186 A COLLBCTOK'S EXPEEIBNCES 



mens, and the blacksnake and coachwhip cage was 

 almost empty. It was decided one day, after a large 

 blacksnake had been killed, to stufE it to its utmost 

 capacity with half -grown rats and frogs, and present 

 the distended carcass to the cobra. When the black- 

 snake was fully prepared it more closely resembled a 

 generously filled Christmas stocking than a serpent, 

 and was equal to half a dozen snakes. 



The cobra gravely inspected the unique morsel, 

 and finally engulfed it entire, although the process 

 was quite heroic. Since then the cobra has been fed 

 "stuffed" snakes, and presents a sleek and hearty 

 appearance. 



But it is not only the cobra that has been deluded, 

 in a spirit prompted by economy. Eat snakes are 

 tempted to eat strips of beef by clipping a small , 

 quantity of fur from a rat or rabbit and sprinkling it 

 over the meat. A small amount of fur will bait a 

 dozen strips of meat. In the same way the larger 

 snakes are induced to partake of meat by sprinkling 

 over it a few chicken feathers. 



It is a mistake to suppose that captive snakes 

 must kill their prey or they will not eat. Of course, 

 in a natural condition this is necessarily the case. 

 The majority of captive specimens feed readily upon 

 freshly killed material, and such food is always pre- 

 ferred by their keepers. The poisonous snakes gen- 

 erally offer an exception to this rule, although the 

 cobra and its allies are not at all particular. If a live 

 rat be placed in a cage containing a dozen ravenous 

 enakes all rush for it at once, and a serious tangle 



