1G6 



BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 



tions of its temperature during the period of hybernation and other 

 details will, I think, be of interest to the members. 



During the twelve months between 27th May 1886 and 20th May 

 1887, the snake ate 23 rats, 3 hens, 3 crows, and 1 kestrel, all of 

 which were given to it alive. It is worthy of note that the rats on 

 being placed in the cage appeared to take little or no notice of the 

 snake. They would frequently run over its coils in their efforts to 

 find a way out of the cage, and on occasions, when the snake re- 

 mained quiet for a time, they would frequently approach it, smell it, 

 and even bite it. The hens appeared to have even less instinctive 

 fear of the snake, and would, if left to themselves for a short time, 

 commence scratching and picking up grains in the cage. The 

 crows, on the other hand, showed considerable apprehension of the 

 danger. 



It will be seen that during the hot months the period of digestion 

 averaged about eight days, whereas in the cold weather it became 

 much slower, the two rats eaten on 21st December being retained 

 until 28th February. 



During the cold weather, from 21st December to 13th April, 

 a period of 113 days, the snake refused food and remained in a very 

 sluggish, sleepy condition. During this period of hybernation the 

 temperature of the reptile fell from 82° (normal) to 73°, a fall of 9 

 degrees. Taking the temperature was a matter of considerable 

 difficulty. The snake is very strong, and it often required as many as 

 six persons to hold it still while the thermometer was inserted. 

 The results are, however, of particular value, as such observations 

 cannot be made in European menageries, where artificial heat has 

 to be used. 



The snake cast its slough four times during the course of the 

 year : three times in the hot weather, at intervals of 2 months, and 

 once after it had recovered from its hybernation. 



