6o THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



Their Haunts, Diet, and Age. 



Pythons frequent moist rocky valleys, plantation and bush- 

 covered lands, and are rarely found far from water. Their prin- 

 cipal diet is birds, mammals, such as Dassies, Hares, Cane Rats, 

 the smaller antelopes, monkeys, etc. 



Along the coastal districts of Natal there are extensive sugar- 

 cane plantations, where these Pythons delight to dwell, as there 

 is abundance of food in the shape of Cane Rats, otherwise known 

 as Ground Pigs {Thryonomys swinderenianits). These Cane Rats 

 attain the size of full-grown Dassies or Rock Rabbits. They are 

 not real rats. Their nearest relation is the porcupine. These 

 Cane Rats are very destructive to the sugar-cane, so the planter 

 regards the Python as his best and most useful ally. 



When seeking food the Python usually lies in ambush in some 

 place where animals are likely to pass. When the intended 

 victim is within striking distance, the snake lunges forward, seizes 

 its startled victim in its jaws, which are armed with fairly large 

 recurved teeth. Then with lightning-like rapidity its body is 

 thrown around the terrified and struggling animal, which is 

 rapidly crushed to death. 



The age to wliich snakes live has not been ascertained. 

 P\i;hons have been known to live in captivity for twenty-five 

 years. 



Swallowing the Prey. 



The snake begins at the head and swallows the body, after the 

 manner of other snakes, as previously explained. H the captured 

 animal be large, the snake crushes it so effectually that it is 

 converted into a sausage-shaped mass, which naturally makes 

 the swallowing process so much easier. 



During deglutition the salivary' glands are very active, and 

 an abundance of saliva is excreted which enables the snake to 

 swallow the prey with comparative ease. The snake does not, 

 however, smear its victim with saliva before starting to swallow 

 it. The saliva only comes in contact \\dth the portion of the prey 

 which is within the mouth. Sometimes a little escapes from the 

 sides of the mouth. Snakes never " slime " their -prey previous 

 to swallowing it. 



This popular belief that snakes cover their prey with a 

 slimy secretion previous to swallowing it, is incorrect. What 

 evidently gave rise to this belief, is the custom of snakes to 



