NOTES FROM THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. 585 



autumnal days, when a duck sat pluming itself as if settling 

 itself for the evening. 



' Yes, sir,' replied the keeper. 



' Will he swallow it whole 1 ' 



' Yes, sir.' 



' Choke him ! I should think .'' ' 



* No, sir ; no — it won't choke him.' 



The man studied the duck, and studied the size of the 

 python's head and throat for some time. The duck 

 apparently going to rest, but not quite reconciled at so 

 many persons intruding upon her, the man looked dis- 

 appointed, and again began : 



* Now is that duck charmed, sitting there 1 ' 



' I should think, sir, she was not at all charmed with the 

 prospect,' sedately replied Holland. 



'Does that duck kiioio it's going to be eaten?' then 

 inquired the man after fresh scrutiny. 



* No, sir,' returned the keeper with the utmost gravity. 



* That snake don't seem to be hungry,' then said the 

 disappointed observer. 



' No, sir. He'll eat well enough next Friday. He's going 

 to chancre his skin.' 



' Oh ! ' said the man to a boy by his side, satisfied, though 

 still rather puzzled, ' that snake's going to change his skin 

 next Friday.' 



Though there are always on an average fifty snakes in 

 the Reptile House, and on an average each casts its coat 

 three times a year, the visitors arc for the most part much 

 mystified about this phenomenon. A snake that had just 

 completed a new toilet had a portion of the old slough still 



