Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-11-24
SHE'D AND EAT THEIR COATS.
Interesting Proceedings Of Two of the
Largest Snakes in America.

Philadelphia Press: The two large
pythons which were imported from
India for the geological garden have
made themselves at home in their new
quarters. They are said to be the
largest reptiles in this country and
naturally attract considerable atten-
ton. They had only been here two
weeks when both snakes underwent
Il change They became droopy, and it
was seen that they had begun to shed
their skins.
The shedding process Is about at an
end now, but the manner in which
the snakes accomplish the greater part
of the job is wonderful. The greater
python measures sixteen feet and the
other twelve They are males and have
mouths like cellar doors, that are filled
with f:ngs. On Monday last the big
snake, which had eaten nothing for
three weeks because he was shedding
his coat, got Il move on himself and
climbed one of the small trees and
coiled AL around the limbs. Then he
rubbed his head and neck violently
against the branches in every direction
and gradually loosened the old cuticle
from around his head, mouth and neck.
In the meantime the other snake
was not idle. 1t, too, coiled around
q tree, and raising it's head took hold
of its big brothers neck, and by care
ful manipulation loOSened the skin from
the head and neck for about Il foot
down. Then it took hold of the loosen
ed skin, and the keeper and spectators
Who We're watching the proceedings
saw what was going to happen. With
its head and neck free the big snake
could help in the shedding operation,
and it twisted around the tree near
the top and began to pull away from
the smaller snake at top speed. Inch
by inch the old skin was released and
the bright colorS of the new cuticle
came in view. 1t took nearly an hour
to get about half of the body free
from the old covering, and then both
snakes rested The skin was pulled
back just as one would turn a glove
inside out, and gave the reptile peculi-
ar appearance
When the snakes resumed their job,
they employed different tactics. The
larger snake climbed higher, and the
other made itself fast lower down
the tree. The smaller one took hold
of the skin and pulled for all it was
| worth until AL of the covering, with
the exception of about two feet from
the big snakes tail, was loose.
| Then a most wonderful thing hap
pened. The big snakes head was at
the top Of the tree, and he hadn't been
paying much attention to the goings
on at the other end of his body. When
the smaller snake stopped pulling, the
big one looked down and saw that
something was wrong. His eyes glis
stened. and reaching down he grabbed q
mouthful of his own covering and pro
ceeded to finish the job. 1t was done
with dispatch and ease. The big snake
seemed proud at his new suit and wrig
gled all around the case and admired
himself for some time. Then, to the as
tonisEment of the watchers, the smallel
snake climbed the tree and Wen
through the same performance, assist
ed by the larger one.
After both reptiles We're free from
the old skins they made a meal o
them, and each drank about a gaHo1
of water to wash down the repast.