56 SPOLIA ZEYLANTIOA. 
turning over a large stone I found a full-grown’ Physorhynchus 
surrounded by a perfect charnel-house of the remains of Polydes- 
mide, upon which it had been feeding. I have now in captivity 
two nymphs of this species, which attack, without hesitation, the 
largest sized millepedes that may be placed in their cage. The 
millipede is very quickly overcome, the poison injected by the bug 
having a rapidly paralysing action. I have just measured a 53 in. 
millipede that had been killed by a bug only three-quarters of an 
inch long. 
(k) The Call of the Green Grasshopper.—(June 24.)—I have just 
been watching a common green Locustariid emitting its call. The 
insect had flown into my room, attracted by the lamps, and was 
perched upon some cut flowers in a vase. I was able to approach 
quite close without disturbing it. The call note may be written 
phonetically as “‘ Tic-a-tic-tic-tic-tic-tic-tic-tic-zzeett,’’ the final 
note drawn out, while the others were produced in a rapid staccato. 
At the commencement of the call the wings and elytra are a little 
raised and partially separated ; at each sharp note there is a slight 
downward movement, and the final drawn-out “‘ zzeett”’ is emitted 
as the wings are returned to their normal position. 
(/) Sudden appearance of an African Snail in Ceylon.—The Kast 
African snail, Achatina fulica, seems destined, before long, to be 
distributed throughout the Oriental region. It has been established 
for many years in Mauritius; and the progeny of a single pair 
known to have been introduced into Calcutta about fifty years 
ago are now said to have overrun the whole of Northern Bengal. 
This same snail has recently attracted attention in the neighbour- 
hood of Beruwala, in the Kalutara District. The fact that they are 
present in millions shows that the introduction must date back 
for a considerable number of years, and it is extraordinary that a 
snail with a shell measuring 5 inches in length has not been noticed 
before. The recent heav¥ rains have probably excited unusual 
activity amongst the snails, but they must have been in evidence 
on many previous occasions. 
EK. ERNEST GREEN. 
z 4 5 A 
