1896.] ON THE FEEDING OF DASYPELTIS SCABRA. 718 
6. Notes on the Mode of Feeding of the Egg-eating Snake 
(Dasypeltis scabra). By Miss M. Evita Duran’. 
[Received June 8, 1896.] 
(Plate XXXII.) 
The following observations were made on a specimen of this 
Snake from South Africa, presented to the Society’s Gardens by 
Mr. J. Matcham, C.M.Z.S., of Port Elizabeth, and measuring 
18°8 inches in length. 
The snake, on perceiving the egg, glided round it and examined 
it frequently with its tongue (fig. 1); it then raised its head and 
made a rather feeble, ineffectual snap at the egg. Finally, how- 
ever, it opened its mouth very widely, and suddenly seizing the egg 
by the smaller end, the jaws and the skin under them expanding 
enormously, swallowed it quickly aud with a strong effort (fig. 2). 
The egg being now in the cesophagus, the snake remained still 
with its head raised, its spine strongly arched, and the whole throat 
greatly distended (fig. 3). 
It then, slowly and with evident effort, lowered its head till it 
rested on the ground (figs. 4 and 5), straightening its spine by 
degrees and thus driving the spinal “teeth” into the egg and 
crushing it. The egg gradually flattened, and the snake resumed its 
natural proportions in about 15 minutes from first seizing the egg. 
It lay still for a quarter of an hour, exserting its tongue occasion- 
ally, the body and tail still maintaining the position shown in fig. 3. 
It then suddenly and violently began to press the portion of its 
throat containing the egg against the ground (fig. 6), at the same 
time arching its body behind it and raising its head. These efforts 
appeared violent and convulsive, and were repeated several times 
in succession, the snake meanwhile crawling about restlessly. 
Then, pausing, it raised its head, swayed it slightly to and fro, 
gave a violent lateral wriggle, opened its mouth widely, and with a 
effort ejected the crushed egg-shell (see fig. 7), 1 hour and ? after 
first seizing the egg. 
The process of swallowing and disgorging has been the same 
every time I have witnessed it, but has sometimes been quicker. 
I have never seen the subject of these observations take 
anything larger than a hedge-sparrow’s or a canary’s egg, but very 
large specimens can even swallow hen’s eggs—witness the specimen 
preserved in the British Museum with the uncrushed egg still in 
the esophagus. The power of distention of the jaws and throat is 
very great, the circumference of the egg being nearly three times 
that of the neck of the snake in its usual condition. 
EXPLANATION OF PLATE XXXII. 
Figs. 1-5. The various stages of Dasypeltis scabra in the act of swallowing an 
egg, as described above. 
Figs. 6 & 7. The rejection of the shell. 
1 Communicated by Dr. Jonn Anprrson, F.R.S., Vice-President. On this 
subject see Mr. Tegetmeier’s article in ‘ Field, vol. lxxx. p. 204, July 30th, 
1892.——P. L.S. 
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