NOTES. 2h 
31. Capture of a Mouse by a large Spider.—The huge spiders of 
South America, of the family Aviculariine, are known to capture 
and devour small birds and mammals. Our so-called ‘* Tarantula ”’ 
of Ceylon (Pacilotheria) is nearly allied to these bird-eating spiders, 
and may, perhaps, occasionally indulge in a similar diet, though no 
such instance has been actually recorded. They are certainly strong 
enough to overpower a small bird. Their principal food appears 
to be cockroaches, grasshoppers, and large beetles, with perhaps an 
occasional lizard ; one has been observed with a gecko in its clutches. 
I am now able to record an instance of its capture of somewhat 
bigger game. Mr. G. Harbord, of the Cotton Experiment Station, 
found one of these spiders devouring a mouse on the wall of a room 
in his bungalow near Anuradhapura. 
K. ERNEST GREEN, 
32. On the Employment of a Snake-stone in a Case of Centipede- 
bite.—Any first-hand records of the bites or stings of venomous insects 
are of interest. The following account was related by a friend who 
had recently been bitten on the naked foot by a large centipede 
(about 5inches long). He describes the pain having been very severe 
at the time ; but after borrowing a ‘‘snake-stone’’ and applying it 
to the place he obtained immediate and complete relief. The stone . 
adhered tightly to the wound, and remained attached for about 
an hour. There was no subsequent inconvenience from the bite, 
though the spot was tender for a few days. 
There is a very prevalent idea that the mere passage of a centi- 
pede over the bare flesh is followed by severe inflammation. I 
have always felt rather sceptical about this matter ; but the following 
occurrence lends some support .to the idea. My informant tells me 
that, while gardening a short time ago, a large centipede ran over 
hishand. He did not feel any bite and shook the animal off quickly ; 
but shortly afterwards the whole back of his hand swelled up. 
There were no marks of punctures. 
EK. ERNEST GREEN. 
33. Notes on the Larve of ‘‘ Papilio polytes,” ‘* P. demoleus,” 
*< P. helenus”’ (race mooreanus) , and ‘‘ P. polymnestor”’ (race parinda).— 
In an attempt to obtain statistics as to the relative abundance of the 
three forms of Papilio polytes, much trouble has been caused by a 
complete ignorance of any points of distinction between the larvee of 
this species and those of P.demoleus. A search through the literature 
2F | 6(11)11 
