Extraordinary Incident.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 2, Issue 278, 25 February 1881, Page 2

Extraordinary Incident.

A curious incident, which the Precurseur, of Antwerp, states to have positively occurred at the Zoological Gardens in that town, is thus described in one of its recent impressions. It was the hour for feeding the serpents, and two of them, born a couple of years ago in the gardens, commenced simultaneously devouring the same rabbit, one beginning operations at its head the other at its tail. The natural result wes that in course of time they both reached the middle of the rabbit, and a dispute arose as to which should swallow the remaining morsel. The larger serpent of the two made the greatest headway, but his colleague held as fast to the carcass, and in the heat of the battle, his vis-a-vis, making a desperate effort to bolt the rest of the rabbit, drew in with it the head of the smaller serpent. The body gradually followed the head into its living tomb, and soon there remained but about two decimetres of tail visible! At this critical juncture the keepers perceived what was passing, and a couple of them entered the cage to rescue the victim from its unpleasant position. After considerable difficulty they succeeded in obtaining a firm grasp on the bit of tail, and with a long pull and a strong pull brought back the serpent in safety, none the worse for the adventure. The swallower, however was rather indisposed for the next few hours, says the journal which relates this most extraordinary story, but both serpents are now in their normal condition again.