THE ANACONDA.

The Boa Scytale, or Anaconda (which name appears to be of

Ceylonese origin) is found in South Amer ica. It has scaly plates from the eyes to the end of the muzzle: no pits on the jaw-plates. This serpent is not venomous nor known to injure man; however, the natives stand in great fear of it, never bathing in waters where it is known to exist. Its common haunt, or rath er domicile, is invaria bly near lakes, swamps and rivers; likewise close to wet ravines produced by inunda tions of the periodical rains. Fish, and those animals which repair there to drink, are the objects of its prey. The creature lurks watchfully under cover of the water, and, whilst the unsuspecting animal is drinking, suddenly makes a dash at the nose, and with a grip of its back-reclining

double range of teeth never fails to secure the terrified beast beyond the power of escape.

In the Boa Cenchria there are scaly plates on the muzzle, and pits or dimples upon the plates of the jaws. The size attained by the Bos is often very great, and larger individuals than any now seen occurred formerly, before their ancient haunts had been invaded by human col onization. It is found in South America.

THE BOA CANINA-TIGER PITTEON--EMPEROR BOA. 853

THE BOA CANINA.

The Boa Canina is of a greenish color, with white irregular, longish spots somewhat annularly disposed. The Portuguese relate that these serpents sometimes remain in the houses, doing no harm till irritated, when they at last bite and inflict a wound full of danger, not from injected poison, for the serpent has none, but on account of the injury sustained by the nerves from the very sharp, slender, and long teeth. Great inflammation follows, and the symptoms are aggravated by terror, so that a gangrene is the consequence unless the proper remedies are applied.

The Tiger Py

thon is found in Africa and India. It kills its prey by constriction, like the Boa, and sometimes grows to an enormous size. It was probably a small specimen of this snake that was so unceremoniously dislodged from its hiding place among rocks by Mr. Cumming and his black servant, during one of his hunting excursions in Africa.

There are several different species of the Python found in Africa, all large and constrictors. Some of them are variegated with beautiful colors.

The Emperor Boa is a Mexican variety, differing but slightly from the South American Boas.

OF THE SNAKES IN GENERAL.

THIS tribe comprises a great number of species, (nearly two hundred, which differ from each other very greatly, both in size and habit. About one-fifth of the whole have been discovered to be poisonous. These are, in general, distinguishable from the rest, by their large, flattish, and somewhat heart-shaped heads, and by having proportionally shorter bodies. The harmless species have, for the most part small heads, with more extended bodies.

THE COMMON VIPER, OR adder.

These serpents do not often exceed the length of two feet, though they are sometimes found above three. The ground color of their bodies is a dirty yellow, deeper in the female than in the male. The back is marked throughout with a series of rhomboidal black spots, joined to each other at the points; and the sides have triangular ones. The belly is entirely black.

The apparatus of poison in the Viper is very similar to that in the Rattle-snake, and all the other poisonous serpents. The symptoms that follow the bite, are an acute pain in the wounded part, with a swelling, at first red, but afterwards livid, which, by degrees spreads to the adjoining parts; with great faintness, and a quick, though low, and sometimes interrupted pulse; sickness at the stomach, with bilious, convulsive vomitings, cold sweats, and sometimes pain about the navel. The most esteemed remedy is common salad-oil, thoroughly rubbed on the wounded part. This is always used by the vipercatchers. The bite of the Viper in this country, although it produces a painful and troublesome swelling, is rarely attended with any other bad consequence.

We are told, however, that in the presence of the Grand Duke of Tuscany, while the philosophers were making elaborate dissertations on the danger of the poison taken inwardly, a viper catcher, who hap pened to be present, requested that a quantity of it might be put into a vessel, and then, with the utmost confidence, and to the astonishment of the whole company, drank it off in their presence. Every one expected the man instantly to drop down dead; but, says the relator of the story, they soon perceived their mistake, and found that, taken inwardly, the poison was as harmless as water.

These animals are viviparous, and produce their offspring towards the close of summer. The eggs, which are hatched in the womb, are usually ten or twelve only in number, and chained together somewhat like a string of beads. When the young-ones have burst the shell, they creep from their confinement into the open air, where they continue for several days without taking any food. The Rev. Mr. White, of Selborne, in company with a friend, surprised a large female Viper, which, as she lay on the grass, basking in the sun, seemed very

THE COMMON, OR RINGED SNAKE.

855

heavy and bloated. They killed and opened her, and found in the abdomen fifteen young-ones, about the size of full-grown earth-worms. This little fry issued into the world with the true Viper spirit about them, showing great alertness as soon as they were disengaged from the body of the parent. They twisted and wriggled about, set themselves up, and gaped very wide when touched with a stick; exhibiting manifest tokens of menace and defiance, though as yet no fangs were to be discovered, even by the help of glasses.

That young Vipers, for some time after their birth, retreat, when suddenly alarmed, into the mouth of the female, in the same manner as the young of the Opossum do into the abdominal pouch of their parent, seems a fact satisfactorily ascertained. Vipers attain their full growth in about seven years. Their food consists of reptiles, worms, or young birds, which they swallow whole, though it sometimes happens that the morsel is thrice the thickness of their own body.

They are capable of supporting long abstinence: a Viper was kept more than six months in a box without food; during which time its vivacity was not lessened. When at liberty these animals remain. torpid throughout the winter: yet, when confined, they have never been observed to take their annual repose.

THE COMMON, OR RINGED SNAKE.

The Common, or Ringed Snakes are well-known inhabitants of moist and warm woods, on the dry banks of which they are often seen during the summer, either sleeping or basking themselves. They are harmless and inoffensive animals, being totally destitute of every means of injuring mankind.

In winter these Snakes conceal themselves, and become nearly torpid; re-appearing in spring, when they uniformly cast their skins. This is a process which they also seem to undergo in the

autumn.

It would be a most entertaining sight, could a person be an eyewitness to such a feat, and see the Snake in the act of changing its garment. As the convexity of the eyes in the slough is not inward,

THE RINGED SNAKE.

that circumstance alone is a proof that the skin has been turned; not to mention that now the inside is much darker than the outer.

Thus

it appears that Snakes crawl out of the mouth of their own sloughs, and quit the tail-part last, just as Eels are skinned by a cook-maid. While the scales of the eyes are becoming lose, and a new skin is

forming, the creature, in appearance, must be blind, and must feel itself in a very awkward and uneasy situation.

Several instances have occurred of the Common Snake being in some degree domesticated. Mr. White says that he knew a gentleman who had one in his house quite tame. Though this Snake was usually as sweet in its person as any other animal, yet, whenever a stranger, or a Dog or Cat entered, it would begin to hiss, and would soon fill the room with a stench so nauseous as to be almost insupportable.

These animals prey on Frogs, Insects, Worms, and Mice; for the former of which they often go into the water, where they swim with great elegance. After a Snake has devoured a tolerable large Frog, or a small bird, its prey will be seen to form a knot in its body; and it then becomes so stupid and inactive as easily to be caught.

The Common Snakes are said to be particularly fond of milk; so much so, that they will occasionally creep into dairies to drink the milk from the vessels. It is even said that they will twine themselves round the legs of Cows, in order to reach their udders.

THE HOODED, OR SPECTACLE SNAKE.

When it is irritated or preparing to bite, this animal erects its body, bends down its head, and seems, as it were, hooded by the expanded skin of the neck: hence its name of Cobra de Capello, or Hooded Serpent. It opens its mouth, exhibiting its sharp poisonous fangs; and then springs on its enemy with great agility.

From its frequently moving along with a great part of its body erect, and with its head in continual action, as if looking around with great circumspection, this species in India is esteerned the emblem of prudence. It is also an object of superstitious veneration among the Gentoo Indians, founded on some traits of legendary mythology: they seldom name it without adding some epithet, such as the royal, the good, the holy. Some of the Gentoos are happy when they see it crawling about their houses; though they are liable to great injury from its bite. This is sometimes mortal in two or three hours, espe cially if the poison has penetrated the larger vessels or muscles. A dog bitten by a Hooded Snake died in twenty seven minutes; and another survived fifty-six minutes. A chicken died in less than half a minute, though others survived a couple of hours; depending, probably, on the heat of the weather, and the condition of the serpent at the time.

In India the Hooded Snake is carried about in a basket, to be publicly exhibited as a show, being first deprived of its fangs, in order to secure the men from the danger of its bite. At the sound of a flageolet it is taught to assume a kind of dancing attitude and motions, which it continues as long as its master continues his music.