'The Parliamentary Python', 1862.

'The Parliamentary Python', 1862. The python at the Zoological Gardens in London had at this time laid some 100 eggs. Although she was incubating them, they failed to hatch as they had been left at one point whilst she went off to shed her skin. This incident provided a good opportunity for Punch to have a dig at the current political situation. The eggs in this case are all labelled with contemporary political issues. Lord Russell and the PM, Palmerston, stand at the left wondering if the 'eggs' will come to anything whilst, on the right, Disraeli walks away with his nose in the air. From Punch, or the London Charivari, March 1, 1862. (Photo by The Cartoon Collector/Print Collector/Getty Images)