ON THE COMMON INDIAN SNA KES. 233 



instance witnessed and recounted to me by Captain Lloyd, I. M.S., 

 on Sandoway Island when this gecko was in conflict on the ground 

 with a Chrysopelea omata, it would be difficult to say which was the 

 aggressor, but it is probable that the snake engaged the lizard, not 

 expecting to meet a foeman of such prowess. 



Food. — Chrysopelea, whilst showing a decided partiality towards 

 lizards of the family Geckonidae, accepts with avidity many other 

 creatures that chance has to offer. 



Members of the genus Hemidactylus are most frequently found 

 to have furnished the meal, obviously from the relative abundance 

 of the species in this genus and the numerical strength in individuals 

 of many of the species which frequent trees. Many other lizards, 

 however, fall victims to its voracity. Cantor mentions frogs as well, 

 but I have never known one taken, have known them refused in 

 captivity where lizards were accepted, and Mr. Millard tells me also 

 he found frogs were not acceptable. Among other lizards Cantor 

 found Ptycliozoon homalocephalum taken once, and Evans one of the 

 flying lizards {Draco tceniopterus). I have known Calotes versicolor 

 taken, and Flower the giant gecko or tuctoo of Burma (Gecko 

 verticillatus). Evans and I reported one in this Journal that had 

 eaten a bat ( Taphozous longimanus), and Evans has since recorded 

 two instances where bats were devoured. Mr. Millard tells me that 

 in captivity it " feeds freely on bloodsuckers, sparrows, geckoes, 

 and mice, but never eats frogs." He also says it kills by crushing 

 in its folds. 



It is interesting to note that Richards* mentions one of his boys 

 having a pet Chrysopelea omata which he fed with milk out of a 

 saucer. He held the snake near the head and put the saucer to it, 

 when it readily drank the milk, and in comparatively large quantities. 



Habits. — The striking beauty of this snake, whether seen reclining 

 or moving in its native haunt, could hardly fail to arouse the 

 keenest admiration in the breast of the most unappreciative and phleg- 

 matic disposition. 



I watched with admiration recently the adroit, though stealthy, 

 manner in which one in captivity in the Colombo Museum balanced 

 itself, and moved along my walking stick though this was more 

 slender than the snake itself. 



* Landmarks of Snake poison, p. 14. 



