Independent MP Godfrey Farrugia was left in a state of lamentation after an unwelcome visitor chose one of his bird cages as a venue for lunch.

That unwelcome visitor was in fact a snake which had made its way into one of Farrugia’s bird cages and eaten no less than seven of his canaries.

An eight bird had to be allowed to escape in order to escape the massacre.

The no doubt sad moment was uploaded by Farrugia on his Facebook profile, along with a picture of the offending reptile.

He said that he had at least solved the mystery as to why some hatchlings were disappearing without a trace some days after hatching.

The snake in question seems to be a Western Whip Snake (Hierophis Viridiflavus), which can grow up to two metres long. It is a protected species.

It’s not venomous, but it can get aggressive and bite if it ends up being cornered.