THE BUSHMASTER. 529 



glowing radiance of its fearful beauty, displaying as it does, 

 when gliding amid the sunshine, all the prismatic colours. 

 Though generally remaining on the ground, it mounts trees 

 with perfect ease in search of its prey birds or their eggs; 

 while from the overhanging bough it can dart down on the 

 unwary passer-by. 



It is said that furious battles sometimes occur between 



FIGHT BETWEEN A RATTLESNAKE AND BOA-CONSTRICTOR. 



snakes of different species, that the boa will watch for the 

 rattlesnake as it issues from its hole, or that the latter will 

 sally forth, and, relying on its envenomed fangs for victory, 

 attack the huge boa as it glides by ; though, as no naturalists 

 appear to have witnessed such combats, it may be doubted whe- 

 ther they ever take place. But we may fancy how desperate 



(379) 34 



