbits
Then he began to form circle about
the rabbits and formed corral around
them with his body Then he raised his
head above and back of the frightened
rabbits and the big snake with it's face
opening ready winked his eyes in anticipa-
ton. One after the other the four rab-
bits were forced to jump down the big
python's throat until there was no room
for more. Then and only then did smile
of Joy settle over the big reptiles counte-
nance, as he calmly closed his mouth and
went off into doze.
The smaller reptile seeing his chance
at last, quickly dispatched the other hab-
its and he, too, went off into Il corner
and composed himself for a long rest
Persons who are familiar with the rab-
bits Of the python and boa say they will
swallow animals as large as a small calf
and will remain for days in a stupor that
makes their capture an easy matter.
Lord Delamere is having splendid sport in