No. 391.] HABITS OF BASCANION CONSTRICTOR. 599 
against the rough sides of the cavity, and it was only by main 
strength on my part, and always with injury to its scales and 
plates, that it could be pulled out. 
Placed on a porch floor, the body and tail were lashed in 
strong curves from side to side, but forward progress was very 
slow. On the tennis lawn the curves of the body were less 
pronounced, and the forward movement more rapid. However, 
it was only when it reached long grass or rough ground that 
the snake straightened out and went forward with that myste- 
rious gliding motion peculiar to its kind. As an onlooker 
once described it, “when he strikes rough ground he quits 
wiggling and just scoots.” 
