276 THE SNAKES 



gradually and methodically to squeeze the life 

 out of it. Just how long this dreadful process 

 takes must depend largely upon the age and 

 vitality of the creature caught, but I do not 

 suppose many minutes would elapse before the 

 unrecognisably crushed form was ready for the 

 gradual process of deglutition. The python 

 can, of course, in lean times, abstain from food 

 without apparent serious consequences for many 

 months at a time ; but how long it takes him 

 to get rid of a good-sized animal by the process 

 of digestion I am unable to say. Certain it is, 

 however, that while thus gorged he is wholly 

 helpless, and may fall a victim to one or several 

 of many enemies, foremost among which are the 

 mungooses and those terrible insects the driver 

 ants. I have heard the natives say that pythons, 

 before embarking on the risks inseparable from 

 one of their periodical feasts, will quarter the 

 country for days to assure themselves that there 

 are no drivers, holding these frightful creatures 

 apparently in the greatest dread. How this 

 interesting practice has been ascertained I have, 

 of course, no means of knowing, but it is some- 

 what curious that both in East and West Africa 

 the story is believed. In their ungorged and 

 therefore presumably hungry condition pythons, 

 although not difficult to capture, assume at times 

 an extremely unpleasant not to say threatening 

 aspect as, with head raised and thrown back and 

 the uncomfortable-looking inward curved teeth 

 displayed, they regard one with sinister glance and 

 low menacing hiss. 



