The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-08


will. But the most dangerous part OF this
work. so IL seems to the visitor, are the
mems duties In the big pythons' cage.
Here are three giants OF the reptile tribe.
Sultana, twenty-five feet; Fattma. twenty
two feet, and Czarina. which is probably
the largest snake IN captivity. This rep
tile measures twenty-seven feet and four
inches. Her weight is nearly % pounds.
The first Part Of the operation OF attend
ing these monsters Is the ernptying or
their bath tubs. This Is a zinc tank about
five feet long by four feet wide The
same has depth OF about six inches. One
or more OF the snakes is always lying in
this receptacle. Sometimes the masses OF
reptilian flesh are packed in so tightly
that little water remains. On entering
the cage the keeper provides himself with
blanket This he pushes ahead Of him
on long pole. II is thrown over the top
of the tank and he advances toward the
snakes. In the meantime he must keep
sharp lookout for the other snakes. The
iridescent Sultana generally roosts in the
topmost branches of the big cedar tree in
the cage, from which she takes delight in
making long drives at her keepers.
Another keeper goes into the cage with
the first to look after the snakes In tho
trees and various corners. They are COW
cred with blankets and must me constant
~ watched, for their inquisitive natures
lead them to peep from under their COW
erings at frequent intervals. When the
first keeper reaches the bath tub, which
Is generally done after lodging several
playful sallies from the smaller boas
which are left uncovered. he lifts up one
corner of the blanket and looks carefully
beneath IL to discover the whereabouts
OF the snakes heads. This act l. some
times accompanied by lunge from one
OF the snakes. sending the blanket sail
ing upward. A little diplomatic maneuver-
Ing is then necessary.
Discovering at last, to his satisfaction,
the position OF the snake, the keeper
thrusts hts hand between scaly coils to
the bottom Of the tank, and pulls out
the plug. thus letting out the water At
the same time stream of tepid water
nows in from one side. This continues for
about ten minutes. when the plug Is
again dropped into its place. and the tank
rehlls. The last thing 10 be done before
leaving the pythons cage il to spray IL
with hose which emits fine mist Of
tepid water. This produces the heavy
atmosphere necessary for the big reptiles
me blankets have already been hauled
out, and the men continue their work,
entering other cages
MOI all the big snakes in the reptile
mouse are dangerous. There are several
individual reptiles which the men treat
with real affection. One of these Travelled
with a circus for nearly 1--WE years, during
lngiy acquired knowledge OF the show
business The snake ia an anaconda about
eleven feet long. When its cage Is opened
and It's keeper starts to clean It's tank the
reptile invariably glides toward him, and
coiling about his neck and shoulders re-
mains there until the operation is over.
The animal has been in the reptile house
for many months. and though belonging
10 species generally credited with a
hostile nature, has never evinced an In
ciination to bite. 1t allows Itself TO be
handled by the men In the building with
the utmost good nature, but glides nerv-
ously from the hands of stranger.
Another show snake" that ia enumer-
ated among the pets of tine building Is
Teddy" an imperial python from West
Africa. This big fellow was given 10 the
park by Mile. Olga, the snake charmer,
and seems TO delight In being sociable. for
on crowded days. instead of retiring to
the rear of the cage. as do many of the
other snakes, Il coils itself close TO the
glass. keeping its bright eyes fastened on
the crowds OF spectators.
Passing down the row OF cages contain
ing these various reptiles the keepers
arrive at the last. This contains the king
cobras. the mos. dangerous snakes in the
building. No man Is allowed to enter this
cage. In the keepers room a special no.
tice commands the creates: caution In
looking after these deadly creatures
Each measures over twelve feet. As the
visitor behind the scenes approaches the
iron door opening into the cobras' cage.
he Is greeted with n warning painted up-
on Its panels. This is surmounted by
skull and cross-bones. IL reads: "Rc
careful in opening this cake. The bite
Of these snakes means death. In spite OF
aid or antidote. BE careful" The no.
tice Is signed by the curator OF the reptile
department, X. l.. pitmars.
Three unpleasant characteristics are
possessed by the cobras. In the first
Secondly. they frequently eject their
venom some eight or ten feet; and, be-
sides this, when they bite, they hold on
for an Indefinite period, injecting more
than fatal dose OF their poison. When
their keeper opens the door OF their cage
a watcher stands In front Of the glass
and shouts 10 the rear man, warning him
of every move of the snakes. so that he
may act accordingly. The glass IL clean
ed on the inside OF the cage by spraying
It with a hose. and tho snakes food Is
introduced on the end OF a more than
usually long pole. on most occasions.
when their cage door IL opened the
cohras rise into the peculiar and grace
ful attitude OF their kind. The green
hood" spreads widely, and they watch
intently for a chance TO deliver n deadly
blow The least move Of one % the
snakes toward the uoor results in the
latter being closed with n hang. when the
men wait for the reptiles to become
quiet before rcsumng their dangerous
duties New York Commercial Advertiser