74 THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
A CraFrtry PyTHON. 
I was fortunate enough once to witness a most remarkable 
occurrence. I was lying concealed in the midst of some tangled 
scrub near a still pool in a densely wooded valley, studying the 
habits of various species of birds, and all was as silent as the grave, 
with the exception of the occasional twittering and calls of birds. 
Suddenly a Red Natal Duiker Buck (Cephalophus natalensis) 
emerged from amidst the leafy shrubs, right opposite to where I 
lay. It cautiously and timidly looked around to make sure all 
was safe, stooped and began drinking. Suddenly the water was 
lashed into foam. Considerably startled, I rushed to the edge 
of the pool, and there at the other side was a Python in the shallow 
water with the buck in its coils. The struggle was fearful, but 
it ended in the snake smothering the antelope. When the 
victim ceased to resist, the snake laboriously dragged it to the 
shore, and after resting awhile, constricted it afresh, evidently 
to elongate the body to make the swallowing process as easy as 
possible, and then began eating atthe head. After the head, neck 
and shoulders had disappeared down the snake’s throat, I carefully 
crept round through the bush, and pouncing upon the Python, 
smashed its head and backbone with a quick succession of blows 
from a stout stick. 
The Python had evidently submerged itself in the water, and 
was effectually concealed from view by the various water plants. 
On the approach of the buck it had silently sunk its head under 
the level of the surface of the water, and when the buck bent 
its neck to drink, those cruel re-curved teeth had seized it, and 
next instant the victim was in the deadly coils of the serpent. 
We ate some of the buck at our camp that night, and a leopard 
sneaked off the rest. However, we got even with it next day, 
for we traced it to its lair with the aid of our fox-terrier dogs, 
killed it, and took its hide off as a trophy. 
PYTHONS SWALLOWING PEOPLE. 
I have read and heard may travellers’ tales about Pythons 
swallowing people, but I have never known of a case which was 
thoroughly authenticated. I have been told scores of times by 
