THE REPTILES 259 



small mammals, and is usually slow and rather sluggish in nature, 

 rarely wantonly attacking. Other Pit Vipers are the Bushmaster 

 of Guiana and Brazil, the Fer-de-Lance or Yellow Viper of Mar- 

 tinique, the Rat-tailed Serpent of St. Lucia, and the Brazilian 

 Jararaca. 



A familiar example of the Innocuous Colubriform Snakes is 

 our Common English Grass Snake, which may attain to a length 

 of 3 or 4 feet. It is a pretty, slender snake, very active and graceful 

 in its movements, and quite harmless. When first captured and 

 alarmed it has an unpleasant habit of voiding its excrement, which 

 has a very offensive, musky odour that clings to the hands and 

 clothes should they become soiled with it. It frequents sunny 

 banks and heaths where the grass is high, and in the neighbourhood 

 of a pond. It feeds upon frogs, newts, lizards, mice, and small 

 fledglings. The female is oviparous, laying from sixteen to twenty 

 eggs. It is easily tamed, and certainly learns to distinguish those 

 who feed and regularly caress it. 



An interesting and useful Colubride Snake is the Indian Rat 

 Snake (Ptyas mucosus), which attains a length of 7 feet. It 

 frequently enters dwellings in search of rats and mice, and if it 

 would confine its attentions to these noxious vermin it would 

 be indeed a welcome visitor, but it also has a liking for young 

 fowls, and is always ready to bite. 



The Pythons are the largest of the snakes, and are said to 

 reach a length of 30 feet, though those generally seen are usually 

 less than 18 feet in length, the greater size being rare. They 

 have a wide geographical distribution, being found in the hottest 

 parts of Africa, Asia, the Eastern Archipelago, and Australia, 

 according to Gunther. The members of this family have the relics 

 of hind limbs in the shape of bony spurs, and the tail is prehen- 

 sile. They are not poisonous, but kill their prey by crushing it 

 in the folds of their body. 



The Boas form a sub-family of the Pythonida, and have the 

 general configuration of the Great Pythons, though never attain- 

 ing to such large size. They inhabit South America and lead an 

 arboreal life. The Boa Constrictor is a very beautiful snake, and 

 in captivity becomes quite docile and friendly. One which I kept 

 for many years became a great pet and showed considerable 

 affection for myself and my wife. When caressed by us it would rub 



