FROM PORTUGUESE EAST AFRICA 
497 
Such a condition of colouration is of interest to the student 
of animal colours, being known as a ‘ directive mark ’ whose 
object is to induce an enemy to deliver its expected attack at 
some point where vital injury will not result, or to anticipate 
movement in a direction opposite to that which the creature 
will take. Many caterpillars of noctuid moths show the 
posterior segment coloured like the head, but in this case 
an injury to the soft body anywhere will probably result 
in death by bleeding. A better example of directive marks 
is the long tail on the hind wing of a swallow-tail butterfly, 
which, being seized, very readily breaks off. 
I sent this little snake home, and it was taken to 
Mr. Boulenger at the British Museum. Greatly to my surprise, 
I have heard that it is only the second specimen known ! Its 
name is Ajpostolepis Gerardi (Boulenger), one of the opisthoglyph 
colubrines, and it is the sole African species of a genus other- 
wise confined to S. America. The only specimen known hitherto 
is from Katanga, and is in the Congo Museum at Brussels. 
So, besides being of interest from its peculiar colouration, 
this rare little snake will appeal to the student of geographical 
distribution. 
The specimen has been presented to the British Museum, 
as Mr. Boulenger was very anxious to have it. 
Possibly, now that attention has been drawn to it, it may 
be discovered in British East Africa, for these subterranean 
snakes are naturally little known. 
CURIOUS INCIDENT AT KISMAYU 
By Fairfax Francklin 
A curious thing happened here when the police were firing on 
the rifle range in the afternoon, some miles away from the beach. 
A covey of guinea-fowl, about eighty strong, became 
frightened and flew towards the beach, where they settled. On 
being pursued they flew out to sea about a mile and then 
dropped into the sea, most of them being drowned. 
The boat-boys went out and got quite a good bag. 
