376 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, XIII. 
Perhaps it would be advisable to keep specimens with the wings on one side 
denuded in a cabinet by themselves, as they have a bizarre appearance, 
FooD oF THE LARVA OF Daphnis nerit. 
I found a larva of Daphnis nerii nearly full grown feeding on Vinca rosea, 
although its more usual food plants, Oleander and Cinchona, were near at 
hand, The larva in question refused to eat Oleander when it was removed 
from the Vinca. 
x bad ae a ae ae ae a BSS 
I have found a modification of the American Moth trap, made locally, very 
successful, especially on close thundery nights. 
C,B. HOLMAN HUNT, B.A., F.E.8. 
Waracopa, Cryton, April, 1900. 
No. IX —THE NUMBER OF FEATHERS IN THE TAIL OF THE 
CHESTNUT BITTERN (ARDETTA CINNAMOMEA), 
Tenclose a tail of Avrdetia cinnamomea which is interesting as having 
eleven feathers instead of ten. There are six feathers on the right and five 
on the left, The bird was shot near Rangoon some time last year, and I only 
noticed this peculiarity when looking through some old skins to-day, and 
comparing them with Blanford’s descriptions and key. I was puzzled by 
finding eleven feathers in the tail, and thinking I had madea mistake in 
identifying it as Ardetta cinnamomea and that it really was a twelve-feathered 
tail with one feather missing, I tried to find something in that group to fit it, 
but, failing, I examined the tail more closely, clearing away the tail coverts, 
and found that there never had been more than eleven feathers, 
I do not remember to have heard of such variations, and it may be worth 
while recording this, 
H. J. KELSALL, Oapr,, R.A. 
Rancoon, April, 1900. 
No, X—CAN A COBRA EJECT ITS POISON. 
'. Yesterday evening as Lieut. Gibson of our regiment was going to his 
quarters to dress for Mess he saw a snake at which he proceeded to throw a 
stone, He then called for a light and a stick, and as he was bending down with 
the light to look for the snake it made a dart at him but fortunately missed 
its aim. Some of the poison or saliva, however, was ejected into Lieut. Gib- 
son’s eye, causing instant and great pain, and the eyelids and parts round 
swelled up quickly to the size of a large hen’s egg. The snake was killed, and 
was found to be a small black cobra about 3 feet 4 inches in length, Lieut. 
Gibson went to hospital and after a painful night recovered his eyesight, 
M. D. GORING JONES, Capr,, 
2nd Durham Light Infantry. 
Manpatay, 8th March, 1900. 
