1870.] Indian and Malayan Amphibia aud Ueptilia. 205 



the young one ! The change from variegated to uniform colouring 

 in most of the Lycodontid^, as far as we know them when adult, 

 is a remarkable fact which commends itself to further investigation 

 by Herpetologists. I would have scarcely hesitated to describe the 

 above noted specimen under a new specific name, had I not seen 

 those most remarkable changes in coloration of Lycodon aulicus, for 

 they appear simply to repeat themselves in Tetragonosoma. 



Fam. PYTHONIDiE. 



62. Python molurus, Linn. (G- ii n t h., 1. cit. p. 331). 



In a young (1£ foot long) specimen from the Wellesley Pro- 

 vince, there are on the left side 1 supra, 4 post-, 2 infra-, and 2 

 ante-oculars ; on the right side only 1 infra-ocular ; similar abnormi- 

 ties being very common in other snakes also. On each side there 

 are 11 upper labials, the sixth's placed below the orbit, but none 

 enters it, the two first are provided with long pits ; 1 9 lower labials 

 on each side, narrow and long, of the first eight each has above an 

 irregular blackish spot, the second, third, fourth and fifth are 

 slightly impressed but not deeply pitted; the 12th and 13th low 

 labials each also has a black spot, and the large blackish blotch begins 

 on one side on the 14th, on the other on 1 5th labial. The number of 

 scales round the body was in several male specimens nearly nor- 

 mal, 65, as stated by G- ii n t h e r, but of six specimens which I 

 have examined, scarcely in two were the number of shields and 

 scales on the head perfectly similar and equally numerous. This 

 species is certainly less frequent in the Malayan peninsula than the 

 next, but I have seen several specimens obtained in the "Wellesley 

 province. 



63. Python reticulatus, S c h n e i d. (Q- ii n t h., 1. cit. p. 330). 

 Blyth (Journal, Asiatic Society B., XV, 1846, p. 377) was 



correct in supposing that it is this species which occurs on the Nico- 

 bars. I have lately obtained from Camorta one specimen measur- 

 ing 110 inches, of which the tail is 14 inches ; scales round the 

 body in 72 series, ventrals 323, some of the before last bifid, last 

 entire semilunar; subcaudals 98. Behind the posterior frontals 

 there is one pair of largish shields, followed by two other pairs, in 

 one line, the inner smaller than the outer, then comes the vertical ; 



