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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hetail, which is long and prehensile; the head is comparatively small,being enlarged behind and contracted towards the muzzle, which israther short. The crown is covered with scales ; the nostrils lateral,between two plates. Four species of this genus are recognised bynaturalists, all of which have been described by travellers as the trueBoiguacu, or boa constrictor of Linnaeus. This species has the scalycircle of the orbit separated from the upper labial plates by one ortwo series of scales. A large chain consisting of blackish hexagonalspots, alternating pale oval stains, notched and jagged, extendingthe whole length of the back, and forming a very elegant design.This species seems to be Tstrictly confined to tropical America.Humboldt found it in Guiana, and the Prince de Wied observed it * A variety verj similar to this is known in China.—Ed. THE BOAS. 57 in Brazil. All the specimens in the British Museum are from thatpart of the New World. This is supposed to be the Tlicoatl and
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Guinea Rock Snake. Temacuilcahuilia (the words meaning fighting with five men)described by Hernandez, the latter name being derived from its size 58 REPTILES AND BIRDS. and strength. It attacks/* he says, those it meets, and over-powers them with such force, that if it once ceils itself round their

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