198 THE MINDS AND MANNERS 



example of snake intelligence on a large scale, which profoundly 

 impressed me. 



A reticulated python about twenty-two feet long arrived 

 from Singapore with its old skin dried down upon its body. 

 The snake had been many weeks without a bath, and it had 

 been utterly unable to shed its old skin on schedule time. It 

 was necessary to remove all that dead epidermis, without 

 delay. 



The great serpent, fully coiled, was taken out of its box, 

 sprayed with warm water, and gently deposited on the gravel 

 floor of our most spacious python apartment. Later on pails 

 of warm water, sponges and forceps were procured, and five 

 strong keepers were assembled for active service. 



The first step was to get the snake safely into the hands of 

 the men, and fully under control. A stream of cold water 

 from a hose was suddenly shot in a deluge upon the python's 

 head, and while it was disconcerted and blinded by the flood, 

 it was seized by the neck, close behind the head. Immediately 

 the waiting keepers seized it by the body, from neck to tail, 

 and straightened it out, to prevent coiling. Strong hands 

 subdued its struggles, and without any violence stretched the 

 writhing wild monster upon the floor. 



Then began the sponging and peeling process. The 

 frightened snake writhed and resisted, probably feeling sure 

 that its last hour had come. The men worked quietly, spoke 

 soothingly, and the work proceeded successfully. With the 

 lapse of time the serpent became aware of the fact that it was 

 not to be harmed; for it became quiet, and lay still. At the 

 same time, we all dreaded the crisis that we thought would 

 come when the jaws and the head would be reached. 



By the time the head was reached, the snake lay perfectly 

 passive. Beyond all doubt, it understood the game that was 

 being played. 



Now, the epidermis of a snake covers the entire head, 

 including the eyes! And what would that snake do when the 



