A MONSTER PYTHON 181 



cess. The majority of these obstinate speeiineiis at 

 length cast aside their stubborn desire to starve, and 

 take food readily after a time ; others positively de- 

 chne to help themselves. 



As the reptile house in the Zoological Park neared 

 completion a giant snake arrived. Packed coil upon 

 coil in a crate not more than four feet square, the 

 monster had spent over three months without food or 

 water. Over twenty feet long, with a pattern like a 

 Persian rug, the big snake promised to be a most in- 

 teresting specimen ; as suiting her Oriental habitat 

 we named her " Fatima," and at once started to pre- 

 pare her quarters. The big cages not being ready, 

 she was giv^en temporary quarters in the animal shed, 

 and provided with a tank, under which an oil stove 

 burned steadily. In the tepid water she coiled her 

 reo-al leno-th and loathed for days. 



About ten davs after her arrival keeper Snvder 

 noticed a change in her temper. She lay coiled 

 closely in a corner, and hissed savagely when ap- 

 proached. It did not take long to discover that she 

 was coiled about a mass of efro;s, and there was exulta- 

 tion among the keepers. Six weeks passed ; the time 

 for the little pythons to appear had gone, and a sad 

 spirit of realization dawned upon us all. Owing to 

 the bio: snake havino^ been chilled on her iournev to 

 the park, the eggs were spoiled. Still Fatima waited 

 patiently for the appearance of her little family ; she 

 furiously resented interference, and matters became 

 serious. 



Eight weeks had passed since Fatima's arrival at 



