454 



THRILLING ADVENTURES. 



BOA WATCHING A DEER. 



of their reeds and jungle, they will become still less numerous, 

 and in all probability never live to attain the enormous size 

 which some of them in former days acquired. The specimens 

 which are seen in the travelling menageries that journey 

 round the country give but a faint and imperfect idea of what 

 these serpents are in the land where they are found. The 

 graphic description, which Virgil gives of Laocoon's death, 

 is worth quoting. 



" (Fearful to behold) from sea we spied 



