Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1850-12-14

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with pan of water. .4s-
Except when reused by hunger, the SER
penis are generally in state OF torpor du-
ring the dav, but as night draws on, they in
with other denizens of the forest,
are reused into activity, In their native
state, the boas then lie in wait, coiled round
the branches Of trees, ready to spring on
the antelopes and other prey as they pass
through the leaiy glades; and the smaller
serpents glide from branch to branch in
quest of birds on which to feed. As we
have bad the opportunity of seeing the rep
tle-house by night, we will describe the
strange scene. t-.,.e ,.....- ... I'D.
About ten O'Clock one evening during
the last spring, in company with two natu-
ralists of eminence, we entered that apart
ment. A small lantern was out onlylIght,
and faint illumination of tins impaired
ghaslly character to the scene before US
The clear plate glass which faces the cage
was invisible, and it was difficult to believe
that the monsters were in confinement and
spectators secure. Those persons who have
only seen the boas and pythons, the rattle.
ehdheS duu NoDtdS, ldEIh -IdilSuiS lH vs.
toons from the forks of the dens, or slug
gishly coiled up, can have no conception OF
the appearance and actions of the same
creatures at night. The huge boas and py-
thons were chasing each other in every di-
rectlon whisking about the dens with the
rapidity of lightning, sometimes in huge
coils round the branches, anon entwining
each other in massive folds, then separating,
they would rush over and under the bran
ches, Kissing and lashing their tails in hide
Gus sport. Ever and anon, thirsty with
their exerions, they would approach the
pans containing water and drink eagerly,
tapping it with their forked tongnes AS
our eyes became accustomed to the dark
ness, we perceived objects better, and on
the uppermoSt branch OF a tree in the den
of the biggest serpentS, we perceived
pigeon roosting, apparently indifferent
alike to the turmoil which was going on
around, in the vicinity OF the monster
whose meal it was soon to form. In the
dens Of one of the smaller serpents was a
li:tle mouse, whose painting sides, ard fast
beating heart showed that it, at least, dis
liked its company. Misery is said to make
us acquainted with strange bedfellowS, but
evil must be the star OF that mouse or pi
geon whose lot it is to be the comrade and
prey OF a serpent.
THE STING AND THE BITE.
The expression ''sting," as used repeat
edly by Shakespeare, as applied TO snakes, is
altogether incorrect the tongue has moth
ing 10 do with the iniiction OF injury. Ser
penis bite, and the, difference between the
/ harmless and the venomous serpentS is SIM
ply this; the mouths of the harmless snakes
and the whole tribe of boas are provided
with sharp teeth, but no fangs; their bite
therefore is innocuous; the poisonous SER
pents, on the other hand, have two poison
tangs attached to the upper jaw, which lie
( flat upon the roof OF the mouth when not
in use, and are canccaIed by fold in the
skin. In such fang is tube which opens
near the point of the tooth by fissure
when the creature is irritated the fangs are
at once erected. The poison bag is placed
beneath the muscles which act on the lower
jaw, so that when the tangs are struck into
the victim the poison is elected with muct
force to the very bottom of the wound.
But how do hoa-couStrictorS swallow
goats and anelopes, and other large ami
mails, whole7 The process is very simple
the lower jaw is not united to the upper
but it is hung to long stalk-shaped bone
on which it is movable: and the bone /
only attached 10 the skull by ligamentS. sus
ceptible of extraordinary extension. Tn
process by which these serpents take AM
. swallow their prey has been so graphical,
described in the second volume Of the Zoo
logical Journal, by that very able naturais
/, and graceful writer, w. ]. Brodcrip, Esq
F. r. S., that we shall transcribe 1t, bein
able from frequent ocular demonstrations t
vouch for its correctness. A large buc
rabbit was introduced into the cage Of
constructor OF great size 1.-THE snak
was down and motionless in a moment.-
There he Law like a lng, without one SYM
tom of life save what glared in the sma
, bright eyes twlnklipg in his depressed heat
: The rabbit appeared to take no notice
: him, but presently began to walk the Gag
;, The snake suddenly, but almost impercept
:. bly,, turned his head according to the rat
=, bits movements, as if TO keep the obje
!. within the range OF his eve. At lengt
the rabbit, totally unconscious of his stu
ton, approached the ambushed head. TT
. snake dashed at him like lightning. The
n was blow--a scream--and instantly Il
! victim was locked in the coils of the Sc
- pent. This was done almost too rapid
/; for the eve to follow; at the same insta
= the snake was molionless--the.neNt he W
= one coageries Of coils around his prey. /
seized the rabbit round the neck, ust und
the ear, and was evidently exerting 4
Of strongest pressure round the throat Of I
y quadruped, thereby preventing the expa
CT sion of the chest, and at the same time d
"a priving the anterior extrPmties of motto
OF The rabbit never cried after the first s.
70 zure; he lay with his hind-legs stretch
as out, Still breathing with difficulty, as COZ
be seen by the motion of his flanks. PI
" sently he made one desperate struggle wi
rh his hind legs, but the snake cautiously a
e. piled another coil with such dexterity
ny completely to manacle the lower extren