SNAKES OF CEYLON. 69 



claims that it grows to a length of 30 feet, and if this opinion 

 were confirmed I think India could lay claim to the two 

 largest species of the genus, for reticulatus is also reported 

 to attain to a length of 30 feet. Within quite recent times 

 (1905) a specimen of the latter in the possession of Mr. John 

 Hagenbeck was, as far as could be ascertained, in life 28 feet. 

 The African species sebse is also a very large reptile which is 

 recorded up tp 23 feet. 



The weight of a python is remarkable, the specimen of 

 molurus killed by the Maharajah of Cooch Behar, which 

 measured over 19 feet, scaled 200 pounds (over 14 stone). Mr. 

 John Hagenbeck's reticulated python just alluded to weighed 

 250 pounds. 



(/) Longevity: Very few records have been made on this 

 interesting matter. Gunther, however, mentions a python 

 attaining the age of 19 years in Regent's Park. It was four 

 years old when acquired, and lived a further period of fifteen 

 years in captivity. 



Parasites. — (a) Ectozoa: Ticks frequently infest the python, 

 fixing themselves into the skin between the scales. Apo- 

 nomma gervaisi is the commonest of these. 



(b) Entozoa : (1) A cestode or tapeworm (Bothridium 

 pythonis) may be found in great numbers in the intestine 

 (duodenum). They are sometimes free, sometimes attached 

 to the mucous membrane. Shipley found these in a specimen 

 from Neligatta, Ceylon. 



(2) A cestode (Solenophorus megacephalus) also inhabits 

 the intestine. Von Linstow found this once in the intestine 

 of a tiger proving that it had recently devoured a 

 python. 



(3) A nematode or round worm (A scaris attenuata) was 

 found by Von Linstow in the intestine of this python. 



(4) A nematode dubiously referred by Shipley to Ascaris 

 rubicunda was taken from the lung of a Ceylon specimen. 



(5) A linguatulid (P otocephalus moniliformis) was found by 

 Shipley in the lung of a Ceylon python. It has 28 to 30 

 annuli on the body. 



