376 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



These large snakes but rarely venture to attack man, although once in 

 a while they will kill children. Their method is to throw coil after coil 

 of the strong body around the victim, and then to kill it by squeezing it 

 to death. Under this terrible tightening, the bones are quickly broken, 

 and at last the prey is limp and in a suitable condition for swallowing. 







'"-te^uz 



Fig. 338. — Boa-constrictor. 



The story is usually told that tl icy cover the object with saliva, in order 

 that it may the more easily pass down the throat. This, however, is said 

 nut to be the case. It is true; that one is occasionally seen beside its prey, 

 the latter all coveted with slime ; but it is possible that this is the result of 

 having been partially swallowed, and then for some reason disgorged. 



The way in which they actually swallow their prey is interesting, even 

 though this feature of their table habits be false. They always begin with 



