The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-05-15
SNAKES NOT EASY TO FEED.
Troubles of the Keepers at the Geological
Park
(New York SUM-

New York SUM-
There are many phases of the animal
! business, but i'll big collection of live
stock competent feeding is the most I'M
| portant issue. With the warm-bloOded
creatures this resolves itself into a sys-
TEN which becomes almost involuntary
among the keepers. With the reptiles,
| il is far different.
The snakes at all times evince eccentric
wants which must he met by equally &C.
centric attention. Without ingenious and
| sympathetic keepers, collection of rep
tiles would quickly starve, even though
the cages are plentifully provided with
the necessary food.
Unlike the animals, which are fed daily,
the reptiles receive their food at intervals
| ranging from a day or two to a month,
| according to the species or the disposition
of the specimens. If reptile is very &C
tive it must be fed frequently.
Turtles and lizards, which are continual
ly frisking about, require feeding every
other day. The big constructing snakes,
which lie coiled in the same position for
a week at a time, seldom take food more
frequently than twice n month. AS a
rule the smaller snakes are fed every 10
days, while the bOas and pythons receive
their food every three weeks.
Nearly all the big snakes have the
habit of fasting for indefinite periods. AZ
ter feeding regularly for three or four
months, a python will steadily decline
food for about the same period, after
which it again begins feeding voraciousy.
During these long fasting spells the
keepers follow their charges actions with
close attention. for it is at these times
that the dreaded canker may form in the
serpent's mouth and unless Immediately
cOunteracted by antiSeptic washes, it be
comes dangerous and often fatal. three
months fast with a healthy snake never
worries the keeper, for the reptile usual
y begins feeding again without the slight
est signs of emaciatiOn.
The reptile house bill of fare is elabOr-
ate in its composition. Rabbits, pigeons
and chickens furnish nourishment for the
constructors, while rats, mice and spar
rows are provided for the smaller snakes.
The lizards demand large quantities Of
meal-wOrms, which are varied by flies
caught in the warm months in a series of
fly traps. Large quantities of fish go to
the alligatOrs and water snakes. while
vegetables of many kinds form the food
of the tOrtoises and herbivorOus lizards.
1t is n mistaken idea that snakes re-
quire living prey. With the larger snakes
the chickens and rabbits are killed and
presented to the reptiles individually.
This brings about an even distribution of
the food and prevents trouble.
If live rabbit or chicken were cast
into the cage containing six or eight big
snakes trouble would be inevitable. Sew
eral Of the reptiles would seize the crea-
ture Mt the same time, and in the con-
striction that followed all would become
tangled in such knots that the smaller
snakes would fare badly. If, after the
prey is killed and large snake Begins
to swallow it, n smaller snake is persis-
tent in its hold on the prey, the small
snake may find resting place in the elias
tic interior of its cage mate.
The feeding of Il cage Of pythOns is an
operation which requires time and skill.
The first thing done is To separate the big
fellows which lie sociably coiled in a great
mass.
The keeper then hands them their
chickens and rabbits. one by one, keeping
many Of the snakes covered with blankets
to prevent fighting. To throw the food
at random into the cage would result in
the more powerful specimens eating every
thing, besides fighting among themselves.
The most difficult reptiles to maintain
successfully are the poisonous snakes. So
nervous that the slightest movement
causes them to spring into a coil of de-
Tense. these reptiles in many instances de-
liberately starve themselves to death.
In consequence of this nervousness the
poisonous snakes are fed at night, when
the retpile house is absolutely quiet. 1t
is the viperine snakes that possess this
scary disposition. The cobras and their
allies. although always on the alert for
trouble. feed regularly and voraciOusly.
In the reptile house of the New York
Geological Park is n cobra with an APP
petite that embarrasses the keepers. The
specimen is Is feet in length and strictly
cannibaIistic. Nothing but snakes will
he touch and, still more. he scorns the
small, common snakes which are readily
Before the formidable brute had been
in the building six months he had depODu-
lated n cage full of blacksnakes and de-
voured a collection of Southern coach
whip snakes and all the large specimens
which the Park could spare More black
snakes were ordered, but as the cobra
demanded four or five of these at a meal,
the situation became embarrassing.
1t was finally decided to remedy con-
ditiOns by an ingenious method. A black
snake was killed and stuffed full of rats
until its diameter was about six times be-
yOnd the normal when it was cast into
the cObras quarters. 1t more closely re-
sembled generously filled stocking on
Christmas morning than a serpent, so the
result was watched with some doubt.
After inspecting the mOtsel for some
time, the cobra began to swallow it slow
~. 1t was an operation that consumed
full half hour, and after its completion
the snakes appearance demonstrated that |
he had enough to satisfy his most vora- |
ciOuS expectations. Since that time the
cobra has been fed with stuffed black
snakes and appears sleek and hearty.
When valuable snakes arrive at the |
reptile house and are not apparently in
cIiupI pDt tlpV l1Vn "a pprtoiu lnpOt N |