1862. ] OF PYTHON RETICULATUS. 211 
writer on the subject, Dr. Bree of Colchester, the author of the 
‘Birds of Europe,’ thinks “ that the young Vipers would be killed 
by the gastric juice of the stomach.” 
In 1855 I read a communication to this Society (P. Z. 8. 1855, 
p- 191) on the large size of the cesophagus of the Viper, as compared 
with that of the stomach ; and I showed the alimentary tube of this 
reptile distended with air, and stated at that time that I had positive 
evidence that the Viper did swallow its young. The information 
I have received since that period enables me now to speak even with 
greater certainty upon this matter. 
The physical obstacle spoken of I have been unable to discover ; 
and the death and dissolution of the young by the gastric juice is an 
impossibility, because they do not enter the stomach. This will be 
shown by an account of the length and capacity of the alimentary 
tube of the Ophidian in question, the Python reticulatus,—the in- 
testinal canal of the Viper, I may remark, being of about the same 
proportionate size. 
This reptile, the exact cause of the death of which I was un- 
able to determine, measured 15 feet in length; and I may add that 
I had an opportunity of examining, about the same time, a Python 
(P. molurus) that died on board a ship in the docks. The lat- 
ter was nearly as long as the Python reticulatus. I could discover 
no important difference in their visceral anatomy: they were both 
females. 
I will only allude briefly to a few points in the anatomy of the 
Python reticulatus. The ovaries were 6 feet 2 inches in length, and 
they each contained twenty-five ova, varying from the size of a pea 
to that of a nut. The trachea measured 2 feet 10 inches in length : 
the rings amounted to 437; they were nearly approximated at the 
upper part, but widely separated in the centre and lower portion. 
The gall-bladder contained 24 ounces of bile; two cystic ducts 
proceeded from it, and these were united by cross ducts so as to form 
a network of ducts between the gall-bladder and the intestine. I 
know not whether this has been before described. 
The cesophagus measured 6 feet in length, and contained 473 ounces 
of water; the stomach was 18 inches long, and held 74 ounces of 
water. The small intestines were 9 feet 6 inches in length, and con- 
tained 204 ounces of water. The large intestines measured 2 feet 
11 inches, and contained 142 ounces. Total length 20 feet 4 inches ; 
capacity of the whole alimentary tube 744 ounces. 
I have measured the capacity of the alimentary tube of many of 
the serpents, and the length and size of the cesophagus are great in 
all; so that in the poisonous Ophidians which swallow their young 
there would be no possibility of the latter coming in contact with 
the gastric juice, as they could readily be received into the upper part 
of the cesophagus, 
