New-York tribune., 1901-09-17
LADY CONSTANCEoS SNAKES
TWO BABY BOA CONSTRUCTORS HER PETS
TOADS KEPT BY SOME WOMEN OF RANK

TWO BABY BOA CONSTRUCTORS HER PETS
TOADs KEPT BY SOME WOMEN OFF RANK
Curious fads are observed In the matter of pets
but none more unusual it may safely be said than
the adoption Of the snake a favored member OF
the household great deal OF interest IL now
pelns taken in two baby boa constructors the pets
or Lady Constance Mackenzie. which she has sent
10 be cared for. temporarily in Robert Green's Ter
race Garden, at Covent Garden Market. London.
The babies good sized snakes in the eyes OF
the ordinary beholder. although far from the grth
they are expected to attain in time. Their brown
and buff skins handsomely marked. and their
eyes bright jewels and without the evil
CLEAN which distinguishes the ordinary serpent.
They are tame. and allow themselves to be handled
and then
Lady Constance has several sympathizers in her
strange choice of pets here in New-York. One
woman of means in this city keeps two or three
large snakes. and is thought to be much attached
them They inhabit a large. finely carved wood
which is fitted up for their comfort in
Guiding rugs on the floor. The mistress of these
snakes is fond of handling them. but too much of
this is said be good for the since
it is apt to make them nervous when they will re-
fuse
Another New-York has pet of this sort
which coils about her sewing table and sits for
hours her while she works 1t is supposed
that snakes have organs of hearing. but when
thi. sings her uncanny ret is evidently
perceivng the vibrations of air caused by the
music.
In home in this city the snakes permit
ted to all over the house, but the master of
the house is in this specialist in the care of
snakes and has had considerable experience with
them. In giving his pets free of the house he
cialist whose snakes. it is said kept in a
top floor fiat, the window. whence they were
repeatedly dropping off into the neighbors' kitch-
ens till complaint drove their owner out of the
house.
well known feature of this fancy for creatures
usually avoided is the fashion of keeping vivaria
containing lizards, small reptiles watery ia
vorites Saamanders and nevis. with their bright
orange spots are frequently the first pets to be
chosen by the vivarum owner: Toads. too. are
Elena Wickham has toad which Is reported TO
have been for twelve years in her possession. He
is big Italian toad. of variety supposed to at
tain great age The toad is most interesting at the
of his former skin. he will roll this up in little
wad and then proceed to devour IL speedily
as possible. Lady Wickhams toads now shar-
ing with the baby boas the honors of public at
tentfon at Covent Garden, where they have been
taken during the absence of their mistress from
her home.
Two or three bright green lizards and a large
blue tongued from Australia among the
members of the Covent Garden family
The latter is much sociable in his disposition
toward visitors than the smaller. more nervous
little fellows. He makes good tempered and IN
tellgent pet and is easier to care for thah tne
baby agators which sent up to persons IN
the Northern States from Florida. TO play the part
of household curiosities. The young aU1gators III
many instances do not live long. owing TO lack OF
not. rule. thoroughly understand the needs OF
their pets.