A MONSTER PYTHON 181 



oess. The majority of these obstinate specimens at 

 length cast aside their stubborn desire to starve, and 

 take food readily after a time ; others positively de- 

 cline to lielp themselves. 



As the reptile house in the Zoological Park neared 

 completion a giant snake arrived. Packed coil upon 

 coil in a crate not more than four feet square, the 

 monster had spent over three months without food or 

 water. Over twenty feet long, with a pattei'u like a 

 Persian rug, the big snake promised to be a most in- 

 teresting specimen ; as suiting her Oriental habitat 

 we named her " Fatima," and at once started to pre- 

 pare her quarters. The big cages not being ready, 

 she was given temporary quarters in the animal shed, 

 and provided with a tank, under which an oil stove 

 burned steadily. In the tepid water she coiled her 

 regal length and bathed for days. 



About ten days after her arrival keeper Snyder 

 noticed a change in her tenq^er. She lay coiled 

 closely in a corner, and hissed savagely when ap- 

 proached. It did not take long to discover that she 

 was coiled about a mass of eggs, and there was exulta- 

 tion among the keepers. Six weeks passed ; the time 

 for the little pythons to appear had gone, and a sad 

 spirit of realization dawned upon us all. Owing to 

 the l)ig snake having been chilled on her journey to 

 the park, the eggs were spoiled. Still Fatima waited 

 patiently for the appearance of her little family; she 

 furiously resented interference, and matters l)ecame 

 serious. 



Eight weeks had passed since Fatima's arrival at 



