M1SCELLA NEO US NOTES. 421 



properly constructed serpentaria, in this country, our knowledge regarding 

 their habits will remain as limited as it now is. 



H. M. PHIPSON, 



Hon. Secy., Bo. Nat. Hist. Society. 

 Bombay, 6th October, 1891. 



VI.— HOW THE MONITOR OR GHORAPAD {VABANUS 

 BENGALENSIS) DEFENDS ITSELF. 

 To-day, whilst reading in the verandah, I heard an unusual sort of noise, 

 as of some creature careering over the gravel, and immediately got up 

 to see what it was. A terrier, who had been asleep on the verandah 

 steps, had also been disturbed by the noise, and when I looked up I found 

 him standing face to face with a Ghorapad, or Monitor Lizard, about 3 feet 

 long. They both appeared to be much astonished at the other's appearance • 

 The Ghorapad evidently came to the conclusion that if there was to be a row 

 in such an open space it ought to be fought out at once, and prepared himself 

 accordingly, arching his back, swelling out the pouch under his throat, 

 darting out his tongue in snake-like fashion, and hissing furiously. The dog 

 for some time did not know what to make of such a strange creature, but 

 eventually caiue to the conclusion that it ought to be worried and killed. He 

 commenced the attack by rushing at his opponent's head, but the big lizard 

 was equal to the occasion, and by suddenly turning round, presented his 

 tail to the enemy, lashing out furiously with it and sending the gravel 

 flying in all directions. Two or three times the dog returned to the attack, 

 but always to find a tail where the head ought to be. Meanwhile a patiwala, 

 hearing the noise, came on the scene, but quickly disappeared muttering 

 something to himself of which only the words distinctly heard were " Kama 

 ki waste." He shortly reappeared with a broad grin on his face and a thick 

 blanket in his hand which he carefully threw over the Ghorapad, but the 

 active creature slipped from under the cumbli and scuttled off for dear life 

 towards the flower beds into which he escaped, thus saving his skin from 

 adorning the family tom-tom, and depriving Gopal of a most tasty dish. 



GEORGE K. WASEY. 



Marmagoa, Sth October, 1891. 



VII.— BOMBAY FERNERIES. 



"With reference to the paper on " Bombay Ferneries," it has long appeared to 

 me that the delightful recreation of gardening is much neglected in our large 

 sea-side stations, and Mr. Carsteasen will be doing Bombay a service if he 

 succeeds in setting on foot a more active love of fern-growing — I say active 

 advisedly ; for growing ferns, or, indeed, any plants, in a vicarious way by 



61 -^V 



