248 
NATURAL HISTORY. 
the body slip down the throat more readily, it was seen to 
lick the whole body over, and thus cover it with its mucus. 
It then began to swallow it at that end that offered least 
resistance ; while its length of body was dilated to receive 
its prey, and thus took in at once a morsel that was three 
times its own thickness. We are assured by travellers, that 
these animals are often found with the body of a stag in 
their gullet, while the horns, which they are unable to 
swallow, keep sticking out at their mouths. 
But it is happy for "mankind, that the rapacity of these 
frightful creatures is often their punishment ; for, whenever 
any of the serpent kind have gorged themselves in this 
manner, whenever their body is seen particularly distended 
with food, they then become torpid, and may be approached 
and destroyed with safety. 
Other creatures have a choice in their provision; but the 
serpent indiscriminately preys upon all ; the buffalo, the 
tiger, and the gazelle. One would think that the porcupine’s 
quills might be sufficient to protect it ; but whatever has life 
serves to appease the hunger of these devouring creatures : 
porcupines, with all their quills, have frequently been found 
in their stomachs, when killed and opened ; nay, they most 
frequently are seen to devour each other. 
But though these animals are, above all others, the most 
voracious; and though the morsel which they swallow with- 
out chewing, is greater than what any other creature, either 
by land or water, the whale itself not excepted, can devour, 
yet no animals upon earth bear abstinence so long as they. 
A single meal, with many of the snake kind, seems to be the 
adventure of a season; and is an occurrence for which they 
have been for weeks, nay, sometimes for months, in patient 
expectation. Their prey continues, for a long time, partly 
in the stomach, partly in the gullet: and a part is often seen 
hanging out of the mouth. In this manner it digests by de- 
grees ; and in proportion as the part below is dissolved, the 
part above is taken in. It is not therefore till this tedious 
operation is entirely performed, that the serpent renews its 
appetite and its activity. But should any accident prevent 
it from issuing once more from its cell, it still can continue 
to bear famine for weeks, months, nay, for years together. 
Vipers are often kept in boxes for six or eight months, with- 
out any food whatever : and there are little serpents some- 
times sent over to Europe, from Grand Cairo, that live for 
several years in glasses, and never eat at all, nor even stain 
the glass with their excrement. Thus the serpent tribe unite 
