50 
ing the ‘slouzh’ inside out in the operation, 
and appears bright, active and hungry in a new 
dress. 
Often, when aware that my pets were ready 
to shed their old skins, I have taken one in 
my hands and carefully freeing the skin about 
the jaws, I have firmly held the loosened por- 
tion, when the snake has gradually worked it- 
self out of the old skin, as you would remove a 
tightly fitting kid glove, leaving in my hands a 
perfect cast ‘slough.’ ” 
‘During the act of shedding, does the snake 
quickly glide out of its loose skin?” 
“No, my Fritz; the process of ‘casting’ a 
‘slough’ is attended with considerable deliber- 
ate exertion on the part of the snake and fre- 
quently consumes hours, but when receiving 
unnatural assistance but a few minutes elapses 
during the act. After the skin is freed about 
the head, the snake in its natural haunts, 
slowly forces its way among the grass or weeds, 
or rubs against hard substances and these grad- 
ually push the skin back over the snake’s body, 
while the snake contracts its body immediately 
in front of the free part of the skin; and thus, 
by rubbing and contracting, the skin is slowly 
pushed off, When assistance is rendered of 
course the snake has only to contract and ad- 
vance and in a short time is entirely free from 
its uncomfortable vesture. Sometimes when 
shedding its skin there will be a ‘green’ spot 
in the ‘slough’ and this will so tightly adhere 
