236 BRITISH REPTILES 



Leaving me in the room whilst going out to 

 prepare a bath of water for the Boa Constrictor 

 to lie in, so as to aid it in casting its skin, I must 

 admit I felt somewhat nervous at being left alone 

 with two huge Snakes crawling about me, but, 

 having been assured by their owner that no harm 

 would befall me, I stuck to my guns, and am alive 

 to tell the story! 



A day or two after this incident I watched the 

 Boa Constrictor change its old skin, and I shall 

 not readily forget the interesting proceeding, and 

 the magnificent " bloom " upon the creature's 

 body when it emerged triumphant from its slough- 

 ing operation. 



I have very frequently heard the Dragon Fly 

 described as " a horrid stinging creature." The 

 truth is it does not and cannot sting. The same 

 stupid blunder is made with respect to the Giant- 

 tailed Wasp, a remarkable insect, the female 

 possessing a long ovipositor which is more often 

 than not mistaken for a " sting." The proboscis 

 of some our larger Hawk Moths is similarly spoken 

 of. Then, again, some people have a horrid 

 dread of handling, or even coming into contact 

 with, various forms of wild life. I have known a 

 big game hunter who would face a Lion or a Tiger 

 with impunity, but who would not sit at a table 

 the delicacies upon which had attracted the atten- 

 tion of a Wasp possessing a love for some sweet- 



