106 THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
should sip down into the stomach. There is no other species 
of snake in the world which possesses these wonderful backbone 
or gular teeth. 
EGG-SWALLOWING PROCESS. 
The expanding elastic-like power of the Egg-eater’s lower jaw 
and skin of the throat is really immense, as will be noticed in the 
illustration. The snake seizes the egg at one end and proceeds 
to swallow it by a succession of slow and deliberate gulps, 
accompanied by a pushing-forward movement of the body. 
In fact, the snake’s mouth seems just to spread slowly over the 
egg, so smoothly and evenly does the process act. When 
the egg has been worked down into the throat, the snake raises its 
head and neck an inch or two above the ground, and by working 
its backbone backwards and forwards, saws the egg-shell right 
through longitudinally, just as a person would do with a very 
fine fret-saw. Then the neck-muscles are put into operation, 
and the snake moves its neck from side to side, constricting the 
egg until all the contents have been squeezed out and down the 
gullet. Then raising its head a little higher, the Egg-eater spits 
out the crumpled shell. 
An Egg-eating Snake with a head the breadth of a man’s 
forefinger can swallow a bantam’s egg. The largest varieties can 
manage an ordinary domestic fowl’s egg. 
EGG-EATERS IN CAPTIVITY. 
Egg-eating snakes are interesting reptiles to keep in captivity. 
Unlike most other snakes, they are not only quite non- 
venomous, but, having no teeth, other than a few rudimentary 
ones in the mouth, they are unable even to scratch the skin. 
Knowing this, they never attempt to bite when handled, even 
when first captured, as do many non-venomous snakes. 
No species of snake is more interesting to observe and study 
than the Egg-eater in captivity. He is different from the usual 
snake, as he has a gentle, innocent look about him. After being in 
captivity for a month or two, and gently handled at intervals, he 
seems to become affectionate with whoever fondles him. However, 
I fear a snake’s tiny spot of a brain is not sufficiently evolved to 
