BEST TIME OF YEAR. 
Of the 590 Batrachian mentioned in my last paper, it will 
be noted that 340 were taken in March as against 250 taken during 
all the other eleven months of the year. The captures by months are 
as follows :- 
January 
13. 
May 
33. 
September 
1 . 
February 
39. 
June 
6. 
October 
38. 
March 
340. 
July 
3. 
November 
63 . 
April 
7. 
August 
50. 
December 
8. 
These figures are a very faithful reflection of the rainfall 
during the year. The reason for the high number taken in March is 
because the heavy rains begin towards the end of February or early in 
March and within forty-eight hours of the first downpour every frog 
in the country is a-hop and making for the breeding pools. 
This is also the best season for snakes, partly because the 
rains have soaked into their aestivating quarters in some instances 
actually flooding them outj it ia at this time I have found most of 
my Typhlops and Leptotyphlops aoove ground. The other reason for 
their abundance at this time is no doubt due to the plentiful food 
supply exciting them to activity. 
Lizards are little affected by the season and may be taken 
at any season except during very hot weather accompanied by drought. 
It is during the rains that the lepidoptera emerge and are 
to be taken in finest cabinet condition and in greatest numoers. 
Without doubt it is the best time for nearly all insect life, one 
might say almost the only time, for there are many months in the year 
when it ia disheartening and hopeless to look for anything except a 
few common year-round species, mostly hymenoptera and pierines. 
A 3 drying mammals during the rains is often difficult I 
propose concentrating on skin collecting during the dry months of 
June and July though naturally collecting them whenever possible. 
Of 50 records of litters or young animals in my last mammal 
notes, it would appear that 31 representing 15 species occur in 
November which is generally the month of the small rains , these are 
sometimes deferred to December (rarely), often very local anu ir^ 
some years fail altogether except for a few showers. 1 believe tnat 
the primates, rodents, and many of the carnivore, breed at any season 
of the year, but of 4 litters of civets brought to me o were in 
November and 1 in March. Next to November my records shew that March, 
April, May and July are the beat months. 
To count on success it seems imperative to me that collecting 
should commence not later than March 1st, this would necessitate 
leaving England on February 1st. (3 weeks at sea). 
