SNAKE SEIZING PREY. 317 



but be it what it may, it was a manifestation of con- 

 siderable voracity to take to the bait, after having 

 swallowed seven eggs." 



My negro lad Sam describes to me with much 

 graphic force a scene which he once saw at Mount 

 Airy. A Boa had just seized a hen by the head, and 

 had enfolded her in its mortal coihngs : then it pro- 

 ceeded gradually to suck in the whole until only the 

 feet were exposed. Just then a fearless negro 

 woman began to lay on lusty blows with a stout 

 stick, which caused the reptile to disgorge its prey ; 

 but so slimy was its surface now, so lengthened and 

 drawn out its form, while much diminished in diame 

 ter,— that it could scarcely be recognised. Not the 

 least interesting part of the incident was, that during 

 the whole transaction, the unfortunate hen's brood of 

 young chickens, now orphans, surrounded the serpent, 

 crying as they beheld the tragic fate of their mother. 

 In this case the act of seizure was not witnessed ; 

 but Sam has seen a Boa ascend a mango-tree, on 

 one of whose branches a fowl was perching, and when 

 at some distance from the prey begin to dart out and 

 vibrate its tongue, its eyes fixed on the fowl while it 

 slowly and uniformly drew near ; the poor hen all 

 the time intently watching the foe, but without stir- 

 ring or crying. Help came fortuitously, just as the 

 Snake was about to strike, and the fowl was rescued. 

 How strange it is that in widely remote parts of the 

 world we should hear the same statements. Sam has 

 never read what other observers have described about 

 fascination ; but he and others affirm from their own 

 observation that some such power is exercised. 



