6o 



REPTILES AND BIRDS. 



mucus is not poured out till it is required to lubricate the dilated 

 jaws and throat for the seemingly disproportionate feat." 



Fig. 16. Anaconda. 



The small, but very distinct family of Erycida have the body 

 of moderate length, cylindrical, covered with small and short 

 scales; the tail very short, with only a single series of subcaudal 

 scales; head somewhat elongate; eye rather small, with vertical 



