X08 JO URNAL, BOMB A Y NA TURAL HISTOR 7 SOCIETY, Vol. i^, 



No. XIV.— MUSCULAR ACTION AFTER DEATH. 



I see in the last number of the Society's Journal an aocount of the vitality 

 of a snake's tail after its separation from the body. Perhaps the following 

 may be interesting to some of our members : — 



In the month of July, some 4 or 5 years ago, I was out shooting florioan 

 with a friend of mine in Guzerat. We had had fairly good luck, and as we 

 were making our way to the Railway Station to catch the early train baok 

 to Ahmedabad, I noticed my friend, who was shooting in line on my left, sud- 

 denly point his gun at something on the ground and fire, and, on asking what 

 it was, he said it was a large black cobra and that he had shot it in two pieces, 

 the head portion disappearing down a hole. As we were in a hurry to catch the 

 rain we went on, but very soon heard one of the beaters calling out, and looking 

 back saw him running towards us with the head portion of the make following 

 him, with the hood expanded. It appeared that he had remained behind trying to 

 dig out the cobra, and the result was that it came out of the hole and went for 

 him. Of course the snake could not get much pace on and was quickly killed. 



Karachi, Is* June, 1894. S. B. DOIG, 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



No. 3576 op 1894-95. 



Municipal Commissioner's Office, 

 Bombay, Hth May, 1894. 

 From H. A. ACWORTH, Esq., I.C.S., 



Municipal Commissioner for the City of Bombay, 



To the HONORARY SECRETARY, 



Bombay Natural History Society. 

 Sir, — I have the honor .to forward copy of an extract from a communication 

 addressed to me on 11th instant by Surgeon-Lieut.-Colonel T. S. Weir, Health 

 Officer to the Municipality. Members of the Natural History Society have 

 in times past frequently interested themselves in the condition of Vehar and 

 Tulsi lakes with special reference to the piscine life within them, and I should 

 be grateful for any suggestions with which the Society may be able to favor 

 me. I need not add that every assistance within my power will be given to 

 members of the Society desiring to visit the lakes. — I have the honor to be,&c. 



(Sd.) H. A. ACWORTH, 

 Municipal Commissioner for the City of Bombay. 



Extract from the Health Officer's letter, No. 5412, dated llih May, 1894, to 

 the address of the Municipal Commissioner. 



" Suggestions have occurred to me as the result of my inspection, and I 

 " venture to submit them. I was very much impressed on this occasion by the 

 '' greater stagnation of the Tulsi water and the few evidences of life other 



