The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-23

sooner. For a good tiger the animal im-
porter gets from 800 to $500,
The snakes were on the next floor. They
weren't visible, because most Of them were
In the boxes in which they had come from
Calcutta. The smaller pythons had been
taken out and put into huge bins
Peering down into a bin, all that the re-
porter could see was a black mass, With here
and there a pair Of beady eyes buried among
many coils, big tank stood at one end
Of the ROOM where the pythons are bathed
frequently.
Just now the snake department Of such
a store il a busy place, because large orders
are being filed for the snake shows, which
start out In the spring. Men were busy
the other day packing pythons and send
ing the boxes downstairs to be shipped by
express.
There's the big fellow. said tho head Of
the snake department, pointing 60 a big
bin. Hes just had bath and he's sleepy.
II took half a dozen men 70 get him into
his bath and out again.
The head salesman OF the snake depart
ment lifted up the cover Of the bin. The
S6-foot python seemed TO take up about half
OF It. Some Of his coils looked as big
around as q water main.
Were Just beginning to feed them again,
Haid the snake salesman, reaching down into
another box and pulling out the head OF .
big fellow, which he held firmly just behind
the head, while the python's tongue tried
some jiu-jitsu tricks. ITS only his coils
and teeth that you've got to fear.
His teeth would give you blood poisoning
and his coils might make a pulp Of you.
While a snake can crush, it can't push, and
therefore 1t doesn't take a very strong box
to hold the biggest OF them.
As soon as we get shipment like this
from Calcutta we have to start TO work
feeding them. They're like oonvalesoents.
They're Just a bit squeamiSh, and We have
10 feed them dalnties.
Just now we're giving them some nice
small chickens, small rabbits and white
mioe every third day. By and by, II they're
still here, wen let them eat smal goats
and small pigs and ieed them every day.
The trouble with a lot Of them Is that
they lose their appetite after one Of these
long fasts, and then we have to give them
an egg cocktail. We put q hose down
their throats and pour in q few dozen raw
eEEs. Thatu mako any snake feel as II
he had Just eaten q Thanksgiving Day
dinner.
sIAke a lot Of travellers, most Of thom
Ike q good bath after they arrive. We
put them In that big tub, and they get real
mad when they have TO get out
I'VE sell them by ages and sizes. A
good snake that Is over 100 years old brings
a good price. Pythons are in demand
and 90 are boa constructors. Big ones
bring $780,
The monkey department takes up two
hoors. There were about 800 monkeys
on the two floors. They were In cages,
and their ohattering almost lifted the roof.
They were Of all ages and sizes.
They're fresh from the jungles and
they're all Wild said the head Of the
monkey department, Watching monkey
trying to grab 9s hands through the bars.
sThey get tang very soon, however. We
sell several thousand a year. They are
always In demand for parks and shows
There was one monkey who was In
department all by himself. He was a
young baboon, with long hair. He has a
bad case Of melanchoia.
Now and then the baboon IL allowed to
sit in the window and look out at the horse
cara on Grand street, while the snake men
rub his head; but he Is very detected.
Hes lust a bit homesick, said the head
monkey salesman. Balloons bring higher
prices than the other monkeys, because
it's hard to get them, and 1t Is harder to
keep them
There Is one class Of animals for which
the animal importer has to make different
provision, because they can't be treated
ike 40 much merchandise and boxed and
oo-tod around 40 easily. They are the
hay eating animals.
Elephants and camels oompoee the larger
part Of this class. They have to be kept
on a farm while waiting to be sold. One
concern in this city has such q farm near
Woodside, l.. /.
The farm consists Of three acres inclosed
by high board fence. Inside the farm are
harms for the elephants and camels and
large cages for leopards and tigers that
may remain unsod.
The elephants and cameh are taken TO
the farm from the ships that land them
hut few OF the other animals ever 60 there,
because they do not have TO wait long Tor
| purchasers. Only young elephants are
| imported by animal dealers.
"a E sBs 55Rs TIGSs sn are years YEP ago
81 200 was a big price TO pay tor one
sTbey are retreating before the march OF
civilization and are getting scarcer every
wear, Just as the buffalo has. The demand
| Tor them is increasing. We have orders
| Tor three times ss many elephants as We
sCsicutta "a the market for them, Tho
| Fnglish Government controls the elephant
| trade and has It's pick Of all the elephants
captured, Fifty years from nov an s@s