SNAKES 
193 
Photo by H, G. F. Spurrell^ [ Fastbour 
LEOPARD-SNAKE 
A harmless and beautifully marked species inhabiting Italy and Sicily 
habitat, is the huge Anaconda, or 
Water-boa, of Brazil and the adja- 
cent countries. This animal, which is 
undoubtedly the largest living repre- 
sentative of the Serpent Tribe, attains 
a length little, if any, short of 40 
feet. One such monster was specially 
referred to by Dr. Gardiner, the 
botanist, in his “ Travels in Brazil”; 
it had devoured a horse, and was 
found dead, entangled in the branches 
of a tree overhanging a river, into 
which it had been carried by a flood. 
Full-grown cattle, and occasionally 
human beings, as well as horses, are 
alleged to fall victims to the destruc- 
tive prowess of this gigantic snake. 
The anaconda isessentiallyamphibious 
in its habits, the greater part of its 
life being spent in the water, lying in wait, in the quiet lagoons and backwaters, with only 
its head above the surface, and prepared to seize any unfortunate animal which may come to 
the brink to drink. At other times it will coil itself upon the trunks and larger branches of 
the adjacent trees, and from that point of vantage will dart down its head, with sure aim and 
lightning rapidity, to seize any suitable quarry which may pass beneath. In some parts of 
South America where the rivers dry up at certain seasons of the year, the anaconda is recorded 
to be in the habit of burying itself in the mud and lying torpid, after the manner of 
crocodiles, until the return of the rains. The ground-colour of the anaconda is usually greyish 
brown or olive above, the back being ornamented with one or two transversely disposed rows 
of large, rounded, dark brown or blackish spots, while the sides are decorated with more 
irregularly scattered, smaller, eye-like spots, having whitish centres and dark margins. 
An interesting little group, connecting the Boas and Pythons with the Common Snakes, 
is that of the so-called Shield-tails, or Earth-snakes, of India and Ceylon. I'hese reptiles 
are earth- burrowers, like the Blind- 
I snakes, previously referred to, but 
have well-developed eyes, and are 
further distinguished by the abruptly 
truncated contour of their posterior 
e.xtremity, which may be either a 
naked disk or covered with keeled 
scales. Their bodies are cylindrical, 
with the scaly covering very smooth 
and polished, the scales of the under- 
surface being but little larger than 
theupperones ; the jaws, inconformity 
with the peculiar modification of their 
;§■ skull, are not capable of wide dis- 
j; tension. Seven genera and a large 
numberof speciesare recognised, some 
being brilliantly coloured with tints 
of red or yellow. Their main diet is 
earth-worms. 
Thefamilyofthe Com MON Snakes 
Photo by H. G. F. Spurrell^ Fsq.'\ [Fasthournt 
TESSELATED SNAKE 
A European species, similar in sisoe and habits to the British ringed snake, but 
mote handsomely marked 
