1899.] E.BPTILBS OF THE MALAX PENINSULA AND SIAM. 655 



pariah-dogs, vultures, kites, and crows, are the regular scavengers 

 of Bangkok). 



In May 1897, a python, 2820 mm. (or 9 ft. 3 in.) in length, was 

 found in the Wang Luang (King's Palace); I was told it had 

 swallowed a pet cat and then had become too fat to get away 

 througli the hole by which it had entered. On opening the snake, 

 I found a full-grown Siamese cat vrith a bell hung round its neck. 

 In January 1898 another, 2438 mm. (or 8 ft.) in length, was caught 

 alive in the Wang Na (2ud King's Palace). The activity, muscii'ar 

 strength, and more particularly tlie power with which it can strike 

 out with its head, of a python even of this comparatively very 

 small size is astonishing, and, together with the lovely sheen of 

 colours which flashes over the bold patterns on its scales, is 

 difficult to realize when you have seen these snakes only in 

 captivity in Europe. 



Size. A friend told me that when the wooden floor of his stables 

 in Bangkok was being re])aired during 1897, in a cavity underneath 

 a large python was found and killed, which measured over 6-09 

 metres (or 20 feet) in total length. One killed at Matang, Perak, 

 the skin of which measures about 6 metres, is in the possession of 

 Lt.-Col. Eroude Walker, C.M.Gr., who told me the python had 

 been known to kill and eat pigs. Another killed at Simpang 

 (Larut district), Perak, measuring 67 metres (or 22 feet), is now 

 in the Taiping Museum. Dr. Wilson, Senior Medical Officer in 

 Johore, told me of a python killed at Muar about 1889, which was 

 6-85 metres (or 22 a feet) long and 228 mm. (or 9 inches) in diameter. 

 And Mr. L. Wray, jun., has measured one killed near Taiping, 

 Perak, about 1896, which was in the flesh 8-2 metres (or 27 feet) 

 long, and when skinned and stretched 10 metres (or 33 feet). 

 Cantor writes : " In 1844 one was killed at the foot of Pinang, 

 which a gentleman informed me measured uiore than 30 feet." 



Hah. Burma, Siam, Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, Banka, 

 Sipora (Mentawei Is.), Q-reat Natuna Is., Borneo, Celebes, Fiores, 

 Araboina, Ternate, N. Ceram, Timor Laut, and Philippines. 



97. Python MOLURtrs (L,). 



Pytlion molurus, Blgr. Cat. Snakes, i. p. 87. 



The common Python of India is included in the list of Malay 

 Peninsula reptiles, so far as I am aware, solely on the authority of 

 Stoliczka (J. A. S. B. 1870, p. 205), who mentions having " seen 

 several specimens obtained in the Wellesley province." I have 

 not heard of its occurrence in Siam. 



In recording localities of animals, such as this python, which 

 form part of the usual stock-in-trade of itinerant native jugo-lers, 

 it behoves collectors to be very careful and to make all possible 

 enquiries regarding them : for instance, when in Bangkok I once 

 was brought a live Pytlion molurus, but found by questioning that 

 it had been brought there by an Indian conjurer from Bombay. 



Hah. India, Ceylon, South China, Malay Peninsula, Java, 

 Celebes. 



