The Unsuccessful incubation of the python.
--All hopes of the hatching are now at an end; their eggs were removed on Friday morning (April 4th). No blame can attach whatever to the authorities of the gardens or the keepers for this unfortunate result on any account, unless it be the very forgivable one of a too polite attention to the wishes of members and visitors.
There is no doubt that the frequent removals of the blanket in uncovering the eggs, and the occasional partial uncoiling of the snake, caused too numerous sudden changes of temperature for the proper development of the young, which originally we know, from
Mr. Bartlett's dissection, were in them.
The effects of these disturbances attained a climax in the lengthened period of the snake's absence in shedding her skin, during which, it will be remembered from our former statement, the eggs became completely cold.
They were removed under the direction of the superintendent of the zoological collection by her keeper, who has attended her during the whole of her location in the gardens, for more than seven years. The necessity for their removal was not only apparent from the bad state they were in, but the impoverished condition of the python, diminished in bulk by probably at least one-third of her former dimensions and her long absence from food, now thirty-two weeks, naturally led to anxiety as to her ultimate safety if she were allowed to hopelessly continue her sitting.
The snake behaved spitefully during the operation, We cannot but express the hope that
Dr. Salater will soon have another opportunity of satisfying the interest which this incubation has excited, when like deference to the natural inquisitiveness of the public could be with propriety, forbidden by the council of the society, without any ground for offence against them.--
London Review 
