1S60.] Proceedings of tlw Asiatic Society of Bengal. 99 



MOLL USC A. 

 A few marine and fresh -water shells, already in the museum with 

 the exception of a small Ltaix-Ea and a minute Planoebis. 



2. From E. L. Layard, Esq., on behalf of the Government Mu- 

 seum, Cape-town. 



A fine collection of skins of mammalia and birds ; those quite new 

 to the museum being here distinguished by an asterisk prefixed. 



MAMMALIA. 



Cyxocepiiaixs poecaeius, (Bodd.) The Cape Baboon, or Cliac- 

 ma. Adult male. 



*Xa>"thaepyia hottentota, (Tern.) 



# Megalotis caama, (A. Smith). 



*Peoteles ceistatcs, (Sparrman). Tail wanting. 



*Ge>'etta tigei> t a, (Schn.) 2. 



*Heepesies ichstjemo^, (L.J : Ichn. Pharaonis, Geoff. 



*H. caffeb, Wagner. 



*H. paltjdostjs, Cuv. : Mangusta urinatrix, A. Smith. 



*Felis seeval, Schreber. 



*F. cafea, Desmarest. 



*ZOEILLA STEIATA, (Shaw). 



*Chetsochloeis holoseeicea, Licht. : CJir. hottentota, A. Smith.* 

 Xeefs setosus, (Forster). 

 # Geebelltjs apee, Gray. 2. 

 *Mtjs prinEUS, Sparrman. 2. 

 Bathyeegtts maeitmtjs, (Gm.) 3. 



from Canton. This must be our Btj^gaetjs which you propose to name mtjlti- 

 Ci>"CTC3. Its venom is indeed poisonous, and a gentleman at Swatow was nearly- 

 dying from the effects of the bite of one that had concealed itself in his room. 

 It haunts sewers and chinks in the jetties and such places, where it subsists on 

 Eats. It is not by any means common, but in very high tides the overflowing 

 water often drives these animals from their holes and lurking-places ; but they 

 are difficult to procure as the natives are paid to attack them. It is called here 

 the Piva-ke-lca and Hoiu-swanchwa ('umbrella snake')." I should say, both 

 ffom the name ' Umbrella Snake' and from the habits indicated, that a Cobra 

 (Xaia) was intended ; and, so far as I am aware, the nearly affined Bungaktjs 

 iasciattts subsists entirely on other Snakes, of which it is a great devourer; 

 hence it is styled Rdj-sdmjp by the natives of Bengal, as realizing their idea of the 

 attributes and prowess of a ruler ! 



* A species previously in the museum, presented by Major W. S. Sherwill and 

 considered heretofore as Chi. holoseeicea, proves to be Chl. damakensis. 

 Ogilby, P. Z. S. 1838, p. 5. 



2 



