Occasional Notes. 371 



isolated for some time, the snake deposited no more eggs, 

 and it was eventually placed in the large snake case, in 

 which there were at the time two anacondas (Eunedles 

 murinusj, two landcamoodies (Boa consirtd2orJ,a.saAem- 

 penta lizard (Tupinamhis nigro-pundiatus) , and an 

 iguana (Iguana tuherculata) . Now, six months after, 

 it has just brought forth 12 young ones — a noteworthy 

 event owing to the fa£t that the aboma is a land boa 

 which is not ovo-viviparous but oviparous. The expla- 

 nation is evidently to be found in the fa6l that the 

 exposed position in which the snake was kept, and 

 perhaps the wired cage, were not suited for egg-layingi 

 and the eggs were therefore retained for the long period 

 in the body of the mother, until they were in process of 

 hatching when they were extruded. The occurrence, 

 though rare, is not altogether unknown in the case of 

 other snakes, but this is the first mention that has been 

 given of such an event in the case of the aboma. 



The young ones were about n inches in length, and 

 of a very pale colour compared with the adult, the 

 deep rich maize ground-colour being quite absent, and 

 represented only by a greyish purple tint, though the 

 blackish-purple rings and blotches were the same. They 

 were remarkably lively, and as soon as they had freed 

 themselves from the remains of the egg-membranes, they 

 moved about rapidly, coiling the fore part of the body, 

 and darting rapidly, and biting at any obje6t that was 

 presented to them, The teeth were extremely fine, and 

 but scarcely able to puncture one's skin. 



Strange as had been their advent into the world, their 

 exit was still stranger. Placed overnight with some 

 young specimens of the Boa constri^or, about three feet 



3A 



