Boas. REPTILES. Guinea Rock Snake. 55 
and lay quite tranquil, allowing themselves to be taken 
consists of mice, rats, and birds, but occasionally much 
out to be exhibited to the numerous spectators who 
larger animals are made its victims. The predominat- 
visited the menagerie. They appeared to be in a con- 
ing colours of this serpent are blue and yellow, or gold 
tinual state of stupefaction, not paying the slightest 
and black. 
attention to atu'thing that passed around them. Food 
The African species of Python are equally remark- 
was given to them once in eight days, but even then 
able with those of India. 
they were not always disposed to seize the animals 
THE GUINEA KOCK SNAKE [HortuUa Seba), con- 
given to them, refused even to attack them for two or 
sidered by some authors as a mere variety of the 
three days, and sometimes were absolutely obliged to 
preceding species, is peculiar to Africa, especially the 
be provoked to bite them. When they did attack them, 
west coast, and attains to a large size. Adanson 
they always seized hold of them by their teeth, and 
mentions having seen individuals in Senegal twenty- 
having once secmred their prey by plunging their 
two feet in length, and eight inches in circumference. 
teeth into the poor creature’s head, they twisted their 
Two or three years ago a live specimen was to be seen 
body in folds around it, and crushed it to death at once. 
in the Zoological Gardens, Regent’s Park, which was 
Having killed the animal, they licked it before they 
estimated to weigh about a hundredweight. It is 
began to swallow it, and made no haste to execute this 
remarkable for the brilliancy of its colours and the 
operation, which, on the contrary, lasted sometimes 
lustre of its scales. The upper part of the body pre- 
two or three hours. They always began with the head. 
sents, on a yellow ground, a series of large rings of a 
and the prey was evidently introduced into the gullet 
brown or black colour, edged with grayish-white, and 
by the efforts of all the muscles of the anterior part of 
so placed as to form a sort of chain along the back. 
the body being brought into action simultaneously. 
This species of serj)ent has been described by several 
This action being repeated only at considerable inter- 
travellers, who mention it as being held sacred by the 
vals, the process of deglutition occupies a pretty con- 
natives of the west coast of Africa. In the beginning 
siderable space of time. In the Zoological Journal 
of last century, Bo&man, a Dutch traveller, in his 
Mr. Broderip gives a very intere.sting account of the 
description of the coast of Guinea, gives us a good 
method of these creatures’ seizing, killing, and swal- 
many details of the worship paid by the inhabitants 
lowing their pre^^, as observed by him in the menagerie 
of that coast to this serpent. Desmarchais, a French 
of the Tower of London, but we must refer the 
traveller, gives a somewhat similar account of this 
reader to the original. It is a curious fact in the 
serpent-worship amongst the natives of the kingdom 
history of serpents that the Pythons place their eggs 
of VVhidah. This serpent, he says, is one of the most 
in a group and cover them with their body, as if 
remarkable species that superstition has made a 
hatching them. This circum.stance was first noticed 
divinity of. In the kingdom of Juida (Whidah), on 
by Mr. Bennett in this country, who gives in his 
the west coast of Africa, it is very common, and altars 
account of it a figure of the snake on its eggs. 
are erected for its worship. This pretended god. 
M. Lamare Picquet communicated this fact to the 
which is called the Serpent Fetiche, which signifies 
Academy of Sciences in Paris, when the fact was also 
the Presei'ver, has as magnificent a temple erected 
verified in the Garden of Plants. A specimen of 
to it as can be made by the rude art of the Negroes. 
Python was sent over by Mr. Kuhl, and placed in the 
It receives there the richest offerings : stuffs of silk. 
menagerie there. She laid fifteen eggs, collected 
trinkets, the best meats and drinks of the countr}’, and 
them together, and coiled herself round them in the 
even herds of cattle. Thus the priests who serve it 
shape of a spiral cone, her head at the top, the eggs 
enjoy a considerable revenue, possess immense lands. 
lying within. The temperature of the snake, it was 
and command a great number of slaves. In order 
observed, was increased during the time, and she ate 
that nothing might be wanting for the gratification 
nothing, but drank greedily, during fifty-six days. 
of their pleasures, they force the priestesses, each year 
Directly the young were born she left them to them- 
about the time the maize begins to grow green, to 
selves, though she had never quitted the eggs during 
run all over the town of Juida and the neighbouring 
the above period. 
villages. Armed with a thick club, and seconded by 
THE ITLAE-SAWA [Python recticulatus) is another 
the priests, they knock down without pity all who dare 
East Indian Python. This species is a native of the 
to resist them, and force the most beautiful Negresses 
continent of India, the island of Java, and Borneo. It 
to follow them into the temple. The load of super- 
has often been confounded with the preceding, and in 
stitious credulity weighs so heavy on the head of the 
Java both are designated by the same name. It is 
Negroes, that these girls believe that they are going to 
rather smaller, attaining to the length of from twelve 
be honoured by the approach of the Protector Serpent, 
to sixteen feet, and the circumference of rather more 
and that it is to his love they are to be given up. 
than a man’s arm. Lacepede says it is one of the 
Previous to the time for being admitted into the pre- 
most beautiful, and at the same time largest serpents 
sence of the pretended deity, they are obliged to sub- 
of the island of Java, and receives from the inhabitants 
mit to a painful and barbarous ceremony, for cruelty 
the name of Oular-Sawa (serpent of the rice fields), 
almost always springs from superstition. Their skin 
because it prefers to make its dwelling in these places. 
in all parts of their body is stamped, by means of iron 
Its general length in such situations, he says, is about 
bodkins, with figures of flowers and animals, especially 
nine feet ; but individuals which live in thickets in open. 
serpents. The priestesses thus consecrate them to the 
elevated regions, attain a much larger size, and have 
service of their god ; and it is in vain that the unfor- 
been compared to the height of a tree ! Its chief food 
tunate creatures utter the most plaintive cries in order 
