SIERRA DE y IN ALES 237 



the large boas. Generally distributed over the 

 island, it is more abundant in the mountains and 

 in the swampy coastal regions. It is regarded as 

 harmless but much disliked by those who raise 

 chickens, and that includes the bulk of the rural 

 population. As a sort of reprisal, the natives try 

 out an oil from the majd's intestines that is be- 

 lieved to possess medicinal value. He is a night 

 prowler not often seen by day. He hides in caves 

 and among the boulders of the sierra, or in the 

 dense foliage of trees. The swamp variety (once 

 considered specifically distinct from the highland 

 form) passes the daylight hours immersed in the 

 water with his elongated head projecting upon 

 some black root or branch. They depend largely 

 for food upon the supply of hutias and follow 

 them relentlessly from tree to tree, the agility of 

 both being about equal. The snake is hardly 

 large enough to be a menace to children ; however, 

 there are native records in the Cubitas Mountain 

 region of fifteen-foot specimens, but such records 

 need confirmation. The Cuban naturalist, Gund- 

 lach, whose word should be good, even goes fur- 

 ther than this and declares the snake attains a 

 maximum length of twenty-one feet, Barbour, 



