1826.] Scientijic Notices — Miscellaneous, 237 



3. Geckoes used for catching Flies, 



In Java, the inhabitants rid themselves of flies in their apart- 

 ments by means of Geckoes, a species of Hzard, named, from 

 their cry, toke and gogok, which continually pursue these 

 insects for the purpose of feeding upon them. — (Edin, New 

 Phil. Journ.) 



4. On the Serpents of Southern Africa, 

 " I have made a great many experiments upon such serpents 

 as I have been able to procure ahve, and have thereby ascer- 

 tained which of them are or are not poisonous," and " by actual 

 experiments I have found, that not a greater proportion than one 

 to six of the species found here are noxious ; we have three 

 species of the viper, the bites of all of which are bad, though 

 not invariably fatal ; also three species of Naia, the bites of all 

 of which produce almost certain death ; and two species of Elaps, 

 which, from my observations, are also very dangerous." — (Ex- 

 tract of a letter from Mr. Thomas Smith, of Cape Town, to 

 Prof. Jameson.) 



5. Manner of the Serpent-Eater [Gypogeranus) in destroying 



Serpents. 



*' Some time ago, as a gentleman was out riding, he observed 

 a bird of the above-mentioned species, while on the wing, make 

 two or three circles, at a little distance from the spot on which 

 he then was, and after that suddenly descend to the ground. 

 On observing the bird, he found it engaged in examining and 

 watching some object near the spot where it stood, which it 

 continued to do for some minutes. After that, it moved with 

 considerable apparent caution, to a little distance from the spot 

 where it had alighted, and then extended one of its wings, 

 which it kept in continual motion. Soon after this artifice, the 

 gentleman remarked a large snake raise its head to a consider- 

 able distance from the ground, which seemed to be .what the 

 bird was longing for, as the moment that took place, he instantly 

 struck a blow with the extremity of the wing, by which he laid 

 his prey flat on the ground. The bird, however, did not yet 

 appear confident of victory, but kept eyeing his enemy for a 

 few seconds, when he found him again in action, a circumstance 

 that led exactly to a repetition of the means already detailed. 

 The result of the second blow appeared, however, to inspire 

 more confidence ; for almost the moment it was inflicted, the 

 bird marched up to the snake, and commenced kicking it with 

 his feet ; after which, he seized it with his bill, and rose almost 

 perpendicularly to a very considerable height, when he let go 

 the reptile, which fell with such violence upon the ground, as 

 seemingly to satisfy him, that he might now indulge himself 

 with the well-earned meal in perfect safety." From the Same to 

 the Same. — (Edin. Phil. Journ.) 



