SNAKES. 191 
Snakes, like cage-birds, sometimes suffer from troublesome 
insects, which especially attack the reptiles in the neighbourhood 
of their eyes. These pests could not be exterminated as ‘far as 
this particular Vivarium is concerned if they once got under the 
felt when glued to the outside of the case. But if this covering 
be only fastened on by drawing-pins, it may at any time be re- 
moved and cleansed, and the woodwork painted with paraffin. 
Further remarks concerning this insect trouble will be made in 
another place. 
Such a case as the one just described is not at all unsightly, 
and is very useful as a cheap Vivarium for young Pythons and 
Boas. It should be placed so that its front faces the light. A 
small paraffin lamp will keep the interior of the case at the desired 
degree of heat; an extra lamp being used, if necessary, for 
raising the temperature at feeding-times. In very cold weather, 
the whole of the perforated door may be covered with felt. A 
small thermometer, hung inside the case near the top, will help 
in keeping the temperature under complete control. The perfor- 
ated zinc bottom may be covered with clean and fine gravel or 
with a piece of felt cut to such a size that it will cover the bottom 
of the case with the exception of a margin all round, of about 
3in., which (the margin) will allow the heat from the lamp to 
rise into the case. Two pieces of felt should be made for each 
- Vivarium, so that a clean piece may always be ready to take the 
place of the dirty one. The felt is easily cleaned when quite dry 
by means of a hard brush. If gravel be used, a quantity, dried 
and cleaned, should be ready at any time to take the place of the 
soiled. I think, however, that the felt is preferable to the stones. 
Branches of trees and a shelf or two will, in a sense, materially 
increase the roominess of the case. The bath, made according to 
the dimensions already suggested, must be placed in one corner 
of the case. It ought always to contain clean, soft water, which, 
when freshly introduced, should be warm or tepid: a hot Snake 
is very likely to get a dangerous chill if it should enter a tank of 
quite cold water. 
Another useful and inexpensive Vivarium for the young 
members of the Boide family may be built in a suitable recess of 
aroom. I have such a Vivarium, and have found it very useful 
