NO'I'KS. 201 



7. " Ounlrihutions to the Geology of Geylon. 4. Intrusive 

 Pyroxenites, Mica-injroxenites, and Mica-rocks in the Gharnockite 

 Series or Granulites in Ceylon "; Ananda K. Goomaraswamy 

 Geol. Mag., Dec. v., vol. II., p. 363, August, 1905. 



The following is a summary of the observations recorded in 

 this paper. A group of pyroxenites in which the minerals 

 diopside, phlogopite, horneblende, and scapolite predominate, 

 while sphene, plagioclase, pyrite, apatite, calcite, and spinel are 

 often accessory, occurs in small sills and dykes intrusive in the 

 charnockite series or granulites of Ceylon, and in one case 

 apparently also in a zircon granite of the Balangoda group. The 

 pyroxenic intrusions have usually a zoned or laterally symmetri- 

 cal structure analogous to that of mineral veins. The intrusions 

 rarely exceed 6 feet in thickness, and are usually" smaller ; they 

 are widely distributed in Ceylon. The intrusive material never 

 shows a chilled edge, but there is a rapid transition from the 

 pyroxenite to the granulite. The course of the small sills and 

 dykes of pyroxenic material is usually determined by the 

 foliation planes and joints of the granulites. 



ANANDA K. GOOMARASWAMY. 



8. Snake lore. — Some extraordinary ideas about the cobra are 

 entertained by the Sinhalese — at least in some parts of the 

 Island, as will be gathered from the following : — 



(1) The cobra drops a segment of its body — beginning of course 

 at the tail end — after every bite it inflicts, and is ultimately 

 reduced to a mere head or " hood," when it is known as " Kobo- 

 nayi," in which form it is capable of great activity and is able 

 to perch, bird -like, on the branches of trees. 



(2) The cobra grows shorter and thicker as it grows older, and 

 finally attains to gigantic proportions, " as thick as the stem of a 

 full-grown arecauut palm." An ancient reptile of great age and 

 size is believed to be in occupation of the cave to be found in 

 Elakande, Horana, where a princess of the Sinhalese dynasty, 

 who was afflicted with an incurable disease, is said to have lived 

 in retirement. The trail of this cobra is described as like that 

 of a log drawn over the surface of the ground." 



(3) When honey bees work for many years in the same spot 

 they build in the centre of their hive a dome-shaped comb 

 resembling, in shape, the ash-pumpkin, and hence referred to as 

 " puhul." To such hives the cobra finds its way. and coiling 



