SNAKES. 207 
small deer, but it certainly is not its custom to perform either 
of these feats. 
It was a Snake of this species which by simply expanding its 
coils (it had lately been removed from its confined travelling-case, 
a large tub, I believe), as it reposed between the tree or tank and 
the plate glass, pushed out the whole front of its den, which, no 
doubt, would have fallen and broken had it not been for the 
presence of mind of some interested spectators, among whom, I 
believe, was the late Mr. Frank Buckland, who caught the frame 
and held it in or near its place until, after not a little trouble, it 
was properly and securely refixed. The den contained besides 
this Anaconda two others, and a large Python as well. The 
Vivarium—for this happened in the old Reptile House at the 
Zoological Gardens, London—was weak from age and damp. As 
far as I can remember, this particular Anaconda was about 18ft. 
long. Subsequently it produced several fully-developed young 
ones, all, however, born dead. She had, no doubt, owing to her 
captivity and journey, retained her offspring too long ; for Snakes 
have this strange power of postponing, at will, the laying of their 
eggs or the birth of their little ones. Ultimately the poor 
Serpent showed signs of disease, and had to be destroyed. 
The Anaconda is expensive to buy, a good one, according to 
Dr. Stradling, being worth about £30. It is a very beautiful 
animal, and though generally rather savage when first caught, 
quickly under wise treatment becomes tame. 
The rostral of this Snake is hardly visible from above. The 
posterior frontals, loreals, pree-oculars, and supra-oculars are large. 
There are three post-oculars and two sub-oculars, which are 
separated from the labials by some small shields. The upper 
labials number about sixteen. The scales are smooth, and are 
arranged in about sixty rows. The anal scale is entire; the 
ventrals are from 242 to 266, and the sub-caudals from fifty- 
six to seventy-three. Mr. Boulenger describes the colour “ as 
greyish brown or olive above, with a single series or with two 
alternating series of large blackish transverse spots and one or 
two lateral series of blackish ocelli with white centres; top of 
the head dark, separated from the paler sides by a black streak 
forming a point on the snout; an oblique black streak on each 
* 
