THE SNAKE SHOP.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19333, 20 November 1924, Page 8

THE SNAKE SHOP.

HOW DEALERS HANDLE REPTILES. Not everybody is aware that In the heart of London there is a snake dealer, a man who imports reptiles from India, South Africa, Brazil, Australia. Not a few of these are sold to zoological societies throughout the British Isles; a larger number go to Hamburg, Hanover, Marseilles, Paris. The other day (writes H. M. Forbes in the Daily Chroncile) a snake had hardly been unloaded in this country when it once more embarked on the high seas, this time on its way to New Zealand. Snakes, when they arrive, are huddled together in deal boxes, though once they are unpacked they are given a room in which to have a constitutional. During summer nights the reptiles are never kept in close confinement; during the daytime “this freedom” is no longer prac« ticr.ble. Our snake dealer has an arrangement with certain zoological gardens, whereby those snakes for which he has no immediate market are temporarily housed with those on exhibition in the various snakehouses, without which no up-to-date zoo )» considered complete. The zoo authorities see that the snakes are properly fed and looked after; the dealer benefiting on his part by a small monthly payment. Reptiles in confinement are never amenable, and they repeatedly bite or attempt to bite their owners. The other day I saw one of them raise Itself from an open case and make a desperate effort to bite its owner's arm. The owner was apparently too large-hearted a man to display resentment even at this uncalled-for attention. Thrusting a stick into his assailant’s mouth, he pushed it back into the box, then, seizing the snake below the neck, ha lifted it free from its deal crib, and held it up before me with evident pride, “There’s a fine creature for you!” he said. “Yes,” I agreed, taking two paces to the rear. Snakes vary in value. A good specimen is obtainable at anything from £5 up to £S, a better line is that from £lO up to £ls. Now and then a more valuable reptile is shipped to London. An Anaconda is due in a day or two valued at £6O. If there is a motto to which the. snake dealer pins his faith it is “Live and let live.” Among certain varieties of snakes cannibalism is very popular, despite the dealer's efforts to disi courage the tendency,