File:Reptiles and birds - a popular account of the various orders; with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting (1869) (14562104549).jpg

Identifier: reptilesbirdspop00figu (find matches)
Title: Reptiles and birds : a popular account of the various orders; with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting
Year: 1869 (1860s)
Authors: Figuier, Louis, 1819-1894 Gillmore, Parker
Subjects: Birds Reptiles
Publisher: Springfield, Mass. : W.J. Holland
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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ips andchin beneath are white. The Natal Rock Snake (H. natalensis, Fig. 13) is described bySir Andrew Smith as being gigantic in size, he having seen a skinmeasuring twenty-five feet, although part of the tail was absent. It feeds, he says, on small quadrupeds; and for some days afterswallowing one it remains in a torpid state, when it may be easilydestroyed. Of this opportunity, however, the South Africansnever avail themselves ; they have a horror of the reptile, butbelieve that it has an influence over their destinies, and affirmthat no one has ever been known to kill one and prosper. The Guinea Rock or Fetish Snake (//. Sebce, Fig. 14) istypical of the genus, and has also been referred to the Boa-constrictor, and closely resembles the Natal Rock Snake. It is 62 OPHIDIAN EEPTILES. a native of tlie warmer parts of Africa. A living- specimen at theZoological Gardens is estimated to weigh a hundredweight. Of the genera Liasis and Nardoa there are five sjDecies, veryimperfectly known.
Text Appearing After Image:
Fig. 14.—Guinea Rock Snake (H. Sehce). lY. Epicrates, an American and West Indian species, havingthe crown scaly ; the forehead with symmetrical shields. The Aboma (E. cenckria) is one of the largest of the group,sometimes attaining dimensions quite gigantic. It is yellowishin colour, with a row of large brown rings running the whole ABOMA. 63 ^yi/^r^Y length of the back, and variable spots on tbe sides ; these aregenerally dark, with a whitish semi-lunar mark. This formidableRejjtile has all the habits of its congeners; it is found in themarshy swamj)s oftroj)ical America,and near the rivers,where it lies in waitfor its prey. The Boas, pro-perly so called,have the scalessmooth ; labialshields smooth, notpitted; the bodycompressed, taper-ing to the tail,wliich is long andprehensile; thehead is compara-tively small, being-enlarged behind,and contractedtowards the muzzle,which is rathershort. The crownis covered withscales; the nostrilslateral, between twoplates. Four spe-cies of this

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