56 Seupknts. REPTILES. Colubkine Sekpents. 
to arrest the torment they are experiencing; nothing 
“ South African Zoology ” measured only twelve feet 
stops their inlriman zeal. When the skin of these 
three inches ; but he says it occasionally attains a much 
poor victims is healed, it resembles, it is said, a flowered 
greater size, and the natives informed him that indivi- 
black satin, and renders them for ever afterwards the 
duals have been seen whose circumference was equal 
object of the veneration of the Negroes. When the 
to that of the body of a stout man. He himself saw a. 
time arrives for the god to receive the favoured Negress, 
skin which measured twenty-five feet, though a portion 
she is made to descend into a dark cave, whilst the 
of the tail was deficient. Though not worshipped by 
priestesses and the other young girls celebrate her 
the natives of South Africa, there is a superstitious 
destiny by dances and hymns, which they accompan}' 
regard for it, mixed up with the horror with which 
with the music of many clamorous instruments. 
they view it, that is something akin to the respect paid 
When the young Negress leaves the cavern she receives 
to its relative by the Negroes of Western Africa. When 
the title of the serpent's wife. 
it has gorged itself witli food, like the rest of its species. 
Nor a long time this Kock Snake was very rare in 
it remains for some time in a nearly torpid state, and 
European collections, because the natives in that part 
may then easily be killed. But tlie South Africans, 
of Africa in which it is found were ]>rohibited, under 
we are told, seldom avail themselves of these oppor- 
pain of death, from sending specimens out of the 
tiinities of ridding themselves of a reptile they view 
country, or even giving any skins to strangers. They 
with horror, as they believe it has a certain influence 
were not allowed to be killed or even injured in 
on their destinies; and they affirm that no person has 
the slightest degree. *• The reverence and respect 
ever been known to maltreat it, without sooner or later 
which the Ife(/roes preserve for this snake is so 
paying for his audacity. Dr. Savage tells us also that 
great,” says Bosman, “ that if a Black should dare 
three or four individuals having made their appearance 
touch one of them with a stick, or any otherwise hurt 
upon a certain piece of land, the owner abandoned it 
him, he is a dead man, and certainly condemn’d to 
from the superstitious notion that it could not, in con- 
the flames. A long time past, when the English first 
sequence, yield a crop. The Natal Bock Snake has 
began to trade here, there happen’d a very remark- 
the body of a fusiform shape, and the head nearly of 
able and tragical event. An English captain being 
the same thickness as the neck, is depressed and much 
landed, some of his men, and part of his cargo, they 
broader behind than before the eyes. The whole 
found a snake in their house which they immediately 
surface has a strong metallic gloss in certain lights. 
killed without the least scruple ; and not doubting they 
According to Sir A. Smith, this snake was formerly an 
had done a good work, threw out the dead snake at 
inhabitant of the districts now within the Cape Colony, 
their door; where being found by the Negroes in the 
“ and the traditions,” he says, “ of the older Hottentots 
morning, the English preventing the question who had 
abound with instances of its miraculous powers. At 
done the fact, ascrib’d the honour to themselves ; which 
present it is not to be found within hundreds of miles 
so incens’d the natives, tliat they furiously fell on the 
English, kill’d them all, and burned the house and 
goods.” The habits of this serpent are very gentle, 
because it has no enemies in that part of the country 
to fear or to defend itself against. Out of their religious 
of the boundaries of the colony, and few specimens 
have been obtained nearer than Port Nabal.” 
Boas {Boinn). 
respect for it, the natives try to remove all such animals 
Linnaeus described a large species of this family 
as might prove hurtful to it. Even such as might prove 
(Buidev) by the name of Boa constrictor ; a name 
benelicial to the country otherwise, are excluded from 
which has now become familiar to all the world, and 
their shores should they threaten to injure their vene- 
here iii Great Britain has even passed into an English 
rated snake. The hog especially, which preys ])arti- 
word. It has, indeed, given the name to the whole 
cnlarly upon several s]>ecies of these reptiles, and which 
family, so that b\' travellers and early writers all the 
is well known to attack with impunity the most veno- 
accounts of the huge serpents met with in various parts 
rnous of them, is pursued in the kingdom of Whidah 
of the world, whose immense size and incredible vora- 
as a public enemy ; the Negroes seeing only in this 
city' have been so variously described and highly exag- 
valuable animal an enem}" which devours their god. 
gerated, have been indiscriminately referred to that 
Iti consequetice of this protecting care and kindness to 
species as the type of the family. The species, how- 
them, these large snakes appear to be quite familiar 
ever, belonging to the Old World, we have already 
with man, and are said to be so tame as to readily allow 
shown, form now a separate sub-family under the 
themselves to be taken up and handled and played 
name of Py'thons, wdiilst the true Boas, those which 
with, without the slightest danger being inctirred. 
are for the most part iiihabitants of the New World, 
They make a good return too for the kindness they 
and which contain the real Boa constrictor, form a 
receive at the hands of the natives, for they attack and 
subfamily by' themselves under the name of Boina. 
destroy the venomous serpents with which the kingdom 
About twenty species of these have been described. 
of Whidah abounds, and seetn to coniine their antii)athy 
tw'o or three of w'hich are very remarkable. 
to injurious reptiles, and insects, and worms which 
THE BOIGUACU (the true Boa constrictor)— 5, 
devastate their fields. 
fig. 2 — is the one which is most widely known, by name 
THE NATAL ROCK SNAKE, another species of Python 
at least. This serpent is remarkable for the beauty and 
{Ilortalia natnlcnsis), is found is South Africa, where 
variety of its colours, and is in general easily recognized. 
it attains a large size. It was first described bv Sir 
It has a heavier look than any other species of the 
Andrew Smith. 'I’lie specimen figured by him in his 
family. The body is very thick in the middle, and a little 
