SNAKES : THE PYTHON 95 



hollow in the tooth into the wound which the latter has 

 made. Clothes are therefore some protection ; for even 

 should the fangs penetrate the flesh, a part of the poison 

 may have been ejected at the first contact. On the other 

 hand, at each bite a dangerous snake expels many times 

 the amount of venom needful to his purpose. Leggings 

 and strong boots are effective protections, except against 

 such reptiles as, from their larger size, are able to strike 

 at a higher level. A snake as a rule is able to strike 

 about half the length of his own body above the ground. 



PYTHONS. The python is found in most tropical and 

 sub-tropical countries of Africa, and the south African 

 grows to a large size and bulk. The biggest I ever saw 

 killed was eighteen feet long : but I believe that they 

 reach as much as twenty-two feet. The girth of one of 

 the latter length would be nearly that of a man's thigh. 



Pythons are non- venomous, and their jaws are furnished 

 with a large number of solid and sharply recurved teeth, 

 which give them a most tenacious grip upon anything 

 they have seized. A pair of horny points occur, one on 

 each side at the lower end of the body, indicating that 

 the remote ancestors of this snake were possessed of legs. 



Pythons usually rest underground, making use of old 

 ant-bear and porcupine holes for the purpose. Sometimes 

 they lie coiled up asleep in thick bush or among long 

 grass; and I once unwittingly took my midday siesta, 

 pending the arrival of my transport, within three feet 

 of a large one which was employed in. the same manner 

 as myself. They are most active during the cool morning 

 and evening hours ; but they will catch their prey at all 

 times of the day and night. Their favourite method is 

 to lie concealed close to a game path, or stretched along 

 the overhanging bough of a tree, whence they drop on 

 to their prey as it passes below. They are very fond of 



