NOTES FROM THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. 565 



determined ; but the reptile struck its head so repeatedly 

 against the side of its cage, that, in the keeper's words, 

 * it completely smashed it.' At last it died, its head one 

 mass of putrid sores ; and in that state it had sustained 

 life for many months. It had eaten nothing for ten months. 



It must be owing to the excessive and nervous timidity of 

 snakes, that some of them reject food for so long a time 

 during the first months of their captivity. I think for 

 even more than two years snakes have been known to 

 fast, and to recover their appetite afterwards. So strong a 

 disinclination for food do cobras show, when first brought 

 that it is of no use whatever to put mice into their 

 cages. Now and then, if no one is near them, they will 

 partake of a mouse or a sparrow, but never until they 

 become somewhat reconciled to their surroundings. 



Almost equally alarmed and irreconciled was the Hama- 

 dryad, which is closely allied to the cobras. When first 

 brought to the Gardens in the spring of 1875, he did little 

 else than suspiciously watch for some weeks. With his head 

 elevated in front of the glass, and his hood expanded, he 

 made a dash whenever any one approached or stopped to 

 look at him, and ate nothing for many days. Within a year 

 these fears gradually subsided, and he became so tame as to 

 watch for the keeper instead of for supposed enemies, raising 

 himself to the roof of his cage, and remaining close to the 

 little trap-door at the top, awaiting the snake which, as 

 he had already learned, made its appearance through there 

 for dinner. Much caution is requisite in feeding him ; 

 for though he does not now display spite or anger, 

 once let his head find egress through that little trap- 



