20 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



like manner, with the additional complication that, in endea- 

 vouring to strike, they bruise or cut their mouths, which, as we 

 shall see later on, is an accident of peculiar gravity. A small 

 " dark-green" (Zamcnis atrovirens), which was introduced to the 

 public gaze somewhat prematurely at the Zoological Gardens, 

 actually beat itself to death against the glass ; and hundreds of 

 recently-caught specimens — probably, if the truth were known, 

 a large majority of those that are taken alive — are speedily 

 killed by being teased and induced to fly at the wire or glass 

 covering of their box. They must be gradually habituated to 

 the presence of spectators ; a process by no means lengthy, 

 though different species and different individuals vary very much 

 in their capability of being tamed. 



There is always a possibility of certain little accidents, too, 

 which renders it desirable that they should be under the owner's 

 eye — such as the occasional swallowing of one by another at 

 feeding-time, getting their heads jammed into holes and corners, 

 casual defects in the heating arrangements, and so forth. When 

 the snakes are accustomed to man, these can be remedied with 

 little danger or difficulty, and they will feed unreservedly and 

 display their various characteristics under observation. The 

 only greenhouse cage for big serpents that I have ever seen 

 meeting these requirements was one built against the wall of the 

 house, into which a sheet of plate glass of the same length was 

 let ; the cage itself thus formed an immense window for one of 

 the rooms, while the snakes were really luxuriating in the 

 tropical heat of the conservatory outside. Unfortunately, the 

 plans were altered before it was completed, and the whole thing 

 was turned into an aquarium instead. 



Wherever it may be established, the chief consideration will, 

 of course, be its size. This must altogether depend upon that of 

 the reptiles for which it is designed. It cannot be too large for 

 them; and I suppose it is hardly necessary to condemn the 

 cruelty of imprisoning huge constrictors in those abominable /ki 

 cases, like those that are used for trinkets in a jeweller's shop, in 

 which they are too often cramped up in travelling menageries 

 and other exhibitions. Speaking generally, the height of the 

 cage ought to be equal at least to two-thirds of the serpent's 

 length, since it will rear itself up at times to that extent. It is 

 not absolutely necessary to have it as long as the snake, though 



