EGG-EATERS IN CAPTIVITY. 107 
be capable of disinterested affection. The reason why snakes grow 
to like being handled and carried about in a person’s pocket, is 
because of the warmth, which is exceedingly pleasurable to them. 
The normal temperature of a snake is many degrees below that of 
our bodies. Moreover, their temperature largely depends on 
that of the atmosphere with which they are surrounded. They 
generate heat so slowly within themselves that, unlike us, their 
vital organs are quite unable to adapt themselves to a sudden rise 
or fall of the temperature of the air. 
So, when held in the hand, the warmth of our skin imparts an 
enjoyable and pleasant feeling to a snake ; therefore, if gently 
handled, snakes soon lose all nervousness and fear, and will lie 
contentedly in the hand, or make explorations up the sleeves, 
down the back, and all around the body, popping out occasionally 
to take their bearings. 
This reminds me of an amusing incident. One of my Egg- 
eaters was a special favourite, because he was so tame that he 
took eggs from my fingers, and when I allowed him to wander 
about my person he always seemed reluctant to be taken back 
to his cage. He was real company for me in my study. It 
made me less lonely to feel him crawling up my trouser leg, 
exploring my back, diving down my neck, or suddenly 
popping out of my sleeve to see what I was up to. My aunt 
had a standing grievance against me, because I so rarely 
put in an appearance in the drawing-room when she had 
visitors. 
Once she was having some special friends in the evening 
to see her, so I promised I would join the party. Taking a 
walk around the grounds, to see if my Zulu servant had fed 
my small menagerie of domesticated wild animals, and after 
taking down a pet Python which I allowed to crawl up 
a tree in the yard to bask in the warm sunshine and dream 
dreams all day long of his former free, wild life in the rocky 
forest-clad, moist valleys of the Eastern Transvaal, I meandered 
in to my study, took out my Egg-eater snake, and, after 
fondling him for a few minutes, pushed him into my pocket 
to get warm. I was startled presently by the voice of my 
aunt at the door complaining of my unsociable and selfish 
conduct. With many regrets, I hurried after her, and was soon 
absorbed in conversation with her friends, or rather answering 
