BOAS; PYTHONS. TORTR1CID-E. 569 



BOID/E are restricted to tropical climates. They are Serpents of 

 very large size and enormous muscular strength ; and from their 

 power of coiling round and firmly compressing the bodies of 

 their victims, they are able to overcome animals of the largest 

 dimensions. The tail has great prehensile power ; and is much 

 aided in its grasp by two hook-like claws sheathed with horn, 

 which are supported upon bones that obviously represent those 

 of the hinder limbs, in their position and attachments ; these 

 claws are put in action by powerful muscles, and serve as a kind 

 of antagonist to the tail in grasping any object. The true Boas 

 are restricted to America ; the name of Python being given to 

 the large Serpents of Africa and India. There is no doubt that 

 individuals of both genera occasionally attain a size that enables 

 them to overpower and gorge animals of large size, such as 

 Men or Cattle ; but these are rarely met with, the usual length 

 of these Serpents being from 15 to 30 feet. It is related by 

 Pliny, that the army of Regulus was alarmed by a huge Serpent, 

 whose length was 123 feet; but it is doubtful how far this ac- 

 count is to be relied on. A well-authenticated instance has 

 occurred in recent times, however, of the destruction of a Snake 

 above 62 feet long, whilst in the act of coiling itself round the 

 body of a man. After having destroyed the life of their victims 

 by the compression of the body, these huge Snakes proceed to 

 envelope them whole in their capacious swallow ; and owing to 

 the remarkable power of distention, which the jaws and oesopha- 

 gus possess, even the bodies of men and cattle can be thus in- 

 gulfed. After gorging themselves to a degree which causes the 

 skin of the neck to appear as if it would burst, they retire to 

 their hiding-places, and there continue in an almost torpid state, 

 until the process of digestion has been completed ; after this 

 period (which sometimes lasts a month) is over, the Snake again 

 issues forth in search of its prey. The Boas of America seem 

 to have been tamed by the ancient Mexicans ; and to have been 

 especially used by the priests, as instruments for impressing the 

 people with awe and reverence for their power. In the genus 

 Eryx, belonging to this family, the tail is short and not prehensile ; 

 and this is also the case in the TORTRICID^E, a small family of 



