LIASIS PETERSII 17 



thystinus, nor even a variety of it. A series of specimens 

 of the last-named species, which I own to be widely 

 spread and subject to considerable variation is now before 

 me, together with the Flores specimen, and I do not 

 hesitate in regarding the latter, with its greater number 

 of scales , each of them so much smaller , as a distinct spe- 

 cies for which I propose the name of 



Li as is Petei'sii. 



The configuration of the scales on its head need not be 

 entered upon more fully, after the very good figure men- 

 tioned above , which Peters has given of it. The four 

 prefrontals in one row , as well as the considerably reduced 

 number of frenals are perhaps the characters which most 

 strike the observer at first sight. The parietals appear 

 to be less developed than they are in Liasis amethystinus. 



The number of ventral shields is 288 , whereas Dumeril 

 et Bibron give 303 to 316 for L. amethystinus, numbers 

 with which those of all our specimens of the last-named species 

 correspond. I cannot decide whether this diminution num- 

 ber in applies to the caudal shields as well , the specimen un- 

 der examination having lost its tail which was beginning 

 to cicatrize and be restored when the animal was captured 

 and killed. 



A still greater difference lies , as noted above , in the 

 number and size of the scales on the body , which becomes 

 exceedingly evident on comparing two specimens of about 

 equal dimensions. 



The number of longitudinal rows of scales in Liasis 

 Petersii is about 56 near the head, 60 in the middle of 

 the body, and 43 towards the tail. On specimens of L. 

 amethystinus of the same average size, I counted in the 

 corresponding body regions 45 , 47 and 28 rows of scales. 

 The difference in size is most striking just behind the 

 head, along the neck and the upper parts of the back. 



Although the ground colour of the animal (in spirits) 

 does not seem to differ greatly fi'om that of L. amethys- 



Notes from the Ley den Miuseum. 



2 



