MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 759 



mass of snake on the cleared boundary line. On approaching cautiously I found 

 two dhamans (Z. mucosvs'). one apparently about 8 feet long and the other 

 perhaps a foot shorter, coiled together from the tail ends up to within a foot 

 or so of their heads. Natives with me declared that the smaller snake, which 

 was coiled round the other, was a male and that the larger snake was a 

 female. Beyond that the smaller snake was somewhat darker in colour than 

 the other, I could see no difference in them. The smaller snake was slowly 

 working his coils throughout up and down the other, and both snakes were 

 keeping their heads and free part of their length erect and alternately 

 twining their free part round each other and approaching each other's heads 

 in a " billing and cooing" manner. At the same time they were travelling very 

 slowly in a forward direction. The snakes seemed absolutely careless or 

 oblivious of our presence, though we stood within a couple of yards of 

 them, and my small terrier went even closer and sniffed at them. I watched 

 them for three or four minutes, moving forward as they moved, until the 

 larger snake seemed suddenly to become aware of onlookers, when she 

 rapidly disengaged herself and glided away into the jungle on my right. The 

 smaller snake stayed for a few seconds with a somewhat dazed manner 

 and then seemed to scent danger and hastily slid into a small bush a 

 few yards to the left, where I left him undisturbed. This behaviour of the 

 snakes was new to me, and I could only presume that it was a preliminary 

 flirtation prior to more serious matrimonial intentions. 



G. P. MILLETT. 

 Bandra, Bombay, 20th July 1909, 



No. XXI.— CORRECTION OF NOMENCLATURE. 

 I am sorry to notice (though snakes are not in my department) that Major 

 Wall has yielded to Mr. Venning's well-meant but entirely mistaken correc- 

 tion of the gender of Lygosoma. Although it is true that the Greek word 

 soma is neuter, the laws of Greek orthography make it quite impossible for 

 Lygoxoma to be neuter likewise ; it can be nothing but the feminine of an 

 adjective Lygosontos, and as feminine it must rank accordingly. Some 

 twelve years ago or thereabouts (I have not the exact reference at hand), 

 I wrote a short explanation of this in " Nature " ; not only did no one 

 offer any opposition, but Dr. Murray of Oxford wrote in confirmation, 

 remarking " Mr. Meyrick is, as might have been expected, perfectly right." 



E. MEYRICK, B.A., F.R.s. 

 Marlburocgh, Wilts, England, btJi July 1909. 



No. XXII.— SOME ISOTES ON THE CAPTURE OF BUTTERFLIES. 



That theie are certain specific times, when the energies of the butterfly 

 collectors are more likely to be rewarded than atoihers, is well known and 

 accepted by all entomologists. These periods vary more or less according to 

 the habits and habitat of species ; but, generally, it is between the hours of 10 



