SUMMEIt-ST.EEP Of SNAKES. 
133 
ammiug the spot where the barlacoa, or couch, was placed, 
cause of this strange adventure was easily discovered, 
jae ground was disturbed to a considerable depth. It was 
Ipt-K mu< ^> wl “‘ch ^ covered the crocodile in that state of 
1 har gJ. or summer-sleep, in wliich many of the species lie 
curing the absence of the rains in the Lla'nos. The noise of 
and horses, perhaps the smell of the dog, had aroused 
a j crocodile. The hut being built at the edge of the pool, 
j inundated during part ol the year, the crocodile had no 
u t entered, at the time of the inundation of the savan- 
a us, by the same opening at which it was seen to go out. 
ie Indians often find enormous boas, which they call uji 
* water-serpent*,* in the same lethargic state. To reanimate 
arc loir' must be irritatecl , or wetted with water. Boas 
of \*JJr e 7 :l,Kl inunersed in the streams, to obtain, by means 
of l ^ T T Ct ' 0a ' the tencli nous parts of the dorsal muscles, 
Dref ui excellont gnitar-strings are made at Cakbozo, 
rnJn ble to tbose furnished by the intestines of the alouate 
Ui °Ui£eys. 
a ?!* e . drought and heat of the Llanos act hko cold upon 
leave! • and Pi ani;s - Beyond the tropics the trees lose their 
arm i 8 111 a v ? r y dry air. Beptiles, particularly crocodiles 
the h ° aS ’ i* av ing very indolent habits, leave with reluctance 
greaL® mS m which the .f llAve fou nd water at the period of 
dry f , m undations. In proportion as the pools become 
de-W /'mimals penetrate into the mud, to seek that 
intesT 0t humidity which gives flexibility to their skin and 
«tuneff- llfcs ' Iu tlus . statc of re P ose they are seized with 
Wit}, t] C 1011 ’ )u t possibly they preserve a communication 
ti°n ne external air; and, however little that communica- 
au aninT i e ’ P oss ibly suffices to keep up the respiration of 
P'dnion , ° tho siuu’iau family, provided with enormous 
ahno 8 t d + S i aCH ’- eXCrtlll g 110 muscular motion, and in which 
that th the Vltal fnnofions are suspended. It is probable 
the soli 6 * nean temperature of the dried mud, exposed to 
Wher fi ra ^ s ’ 18 more than 40°. When the north of Egypt, 
iuhabiJa 10 , coolest mo nth does not fall below 1,'T4°, was 
Co] (] . r .,1 crocodiles, they were often found torpid with 
* CV i ^ " eTC su bjcct to a winter-sleep, like the Euro- 
a y r f a ' by the common people trttya-vonado, ‘the 
st »gs. The word uji belongs to the Tamanac lan« 
uage 
