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THE BOA TRIBE. 



THIS is a noble tribe of animals, the largest and 

 strongest of the serpent race. They are altoge- 

 ther destitute of venom, never attack but from 

 necessity, always engage with open courage, and 

 conquer only by superior strength. 



Three of the species are found in Asia ; the rest 

 are confined to the warmer parts of the new con- 

 tinent. 



The Boas are readily distinguished from other 

 serpents in the under surface of the tail being co- 

 vered with scuta or undivided plates, like those on 

 the belly, and in their body not being terminated 

 by a rattle. 



THE GREAT BOA*. 



This is a most immense animal, the largest of all 

 the Serpent tribe, being frequently from thirty to 

 forty feet in length, and of a proportionate thick- 

 ness. The ground colour of the body is yellowish- 

 grey, on which is distributed, along the back, a 

 series of large chain-like, reddish-brown, and some- 

 times perfectly red variegations, with other smaller 

 and more irregular marks and spots. It is a native 

 of Africa, India, the larger Indian islands, and South 



* Synonyms.— Boa Constrictor. Linn. — Le Devln. LaCepede.—- 

 Constrictor Boa. Shaw. Sbaws Gen. ZooU vol. 3. tab. 92, 93. 



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