122 THE CROCODILE THE BOA. 



abundance. It sometimes grows to the length 

 of thirty or forty feet, and is possessed of great 

 strength, and carries off with ease a man, a tiger, 

 or an ox. The upper part of the body being co- 

 vered with hard scales, it is a dangerous enemy, 

 though its motions are not very quick. It resorts 

 chiefly to swampy grounds covered with weeds, 

 and inland lakes, but never approaches the salt 

 water. When waiting for prey, it generally lies 

 motionless on the water, looking like a log of de- 

 cayed wood, near places where animals come to 

 drink, upon which it seizes and drags to the bot- 

 tom. The female lays about a hundred eggs, and 

 is so prolific, that were it not that snakes of all 

 kinds are fond of their eggs, and destroy vast 

 numbers, the countries they inhabit would be 

 overrun by them. In Egypt, a little animal called 

 the ichneumon has a wonderful instinct for finding 

 the nests of crocodiles, and destroys great num- 

 bers. Though these creatures are of such immense 

 bulk, their eggs are hardly so large as those of the 

 goose, and are covered by a thick leather-like skin. 

 Alligators, which abound in South America, are 

 very similar in habits and appearance to crocodiles, 

 and belong to the same family. 



The boa constrictor, another of the reptiles, 

 attains a great length. It is one of the largest ser- 

 pents, and kills its prey by folding itself round and 

 round its victim with the utmost quickness, and 

 then crushing it to pieces. Its muscles are ex- 

 ceedingly powerful, and capable of pressing almost 

 any animal to death. 



