122 REPTILES AND BATRACHIANS 



scales of the head are small and broken up. The nostril 

 is situated between three shields, which are separated 

 from those of the other side by minute scales. 



The Common Boa, Boa constrictor^ of the West Indies 

 and the greater part of Tropical America, has a larger 

 number of scales round the body than the other species, 

 these numbering up to ninety-five. The colour varies 

 considerably ; it may be pale or dark brown, grey, or 

 pinkish above, with about fifteen dark brown or black cross- 

 bars, widening on each side, where they are usually 

 connected by a dark streak, which encloses large oval spots 

 of the pale ground colour. On the tail the markings 

 become much larger, and are reddish-brown or even brick- 

 red, edged with black, and separated by narrow yellow 

 interspaces. 



The Boa Constrictor is popularly supposed to be the 

 giant among snakes, although in reality it seldom attains a 

 length of more than twelve feet, and in size, therefore, 

 cannot be compared with the Anaconda, or several of the 

 Pythons. 



Fond of taking an occasional bath. Boas never remain 

 for long in the water, and do not, as in the case of Pythons, 

 wait by the water's edge to secure their prey, preferring to 

 rest fairly high up in the branches of trees. The Common 

 Boa, although frequently very savage when freshly cap- 

 tured, becomes quite tame after only a few weeks of 

 captivity. The snake is a good feeder, one of the specimens 

 under my charge, as previously alluded to, having fed on 

 as many as thirty-five occasions in the course of a year, 

 devouring in all twenty-three rabbits, thirteen pigeons, 

 and three rats. 



