3S 



out " snakes, but seldom with any success. On 

 the few occasions on which I managed to drive 

 cobras out of their holes by it, the smoke was so 

 suffocating and so blinding that the capture of the 

 snakes was extremely difficult and somewhat risky. 

 On another occasion I attempted to dislodge a 

 cobra and a variety of Dipsas from the roof of a 

 native hut by fastening chatties filled with lighted 

 sulphur under the thatch. The inhabitants of the 

 house were nearly suffocated, and so were the 

 people next door, but the snakes did not mind, 

 although smoke was passing in great clouds 

 through the roof. 



The Python is extremely difficult to obtain Python 

 when required, and often much patience, enquiry ^^^^ '"^' 

 and hard work is necessary before a specimen is 

 obtained. It is of course necessary to know 

 something about the habits of a snake before 

 attempting to catch it ; I therefore append a brief 

 account of its manner of hunting when in its wild 

 state. 



There is only one variety of Python found in 

 Ceylon — the P. Molurus. It inhabits swampy 

 districts and places where there is a heavy rainfall, its habits 

 and is often found lying in jungle ponds with only when wild, 

 its nose exposed above the water. 



As the sun begins to set the snake glides from 

 the water. There is no noise, only a track of 

 crushed grass to show where the Python has been. 

 It reaches the jungle and, its yellow and black 

 skin blending with the shadow and sunlight, 

 disappears. 



A deer comes down the game track on its way 

 to the pool to drink. The small clump of long 

 grass arouses no suspicion, not being large enough 

 to conceal a leopard. 



Yet within that clump the python lies coiled 

 like a spring, its flat head slightly raised, and its 



