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Molting or Shedding, and Color. 



It is often believed that snakes go blind during dog daj's, and 

 that they are blind once each month at the least, and that molting 

 or casting off the skin occurs each month, etc. There is just enough 

 truth in this belief to keep it in existence. Snakes do molt or cast 

 off the epidermis, or outer skin which becomes dry or hard, and 

 without being shed or cast otT the owner could not grow. This 

 molting is generally not more than two or three times a year and 

 depends on the rate of growth of the reptile, which, in turn, depends 

 upon the supply of food. At such times the clear glassy cuticle 

 which passes lover the eye, without an opening, becomes loosened 

 from the eye and assumes a milky appearance. It is then that the 

 snake is temporarily blind but only for a short time. 



The color of snakes varies greatly, even in the same species and 

 depends more upon the stage of molting than upon anything else. 

 The snake which has recently shed its skin has very bright co.lors, 

 and as it becomes older it beciomes darker and duller in appearance. 

 This molting take place by the outer skin becoming loosened around 

 the lips and turning backward inside out. Sometim<'s the entire 

 ''skin," or epidermis, is left whole or unbroken. Howuver, at the 

 tip of the tail, around the eyes, and around the mouth, can be seen 

 very plain evidences that it has been turned inside out in the 

 process of shedding. This provides not only for a new coat but 

 especially for the growth of the former wearer. 



How Snakes Feed. 



The method of feeding is very peculiar and interesting, as they 

 frequently swallow objects which are much larger around than them- 

 selves. They are the only creatures which are able to do this. This 

 possibility is due to their being provided with an extra bone called 

 the Quadrate bone, hinging between the upper and lower jaws, 

 which makes it possible for the mouth to open to an extreme extent, 

 while the lower jaw itself will separate at the front edge by spread- 

 ing sidewise, allowing the jaws to spread open in two directions 

 when necessary. In capturing their prey, some species, known as 

 the constrictors, squeeze it until it is killed and then proceed to 

 swallow it. Otliers strike their food and hold it, and by an imper- 

 ceptible movement of the jaws they gradually work it around so they 

 can swallow it lengthwise. Some species of the poisonous reptiles 

 may strike their prey with the poison fangs and thus kill it before 

 eating, but when it is possible they avoid wasting the venom and 

 do not kill their food by poison before eating. It should here be 

 added that the venom of the two venomous species in this State, 



