54 REPTILES AND BIRDS. 
muzzle, crown of the head with small shield-like plates. Of this 
genus there are two species:—the Diamond Snake (JZ spilotes), a 
native of Australia, and of a bluish-black colour; and the Carpet 
Snake (JZ. variegata), from Port Essington and Swan River. It 
is whitish, with irregular black-edged olive spots and an olive head, 
with two or three white spots in the centre of the crown. 
Il.—Python, having the crown shielded to behind the eyes. 
Of this genus there are two species, which have sometimes been 
referred to the Boas. The Pythons bear the same general appearance. 
Upon their bodies is traced a sort of blackish-brown chain, presenting 
nearly quadrangular links upon a clear yellowish ground, extending 
from the nape of the neck to the extremity of the tail. The susce- 
phalous region is partly covered by a large brownish-black spot. 
Upon each side of the head is a black band, which frequently 
extends from the nostril, passing by the eye as far as the corners of 
the lips. 
P. reticulatus, the Ular Sawad of the Malay countries, found also 
in Burmih and Siam, has the.four frent upper labial plates pitted; the 
frontal plate simple; the head has a narrow, longitudinal, brown stripe. 
This is one of the most handsomely-marked species of the whole 
family, its body being covered with a gay lacing of black and golden 
yellow. It is said to attain the great length of thirty feet, and is stout 
in proportion. In its native wilds the powers of this gigantic reptile 
are said to be enormous, being able to subdue a full-grown buffalo ; 
and even men have been said to become its prey. A Malay proa 
had anchored for the night under an island of the Celebes. One of 
the crew had gone ashore in search of the favourite betel nut, and is 
supposed on his return to the beach to have fallen asleep. In the 
dead of the night his comrades were roused by his screams; they 
pulled ashore with all expedition, but came too late; the cries had 
ceased, and the wretched man had breathed his last in the folds ot 
one of these enormous Serpents. They killed the creature, cut off the 
head, and carried it, together with the lifeless body of their comrade, 
to the vessel. The nght wrist of the corpse bore the mark of the 
serpent’s teeth, and the disfigured body showed that the man had 
been crushed by the constrictive folds of the reptile round the head, 
breast, and thighs. The Ular Sawad arranges its eggs by placing 
them in a group, which is covered by the body. ‘This statement, first 
made by Mr. Bennett, has been confirmed by the observations of 
M. Lamare Picquot, and by observations on other species of Python 
in the Jardin des Plantes, Paris, and in the London Zoological 
Gardens. 
