74 



Notice of the HahUs of the large 



[No. 33, 



III. — -Notice of the Habits of the large Indian Boa or Rock 

 Snake.* By Lord Arthur Hay. 



Beyond exaggerated and overdrawn stones regarding this animal 

 little is generally known relative to its habits and structure — I trust 

 therefore that the few following remarks may be found of some 

 interest to the general reader though offering nothing of novelty to 

 the experienced naturalist. 



The great Boa Constrictor of India is one of the most dreaded 

 enemies of the denizens of the forest, for though totally devoid of 

 poisonous fangs its colossal strength renders it capable of overpow- 

 ering most of the larger animals when once within its grasp. 



The constricting serpents have been separated by most naturalists 

 into two divisions, those of the new world retaining the generic name 

 of Boa, and those of the old that of Python. In form and generic 

 differences they disagree but slightly, and from all accounts they seem 

 to possess similar habits. 



The Boas of South America attain perhaps to a greater size than 

 our continental Indian species, but still the Pythons of Sumatra, 

 Java and most of the other Eastern Islands, have been found of 

 almost incredible lengths ; from 30 to 40 feet however may be consi- 

 dered the maximum length of these snakes, though few are found in 

 Southern India of greater lengths than from 15 to 20 feet. I have 

 received through the kindness of General Cullen what was consider- 

 ed in Travancore to be a large specimen of the Indian Python, it 

 having been killed in the jungles of that country just after having 

 swallowed a full grown spotted deer. Its victim was a doe and 

 large with fawn at the time — the snake is 17 feet long and measured 

 4 feet in circumference when it contained its prey — this is one of the 

 largest Pythons I have heard of, as having been killed in Southern 

 India, — that is authenticated specimens — though I have frequently 

 heard of much longer and larger monsters having been seen, though 

 seldom actually measured. 



There can be little doubt that such a snake would be fully capable 

 of overpowering the strongest man; and the natives of the jungle 

 from whence niy specimen come assert, that Bison, are often destroy- 



* Python molurus, of Limit'. P. tigris, Daudin. P. hi-viltatus, Schlegel. Pedda poda and 

 Bora, Russell. PL 2Z, 23, 24, aud 39. 



