HARMLESS SNAKES 83 



of which was angrily seized in the Python's jaws. With this 

 auspicious beginning, it was the work of only a few moments 

 to gradually push the string of wet rabbits down the serpent's 

 throat, to a distance of seven feet, and withdraw the pole. 

 Finally, the tail and body of the snake were thrust into the 

 cage, and with a careful toss from the hands of Mr. Snyder, 

 the head landed on the coils, sufficiently distant that the door 

 could be closed without accident. 



Since that time the substitution of freshly killed pigs for 

 rabbits, chickens and ducks has rendered forcible feeding 

 unnecessary. 



HARMLESS SNAKES OF THE UNITED STATES 



Of the grand army of harmless snakes inhabiting North 

 America, the King Snake 1 is unquestionably the king. It 

 is also called the Chain Snake and Thunder Snake. It is 

 the most courageous of all snakes, and in proportion to its 

 size it is also the strongest. Toward man it is by no means 

 especially vicious; but, on the contrary, its manner is quite 

 tolerant. 



Toward all other serpents, however, it manifests as great 

 aversion as any snake-hating woman, and it is pugnacious 

 and aggressive to an astonishing degree. The King Snake is, 

 for its size, the most powerful of all the constrictors, and does 

 not hesitate to attack a snake of another species several times 

 larger than itself. It is cannibalistic in its tastes, and not 

 only attacks and kills other snakes, but devours them. 



In our Reptile House, a snake of this species once attacked 



1 O-phi-bo'lus ge-tu'lus. 



