PEOCEEDINGS. 
Vll 
2. " Note on Batrachians.'" By Edgar Thurston. 
3. " On the Fauna of a Madras Pond and its 
Monthly Variations." By A. Sambasivan, 
B.A. (Communicated by Dr. Bourne). 
The second ordinary meeting of the Society took place 
on Thursday, the 14th May, at 5-30 i\M., in the Reading- 
Room of the Old College, Nungumbaukum. 
H. B. Grigg, Esq., m.a., c.i.e., in the Chair. 
Mr. Thurston exhibited the skin of a Hamadryad {Naia 
huigaru>i, Schleg), one of the two species of Naia {N. bun- 
gams and N. triiiuilians, the Cobra) which occur in Penin- 
sular India. The snake, whose skin was exhibited, was 
shot about 20 miles from Russelkonda, and, when measured 
after death, was found to be 13 leet in length. A note on 
this snake by " Smoothbore" was published in the Asian, 
April 24th, 1891. 
The largest specimen of the Hamadryad iu the British 
Museum measures 13 feet. 
In the Asian, April 24th, 1891, " Smoothbore " also refers 
to a duck, shot by Major Felton of the 4th Madras Cavalry 
near (xooty, which he believed to be the female of Anas 
hoschus, the mallard, and he says "if it proves to be Anas 
boschus, this will be the first instance of this species being 
found in Southern India. Jerdon says he has never found 
it south of the Nerbudda." The wings and head were sent 
to Mr. Thurston, who forwarded them to the Indian Museum 
for comparison with the specimens of the mallard in the 
collection of that institution. Mr. W. L. Sclater reported 
that he thought " there can be little doubt that it is a mal- 
lard though I was inclined to think it might be a Spotted 
Bill ; but I think the bill shows that it is a mallard." 
