198 KILL THE BOA CONSTRICTOR. 



and I stood in utter amazement, yet in admiration. The 

 whole of the enormous body about twenty-five feet in 

 length was covered with gorgeous hues, to which the 

 flowing blood was but a glowing addition. Mr. Barrill 

 repeated these lines : 



A 



Fold above fold, surprising maze, his-head 

 Crested aloft, and carbuncle his eyes, 

 With burnished neck of verdant gold, erect, 

 Amid his circling spires that on the grass 

 Floated redundant. 



Yet the head, mangled by our shot, looked horrible, and, 

 as we saw the distention of the enormous meal, the horns 

 of an animal being plainly marked, we thought of our 

 narrow escape from the serpent's jaws, and the feeling of 

 admiration gave way to a cold thrill of disgust. The 

 Parsee, who had so bravely handled the hatchet, now cut 

 open the serpent, where the victimized animal appeared, 

 and we were further disgusted by the sight of a half-di- 

 gested stag. How such a large animal, or even the horns, 

 had passed through the small throat I saw, was a matter 

 of wonder to me since the neck appeared many times less 

 in bulk. Mr. Barrill turned away from the sight of the 

 dad monster, ordering the Parsees to secure the skin for 

 him. We retired to a short distance, while the operation 

 was being performed Mr. Barrill enlarging, meanwHle, 

 upon the extreme necessity of keeping a vigilant eye a 



