OBITUARY. 353 



beneath him with his wings. The brood is now about three weeks 

 old, and seems likely to flourish. 



Amongst the many reptiles deposited by Mr. Eothschild, some 

 Snakes from the Gaboon stand out as of peculiar interest, namely, two 

 very fine examples of the Nose-horned Viper (Bitis nasicornis) ; also an 

 equally large example of a second species of the genus, namely, Bitis 

 gdbonensis, not previously exhibited in the Gardens. There is also a 

 large West African Cobra (Naia melanoleuca). The specimens of Bitis, 

 though deadly and, to many, repulsive to look upon, cannot but excite 

 admiration on account of the exquisite beauty of their colouring ; while 

 an admirable instance of warning coloration is furnished by the Cobra 

 with his dorsal surface jet-black, and his throat and neck yellow with 

 jet-black stripes, the prevalent uniform and badge of poisonous animals. 

 This is displayed to full advantage as the Snake stands facing his 

 adversary, with hood erect, in his characteristic attitude of self-defence. 



E. I. P. 



OBITUARY. 



John William Douglas. 



Full of years, and having outlived his zoological contemporaries, 

 the oldest contributor to the ' Zoologist ' passed away on August 28th, 

 at Morningside, Craven Park, Harlesden. He had reached the age of 

 ninety-one years, and was the author of some dozen contributions to 

 the first volume of this magazine, published in 1843. 



It is as an entomologist that Douglas will be remembered, and as 

 one belonging to the last century, for he had during recent years lived 

 in retirement, and outside his closest friends had been little heard of. 

 He was perhaps one of the last collectors to see a living Chrysophanus 

 disvar in this country, which he did at Whittlesea Mere in 1841. He 

 joined the Entomological Society in 1845, and became Secretary in 

 1849, when the Society was in considerable financial difficulty, and 

 was described by Stainton in a Presidential Address as "an efficient 

 Secretary of good business habits." 



Zool. 4th ser. vol. IX., September, 1905. 2 E 



