692 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL JUST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXI. 



It is to my mind a most wonderful endowment of nature which enables 

 the young Calotes to make full use of its limbs the moment it sets foot to 

 earth after being curled up in its egg during the whole of its prenatal 

 existence, and a very powerful objection to the argument that the young 

 have to learn everything from example. " Experientia docet" — it is trying 

 that teaches, but here we have the first trial a fully perfected art achieved 

 without precept or example. 



The method of opening the egg for the exit of the lizard is also of some 

 interest by reason of the economy of energy shown. I append a rough 

 illustration of the cuts in three of the eggs prior to the appearance of the 

 young one. The table shows the time taken in the actual process of hatch- 

 ing as far as it could be observed. 



No. I. 



No. VI. 



No, V. 



Another question which suggested itself to my mind was whether the 

 exudation of moisture, noticed in almost every case after the first cuts had 

 been made and caused by the inhalations of the lizard, were merely 

 accidental overflowings of albumen or an intentional device of nature for 

 softening the hardness of the leathery integument and so facilitating the 

 exit of the hatchlirg ? 



Hatclilinxj out of shell. 

 10-45 a.m. (28th). 



Not noticed : shell empty 3 p.m. 

 8-20 a.m. (29th). 

 11 a.m. (29th). 

 4 p.m. (30th). 

 4 p.m. (30th). 



Remainder escaped observation. 



F. E. W. VENNING, Capt. 



Pyawbkoe, Tth December 1911. 



