FEEDING A PYTHON. 75 



natives, prospectors and hunters of instances, but I always took 

 them aim grano salts. 



One instance, however, came ^vithin my experience which 

 might have resulted in a Jonah-Hke performance. A plucky 

 little Kafir boy, of twelve years, attacked a Python with his 

 kerrie. In endeavouring to deal it a blow on the head, it got a 

 grip of his leg wth its tail, and was instantly round his body. 

 His cries brought us to the spot. We unwound the Python, and 

 beyond a dreadful fright, the boy was Httle the worse, except for 

 a bite on the shoulder. The snake was only twelve feet in 

 length. If it had been larger it would have doubtless crushed 

 the boy's ribs before our arrival. 



Pythons will show fight when wounded or cornered, and at 

 these times it is distinctly dangerous for a man, if alone, to tackle 

 them. 



A friend of mine wounded a Python, and in his excitement 

 rushed forward to despatch it, but it came at him \vith gaping 

 mouth. He involuntaril}^ put up liis hands to save his face. The 

 Python seized his hand, and in his terror, my friend dragged back 

 with all his might, and, before we could release him, the sharp 

 recurved teeth lacerated his hand dreadfully. The wounds 

 eventually healed all right. 



Feeding a Python. 



Pythons in captivity as a general rule refuse to eat, and 

 consequently they have to be fed artificially. At various times 

 we have had live Pythons at the Port Elizabeth Museum, but in 

 no single instance have we ever succeeded in inducing them to 

 eat. At the Natal Government Museum we also kept P3^tlions, 

 but were obliged to feed them artificially. I kept them for years 

 at my residence, with like results. However, I have found lately 

 they will, if kept cosy and warm, often seize and swallow young 

 chickens and fowls. Then after some time they wdll readily 

 seize, constrict, and devour rabbits, guinea pigs and rats. None 

 of these creatures show the slightest alarm at the presence of a 

 Python in the same cage. When captured and constricted death 

 is rapid and painless. At the Port Elizabeth Museum it was our 

 practice to feed them once a fortnight. The Python was carried 

 outside. One man seized its tail, another the middle part of 



