ACGOUNT of a LARGE SNAKE. 250 
April 5. 1791. 
A snake of the fame fpecies was brought to Comillah and 
opened, from which a fawn was taken ftill larger than the one 
juft mentioned ; but the fnake was 10 feet 6 inches in length. 
Ir is the general opinion, that fnakes break the bones of 
their prey before they {wallow it, if the animal be of any confi- 
derable fize. This, however, I am difpofed to doubt, as in none 
of the above inftances had the animal fuffered fuch offifraction, 
if I may be allowed the expreflion. The mechanifm of the 
jaws, and the width of the gullet above defcribed, render 
fuch violence unneceflary. 
THE animal is fwallowed very gradually, being firft, I fu- 
fpect, well lubricated with flime, with which this kind of large. 
fnake appears abundantly provided. 
THESE circumftances may undoubtedly be deemed rather fa~ 
bulous by thofe who have never feen nor examined large {nakes. 
But they are facts not to be denied, and are well authenticated 
by every one who has had opportunities of feeing and opening 
fuch {nakes. 
Durine Mr Lecx1e’s refidence at Comillah, I have learned 
from undoubted authority, that a fnake of the above mentioned 
fpecies was found dead, with the horns of a large deer fticking 
in his throat, fuppofed to be the caufe of his death. The f{nake: 
and the horns were both brought to Comillah in this fituation ; 
but in a putrid ftate. The fnake meafured above 17 feet in 
tength; and the bones of it were afterwards fent to Mr 
Cuar_es Continson of Banleak. 
VoL. VI.—P. II. I i VILE.. 
