220 WILD ANIMAL CELEBRITIES 



same moment Mr. Ditmars seized her by the 

 neck and the keepers caught her and dragged 

 her out of the cage. Very soon Fatima had 

 had seven rabbits pushed about six feet down 

 her throat. 



I need scarcely say that this is a most 

 deadly dangerous operation, how dangerous 

 I did not realize myself until this last spring, 

 when arrangements were kindly made for me 

 by Mr. Ditmars to see the performance for 

 myself. It was not Fatima herself this time, 

 but another Eegal Python about twenty-two 

 feet long and weighing about two hundred 

 and seventy-five pounds. The keepers were 

 summoned from all parts of the Park, the 

 rabbits were killed — I did not see this part — 

 and, when all preparations were ready, Keeper 

 Snyder took a piece of coarse sacking, 

 opened the back of the cage, threw the sack- 

 ing over the head of the python, and then 

 cautiously and very quickly put his hand 

 on the back of the snake's neck and grasped 

 it firmly. 



This sounds very simple and easy, but if 



