134 , 
RPOLIA ZEYLANICA. 
while the others try to drag him down. Whoever succeeds in 
maintaining his position wins.” The Sinhalese boy similarly cries 
out— 
Rajjuruvo udayi udayi, 
Gukollo bimayi bimayi. 
ARTHUR A. PERERA. 
Kandy, October, 1909. 
8. Birth of a Loris .—On August 16 I bought a Ceylon loris in 
Colombo, and she has been in a cage by herself ever since. On 
November 19 she gave birth to a young one. The young was 
born without hair, and holds tightly on to its mother’s abdomen. 
When the mother is going about her cage, which is a big one and 
has branches in it, it is marvellous to see how she avoids touching 
the young one against anything, although she goes quite fast in the 
evening after insects. 
S. H. PEARLESS. 
Badulla, November 23, 1909. 
9. Rambling Notes :— 
(a) Sting of the Carpenter Bee. —The common carpenter bee 
(Xylocopa tenuiscapa) is not an aggressive insect, though it is possessed 
of a very powerful sting for defensive purposes. I have experienced 
its stinging powers on two occasions. The first time, I was stung 
on the inside of the thumb. The point apparently penetrated a 
small vein, for a jet of blood followed the withdrawal of the sting. 
The pain was severe -for a short time, but it soon became dull, and 
passed off altogether in a few minutes’ time. On the second occasion, 
the sting took effect on the back of a middle finger, and there was no 
effusion of blood. The pain, as before, was severe at first, but lasted 
for a short time only. 
(b) Action of Cobra Venom on its own Body. —While a large cobra 
was being caged, and the removal of a noose (that had been tied 
round its neck) was being attempted, the snake became so enraged 
that it lashed out wildly in every direction, and finally buried its 
fangs in a coil of its own body. The wounds of the fangs were 
plainly visible and exuded two minute drops of blood. The snake 
soon became very subdued and lay quietly in its cage, refusing to 
respond to any attempts to rouse it. But on the following morning 
it had completely recovered and was as lively as ever. 
(c) Habits of Grasshoppers of the Genus Gryllacris. —The weird¬ 
looking long-horned grasshoppers of the genus Gryllacris construct 
