414 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XIV ^ 



running towards fchenij and shortly after coming up with them, they 

 noticed something wrong, so leaving the dog they went back a 

 little way, when they saw a Hamadryad emerge from the hollow 

 in the base of a large tree. The party forthwith dispersed, and 

 in time returned to where they had left the dog and found him dying. 

 I suppose the dog could not resist having a peep in at the hole as he 

 passed, thus disturbing the snake which at once bit him. One fre-^ 

 quently hears of dogs being pursued, which is undoubtedly due to their 

 prying and inquisitive habits ; but I have not heard of any being run 

 down. Perhaps, as is the case with men, a Hamadryad in rear forces 

 the pace. 



It is probable that every year several oxen are bitten by these snakes,, 

 as in some districts immense herds are grazed in unreserved forest 

 tracts. They, I think, show a decided preference for damp places, and 

 are certainly fond of water ; in fact, I cannot remember ever having 

 met one very far from it. They swim gracefully, are given to lying in 

 pools in the hot weather, and evince no hesitation in entering creeks, &c. 

 Mr. Hauxwell told me that a Hamadryad that he afterwards killed, was 

 always to be found lying in the same pool for several successive days, 

 and a Burman, well known to me who spends his life in the jungles 

 cutting canes, bamboos, &c., on my questioning him, said he rarely 

 met one while going about his work, but that during the heat of the day 

 in the hot season, in a certain stream he mentioned, he had frequently 

 seen one, rarely two, lying in one or other of the pools. He had seen 

 several Hamadryads, and had never been molested. On three separate 

 occasions I have seen a Hamadryad swimming. The first was when I 

 observed one crossing a creek some thirty yards wide, the second when 

 one came swimming down a stream we were fording, and we left hur- 

 riedly ; and the third was also while crossing a stream, when we saw a 

 Hamadryad swimming in a pool below us. I have heard of several 

 other instances where a Hamadryad has been met with crossing 

 streams. Except when in a party, Burmans and Karens are generally 

 speaking much afraid, as they say a snake will generally try and escape 

 when they see a number of men, not so when there is only one or two. 

 They also state that these snakes will invariably pursue (a) when sudden- 

 ly disturbed, (&) when guarding their nests, (c) when provoked. No 

 doubt as regards (a) the statement is correct; with regard to {h) leap 

 only say that I have twice come on a kind of nest (a heap of dry leayos) 



