SERPENTS. 359 



form oftoii nu't with in zoological gardens, where it is known as the fetich-snake. It8 

 home is in thu warmer parts of Africa. 



In Anstralia tlit're are at least six species of Pythonitla; and more genera than of 

 any other innocuous family. The representatives are the largest ophidian inhabitants, 

 some reaching the length of ten feet. They are nocturnal and move during the day 

 only when compelled to. The genus Morelia has the rostral plate, as well as the ante- 

 rior three labials and the j)osterior infralabials, provided with deep pits. M. spilotes 

 is of a glossy black color, with a bright yellow spot on every scale ; the abdominal 

 scutes are yellow, with shades of black. This animal may be distinguished, as can the 

 other Australian rock-snakes, from the numerous poisonous forms inhabiting the same 

 country, by the large number of scale rows, there being from forty to fifty in the 

 pythons, while the largest number known among the jioisonous snakes is twenty-six. 

 It is a strange coincidence that while the so-called '<liamond snake' of Australia, the 

 form now under consideration, is liarndess, the Jloplocep/ialus superbus, inhabiting the 

 neighboring island of Tasmania, and bearing the same vernacular name, is highly ven- 

 omous. J/, spilotes has a very limited distribution in southeastern Australia, being 

 only found from the coast to the I>Iue 31ountains, but is re])resented further west by 

 the following species. The indiviiluals of this species inhabit nearly every region 

 that offers shelter, though stony ridges supplied with trees and well watered seem to 

 l)e their favorite localities. It is in such jtlaces that they can iind young water-rats, 

 {Ilydrotmjs) ducks, and possibly the straying chickens of a neighboring farmer. 

 Though naturally unobtrusive, when irritated they bite severely. The eggs of either 

 this or the following species have Vjecn found. They were neatly piled up in a nest of 

 dry grass, which was concealed in a hollow log. 31. variegata, or the carpet-snake, 

 closelv resembles the diamond in its habits and structure, though its habitat is defined 

 and separate. It is found in every other part of the continent except southern Vic- 

 toria, the region of the diamond snake. In coloring it is of a uniform greenish brown 

 with irregular markings ; different specimens show a great variation due to age and 

 localitv. In their movements and general habits the carpet and diamond snakes are 

 shnilar, though the former may be somewhat the larger. 



The genus AsjykUotes has the scales in fifty-two rows and reaches a length of eight 

 feet, and may possibly grow larger, even exceeding the Jlorelias in size. The species 

 are not well known, and only a few spcciniens have been captured. A. nielanocephctlus 

 is at once recognized by its jet-black head and neck, its siuall scales, narrow abdominal 

 plates, and the absence of pits in the labials. The general color is light brown, with 

 darker rings above, and yellowish white below'. Allied to this genus is Liasig, the 

 representatives of which have some of the upjier and lower labiuls pitted. The few 

 species are found in the islands of the Arafura sea. Xardoa has only the posterior 

 infralabial pitted. X. gilhertii has a length of from three to six feet. Of its habits 

 little is known. 



Of the family of boas, the Boid.e, it may be said that its members are distinc- 

 tively Xew World, resembling the jjythons in their h.abits, and in being of enormous 

 size, but differing from them in several structural particulars. The boas have tlie 

 I)ody long and fusiform ; the head distinct and flattened ; the snout ]>rominent ; the 

 tail generally j^rehensile ; the nasal plates may be entire or divided ; the nostrils lat- 

 eral. The labials are generally withotit the pits so characteristic of the Old World 

 forms, many of the cejjhalic shields are divided, and the sulwaudals are entire. 



Boa impcrato); or the emperor, is found in Central America and ^lexico, ami may 



