THE Boa-ConstricTors. 30% 
meshes prevented even a mouse from penetrating inside 
and the cage was always under lock and key. Cases of 
even longer intervals are mentioned as having occurred, 
but it does not appear that the element of chance feeding 
was eliminated. 
With but two exceptions, in an experience of 10 years 
with several dozens of boas of different species, living 
food (rats) had always to be given to them; and if this 
seems a cruel proceeding at first sight, one has only to be 
reminded that it is about the quickest way of destroying 
the rats, certainly quicker than drowning them oneself, 
or allowing one’s dogs to kill them. The sentimental 
pi€ture of these creatures trembling with fear under the 
dreadful fascination of the snakes, is but a figment of the 
imagination. After an experience of many years with 
a very large number of S. American snakes, poisonous, 
constri€ting and harmless, in relation to living animals— 
mammals, birds and other creatures—both in confine- 
ment and in open nature, the writer knows of no single 
faét, nor has come in contaét with any observer who can 
produce any fa&t, supporting the so-called fascination of 
animals by snakes. That certain animals may become 
absolutely paralysed by fear and incapable of movement 
at the sight of a snake’s approach, is in no case different 
from the corresponding manifestation of profound fear 
and collapse on the part of many animals in the presence 
of extreme danger. . 
In the case of rats, at any rate, there is not only no 
sign of any such fear, but they even appear to be more 
than callous, often attacking and badly biting the snakes 
if the latter be not hungry, and rendering their removal 
necessary. 
QQ2 anne 
