SNAKES I9gt 
tailprehensile. The TypicaL 
PYTHONS, or ROCK-SNAKES, 
as they are called, with refer- 
ence to their rock-frequent- 
ing habits, are distributed 
throughout South-eastern 
Asia, Australia, and Central 
and South Africa. 
The INDIAN PyTHON, 
which is the largest Old 
World representative of its 
race, is known authentically Bi Ian aps Sah 
to attain to a length of CARPET_SNAKE 
30 feet, and in the largest 
specimens the spinal column 
may include over 400 vertebra. In common with other members of its family, this huge 
[Melbourne 
So called with reference to the variegated carpet-like pattern of its skin ornamentation 
snake kills its quarry by compression or strangulation, throwing around it successive coils of 
its body, which, with their contraction, crush out the life of the victim. The dispatched 
prey is then swallowed whole, commencing with the head. The previous crushing of the 
bony framework greatly assists the swallowing process, which is further aided by the snake 
pouring over the body of its victim a copious discharge of saliva. 
The extent to which the jaws and the integument of the body generally can be distended 
for the passage and reception of the food is remarkable. After partaking of a solid meal 
in this fashion, pythons remain sluggish and in a state of semi-torpor for several days, not 
reawakening to active life, in fact, until the digestion of the food has been accomplished. As 
is well known, these and other snakes can exist for periods of many months’ duration between 
their meals. One of the largest Indian pythons by no means contents itself with such small 
quarry as hares and rabbits — sheep, young calves, and some of the smaller deer representing its 
more accustomed food. The human species unarmed is as weak or weaker than the proverbial 
kitten, pitted against the hydraulic-press-like embrace of these monster serpents; and many 
an Indian native, and more rarely the white man, has fallen a victim to their attacks. 
The RETICULATED PYTHON, so called on account of the bold reticulated pattern of the skin- 
ornamentation, may equal, if not exceed, the Indian species in dimensions. It is a native 
of Burma, Siam, and the Malay region generally, and is recorded as occasionally exceeding 
30 feet in length. Examples of this species, including one over 20 feet long, have constituted 
leading attractions at the Reptile-house in the Zoological Society’s Gardens for many years 
past. The gorgeous prismatic tints that play upon the surface markings of the coils of these 
, huge snakes, as the 
_ sun strikes upon them 
, about midday in their 
ci, cages, form one of the 
most wonderful sights 
that the Gardens 
afford. 
The African Con- 
tinent also produces 
its large species of 
pythons. One of 
these, attaining to a 
Photo by H. G. F. Spurrell, Esq.J [Bartheatne length of 20 feet or 
JESCULAPIAN SNAKE more, reaches its maxi- 
A South European species with tree climbing habits mum onthe westcoast, 
