186 A COLLECTORS EXPERIENCES 



mens, and the blacksnake and coacliwhip cage was 

 almost empty. It Avas decided one day, after a large 

 blacksnake had been killed, to stuff it to its utmost 

 capacity with half-grown rats and frogs, and present 

 the distended carcass to the cobra. When the black- 

 snake was fully prepared it more closely resembled a 

 generously filled Christmas stocking than a serpent, 

 and was equal to half a dozen snakes. 



The cobra gravely inspected the unique morsel, 

 and finally engulfed it entire, although the process 

 was quite heroic. Since then the cobra has been fed 

 " stuffed " snakes, and presents a sleek and hearty 

 appearance. 



But it is not only the cobra that has been deluded, 

 in a spirit prompted by economy. Rat snakes are 

 temj^ted to eat strips of beef by clipping a small 

 quantity of fur from a rat or rabbit and sprinkling it 

 over the meat. A small amount of fur will bait a 

 dozen strips of meat. In the same way the larger 

 snakes are induced to partake of meat by sprinkling- 

 over it a few chicken feathers. 



It is a mistake to suppose that captive snakes 

 must kill their prey or they will not eat. Of course, 

 in a natural condition this is necessarily the case. 

 The majority of captive specimens feed readily upon 

 freshly killed material, and such food is always pre- 

 ferred by their keepers. The poisonous snakes gen- 

 erally offer an exception to this rule, although the 

 cobra and its allies are not at all particular. If a live 

 rat be placed in a cage containing a dozen ravenous 

 snakes all rush for it at once, and a serious tangle 



