EGG-EATERS IN CAPTIVITY. 107 



be capable of disinterested affection. The reason why snakes get 

 to hke being handled and carried about in a person's pocket, is 

 because of the warmth, which is exceedingly pleasurable to them. 

 The normal temperature of a snake is many degrees below that of 

 our bodies. Moreover, their temperature largely depends on 

 that of the atmosphere with which they are surrounded. They 

 generate heat so slowly Avithin themselves that, unlike us, their 

 vital organs are quite unable to adapt themselves to a sudden rise 

 or fall of the temperature of the air. 



So, when held in the hand, the warmth of our skin imparts an 

 enjoj^able and pleasant feehng to a snake ; therefore, if gently 

 handled, snakes soon lose all nervousness and fear, and will lie 

 contentedly in the hand, or make explorations up the sleeves, 

 down the back, and all around the body, popping out occasionally 

 to take their bearings. 



This reminds me of an amusing incident. One of my Egg- 

 eaters was a special favourite, because he was so tame that he 

 took eggs from my fingers, and when I allowed him to wander 

 about my person he always seemed reluctant to be taken back 

 to liis cage. He was real company for me in my study. It 

 made me less lonely to feel him crawling up my trouser leg, 

 exploring my back, diving down my neck, or suddenly 

 popping out of my sleeve to see what I was up to. My aunt 

 had a standing grievance against me, because I so rarely 

 put in an appearance in the drawing-room when she had 

 visitors. 



Once she was having some special friends in the evening 

 to see her, so I promised I would join the party. Taking a 

 walk around the grounds, to see if my Zulu servant had fed 

 my small menagerie of domesticated wild animals, and after 

 taking down a pet Python which I allowed to crawl up 

 a tree in the yard to bask in the warm sunshine and dream 

 dreams all day long of his former free, wild life in the rocky, 

 forest-clad, moist valleys of the Eastern Transvaal, I meandered 

 into my study, took out my Egg-eater snake, and, after 

 fondling him for a few minutes, pushed him into my pocket 

 to get warm. I was startled presently by the voice of my 

 aunt at the door complaining of my unsociable and selfish 

 conduct. With many regrets, I hurried after her, and was soon 

 absorbed in conversation with her friends, or rather answering 



