SLOUGHING IN SERPENTS. 303 



Nov. 26th, when it shed slough in two large pieces in the water, 

 and then left the bath. 



*' 2. On Jan. 6th, 1898, at 3 p.m., Python entered water, and 

 remained till 3 p.m. on Jan. 13th, when it cast slough in several 

 pieces, and then left water. 



"3. On Aug. 10th, 1898, Python again entered bath; remained 

 without any intermission till 11.30 p.m. on Aug. 19th, when it 

 left the water. At 11.40 it commenced rubbing its head forcibly 

 on the felt which lines its case, frequently turning its head side- 

 ways to exert pressure upon the side of the jaws. When it had 

 got as far as the nostril it gave two sudden and forcible expira- 

 tions — not an ordinary hiss, but more like a sneeze, apparently 

 to clear the loose skin from the inside of the nostrils; at all 

 events it had this effect; then continued rubbing off the slough. 

 At 11.48 the slough was completely free from the head above and 

 below. At 11.52 I removed the bath out of the cage, as it 

 seemed to have too little space. On being thus disturbed it 

 ceased rubbing till 12.10, when it commenced to crawl slowly 

 round the cage, pressing itself closely into the corners and 

 along the sides. By 12.37 it had turned back two feet of slough, 

 and at 1 a.m. three feet. At 1.30 a.m. the tip of its tail came 

 away from the slough, which on this occasion was shed entire, 

 but with one or two rents in it. During the last half-hour I 

 assisted the process by allowing the Python to crawl through my 

 partially closed hands. 



"4. On Nov. 6th, 1898, Python entered water. Remained 

 continuously till 24th, when it cast slough during the night. 



" 5. On Feb. 16th, 1899, Python appeared soon likely to 

 slough, so I introduced its bath. It entered at once, but only 

 remained a few hours, and kept on entering and leaving the bath 

 until Feb. 25th, when sloughing commenced. As the slough 

 was dry it did not readily peel off, and the process was only 

 partially completed. The Python then entered the water, and 

 remained till Feb. 28th, when it emerged and cast the rest of 

 the slough. (On Feb. 27th it was observed to remain under 

 water for seven and a half minutes once without raising its head 

 for breath.) 



" 6. On July 18th, 1899, Python entered water, and stayed 

 till July 28th, when it cast slough in water. The actual 



