New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-25

Professor Ditnars, who has handled many
snakes recently gave the writer the following very
interesting account Of various methods to compel
the python to feed, and described his methods Of
handling the great reptiles:
when a large snake is first brought to the
Geological Gardens 1t is placed in cage and al
lowed to remain perfectly quiet for week or two
The snakes come from India and South America
in zinc lined packing boxes. In which holes have
been cut for ventilation They require no water or
food in transit though frequently the voyage takes
several months. as trading vessels stop at several
coastng ports.
when the snake which has been in it's cage for
the period mentioned is completely rested up from
its long voyage and has stretched itself at full
length after the confinement of the narrow box,
begin offering food. The first nourshment given
, is plucked chicken. with the feet and head left
on. The chicken must be absolutely fresh. Snakes
extremely fastidous in the matter Of food, and
should meat be even twenty-four hours old they
reject it. AS every one knows most snakes are
chicken TO the reptile because 1t resembles bird
just out of the egg both as to taste and appear
ance. snakes organ OF taste, as well as most of
Its other gensory organs RESIDES IN rt IT'S u Sn
out its tongue and with lghtnlnglike rapidly as
not If this preliminary examination proves salts
factory his snakeship goes ahead with the meal IN
cate their food the chicken is swallowed whole
The power or accommooatlon P3s1tsSu sen eyas I
swallow animal four times its own diameter
animals which at first sight would appear much too
large for the reptile get around:
" In killing its prey in its native haoltat. the
crushed out Hence the word constructor mas
been added to its The popular IDEA that tne
boa constructor first brushes all the bones IN the
body of its victim before attempting to swallow II
is erroneous. Some very remarkable phenomena
observed in connection with the digestive pow
of snakes. have found that the gastric juices
Of a snakes stomach powerful that they
dissolve the bones and teeth OF the animals
swallowed It is very peculiar fact that should
a snake swallow of It's own teeth the BaSlIic
juice does not dissolve the tooth rms Is the Only
kind OF bone not dissolved by these remarkap!e
juices
When a valuable snake under my care refuses
to take plucked chicken. and permits weeks ana
months to pass without any enort 10 TAKE houIlsu
ment, and even exhibits positive aversion 10 H.
have resort drastic measures tNudil.
these great snakes have been placed in cages win
others Of their kind and the greatest precautions
have to be taken by those who 20 into the SNAKES
cage, especially. where there are pythohs OF eretI
size. Apart from the danger OF the snakes enVelop
ing the men in their powerful coils, the bltes OF
these reptiles are very serious. Inc lahgS OF the
boa constructor contain no poison put they nave
great tearing power with their wen negeloPtu
ana very powerful jaws There are four rows OF
teeth in the upper Jaw. and two in the lower me
teeth are very sharp pointed with raZorlike cuits
edges When python, anaconda or boa constructor
btes II shuts down its mouth usLtS a ~ sarna
back with its powerful neck muscles ana as some ne
thing. is bound to tear. frightful wound usually
when n has been decided to force n great
snake to eat one of the assistants. thoroughly &C
qualified with the habits of tho reptiles enters the
Cag@ carefully his movements being very slow ana
calHl. No excitement should be shown, otherwise
the python becomes alarmed ana VIII HhIheulateiy
tBv almost mperceptible movements. al! the
while keeninp his eyes riVeted on those or the
snake the assistant approaches the repue 10 VIII
In two feet email gray blanket is then QUICKLY