250 ACCOUNT of a LARGE SNAKE. 
Tue lower jaw confifts of two bones, connected anteriorly by 
38 the anterior ends can be feparated an 1 inch from each 
other. The pofterior extremity, or condyle of each lower jaw- 
bone, is likewife connected, to the head in fuch.a manner, as to 
“allow! of confiderable fepar ation. The two bones which com- 
‘\pol'the! upper jaw) ure capable only of a yery fmall degree of 
- feparation at the {ymhphifis or’ anterior part. 
. Durs-fingulan degree oft laxity ‘in the ftru@ure of ‘the arti- 
culations, permits of a degree of diftenfion which is’ incompa- 
cible with the firmnefs requifite to perform the function of ma- 
ftication. 
July 7. 1790. 
A sNAKE of the allea {pecies was brought in, of a very un- 
common thicknefs in proportion to its length, which induced 
me\to open it. A very large guana was extracted from the 
gullet.and ftomach:;: for’the "animal was gorged to the throat. 
‘The guana, from the nofe to the tip of the tail, meafured 4 feet 
3 inches, and in circumference round the belly 1 foot 6 inches 
and yet the :fnake; after: the guana was taken out; meafured 
only 8 feet 6 inches im length. ©) ~ > EOF FOES Ee 
_ Tue circumference of this fnake is not given ; ‘but if it’ bore 
the fame -proportion to its: length that it did in’ the former 
fnake, it would be nearly 10 inches. In this inftance, there- 
fore, the fnake had fwallowed ‘an animal of Sire magnitude 
than itfelf almoft im the proportion of 9 to 5. 
‘On the 16th of the fame month another fnake was brought 
in, having nearly the {ame appearance as the laft, but ftill 
more diftended. It was opened while yet alive, and an entire 
fawn of one year old extracted. The fawn meafured 1 foot 8 
inches round the belly ; and the extreme rei ag of the ae 
was only g fect 3 inches. 
“April 
