Pythons, or, as they are frequently termed, rock-snakes, are represented by nine species, and range over tropical ad South Africa, South-Eastern Asia, and Australasia. With the exception of the American anaconda, some of the pythons are the largest of all snakes, and although there has been much exaggeration in this respect, it is now ascertained that the Indian Python occasionally attains a length of 30 feet, while the West African Python is stated to reach 23 feet… 15 to 20 feet are more usual and these are sufficiently formidable creatures, since they have a circumference as large as a man's thigh, and easily kill such animals as small deer, full-grown sheep and dogs of considerable size. A python destroys its victim in much the same manner as do many of the smaller snakes, gradually smothering it by throwing over it coil after coil of its body.