Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-05-15
A Big Snake.

There exists in the central portion of
the Amazon an enormously developed
| species of aquatic Boa-constrictor which
is known to the natives there by the
name of sHcurtju, but the facts concern
ing the habits of this large reptile are
as yet exceedingly scanty. Bates in
his charming work, ''The Naturalist
on the Amazon" makes incidental
mention of it, but seems to have been
unable TO gather sufficient material TO
clear up the many doubtful and inter-
esting points connected with the man.
ner OF life of this most gigantic of tropi-
cal BOas, which is asserted to attain to
the length of 35 feet. He writes that
it is apt to attack occasionally man him
self, and cites as corroborative an incl
dent occurring in Ega, where a boy
barely escaped from being crushed to
death by the encircling folds of one OF
these monsters, which had quietly
crawled into the boat where the boy
had been asleep. His cries brought his
/ father TO the rescue, who, by his intre-
pidity in attacking the snake, saved the
boys life. A private letter from Mr..
] Rhome, a planter near Santarem, has
b 1en lately received in this country, in
which this gentleman, kindly comply
ing with the request made especially
to him for this purpose, adds few
highly interesting items, which are so
much the more valuable on account OF
their authenticity, and the many oppor-
tunities granted to him, by his long
Valley. We extract, from among a
number of equally interesting observa-
tons and comments upon the fauna of
that region, few portions in reference
the Boa. Mr.. Rhome writes as follows:
'The Boa or sucuruju that | have no
| ticed lives upon animals, birds and fish.
We have had ducks taken away BY them
in the canal that passes through our
in wait. They come very frequently
near the houses in search of food, and
we killed lately a large-sized one in the
bath house. l was there along with a
man who put his foot in the water TO
wash off some mud, when we noticed
| this Boa gently raise up his head 10
catch the mans heel. We attempted TO
hold it by means of couple of stout
spears, but had, after this Intellectual
attempt, TO call upon man with an axe
/ to aid US, who dispatched this unwel
I come visitor. He measured Is feet.
They sleep upon the river shore, or on
the floating timber and grass as well as
in the Overhanging trees, but may,
with ease, remain under water long
time without coming TO the surface
The young are found in the creeks and
pools near the higher lands, and are
frequently captured. We, killed few
days ago, a small, six-fee t-long specimen
by spearing it first and shooting it after.
Such a snake may drown a small child.
A man can easily despatch quite large
one with his knife even alter it has
coiled itself around him by cutting
through one of its coils, when he will
at once find himself released. They
are not feared on account of their bite,
but of their great crushing force by
means of coiling themselves around
their prey whether animal or man."
1t appears from these statements that
life in tropical homes has its drawbacks
when their bath houses have such I'M
welcome and rather formidable visitors.
1t also proves. what is of more impOr-
tance, that these creatures are by no
means altogether harmless, but will, ii
tempted, attack man himself as readily
as the larger or smaller animals living
in the river, the adjoining marshes, or
near the precincts of houses. if these
should be located, as in the case of Mr..
Rnome, On the banks of a side branch
of the main river,