292 
THE VIVARIUM. 
its nozzle slightly enlarged, is a very convenient instrument for 
quickly filling the tubes with minced meat. 
The tube should be of such a diameter that it will easily pass 
down the throat of the Snake for which it is used. For example, 
7" 
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Fic. 76.—TUBE 
FOR FEEDING 
VERY SMALL 
SNAKES. 
for a Snake 4ft. long and of stoutish build, glass 
tubes having a diameter of about din. and about 
1ft. long should be used, the tube as a rule being 
filled full of meat. 
For Snakes of less than 2ft. in length, tubes, 
such as those sold by chemists at id. each for 
babies’ feeding-bottles, may be employed. These 
tubes are strong, and have, for their size, a large 
interior. They are, also, perfectly smooth at the 
ends. According to the needs of the Snakes, one 
or more tubesful of meat can be inserted into the 
gullet of each Reptile. 
For Snakes less than a foot in length, a specially 
prepared tube (Fig. 76) should be used. The tube 
receives its desired shape by being heated in a hot 
flame, and then drawn out to the necessary length 
and slenderness. This tube is easily filled with 
scraped raw meat, according to the directions 
already given, the larger end (A) of the tube being 
dabbed down into the meat. This larger part 
(Fig. 76) should hold just about sufficient meat 
for a meal for one small Snake. A small ramrod, 
which exactly fits the broad part, is used to push 
the meat out of the lower part (B) into the gullet 
of the Snake. Of course, the narrow portion of the 
tube always remains full of meat until, when all 
the feeding is done, it is emptied by means of a 
piece of wire. Young Snakes may be reared from 
the egg or from their birth by such a contrivance 
as this tube. 
A Snake can be fed with the help of a tube in the following 
way: The reptile is taken gently, just behind the head, with the 
left hand, and its mouth is opened very carefully with a small 
paper-knife or some similar article. When this has been done the 
