92 THE BOOK OF A NATURALIST 
tameness does not always vanish as soon as the 
creature finds itself free again. About three days 
after the incident I have related he was again 
walking with his wife, and they again found the 
snake at the same spot, whereupon he, anxious to 
capture it again, made a dash at it, but the snake 
on this occasion made no attempt to escape, and 
when picked up did not struggle. They again kept 
it some time, caressing it with their fingers, then 
releasing it as before; later they saw their snake 
on several occasions, when it acted in the same 
way, allowing itself to be taken up and kept as 
long as it was wanted, and then, when released, 
going very slowly away. 
That one first delightful experience of having 
its back stroked with finger-tips had made a tame 
snake of it. 
