72 LITTLE FOLKS 
around their victim and crush it to death. They are very large, 
sometimes as many as thirty feet long, and their prey is nearly 
always much larger than themselves. It is wonderful to see what 
immense creatures they will swallow. Often the shape of the 
creature can be plainly seen through his skin. After this feat, the 
Boa is not very lively, nor does he want anything more to eat for 
some time. He lies quietly till it is all digested, and he is ready 
for another meal. 
What do you think of snakes for playthings? Children in 
Borneo are very fond of a certain tree snake, the Boiga, as a pet. 
They twine it around them, and tame it. It is a very pretty crea- 
ture, blue in color, with gold colored stripes. And even in France 
there is a harmless snake which the children catch, tie a string to 
its tail, and drive for a horse. 
Many people eat snakes. The inhabitants of Cathay consider 
it the most delicate meat they can get. Brazilians eat the meat of 
a green and yellow variety. The Sardinians eat the Adder, made 
into soup. The Negroes in the countries of Anacondas and Boas, 
eat their flesh freely. But the greatest snake eaters I know of, 
are the people of King George's Sound, who, being fond of snake 
meat, and too lazy to take the trouble to hunt and cook them, set 
fire to the grass, and pick from the ashes the broiled snakes and 
eat them. 
