THE SO A CONSTRICTOR. 



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rather a long snout, depressed and cut short, or rounded in front. The eye is of moderate size, and the 

 pupil is vertical. The scales are smooth, very numerous in series, and the sub-caudals are two-rowed. 

 None of the teeth are grooved, and they are found in the intermaxillary, maxillary, palatine, pterygoid, 

 and mandible bones, and they are unequal in size. 



Associated with the Pythons, which are the types of a sub-family, are some beautiful Australian 

 Snakes, which are usually said to belong to two species, the Diamond and Carpet Snakes, but which 

 in all probability are races, or local varieties of one.* 



The next sub-family of the Pythonidse to be considered is that of the Boas, and they have the 



DIAMOND SN'AKE. 



general configuration of the Great Pythons, but some have the head scaly and without plates, whilst 

 others have irregular plates. In all the tail is prehensile, but the intermaxillaries have no teeth. 

 All are South American, except some belonging to a genus whose place in classification is uncertain, 

 and whose species live in Java, 



The Boa Constrictor has a long scaly head, which is broad behind, and the tail has a single row 

 of sub-caudal scales. They are arboreal, and watch for their prey, swooping down on it head first, 

 seizing and coiling their long and stout body around it. They reach twelve feet in length as a rule, 

 and it is said that some are twice and more as long, but there are grave doubts about the truth of the 

 statement. The ornamentation is rather peculiar, and there is a long series of markings extending the 

 whole length, composed alternately of great blackish stains or spots irregularly hexagonal, and of 

 pale oval stains or spots notched or jagged at either end, the whole forming a very elegant pattern. 

 It has the habits of the family, and is restricted to the tropical parts of South America. Probably 



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* Morelia aryus and M. variegata. 



