Reptiles. 



8039 



individuals which have lived many years in captivity, they may be 

 fairly considered as a close approximation to the natural habits of the 

 animals. If a snake is sickly, the skin, as a rule, is frequently changed, 

 and comes off in strips or small pieces ; whereas, if the reptile be 

 healthy and vigorous, the slough is cast, even in the large snakes, in 

 two or three pieces, and sometimes entire. It is highly probable, indeed 

 very likely, that moulting does not naturally take place whilst the 

 pythons are looking after their eggs ; but it is certainly unreasonable, 

 with our very slight knowledge of the habits of the great pythons, to 

 conclude, from this one case, that everything has been in precise 

 accordance with their behaviour in a state of nature. I am especially 

 disposed to this opinion, after reading the account of the incubation 

 of the python at the Jardin des Plantes. A memoir on the subject by 

 M. Valenciennes was published in the 'Comptes Rendus' for 1841, from 

 which it appears that the python in question (a species closely allied 

 to the one at the Zoological Gardens) did not deposit her eggs until 

 May 6, having changed her skin a month previously. When we con- 

 sider how exceedingly variable is the nesting time in the same species 

 among our native birds, and that the same uncertainty prevails in the 

 period of reproduction among other classes of animals in this country, 

 it will be hardly necessary to say that some variation may be expected 

 in creatures subject to the unnatural conditions incident to confine- 

 ment. It appears to me, then, that the argument against incubation, 

 founded on the coincidence of reproduction and moulting, falls to the 

 ground. With regard to the want of appetite in the python whilst on 

 her eggs, and the inattention of her husband in not offering her food, 

 I may mention that the female snake had fasted for twenty weeks 

 previous to the appearance of the eggs, she ate nothing whilst they 

 were with her, and, up to the ] 9th inst., had taken no food since their 

 removal. On several occasions, however, she has drank water, of 

 which a supply has been constantly within her reach. I regret to say 

 that the male python has been always supremely indifferent to the 

 state of his partner's condition and appetite, and, like a good many 

 other creatures, thinks only of himself. The lady, however, has been 

 well supplied with food, but rabbits or ducks have alike been con- 

 sidered intruders, and furiously driven away from the neighbourhood 

 of the eggs. This snake has now fasted for thirty-four weeks ; but, 

 long time as that is, it has been exceeded before now by another 

 python now alive in the collection, that snake having fasted for more 

 than nine months. 



That the continued attention of the python to her eggs has been for 



