SNAKES. b7 



ff Crovjn of head shielded to behind the eyes. 

 2. Python. 



Head covered wilh scales ; forehead and muzzle with symme- 

 trical shields to behind the eyes ; rostral and upper and lower labials 

 pitted: nostrils perpendicular, vertical, between two unequal sized 

 plates, the hinder sometimes divided by a groove into two : eyes la- 

 teral ; pupil linear, erect : scales smooth ; subcaudal plates two- 

 rowed. 



Python, Gray, Ann. Phil. 1825, 209. Zool. Misc. 44, 1840. 

 Constrictor sp., Wagler, Syst. 168, 1830. Python, ^. Dtim. ^ Bib. 

 Erp. Gen. vi. 417, not Wagler. Python sp., Daud. Rept. vi. 226, 

 viii. 384, Cuvier. Merrem. Fitz. 1826. Constrictor and Astero- 

 phis, Fitz. Syst. Rept. 24, 1843, no char. 



They place their eggs in a group and cover them with their 

 body : this circumstance was first noticed by Mr. Bennett, who 

 gives a figure of the snake on its eggs as a vignette. M. La- 

 mare Picquot communicated this fact to the Academy of Sciences, 

 with some other remarks on the habits of serpents ; but M. Dumeril, 

 in his report on this paper, read on the 19th of March, 1832 (see 

 Ann. Sci. Nat., n. s., iv. 36), discredited his account ; and though 

 it was re-stated by the author, M. Dumeril concluded a letter with 

 these words : " Ensuite qu'ils n'ont pas besoiu et qu'ils leur serait 

 inutile de couver leurs ceufs." (/. c. 36, note). The Pythou in the 

 Garden of Plants at Paris has proved the correctness of Mr. Ben- 

 nett's and Lamare Picquot's observations. 



* Four front upper labial plates pitted ; frontal plate simple. 



Constrictor, Fitz. 



1. The Ular Sawa. Python reticulatus, Fitz. N. Class. 54. 

 Gray, Zool. Misc. 44. Dum. ^ Bib. Erp. Gen. vi. 426. Boa reti- 

 culata, Schn. Amph. ii. 261. Daud. Rept. v. 116. Python Schneid- 

 erii, Merrem, Tent. 89. Schlegel, P. S. ii. 415, t. 15,/. 5—7 (part). 

 Guerin, Icon. t.2l,f. 1. Boa rhombeata, Schneid. Amph. ii. 266 ? 

 B. amethystina, part, Schneid. Amph. ii. 259. Daud. Rept. v. 231. 

 B. phrygia, Shaiv, Zool. iii. 348, t. 97. Russell, Ind. Serp. 

 Coluber Javauicus, Shaiv, Zool. ii. 441. Kuhl, Isis, 1825, 473. C. 

 Javeusis, Fleming, P. Z. 291. B. constrictor, var., Latr. Rept. iii. 

 135. Python lies de Sonde, Cuv. R. A. ii. 681. Ular Sawa, 

 Wurmb. Verh. iii. 391. La Jaune et Bleue, Lacep. Quad. Ovip. ii. 



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