164 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXIII 



former course I have not heard of crows being a nuisance to players. In 

 a large city no doubt there is no lack of other means by which they can 

 annoy people. Near the fifth hole there is a large tree {Ficus religiosa) and 

 within 50 yards a barrack. From October till the rains begin, quite a 

 number of the common variety of Kite take up their residence, roosting on 

 the tree and on the ridge of the barrack roof. On several occasions a kite 

 hovering about has on seeing a ball played on to or near the green swooped 

 down and removed it. It is invariably a new or very clean ball that attracts 

 attention. On the Mingaladon course there are one or two Mango topes 

 in the vicinity of some of the holes, and in these some jungle crows 

 reside. One or more of these crows earned notoriety by making a busi- 

 ness of watching players and when a ball was played, out flew a crow to 

 where the ball landed, and if it met with his approval promptly carried it 

 off. A crack player was annoyed at losing a hole apart from the loss of 

 a ball, while an indifferent or bad player who with ease can lose a few 

 balls on a round was furious to find that when he made a shot on which he 

 could congratulate himself this wretch of a crow stole out and removed 

 the ball. One crow in particular was blamed; how he was recognized as 

 the culprit history does not relate, but the fact remains that at the time i 

 speak of some 17 new balls had been taken. The rumour got about that 

 the Honorary Secretary had a trained crow for the purpose of keeping him 

 supplied with balls, and I fear he was submitted to a good deal of chaff' 

 and wished the golf course crow elsewhere. 



One day we took a Collector's gun (-410) doubled up, while doing a 

 round. In due course two crows became very attentive but may have 

 been suspicious ; however, a hole or two further on one became more inter- 

 ested and confidential and just when he was not thinking, he was bowled 

 over. I understand the nuisance abated forthwith but I believe another 

 crow has taken a ball or two since. One reads of queer collections some- 

 times discovered in crows nests, etc., it is rather a puzzle to think what 

 could be done with such a number of golf balls. The removal of one would 

 teach a crow it was useless for gastronomic purposes. 



G. H. EVANS, Colonel. 

 Rangoon, 25th February 1914. 



No. XXVin.— >Sli»fOr^« SPLENDIDUS Gunth, in BURMA. 



In Volume XVIII of this Journal on pages 781-782, Major Wall sum- 

 marises the records of this rare snake. I have to-day (14th February) 

 received a Valentine in the shape of a fifth specimen, which is further a 

 gravid female. The snake was brought to me this morning with a broken 

 back by two small boys, who stated that they had just found it on the 

 open turf between the armourer's shop and my house here at Pyawbwe, 

 It was still moving slightly when they brought it in. The spot where it 

 was taken is quite open short turf with a somewhat sandy soil overlying 

 at a depth of about a foot, very stiff" clay. There is no cover in the shape 

 of bushes or long grass nearer than about 100 yards, but there are some 

 open holes of an old " whiteants' " nest. It is probable, therefore, that it 

 had been travelling by night and had reached the point where it was found, 

 when daylight came and revealed it, though it may, of course, have emerg- 

 ed from the holes referred to. 



The following notes on the specimen may be useful. Length 28J inches 

 of which the tail is 3 inches. Costals in 21 rows anteriorly and at midbody, 

 and 17 rows posteriorly. The steps occur first about ^ of the distance 



