310 TIMEHRt. 
favourite places of resort; but while seeking their prey, 
these snakes take up more advantageous positions, such 
as on the low bushy growths or decayed stumps by the 
banks of the creeks and large rivers. Though they are 
at times encountered in open daylight, they are chiefly 
nocturnal, asin faét is the case with the group of snakes 
as a whole, and they are much less frequently met with, 
therefore, than the general reader would suppose, A 
fertile imagination no doubt pictures the tropical forests 
teeming with snakes and other noxious forms, but the 
reality is far otherwise. 
The Aboma or Ringed Boa (Epicrates cenchris) has 
already been referred to. It will readily be recognised 
by the bright ruddy-brown colour, and the series of large, 
thin, black irregular rings along the back. The sides are 
-marked with dark blotches having lighter areas within. 
The neck, as in the water boa, is but slightly thinner 
than the head, which is thus not distinétly wedge-shaped 
as in the preceding species, and the scales along the 
lips are slightly depressed, forming shallow pits. 
The vividness of the iridescent tints of this snake in 
sunlight, more especially when it has just cast its skin, is 
altogether indescribable, and in the path of sunlight, the 
curving body presents a continuous series of rainbow- ~ 
tinted gleams. Out of direét sunlight, it is quite sombre, 
giving no indication of remarkable brilliance, and it 
would be difficult to imagine that any such oe could 
take place. 
The habits of this species are practically the same as 
those of the common land boa. The size to which it 
attains, however, appears to be much less, a length of 
twelve feet being quite exceptional. They are found 
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