6o4 OPHIDIA CHAP. 



specimen from which the figure was drawn. The general colour 

 is dark olive-brown, with large oval black spots arranged in two 

 more or less alternating rows along the back, and with smaller 

 black, white-eyed spots along the sides. The under parts are 

 whitish, spotted with Ijlack. The upper parts of this and of 

 many other dark-coloured species of Boidae are often shiny, with 

 an iridescent lustre. 



The Anaconda combines an arboreal with an aquatic life, a 

 kind of existence eminently in harmony with the well-watered, 

 dense forests of Tropical South America, which are the home of 

 this, the largest of all modern Snakes. It is said to attain a 

 length of as much as 33 feet. There is no inherent impossi- 

 bility in such statements, l)ut the giant specimens seem to have 

 a knack of keeping out of the naturalist's way. 



The Anaconda feeds chiefly upon Birds and ^Mammals, which 

 it catches either on land, mostly during the night-time, or in the 

 water. For the latter ])urpose it lies sul^merged in the rivers or 

 floats about leisurely, only the head being above the surface, and 

 anything suitaljle is attacked. In other localities the snake, if 

 so inclined, establishes itself upon the branches of a tree which 

 overhangs the water, or the track of the game. These aquatic 

 Snakes seem to Ije viviparous. 



Erijx has the head not distinct from the neck and covered 

 entirely with small scales. Those of the body are likewise small, 

 and are either smooth or keeled. The tail is very short. The 

 anterior maxillary and mandibular teeth are longer than the 

 posterior teeth. These snakes, most of which are less than 

 3 feet in length, inhabit the sandy .districts of North Africa, 

 Arabia, and South-Western Asia, extending into Central Asia. 

 (3ne species, E. jaculus, extends into Greece and the Ionian 

 Islands. Like the other species it is an ugly creature, pale grey 

 or yellowish above, with darker patches and spots. The under 

 parts are whitish. The scales are smooth on the front half of 

 the body, becoming keeled further back and on the tail. Total 

 length under 2 feet. The pupil is vertical. 



According to Zander ^ and Werner "^ this snake lives in sandy 

 localities, digging itself into the sand, or covering the body lightly 

 with sand and leaving only the eyes and nostrils free. The whole 

 body is very flabby, and presses itself into any irregularity of the 



' Zool. Gart. 1895, p. 330. - Ihld. 1S96, p. S.'. 



