NOTES. 177 
How Lizards Bathe-—-On April 12, 1915, after a slight 
shower of rain I watched a lizard (Calotes versicolor) bathing. 
It was cn a shoe-flower bush (Hibiscus sp.), and the bathing 
consisted in dragging itself along the branches and rubbing 
its sides against the wet leaves. I watched it for about five 
minutes, while it crawled slowly along and occasionally opened 
its mouth as if drinking the drops which adhered ‘to its lips. 
It appeared to enjoy the feel of the water on its sides and back. 
Birds frequently bathe in the same way. I have seen 
a little Ceylonese Sun-bird (Arachnecthra  zeylanica) 
*“ scrabbling ’’ about on the curved surface of a canna-leaf 
which had just been watered by the garden cooly, and hugely 
enjoying itself. 
Colombo, June, 1915. G. M. HENRY. 

Do Rat-snakes Strike ?—Last February my son suffered an 
injury to his right foot while going for a rat-snake (S. gerundiya) 
in the garden, and subsequently developed an abscess near 
the ankle. 
The doctor in attendance found no trace of a snake-bite 
wound, and was of opinion that the injury was caused by 
a blow (concussion) of some kind. 
My son got the impression that he had. been struck by the 
tail of the reptile, but from inquiries made this does not 
seem probable. 
Mr. H. C. P. Bell writes : “‘ I once drove a rat-snake into 
a corner, and the reptile in self-defence literally got its back 
against the wall and struck at me like a cobra—fortunately 
without effect. The rat-snake’s bite (indeed the bite of all 
snakes) is known to be slightly poisonous, 7.e., likely to cause 
inflammation for a time. Mr. John Still when with me was 
bitten on the finger by an “ eye-snake”’ (8. gulla), and was 
laid up with the wound for three days.” 
Mr. T. Wiggin, of Anuradhapura, writes : ‘‘ I have seen 
rat-snakes strike out like cobras.” 
Kandy, June 11, 1915. oe olen 
