GREAT SNAKE OF JAVA. 
343 
on each side lateral branches which communicate together, and forming over 
the whole back a reticulated or chain-like appearance. The interstices thus 
formed are of different colours in different parts. On the back they are of 
a brownish green in the centre, and black in the margin. Their central 
colour becomes lighter as they approach the belly. The reticulations are 
also lighter near the belly, and have often an edging of brilliant yellow. 
The colour of the belly is bright yellow, passing into green on the sides, 
and is variegated with black spots. Black spots form two regular rows, one 
on each side, from the throat down to the anus; and are situated on the second 
row of scales, counting from the great plates on the centre of the belly. 
The head is strikingly marked. A narrow streak of yellow, edged by black, 
is situated on the back part of the head, between the divergence of the 
principal bands. A narrow yellow band passes directly downwards from 
the eye to the mouth, and forms an angle with another which passes 
from the posterior corner of the eye to the angle of the jaw. 
Scales — Flat; on the back and throat disseminated; on the belly imbri- 
cated. The scales of the back are oval and flat, and do not overlay each 
other till they approach the belly. On the hind part of the head they 
are smaller than in other parts of the body ; over the nose they are 
broader and of irregular forms, resembling in their disposition the articu- 
lations of the flat bones of the head ; on the margin of the upper lip they 
are broad and oblong, casing the lip in a regular order. The scales of the 
under part of the body are variously disposed. From the margin of the lower 
lip to some distance beyond the angle of the lower jaw they are loosely disse- 
minated, and under the mouth are divided by a narrow expansible membrane. 
They arise from scales edging the lower lip, and having their ends free, give 
a jagged appearance to the mouth. The scales of the throat increase in size 
till they terminate in the great plates passing along the belly to the anus. 
These are broad, oblong, flat, rounded on the angles of their free edges, 
and are arranged in a single imbricated row. Laterally they imbricate with 
a row of very broad scales following their whole extent ; these in like 
manner imbricate with a second row of broad scales, which gradually pass 
into those of the back : it might perhaps be said that three rows of 
plates occupy the whole extent of the belly, but the lateral rows differ 
from the central in being oval on their free edges. 
The scales of the tail are arranged in the following order : 
Five pair of broad plates, similar to those of the belly. 
Forty-three pair of smaller plates. 
