MT BOID.fi. 



appears to be of Ceylonese origin, and applies it to the Python 



n 



This species it brownish, with a double series of roundish black 

 blotches all down the back ; the lateral poU annular and ocellatod, 

 the disks being white, surrounded by blackish rings. The trivial 

 name murimu was given to it from iU being said to lie in wait for 



HOI ILK 



Ml 



Anaconda (Kunrcln mur'mtu). 



mice ; and Seba has given a representation of it about to dart upon an 

 American mouse, which he says is its usual food. Such 'small deer' 

 may be the prey of this species when very young, but it grows to a 

 size equalling that of Boa Constrictor and Epicrates Cenchria. We 

 think it very probable that this is the Culebra de Agua of the 

 Venezuelans. The other provincial nnme, El Traga Venado, or 

 ' Deer-Swallower,' indicates the prey of the serpent when of mature 

 age. Linnaeus says of his Boa Scytale, " Constringit et deglutit capras, 

 oves," ftc. (It constricts and swallows goats, sheep, tic.) 



The following description of a species, of which a specimen was 

 forwarded to the United Service Museum, was given by Sir Robert 

 Ker Porter : " It is not venomous, nor known to injure man (at least 

 not in this part of the New World) ; however the natives of the plains 

 stand in great fear of it, never bathing in waters where it is known 

 to exist Its common haunt, or rather domicile, is invariably near 

 lakes, swamps, and rivers ; likewise close to wet ravines produced by 

 inundations of the periodical rains ; hence, from its aquatic habits, 

 iU first appellation. Fish and those animals which repair there to 

 drink are the objects of its prey. The creature lurks watchfully 

 tinder cover of the water, and whilst the unsuspecting animal is 

 drinking suddenly makes a dash at it* nose, and with a grip of its 

 back-reclining double range of teeth never fails to secure the terrified 

 beaut beyond the power of escape. In an instant the sluggish waters 

 are in turbulence and foam, the whole form of the Culebra is in 

 motion, its huge and rapid coilings soon encircle the struggling victim, 

 and but a short moment elapses ere every bone is broken in t!io body 

 of the expiring prey. On its ceasing to exist the fleshy tongue of the 

 reptile is protruded (taking a long and thinnish form), passing over 

 the whole of the lifeless beast, leaving on it a sort of glutinous saliva 

 that greatly facilitates the act of deglutition, which it performs gra- 

 dually by gulping it down through its extended jaws a power of 

 extension of them it possesses to so frightful and extraordinary a 

 degree as not to be believed when looking at the comparative small- 

 ness of the mouth nnd throat in their tranquil xtato. After having 

 completely devoured or rather hiddi-n its prey in the way described it 

 becomes powerless as to motion, and remains in an almost torpid state 

 for some days, or until nature silently diRet the swallowed animal. 

 The snake now sent was killed with lances when just regarding its 

 powers of action. 



" The flesh of this serpent is white, and abundant in fat The 

 people of the plains never eat it, but make use of the fat as a remedy 

 for rheumatic pains, ruptures, straius, Ac. When these creatures are 

 young the colours on the skin are very bright, and gradually lose their 

 brilliancy with age." 



There is generally in these descriptions an account of the fleshy 

 tongue of the reptile, and of it* application to the dead animal for 

 the purpose of covering it with saliva, previous to the i>|><T:iti<ui f 

 swallowing it A glance at the tongue of a Boa or a Python will 

 convince the observer that few worse instrument* for such a purpose 

 could have been contrived. The delusion is kept up by the mode in 

 which these serpents are sometimes preserved in museums, where 

 they may be occasionally seen with fine artificial, thick, fleshy, ver- 

 milion tongues in the place of the small dark-coloured extensile organs 

 with which nature has furnished them. We have frequently watched 

 constricting serpents while taking their prey, and it is almost super- 

 fluous to add that they never covered the victim with saliva from .the 

 tongue before deglutition. When the prey is dead and the serpent is 

 about to swallow it, the tongue of the destroyer is frequently thrust 

 forth and vibrated, as if indicatory of the desire for food ; but the 

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

 and throat for the disproportioned feast. 



14. Chilabothrnt. Crown covered with regular shields ; nostrils 

 lateral, between three scales. 



C. inornatut, the Yellow Snake, is a native of Jamaica. The head and 

 front part of the body olive; temple with a narrow black streak ; 

 back with small scattered black oblique cross lines ; hinder part of the 

 body black, with olive spots. A living specimen is in the Gardens of 

 the Zoological Society. 



"* Scales keeled ; lateral shields not pitted ; nostrils between 

 two plates. 



15. Ungalia, Head covered with symmetrical shields. The species 

 are natives of tropical America. 



I.', mrlanura, Black-Tailed Ungalia, has been found in Cuba. 

 V. maculata, the Pardaline Ungalia, is found in Cuba and Jamaica. 

 Scales keeled ; lateral shields not pitted ; nostrils a 

 single plate. 



16. Enyyriu. Head covered with small irregular shields ; nostrils in a 

 single plate. There are two species, inhabitants of the Asiatic islands. 



. carinattu, the Candoia. It has been found in New Guinea. 

 f. Bilroni. Bibron's Enygrua. A specimen exists in the Museum 

 at Paris. 



17. Catarta. Head scaly ; muzzle covered with symmetrical 

 shields ; nostrils in a single plate (?). One species, 



C. Dtutumieri, the Casarea, is found in the Isle Konde near Mauritius. 



18. Bolyeria. Head covered with symmetrical shields ; nostrils in 

 a single plate. 



B. mviticarinata, the Bolyeria, is the only species. It is a native of 

 Port Jackson, Australia. 



II. Tail rrry ikort, slightly or not prehensile; Head indistinct, thort. 



a. Head covered with scales ; pupil oblong ; scales convex ; 



subcaudal shield one-rowed ; intermaxillary teeth 



none; supra-orbital bone none. 



19. Cusoria. Muzzle rounded ; ventral and subcaudal plates 

 narrow ; scales ovate, of body and tail smooth. 



C. elegant, the Cusoria, is the only species. Inhabits Afghanistan. 



20. d'ongylophu. Muzzle wedge-shaped; jaws equal; head with 

 small keeled scales ; scales of back keeled ; body fusiform. 



O. conica (Boa cornea, Schneider ; B. ornata, Daudin ; Eryx Bengal- 

 rntii and Scytale coronata, Ouerin), the Padain Cootoo.- It is a native 

 of Hindustan. 



21. Ery.r. Muzzle wedge-shaped; upper jaw largest; head with 

 small scales ; scales of back smooth, of hinder part of body keeled. 



E. Jacultu (Tortris Eryt, Anguu Jacultu, A. colubrina, Linnaeus ; 

 A. cerastes, Hasselquist, Eryjr Delta, GeoflVoy), the Eryx. This 

 species, known by its distinct gular groove and two pairs of frontals, 

 has been found in Egypt, Corfu, Xanthus, Naxos, Greece, and on the 

 shores of the Mediterranean. 



E. Tltcbaicus, the Shielded Eryx, has no gular groove, and one pair 

 of frontals. It is a native of Egypt and the North of Africa. 



22. C'lotlionia. Muzzle wedge-shaped; upper jaw largest; scales 



In. '"til. 



C. Johnii(Boa Julinii, Hupp.-!!, Eryr Johnii, Dumcril, Tortrir Ery.r, 

 Schlegel, Amphulxrna, 'Penny Cyclopaedia,' fg.), the Clothonia, is 

 the only species belonging to this genus. 



This species is of a reddish brown colour, and is a native of 

 Hindustan. 



6. Head shielded ; pupil round. 



23. Cylindrophis. Nostrils in a single shield ; eyes surrounded by 

 shields ; intermaxillary teeth none. This genus has three species. 



(J. melanota, the Black-Backed Pamboo. It ha* a triangular trun- 

 cated tail. The muzzle is black, the end of tail white; the belly 

 black and white banded ; the toil longer than the head. It is a native 

 if <'. -lobes. 



', thr S.hilnj PamlMKi, willi n fininil t:iil and l>rad muzzle. 

 It is black or reddish, often white-ringed ; head and tip of tail black ; 



