flO lt.-col. n. manders on The 



capturing their prey, they hold it quietly in the mouth for some 

 time, but if it struggles they immediately begin eating it. A 

 renewal of a struggle leads to the same thing, 



Cophotis zeylanica. 



This lizard is found only in the hill tracts of Ceylon, and is 

 most frequently found resting on tree-trunks in shady places. 

 It has considerable power of adapting its colouring to its 

 surroundings, but not to the same extent as the Chameleon. It is 

 almost five inches long including the tail, which is usually two or 

 three inches. It is extremely sluggish in its movements, depend- 

 ing entirely on its cryptic colouring to escape observation. It is 

 quite harmless and can easily be taken in the fingers. It eats flies 

 readily in captivity, bvit all my efforts, both with specimens at 

 large and in captivity, to induce them to eat butterflies resulted in 

 failure, even those with tlieir wings entirely removed seemed only 

 to frighten them. 



The Horned Lizard. Geratojyhora stoddartii. 



This interesting reptile is also peculiar to the island, entirely 

 confined to the hills, and I do not think it occurs below 5000 feet. 

 It varies in colour from a vivid green with black bands (three 

 only seen) to a unifoi-m broAvn. It has the faculty of changing 

 its colour according to the nature of its environment. Only 

 once have I found it otherwise than on a tree-trunk in deep shade, 

 where butterflies very rarely penetiute. All attempts to make it 

 eat butterflies in the wild state failed, and the following is a note 

 on a captured specimen: — "^13.4.09. Put numerous flies in its 

 cage, there appeared to be a diminution the following morning. 

 Put Terias hecahe and Pyrmn&is cardui alive into its cage. It did 

 not notice the latter as it rested with closed wings on the gravel, 

 though within thi-ee inches of it ; but when it moved its fore 

 wings up and down — not in and out — it was on the alert and 

 crept up to it, but before it had made up its cautious mind to 

 attack, the butterfly flew off, hitting it on the snout in so doing, 

 which utterly disconcerted it." I may say that about the only 

 butterfly in the upper hill distiict which frequents shady places 

 is Lethe daretis. Mycalesis and Yphthhiia do not extend so high. 

 The chance of a meal off a butterfly is therefore remote. 



Dr. Willey informs me that its natural food is small worms. 



It would seem then that those who assume that reptiles take no 

 part in the production of Batesian or Miillerian mimicry are 

 correct, though further experiments are required. 



The Insectivorous Birds of Ceylon. 



A few introductory remarks are needed before dealing with the 

 insectivorous bii'ds. Speaking generally the Mimicrists, if I may 

 use the term, maintain that birds do eat butterflies largely; the 

 Anti-Mimicrists that they do not. The evidence of the latter is 



