May, 1S45.] 249 



considerable numbers in the vicinity of the different settlements, and are 

 highly prized by the natives as an article of food. 



Ran a Bibronii. 



Description. — Head large, triangular, slightly convex above, truncated 

 anteriorly, nostrils distinct, situated nearer the snout than the orbit; tym- 

 panum very distinct, circular, of a bronze colour, with a dark point in the 

 centre ; eyes very large, not remarkably prominent ; tongue large, cordiform, 

 notched posteriorly, having a slight indentation at its point ; opening of the 

 mouth large; teeth in the upper jaw numerous, very fine pointed, of nearly 

 equal size ; those of the palate seven or eight in number on each side, situated 

 on a line with the anterior margin of the posterior nares ; posterior nares 

 large; eustachian foramina very distinct; body slender, extremities idem; 

 web of the toes extending as far as the distal extremity of the antepenulti- 

 mate phalanx, except of the fourth, which are much larger than the third 

 and fifth, the latter are of nearly equal length; subarticular tubercles dis- 

 tinct ; skin smooth, thrown into numerous longitudinal folds upon the back ; 

 no glands or pores are observed in any part of the body. 



Colour. — Body above grayish, with numerous dark coloured blotches upon 

 the head and back ; a band of white extends from the tip of the snout to the 

 extremity of the body ; along the sacrum this band is very narrow, upon the 

 body and head it is much broader, occupying in the latter situation the whole 

 of the space between the orbits; throat, chin, and under parts of body, 

 white. 



Habitat. — Liberia, West Africa. 



Dimensions. 



Python Liberiensis. 



Description. — Head large, triangular, covered anteriorly with plates, which 

 extend to some distance behind the eyes ; the rostral plate is pentagonal ; 

 there are two anterior and two posterior frontal plates ; the former are elon- 

 gated and quadrilateral ; the latter are large and also quadrilateral ; there 

 are eight circumorbitar plates, of these the two superior? are much the 

 largest ; the eyes are large and projecting; there are thirteen superior labial 

 plates, of these the seventh on one side, and the eighth on the other are the 

 largest ; the nostril is small, and placed near the upper margin of a large 

 triangular plate ; between this and the circumorbitar plate is a number of 

 small polygonal scales; upon the upper part of the head, at its centre, be- 

 tween the two large supra-orbitar plates, are two hexagonal plates ; in front 



