THE SNAKES 225 



drew it back through the orifice. With the infected 

 bone removed, a strip of gauze, soaked in a mild solution 

 of formalin, was drawn through the entire orifice made 

 by the removal of the bone and left for fifteen minutes' 

 time. This was removed and another strip, soaked in 

 a solution of listerine, was inserted and left until the 

 next day. The mouth was afterwards washed twice a 

 day for a period of six weeks, until all traces of the 

 disease had disappeared. Altogether, the Cobra was 

 under treatment for three months and during this time 

 was nourished by beaten eggs forced down its throat 

 by a rubber syringe. 



Considerably smaller — as represented among the 

 greater number of specimens exhibited as cap- 

 tives — is the Indian Python or Black-Tailed 

 Python, P. molurus. The largest specimens examined 

 by the writer w T ere respectively eighteen and nineteen 

 feet long. There are two distinct phases of coloration — 

 a dark, olivaceous phase with almost black markings, 

 and a bright, tan-colored variety ; with the latter variety 

 the blotches are olive-brown and there is usually a pink- 

 ish band on each side of the head. The latter is the 

 snake most commonly seen handled in traveling shows. 

 It inhabits the western portion of the species' range. As 

 a captive this snake is more hardy than the Regal 

 Python. It is less particular in its feeding habits, tak- 

 ing fowls and large rabbits with a steadily good appe- 

 tite. In its distribution the Indian Python differs 

 materially from the preceding snake. It is common in 

 India proper, is found on the Malay Peninsula, though 

 it extends into but one of the larger islands — Java. 

 Python reticulatus, it should be noted, is confined to 

 Burma, Indo-China, the Malay Peninsula, thence ex- 

 tends well through the Malay Archipelago. It is com- 



