ZOOLOGICAL NOTES. 20{ 



lower hock bones are naturally becoming fixed (natural spaviu) and the 

 splint bones are becoming but processes of the large metacarpal 

 (natural splint), but the study of hybrids tends to give us precise 

 information as to how we are to breed the exact sort of horse that 

 we require. It is interesting to observe that horse-breeding, which 

 has hitherto been empirical, is showing signs of becoming a ductive 

 science with a certain amount of exactitude in it. I trust this 

 record of a few thoughts about horses will prove of interest to the 

 Society. 



ZOOLOGICAL NOTES. 



SNAKE-BREEDING FOR THE GOVERNMENT REWARD. 



The Government of Bombay recently addressed our Society on the subject of 

 the rewards paid for the destruction of poisonous snakes in the districts of Satara 

 and Ratnngiri. The opinion of the Society was solicited on various points, and, 

 amongst others, the question was raised as to whether there was likely to be any 

 truth in the rumours that snakes were frequently bred in confinement by the 

 people, in those districts, for the sake of the Government reward. 



The following is an extract from the reply written to Government by 

 Mr. H. M. Phipson, the Hononary Secretary, on 8th June 1887 : — 



" With regard to the last paragraph in your letter concerning the possibility of 

 snakes being bred in confinement for the sake of Government reward, I have no 

 hesitation in saying (and in this Mr. Vidal thoroughly agrees with me) that such 

 a thing is highly improbable. 



There are practically only four poisonous snakes, of any consequence, in the 

 districts referred to, Satara and Ratnagiri. viz. — ■ 



1. The Cobra (Nag a tripudians). 



2. The Gunus (Daboia eleyans). 



3. The Phoorsa (Echis carinata). uXaf~ 



4. The Krait (Bungarus' arcuatus), of which the l a tter is by no means com- 



mon in those districts. ' 



The Cobra has, to the best of my knowledge, never been known to breed in 

 confinement, and it is exceedingly doubtful whether the Gunus and Phoorsa which 

 are both viviparous, could be successfully propagated except in a most carefully 

 constructed serpentarium. 



The rumours respecting the breeding of poisonous snakes are probably founded 

 on the fact that snakes' eggs are frequently picked up by the junglemen, who natur- 

 ally keep them until they hatch, so as to claim the Government reward in the 

 event of the snakes beiog poisonous ; but this practice is one that should be 

 encouraged. 



