INNOCUOUS SERPENTS. 175 



in the front of the mouth ; of a reddish brown, varied with 

 white marblings and dark spots, which are confluent, often 

 forming dorsal rays ; 27 rows of strongly carinated scales. 

 S. 170 + 50. 



8. Boa conic a. — Little known. From Bengal. Size 

 of the preceding ; tail very short and conical : deep brown ; 

 a large black ray, bordered with white, winds along the 

 back ; on the sides a series of dark orbicular spots ; below 

 of a pearly hue. S. 209 + 19.* 



9. Boa Melanura. — An anomalous species, approxi- 

 mating the Boa to the Tortrix. Size and habit of the 

 species of the ancient world ; form massive ; head covered 

 by nine rather small plates ; no hooks at the anus ; tail 

 very short, and strongly prehensile ; 25 rows of carinated 

 square scales. S. 206 + 38. Yellowish grey; a series 

 of black spots on the sides, near the belly ; another series 

 of very obsolete spots on the back ; the spots are confluent 

 on the tail, giving it an uniform black tint ; below, clear 

 ochre-yellow. 



PYTHON. 



This is the second genus of the Boa Family. It con- 

 sists of serpents of large size, exclusively inhabiting the 

 Old World. They have the intermaxillary provided with 

 teeth ; the arch of their orbit is completed by a super- 

 numerary bone, which does not exist in any other serpent ; 

 and the subcaudal plates are found to be divided. The 

 lips are always furrowed with fossettes, and the plates of 

 the head are more developed than in the genuine Boa. 



1. Python bivittatus. — The rostral, and the two first 

 labial plates only, are hollowed by fossettes ; muzzle and 

 top of the head covered with irregular plates ; frenal re- 

 gions excavated ; 63 rows of smooth small scales. S. 

 270 4- 70. Of a yellowish tint, relieved by a design com- 

 posed of broad, alternate, brown spots ; summit of the 

 head bordered by two rays, forming the ground tint ; sides 

 vai'ied and chequered with black and white ; below v/ith 

 dark square spots. From the western coast of Africa, 

 * [A small specimen is in the possession of the Translator.] 



