Remarks on the Habits of the Snake. 431 



In about four or five days from this time, we observed an 

 opacity in the corner of one eye, and in a day or two more a 

 similar appearance presented itself in the corresponding part 

 of the other eye, which continued to increase for ten or twelve 

 days, notwithstanding which the snake was capable of disco- 

 vering the approach of the hand, or any other body ; but it 

 gradually became more and more dormant, and disinclined to 

 move, yet, when fully roused, would glide over the hand or 

 arm of any one offering to handle it, or amongst the small 

 branches of a tree or bush, with nearly as much agility as be- 

 fore. The next morning, on looking into the box where it 

 was usually kept, it was found to have collected the hay into 

 one corner, and to have secreted itself beneath it. On remov- 

 ing the hay, the snake was found coiled up into a very small 

 space, and the cuticle around the upper jaw had begun to de- 

 squamate and turn upwards, giving the head a very rough and 

 peculiarly fierce appearance. The snake now appeared to be 

 extremely irritable, hissing violently, and endeavouring, in 

 every possible way, to secrete itself beneath the hay ; when 

 it found itself unable to do this, the quantity not being suffi- 

 cient, it moved with great rapidity out of the box. The box 

 was afterwards filled with hay, and the snake returned into it 

 and left unmolested for about two hours ; at the expiration of 

 this time we paid it another visit, and then found it in a very 

 remarkable condition : a great portion of the cuticle had de- 

 squamated, and appeared very much inflated, presenting the 

 appearance of a single coil or ring, about six inches in dia- 

 meter, completely enclosing the animal. Upon more closely 

 inspecting this inflated ring, we found that it was produced 

 by the snake, after having inverted a part of its skin over the 

 tail, having accidentally entered the open extremity of the in- 

 verted portion, while in the act of disengaging itself from the 

 remainder ; the exuviae were so far transparent, that we could 

 observe the yellow spots upon the neck and the dark folds of 

 the enclosed snake. After letting it remain some little time 

 in this situation, upon attempting to take it up, it made its 

 way through the skin, and gradually dragging on the smaller 

 part of its body which was not disengaged from the skin, af- 

 ter a short time it was slowly drawn from it, and the animal 

 moved about in its new and gaudy attire. Immediately after 

 this process was completed, the snake exhibited considerable 

 activity, gliding with much vigour out of the hands of those 

 who attempted to secure it. On being placed upon a grass 

 plot, it moved over it with great rapidity, and amongst the 

 boughs of a tree on which it was placed, it travelled with far 

 greater speed and vigour than I had ever observed it to do 



