Identifier: reptilesbirdspo00figu (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: 1873 (1870s)
Authors: Figuier, Louis, 1819-1894 Gillmore, Parker
Subjects: Birds Reptiles
Publisher: New York : D. Appleton and Co.
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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the periodical rains. Animals which repair there todrink, and even fishes, are its prey. The creature lurks watchfullyunder cover of the water, and, while the unsuspecting animal issatisfying its thirst, suddenly makes a dash at its nose, and with agrip of its back-reclining range of teeth, never fails to secure theterrified beast. In an instant the sluggish waters are in turbulenceand foam. The whole form of the serpent is in motion; its hugeand rapid coilings soon encircle the struggling victim, and but a shortinterval elapses ere every bone in the body of the expiring prey isbroken. Sir Robert then describes the manner in which the prey isswallowed, being previously lubricated by the serpents saliva; butProfessor T. Bell, after carefully watching the constricting serpentsmode of swallowing its prey, asserts that this is a delusion. The 6o REPTILES AND BIRDS. mucus is not poured out till it is required to lubricate the dilatedjaws and throat for the seemingly disproportionate feat.
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Fig. 16.—Anaconda. (The small, but very distinct family of Erycidc^ have the bodyof moderate length, cylindrical, covered with small and shortscales; the tail very short, with only a single series of subcaudalscales; head somewhat elongate; eye rather small, with vertical ACROCHORDID^. 61 pupil. Adult individuals have, like the Pythons, a short conicalprominence in a* groove on each side of the vent; this being theextremity of a rudimentary hind limb. The snakes of this family,remarks Dr. Giinther, show great similarity to the Pythons andBoas with regard to their internal structure as well as to their externalcharacters. But their tail is very short, not flexible, and much lessprehensile; and whilst the serpents just mentioned are more or lessarboreal, frequenting marshy places with luxuriant vegetation, theErycidcE inhabit dry, sandy, or stony plains, burrowing with thegreatest facility below the surface, and entering crevices and holesin search of their prey, which consists of mic

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