208 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



shillings apiece. Above that length the price increases at the 

 rate of about one pound per foot. These are the snakes almost 

 invariably exhibited by itinerant dompteurs at continental fairs, 

 and in travelling vans and menageries. They seem, more 

 than any others, to be exported in large quantities from their 

 habitat, and many of the European Zoological Gardens con- 

 tain a great number; in that at Antwerp they comprise 

 nine-tenths of the occupants of the Reptilium, some being 

 very fine examples. Fresh supplies are constantly arriving, 

 the surplus being weeded out every now and then and sold by 

 auction. A lot of young ones were born there some years ago ; I 

 bought five of them, and found them to get on remarkably 

 well, except one which died of a tumour in the head when it 

 had grown to a length of about eight feet. They usually become 

 very tame, with proper treatment, and feed voraciously ; and will 

 endure a lower temperature and show more activity than any 

 other serpent of this class. The thickest (though not the longest) 

 snake at Regent's Park is a West African Python, not taking into 

 account a fictitious girth which it owes to an internal rupture at 

 one part ; it is about fourteen feet in length, and has been there 

 nineteen years. Specimens are still alive elsewhere which have 

 been in confinement over twenty years. 



The Indian Python, or Rock-snake (Python molurus), is 

 another hardy reptile frequently offered for sale, but is not to be 

 purchased so cheaply as the other, and is frequently persistently 

 savage; Jamrach receives large consignments of this species. 

 Both these snakes have been known to incubate in our London 

 Zoological Gardens. There are several other Pythons more 

 rarely met with ; a most eligible species is the Royal Python 

 (P. regius), a quiet and docile creature, which, from the habit it 

 displays of lying folded up, so to speak, has acquired the name of 

 " ball-snake." Several ladies of my acquaintance keep pet 

 specimens of the Royal Python— which I have known a dealer to 

 sell as the commoner West African variety. Snake-vendors are 

 not as a rule deeply versed in nice herpetological distinctions ; 

 and since caveat emptor is their unvarying motto, it is only just 

 that the balance should occasionally come out in favour of that 

 personage. The Reticulated Python (P. retlculatus) of Borneo 

 and other parts of the East, is a valuable and delicate species; 

 two hundred guineas have been offered for the large one at the 



