Othersappeartobeharmless,andevenedibleOfthelattersortisthelargepython,metsepallah,ortariThelargestspecimensofthisareabout15or20feetinlengthTheyareperfectlyharmless,andliveonsmallanimals,chieflytherodentia;occasionallythesteinbuckandpallahfallvictims,andaresuckedintoitscomparativelysmallmouthinboa-constrictorfashionOneweshotwas11feet10incheslong,andasthickasaman’slegWhenshotthroughthespine,itwascapableofliftingitselfupaboutfivefeethigh,andopeneditsmouthinathreateningmanner,butthepoorthingwasmoreinclinedtocrawlawayThefleshismuchrelishedbytheBakalahariandBushmenTheycarryawayeachhisportion,likelogsofwood,overtheirshoulders。
*“Asthissnake,`BucephalusCapensis’,inouropinion,isnotprovidedwithapoisonousfluidtoinstillintowoundswhichthesefangsmayinflict,theymustconsequentlybeintendedforapurposedifferenttothosewhichexistinpoisonousreptilesTheiruseseemstobetoofferobstaclestotheretrogressionofanimals,suchasbirds,etc。,whiletheyareonlypartiallywithinthemouth;andfromthecircumstanceofthesefangsbeingdirectedbackward,andnotadmittingofbeingraisedsoastoformananglewiththeedgeofthejaw,theyarewellfittedtoactaspowerfulholderswhenoncetheypenetratetheskinandsoftpartsofthepreywhichtheirpossessorsmaybeintheactofswallowing。
Withoutsuchfangsescapeswouldbecommon;withsuchtheyarerare。
“ThenativesofSouthAfricaregardthe`BucephalusCapensis’aspoisonous;
butintheiropinionwecannotconcur,aswehavenotbeenabletodiscovertheexistenceofanyglandsmanifestlyorganizedforthesecretionofpoisonThefangsareinclosedinasoft,pulpysheath,theinnersurfaceofwhichiscommonlycoatedwithathinglairysecretion。
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