PRESENT FOR ZOO?

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 98, 20 January 1936, Page 8

PRESENT FOR ZOO?

Boa Constrictor From Panama City

JOURNALIST’S COMPANION

Curled up in a cage in one of the ship’s cabins, a boa constrictor, five feet long and weighing nine pounds, arrived by the Remuera yesterday morning in charge of Mr. E. W. Scott, its owner, who desires to present it to Hie Wellington Zoo. He declared the reptile to the customs officials, but so far has not received permission to bring it ashore.

“I am very fond of the tiling,’’ said Mr. Scott, as he took a. “Dominion’’ reporter down to his cabin to view the strange creature. He explained that it had been given to him in Panama City, where he'is the editor of a SpanishEnglish newspaper. In fact, he had two boa constrictors given to him, but in an argument over a mouse one ate the oilier. Like most true boas, it is of a very gentle disposition, and gave no trouble on the voyage, during which it lived on partridges supplied from the freezer. Air. Scott says he will take the reptile back home with him if it is not accepted by the Zoo. Air. Scott, who is accompanied by Airs. Scott, is on a visit to his parents, who reside in Palmerston North. A former member of the literary staff ot the “Evening Post,” he left Wellington about nine years ago to take up an appointment on the “Sydney Morning Herald.” He remained there for some time until his departure for Europe, where he travelled extensively. He returned to New Zealand at Hie end of 1926, leaving in February, 1927. for America. As a reporter on the “Evening Graphic,” a New York tabloid newspaper, he n covercd” the famous Lindbergh case