ANACONDA AND ANGUIS FRAG I LIS. 455 



In the present case her interest lies in her maternal aspect, 

 for it is the one that was brought to London in 1877 of 

 which we now speak, and who astonished the ophiological 

 public by giving birth to fully-developed young ones in 

 April of that year. 



In Land and Water of the preceding February, Mr. Frank 

 Buckland described the arrival of this snake at Liverpool in 

 a box, which with its occupant weighed over 2 cwt., and of 

 the necessary examination ' he ' (the snake) was obliged to 

 undergo by Mr. Bartlette previous to purchase. Being at 

 length conveyed to the Zoological Gardens, *he' was reported 

 as being thin and as having no inclination to feed, but glad 

 to remain in * his ' bath almost continuously. 



It was brought from the vicinity of the Amazons, and 

 must have been cramped up for many months in this close 

 prison. No wonder it turned at once into its native element, 

 although the small tank restricted its movements almost as 

 much as its travelling box. The poor thing was seen to be 

 suffering discomfort, presumably from its long journey and 

 close confinement ; and one day, when endeavouring to 

 extend itself and move more at ease in the narrow space 

 between the tank and the front glass, it forced out the entire 

 frame by the power of its coils. Fortunately the huge 

 python and two other Anacondas in the same cage at the 

 time were in a torpid condition ; or had those four powerful 

 snakes been lively or spiteful, and all at liberty at this crisis, 

 grave results might have accrued. Aid being at hand, the 

 loosened frame was promptly re-adjusted ; but this practical 

 illustration of Anaconda's powers was a useful lesson to 

 snake keepers. 



