IWr. SPOLIA ZEYl.AMCA. 



NOTES. 



1. Lacteal Tract of Oriental Lorisince. — Dr. Nelson Annandale 

 Deputy Superintendent of the Indian Museum, writes from 

 Calcutta under date September 25, 1905 : — 



"In connection with what you told me regarding the mammae 

 of Loris gracilis^ I have examined the only two specimens we 

 have in spirit in the Indian Museum of Nycticehus tardigradus, 

 viz., (1) a male foetus 55 mm. long, and (2) a large female. The 

 first is quite hairless, and I had no difficulty in detecting two 

 pairs of mammae as minute tubercles on its skin. The first lies 

 in a line with the centre of the upper arm when the limb is 

 pressed down along the side ; the second only a short distance 

 above the umbilicus, but in the same position relative to the 

 sides of the body as the first. 



" A somewhat prolonged search among the hair of the large 

 female, which was not in lactation, also resulted in the discovery 

 of four mammae in the same position. One pair therefore may 

 be said to be pectoral and one abdominal, though there is not any 

 very great separation between the two pairs." 



N. ANNANDALE. 



2. Curious action of a Toad when confronted by a Snake. — I 

 have in my vivarium a "striped ground snake" {Tropidonotus 

 stolattiSy L.) which feeds exclusively upon toads and is always 

 ready for a meal. Under ordinary circumstances it seizes its 

 prey before the latter is aware of its presence. But, if the toad 

 catches sight of the snake in time, it can always (temporarily) 

 avert its doom by assuming a very characteristic attitude that 

 seems to completely disconcert its would-be captor. The toad 

 faces its enemy, depresses its head till the snout almost touches 

 the ground, erects itself on tip-toe, in which position — owing to 

 the superior length of the hind limbs — the rump is elevated.; at 

 the same time inflating its abdomen to its utmost extent. If the 

 snake does not immediately move off (which it usually does), 

 the toad alternately lowers and raises the hinder part of the 

 body, a movement which finally routs the enemy. This curious 

 action is taken by even quite small toads and cannot be the result 

 of individual experience. It would appear to be an inherited 

 instinct. 



E. ERNEST GREEN. 



Peradeniya, Octobei 26, 1905. 



* Willey in Spolia Zeylanica, part X., 1905. 



