ROCK SNAKE. 



55 



The Rock Snake of India and 

 Ceylon (P. molurus) is another 

 species to which the name of 

 Boa Constrictor has been given. 

 It has the two pairs of front 

 upper, and three hind lower 

 labial shields pitted, and the 

 frontal plates double. Of this 

 gigantic Serpent several speci- 

 mens are generally to be seen 

 in the Zoological Gardens. 



III. — Hortulia, having the 

 upper and lower labial shields 

 deeply pitted; muzzle and fore- 

 head with symmetrical shield; 

 nostrils lateral. They are natives 

 of Africa, and three species are 

 known, namely, the Natal Rock 

 Snake, having the lower labial 

 shields deeply pitted, the muzzle 

 and forehead with symmetrical 

 shields, the nostrils lateral ; the 

 Guinea Rock or Fetish Snake 

 (If. Sebcz), closely resembling the 

 last in many structural points; 

 and the Royal Rock Snake 

 (If. regia), having the four pairs 

 of the upper front labials pitted, 

 the upper ocular plate single, 

 and lower labial shields four in 

 number and broad. 



The Royal Rock Snake in- 

 habits 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 eyes. 



Fig. 13. — Natal Rock Snake. 



