MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 171 



Naia sputatrix. 

 One specimen, Southern Shan States — 



Scales across hood ... .., ... ... ... 21 



Scales midbody ... ... .. -. ... 17 



Ventrals ... ... ... ... ... ... 170 



Subcaudals 27, first 6 single. 



Length ... ... ... ... ... ••• 56" 



Tail (docked) 6" 



Colour a uniform deepish black with no marks: of any description on hood or 

 body. One fairly dark ventral band below the neck. 



Ophisaurus gracilis. 

 I have on several occasions received specimens of this curious lizard, accom- 

 panied by letters of enquiry as to the nature of the peculiar ' snake ' sent. In 

 Boulenger's work, page 159, Rangoon is mentioned as a habitat. Though my 

 residence here extends over a number of years, I have never seen nor heard of 

 a specimen captured here. This might of course easily happen, but that a 

 great variety of snakes, insects, etc., find their way to my bungalow. I am 

 quite certain of one thing, however, and that is it is an extremely rare reptile 

 here. The specimens received and those taken by myself were all at places 

 of considerable elevation, i.e., from 2,500' to 5,000'. If I remember rightly, 

 Mr. Hampton informed me it is by no means rare about Mogok in the Ruby 

 Mines district. 



It may be interesting to note that on the 7th August 1903 a friend living at 

 Maymyo 3,000', while engaged in digging out stumps from his garden came 

 across two of these lizards at the root of a stump some 15" to 18" underground, 

 and while effecting their capture discovered eight eggs. The lizards and eggs 

 were sent to me. The latter were of a dirty whitish brown colour tinged 

 with red. Measurements varied a trifle, but they were about *8" x '48" and 

 contained embryos measuring 2^" in length. 



The specimens were just as described in Boulenger's Reptilia : 'Fauna 

 British India' — Reptilia and Batrachia. 



G. H. EVANS.. F.L.S., Major. 

 Rangoon, 10th August 1904. 



No. XIX— THE NIDIFICATION OF THE LITTLE BLUE WINGED 

 PITTA (PITTA CYANOPTERA) IN UPPER BURMA. 



On the 26th July 1904, while walking home along a path through light 

 jungle, I flushed a Pitta close to the path (about 1^ yards). I soon detected a 

 nest, so retired and took cover near by. After considerable waiting the bird 

 returned, and I was able to recognise it. The nest was situated on a mound 

 and only slightly hidden by some blades of long grass. The opening faced the 

 path, which I fancy was one only occasionally used by odd persons visiting 

 jungle. What struck me was the enormous size of the nest for a bird so 

 small ; it consisted of old bamboo and other twigs and a few leaves loosely 



