EOCK SNAKE. 61 



Lamare PIcquot, and bj- observations on otlier species of Pj'thon 

 in the Jardin des Plantes, Paris, and in the London Zoological 

 Gardens. 



The Rock Snake of India and Ceylon (P. mohtnis) is another 

 species to which the name of Boa-constrictor has been given. 

 It has the two pairs of front iipper, and three hind lower labial 

 shields pitted, and the frontal plates double. Of this gigantic 

 Serpent several specimens are generall}' to be seen in the Zoological 

 Gardens. 



III. Hortidia, having the upper and lower labial shields deeply 

 pitted ; muzzle and forehead with symmetrical shield ; nostrils 

 lateral. They are natives of Africa, and three species are known, 

 namelj', the Natal Rock Snake, having the lower labial shields 

 deeplj' pitted, the muzzle and forehead with symmetrical shields, 

 the nostrils lateral; the Guinea Rock or Petish Snake {H. Sehm), 

 closely resembling the last in many structural points ; and the 

 Royal Rock Snake (//. rer/ia), having the four pairs of the upper 

 front labials pitted, the upper ocular plate single, the lower labial 

 shields four in number and broad. 



The Roj-al Rock Snake inhabits "Western Africa. It is black 

 in colour, marked on the middle of the back with a series of 

 oblong white spots, the sides being marked by another series 

 of large white spots, with one or two black spots in the upper 

 part ; the head black, with a streak over the nostrils and the top 

 of the ej'es, another from the lower edge of the eye, the lips and 

 chin beneath are white. 



The Natal Rock Snake (//. natalensis, Fig. 13) is described by 

 Sir Andrew Smith as being gigantic in size, he having seen a skin 

 measuring twenty-five feet, although part of the tail was absent. 

 " It feeds," he says, "on small quadrupeds; and for some daj^s after 

 swallowing one it remains in a torpid state, when it may be easily 

 destroyed." Of this opportunity, however, the South Africans 

 never avail themselves ; they have a horror of the reptile, but 

 believe that it has an influence over their destinies, and aflirm 

 that no one has ever been known to kill one and prosj)er. 



The Guinea Rock or Fetish Snake (//. Sebm, Fig. 14) is 

 typical of the genus, and has also been referred to the Boa- 

 constrictor, and closely resembles the Natal Rock Snake. It is 



