Skin-changing always makes a snake moody and depressed till the new skin begins to shine and look beautiful . Kaa never made fun of Mowgli any more , but accepted him , as the other Jungle People did , for the Master of the Jungle , and brought him all the news that a python of his size would naturally hear . What Kaa did not know about the Middle Jungle , as they call it , -- the life that runs close to the earth or under it , the boulder , burrow , and the tree-bole life , -- might have been written upon the smallest of his scales . That afternoon Mowgli was sitting in the circle of Kaa 's great coils , fingering the flaked and broken old skin that lay all looped and twisted among the rocks just as Kaa had left it . 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 XXXXX lay still , puffing with quiet amusement .
Ay Flathead Jungle Kaa arm-chair checkerings colour first left name-bearer