574 AMPHIBIALA. 



and when thus gorged with their prey, become almost torpid with 

 repletion, and if discovered in this state, may without much diffi- 

 culty be destroyed by shooting or other methods. There is rea. 

 ton to suppose, that these gigantic serpents are become less com- 

 mon now than some centuries backwards ; and that in proportion as 

 cultivation and population have increased, the larger species of 

 noxious animals have been expelled from the haunts of mankind, 

 and driven into more distant and uncultivated tracts : they are still, 

 however, occasionally seen, and sometimes approach the planta- 

 tions and gardens of the districts nearest to their residtnce. 



Of all the larger Boaj the most conspicuous is the Boa Constric- 

 tor, which is at once pre-eminent from superiority of size and 

 beauty of colours : in this respect indeed it appears to be subject 

 to considerable variation from age, sex, and climate, but may be 

 distinguished in every stale from the rest of its tribe by the pecu- 

 liar pattern or disposition of its variegations. The ground-colour 

 of the whole animal, in the younger specimens, is a yellowish grey, 

 and sometimes even a bright yellow, on which is disposed along the 

 whole length of the back a series of large, chain-like, reddish- 

 brown, and sometimes perfectly red variegations, leaving large 

 open spaces of the ground colour at regular intervals ; the largest 

 or principal marks composing the chain-like pattern above men- 

 tioned are of a squarish form, accompanied on their exterior sides 

 by large triangular spots, with their points directed downwards; 



Pestiferos ardens facit Africa, ducitis altura 

 Aera cum pennis, armentaque tota secuti 

 Rumpitis ingentes amplexi verbere tauros. 

 Nee tutus spatio est Eleplias; datis omnia leto; 

 Nee vobis opus est ad noxia fata veneno." 



Ye too, in other climes who harmless rove 

 In gilded scales, the guardians of the grove, 

 In horrid Afric's pestilential air 

 Acquire new natures from the burning glare ; 

 Jtide thro' the blaze of noon on sable wing, 

 Quick on th' affrighted herds with fury spring ; 

 And gathering all your folds in writhings dire, 

 Bid the huge ox beneath your crush expire ; 

 Th' enormous elephant by force can slay, 

 And need no poison to secure your prey. 



The tale of Laocoon, in Virgil, might be also adduced as an example of this 

 particular. 



