536 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. X. 



noise of the ' knife-grinder ' insect {Cicada ducalis, I think) was heard on all 

 sides. The trees for a distance of some 200 yards were densely crowded and 

 covered with these insects, so much so that not a vestige of the bark of the 

 trees could be seen, On the trees being tapped with a stick they flew oflE in 

 thousands, settling again almost immediately not far off. The curious 

 appearance of rain was caused by some fluid emitted by the insects, one of 

 which I send you * A little rain had fallen a day or two previously, and I 

 am told these insects appear generally after the first showers, remaining on the 

 trees for 2 or 3 weeks but apparently eating nothing. A humorous Gond 

 informed me that they then die " because from making so much noise their 

 heads drop off." 



W. F. BISCOE. 

 Secundebabad, 5th June, 1895. 



ISTo. IX.— NOTES FROM DEESA. 



It has always been a matter of surprise to me, why so many Geckos (the 

 small house lizards) lose their tails, and the following incident, which I 

 recently observed, may possibly account for it. Two Geckos were seen, for 

 some hours, cautiously climbing about and eyeing one another suspiciously, 

 uttering occasionally a low noise. After many manoeuvres they approached 

 and a desperate conflict ensued. The one seized his antagonist by the tail, 

 whilst the other fixed on to the hind foot of his adversary, but after some 

 valiant struggles they parted and I observed in the jaws of one the tail 

 of his enemy. The tail was still wriggling but it was quickly swallowed in 

 spite of this. 



I may add that the Geckos here are much larger than those in Poona 

 and Bombay, and makj a much lower and deeper noise. 



I have always heard that the Nilghai was a comparatively fast animal, 

 but am now inclined to doubt it, I put my greyhounds on to a fine bull 

 Nilghai on one occasion, and we coursed it for some miles over a rough 

 country. The hounds caught ii up in the first 100 yards, but were not 

 suiEciently powerful to pull it down. As soon as we got it out on to land 

 where one could ride, I had no difficulty in catching it up, and after the first 

 three miles the beast was so exhausted that I was able to trot alongside of 

 it and touch it up on the flanks with my hunting crop. It was repeatedly 

 brought to bay, and charged the hounds, 



W. A. LIGHT. 



Deesa, MarcTi, 1896, 



* Identified as Facilopsaltria subi-u/a, Dlst.— Ed« 



