AUSTRALIAN SNAlvES. 37 



wlio incubates them by coiling lier body around them, 

 her own temperature being raised during the period ; 

 this condition is sometimes maintained for nearly two 

 months. These reptiles are further interesting from 

 the fact that they have vestiges of hind limbs, which 

 show through the skin as two small spurs, one on 

 each side of the vent. These spurs are the external 

 terminations of certain rudimentary bones, which 

 represent all that remains of the pelvic members, as 

 developed in the lizards, for example. The Pythons 

 feed upon animals, first crushing them to death between 

 their powerful coils, and swallowing them by an 

 extremely slow process, generally head first. If the 

 prey is of large size, probably not more than three or 

 four meals are made in a year ; while food is not taken 

 and animation is suspended during hibernation in the 

 colder months. 



The following are the Australian representatives 

 of the family : — 



Common Rock Snake. 



Liasis childreni, Gray. 



S. 41-45, V. 257-287, A.l, S.C. 38-53. 



Northern, and North-eastern Australia ; length,14 feet. 



Brown Rock Snake. 



Liasis fusGUs J Peters. 



S. 47-49, V. 275-291, A.l, S.C. 65-72. 



Northern Australia ; length,14 feet 6 inches. 



