3o,6 DESCRIPTION OF THE MUSEUM. 



cases contain both the young and eggs of the 

 species we have just mentioned ; but before de- 

 scribing them we must examine the serpents, 

 which like the crocodiles and tortoises, have 

 been placed against the wall. 



The largest species are : the boa anacundo, sent 

 from Cayenne by M. Banon ; the amethistine pi- 

 thon, or the ular-sawa of Java, brought by 

 M. Leschenault ; and the pithon of Senegal. 



It is said that these serpents grow to the length 

 of 3o feet ; the longest of those in the cabinet 

 is only 19. They inhabit swamps and marshes, 

 and feed upon quadrupeds, which they swallow 

 entire, after having crushed them to death by 

 writhing themselves round them ; they smear 

 the body all over with a glutinous slime, and 

 then take it little by little into their mouth, 

 which is susceptible of great dilatation, their 

 jaw bones not being articulated, but simply con- 

 nected by elastic ligaments. In this manner they 

 swallow antelopes, goats and deers ; and their 

 skin is capable of expanding sufficiently to con- 

 tain them. When the animal they have thus 

 taken in, exceeds their own size, they remain in 

 a torpid state, and are several days without 

 eating. 



Amongst the serpents of an inferior size which 

 are stuffed, we shall mention, as worthy of re- 



