BOTANIC GARDENS MENAGERIE. 191 



the noose afterwards every time. When noosed and the snake 

 begins to fight, care must be taken not to get the noose too tight, 

 but play the snake like a fish if it fights much, as it soon gives 

 up. A python can bite severely and its strong recurved teeth 

 make a very bad wound, especially as it will not let go. Two 

 Malays were carrying one through the streets and the one be- 

 hind who was carrying the head end dropped it, it swung down- 

 wards and seized the calf of the leg of the Malay in front, 

 lacerating it severely. I believe the snake's head had to be 

 cut off before the Malay could be released. 



Many years ago a python in the cage at the gardens, 

 attacked its keeper. He was an European and went into the 

 cage in a state of intoxication to show off the snake. The 

 snake about 15 feet long, was annoyed and seized him, getting 

 a coil or two round him. Assistance was procured and the 

 snake was got off, but the man was marked all over the body 

 with bruises as if he had been beaten with a thick stick. Had 

 the snake been really intending to crush him, doubtless he 

 would have had some ribs broken at least. 



The python has never bread in captivity in the gardens, but 

 one new caught one laid a large number of eggs on one occasion, 

 now of which however hatched. 



The flesh of the python is eaten by Chinese, and oil from the 

 fat is in much request by Malays as a medicine for rheumatism. 



Keptiles occueeing in a wild state in the Gaeden. 



The following reptiles have been seen in the gardens in a 

 wild state from time to time. 



TOETOISES. 



Triomjx cartilaginens. In the lakes. 



Cyclemys platijnota. In the lakes once. 



Testudo ambomensis. Swamp economic garden. 



LlZAEDS, 



Aelurbscalabotus felinus. 



Bare, in the economic gardens. 



R. A. So'c. No. 46, 1906. 



