1018 JOURNAL, BOMBA Y NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XVII. 



On the occasion referred to, the snake was lying along a beam in the roof 

 when a tuctoo was seen to advance towards it and challenge it ; and it seems 

 very remarkable, when one considers the truculent disposition of the dhaman, 

 and the disparity in size of the contesting parties (the tuctoo only grows to 

 about one foot), that the ophidian should have retreated before the advances 

 of the lacertian. The snake, though obviously anxious to withdraw from an 

 awkward situation, refrained from making a bolt of it as though apprehensive 

 of the consequences of presenting so vulnerable a portion of its anatomy as its 

 tail to the foe, and throughout an engagement, lasting about an hour, persisted 

 in facing its antagonist. At last, however, in desperation, it summoned 

 sufficient courage to attempt an undignified exit through a hole in the 

 roof ; but no sooner had its head disappeared than the tuctoo rushed upon it 

 and bit off some 9 inches of its tail, retiring with the spoils of war into its usual 

 corner, but whether it devoured it or not Mr. Baghame could not discover. 



The dhaman has not been seen since ! 



F. WALL, Major, I.M.S. 



December 21th, 190G. 



No. IX.— THE VITALITY OF SNAKES. 



If I remember right, some years ago an account appeared in the Journal of 

 the head portion of a cobra — that had been shot in half — pursuing a native. 

 This story was, I think, received with a certain amount of scepticism. I there- 

 fore thought the following might be of interest as confirming the above, and 

 showing the wonderful vitality of snakes and the care that is necessary in 

 dealing with them. 



Several weeks ago, while at the Division Office here, a native reported that 

 there was a large snake in the compound. Accordingly, Col. Middleton 

 A. A. G., Major Vincent, D. A. A. O., and I went out to see it, and can all 

 three vouch for what is here related. 



There was a small masonry tank of the usual kind for watering a garden, 

 with a closed drain some 4' long leading out of it, the tank end being plugged 

 and the water some few inches above the level of the plug. In the open end of 

 the drain we saw the tail of a black snake which we thought looked like that 

 of a cobra. As it was impossible to get at it with a stick, Major Vincent sent 

 for his shot gun, and on its arrival fired at and cut the snake ciean in two, as 

 we afterwards ascertained, the tail end being a few inches shorter than the 

 head portion. The tail was easily poked out with a stick, but there was no 

 sign of the head, and inserting a stick into the drain produced no effect. 

 Accordingly, the plug was pulled out of the tank end, thinking that the rush 

 of water would wash out the snake ; but it only brought out a quantity of 

 blood and several frogs, which latter perhaps had proved the attraction. 

 Rattling a stick in the tank end of the drain, however, produced a wonderful 

 effect. Instead of a defunct snake, out came the head and some 15" or 16" of 

 a very lively and angry cobra, head raised, hood expanded, and the mouth so 



