REMINISCENCES FROM THE MELBOURNE ZOO. 
41 
“What is missing?” asked Mr. Le Souef, as he thought of joining in 
the search for the purpose of saving valuable time. It could not be the 
syringe, or the scarifier, or the cotton wool, or even the dog — it must 
be the antidote! 
“Have you forgotten the antidote?” Mr. Le Souef enquired, when no 
answer was forthcoming. 
“No, no!” protested the searcher. “We most certainly did not forget 
it. But where can it possibly be?” 
When another frantic search failed to reveal the missing necessity 
the distracted man took the dog from his companion and begged him to 
feel in his pockets for the phial. And there it was, in the vest pocket 
of the one who had summoned up sufficient courage to hold out the dog 
for the experiment. Hurriedly he began to pull out the cork, but while 
he was doing so the poor dog crumpled up an incontinently died! 
A BABY RAT AT BAY. 
One day in the early months of 1917 the keepers unearthed a nest 
of eight or nine less than half-grown baby rats — probably under two 
months old. In the scramble to avoid capture one little rat got its hind 
leg hurt and had to drag it after him as he ran. Thus handicapped he 
fell an easy prey to the marauders, and in a few minutes was on his 
way to the house where a black snake about four feet long and a brown 
one of perhaps six inches shorter had lived together in wonderful amity 
for several months. Even on his way to slaughter he showed fight, and 
his sharp little teeth met through Mr. Wilkie’s forefinger. As soon as 
he was put into the cage, he ran into a corner and looked around his 
new quarters. The black snake was particularly hungry, and the 
moment he saw the little creature there he reared his head to strike. But 
the rat emitted a shrill squeal, and raised himself on his hindquarters. 
He seemed to realise instantly that he was in the presence of his deadliest 
foe, and his first terrified look around the house showed there was no 
way of escape by flight. He determined on fight. This was amazing 
as an instance of the quick use of instinct; for the baby rat had certainly 
never before seen a snake. He was born under a haystack in the cultiva- 
tion paddock, and had hardly left his mother’s nest. Possibly his parents 
had seen such things as reptiles, but how could they have warned him 
to be instantly on his guard, and how to avoid being attacked by them? 
He did not wait for the snake to begin the conflict, but with a continuous 
squeal he flew at the reptile’s head. The snake, surprised at this move, 
dodged the blow, and the little rat missed his aim. But he was back in 
a second to his corner, and there a second spring was made, with more 
