198 THE VIVARIUM. 
and its varieties: ‘‘ Rostral as broad as deep, or a little deeper 
than broad, visible from above ; internasals (or anterior frontals, 
see (2) Fig. 6) as broad as long, followed by a pair of somewhat 
larger shields, which may be broken up; the rest of the upper 
surface of the head covered with seales or small irregular shields, 
among which, however, an enlarged frontal (or vertical, see (4) 
Fig. 59) shield and two or three supra-oculars are sometimes con-. 
spicuous; 11 to 13 upper labials, the first two or three deeply 
pitted; scales in 45-51 rows; ventrals 251-304; anal entire or 
divided; sub-caudals 63-92. Coloration very variable.” The 
tail equals abcut one-eighth of the length of the entire animal. 
The colour of the Diamond Snake (P. spilotes) is “ black above, 
each scale with a yellowish dot, with or without scattered yellow, 
black-edged spots ; upper labials black-edged ; lower parts yellow, 
posterior ventrals and the sub-caudals spotted or edged with 
black.”’ 
The colour of the variety of P. spilotes known as the Carpet 
Snake (Morelia variegata, Gray) is “ pale brown with dark brown 
black-edged spots or cross-bands, or dark brown with lighter 
markings; head with symmetrical dark brown markings; upper 
lip uniform yellowish, or only the antcrior labials black-edged ; 
a light, dark-edged streak may be present along each side of the 
anterior part of the body; lower parts yellowish, more or less 
spotted with black.” 
The colour of another variety (Morelia varvegata, Kreftt) is pale 
olive-brown above, each scale edged with black, with yellowish 
black-edged spots and crossbars, or with three yellowish stripes, 
the middle one partly broken up in spots; upper labials black- 
edged ; lower parts pale yellow, the posterior ventrals and. the 
sub-caudals spotted or edged with black.” 
The Reticulated Python (Python reticulatus) is one of the most 
beautiful members of the family to which it belongs. It is, ac- 
cording to Dr. Giinther, the Ular Sawa of the Malays. It is a 
native of Burmah, India, the Malay Peninsula, and Archipelago. 
Though a delicate Snake, it has been known to live for a long 
time in confinement. There is, or was, a very fine specimen at 
the Zoological Gardens, London, whose length has been estimated 
at about 26ft., and its weight at about 18st. 
