36 The Field Naturalist's Quarterly Feb. 



Sometimes it happens that snakes, especially the larger 

 ones, though getting much too thin, cannot be persuaded 

 to eat in spite of the high temperature of their dens. Under 

 such circumstances, rather than run the risk of death through 

 weakness, the animal should be fed against its will. This is 

 fairly easy to manage, and may be thus accomplished. A 

 number of dead mice or young rats is obtained and dipped 

 in new milk (warmed). Then the operator should take the 

 snake by the neck and body, and, having seated himself upon 

 a low stool, allow the greater portion of the reptile to rest on 

 the floor. If the snake be tame it will probably not even 

 struggle while its mouth is gently opened by means of a 

 paper-knife. As soon as its jaws are wide apart an assistant 

 is ready to place one of the dead rodents inside, with the 

 head towards the reptile's throat, down which it is carefully 

 and deftly forced, a smooth short stick being used as a ram- 

 rod. When the mouse or rat is past the throat it may be 

 easily worked down towards the stomach by the manipula- 

 tion of the fingers outside the snake's body. Enough dead 

 rats and mice for a good meal should be administered at one 

 time in this way. 



Frequently when a snake has been thus treated, as soon 

 as it has digested its involuntary meal it will recommence 

 to feed freely of its own accord. However, if this does not 

 happen, the " stuffing," as it is called, should be repeated at 

 the end of ten days. 



When a snake is large and savage and needs " stuffing," 

 it should be first placed in a suitably-sized strong bag. It 

 is a simple matter to bag even a big snake in the right way, 

 but a very difficult one to accomplish in the wrong. The 

 proper method is to turn the bag inside out, and place the 

 right hand and arm within the reversed bag and take with 

 the former, thus protected against a bite, the snake by or 

 near the neck, and as the reptile is lifted up or removed 

 from its case the bag naturally falls down the right side out 

 over a portion of the snake's body, and then the assistant 

 has simply to take the mouth of the bag with both of his 

 hands and gently shake the rest of the animal into the 

 bag, which may be tied before the neck of the snake is 

 released by the hand now holding it on the outside of the 



