Morning journal and courier., 1893-09-13
SHED THRIR COATS
Interesting Proceedings of Two of the
 Largest Snakes in America.

AEEUiA AAar AAAA4elt ma fTetse
 The two large Pythons which were inn ported from India for ihs Biological Gar den have made themselves At home in their new quarters. These are said to be the lar gest reptiles in this country, and naturally attract considerable attention They had only been here two weeks when both snakes underwent a 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 accomplished the greater part of The job is wonderful. The largest python measures sixteen feet and ;he other twelve. They are males and have mouths like cellar doors that are filled with terrible fangs. On Monday last the big snake, which had eaten nothing for three weeks because he was shedding his UUA;, go. move on him self and climbed one of the small trees, and coIlsd ell around the limbs. Then he rubbed his head and neck violently against the branches in every direction, and grad ually loossd the old cuticle from around his head, mouth and neck.
 In the mean time the other snake wEH not idle. It, too, coiled srnund the tr-e, and. raising its head, took hold fl i;s hig brothers neck, and hy careful G1lG,,ipu. 'Atiou l3nsi-a.d :is-- sh'n irru ih-, htad and neck for E5 ut s foo: 6oEn slen it ts-oh hold of the loo=sHsa skin. sud ;9ls l.septr and spectators who w-E- Vsa'caiug ta- proceed tngs saw wAH. wsr going To happen. Witt Its head and neck free, the big snake could | help in the shedding uperAtieo. snd i twisted around the tree near inc top and began to pull sway from the smaller snAk, st top speed. Inch by inch The old skin { was released and tke bright elurs rf ih, ! new cuticle came in vser. IL took nearl1 sn bouT to get Aooci i,slf Of ;h-, body fire. | from the old SossIiEg. H2d isru boit snskes rested. Tho skin wa. pGlsed hacl | just ss one would pull glove inside out and gave the reptile peculiar appear ance.
 When the snAkea resumed their job they | employed different tactics The larger snake climbed higher Eod the other mad, itself fact lower down the tree. The smRl | Ter enc took hold of the Ekin and pulled fol all 1t was worth. until all the covering with the exception of About two fee, from the big snakes tail. was loase.
 Then a mOst wonderful thing happened | The big snsks's heEd was at the top of the tree and he hadn't been paying much al tsntIon to the goings on st the other end of his body. When the smaller snake stopped pulling the big one looked doWr and saw that something was wrong. Hll eyes glistened, and reaching down hs grabbed moUihful of his own covering and proceeded % finish the job. I: Was done with despatch and ease. The big snRk, seemed proad of his new suit and wrigslst all around the case and admired himEeli for some time. Then to the sstonlEhmsn | of the watchers the smaller snake clInbet the tree and vsnt through the same per formAnce, assisted by the larger one.
 After both reptiles were free from the ulI skins they made a meal of them and eAei drank about a gallon of water 10 wEsi down the repAst. The ksepsrs say st Is nl
 unusual thing for small snakes 10 get r!t Of their old skins In ihIs way, but ths- never hsATd of large snakes, like the pyibo; or boa doing 1t.