512 THE ANACONDA. 



of swallowing, and is of great use in lubricating the prey so as to aid 

 it in its passage down the throat and into the body, but it is poured 

 upon the victim only during the act of swallowing, and is not prepared 

 and applied beforehand. 



The dilating powers of the Boa are wonderful. The skin stretches 

 to a degree which seems absolutely impossible, and a comparison be- 

 tween the diameter of the prey and that of the mouth through which 

 it has to pass, and the throat down which it has to glide, makes the 

 act of swallowing such prey appear almost ludicrous in its apparent 

 impracticability, and, if the feat were not proved by frequent experi- 

 ence, it would seem more like the prelude to a juggler's trick than an 

 event of every-day occurrence. To such an extent is the body dilata- 

 ble that the shape of the animal swallowed can often be traced through 

 the skin, and the very fur is visible through the translucent eyes as the 

 dead victim passes through the jaws and down the throat. 



An equally celebrated snake, the Anaconda, is a native of tropical 

 America, where it is known under several names. La Culebra de Agua, 

 or " water serpent," and El Traga Venado, or '* deer-swal lower," being 

 the most familiar. 



Sir R. Ker Porter has some curious remarks on the Anaconda : 

 " This serpent is not venomous, nor known to injure men (at least not 

 in this part of the New World) ; however, the natives stand in great 

 fear of it, never bathing in waters where it is known to exist. Its com- 

 mon haunt, or rather domicile, is invariably near lakes, sw^^mps, and 

 rivers, likewise close to wet ravines produced by inundations of the 

 periodical rains; hence, from its aquatic habits, its first appellation — 

 /. ^., Water Serpent. Fish, and those animals which repair there to 

 drink, are the objects of its prey. The creature lurks watchfully under 

 cover of the water, and while the unsuspecting animal is drinking sud- 

 denly makes a dart at the nose, and, with a grip of its back-reclining 

 double range of teeth, never fails to secure the terrified beast beyond 

 tho power of escape." 



Compression is the only method employed by the Anaconda for kill- 

 ing its prey, and the pestilent breath which has been attributed to this 

 reptile is wholly fabulous. Indeed, it is doubtful whether any snake 

 whatever possesses a fetid breath, and Mr. Waterton, who has handled 

 sn:ik«\s both poisonous and inofl'ensive, as much as most living persons, 

 utt.'rly denies the existence of any perceptible odor in the snake's 

 .»rcath. It is very possible that the pestilent and most horrible odor 

 which can be emitted by many snakes when they are irritated may 

 have been mistaken for the scent of the breath. This evil odor, how- 

 "ver IS produced from a substance secreted in the glands near the tail, 

 and has no connection with the breath. 



We now come to another section of the serpents, termed the CoLU- 



