180 THE VIVARIUM. 
The act of sloughing is a very important one to the Snake, and 
always more or less affects its health. In fact, the preparation 
for sloughing is called “ sickening” for the same, and the animal 
is really ill for the time. It becomes inactive and ceases to feed. 
The colouring of the animal grows dull, and gradually its eyes 
turn to a light bluish tint and assume an opaque appearance, and 
probably the creature is nearly, if not quite, blind. At this 
stage the Snake’s disposition often changes for the time being. 
A quiet Snake sometimes becoming irritable and snappish, while 
a spiteful one not seldom grows phlegmatic. At from ten days 
to twenty from the commencement of the “ sickening,” a decided 
change takes place in the appearance of the Reptile ; its colour 
gets brighter, and the animal appears to be no longer blind. 
The novice will at once conclude that the Snake has cast its 
slough, and will probably imagine, as the slough cannot be found, 
that the Snake, like the Toad and other Batrachians, is in the 
habit — at any rate sometimes— of swallowing its discarded 
garments. This, however, the Snake never does; but as the 
Reptile at this period will occasionally take food, the inexperi- 
enced Snake-owner has plenty of excuse for supposing that a 
‘“‘ change of skin” has indeed taken place. The slough certainly 
has not been cast, but very soon will be. The clear eyes, the 
brighter colour, and the increased or regained activity of the 
animal are due to the dampness of the cuticle which is presently 
to be shed. This dampness seems to be necessary for the success- 
ful desquamation; and a slough which has very recently been 
shed is always moist and pliable. 
The sloughing of a Snake is a very interesting operation to 
watch. When the Reptile has discarded its old cuticle, it is 
generally found to be, if the Snake be healthy and not very large 
or old, quite entire, from the covering of the eyes to the tip of 
the tail, and also turned inside out. A Snake usually gets rid 
of its slough as a footbali-player does of a tight jersey, by peeling 
it off. 
If a tame Snake, which is about to “‘ change,”’ be watched, it 
will be noticed to be in a restless condition, and constantly 
moving to and fro, carrying its head as low as’ possible, some- 
times rubbing its chin and then its snout against the ground, 
