The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1898-05-26

Snakes are not big eaters That is
70 sayr they do not eat freeuen;iyt but
when they get ready they can DO the
subject Of food ample justice At least.
the big boa constructor In the ZOO show
ed his capabilities recently, when. after
a fast OF his own ehoosfng for three or
four months. he concluded TO eat a
mite. just to keep him in good condl-
ton for the summer season. when he
will take the road with a show. for
this great snake. In all about twenty
i've feet long without stretching him
self. is the property Of travelling
menaserie. says the Cincinnati Com
mercial Tribune. They have been car /.
ing for him at the ZOO some time, the
only Item Of rent being his keep. and
that, as you will see. is not much as he
has hsd.but two square or rather
round, meals in six or eight mouths.
At different times they have temptedl
him, but he turned from food even
when offered In a live shape. and said
In snake talk: No. thank you" But
people who have fooled with snakes
know that they will come TO their APP
pstites II you only ltt them alone. A
keeper tried this snake with some
water In a big pan. re dabbled In IL
little and then drank the whole allow
ancs Maybe u he was thirsty he
would also eat. and the experiment was
made. In anticipation Of the feast two
puppy dogs had been provided. weigh
Ing about twelve or fifteen pounds
each. They were not. highbred dogs.
just pldinld6s and spAnlel miyea -ior
there " no necessity FOR feeding
snake thoroughbred dogs When his
lengthy majesty is hungry re will eat
almost any kind OF old dog. About
or 5 o'clock In the afternoon one Of the
pups was put In the cage. Now, there
was no struggle nor any frantic eff
forts on the part Of the dog to escape.
He huddled TO himself In a timid and
backward way as II the game wasn't TO
his liking. but the boa felt differently.
He reached out In a minute OF two and
embraced the pup. Then he took an
extra wrap or two. until there was
nothing to be seen hut a trace OF a dog
tangled up In the folds Of the huge
boa constructor. There was a squeal
from the pup. but II was not prouaeted.
Then there was the crunching OF bones
and the act OF killing was all over.
though there was no break in the pro-
gram OF the victor, He opened his
cavern OF mouth. and the remains OF
the pup went 20 another cavern prop
erly prepared for him. About this
time Mr.. Snake coiled himself up as II
for a long winters nap, but his keep
ers concluded. while he was In the
mood. to give hlR enough to last him
for a few months, anyhow. so at
o'clock, or ,hereabout, another pup was
put In the cage and watched. II was
evident that the boa would go on with
his meal. for he was now interested In
the proceedings, Within hall hour
he reached. II a snake can reach. and
gathered puppy dog No. to the folds,
and In the same way as In the case OF
No. !, the life was crushed out Of the
second victim. And In the same way
and over the the same route the second
puppy went TO a cavern. but not TO the
same one The first had moved farther
along in the snakes peculiar anatomy.
Having plenty OF room Tor The second
lnstallment Even the next day there
were two big protuberances in plain
evidence. The day following the owner
was at the gardens. and he was glad
to hear Of the snake feeding lie wants
him 20 eat some more while he is In
the mood. With this in view. he will
soon send two more puppies to the ZOO.
hoping that the snake will gorge him
self well and good. Since his meat the
boa has been rather quiet. Like a man
VINO has gorged himself, he seems in
clined to sleep IL on, though he has
by no means been entirely motionless.
He knows what Is going on all the time
and he is not In any better humor sim
ply because he has been fed.