202 >^1'0L1A XKYIjANTOA. 



itsell rouud the "pumpkin" feasts upon bee larvae and honey. 

 The colour of the reptile found in such situations is reddish- 

 brown, and its sting is innocuous. 



C. DRIEBERG. 



9. Snakes and fowls. — While sitting on the verandah of 

 Gokarella resthouse, some 12 miles from Kurunegala, I observed 

 a pullet pursuing a snake 12 to 15 inches in length. At intervals 

 the latter turned upon its antagonist, and attempted to entwine 

 itself round the neck of the bird, which, however, snatched it 

 away without much difficulty with its claws, and proceeded to 

 peck at its head, when the snake would again try to get away. 

 In the end, when the snake was about half dead, the fowl 

 started to swallow it, taking the head first, and after persistent 

 eflEorts the reptile, wriggling to the last, disappeared down the 

 throat of the bird. 



To me this was a novel experience, but I subsequently learned 

 Trom the resthouse-keeper and others that it was a common 

 enough occurrence in the countryside, and that village poultry as 

 a rule attack and make a meal of such snakes as Haldanda,* 

 Aharakuka,t and Ehetuwa.l 



C. DRIEBERG. 



10. Moths at sea. — During the forenoon of November 18, 1905, 

 when about sixty miles from the coast of Ceylon, several specimens 

 of Ophideres fullonica were found on board H.M.S. Sealark and 

 were brought to me. The noon position of the ship was 6° 11'5' 

 N., 79° 01' E., Colombo Clock Tower bearing N. 49 E. 67 miles ; so 

 that the nearest land was the coast about Barberyn. The wind was 

 northerly and light (force about 2). It seems probable that these 

 specimens came off with the land breeze of the preceding night, 

 but the distance from land which they had attained appears 

 noteworthy. 



Several specimens of Cephonodes hylas were also tiying about 

 the ship at tlie same time, but this species is a well-known 

 migrant. 



THOS. BAINBRIGGE FLETCHER, 



H.M.S. Sealark. 



December 4, 1905. 



* Dcndrophig pictvx. f Tropidonotus xtolatng. % Dryophis mycterizanx. 



