THE ORDER OF SNAKES—OPHIDIA. 5 
friend’s garden in one of the suburbs of Sydney) observed a large Python 
or “ Diamond Snake” basking in the sun. American and South African 
travellers would probably have buckled on their armour and tried a shot at 
it from a safe distance, but Captain S. quietly caught the reptile by the neck, 
and carried it to the Museum. On another occasion Captain P., formerly 
of the P. & O. Service, brought a fine Python, 12 feet long, from Ceylon, 
and terrible stories were told of how the reptile had devoured the ship’s 
pet monkey, when it ventured too near its den. As it was intended for 
presentation to the Museum, one of the officers of that institution was 
dispatched to take charge of it. Armed with a bag, he arrived on board, 
listened to the stories of captain and crew, and—turned the snake out on 
deck; of course there was a general commotion, the Lascars went aloft, 
and nobody would assist to hold open the bag, which, by the way, proved 
too small for the reptile; so a larger one had to be provided, and the 
snake was safely lodged therein without further assistance or accident. 
Gimther states that Pythons can swallow nothing larger than a 
half grown sheep, and that one of them, which lived for 15 years in the 
Zoological Society’s Menagerie, London, attained a length of about 10 feet 
in ten years, or 21 feet in all, it being 11 feet long when imported; but 
that afterwards no further growth could be observed in it. 
Snakes feed mostly on living animals; a few only on eggs. The 
Black Snake (Pseudechis porphyriacus) will occasionally gorge itself with 
frogs or young water-rats, but attempt nothing larger. In a few instances 
it has come to the author’s knowledge that one snake tried to swallow 
another of almost equal size; both were of a small species about 18 inches 
in length, and died in the struggle. The largest animal which a Carpet 
or Diamond Snake will eat is perhaps a Phalanger (or ‘“‘ Opossum”), a 
young Wallaby, Kangaroo Rat, or Bandicoot. It is generally believed 
that snakes drink a great deal, and that they will soon die if deprived of 
water; but this is not the case with Australian Snakes, which live for 
months without either food or water. 
The tongue of the. snake is long and forked, and serves as a feeler 
with which to examine objects. Many persons, believing that wounds are 
inflicted by it, mistake it for a sting, and whenever they see a snake thrust 
it out, immediately regard the reptile as a poisonous one. 
