6o 



REPTILES AND BIRDS. 



mucus is not poured out till it is required to lubricate the dilated 

 jaws and throat for the seemingly disproportionate feat." 



Fig. 1 6. — Anaconda. 



[The small, but very distinct family of Erycidce. have the body 

 of moderate length, cylindrical, covered with small and short 

 scales; the tail very short, with only a single series of subcaudal 

 scales ; head somewhat elongate ; eye rather small, with vertical 



