626 



THE TROPICAL WORLD. 



deprived of all the usual means of locomotion, the rapidity of their progress is not 

 a little surprising. On examining the anatomical structure of their body, however, it 

 will be remarked that while we have only twelve pair of ribs united in front by the 

 breast-bone and cartilage, the snake has often more than three hundred, unconnected 

 in front, and consequently much more free in their motions, a faculty which is still in- 

 creased by the great mobility of the spondyli of the backbone. Between the ribs and 

 the broad transverse scales or plates which exist on the belly of all such serpents as 

 move rapidly, we find numerous muscles connecting tliem one with another, and thus, 

 amply provided with a whole system of strong pulleys and points of attachment, the 

 reptile, bringing up the tail towards the head, by bending the body into one or more 

 curves, and then again resting upon the tail and extending the body, glides swiftly 

 along, not only upon even ground, but even sometimes from branch to branch, as the 

 smallest hold suffices for its stretching out its body a foot's length into the air, and 

 thus reaching another sallying point for further progress. 



The anatomy of the serpent's jaws is no less remarkable than the mechanism of its 

 movements. In spite of their proverbial wisdom, snakes would not be able to exist 

 unless they were able to swallow large animal masses at a time. For, however rapid 

 their motions may be, those of their prey are in general still more active, and thus 

 they are obliged to wait in ambush till a fortunato chance provides them witii a copious 

 meal. The victim is often much more bulky than the serpent itself ; but still, without 

 tearing it to pieces, it is able to engulph it in his swelling maw. For the two halves 

 of its lower jaw do not coalescfe like ours into one solid mass, but are merely connected 

 in front by a loose ligament, so that each part can be moved separately. The bones 

 of the upper jaw and palate are also loosely attached or articulated one with the 

 other, and thus the whole mouth is capable of great distension. By this mechanism, 

 aided by the numerous sharp teeth, which are so many little hooks with the point 

 curved backwards, each side of the jaws and mouth being able to act as it were inde- 

 pendently of the other, alternately hooks itself fast to the morsel, or advances to fasten 

 itself farther on in a similar manner, and thus the reptile draws itself over its prey, 

 somewhat in the same way as we draw a stocking over our leg, after having first, by 

 breaking the bones, fashioned it into a convenient mass, and rendered its passage more 

 easy by lubricating it with its saliva. Slowly the huge lump disappears behind the 

 jaws, descends lower and lower beneath the scales, which seem ready to burst asunder 

 with distension, and then the satisfied monster coils himself up once more to digest his 

 meal in quiet. The time required for this purpose varies of course according to the 

 size of the morsel; but often weeks, or even months, will pass before a boa awakens 

 from the lethargic repose in which — the image of disgusting gluttony — he lies plunged 

 after a superabundant meal. 



A huge python in the Zoological Gardens fasted the almost incredible time of 

 twenty-two months, having probably prepared himself for his abstinence by a splendid 

 gorge ; and Dumeril mentions a rattlesnake in the Jardin des Plantes which likewise 

 took no nourishment during twenty-one months, but then, as if to make up for lost 

 time, swallowed three hares within five days. The reptiles in the British Zoological 

 Gardens are offered food once a week, but even then their appetites are frequently not 

 yet awakened, though great care is taken never to spoil their stomachs by excess. 



Though generally the objects of abhorrence and fear, yet serpents sometimes render 



