"They give one awful spring as soon as their victim gets within reach, and coil and twist themselves round its body, with the suddenness of lightning. The poor creature at once finds itself entirely within the power of its enemy; it has no chance of escape.
"Their enormous strength enables these snakes to crush their prey within the folds of their long supple body, till flesh, bones, and all become a mangled mass. They then quietly uncoil themselves and settle down to gorge their meal.