SNAKES 225, 



with the creatures' breathing, the iridescent 

 colors looking more beautiful than ever. It 

 was certainly one of the most interesting ex- 

 periences I had ever had. 



Another interesting python in the New 

 York Zoological Park was Selima, whom Mr. 

 Ditmars found in a show and purchased for 

 the Park. This python had been in the shows 

 for years, and Selima 's mistress declared that 

 she would not feed from any other hand but 

 hers. However, as her mistress did not ac- 

 company Selima to the Park, other people 

 had to feed her, but it proved to be true that 

 she would not eat unless fed by hand. Also, 

 the python seemed lonely and, when the keep- 

 ers would open her door, she would crawl 

 over them and coil herself round their 

 shoulders as was her habit when in the show 

 business. Finally, Mr. Ditmars fed her en- 

 tirely himself, and here comes a curious co- 

 incidence. 



i When Selima had been in the Park for sev- 

 eral months Mr. Ditmars was seriously in- 

 jured and had to be absent for three months. 



