FOOD OF SERPENTS 71 



This fine specimen, which is nearly 11 feet long, became, 

 toward the end of its first winter, so difficult to provide for, 

 when the special supply of food-snakes had become well- 

 nigh exhausted, that Curator Ditmars and Keeper Snyder 

 tried a novel experiment. They killed a 6-foot snake, stuffed 

 it with frogs to the number of half a dozen, then offered it 

 to the cobra. It was immediately accepted, and devoured in 

 good faith; and since that time the experiment has often 

 been repeated. 



A large collection of captive reptiles requires many dif- 

 ferent kinds of food, and plenty of it. It is not necessary 

 that food should be given alive. Very naturally, a serpent 

 cannot swallow a bird or a mammal which is stiff in death, 

 and unyielding. Swallowing is not possible unless the legs 

 or wings are folded very closely against the body. All that 

 a serpent requires is that the animal be offered while yet 

 warm, and before rigor mortis has set in. The practice is to 

 kill the food in the Reptile House, and offer it immediately 

 afterward, while it is yet warm. 



During the year 1914 the Reptile House contained 42 

 Crocodilians, 217 Lizards, 247 Chelonians, 339 Serpents and 

 241 Amphibians, making a total of 177 species and 1,086 

 specimens. The animal food consumed by our reptiles dur- 

 ing the year 1902 was as follows: 



3,550 Rats and Mice, 512 Guinea-Pigs, 



1,456 English Sparrows, About 18,000 Meal-Worms, 



624 Small Chickens, About 25,500 Live Fish, 



208 Large Chickens, About 2,000 Toads, 



210 Pigeons, About 2,000 Frogs, 



1,300 Eggs, About 2,500 lbs. Vegetables 

 272 Rabbits, and Fruit. 



