Kaa had very courteously packed himself under Mowgli 's broad , bare shoulders , so that the boy was really resting in a living arm-chair . `` Even to the scales of the eyes it is perfect , '' said Mowgli , under his breath , playing with the old skin . `` Strange to see the covering of one 's own head at one 's own feet ! '' `` Ay , but I lack feet , '' said Kaa ; `` and since this is the custom of all my people , I do not find it strange . Does thy skin never feel old and harsh ? '' `` Then go I and wash , Flathead ; but , it is true , in the great heats I have wished I could slough my skin without pain , and run skinless . '' `` I wash , and ALSO I take off my skin . How looks the new coat ? '' Mowgli ran his hand down the diagonal checkerings of the immense back . `` The Turtle is harder-backed , but not so gay , '' he said judgmatically . `` The Frog , my name-bearer , is more gay , but not so hard . It is very beautiful to see -- like the mottling in the mouth of a lily . '' `` It needs water . A new skin never comes to full colour before the first bath . Let us go bathe . '' `` I will carry thee , '' said Mowgli ; and he stooped down , laughing , to lift the middle section of Kaa 's great body , just where the barrel was thickest . A man might just , as well have tried to heave up a two-foot water-main ; and Kaa lay still , puffing with quiet amusement . Then the regular evening game began -- the Boy in the flush of his great strength , and the Python in his sumptuous new skin , standing up one against the other for a wrestling match -- a trial of eye and strength . Of course , Kaa could have crushed a dozen Mowglis if he had let himself go ; but he played carefully , and never loosed one-tenth of his power . Ever since Mowgli was strong enough to endure a little rough handling , Kaa had taught him this game , and it suppled his limbs as nothing else could .
Sometimes XXXXX would stand lapped almost to his throat in Kaa 's shifting coils , striving to get one arm free and catch him by the throat .
Ay Kaa Mowgli Mowglis Python Turtle arm-chair colour evening name-bearer