560 



COLLEGE ZOOLOGY 



•■■rt&M- 



Fig. 460. 



- The python, Python molurus, devouring 

 a mammal. (From Gadow.) 



% ^ik western states. 



There is only one 

 " boa-constrictor " 

 with several varie- 

 ties. It belongs to 

 the genus Boa and 

 its specific name is 

 constrictor. It is a 

 native of tropical 

 South America and 

 reaches a length of 

 eleven feet. Boa- 

 constrictors are 

 docile in captivity 



and therefore preferred by snake " charmers." 



Family Colubrid^;. — This family contains about 90 per 



cent of all living snakes and is so large that it is usually divided 



into three series. 



Series A. Aglypha. — The snakes placed in this series have 



solid teeth, and no grooved nor perforated fangs. They are all 



non-venomous and are found in every country inhabited by 



snakes. Half a 



dozen of the most 



common species 



found in the United 



States are briefly 



described below. 

 The common 



garter-snake or 



striped snake, 



Thamnophis sirtalis 



(Fig. 46 1 ) , is usually 



provided with three 



longitudinal yellow Fl(J ^ _ , Thamnophis sirtalis. 



stripes, one on the (From Gadow.) 



