BOA CONSTRICTOR. 



THE BOA CONSTRICTOR. 



The boa frequents caves and thick forests, where it con- 

 ceals ilself, sometimes rolled round the body of a tree, till 

 its prey comes within reach. When it seizes animals, 

 especially of the larger kind, it presently twists itself round 

 them, so as effectually to involve their body and impede 

 their motions, while by the vast force of its circular 

 muscles, it breaks and bruises all their bones. After 

 having destroyed life, it licks the skin all over to facilitate 

 swallowing : this process reduces its victim to a shapeless 

 shining mass ; when, beginning at the lower extremity, it 

 gradually sucks in the body. The boa has been observed 

 for a long time with the horns of a stag sticking out at its 

 mouth j being too complicated to swallow, as well as too 

 hard to digest. 



For some days after it has swallowed a stag, or a tiger, 

 it is fixed to the spot, being unable to move froin repletion ; 

 and then the natives easily kill it. When exasperated, it 

 makes aloud hissing noise. 



THE ACROCHORDUS. 



There are three species in this genus, differing very little. 

 The first was discovered in the island of Java, in a pepper 

 ground. It measured eight feet in length ; the neck was 

 about six inches thick ; the largest part of the body ten 

 inches, and the tail only an inch and a half. The 

 colour of the upper parts was whitish, that of the lower 

 blackish ; the sides are marked with dusky spots ; the head 

 ends abruptly, and is fiattish ; there is no appearance of 

 fangs in the mouth ; the body tapers very suddenly 

 towards the tail, and both are covered with warts. A 

 quantity of indigested fruit was found in the stomach. The 

 flesh was eaten by the Chinese who found it, and pronounced 

 to be excellent. 



