410 SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 
of life in my prisoner. After this the moribund snake quickly 
recovered and very soon resumed its old habits, devouring 
with pleasure rats and squirrels, its two favourite dishes. 
In January, 1912, anticipating a move, I sent my wonderful 
friend to the Colombo Museum, asking the Director to look 
after it. He consented, and the tic-polonga became a pensioner 
of the State, and was exhibited to the public in the Museum 
Gardens. 
In December of that year the Director, Dr. Pearson, sent 
the snake to a Russian lady naturalisé (a friend of mine), who 
had expressed a desire to study reptiles. The box bearing 
the marks “Caution, poisonous snake ” arrived while this 
lady was away on a visit up-country. It was, therefore, 
decided not to open the box until her return, and in con- 
sequence the unfortunate prisoner spent a miserable two 
months without food or drink. In the end my friend gave 
up the idea of reptile study, and the box containing the 
tic-polonga was returned unopened to my residence at 
Talgaswella. 
Having had a cage made, I proceeded with all necessary 
caution to take off the lid of the box in which the snake was 
sent to me and to empty the contents into the cage. Imagine 
my astonishment on seeing, instead of a half dead snake, one 
full of life disporting itself in its prison. 
I immediately decided to feed it. A squirrel which I had 
just shot was swallowed in a flash. I saw the jaws of the 
snake open, and the squirrel, seized by the head, disappeared 
bit by bit. Afterwards the snake had a drink of water. This 
happened on February 23, and on the 24th a second squirrel 
was given and consumed in the same way, a third on the 25th, 
a fourth on the 26th, and a fifth on the 27th. It was only 
when the sixth one was given to the reptile on the 28th that 
its appetite seemed to be satisfied, and it then appeared to be 
filled to repletion. 
These observations, it will be seen, are of more than ordinary 
interest. First, in recording the unexpected revival and 
recovery of the snake after having sustained such serious 
injuries to its head that the reptile showed no signs of life for 
several days ; and further, in proving that the tic-polonga is 
