92 THE BOOK OF A NATURALIST 



tameness does not always vanish as soon as the 

 creature finds itself free again. About three days 

 after the incident I have related he was again 

 walking with his wife, and they again found the 

 snake at the same spot, whereupon he, anxious to 

 capture it again, made a dash at it, but the snake 

 on this occasion made no attempt to escape, and 

 when picked up did not struggle. They again kept 

 it some time, caressing it with their fingers, then 

 releasing it as before ; later they saw their snake 

 on several occasions, when it acted in the same 

 way, allowing itself to be taken up and kept as 

 long as it was wanted, and then, when released, 

 going very slowly away. 



That one first delightful experience of having 

 its back stroked with finger-tips had made a tame 

 snake of it. 



