The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-09-22
SHED THEIR COATS AND ATE
THEM
Interesting Proceedings of Two of the
Largest Snakes in America


The two largest 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 at
tention 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 the
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 coat, got move on him
self and climbed one Of the small trees,
and coiled all 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 mean time the other snake
was not idle. It, too, Colied around
the tree, and, raising its head, took
hold of its big brothers neck, and by
careful manipulation loosened the skin
from the head and neck for about a
foot down. Then it took hold of the
loosened skin, and the keepers and
spectators who were watching the pro-
ceedings saw what was going to happen.
With its head and neck free, the big
snake could help in the shedding opera
ton, 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 glove inside out,
and gave the reptile peculiar appear
anCe.
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 it for all it was
worth, until all 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 glist-
ened, and reaching down he grabbed
a mouthful of his own covering and
proceeded to finish the job. 1t was
done with despatch and ease The big
snake seemed proud of his new suit
and wriggled all around the case and
admired himself for some time Then
to the establishment Of the watchers the
smaller snake climbed the tree and
went through the same performance,
assisted by the larger one.
After both reptiles were free from
the old skins they made meal Of them
and each drank about gallon of water
to wash down the repast, The keepers
say it is no unusual thing for small
snakes to get rid Of their old skins in
this way, but they never heard Of large
snakes, like the python OF boa, doing H.