The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1893-10-26
STRATEGY OF BIG REPTILES.
Making Rabbits Think Their Open jaws
an Avenue of Escape.


Making Rabbits Think Their Open jaws
an Avenue of Escape.
In addition to possessing many won
derful traits that distinguish them
from the other mem bers of the big
family of snakes at the Philadelphia
geological garden, the two pythons,
have recently developed some new
wrinkles which they must have
brought over from India. While Wis
itors to the garden were marveling at
the recent luncheon the reptiles made
of their skins, the pythons regained
their pristine freshness and recovered
from the state of lethargy into which
they fall when the skin transition
takes place. The reptiles were given
their first hearty meal, and the man
ner in which they got their meal is
novel, and shows that some of the GUS
toms of their native country still cling
to them. A dozen rabbits were put in
the large ease and Immediately there
was scurrying. The snakes did their
part and the rabbits more than OK
hibited their agility. As soon as the
one of the animals by the nape of the
neck, threw it in the air and caught it
when it came down with half hitch
he had taken in his body. This per-
Torrance was repeated several times
and finally when all the bones had
been broken the python swallowed the
rabbit, ears, legs and all. In the mean
nf f1ut 70 iC
companion, the small python lay quiet.
He watched the rabbit, however, and
his eyes sparkled like diamonds in the
anticipation of the feed. Having swal
lowed 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 neces-
sarily 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 under a bunch of
leaves, and he was evidently preparing
. for a coup d'etat that would net him
more rabbits.
The onloollers were not disappointed,
for presently the big python opened
his mouth and the cavity looked for
all the world like a hole in the case
One of the rabbits thought it was an
avenue of escape and made a bolt head
long into the capacious nav. The
jaws closed, there was peculiar move
ment 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 a corner and opened his
mouth. Seeing their companion had
apparently made his escape 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 90. Meantime
the large snake had recovered and was
prepared for another nicSzsAt rabbit
He opened his NAV and ~ va vicious
hiss that startled the smsY snake as
well as the rabbits and there was addi-
tional 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 a circle made with his body
Meantime the big sr.alte had not moved,
and his mouth was as wide open as
CLAIMS at high water. The small snake
must have sullled in a fashion peculiar
to his family, for the larger one closed
his Jaws with 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 steeplc chase 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 10 get any
more rabbits. Then he began TO form
a circle about the rabbits and formed
a corral around them with his body.
Then he raised his head above and
back Of the frightened rabbits and the
big snake. with its face opening ready,
winked his eyes in anticipation. One
after the other the four rabbits were
forced TO jump down the big pythOn's
throat until there vas no room for
more. Then and only then did smile
of joy settle over the big reptiles coun-
tenancc. as he calmly closed his mouth
and went of int1 dose. The smaller
reptile. seeing his chance at last,
quickly dispatched the other rabbits
and he. too, went off into corner and
composed himself for u long rest
Philadelphia Press.
Men are moro liable than women
10 insanity, but die sooner after be-
cnruin,r irl.nna