sEJ!rEXTS. 359 



form often met with in zoological ganleiis, wlicro it is known ns the fptich-snake. Its 

 home is iu the warmer parts of Africa. 



In Australia there are at least six species of Pythoni(]a^ and more genera than of 

 any other innocuous family. The representatives are the largest ophidian inhabitants, 

 some reaching the length of ten feet. They are nocturnal and move during the day 

 only when compelled to. The genus Moreliti has the rostral plate, as well as the ante- 

 rior three labials and the posterior infralabials, provide<l with deep pits. M. sjnlotes 

 is of a glossy black color, with a bright yellow spot on every scale ; the abdominal 

 scutes are yellow, with shades of black. This animal may bo distinguished, as can th(! 

 other Australian rock-snakes, from the numerous poisonous forms inh.abiting the same 

 coimtry, by the large number of scale rows, there being from forty to fifty in the 

 pythons, while the largest number known among the jioisonous snakes is twentj'-six. 

 It is a strange coincidence that while the so-called 'diamond snake' of Australia, the 

 form now under consideration, is harmless, the Hoxilocephalus superhus, inhabiting the 

 neighboring island of Tasmania, and bearing the same vernacular name, is highly ven- 

 omous. M. spilotes has a very limited distribution in southeastern Australia, being 

 only found from the coast to the Blue Mountains, but is represented further west by 

 the following species. The iiulividuals of this species inhabit nearly every region 

 that offers shelter, though stony ridges supplied with trees and well watered seem to 

 be their favorite localities. It is in such jilaces that they can find young water-rats, 

 {JL/dromijs) ducks, and possibly the straying chickens of a neighboring farmer. 

 Though naturally unobtrusive, when irritated they bite severelv. The eggs of either 

 this or the following species have been found. They were neatly piled up in a nest of 

 dry grass, which was concealed in a hollow log. 3L vai-legata, or the carpet-snake, 

 closely resembles the diamond in its habits and structure, though its habitat is defined 

 and separate. It is found in every other part of the continent except southern Vic- 

 toria, the region of the diamond snake. In coloring it is of a uniform greenish brown 

 with irregular markings ; different specimens show a great variation due to age and 

 locality. In their movements and general habits the carpet and diamond snakes are 

 similar, though the former may be somewhat the larger. 



The gQwui Aspidiotes has the scales in fifty-two rows and reaches a length of eight 

 feet, and may possibly grow larger, even exceeding the Morelias in size. The species 

 are not well known, and only a few specimens have been cajitured. A. melanocephalus 

 is at once recognized by its jet-black head and neck, its small scales, narrow abdominal 

 plates, and the absence of pits in the labials. The general color is light brown, with 

 darker rings above, and yellowish white below. Allied to this genus is JJasis, the 

 representatives of which have some of the upper and lower labials pitted. The few 

 species are found in the islands of the Arafura sea. A'ardoa has only the posterior 

 infralabial pitted. jV. f/ilbertii has a length of from three to six feet. Of its habits 

 little is known. 



Of the family of boas, the Boid^, it may be said that its mend)ers are distinc- 

 tively New World, resembling the pythons in their habits, and in being of enormous 

 size, but differing frotn them in several structural particulars. The boas have the 

 body long and fusiform ; the head distinct and flattened ; the snout prominent ; the 

 tail generally prehensile ; the nasal plates may be entire or divided ; the nostrils lat- 

 eral. The labials are generally without the jiits so characteristic of the Old World 

 forms, many of the ce))halic shields arc divided, and the sub-caudals are entire. 



Boa imperator, or the emperor, is found in Central America and Mexico, and may 



