SNAKES. 87 
tt Crown of head shielded to behind the eyes. 
2. Pyrnon. 
Head covered with scales ; forehead and muzzle with symme- 
trical shields to behind the eyes; rostraland upper and lower labials 
pitted: nostrils perpendicular, vertical, between two unequal sized 
plates, the hinder sometimes divided by a groove into two: eyes la- 
teral; pupil linear, erect: scales smooth; subcaudal plates two- 
rowed. 
Python, Gray, Ann. Phil. 1825, 209. Zool. Misc. 44, 1840. 
Constrictor sp., Wagler, Syst. 168, 1830. Python, 8B. Dum. & Bib. 
Erp. Gen. vi. 417, not Wagler. Python sp., Daud. Rept. vi. 226, 
viii. 384, Cuvier. Merrem. Fitz. 1826. Constrictor and Astero- 
phis, Fitz. Syst. Rept. 24, 1843, no char. 
They place their eggs in a group and cover them with their 
body: this circumstance was first noticed by Mr. Bennett, who 
gives a figure of the snake on its eggs as a vignette. M. La- 
mare Picquot communicated this fact to the Academy of Sciences, 
with some other remarks on the habits of serpents; but M. Dumeril, 
in his report on this paper, read on the 19th of March, 1832 (see 
Ann. Sci. Nat., n.s., iv. 36), discredited his account; and though 
it was re-stated by the author, M. Dumeril concluded a letter with 
these words: “ Ensuite qwils n’ont pas besoin et quils leur serait 
inutile de couver leurs ceufs.” (/. c. 36, note). The Python in the 
Garden of Plants at Paris has proved the correctness of Mr. Ben- 
nett’s and Lamare Picquot’s observations. 
* Four front upper labial plates pitted ; frontal plate simple. 
Constrictor, Fitz. 
1. The Untar Sawa. Python reticulatus, Fitz. N. Class. 54. 
Gray, Zool. Misc. 44. Dum. §& Bib. Erp. Gen. vi. 426. Boa reti- 
culata, Schn. Amph. ii. 261. Daud. Rept. v.116. Python Schneid- 
erii, Merrem, Tent. 89. Schlegel, P. S. ii. 415, t. 15, f. 5—7 (part). 
Guerin, Icon. t.21,f.1. Boa rhombeata, Schneid. Amph. ii. 266 ? 
B. amethystina, part, Schneid. Amph. ii. 259. Daud. Rept. v. 231. 
B. phrygia, Shaw, Zool. iii. 348, ¢. 97. Russell, Ind. Serp. 
Coluber Javanicus, Shaw, Zool. ii. 441. Kuhl, Isis, 1825, 473. C. 
Javensis, Fleming, P. Z. 291. _B. constrictor, var., Latr. Rept. iii. 
135. Python Iles de Sonde, Cuv. R. A. ii. 681. Ular Sawa, 
Wurmb. Verh. iii. 391. La Jaune et Bleue, Lacep. Quad. Ovip. ii. 
I 2 
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