1862.] OF PYTHON RETICULATUS. 211 



writer on the subject. Dr. Bree of Colchester, the author of the 

 ' Bhds of Europe,' thmks " 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. S. 1855, 

 p. 191) on the large size of the oesophagus 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 2\ 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 oesophagus 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 



I I 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 oesophagus 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 oesophagus. 



