4-'rJ JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCLETY, Vol. XXI. 



easily separated by the number of ventral shields, i.e., from throat 

 to vent. In Eryx they are 192 to 210. in molurus 242 to 2G5, 

 and in reticulatus 2'J7 to 330. 



Dimensions. — It is difficult to say with certainty to what length 

 the python may attain. It seems probable that many of the great 

 lengths given by travellers and sportsmen were guessed at. and 

 the snake not actually measured. The creature is very thick 

 relatively to its length, perhaps three or four times the girth of a 

 Russell's viper of similar length, and five or six times that of a 

 dhaman (Zamenis mucosus). If a python's length wen- judged from 

 its girth, the estimate would grossly exceed the real measurement. 



Specimens of 10 feet are not very uncommon, as will lie seen 

 from the following records, and there is little doubt that it exceeds 

 20 feet. In this Journal * Ferguson records an 18 foot one from the 

 Ashambu Hills, and Major Begbie f one of a similar length killed 

 near Baksa Duars. Other specimens of like proportions have been 

 recorded by the late D. Ferguson in Ceylon|, and in the Vioneev 

 from Rajshai (Rajapur).H I saw the skin of a specimen of the 

 same length in the possession of Mr. A. M. Harry in Assam. 

 Mr. Prince of the King's Own Shropshire Light Infantry shot a 

 female in the United Provinces in 1906 which measured 18 feet 

 3 inches. In Land a ml Water (August 10th, 1866 or 07?) one is 

 mentioned from Mussoorie of 18 feet 9 inches. Tennent** refers 

 to a specimen brought him in Ceylon that taped 19 feet. Another 

 reported of a similar length Avas encountered by Captain George 

 and Mr. Delsuage when shooting in Ceylon. This was captured 

 and brought to Colombo, and exhibited in 18$5 when I saw it. 

 Jerdon ft saw a 19 foot specimen killed in Travancore, and 

 Dr. Elmes told me of one he shot in Assam (N. Lakhimpur Dis- 

 trict) of the same size. A specimen measuring 19 feet 2 inches in 

 our Society's collection, shot by the late Maharajah of Cooeh Behar 



Vol. X. page 69. 

 t Vol. XVII, page 1021. 



t.Rept. fauna, Ceylon. \>. 22. 



«[ 3rd July 1907 



** Nat. His. of Ceylon. II. p. 153. 



ft Journ. As. Soc-, Bengal. XXI l. \>. 526. 



