MOVING THE SNAKES.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 2840, 30 October 1883, Page 3

MOVING THE SNAKES.

One of the most important events m the annals of the London Zoological Gardens was the transfer which took place of the reptiles and snakes from the various departments m which they have been hitherto located to the new reptile house. The task of transference commenced one day last month at a little before eleven, and was completed m the afternoon without a hitch of any kind. The Standard gives an account of the transfer. The first moved were the smaller alligators and crocodiles, which were placed m the western oval pond and seemed to enjoy their new residence immensely. The pond is an open one : without railings of auy kind, but the amphibious reptiles are prevented from escaping by the overhang of the rim o: the basin. The first snake removed wai the very poisonous hamadryad .(Qphiopha (jus bungaris), a native of India and an m mato of the gardens since 1875. This snake can dart a height of Bvo or six feet, ant its transfer was prudently effected 03 getting it into a box, which, when placec m the new abode, was opened' by 1 sort of trap-door, and the snake hookec

out by ft long iron wire forked at the ond. To extricate tho large pythons fri -m their old habitations, of which they had been inmates for ninny yeara, the fronts of tho old cagf'3 hnd to ho taken out altogether, and m doing this on the provious day one of tho reticulated pythons managed to escape. It was found, however, under the hot-water-pipes and waa safely captured m a canvas bag. Thia proved a hnppy incident, and tho creaturo was liberated with facility into its noble quarters. This ia ono i f tho largest, and its companion is the largest snake m tho menajrorie. It is a fine reptile, over fifteen feet m length, and remarkably active. Thompson and Tyrrell carried tho bng into the cage, and, untying it, shot tho great creature out, and then retired by tho rear door. Left to itself, it moved rapidly forward, touching with its bifurcated tonguo the glass front, the walla, everything as it went along. It then mounted one of tho two oak trees, and wound and twisted itself over every branch, resting its head overy now and again upon ono or other of them for a few seconds and thon movintr on afresh. Aftorwards its huge companion was similarly shot out of its sack, when it commenced to move along the gravelled floor, its glnsßy gkjn and its reticulated markings boing shown off to tne greatest ndvantago as the sun ' shone down through tho skylight of tho roof upon it, 'bringing out a purple sheen and a golden glint truiy marvellous as it drew ono fold over another of its innssivo body. The most exciting incident m tho day's work was the transference) of the great Americin alligator, a particularly | savage beast, at least nine feet m length. Its destination was the large central tank of the new houso, where two smaller alligators were already basking m the warm water, with noses and eyes just above tho fluid surface. Having secured his long, vicious jaws with broad bands ofstout webbing, he was captured m the canvas bag and brought into the new house. Of courso ho had to be got out of tho bag, which was not an easy operation, but to get the bandage off his mouth was tho most ticklish business of all. Tho first waa simply to lift him and drag him out. No sooner was this dono than tho beast twisted itself over on its back with a suddenness and power completely startling. The month bands holding on, however, the animal waa lifted bodily by half-a-dozen men and put head foremost into the water, m which he splashed with vigor. The mouth bands were then cut with a knife, and tho monster, damaged only by a few Rcales knocked off and a sore nose, quietly settled to the bottom of the pool and gavo no more anxiety to any one. The final operation was tho transference of tho two North Amorican water vipers, vory dangerous creatures, the bito 'if which is said to bo fatal. Each had been capturod m a wooden box, and, so far, were well secured. They had been driven by sticks from their former don by tho side door m to the boxes oasily enough, but not so easy was it to get them out of the boxes again. This, however, was very cleverly accomplished. Thompsononteredthocagu and received tho closed boxosfromhiacompiinion outside. Ho placed them carefully over the watorpool m the cage and thon retired by the rear door, through which he leaned over, opened tho sliding lid of one box about six or seven inches, took tho box up by tho end, turned it over and shot the snake out well to the front. Opening the second box m a similar manner, ho hooked the snako out by o forked wiro and thon removed tho box, closed the rear door, and all was successfully accomplished. The interior of the Reptile Court is rendered pleasant by flowers and foliage plants, and will undoubtedly be a popular promenade.