20 



compressed, covered with small, smooth scales. Tail moderate 

 or short, prehensile; subcaudals in two rows or the greater 

 part only. 



Distribution. Tropical and South Africa; S. E. Asia; New 

 Guinea; Australia. 



Fig. 8. Python curtiis Schlegel. X 'h- 

 Key to the Indo- Australian species. 



A. Subcaudals more than 50. 



I. More than 60 scales across the body. 



a. Four upper labials pitted^ 78 — 102 subcaudals. i. /'. rctiaclahis \i. 20. 

 h. Two upper labials pitted; 60 — 72 suljcaudals. 2. /'. iiwliinis p. 22. 

 II. Scales in 60 rows or less across the body. 



a. Crown with large shields; four upper labials 

 pitted. 



1. Four or five postoculars; six or seven 



lower labials pitted 3- ^- amciliyst'inns p. 24. 



2. Three postoculars; five lower labials pitted. 4. P. tiinorcnsis p. 25. 



b. Crown with scales or small irregular shields; 



2 — 3 upper labials pitted 5- -^' spilotes p. 26. 



B. Subcaudals 28 — 32; two upper labials pitted ... 6. /'. curtus p. 28. 



I. Python reticulatus (Schn.). 



Boa reticulata^ Schneider, Hist. Amph. II iSoi, p. 264. 

 Python reticulatus^ Boulenger, Cat. Sn. I 1893, p. 85 (s. syn.). 



