106 SPOLIA ZEYLANICA. E 
NOTES. 
5. Rambling Notes :— 
Life of the Leaf Insect.—The development of the common ‘‘ Leaf 
Insect ” (Pulchriphyllium crurifolium) is very slow. When kept in 
captivity eggs are constantly hatching out, and it is difficult to keep 
count of the separate broods. By isolating an insect, immediately 
after its emergence from the egg, I have ascertained that it takes 
about eight months to complete its development. This particular 
insect was isolated on November 25, 1909, and appeared in its 
mature form on July 26 of the present year. The actual time 
occupied in its development has been 243 days. In its adult stage 
the insect may live for a month or more. These figures are for the 
female insect. The development and subsequent life of the male 
will be much shorter. 
A Cannibal Bat.— (August 7.)—I found the remains of a small bat 
in my verandah this morning, together with the wings and feathers 
of a “ sun-bird ” (Cinnyris zeylonicus), under circumstances plainly 
indicating that it had fallen a victim to a carnivorous bat, probably 
a species of Megaderma, of which we have two species (/yra and 
spasma) in Ceylon. Of Megaderma lyra (the Indian Vampire Bat), 
Blandford writes: “‘ During the day this bat hides in caves, old 
buildings, roofs of houses, &c. The food may consist partly of 
insects, but it is certain that Megaderma lyra feeds on smaller bats, 
for one was detected and observed in the act by Blyth, and it 
probably lives chiefly on small vertebrata.” 
A large Green Viper.—(September 15.)—An unusually large speci- 
men of the ‘‘ Green Viper” (Trimeresurus trigonocephalus) was 
brought to me to-day. It had been suspended by the neck, and 
was almost dead. However, it appeared to recover when the 
ligature was removed. 
September 16.—The recovery of the viper was only temporary. 
It died this afternoon, after bringing up a half-digested rat. It 
is quite the largest specimen that I have seen. Boulenger quotes 
31 inches as the limit of size. This specimen has a total length of 
40 inches, of which the tail occupied only 62. Its girth across the 
middle of the body is 33 inches. The head, which is very evil- 
looking, has a breadth of 1? inches. It is of a beautiful grass green 
colour, with irregular elongate black dorsal patches, from which 
branches are given off enclosing large rounded areas on each side ; 
these enclosed areas are disposed asymmetrically. 

