108 EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS. [Mar. 25, 



"In March, 1838, as near as I can recollect, near the village of 

 Pur-Buddah, distant Ig mile from the town of Akyab in Arracan, 

 two Sepoys of the Arracan Local Battalion captured under a rock a 

 large female Boa, some 12 feet in length, and abstracted with her a 

 nest of eggs forty-eight in number. Both Snake and eggs were pre- 

 sented to me by a friend, who knew that I was interested in such 

 things. My object now was to secure this prize, and see what would 

 result from the detention. Unfortunately I was taken seriously ill, and 

 neglected to keep notes on the subject, and all I now state is from 

 recollection. The Python was in my possession for upwards of two 

 months and a half, and was constantly coiled around her eggs, re- 

 fusing food in various forms, living and dead, viz., fowls, rats, and 

 frogs. I then quitted Arracan on sick-leave and came to Calcutta, 

 bringing the Snake and eggs with me, and made them over to Dr. 

 Pearson (since dead) and Dr. Evans. The Snake was in my posses- 

 sion, as I said before, about ten weeks in the province and ten days 

 (more or less) in Calcutta, and nearly a week on the voyage up to 

 Calcutta, as we went to Chittagong : this will bring the eggs and 

 Snake to be known to me three months ; and the eggs were still not 

 hatched. 



" On visiting the Museum and finding the eggs in the condition 

 I sent them in, curiosity led us to detach an egg from the mass ; and 

 looking at it carefully it was supposed to be bad, as it exhibited 

 marks of green mildew and soil, and there was no motion in it. We 

 then determined to open it with a knife, and to our surprise we ex- 

 tracted a fully formed live young one, active and strong, which would, 

 I have no doubt, have lived had it been allowed. I left Calcutta 

 shortly after this, and do not know what became of the Boa and re- 

 maining eggs ; but, should further information be required, I would 

 suggest that application be made to Mr. Blyth, if still in Calcutta, 

 or to the Curator of the Asiatic Museum of Calcutta." 



The following extracts were read from a letter addressed to Dr. 

 Gray by Mr. Henry Blandford, respecting some Mollusks observed 

 in Ceylon : — 



" I have nothing particular to communicate respecting the Aulo- 

 poma, beyond what you have yourself noticed — viz., that the oper- 

 culum is frequently drawn well into the whorl, the aperture of which 

 is perfectly closed by the flexible edges of the former. 



" There is but one species of Aulopoma in Ceylon, varying con- 

 siderably in the size and in the height of the spire, and also, to some 

 extent, in colouring. But these are mere variations, and there are 

 not even any sharply defined varieties. I enclose you a sketch of 

 the animal. 



" The Aulopomata are found under damp leaves at the roots of 

 trees, especially some of the Figs, such as Ficus elastica. In this 

 selection of damp shady places they resemble most of the Cyclopho- 

 roid genera. 



" The Paludomus chilindides, of which you have two specimens, 

 is very common in the plains of Ceylon and up to about 2000 feet. 



