TREATMENT OF SNAKES IN CAPTIVITY. 205 



they could eat by themselves, but were each time pulled back by 

 the mother. One cub, however, at length succeeded in getting 

 out, and ate and growled in a most satisfactory manner. The 

 next day the cubs had a scrimmage over eating a Sparrow, and 

 one or both came out. 



On June 5th, one of the cubs being out, scrambled back into 

 the box, which is rather more than a foot high, by helping itself 

 up by the wall, which formed an angle with the side of the box, 

 and by the next day was able to jump on to the top of the box. 



On the 23rd they made, I believe, their first descent to the 

 ground — having been born at a height of nearly five feet above 

 it — by means of a carefully-arranged inclined plane, or " chicken- 

 ladder." I first actually saw them do so on the evening of 

 the 25th. 



On July 2nd, being the anniversary of the date on which I 

 had measured the young Marten the previous year (cf. ' Zoologist,' 

 1881, p. 333), I endeavoured to measure the young male, but 

 it proved so extremely fractious, that I could not succeed in 

 measuring it even as accurately as on that occasion. It was, 

 however, just about the same size, or if anything slightly larger, 

 than those cubs at that date; I therefore think my estimate of 

 the age of the former couple was pretty correct, as the fact of 

 having been taken from their mother when quite small, and 

 possibly not very suitably fed by the shepherd before they were 

 sent to me, and then the journej', would be likely to throw them 

 back somewhat, and slightly retard their growth. 



The young Martens were quite full grown by the autumn, and 

 are still flourishing ; I regret that I am unable to state the length 

 of gestation, but may hope for " better luck " if there should be a 

 " next time." 



ON THE TREATMENT OF SNAKES IN CAPTIVITY. 



By Arthuk Stbadling, C.M.Z.S. 



(Continued from p. 114.) 



Having given an outline of three different styles of cage, 

 leaving all possible amplifications and modifications to the taste 

 and discretion of the amateur, we may now inquire what serpents 

 are to be selected for confinement in each, where they are to be 

 got, and how to get them. 



