200 SNAKES. 



rattlesnake in halves. And this was done with greater 

 ease and swiftness than we could snap a thread which we 

 must first secure round the fingers of our two hands. As 

 if indeed possessed of two hands, the constrictor snapped 

 his foe in twain. This is Lawson's 'Whipster/ p. 182. 



The coiling of the constricting snakes is like lightning ; 

 you cannot follow the movements. In this case death 

 must have been instantaneous, and indeed it is doubtful 

 whether any beast or bird of prey puts his victim to a more 

 speedy and less torturing death than the constrictors when 

 following their own instincts. 



Repairing to the Zoological Gardens in the hope of 

 witnessing the wonderful adaptation of coils to manual 

 uses, after reading what Roget and Owen had affirmed, 

 one soon had a favourable opportunity in watching a python. 

 It was, I think, in June 1874, and the poor python had a 

 ruptured side. In spite of which — as my zoological notes 

 record — ' it helped by the folds of its body to get the wings 

 of the duck down flat and close, so as to swallow it more 

 easily. With reason does Roget say, " Its whole body is a 

 hand," for it used its loops to hold and to push and to flatten 

 in a manner truly intelligent' 



Such was my first entry and observation. Subsequently, 

 and indeed almost on every feeding day, the same kind of 

 thing was to be seen at the Gardens. Many such examples 

 are recorded in my notebook ; but of these one or two later 

 notes will suffice to illustrate the subject. 



A young python was hanging from a branch, more than 

 half its body curved as in the accompanying sketch, remain- 

 ing motionless and quiescent, watching some sparrows which 



