58 THE SNAKES OF SOUTH AFRICA. 
another species known as the West African Python (Python regius), 
and in South West Africa by Anchieta’s Python (Python anchiet@). 
The Rock Snake or Python is fairlycommon in Rhodesia, Natal, 
Zululand and Eastern Transvaal. I have also obtained specimens 
from Bechuanaland. 
The statements in regard to the length attained by these 
Fic. 26.—Head and neck of a South African Python (Python sebe). 
Pythons is very conflicting. Sir Andrew Smith, in his “ Zoology 
of South Africa,’’ mentions one twenty-five feet long, which he 
personally examined and measured. I have examined a consider- 
able number, and the longest was twenty feet. The average length 
seems to be about sixteen feet, the circumference at the thickest 
part being about eighteen inches. 
1. PYTHON SEB#. The South African Python, also known as the Natal 
Rock Snake. 
Synonyms—Coluber sebe ; Hortulia natalensis. 
Colour—Pale brown above, with dark brown, black-edged, more or less 
sinuous cross bars which are usually connected by a continuous, 
or interrupted dark stripe running along each side of the back ; 
sides with large spots, and finely dotted with black; a large tri- 
angular dark brown blotch occupying the top of the head, 
bordered on each side by a light stripe, beginning at the end of 
the snout above the nostril, and passing abpve the eye. A dark 
stripe on each side of the head, and a dark sub-triangular blotch 
below the eye; upper surface of tail with a light stripe between 
two black ones. Belly spotted and dotted with dark brown. 
Average length—16 feet. Said to attain a length of 25 feet. 
Distribution—Natal; Zululand; Eastern Transvaal; Eastern portion 
of Bechuanaland; Southern Rhodesia; Portuguese East Africa; 
Tropical Africa. 
