TREATMENT OF SNAKES IN CAPTIVITY. 113 



does not answer, as one might for a canary. The importance of 

 all these small matters has been revealed to me by a series of 

 disasters for lack of them. 



We have still the two ends to fill in. For these, two frames 

 should be made of the exact size as the ends themselves, covered 

 with canvas like the back and roof, and fastened with hinges to 

 the top so as to form doors, lying against the exterior and lifting 

 up from below. (It is hardly necessary to say that the canvas 

 everywhere lies outside the frame). If these hinges are properly 

 contrived, the doors may be turned up till they rest by the upper 

 surface of their frame on that of the cage, and will stand in that 

 position without support, which will be found an immense 

 convenience during any manipulation in the interior. There 

 must be a button, bolt, or ring and staple fastening at each 

 corner below. Where the length of the cage does not exceed two 

 feet, one door will be sufficient, the other end being simply 

 covered with canvas ; where the breadth exceeds three feet, there 

 had better be a division in the middle of each end, and the door 

 occupy only the half which is nearer the glass. No tray will be 

 required, since the facilities for cleansing the gravel are so great. 

 A sliding panel, to divide the interior into two compartments, is 

 very easily contrived, if circumstances render it advisable. 



Such a cage stands at a window of the house in which I 

 write. It is 3 feet 6 inches long, 2 feet 6 inches broad, and 

 2 feet 6 inches high, the glazed side containing two panes. A 

 well-branched "tree" springs from the floor, near the glass at 

 one end, and slopes upwards to the farther angle at the top of 

 the other. The frame and floor are made of white deal, the 

 former being stained and varnished on the outside in imitation 

 of satin-wood; and the whole, complete, cost £1. I cannot give 

 its exact weight, but when furnished with gravel and pan of water 

 I can just lift it without assistance from the small table on 

 which it stands and carry it to any part of the room, In this 

 cage are five snakes — European and North American Colubers, 

 of hardy species ; the largest four feet in length, the others being 

 about three feet, two feet and a quarter, twenty-one inches, and 

 eighteen inches, respectively. The glass side looks towards the 

 centre of the room, of course, and the canvas back is close 

 against the window. The cage itself is almost as light as if it 

 were glazed on every side ; while, since only the one layer of 



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