NOTES. 205 
caught in large numbers in the garden, and therefore it must have 
been well aware of these terrifying marks, and knew that as a 
practical defence they were useless, and further, that as it was 
acquainted with the formidable hind leg, it purposely put its 
beak within striking distance in order to draw its opponent's fire and 
render it for the moment harmless. 
It is somewhat doubtful in my judgment that the above objections 
are correct ; in the first place, the bird quite likely may never have 
seen these startling spiracles, as they are normally hidden by the 
legs and wing covers and would not be visible under normal cir- 
cumstances; and again, if the insect had not by some means been 
aware that a certain amount of protection was obtained by them 
it would not have rolled slowly on to its side, by which means a 
greater effect was produced, but as quickly as possible in order to 
draw up the hind leg, its only means of defence. 
I mention these objections in order to show how two trained 
observers might well draw different conclusions from the same facts. 
N. M. 

19. The Effects of the Bite of <‘ Ancistrodon hypnale.’—The other 
day I was bitten on the ball of the thumb by one of my Ancistrodons 
(I have been keeping a few in captivity). Although I had been 
previously bitten without any effect, I washed my thumb in a strong 
solution of permanganate of potash and applied a ligature of string 
above the bite, as the latter was a bad one, the fang having been 
broken off and left sticking in my thumb almost up to its base. My 
thumb then turned blue (due I think to the ligature, and not to 
the poison), and not wishing to take any chances I visited a native 
““ Vedarala,’ who put on what he called a “ caustic,” though it 
did not burn at all, and only caused a slight smarting. Upon 
removal of the ligature my thumb returned to its normal colour 
and became very stiff and swollen, as if it was going to burst ; there 
was also a slight local tenderness and aching. About five hours 
afterwards the swelling began to subside and the stiffness to go, 
and the thumb became quite wellin about twelve hours. Personally, 
I think that the effect of the poison on the blood was practically 
nil, and that all the symptoms were entirely local, resulting from the 
ligature, which I drew extremely tight. There was no sign of 
mortification about the place bitten. 
A. F. ABERCROMBY. 
20. Notes on Ceylon Snakes.—The commonest of Ceylon snakes 
are perhaps the following : Zamenis mucosus, Dryophis mycterizans, 
Naia tripudians, Lycodon aulicus, Dipsas ceylonensis, Dendrophis 
