274 THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. 



been mistaken for a sting; the greater number of 

 Snakes are not at all venomous. Serpents have no teeth 

 fit for eating with, but they are used to hold their prey, 

 while they swallow it, and they serve admirably for 

 this purpose, as each tooth turns backwards. These 

 creatures have mouths and throats capable of enormous 

 distension (the lower jaw not being fixed to the upper 

 one), so that they can swallow their food whole, which 

 they always do ; a Prog or Toad is often swallowed by 

 the common Snake, which is quite disfigured by it when 

 in its stomach. The Pythons and Boas (fig. 48) are the 

 largest of this class, they kill their prey by coiling round 

 it, and gradually tightening their folds till it is suffocated 

 and almost crushed, when it is swallowed ; these great 

 creatures will grow to the length of 30 or 40 feet, and 

 are capable of swallowing considerable quadrupeds, as 

 Hares, Groats, Deer, &c. ; after having their food, 

 they lie torpid for several days. All Serpents lay 

 eggs, and the Pythons coil themselves round upon 

 their eggs to protect them ; the Boa-constrictors are 

 inhabitants of America, the Pythons of the Old World. 



3. SATJRIA (Lizards). 



The Sauria include the Crocodiles, Alligators, Skinks, 

 Greckos, Iguanas, and Lizards; they are carnivorous, the 

 smaller ones feeding on insects, and the larger members 

 on whatever they can catch. They have four legs, and 

 are covered with hard rough scales running in ridges 

 on their backs, they have large strong tails, and their 

 jaws are furnished with sharp teeth. The Alligator is 

 found in great numbers in the Mississippi, and is a 

 most formidable creature, attacking any who may 

 venture into the water. In winter they bury themselves 

 in the mud and remain there in a torpid state, they 

 are from 15 to 20 feet long. The Crocodile is a native 

 of Africa and the West Indies, there are many found 



in the Nile, it is larger than the Alligator, reaching 

 often to 30 feet. Dr Baird gives the following account 

 of the Alligators and Crocodiles : 



