54 REPTILES AND BIRDS. 



muzzle, crown of the head with small shield-like plates. Of this 

 genus there are two species : — the Diamond Snake (M. spilotes), a 

 native of Australia, and of a bluish-black colour ; and the Carpet 

 Snake (M. variegata), from Port Essington and Swan River. It 

 is whitish, with irregular black-edged olive spots and an olive head, 

 with two or three white spots in the centre of the crown. ' 



II. — Python, having the crown shielded to behind the eyes. 



Of this genus there are two species, which have sometimes been 

 referred to the Boas. The Pythons bear the same general appearance. 

 Upon their bodies is traced a sort of blackish-brown chain, presenting 

 nearly quadrangular links upon a clear yellowish ground, extending 

 from the nape of the neck to the extremity of the tail. The susce- 

 phalous region is partly covered by a large brownish-black spot. 

 Upon each side of the head is a black band, which frequently 

 extends from the nostril, passing by the eye as far as the corners of 

 the lips. 



P. reticulatus, the Ular Sawad of the Malay countries, found also 

 in Burmah and Siam, has the four front upper labial plates pitted; the 

 frontal plate simple; the head has a narrow, longitudinal, brown stripe. 

 This is one of the most handsomely-marked species of the whole 

 family, its body being covered with a gay lacing of black and golden 

 yellow. It is said to attain the great length of thirty feet, and is stout 

 in proportion. In its native wilds the powers of this gigantic reptile 

 are said to be enormous, being able to subdue a full-grown buffalo ; 

 and even men have been said to become its prey. A Malay proa 

 had anchored for the night under an island of the Celebes. One of 

 the crew had gone ashore in search of the favourite betel nut, and is 

 supposed on his return to the beach to have fallen asleep. In the 

 dead of the night his comrades were roused by his screams ; they 

 pulled ashore with all expedition, but came too late ; the cries had 

 ceased, and the wretched man had breathed his last in the folds of 

 one of these enormous Serpents. They killed the creature, cut off the 

 head, and carried it, together with the lifeless body of their comrade, 

 to the vessel. The right wrist of the corpse bore the mark of the 

 serpent's teeth, and the disfigured body showed that the man had 

 been crushed by the constrictive folds of the reptile round the head, 

 breast, and thighs. The Ular Sawad arranges its eggs by placing 

 them in a group, which is covered by the body. This statement, first 

 made by Mr. Bennett, has. been confirmed by the observations of 

 M. Lamare Picquot, and by observations on other species of Python 

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

 Gardens. 



