ITEMS OF SNAKE KNOWLEDGE. 



467 



They frequently injure themselves through striking their heads against 

 the glass of the cage, when lunging at spectators. 



Snakes do not thrive in captivity, unless their places of confinement 

 are more or less the same temperature as their native haunts. 



Snakes do not grow a new tail if theirs should be accidentally cut off. 

 Many hzards, on the contrary, grow new tails. 



Pythons which refuse food may be fed once a week on lumps of beef 

 and dead rats. The food must be forcibly pushed down the throat of the 

 reptile with a smooth rounded stick. It can then be easily worked down 

 to the stomach with the fingers. 



To prevent the Python disgorging the meat, tie a ligature between the 

 meat and the mouth. Keep it on for about half a day. Don't tie it too 

 tightly. 



Fig. 166. — Back view of head and neck of the venomous Shield Snake (Aspidelaps 

 scutatus), so-called because of the large curved shield on its snout. 



Pythons in captivity become very sluggish and allow themselves to be 

 handled without any protest, beyond an occasional hiss. 

 Pythons have been known to fast for at least two years. 



Many of the native tribes of South Africa will devour the flesh of the 

 Python whenever opportunity offers. The flesh is tender, and has a nice 

 flavour when grilled. 



The Aglypha snakes are those whose teeth are solid, without any trace 

 of grooving. They are all harmless. 



Mole snakes vary in coloration more than any other species of South 

 African snake. 



The Dasypeltis snake, or Eier Vreter, is the only snake in the world 

 which has a special apparatus in its backbone for sawing the shells of eggs. 

 This consists of a long row of bony processes tipped with enamel, jutting 

 into the gullet in the neck region. 



