SNAKES 223 



opportunity to study his head and eyes and 

 look into his throat. I watched his eyes most 

 carefully, but I saw nothing unusual in them 

 from any other time when I have watched 

 him from outside the glass of his cage. As 

 soon as the rabbits were down about six feet, 

 the long pole was carefully withdrawn and 

 the python put into an inner room for a 

 time, while his cage companion was subjected 

 to a slight operation, which I was also allowed 

 to see. 



His tail and the coils of his body were laid 

 down in the room first, and finally Keeper 

 Snyder was left holding the neck. Here came 

 the extreme danger again. It requires great 

 strength and extremely quick movement to 

 throw the head of a twenty-two foot python 

 away from you far enough to prevent his bit- 

 ing you in retaliation. "With all the strength 

 and agility which the keeper showed at this 

 moment he was very nearly bitten ; as a matter 

 of fact his finger was actually scratched by 

 the snake's teeth, but he washed it with dis- 

 infectant and felt no ill effects. 



