MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. . 57 
four to six bars. The lower plumage is whitish with broken brown 
cross bars or spots. The legs are feathered down to the feet, and the 
toes covered with long bristles on the upper side. This owlet has no 
so called “ ears”, and must not be confused with the Scops Owl, which 
is a quiet little owl and only utters a monotonous “‘toop” at regular 
intervals of about ten seconds. 
E. G. HERBERT. 
January, 1914. 
No. 1X, DISTRIBUTION OF ANCISTRODON RHODOSTROMA, 
THE MALAYAN VIPER, IN SIAM. 
The only record of this snake in Siam up to the present has 
been from the island of Puket. North of this latitude it had not been 
known at all. Recent collections have shown, however, that it has 
a much wider distribution. It is not uncommon at Bangtaphan, near 
the sea coast, and Mr. P. A. R. Barron has found it at Nong Kai Ploi, 
just KE. of Srimaharicha, elevation 150 metres, where it appears to be 
equally plentiful. One was recently caught at Lopburi, and Dr. Sprater 
procured last year a very young specimen at Kumpawapi, 250 km. 
N. of Korat, Lat. 17° 10’ N., Long. 102° 50’ E. It will thus be seen 
to have a wide distribution in this country, and its northern range of 
habitat greatly increased, 
Speaking of its poison, Boulenger says, “This snake was long 
known from Java only, where it is regarded as one of the most 
dangerous poisonous snakes, cases being known of men dying five 
minutes after being bitten. In the neighbourhood. of Biserat and 
Kuala Jalar (Malay States) where it was discovered by Messrs 
Annandale and Robinson, the natives do not believe its bite to be 
fatal.” The people of Bangtaphan and Nong Kai Ploi, who appear 
to know this snake quite well, also agree that its bite is not parti- 
cularly dangerous, and as natives on the subject of snake-bite are apt 
to exaggerate rather than otherwise, one is inclined to accept these 
statements as correct. 
I have recently acquired 4 living specimens. They are ex- 
tremely sluggish creatures, remaining motionless throughout the 
entire day, usually coiled up in a circle with the head projecting from 
the middle, and the body comfortably bedded down into the sand of 
their cage. Hven a stick will hardly rouse them, and when taken up 
they move off in a leisurely fashion. At night they become more 
active and wander about. I have never yet heard them hiss, but 
when thoroughly excited will “rattle” the tip of the tail at great 
speed. They feed freely upon mice, frogs and toads. 
