260 
ANIMAL INTELLIGENCE. 
The following interesting observation on the intelli- 
gence of snakes shows, not only that these animals are welJ 
able to distinguish persons, and that they remember their 
friends for a period of at least six weeks, but also that 
they possess an intensity of amiable emotion scarcely to 
be expected in this class. Clearly the snakes in question 
were not only perfectly tame, but entertained a remark- 
able affection for those who tended and petted them. The 
facts were communicated to me by Mr. Walter Severn, the 
well-known artist, who was a friend of Mr. and Mrs. Mann, 
the gentleman and his wife to whom the snakes belonged. 
Mr. and Mrs. Mann having got into trouble with their 
neighbours on account of the fear and dislike which their 
pets occasioned, legal proceedings were instituted, and so 
the matter came before the public. Mr. Severn then 
wrote a letter to the Times , in order to show that the 
animals were harmless. From this letter the following is 
an extract : — 
I happen to know the gentleman and lady against whom a 
complaint has been made because of the snakes they keep, and 
I should like to give a short account of my first visit to them. 
Mr. M., after we had talked for a little time, asked if I had 
any fear of snakes; and after a timid ‘ No, not very/ from me, he 
produced out of a cupboard a large boa-constrictor, a python, 
and several small snakes, which at once made themselves at 
home on the writing-table among pens, ink, and books. I was 
at first a good deal startled, especially when the two large snakes 
coiled round and round my friend, and began to notice me with 
their bright eyes and forked tongues ; but soon finding how 
tame they were, I ceased to feel frightened. After a short time 
Mr. M. expressed a wish to call Mrs. M., and left me with the 
boa deposited on an arm-chair. I felt a little queer when the 
animal began gradually to come near, but the entrance of my 
host and hostess, followed by two charming little children, put 
me at my ease again. After the first interchange of civilities, 
she and the children went at once to the boa, and, calling it by 
the most endearing names, allowed it to twine itself most grace- 
fully round about them. I sat talking for a long time, lost in 
wonder at the picture before me. Two beautiful little girls 
with their charming mother sat before me with a boa-constrictor 
(as thick round as a small tree) twining playfully round the 
lady’s waist and neck, and forming a kind of turban round her 
