'The Qaeetisland Naturalist. 
Jan., 1926 
^60 
Often in tiio forest ;i feral odour near- a tree indi- 
cates tile nest of tlie niusano- or civet. This animal hunts 
at ni"ht and is one of the Avoi’st enemies of the [Kuiltry 
farmer. It is about the size of a large opossum, and usuall.y 
moves from tree to tree, thougli if nt'cessary it will take 
to the ground, dound settlements one of its common 
methods of travelling is to run along electric light wires 
upside down. Snakes, particularly the python' (P. 
reticulatus) are also destructive to poultry. The ])ython 
is sometimes thirty feet long, and is greatly feared. More 
dangerous, however, is the cobra (Nada Nada philip- 
pinesis). This snake is usually found in cogon country, 
('ogon (Tmperata exaltata) is a tall grass attaining a 
height of nine feet. Tt grotvs as thickly as a wheat field, 
and a path must be cut through it because it is out of 
the question to force a Avay through it. Quite commonly 
it is the experience of natives to cut a clum]) with a 
machete and come face to face with an angry cobra. 
A common liouse snake is Lyeodon anlicus, a harmless, 
slow-moving species, which has to be kicked off the path 
before it will move. Little burrowing snakes (Typhlops 
s])p.) are commonly found in flower pots. When ]mlled 
ont they curl round the finger and exert (juite a strong 
pressure. The natives are afraid of them, because they 
think they cut the fingers off. In the rice paddies a 
poisonous species, the rice snake (Dryophis |>raeocu- 
laris) is found, and has a reputation as bad as that of 
the cobra, though il^ is not very deadly. One of the worst 
Phili]ipine xmisonons snakes is a green viper (Tromere- 
surus flavomaculatus). This reptile has a very large 
head, and is about a yard in length. 
Ijizards are very numei‘ons and varied. Geckos 
(Gekko ,gecko) are common in houses, and are active at 
right on the roof and walls, catcliing white ants, moths 
and other insects. Their hoarse call, consisting of a 
series of harks of “gecko, gec*ko.“ can he heard half a 
mile away. A flying lizard (Draco spilopternsL with 
a s])iny crest, is occasionally fouiul in the forests. The 
colour is usually green, hut it can change to brown in a 
few minutes. A very common house lizard is (‘osyiuhu- 
tus platyurus. Dozens of tliese little geckoes are found 
in almost every house in the country, and in most of 
those 'in the city. They like to come round the lights, 
vdiere the trouide of catching insects is reduced to a 
minimum. A large lizard attaining a length of over six 
leet and furnished with a forked tongue, is common in 
