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CHAPTER IV. 



THE PHILIPPINE ARCHIPELAGO. 



Anecdote of a Python Exploration of Sesarma Curious Cavern 

 A ramble about Samboanga Villages Scenery Vegetation 

 Aborigines of Mindanao The Flying-Fox Remarkable Crabs 

 Habits of Spiders Insects Mindoro Hostility of the Natives 

 Use of the bow and arrow Ylin Poisonous Plant Insects 

 Habits of Molluscous Animals. 



ON the 4th of February, 1844, we left Koo-kien-san, 

 one of the Meia-co-shimah Group, and arrived at Manila 

 on the 16th of March, where we remained until the 1st 

 of April. While lying in the truly delightful bay at this 

 place, a trifling incident occurred, showing the extreme 

 vivacity, and rapidity of movement, in the larger Serpents, 

 even in those of the Boa tribe, especially when first captured. 

 They are, indeed, then very different from those apathetic 

 listless monsters one sees coiled up in blankets, at Zoolo- 

 gical Gardens, and in Menageries. Sir Edward Belcher 

 had a very beautiful specimen of the Python Schneideri 

 presented to him, about twelve feet long, and having one 

 day given it a chicken, the reptile, as usual, compressed 

 it nearly to death, within the muscular folds of its body, 

 when one of the bystanders, more tender-hearted than 



