522 



THE BOA. 



descending the ilionster's throat. After a time the meal is 

 finished, and the serpent — its body greatly distended — re- 

 mains at rest, unwilling to move, when it may be easily 

 captured by the daring hunter. 



The body of the boa is of a rich brown colour. A broad 

 chain of large black spots, alternating with white, runs along 



BOA- 



-CONSTRICTOR AND RATTLESNAKE. 



its back ; while the scales round the eyes are set in a circle, 

 separated from those of the lips by two rows of smaller scales. 

 The jaws are not united, but attached to the skull by muscles 

 and ligaments, which enable it to dilate the mouth sufficientl}^ 

 to swallow bodies much laro;er than itself 



The largest grow to a length of thirty feet and upwards ; 



