Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 2 (1898).djvu/264

232 the converse would no doubt hold good if the male was not conspicuously coloured.

In 'Timehri,' the Journal of the Royal Agricultural and Commercial Society of British Guiana, Mr. J.J. Quelch has published an excellent contribution to our knowledge of "The Boa-Constrictors of British Guiana."

We may quote the following statements as being of general interest to zoologists:—

"In size this Water-Boa seems to exceed all other snakes, and it would appear to be more deserving of the ancient name Anaconda than the eastern forms to which it was first applied. In fact, it may be said that the name is almost limited nowadays to this tropical American species. The length is known to reach 37 ft., but it is said that much larger specimens have been taken. On this point, however, it is hardly safe to express an opinion, since unless definite measurements are made the estimate of size can be of little value. A case in point, which would suggest caution in accepting the great lengths ascribed to certain animals, may be quoted from the writer's experience as regards the large Black Alligator, locally known as Caiman (Alligator niger). The length of this form is given by various travellers in the colony—as, for instance, by both Brown and Schomburgk—as from 20 to 25 ft., Waterton even recording 30 ft.; but there is no statement of actual measurement. In the writer's experience the largest forms of this species, taken in the very districts referred to by the fore-mentioned travellers, hardly exceeded 14 ft., though when seen in the water they appeared to be considerably larger. A similar example may be found in the great Arapaima Fish (Arapaima gigas), which is recorded as from 16 to 18 ft. in length, while in reality they hardly attain to more than half that size. Actual measurement is requisite in all such cases.

"Skins of the Water-Boa of from 18 to 25 ft. in length are frequently obtained, and in the sheltered swamps and along the creeks in the recesses of the forests it may well be that considerably larger animals would be met with. The following experience along the higher Essequibo River tends to support this. In 1894, while passing by a wide outgrowth of closely-matted grass from the swampy bank, the boat disturbed an enormous Snake, of which the head, neck, and part of the body were clearly seen at a distance of certainly not more than five feet. It was noticeable that the head was considerably more than twice as large as that of one of about 20 ft., and this seems to indicate a Snake of very large proportions. The unfortunate part of the matter is that Snakes of very great size are most likely to be seen in places where it is out of the question to secure them, as it happened in this particular case."