CHAP. VH.J MANNEBS IN CAPTIVITY. 333 



if anticipating an attack. We generally got fish for him, 

 but when that was impracticable, he would eat anything 

 that was given to him, swallowing little birds entire, 

 feathers and all. He would not refuse a rat, though he 

 could only swallow it by slow degrees, the gullet dis- 

 tending to an amazing size. During the five years we 

 had him, he seemed to enjoy perfect health, with one 

 short exception a swelling or hard tumour in the 

 neck, which was cut out, and he resumed his usual 

 condition. 



" I fear there was some neglect in the severe winter 

 of '47. The only change in his accommodation was 

 hanging a mat in front of his inclosure, and this was 

 omitted for several nights. One morning he was found 

 dead, and on examiation his craw was well filled with 

 food, and his condition good ; no cause for death being 

 found, the coroner, the man who always fed and at- 

 tended him, brought in a verdict of died from cramp 

 in the stomach ! 



" I do not think he was much regretted ; his unsocial, 

 unloving disposition gained him no friends ; he certainly 

 has found more admirers in his present quiet, beautiful 

 state of preservation, in which he maintains his usual 

 position of defence, than he ever did with ruffled plumes 

 in life. The attitude is a crouching position, in appear- 

 ance something like that of a hen brooding her chickens, 

 though in intention more analogous to a serpent coiled 

 preparatory to his spring. Indeed, when stretched out 

 at length, as was his wont, he bore no little resemblance 

 to one of the serpent tribe. 



" During the calm summer nights, I was frequently 

 awoke with his very peculiar cry or boom ; this call was 

 continued for about two months, June and July, and 



