The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-06-02
STARVATION PROLONGED.

Washington Times.

Few persons have a partially for snakes.
but II does seem a cruel thing TO deliberate
" starve two inoffensive reptiles to death
before putting them in Jar of alcohol for
preservation as specimens. This was and
probably Is being done at room In the
Smithsonian Institution by "A scientist who
calmly conducted his cassifications UNI
needing the frightful suffering close beside
him. The visitor to the professors room
was engaged in watching assistant
drawing Cuban boa constructor which ne
did from the life. or rather the death, the
defunct reptile being hoisted out of his
jar every now and then by means or
huge pair of pincers and accurately scaled
with pair of compasses All around, upon
shelves, tables and floor, were jars, large
and small. containing vast variety oil
snakes. frogs. lizards. etc, all rendered
long since harmless.
A faint rustling sound however, became
at length distinctly audible that the fear
of specimen having by some means or
other broken loose became almost newt
able. The assistant being questioned,
merely pointed to wooden box with a
screen top which had hitherto escaped the
closely examined. was found to contain two
adders. They had been caught not lar
from the district and had occupied their
present quarters ever since last summer
without food and water. The immense vi
tality of snakes which enables them TO go
without food for several months is account
able for their holding out so long, but 1t
must also be remembered that the sufIer-
ings of starvation are increased in proper
ton with this same amount OF vital force
i'm the victim.
One of the adders was shedding its skin.
the dry haky, colorless substance, as Ii
peeled off. revealing a beautifully marked
underestimate. Somewhat To the astonlsh-
ment of the spectator the assistant quietly
opened the lid of the box and assisted the
snake in its shedding process, by taking
hold of the portion already off and pulling
il with much UncOncern as though IL
a glove his hand. The adder did
not attempt 10 bite. nor did 1t seem at all
disposed to resist the attentions of the pro-
lessons assistant. Lett TO ltSe1 IL con-
tinued TO unburden itself of its old cloth
ing. it were. and To reveal the gorgeous
raiment with which nature had provided
IL. The snake, i'm shedding its old skin, Is
popularity supposed TO crawl through mar
row opening or rub itself against some
rough surface, as the bark of a tree That
II can, however, dispense with any Such as
sistance with little or no inconvenience
was sufficiently demonstrated by the adder
in question accomplishing the end very et-
ficiently by muscular action alone. The
movement of the ribs by which the snake
progresses. peels the old skin OF, the en-
tire process lasting, in the case or a snake
three feet long, about three-quarters OF an
hour
A few pebbles in the box and tin water
can. which was well-nigh eaten by rust
from dlsuse. were eagerly examined every
now and then by the starving creature in
search of food. while its companion.
small gray adder. had evidently long since
given IL UP a bad job and had coiled
itself up i'm corner, apparently lifeless.
1t may be remarked. generally. that the
serpent, ever since the Garden of Eden cpl
sode, has been much maligned animal.
So far from wishing TO intrude in human
affairs it has ever sedulouslY sought to
avoid mankind, and il seldom strikes unless
first attacked. except for food. 1t is a fact
that among the present large number of
snakes in the Geological Park. only one. a
king snake. has been taught to dispense
with live food. Yet IL is a well-known fact
that snakes can be educated to feed
clusvely upon the meat of animals that
have already been killed. The fact that
they prefer and apparently require live ami
mails arises from the habit acquired by
them i'm state of nature, where they of
course, could procure no other kind of food.