4 THE OEDEE OF S^AK'ES—OPEIDIA. 



The harmless Ground Snakes, the Fresh Water Snakes, and the 

 venomous kinds generally, attack the smaller animals, such as frogs, 

 lizards, and mice ; they seize their prey and begin to swallow it at once. 

 The arboreal species, and particularly the Pythons, kill theirs by pressure. 



As a rule, venomous snakes bite and then let go, but the Pythons 

 retain their hold ; thus, it is hard to disengage one's finger from between 

 the jaws of a Rock Snake, for if main force be used the flesh will be torn 

 to shreds, as all its teeth are curved backwards. 



Much as has been said and written about the size and power of Boas 

 and Pythons, little can be relied on. The largest specimens seldom exceed 

 20 feet in length, and an Australian Rock Snake of 10 or 11 feet must 

 be considered a monster. The swallowing power of these reptiles has 

 also been greatly exaggerated ; so that the accounts we read in certain 

 old travellers' journals, of snakes devouring stags and he-goats, horns and 

 all, may be taken for what they are worth. Persons conversant with their 

 habits will be aware that the quarry is always swallowed by them head 

 first, so that engulphing a creature with horns of even moderate size 

 would be next to impossible. Such stories as Waterton tells of his Dutch 

 friend, who killed a Boa 20 feet long, that had a pair of stag's horns 

 in its mouth, and was apparently waiting for the body just swallowed 

 to be digested, are nothing but cananls. The same author has treated 

 us to other stories about the Alligators and Boas with which he engaged in 

 combat ; these are probably quite true, but those who know what a fat Boa 

 or Python 12 or 14 feet long is like, will not think much of the feat of 

 despatching it. Du Chaillu and other sensational authors have followed 

 in his footsteps ; the illustrations given by them of African Pythons are 

 on about a par with the well-known engraving representing a Boa, 

 apparently 40 feet long, being ripped vip by a negro while it is swinging 

 from the branch of a tree. The present generation will not believe such 

 exaggerations; for when the foot-rule is applied to the monsters in question 

 they dwindle down to the ordinary size. Snakes from 10 to 14 feet long are 

 considered very large now-a-days, and in former ages may have kept armies 

 at bay, but our better acquaintance with their habits enables us to treat them 

 with the contempt they deserve. We remember a gallant Commander 

 of the Royal Navy, who (taking a stroll after lunch at the back of a 



