Snakes 



589 



Photo bii D. Le Sovef] r,i 



f VI. IM I-^N \M 



So called with reference to the v.ti legated c.irpet-like piittern of its skin-ornamentation. 



tail prehensile. The Typical 

 Pythons, or Rock-snakes, as 

 they are called, with reference 

 to their rock-frequenting 

 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 

 to attain to a length of 

 30 feet, and in the largest 

 specimens the spinal column 

 may include over 400 vertebroR. In common with other members of its family, this huge 

 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 crashing of the 

 bony framework greatly assists the swallowing process, w'hich is farther 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 Eeticulated 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 INIalay 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 Peptile-house in the Zoological Society's Gardens for many years 

 past. The gorgeous prismatic tints that play ujjon the surface-markings of the coils of these 

 hu£re snakes, as the 



w 



sun strikes uj)on them 

 about midday in their 

 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 

 length of 20 feet or 

 more, reaches its maxi- 

 mum, on the west coast, 



Pholo by H. G. F. Spurrdl, Esq.] 



[Eastbourne, 



^SCTJLAPIAN SXAKE. 

 A Soutli European species with tree-climbing habits. 



