64 JOURNAL OF THE [July, 



rolling aspect. What surprised me was the fact that there was not 

 the least friction in the process — that is, there was no rubbing 

 against any object. As the old skin at this time is moist and a 

 little elastic, any swelling of the body stretches and loosens it. 

 So soon as the exuviating reaches the body, where are the larger 

 ribs, the process goes on rapidly and with a singular system. It 

 is done in this way : Exactly at the place where the skin seems to 

 be moving backward a pair of ribs expands. This action swells 

 or enlarges the body at that place, and thus by slightly stretching 

 loosens the skin there. In this movement both ribs in the pair 

 engaged act together — that is, they expand at the same time. 

 This action is instantly followed by a second movement, very 

 different from the first. One rib of the pair, say the one at the 

 right side, slips out of and forward of the constriction just made 

 by the swelling. The advanced rib is then drawn backward with 

 a jerk against the neck of the old skin. The rib then rests, hold- 

 ing this side of the skin backward. The left rib advances, and 

 repeats for its side the action which has taken place on the right 

 side. Thus the action of the ribs, which at first is together, is 

 now alternate. The next hinder pair of ribs now takes up these 

 movements. So close are these consecutive actions, and so rapid, 

 that, while the entire body does not make any perceptible advance 

 on the ground, it seems, at the places where the ribs are acting, 

 to be crawling tremulously out of a double tube. 



It is noteworthy that unless the philosophy of the process be 

 considered, whether it be the eating or the undressing of the ser- 

 pent, the eyes of the observer will be deceived. One smiles at 

 the man who said " he never felt so good as when he had got 

 himself outside a beefsteak." Now, this ''getting outside" is a 

 literal fact as respects the serpent with its prey. By a hitching 

 on and pulling upon its victim with each side of the mouth alter- 

 nately, the body is actually drawn over the prey. So is it with 

 this action of the ribs in exuviation. Apparently it is a pushing 

 the old garment backward, while really it is a pushing or advanc- 

 ing of the body forward. The old hose evolves from itself for- 

 ward, though it seems to be rolling on itself backward. 



Herein is revealed how it is that a serpent is at the finish of an 

 exuviation practically where it was at the beginning of the process. 

 The ribs forward of the pair which is acting on the skin are oc- 



