282 THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



With the exercise of a httle time and patience many species 

 of snakes can be induced to take the dead bodies of the creatures 

 on which they are in the habit of fccdinj::. They seldom take 

 and retain food, however, if the temperature of the air in their 

 cage is lower than 75" Fahr. Snakes will even accept the prey 

 when it is in a stale condition, and after a time they usually 

 prefer dead to living food. 



A temperature of from 80° to 90'' Fahr. in the snake cages 

 keeps the reptiles active and keen to take and digest food. In 

 South Africa snakes can, of course, be confined in enclosures out- 

 of-doors during the warm season of the year. They should have 

 access to the sim's rays. 



The snakes in the Snake Park at the Port Elizabeth IMuseum 

 feed freely. They however seldom take dead prey. 



