SEEPESTS. 123 



make the inquiry into its real dimensions worthy of 

 prosecution. 



I may observe, that several species of these great ser- 

 pents exist in the intertropical regions of America, Africa, 

 and Asia ; but all these, though assigned by zoologists to 

 distinct genera (the American species belonging to the 

 genus Boa, and those of Africa and Asia to PytJwn) 

 have so much in common, in habits, structure, and size, 

 that I shaU speak of them without distinguishing the 

 species. 



The old Roman historians report that the army of 

 Attilius Eegulus, while attacking Carthage, was assaulted 

 by an enormous serpent, which was destroyed only by the 

 aid of the military engines crushing it with huge stonea 

 The skin of this monster, measuring 120 feet in length, 

 was sent to Rome, and preserved as a trophy in a temple 

 till the Numantine war. Several writers mention the 

 fact, and Pliny speaks of its existence as well known. 



Diodorus Siculus mentions a serpent which was cap- 

 tured, not without loss of human Kfe, in Egypt, and which 

 was taken to Alexandria; it measured thirty cubits, or 

 about forty-five feet in length. 



Suetonius records that one was exhibited in front of 

 the Comitium at Rome, which was fifty cubits, or seventy- 

 five feet in length. 



It is probable that these measurements were all taken 

 from the skin after having been detached from the body. 

 I have had some experience in skinning serpents, and am 

 therefore aware of the extent to which the skin, when 



