SNAKE SEIZING PKEY. 
317 
but be it what it may, it was a manifestation of con- 
siderable voracity to take to the bait, after having 
swallowed seven eggs.” 
My negro lad Sam describes to me with much 
graphic force a scene which he once saw at Mount 
Airy. A Boa had just seized a hen by the head, and 
had enfolded her in its mortal coilings : then it pro- 
ceeded gradually to suck in the whole until only the 
feet were exposed. Just then a fearless negro 
woman began to lay on lusty blows with a stout 
stick, which caused the reptile to disgorge its prey ; 
but so slimy was its surface now, so lengthened and 
drawn out its form, while much diminished in diame 
ter, — that it could scarcely be recognised. Not the 
least interesting part of the incident was, that during 
the whole transaction, the unfortunate hen’s brood of 
young chickens, now orphans, surrounded the serpent, 
crying as they beheld the tragic fate of their mother. 
In this case the act of seizure was not witnessed ; 
but Sam has seen a Boa ascend a mango-tree, on 
one of whose branches a fowl was perching, and when 
at some distance from the prey begin to dart out and 
vibrate its tongue, its eyes fixed on the fowl while it 
slowly and uniformly drew near ; the poor hen all 
the time intently watching the foe, but without stir- 
ring or crying. Help came fortuitously, just as the 
Snake was about to strike, and the fowl was rescued. 
How strange it is that in widely remote parts of the 
world we should hear the same statements. Sam has 
never read what other observers have described about 
fascination ; but he and others affirm from their own 
observation that some such power is exercised. 
