394 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XV L 



potoo" which I am informed is Canarese '' jair " centipede, and " potoo '' 

 animal. (Rice in his work on Mysore, Vol. 1, p. 188, gives " kere" as aCanarese 

 name for this species.) It is much esteemed by them as food, and is reputed 

 of excellent benefit in the wasting of certain diseases. These people having 

 skined and cleaned it, cut off about 4 inches from the head and about 

 the same length in front of the vent. The rest is cut up into pieces, and 

 cooked, the flesh resembling chicken in colour and taste. 



The same man told me water snakes, cobras, and other poisonous snakes were 

 disdained by his caste, and that none of the organs —bile, fat or other parts — 

 entered into their dietary, or medicines. 



Coluber helena. — A nice little specimen was brought to me alive on the 6th 

 September which I killed on the 9th. Length 2' 2|", tail 6|". Ventrals 231, sub 

 caudals 94. It was an active restless little creature, and when teased showed 

 fight, by erecting and throwing its anterior body into broad sigmoid curves 

 which it straightened in the act of striking. It struck out repeatedly, and in 

 an upward direction much like Zamenis mucosus. Prior to striking when 

 poised ready for action, the neck was markedly compressed, and at the same 

 time the throat pouched and vertebral region correspondingly arched, exactly 

 as in Zamenis mucosus. The skin between the scales was brought well into 

 view, and was pinkish blue coloured, giving the reptile a Very strikingly hand- 

 some appearance. 



Dryophis mycterizans. — Called by the Canarese " Hassru Muligay." It 

 appears to be common, as all the sampwallahs had one or more on show. When 

 poising preparatory to striking, the neck is much compressed, and at the 

 same time the throat pouched, but there is no bowing of the vertebral region 

 as in the last two snakes. 



P. WALL, C.M.Z.S., 



Captain, I.M.S, 



vz.vbAi). llth February, 1905 



