The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1898-06-25
FEEDING A BIG BOA.
A HUGE SNAKE BREAKS HIS
FAST.
Two Puppies Are sacrihced-The Serpent
Crushes His Prey and Then Deliber-
aately Proceeds to Swallow 1t at One
Gulp.

Snakes are not big eaters. That is
to say, they do not eat frequently, 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 choosing for three or
four months, he concluded to eat a
mite, just to keep him in good condi-
ton for the summer season, when he
will take the road with a show, for
this great snake, in all about twenty
five feet long without stretching him.
self, Is the property of a travelling
menagerie, 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 had but two square or rather
round, meals in six or eight months.
At different times they have tempted
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 ap-
petites if you only let them alone. A
keeper tried this snake with some
water in a big pan. He dabbled in it a
little and then drank the whole allow
yance. Maybe If he was thirsty he
would also eat, and the experiment vas
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 plain dog and spaniel mixed-for
there Is no necessity for feeding a
snake thoroughbred dogs. When his
lengthy majesty is hungry he will eat
almost any kind of old dog. About 4
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 if the game wasn't to
his liking, but the boa felt differently.
He reached out in a minute or two and
embraced the pup. Then he took an
extra wrap or two, until there was
nothing to be seen but a trace of a dog
boa constructor. There was a squeal
from the pup, but it was not protracted.
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
LOO uarn re n mouth a-I 4bo ,o,oa;-- 80
the pup went to another cavern prop
-erly prepared for him. About this
time Mr.. Snake coiled himself up as if
for a long winters nap, but his keep
ers concluded, while he was in the
mood, to give him enough to last him
for a few months, anyhow. So at Z
O'Clock, or thereabout, another pup was
put in the cage and watched. 1t was
evident that the boa would go on with
his meal, for he was now interested in
the proceedings. Within a half hour
he reached, if a snake can reach, and
gathered puppy dog No. 2 to the folds,
and in the same way as in the case of
No. l 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,
leaving plenty of room for the second
installment. 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. He wants
him to eat some more while he is in
the mood. With this in view, he will
o o send two O puppies to the ZOO,
hoping that the snake will gorge him
self we'll and good. Since his meal the
boa has been rather quiet. Like a man
who has gorged himself, he seems in
clined to sleep it off, though he has
by no NEAR 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.