1896.] ON THE rEBDIKG OF DASTPELTIS SCABEA. 715" 



6. Notes on the Mode of Feeding of the Egg-eating Snake • 

 {Dasypeltis scabra). By Miss M. Edith Dukham'. 



[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.8., 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 and with a strong effort (fig. 2). 



The egg being now in the oesophagus, 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 itsi 

 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 )ias 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 oesophagus. 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 XXXIL 



Figs. l-.'J. The various stages of Dasypeltis scabra in the act of swallowing an 



pgg, as described above. 

 Figs. 6 & 7. The rejection of the shell. 



' Communicated by Dr. John Anderson, FB.S, Vice-President. On this 

 subject see Mr. Tegetmeier's article in ' Field,' vol. Ixxx. p. 204, July 30tli, 

 1892.— P.L.S. 



46* 



