18 
DESCRIPTION OF 
The tail, in this species, would seem to be peculiarly liable to injury. In subjects of 
a foot in length, it is hardly at the tip thicker than a hair ; and in a dozen of specimens 
of various sizes, the tail was generally found not entire : a circumstance I the rather 
notice, as it may obviate error in reckoning the subcaudal squamae. 
No. XVI. 
BOA. 
Scuta Abdominalia 189 
Scuta Subcaudalia 1 8 > 
Squama Subcaudales 
Boa Johnii. 
Called by the natives Erutaley JVagam. 
The head small, round; short, obtuse ; covered with small, round, contiguous scales, 
except on the declivous front, where three pair of small laminae may be remarked. 
The first thick and trigonal ; the next between the nostrils square ; the third pair 
oblong, and placed obliquely ; the common scales between the eyes a little bigger than 
those on the crown and the occiput. 
The mouth small and narrow, the upper jaw projecting beyond the under. There 
are no fangs ; the teeth above slender and short, but in front of the under jaw somewhat 
longer. The eyes small, globular, placed near the crown. The nostrils high, separated 
by the second pair of laminae. 
The trunk round, for the most part nearly of equal thickness, or swelling a little till 
within three inches of the vent, where it is thickest, but soon resumes its former size, 
which it maintains, hardly tapering, to the end of the tail. The obtuse point of the tail 
resembles the head, and in point of thickness sometimes exceeds it. The scales mostly 
small, orbicular, smooth, in some places contiguous, mostly imbricated. On each side 
of the scuta, there is a double row of scales, larger than the dorsal. 1 he scuta broad, 
and with little diminution in size, are continued on the short tail till within an inch 
of the point, where they are succeeded by ordinary round scales. 
The length two feet six inches ; of which three inches belong to the tail. 
The colour. The head, back, and upper part of the tail of an uniform darkish brown; 
the abdomen of a much paler brown, with more of a reddish cast. 
