NOTES FROM THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS. 587 



any hindrance. Indeed, being much the stronger of the two, 

 the persistent bunny was compelled to hop along at the 

 same pace, still holding on by its teeth. But presently, from 

 the position of the snake, the rabbit was obliged to let %o, 

 when it next caught hold of the tip of the python's tail, and 

 again holding tight, hopped after the retreating reptile as if 

 enjoying the joke. In this case I do not think the snake 

 was conscious of the insult, as perhaps the rabbit had hold of 

 the skin only. 



On the other occasion a guinea-pig was biting a coiled and 

 passive constrictor, PyiJioii sebce. The snake wished to be 

 quiet, but piggy got among its coils and worried it, hopping 

 over it and biting its tail. The python on this, moving only 

 the end of its tail, pushed away the guinea-pig, which soon 

 returned to the attack. The snake again gave the little 

 animal a caudal hint that his fidgeting was annoying ; but as 

 the guinea-pig did not take the hint, and still nibbled and 

 teased the snake, the latter with two coils of the tail put an 

 end to the annoyance, not once turning its head, but just 

 tucking up its persecutor in the end of its tail as you might 

 tuck up a parcel under your arm. The python was not 

 hungry, and took no more notice of the offender, though thus 

 effectually punishing the offence with the last two feet of its 

 practical tail. Could we suppose such a quality as muscular 

 intelligence, we might think the tails of those constricting 

 snakes were surely endowed with it. As in other instances 

 already described in chaps, xi. and xii., the eyes took no 

 part in directing the movements of the snake ; the whole 

 nine or ten feet of the animal remaining passively coiled, 

 while only the extremity of the tail exerted itself. When 



