4. PYTHON. 



89 



Python bellii, Gray, Nat. Miseell. p. 44 (1842). 



regius, Dum. ^ Bibr. \-i, p. 412 (1844) ; Jan, Icon. 06n. p. 97, 



1. 8, pi. V. (1864) ; F. Mull. Verk. nat. Ges. Basel, vii. 1885, 



p. (576. 

 Hortulia regia, Gray, Cat. p. 90 (1849). 



Rostral as broad as deep, visible from above ; internasals nearly 

 twice as long as broad, followed by a pair of large prsefrontals ; a 

 large supraocular, separated from its fellow by a pair of frontals 

 or by several small shields ; two or three prse- and three or four 

 postoculars, and a series of suboculars usually separating the eye 

 from the labials ; ten or eleven upper labials, four anterior deeply 

 pitted, fifth or sixth sometimes entering the eyes ; two to four of 

 the posterior lower labials feebly pitted. Scales in 53 to 63 rows. 

 Ventrals 196-207 ; anal entire or divided ; subcaudals 30-37. 

 Upper surface of head dark brown, with a pale, black-edged streak 

 on each side, beginning above the nostril and passing through the 

 eye ; a dark brown, black-edged band occupies the back, sending 

 down triangular or Y-shaped processes on the sides, which are pale 

 brown ; this dorsal band encloses a light streak on the neck, another 

 on the tail, and a series of from ten to eighteen light round or oval 

 spots ; belly yellowish, with or without small brown spots on the 

 sides. 



Total length 1240 ihillim. ; tail 100. 



Senegambia and Sierra Leone. 



a, b. Ad. (Sc. 65, 56 

 V. 205, 198; 0.31,32). 



c. Yg. (Sc. 65; V. 200 

 0. 32). 



d. Yp-. (Sc. 63; V. 207 

 C. 32). 



e. Ad. (Sc. 55; V. 197 

 0. 30). 



f-h. Yg. (Sc. 59, 59, 56 



V. 201, 196, 202 ; 0. 37 



37, 32). 

 i. Ad. (Sc. 53; V. 200 



0. 34). 

 7c. Hgr.,stffd. 



9. Python curtus. 



Python curtus, ScUeg. Bierentuin, Rept. p. 64, fig. (1872) ; Hubrecht, 

 Notes Leyd. J/aa. i. 1870, p. 244; Blanf. Froc. Zool. &e. 1881, 

 p. 222 ; Bouleng. Proc. Zool. Soc. 1889, p. 432, pi. xlv. 



breitensteini, Steind. Sitzb. Ah. Wien, Ixxxii. 1881, p. 267 ; 



Fischer, Arch.f. Nat. 1885, p. 68, pi. v. fig. 5. 



Aspidoboa curta, Sauvage, Bull. Soc. Philom. (7) viii. 1884, p. 143. 



Eostral broader than deep, visible from above; internasals as, 

 broad as long, separated from the frontal and the supraoculars by 

 two pairs of large prefrontals; frontal longitudinally divided, 

 followed by several pairs of transverse parietal shields; a large 



