WILD ANIMALS IN CAPTIVITY 
hold on can only be imagined. On one occasion the 
writer witnessed two large Egyptian monitors pounce 
upon a snake of about 15 in. in length ; both appeared 
hungry and equally determined to make a meal of the 
unlucky snake. They snatched, or rather jerked, at each 
other, keeping tight hold of their victim, one having 
the head, the other the tail ; by a number of convulsive 
efforts each managed to swallow about half the snake, 
until" the noses of the monitors came in contact, when 
suddenly the one that had the head part of the snake 
down his throat, managed also to get the nose of his 
antagonist firmly between his jaws ; then a most desperate 
struggle ensued which lasted several seconds, and ended 
by the tail end of the snake being relinquished. It is need- 
less to add that the whole of the snake was instantly 
swallowed by the successful monitor. 
An adventure once happened to myself while travelling. 
I had with me a small box filled with geckos, a very 
harmless little reptile, and during my temporary absence 
from the hotel an inquisitive servant opened the box, and 
being too much alarmed at the sight and the quickness 
of the reptiles to close the box, rushed out of the room. 
The animals, finding themselves at liberty, began very 
soon to run up the walls of the staircase, to the great 
alarm, horror, and consternation of every one in the hotel, 
who believed them to be dreadfully venomous. My 
astonishment may be imagined on returning, late at 
night, to find everybody sitting up for me, and giving 
me a very warm reception. No one had dared to 
venture up-stairs, the foot of which was guarded by a 
posse of frightened servants armed with pokers and tongs 
for fear any of the reptiles should escape to the lower part 
of the hotel. Had it not been that my services were 
most urgently required to collect the active little brutes, 
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