A NEW GENUS OF BOIDZ OF CUBA. 69 
or incisive teeth, but to the sub-family of Aproterodonts, species of which however exist 
in Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceanica. ‘The only American genus not exclusively such is 
Xiphosoma, a species of which (X. Madagascariense) is found in Madagascar. There are 
according to Duméril and Bibron but 11 species of Holodonts. These are distributed in 
Australia; in 8S. & W. Africa (Python Natalensis, sebze and regius, bivittatus Kuhl,) in Asia 
and Oceanica (India and Sunda Islands, Python Molurus and reticulatus,) (Morelia argus 
Tasmania and New Holland,) in which also is found Liasis olivaceus, (Timor, L. Macklotii,) 
Moluccas and New Ireland (L. amythestinus and Nardoa Schlegelii.) All the species of 
Pythonians appear to be inhabitants of warm climates, and many of them attain to a 
very large size, the Anaconda or Eunectes murinus, a water serpent, being from 20 to 30 
feet in length, the largest of the serpents known. Others are of much smaller size, the 
Boa constrictor being only from 9 to 12 feet in length, and Xiphosoma caninum, one of 
the most beautiful of the serpents, but six. Platygaster is not more than two feet and a 
quarter in length. 
Python Seb, or bivittatus Kuhl (Liberiensis nob.) is said by Schlegel to be the largest 
serpent of the ancient world, being above 20 feet in length. The other Pythons are from 
6 to 14 feet long. The Python Seb, according to Bosman, is worshipped by the negroes 
of Guinea, as their chief divinity, and the choice of a new king cannot be made unless 
sanctioned by the presence of one of these reptiles. According to Schlegel, it was this ser- 
pent which the soldiers of Regulus encountered near the Bragada, the size of which how- 
ever is greatly exaggerated by Pliny. (Essai sur la Physiognomie des Serpens, Tome 11, 
p- 410.) 
