Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 5 (1901).djvu/331

Rh Nov. 26th, when it shed slough in two large pieces in the water, and then left the bath.

"2. On Jan. 6th, 1898, at 3 p.m., Python entered water, and remained till 3 p.m. on Jan. 13th, when it cast slough in several pieces, and then left water.

"3. On Aug. 10th, 1898, Python again entered bath; remained without any intermission till 11.30 p.m. on Aug. 19th, when it left the water. At 11.40 it commenced rubbing its head forcibly on the felt which lines its case, frequently turning its head sideways to exert pressure upon the side of the jaws. When it had got as far as the nostril it gave two sudden and forcible expirations—not an ordinary hiss, but more like a sneeze, apparently to clear the loose skin from the inside of the nostrils; at all events it had this effect; then continued rubbing off the slough. At 11.48 the slough was completely free from the head above and below. At 11.52 I removed the bath out of the cage, as it seemed to have too little space. On being thus disturbed it ceased rubbing till 12.10, when it commenced to crawl slowly round the cage, pressing itself closely into the corners and along the sides. By 12.37 it had turned back two feet of slough, and at 1 a.m. three feet. At 1.30 a.m. the tip of its tail came away from the slough, which on this occasion was shed entire, but with one or two rents in it. During the last half-hour I assisted the process by allowing the Python to crawl through my partially closed hands.

"4. On Nov. 6th, 1898, Python entered water. Remained continuously till 24th, when it cast slough during the night.

"5. On Feb. 16th, 1899, Python appeared soon likely to slough, so I introduced its bath. It entered at once, but only remained a few hours, and kept on entering and leaving the bath until Feb. 25th, when sloughing commenced. As the slough was dry it did not readily peel off, and the process was only partially completed. The Python then entered the water, and remained till Feb. 28th, when it emerged and cast the rest of the slough. (On Feb. 27th it was observed to remain under water for seven and a half minutes once without raising its head for breath.)

"6. On July 18th, 1899, Python entered water, and stayed till July 28th, when it cast slough in water. The actual