borne sixty-four living young. Some boas have endured the enforced se¬ 
curity of zoo life for more than twenty years. 
In climbing, the snake encircles the trunk with the hind part of its 
body, raising the fore part which entwines itself higher up. When the 
fore part has secured its hold, the hind part is drawn up and again coiled 
round the trunk. Crossings from tree to tree are made by stretching the 
body across the intervening space while the hind part still holds fast to 
the first tree. When the fore part has a good grip on the second tree, the 
rest of the body is swung across. 
CUBAN BOA 
The Cuban boa or maja is ten feet long. Its large bright eyes give it a 
most wicked appearance, which is not belied by its temper. This species 
seldom becomes resigned to captivity and usually strikes its head against 
the glass of its cage until pain and fatigue force it to stop. As it strikes, it 
emits a short, broken hiss. 
In the wild state it serves sugar cane planters by eating rats and 
preying upon the destructive mongoose. 
SAND BOA 
The sand boa of India obtains its food by crawling into the burrows of 
rodents, crushing the inhabitants against the walls. Most of its life is 
spent in subterranean passageways. This species, about a yard long, has 
earned the name of two-headed, because of a stumpy tail sometimes mis¬ 
taken for a head. Some Hindus, intent upon deceiving tourists, paint mouth 
and eyes on the reptile’s tail and assure gullible foreigners that one head 
sleeps while the other watches. 
When first captured, sand boas strike swiftly in a series of wounding 
blows. One specimen lived for more than twenty years in Regent’s Park, 
London. 
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