NATURAL HISTORY. 305 



Frogs, lizards, mice, and other small animals, form the food 

 of this reptile, but sometimes it falls a victim to its own vorac- 

 ity. In the Magazine of Natural History, a viper is mentioned 

 which had swallowed a lizard nearly as large as itself, and one 

 of whose legs was protruding from its side. 



In former times, preparations from vipers, and especially 

 viper-broth, were in great request as medicines. 



Sub-order II. . COLUBHIXA. (Lai.. Coluber, a Snake.) 

 Family IV. . . BokLe. 



Constrictor (Lat. a binder), the Boa. 



The enormous BOA-CONSTRICTOR inhabits tropical America. 

 It is not venomous, but is not the less dangerous, as the 

 tremendous power of its muscles enables it to crush its 

 prey in the coils of its huge body. In order to procure its 

 food, the Boa-constrictor lies in wait by the side of some 



