THE SNAKES 231 



are several much enlarged teeth. By far the biggest 

 and most powerful species is the Cuban Boa, E. angu- 

 lifer, found only in Cuba and Porto Rico. It is a pale, 

 brownish reptile, with dark and irregular brown rhom- 

 boidal blotches on the back, and scattered dark blotches 

 on the sides; the head is always uniform pale brown. 

 The coloration is sinister; the large and dark, glittering 

 eyes add to an effect which tallies perfectly with the 

 actual disposition: for this is an absolutely diabolical 

 creature, reaching a length of eleven feet. Captives 

 strike their snouts sore against the glass front of the 

 cage, never appearing to lose the slightest degree of 

 hostility. As a snake strikes it emits a sharp, abbrevi- 

 ated hiss sounding like a sneeze — always startling to the 

 novice. 



This big, ugly snake has often been found in open, 

 grassy places, where matted trails denote its whereabouts 

 to the natives, who hunt it for the hide. Of recent years 

 it has become scarcer. It is the only big snake found 

 in either Cuba or Porto Rico, both of which islands are 

 happily lacking any of the poisonous species. 



The Rainbow Boa, E. cenclms, derives its name from 

 a gorgeous iridescence playing over the scales of a 

 healthy example. The range is from Costa Rica to 

 northern Brazil. In the pattern we find hues ordinary 

 enough — pale brown or lead color, with dull brown or 

 blackish spots or rings. Seen in the sunlight, however, 

 the pattern seems to disappear under a blaze of peacock 

 green, this merging into violet or red. The iridescence 

 is particularly beautiful on specimens with a fairly 

 strong pattern. Specimens received from Trinidad were 

 almost uniform gray; they shone with a beautiful blue 

 iridescence, but were not nearly so spectacular as the 

 others. The species is very docile. 



