330 OPHIDIA. 



about four years old at the time when it was 11 feet long ; so that the growth is much quicker 

 in the first period of life than afterwards. The males remain smaller than the females. 



The Eock-snakes will propagate in captivity — the Indian P. molurus having bred in Paris, 

 and the African P. sebce in London*. In both cases the eggs were incubated by the mother, 

 and in the former successfully hatched. The copulation of the P. molurus took place at 

 several times in the months of January and February, and fifteen eggs, of the size of that of 

 a goose, were deposited on the 6th of May. The snake having collected them in a conical 

 heap, coiled herself spirally round and on this heap, entii'ely covering the eggs, so that her 

 head rested in the centre and at the top of the cone. The snake remained in this position 

 until eight of the eggs were hatched on the 3rd of July. 



As almost the same facts have been observed in another species from Africa, we may 

 conclude that all the Pythons in a free state take care of their progeny. An increase of the 

 temperature has been observed between the coils of the snake in both cases, and it is probable 

 that a higher degree of warmth is necessary for the development of the embryonic Pythons 

 tlian for that of other snakes. 



The two species found in British India are : — 



A black line runs from the rostral along the median line of the head and neck . P. reticulatus. 

 A brown spot, shaped like the head of a lance, occupies the crown of the head 



and the nape P. molurus. 



Python reticulatus. The Ular sawa of the Malays. 



Seba, i. p. 98. tab. 62. fig. 2 ; ii. p. 83. tab. 79. fig. 1, a^d p. 85. tab. 80. fig. 1. 



Boa reticulata, Schneid. Hist. Amph. p. 264. 



Python schueiderii, Merr. Tent. p. 89. Schleg. Phys. Serp. ii. p. 415. pi. 15. figs. 5-7. 



reticulatus, Gray, Zool. Misc. p. 44. Dum. &; Bibr. vi. p. 426. Cantor, Mai. Rept. p. 55. 



A pair of anterior and posterior frontals ; one or two other pairs of smaller shields inter- 

 calated between the posterior frontals and the vertical. Four upper and about six lower 

 labials are pitted. Scales small, in about seventy-four series round the middle of the trunk. 

 Ventrals 297-330; anal entire; subcaudals 82-102. Ground-colour light yellowish brown, 

 chestnut, or olive : a black line runs from the rostral along the median line of the head and 

 neck ; another band from the eye to the angle of the mouth. A series of irregular black 

 rings, these markings being sometimes lozenge-shaped along the back ; the scales nearest the 

 black rings are of a light or whitish colour, and, laterally, an irregular ocellated or reticulated, 

 white, black-edged spot is joined to each side of each ring or lozenge. Lower parts yellowish, 

 with irregular small lateral spots ; subcaudals marbled with brown. 



This is a common species in the Archipelago, inhabiting almost all the islands. The fauna 

 of the Malayan Peninsula bears as much the insular as the continental character, and appears 

 to be the only part of the continent where this Rock-snake is found ; according to Cantor it 

 is numerous there and in the neighbouring islands, feeding on quadrupeds and birds. It 



* See Sclater, in Proc. Zool. Soc. 1862, p. 365. 



