2554 



SCALED REPTILES 



adapted to narmonize with the shades of brown, black, and yellow on the bark of 

 tropical forest trees. 



Could we but see the boa during the night in the depths of its native forests 

 at which time alone it is thoroughly active we should doubtless obtain a very dif- 

 ferent idea of the creature than that which we gather from the inspection in the 

 daytime of the lethargic specimens in menageries. Lying coiled on the branch of 

 some large tree, with its head projecting ready to be darted on its prey with the 

 rapidity of lightning, the boa is generally unobserved by the passing traveler unless 

 it happens to make a dart at an unfortunate dog belonging to his party. Feeding 



COMMON BOA. 



(One-eighth natural size.) 



generally on such mammals as agutis, pacas> rats, and mice, which are destroyed in 

 the manner from whence is derived its trivial name, the boa, when it attains unusu- 

 ally large dimensions, is also capable of killing deer and large dogs; while it is al- 

 ways ready for such birds as it can capture, and does not disdain, when in captivity, 

 a meal of eggs. The stories of its killing adult human beings and horses are, how- 

 ever, mere fabrications. Nothing is known of the breeding habits of this snake and 

 its kindred in a wild state; but from observations made on specimens in captivity, 

 it appears that the eggs are generally hatched within the body of the parent, al- 

 though one instance is on record where young and eggs were produced simultane- 



