rjQ SNAKES OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS 



truding claw on tip of leg bone (more prominent in males) ; 

 eyes small, pupil vertical. 



Color in ?i/e.— Yellowish gray to yellowish brown above, highly 

 iridescent, with a continuous, chainlike, zigzag marking of blue- 

 black inclosing irregular, rhomboidal, grayish yellow spots ; the 

 black color surrounding these spots is rarely more than three 

 scales wide; on each side a second series of small white spots 

 inclosed by the dark color at the point where the rhombs are 

 widest; these in turn are connected by narrow marks to a dim 

 series of markings running along the outer edge of the ventrals 

 and the scales bordering the ventrals; ventrals dimly blotched 

 with grayish black ; a narrow, black, median line from upper tip 

 of rostral to the dorsal markings on neck; a temporal streak 

 from eye to lateral neck marking; a small isolated dot of black 

 on each side in the parietal region; chin and throat whitish; 

 ventrals for the most part yellowish white to cream. 



Measurements of Python reticidatus (Schneider) (young). 



mm. 

 Total length 2,075 



Snout to anus 1,797 



Tail 278 



Width of head 45 



Length of head "0 



Variation.-. — The number of scale rows around the body varies 

 greatly at the various parts of the body ; in Philippine specimens 

 the variation of the number of rows in the widest part is from 

 74 to 78; of the ventrals, 317 to 335; and of the subcaudals, 80 

 to 93.* 



The number of upper labials varies from 10 to 13, of lower 

 labials from 20 to 23. In all specimens examined the first 4 

 upper labials were pitted ; the second, third, and sometimes the 

 fourth lower labials were pitted with small rounded pits; the 

 thirteenth to eighteenth lower labials were usually pitted. The 

 number of postoculars is variable ; as few as 2 scales, and as 

 many as 5 occur. The seventh labial almost invariably enters 

 the eye. 



The scales on the head are variable, particularly the element 

 lying between the prefrontals and the preocular, which is fre- 

 quently broken ; the frontal is usually divided in Philippine speci- 

 mens, and frequently the anterior part is broken. 



* According to Boulenger's Catalogue the range of ventrals is as fol- 

 lows: Scale rows, 69 to 79; ventrals, 297 to 330; subcaudals, 78 to 102. 



