$Sa$ular 



at 3mmatctt $aturc. 79 



goat, which he killed and devoured with 

 equal facility. It would appear that almost 

 all he swallows is converted into nutrition, 

 for a small quantity of calcareous matter 

 (and that, perhaps, not a tenth part of the 

 bones of the animal), with occasionally some 

 of the hairs, seemed to compose liis general 

 fteces ; and tliis may account for these ani- 

 mals being able to remain so long without a 

 " 



upply of food. 

 There 



are many other serpents of the spe- 

 cies Boa ; of which a short notice is neces- 

 sary 1. The Si'OTTKU BOA. (Jioa scytale.) 

 This is sometimes scarcely inferior to the 

 Boa Constrictor, and is of similar habits. It 

 is of a grey colour, marked with large orbi- 

 cular spots, interspersed with other marks 

 and variegations. It is found in many parts 

 of South America 2. The RIXGEU BOA. 

 (Ji(M cenchria.) This also grows to a large 

 size, though considerably smaller than either 

 of the before mentioned ; and may be easily 

 distinguished by the regular distribution of 

 its marks and colours. On the back is a 

 continued series of very large blackish cir- 

 cles from head to tail, while along the sides 

 are interspersed several kidney-shaped spots, 

 with their centres white. It inhabits South 

 America 3. The EMBUOIDEKED BOA. (va 

 J'hrygiu.) There exists scarcely a more truly 

 elegant species in the whole serpent tribe 

 than this. It is nearly four feet long ; the 

 ground colour white, the back being tinged 

 with a cast of yellowish brown ; while along 

 the whole upper part is a continued series of 

 black variegations, bearing a striking resem- 

 blance to embroidery. It is a native of the 

 East Indies. t. CANINE BOA. (Jioa canina.) 

 This beautiful snake is about four feet in 

 length : the head is large, and shaped like 

 that of a dog ; the general colour a bright 

 Saxon green, with transverse white bars down 

 the back, the edges of which are of a 

 green than the ground colour of the body : 



the edges of which are of a deeper 



bod 



the belly is white. This species belongs to 

 South America 5. The GAKUEN BOA. (.tioa 

 hortulana.) The ground colour of this spe- 

 cies is a light yellowish brown, or sometimes 

 pale violet, variegated with a dark purplish 

 brown pattern resembling rich embroidery. 

 The head is broad, and the neck slender. 

 There are several others, but the foregoing 

 will convey a sufficient idea of them. 



BOAR. The male of Swine. [See Hoo.] 



BOAR-FISH. (Capros aper.) AnAcan- 

 thopterygious fish, resembling the Dory in 

 its general outline, and in having the first 



CAPROS APER.) 



dorsal fin deeply notched ; but it has no 

 spines along the dorsal or anal : The fins are 

 covered with rough scales ; the mouth pro- 

 jects considerably ; and the fins are entirely 

 without filaments. The flesh of the Boar- 

 fish is but in little esteem. 



A very few instances of the presence of 

 this rare fish on the British coasts have been 

 recorded. We believe the last was by Waring 

 Kidd, Esq., and the following account of it 

 appeared in " The Zoologist," p. 191 : 

 " On the 6th of March, 1842, a fish six inches 

 and a half in length and three inches in 

 width, of most brilliant colours, was picked 

 up by a fisherman. It was alive when found : 

 the colours were bright orange and lake. 

 The fish was taken by the person who picked 

 it up to Mr. Griffins, the principal fish- 

 monger of Brighton ; he took it to the Pa- 

 vilion, where it was presented to her Majesty. 

 It was immediately recognised by His Royal 

 Highness Prince Albert (the Prince being a 

 good naturalist) as the Boar or Hog fish of 

 the ancients, a species very scarce on the 

 British coasts. His Royal Highness, wishing 

 to have it preserved, sent it here ; as it was 

 for Her Majesty, it gave me great pleasure 

 that I succeeded so well, both in preserving 

 the colours and in showing the peculiarity of 

 the mouth, which the fish has the power of 

 extending and contracting at will. When 

 extended, it takes the form of a hog's snout ; 

 hence the name of Boar-fish. I suspended 

 the fish under a glass shade, and placed a few 

 seaweeds, &c. on the stand. When quite 

 completed, I made a painting of it, and suc- 

 ceeded in representing the colours pretty 

 correctly." 



BOAT-BILL. (CaHcrwna.) A genus 

 of Grallatorial birds, distinguished by their 



BOAT-BIt,!,. (CANCROMA COCHLBARTA.) 



very remarkable bill, the form of which by 

 some is likened to a boat with its keel 

 upwards, and by others to the bowls of two 

 spoons, the concave sides of which are placed 

 in contact. The mandibles are very stout 

 and sharp-edged, and the upper one has a 

 projecting point at the extremity. The feet 

 have four toes, all of them long, and without 

 a connecting membrane ; for which reason 

 these birds perch on the branches of trees 

 by the sides of rivers, so that they may 



