JOURNAL OF THE BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY VOL. 91, No. 3, December 1994 A •l b BOARD OF EDITORS Executive Editor J.C. DANIEL M.R. ALMEIDA P.V. BOLE M.K. CHANDRASHEKARAN B.F. CHHAPGAR B.V. DAVID R. GADAGKAR ANIL GORE A.J.T. JOHNSINGH AJITH KUMAR A.R. RAHMANI J.S. SAMANT E.G. SILAS J.S. SINGH R. WHITAKER Assistant Editor K.P. SHIRODKAR J INSTRUCTIONS TO CONTRIBUTORS 1 . Papers which have been published or have been offered for publication elsewhere should not be submitted. 2. Papers should be submitted in duplicate, typed double space. Preferably an additional copy should be submitted on a floppy diskette ( 3.5" or 5.25" ), using Word Star, Word Perfect, MS Word or in MS DOS. 3 . Trinomials referring to subspecies should only be used where identification has been authentically established by comparison of specimens actually collected. 4. Photographs for reproduction must be clear, with good contrast. Prints should be at least 9 x 12 cm and on glossy glazed paper. 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Editors, Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society VOLUME 91 (3) : DECEMBER Date of Publication: 1-3-1995 CONTENTS WHY BONELLI'S EAGLES HUNT IN PAIR: AN ASSESSMENT OF INDIVIDUAL AND PAIRED HUNTING SUCCESSES (With a text-figure ) By Milind G. Waive, Niranjan R. Sant and Vijay Joshi 355 THE BATS OF WESTERN INDIA REVISITED — Part 3 (With two plates and eight text-figures ) By PJ.J. Bates, D.L. Harrison and M. Muni 360 MOULT IN BABBLERS ( TURDOIDES spp.) By V.J. Zacharias, D.N. Mathew and K.V. Jayashree 381 TRADITIONAL PHYTOTHERAPY IN THE HEALTH CARE OF GOND TRIBALS OF SONBHADRA DISTRICT, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA By K.K. Singh, B.S. Kalakoti and Anand Prakash 386 GROUP COMPOSITION, PERCENTAGE SURVIVORSHIP, BIRTHRATE AND POPUL- ATION OF PRESBYTIS ENTELLUS IN JAIPUR, RAJASTHAN By Reena Mathur and B. Ram Manohar 391 AESTIVATION OF TURTLES IN KEOLADEO NATIONAL PARK, BHARATPUR WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO LISSEMYS PUNCTATA (REPTILIA: TRIONYCHIDAE) (With a text-figure) By S. Bhupathy and V.S. Vijayan 398 THE CHECKERED BEETLES OF NEPAL (COLEOPTERA : CLERIDAE) By Jonathan R. Mawdsley 403 COMPOSITION OF RAJASTHAN FLORA (With a text-figure) By Alka Awasthi 407 DICHOTOMOUS KEY TO THE TADPOLES OF TWELVE ANURAN SPECIES FROM NORTH EASTERN INDIA (With a map and twelve text-figures) By A.K. Sahu 412 POLYCHAETES OF THE GENUS MANAYUNKIA LEIDY (POLYCHAETA: SABELLI- DAE) (With eleven text-figures) By A.L.N. Sarma, K.R. Raju and V. Wilsanand 420 A FALL LAND BIRD MIGRATION ACROSS THE SOUTH CHINA SEA FROM INDO- CHINA TO THE GREATER SUNDA ISLANDS (With two text-figures) By David H. Ellis, Angela K. Kepler, Cameron B. Kepler 427 NEW DESCRIPTIONS A NEW SPECIES OF GENUS GLYPTOTENDIPES KIEFFER (DIPTERA : CHIRONOMIDAE) FROM INDIA (With six text-figures) By T.K. Dutta and P«^Chaudhuri 435 / MAPANIA ARUNACHALENSIS — A NEW SPECIES OF CYPERACEAE FROM ARUNACHAL PRADESH, INDIA (With a text-figure) By G.D. Pal 438 ON A NEW SPECIES OF SPATHIUS NEES (HYMENOPTERA: BRACONIDAE) FROM INDIA (With three text -figures) By S.M. Kurhade and P.K. Nikam 441 MISCELLANEOUS NOTES MAMMALS 1 . Some observations on the breeding and lon- gevity of Lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus ) in captivity By L.N. Achajjyo and S.K. Patnaik 444 2. Notes on the Large-eared hedgehog, Hemiechinus auritus Gmelin By A. Kumar and S.D. Pandey 445 3. Do shrews prey upon rats? By M.S. Saini and V.R. Parshad 446 4. An unusual roost choice by the Indian short- nosed fruit bat, Cynopterus sphinx gangeticus (Anderson) (With a plate) By S.G. Vasishta and N. Badwaik 447 5. Note on the breeding period of painted bat (Kerivoula picta) By K.K. Ramachandran and E A. Jayson 447 6. Toxicity of Difethialone (LM-2219) against Meriones hurrianae under no-choice feeding test By Y. Saxena and Kanan Saxena 448 7. Crop protection from Bandicota bengalensis by the Tribals in southern Rajasthan By Satish Kumar Sharma 449 8. Rodent damage and yield reduction in rice By M.R. Karim 449 9. A note on nest building, behaviour of wild boar ( Sus scrofa Linnaeus) By E A. Jayson 45 1 10. On the recovery of a foetus from a sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus Linnaeus stranded at Chetlat Island, Lakshadweep By D.B. James and K.C.S. Panicker 451 BIRDS 1 1 . First record of the rosy pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus Linnaeus in Kerala By lytus T. Jacob, P. Pramod, K. Gangadharan and M. Mahesh 452 12. Rosy Pelicans Pelecanus onocrotalus Linn., in the Himalaya By Lavkumar Khacher 452 13. Southern most record of common pochard Aythya ferina (Linnaeus) and Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula (Linnaeus) in Madurai dis- trict, Tamil Nadu By T. Badri Narayanan 452 14. Rare crane of India By P. Sanyal 453 15. Comments on the note occurrence of black tern Chlidonias niger (Linnaeus) at Point Calimere by Vivek Menon By S. Balachandran 453 16. Forest Eagle Owl (Bubo nipalensis Hodgson) — A predator of the Indian Giant Squirrel (Ratufa indie a) By R. Kannan 454 17. Notes on the status and ecology of the Ceylon frogmouth (Batrachostomus moniliger Blyth) from the Anaimalai Hills of Tamil Nadu By R. Kannan 454 OTHER INVERTEBRATES 18. An Albino Myna Acridotheres tristis (Linnaeus) By Samiran Jha 455 19. Dispersed communal roosting in common mynas Acridotheres tristis (Linnaeus) By C.J. Feare, J.R. Allan, A. Gretton 455 20. Flycatching by sunbirds Nectarinia asiatica (Latham) By Manoj V. Nair . 457 REPTILES 21. Notes on feeding habits and some morpho- logical features of the Bostami turtle, Aspideretes nigricans (Anderson) (With a text-figure ) By Md. Farid Ahsan, Md. Nurul Haque and Md. Abu Saeed 457 22. Occurrence of the Indian Black Turtle Melanochelys trijuga in Simbalbara Sanctu- ary, Himachal Pradesh By Anand Pendharkar and Tom Jenner 461 23. Presence of the common Indian bronzeback snake (Dendrel aphis tristis ) in Rajasthan By Satish Kumar Sharma 462 24. Unusual caudal scales of Buff-striped Keelback Amphiesma stolata (Linnaeus) By Satish Kumar Sharma 462 AMPHIBIAN 25. Throat coloration in female Microhyla omata (Dum. & Bibr.) By Satish Kumar Sharma 463 FISHES 26. Additions to the Lepidocephalid fishes of Bihar, India By Safal Kumar Mishra 463 27. On Puntius setnai Chhapgar and Sane: New Report and Comments (With a text figure) By G.M. Yazdani and H.V. Ghate 464 INSECTS 28. New adult male attractants of Danaid butter- flies By Naresh Chaturvedi 466 29. Occurrence of Palaearctic Cladocera Diaphanosoma brachyurum (Lieven) in West Bengal (With three text- figures) By K. Venkataraman and S.R. Das 466 BOTANY 30. Spondias acuminata Roxb. By AJ.G.H. Kostermans 467 31. On the stomatal pecularities in myr tales (With three text -figures) By V. Ramassamy and B. Kannabiran 468 32. New records of Fabaceae from Garhwal Himalaya (With four text-figures) By L.R. Dangwal, D.S. Rawat and R.D. Gaur 470 33. The Entada Adans. (Mimosaceae) puzzle By AJ.G.H. Kostermans 472 34. Some nomenclatural corrections in Genus Toona Roemer By S.M. Almeida and M.R. Almeida 473 35. Unusual flowering episodes as a function of rainfall in Anisomeles indica O. Kuntze (Lamiaceae) By Raju J.S. Aluri and C. Subba Reddi 475 36. Doum palms at Bhamgarh in interior Rajasthan By Almitra H. Patel 476 37. The Branching Palm in Diu By Lavkumar Khacher 476 38. The location of Drude's line in Rajasthan By Alka Awasthi 477 39. Neanotis lancifolia (Hook, f.) Lewis — An addition to the Flora of Andhra Pradesh (With a text-figure) By M.S. Gayathri, T. Pullaiah and P.V. Prasanna. 478 40. Pulicaria foliolosa DC., A new distributional record to Peninsular India (With a text-figure) By C. Prabhakar Raju, B. Ravi Prasad Rao and R.R. Venkata Raju 480 Annual Report of the Bombay Natural History Society 483 Statement of Accounts of the Bombay Natural History Society 503 Minutes of the Annual General Meeting 519 JOURNAL OF THE BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY December 1994 Vol. 91 No. 3 WHY BONELLI’S EAGLES HUNT IN PAIR : AN ASSESSMENT OF INDIVIDUAL AND PAIRED HUNTING SUCCESSES1 Milind G. Watvf,, Niranjan R. Sant and Vuay Joshi2 (With a text-figure ) Key words: foraging behaviour, co-operative hunting, Bonelli's eagle The hunting strategies and hunting successes of a breeding pair of Bonelli’s Eagles were studied over five breeding seasons. Active hunting singly was found to be the most efficient method of hunting followed by active hunting in pair. The sit and wait methods were less efficient. In spite of active hunting in pair being significantly less efficient than hunting singly, the eagles spent much time soaring and hunting together. The possible explanations for this behaviour are discussed in this paper. Introduction The Bonelli’s Eagle (Hieraaetus fasciatus) is a, slender built, medium sized resident eagle inhabiting lightly wooded hill ranges. It hunts either by a quick dash from cover (referred in this paper as the ‘‘sit and wait” method) or scans the hillsides while soaring and makes a stoop (the “active search” method). The breeding pair remains together even outside the breeding season and both the partners are often seen soaring and hunting together (Brown and Amadon 1968). The hunting strategies of a breeding pair of Bonelli’s eagles were observed over five breeding seasons to see whether hunting together is more beneficial than hunting singly. There could be following potential advantages of hunting in pair: (1) increase in search efficiency; (2) increase in killing efficiency; (3) the pair can kill larger prey Accepted May 1993. 2Life Research Foundation, 10, Pranav Society, 1000/6C, Navi Peth, Pune 411 030. than individuals; (4) protecting the kill from rivals; (5) reduction in handling time; (6) greater net energy gain. It is also possible that one of the eagles is a cheater and takes advantage of the hunting skills of the other (Packer and Ruttan 1988). All of the above possibilities are discussed in the light of field data. Materials and Methods A pair of Bonelli’s eagles (Hieraaetus fasciatus ) is resident in a hill range along the north-west boundaries of Pune city. Their nest was located on a Dalbergia sp. tree at about 15 metres height. The foraging behaviour of the pair was observed over five breeding seasons beginning from 1985-86. The nesting period was chosen for observations because the activities were centred around the nest, making observations easier and also there was much variation in the total food requirement during the nesting period. Out of the five seasons more than 70% of our observations came from the 1986-87 and 1988-89 seasons. Observations were restricted 356 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) to week-ends and holidays. By placing three observers at a time along the crest line of the hill stretch, it was possible to keep the eagles in sight for 50 to 90% of the times during a day. The following data were recorded: 1. The breeding success of the pair in 5 consecutive seasons: The success or failure to rear the nestlings to the fledgling stage was recorded for each year. 2. Time spent in active hunting and food gathered: The time spent in soaring, hunting attempts and prey handling was included in the active hunting time. The total time spent in active hunting per day and the number of kills brought to the nest were noted. When the eagles soared out of sight for a short time and returned, they were assumed to be hunting actively. However, when they were out of sight for more than 25% of the day, the day’s observations were not included in this data. 3 . Hunting efficiencies: When the eagles were in sight, the time spent in soaring alone or in pair, as well as the time spent on perch were recorded. The number of hunting attempts and the outcome was noted. Hunting efficiencies, search efficiencies and killing efficiencies were calculated from these data (Table 2). Results and Discussion The breeding success of the pair over 5 years was 0.8 fledglings per year (Table 1). This is similar to the success of the European race of Bonelli’s Table 1 Year No. of eggs laid No. of nestlings survived 1985-86 ? 1 1986-87 2 2 1987-88 2 0 1888-89 (first attempt) 2 0 1988-89 (second attempt) 1? 1 1989-90 2 0 Fig. 1. Number of kills brought to the nest as a function of the time spent in active hunting. [a] □ days when only the male hunted r = 0.712 0 slope = Ya - Yp = 0.5437 Y intercept = -0.63054 estimated Kc = 2.196 [b] ■ days when both parents hunted slope = 0.36032 Y intercept = - 1.6796 estimated Kc = 4.0286 (see equation 1.) eagles (0.8/pair/annum) and larger than the African race (0.5 /pair/annum) (Brown and Amadon 1968). Throughout the five breeding seasons, the male hunted alone during incubation period and fed the female on or near the nest. This practice continued for two weeks after hatching. Between the 12th to 14th day the female joined the male in hunting for part of the day and her contribution increased rapidly during the following week. In the third and fourth week the pair did most of the active hunting together. In the 1986-87 season, when two nestlings successfully fledged, during the 6th to 8th week the eagles spent much time hunting separately in different locations particularly in the afternoon. In other seasons they tended to soar together for most of the time. & The efficiency of active search method was observed to be much higher than the sit and wait method (Table 2). This is consistent with the observation that, when the food requirement of the family was low, the sit and wait method was preferred, but as the food requirement of the family increased, more and more time was spent in active BONELLI'S EAGLES HUNTING SUCCESSES 357 Table 2 Hunting method Single Paired Hours observed 121 21.05 Sit no. of attempts per hour 0.876 1.473 and (search efficiency) success/attempt 0.198 0.355 wait (killing efficiency) success/hour 0.174 0.523 (hunting efficiency) (0.261/bird hour) Soaring hours observed 53.19 49.10 Active search no. of attempts per hour (search efficiency) 3.1 2.65 success/attempt (killing efficiency) 0.33 0.43 success/hour 1.02 1.14 ** (hunting efficiency) (0.507/bird hour) No. of observed cases of 3 0 failure to protect the kill out of 54 out of 56 Mean handling time per kill (min.) 9.35 10.02 We test the null hypothesis that the efficiency of paired hunting = twice the efficiency of single hunting, by the likelihood ratio test. ** Null hypothesis rejected, efficiency of paired hunting less than twice that of single hunting. hunting (Fig. 1). If we assume a fixed limit ‘T to the maximum number of hours available for hunting in a day, this time could have been divided into sit and wait and active hunting . We can therefore write the mean number of kills in a day (K) as, K = ta*Ya + (T-ta)*Yp where, ta = time spent in active hunting Ya = efficiency of active hunting Yp = efficiency of sit and wait An estimate of K was difficult to obtain in the field since the eagles could be consuming a few kills when out of sight. An accurate record of the number of kills brought to the nest was however maintained and therefore we can write, Kn + Kc = ta*Ya + (T-ta) * Yp where, Kn = no. of kills brought to the nest Kc = mean no. of kills consumed away from the nest or, Kn = ta (Ya-Yp) + TYp - Kc (eqn. 1). Since Ya > Yp (Table 2), a straight line with positive slope is expected when we plot the number of kills brought to the nest against the time spent in active hunting (Fig. 1). An estimate of Kc can then be obtained from the intercept. In the active search method, as opposed to sit and wait method, by pairing the hunting success did not double (Table 2). The search efficiency of the pair in fact seemed to be less than that of individuals. This might be because when two birds were flying, the probability of alerting the prey was more (Anderson and Norberg 1981). This probably did not apply for sit and wait method where the search efficiency of the pair was observed to be more. The killing efficiency of the pair was better for both the methods but in case of active hunting this did not compensate for the twofold work input and decrease in search efficiency. Thus the eagles did not seem to do better by soaring together. In spite of this, the eagles seemed to prefer soaring together for 35 to 90% of the times in a day’s hunt during the 3rd to 7th week of brooding. The prey species could not be identified every time a kill was observed. From examination of remains of kills and pellets, no appreciable difference could be noted during incubation, when 358 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) the male hunted alone and during 3rd to 7th week, when most of the hunting was done in pair. Throughout the study period, the majority of prey ranged in size between quails and pigeons. A hombill kill was found during incubation phase when the male hunted alone. A black naped hare was seen killed by the male alone. Thus there was no convincing evidence that the eagles killed larger prey when hunting together. On three occasions the eagles lost their kill to either the tawny or the steppe eagles. On all these occasions the eagles were alone. A similar incident has been reported by Dharmakumarsinhji and Lavkumar (1972). On the other hand the pair was seen exchanging a kill in air in presence of three steppe eagles soaring immediately above. Thus apparently the pair was able to protect the kill better when together. The observed data do not show a statistically significant difference in the frequencies of being robbed when hunting singly or together. Assuming robbery to follow Poison distribution we can see that the chances of observing zero robbery are 0.2171, which is fairly high. But even if we assume the pair to be protecting better, the frequency of being robbed was not high enough to justify hunting in pair. From energy considerations, hunting in pair could be beneficial if the net energy gain per unit time of the pair was more than double that of individuals. The net energy gain per unit time is defined as the energy gain per unit time from successful kills - the energy loss per unit time from unsuccessful attempts. Therefore, Ys (Es* Ps* Ks - { l-Ks*Ps} E’s) < Yd (Ed* Pd* Kd - (1-Kd* Pd) E’d) 2 where, Y = search efficiency (no. of attempts per hour) E = mean energy gain per successful kill K = killing efficiency (success/attempt) P = probability of protecting the kill successfully from rivals E’= energy loss in unsuccessful attempt the suffix ‘s’ denotes hunting singly and ‘d’ denotes paired hunting. With the empirical values (for Ys, Ks, Yd, Kd, Ps, Pd, and with the assumption that Es - Ed and E’s = E’d, it can be seen that, 3.1* (0.92*0.33*E - 0.67*0.92*E’) <2.65* (1*0.43*E - 0.57*l*E’)/2. This condition will be satisfied only if E’ > 0.321 E. This is highly unlikely because with the energy loss in unsuccessful attempts being so high and only one attempt in three (Table 2) being successful, the eagles would hardly get enough for themselves and feeding the nestling would be impossible. Secondly, since they make use of thermal currents for soaring and gravitational force for diving, the energy input is not expected to be very high. This can be seen from the following computations. From Fig. la and eq.l the mean number of kills consumed by the male per day during incubation period can be calculated to be 2. 196. The incubating female on an average consumed one kill per day. If the basic metabolic requirement of the male is assumed to be similar, active hunting must have increased the requirement by 1 to 1.5 kills. The male made 3 to 5 kills per day during this period, which would mean about 9 to 15 attempts given the killing efficiency as 0.33. If 9 to 15 attempts increase the food consumption by 1 to 1.5 kills, the E’should not exceed 0.167 times E. Active hunting in pair, therefore, cannot be explained on time and energy considerations. If the hunting efficiency of an individual is high, no advantage is expected by pairing (Packer and Ruttan 1988). Yet Bonelli’s eagles soar together very frequently. If availability of food is not the limiting factor in regulating brood size or breeding success in case of eagles (Meyburg 1974), hunting strategies need not be optimized with respect to time and energy by natural selection. In such a case other factors like strengthening the pair bond or cheating might be more important in determining behaviour. Throughout the nesting period, the male did the majority of the hunting and the female may be considered to be partially parasitic on the male. During incubation period, when the female was almost totally dependent on the male for food, soaring together was hardly ever observed. In paired hunting the initiative was most often taken by the male and the female followed. However, BONELLI'S EAGLES HUNTING SUCCESSES 359 many times the actual killing was done by the female. On three occasions, after locating the prey, the male stooped first followed by the female; the male missed the target but the female captured it successfully. This could be the reason why the killing efficiency of the pair was more than individuals. When only one nestling was reared, the maximum number of kills made in a day was 7 or 8. With the empirical hunting efficiency of individual hunting as 1.02/hour (Table 2) and assuming 9 to 10 hunting hours a day, the male alone could have gathered enough for the entire family. In spite of this the female joined the male in hunting. Thus neither the female seemed to be dependent on the male throughout the nesting period, nor soaring together was necessary when there was maximum dependence. Refer Anderson, M. & R.A. Norberg (1981) : Ecolution of reversed sexual size dimorphism and role partitioning among raptors, with a size scaling of flight performance. Biol. J. Liruiean Soc. 15: 105-130. Brown, L. & D. Amadon (1968): Eagles, Hawks and Falcons of the world. McGraw-Hill Book Co. These data thus suggest that Bonelli’s eagles do not hunt in pair in order to increase the efficiency of hunting. Although the efficiency of paired hunting is significantly low, it probably plays some role in the social behaviour of the eagles as very often they are seen soaring together. Soaring together may be important for strengthening the pair bond, advertisement of the territory or any other factors which could not be quantified during this study. Acknowledgements We thank Dr. M.B. Rajarshi, Dr. Mrs. S.A. Paranjpe, Dr. A.V. Kharshikar and Dr. A.P. Gore, Dept, of Statistics, University of Poona for their suggestions and help in analysing the data. ENCES Dharmakumarsinhji, R.S. & K.S. Lavkumar (1972): Sixty Indian Birds. Pub. Div. Min. Information & Broadcasting, Govt, of India. Meyburg, B.U. (1974): Sibling mortality and aggression among nestling eagles. Ibis 116: 224-228. Packer, C.&L. Ruttan (1988): Evolution of co-operative hunting. Am. Nat. 132: 159-198. THE BATS OF WESTERN INDIA REVISITED1 Part 3 P.J.J. Bates2, D.L. Harrison2 and M. Muni3 (With two plates and eight text-figures) (Continued from Vol. 91(2): 240) Family Rhinolophidae Rhinolophus rouxii Temminck, 1835 - Rufous Horseshoe bat Rhinolophus rouxii Temminck, 1835: Monographies de Mammalogie, 2: 30b. Pondicherry and Calcutta, India. External characters: A medium-sized Rhinolophus , except for specimens from the Himalayas which average smaller; wings with a gradual decrease in size of metacarpals from the longer fifth to shorter third, in R. ferrumequinum the third is distinctly shorter than the fourth; in rouxii, the second phalanx of the third finger is usually equal to or less than 1.5 times the length of the first phalanx, in R. affinis, it is considerably longer and exceeds 1.5 times. Lancet of horseshoe variable in height, sometimes triangular in shape with straight sides, sometimes with well developed tip and concave margins below; superior connecting process of the sella rounded off above, comparable in morphology to that of ferrumequinum and affinis. Ears relatively small, especially in comparison to ferrumequinum. Pelage soft and silky, not woolly as in the larger luctus; considerable variation in pelage colour ranging from orange, to russet brown to buffy brown to grey; an apparent seasonal bias in colour such that the orange and rufous tints predominate from October to April and the paler phases are most common in specimens collected from May to September; no sexual bias. Cranial and dental characters: Condylo- canine length of R. r. rouxii is comparable in size to that of R. affinis; palate with a relatively longer antero- posterior diameter, usually in excess of 1/4 of upper Accepted September 1992. 2Harrison Zoological Museum, Bowerwood House, St. Botolph’sX Road, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN 13 3AQ, England. 3Bombay Natural History Society, Hombill House, Dr. Salim Ali Chowk, Bombay 400 023, India. toothrow; mesopterygoid space broadly rounded off anteriorly, not narrowed as in R. ferrumequinum. Dentition less robust than that of R. ferrumequinum; canine not in contact with the second upper premolar (pm4); first upper premolar (pm2) is well developed and usually situated in the toothrow; second lower premolar (pm3) is also usually situated in the toothrow, although it may be extruded in a minority of specimens; the first (pm2) and third (pm4) premolars are not usually in contact. Dental formula: i 1/2 c 1/1 pm 2/3 m 3/3 = 32. Measurements: Based on specimens of both sexes from throughout the Indian subcontinent. mean range s n HB: 55.6 42 _ 63 5.4 73 T: 27.1 23 - 33 2.2 76 HE: 10.6 8.0 - 12.8 1.2 73 TIBIA: 21.8 18.5 - 24.3 1.3 56 FA: 47.9 44 - 52 1.8 87 3 MET: 36.8 33.0 - 39.4 1.3 80 4MET: 37.6 34.2 - 39.9 1.2 80 5MET: 38.0 35.5 - 40.3 1.2 80 3MET/1PH 14.2 10.7 - 16.1 2.0 67 3MET/2PH 21.1 17.9 - 24.2 1.4 62 WSP: 301.6 287 - 320 14.2 5 E: 19.6 15.5 - 22.0 1.2 71 GTL: 21.9 20.2 - 23.5 0.9 70 CCL: 18.9 17.4 - 21.0 0.9 82 ZB: 10.9 10.1 - 11.7 0.4 86 BB: 9.0 8.2 - 9.5 0.3 88 PC: 2.4 2.1 - 2.8 0.1 90 C-M3: 8.4 7.6 - 9.2 0.4 98 C-M3: 9.1 8.1 - 10.0 0.5 99 M: 15.0 13.4 - 16.4 0.7 99 M2-M2: 7.6 7.0 - 8.2 0.3 94 THE BATS OF WESTERN INDIA REVISITED 361 Fig. 11. Rhinolophus rouxii ranges from India and Sri Lanka to southern China and Vietnam. Records from INDIA include Solan [1], (Das, 1986) in Himachal Pradesh; Asgani [nl]; Savantvadi [2], (BMNH coll.); Bassein [3]; Borivli [4]; Vihar Lake [5]; Kanheri Caves [6]; Karnala [7]; Lohogad Fort [8]; Mahableshwar [9] ; Bhaja Caves [10]; Khandala [11], (Brosset, 1962a); Poona [12], (Modak & Kamat, 1968) in Maharashtra; Poinguinim [13], (Agrawal, 1973); Canacona [14], (Sinha, 1973) in Goa; Yellapur [15], (BMNH coll.); Devikop [16], (Wroughton, 1912b); Potoli [17]; Dandeli [18]; Barchi [19]; Hulekal [nl] ; Gersoppa [20], (Wroughton, 19 13); Sirsi [21], (Brosset, 1962a); Seringapatnam [22], (Ryley, 1913a); Bangalore [23], (Gopalakrishna & Rao, 1977); Talewadi [24], (this paper) in Karnataka; Tellicherry [25], (Jerdon, 1874); Silent Valley [26], (Das, 1986) in Kerala; Pondicherry [27], (type loc. of rouxii ); Coonoor [28], (Blanford, 1888-91); Shevaroy Hills [29]; Benhoke [30]; Palni Hills [31], (Sinha, 1973) in Tamil Nadu; Cuddapah [32]; Balapalli Range [33], (Sinha, 1973) in Andhra Pradesh; Udaygiri [34]; Jharsuguda [35]; Kotagarh [36], (Das & Agrawal, 1973) in Orissa; Bastar district [37], (Das, 1986) in Madhya Pradesh; Mussoorie [38], (Blanford, 1888-91); Dhakuri [39], (Wroughton, 1914) in Uttar Pradesh; Calcutta [40], (type loc. of rouxii); Pashok [41]; Daijeeling [42], (BMNH coll.); Nimbong [43], (Sinha, 1973); Ajodhya Hills [44], (Das, 1986) in West Bengal; Tashiding [45], (Bhat, 1972) in Sikkim and Siki [46], (Lai, 1982) in Arunachal Pradesh. Extralimital localities based on BMNH and HZM collections for NEPAL; type localities of rubidus, rammanikaand cinerascens, Phillips (1980), Wroughton (1915b) andNeuweiler etal. (1987) for SRI LANKA and Lai (1981) for upper BURMA. 362 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) Ecology: Rhinolophus rouxii is a forest species which is restricted to areas of relatively high rainfall. Its diurnal roosts tend to be humid and include caves, tunnels, hollow trees, wells, temples and less frequently old houses and barns. Males are excluded from the colonies during the period of parturition and lactation. The diet is comprised of grasshoppers, moths (Brosset 1962a); beetles and termites (Phillips 1924). Feeding begins after sunset; initially insects are mainly caught on the wing, the feeding flight is low, below tree top level, and individuals may often pass through near impenetrable bushes; this is followed by a period of inactivity of about 60-120 minutes; thereafter individuals forage throughout the night, but in ‘‘flycatcher style”, alighting on a specific perch, such as dead twig and making very short flights to catch passing prey (Neuweiler et al. 1987). Biology: There is a sharply defined breeding season. In Khandala, copulation takes place during the last week of December. The early development of the egg is slow and there is delayed implantation of the blastocyst. Gestation lasts 150-160 days and parturition occurs during the last week of May or early June in single sex maternal colonies, (Ramakrishna 1978). Lactation continues until the first week of August (Gopalakrishna and Rao 1977). Parturition occurs in May in Bangalore (Ramakrishna 1978). Material seen and/ or collected in March 1992 Locality Size of Colony No. of specimens taken Nature of biotope Talewadi Not known 6 Large cave in (25 March) probably between 60-150 individuals forested area Robbers' Cave Mahableshwar (28 March) Not known 1 Natural cave with permanent water inside Discussion: During the March 1992 survey, this species was observed at two sites. In both cases, the colony size could not be determined with accuracy. Brosset (1962a) located eleven colonies which ranged in numbers from a single individual to several hundred. Status: This would appear to be a common species in India and requires no special conservation measures. Rhinolophus lepidus Blyth, 1844 — Blyth’s Horseshoe bat Rhinolophus lepidus Blyth, 1844: Journal Asiat. Soc. Bengal, 13: 486. ? Calcutta. External characters: This is a relatively small species of Rhinolophus. The forearm averages longer than that of R. pusillus and greatly exceeds that of R. subbadius. The pelage is typically grey-brown dorsally and slightly paler ventrally. The horseshoe of the noseleaf measures between 6. 8-7. 3 mm in greatest breadth; the median emargination is narrow, lacking any posterior triangular groove. In contrast to R. pusillus , the sella is narrow basally and is not expanded centrally to any conspicuous extent; its upper part is parallel-margined or cuneate to a rounded tip. The connecting process is triangular with a straight anterior margin, blunt point and convex posterior margin. The lancet is triangular, tall and narrow with a blunt point (Hill and Yoshiyuki 1980). Cranial and dental characters: The small skull has a well developed rostrum; rostral width, measured adjacent to the nasal swellings, ranges from 4. 5-4. 8 mm in R. lepidus to 4. 1-4.5 mm in R. pusillus. In R. hipposideros , it is about 3.6 mm. The palate is emarginated anteriorly to a point equal to the paracone of m1 and posteriorly to the metacone of m2. The tympanic bullae are small, covering less than half of the large cochleae; the upper dentition usually exceeds 6.0 mm in length; in R. pusillus it is normally less than 6.0 mm. The small upper incisor is bicuspid; the first premolar (pm2) is a functional tooth that lies within the toothrow. THE BATS OF WESTERN INDIA REVISITED 363 Fig. 12. Rhinolophus lepidus ranges from Afghanistan, India, Burma and Thailand to southern China, Malaya and Sumatra. Records from INDIA include Delhi [1], (Brosset, 1962a) in Delhi; Jodhpur [2]; Ranthambhore [3]; Sikar Burz [4]; Bikaner [5], (Prakash, 1961) in Rajasthan; Helwak [6], (Wroughton, 1916a); Kanheri [7]; Nasik [8]; Kamala [9]; Khandala [10]; Lonavla [11]; Lohogad [12];Panchgani [13]; Mahableshwar [14];Ratnagiri [15], (Brosset, 1962a); Khopoli [16], (Tiwari etal., 1971) in Maharashtra; Jog Falls [17], (BMNH coll.); Gersoppa [18], (Wroughton, 1913) in Karnataka; Silent Valley [19], (Das, 1986) in Kerala; Salem [20], (Das, 1986) in Tamil Nadu; Palkonda Hills [21] ; Koduru [22], (BMNH coll.); Vishakhapatnam district [23], (Das, 1986) in Andhra Pradesh; Khandagiri [24]; Mohana [25], (Das & Agrawal, 1973) in Orissa; Sohagpur [26]; Narsingarh [27], (Wroughton, 1913); Mandu [28], (Brosset, 1962a); Jabalpur district [29], (Khajuria, 1979) in Madhya Pradesh; Mussoorie [30], (type loc. of monticola ); Khati [31]; Almora [32] ; Ranibag [33]; Philibhit [34], (Wroughton, 1914) in Uttar Pradesh; Singar [35]; Nimiaghat [36]; Luia [37], (Wroughton, 1915c); Gaya [38], (Siddiqi, 1961); Madhuban [39]; Munger [40]; Manharpur [nl], (Sinha, 1986) in Bihar; Midnapore [41], (Siddiqi, 1961); Salbani [42], (Sinha, 1980); Gurup [43], (Lai & Biswas, 1985) in West Bengal; Sibsagar [44], (Kurup, 1968) in Assam; Syndai [45]; Konshnong [46]; Shangpung [47], (Hinton & Lindsay, 1927) in Meghalaya. Extralimital localities based on Mitchell (1980) for NEPAL; BMNH coll., Wroughton (1915a) and Wroughton (1916a) for upper BURMA. 364 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) Measurements: Based on specimens of both sexes from throughout the Indian subcontinent. mean range s n HB: 44.9 39 . 54 4.1 22 T: 22.1 18 - 28 3.2 22 HF: 7.9 5.5 - 9.8 1.2 23 TIBIA: 16.5 14.9 - 17.4 0.6 19 FA: 40.0 38.0 - 41.8 1.0 24 3MET: 31.0 29.0 - 33.1 1.0 19 4MET: 31.7 30.0 - 33.6 0.9 19 5MET: 31.4 29.7 - 33.3 0.8 19 E: 16.5 15.0 - 18.2 0.9 22 GTL: 17.8 17.0 - 18.4 0.5 6 CCL: 15.0 14.5 - 15.5 0.3 16 ZB: 8.3 8.0 - 8.8 0.2 19 BB: 7.3 6.7 - 7.8 0.3 19 PC: 2.2 1.8 - 2.6 0.2 20 CM3: 6.3 6.0 - 6.8 0.2 20 C-M3: 6.7 6.4 - 7.4 0.2 20 M: 11.4 10.7 - 12.1 0.4 20 M2-M2: 5.9 5.6 - 6.7 0.3 20 Ecology: Rhinolophus lepidus favours wooded or forested country (Brosset 1962a), although Prakash (1961) found it in small numbers at Bikaner in a desert biome. It is found at a variety of altitudes ranging from 246-2338 metres (800-7600 feet) (Wroughton 1914). Diurnal roosts include dungeons, caves, tunnels, subterranean silos (Brosset 1962a), old houses (Sinha 1986) and ruined temples, (Lai and Biswas 1985). It sometimes lives alone or in scattered groups or sometimes in very compact clusters where a dozen to several hundred individuals are closely pressed together. The two sexes are not segregated. There appears to be a small, well marked hunting territory, which is often close to the diurnal roost. It hunts alone with a slow, low and fanciful flight. It explores the foliage of trees, coming and going through the branches, with frequent stops to pick an insect off a leaf (Brosset 1962a). It feeds on small insects such as mosquitoes, small moths and Coleoptera (Brosset 1962a); Dipteran flies and Hymenopteran insects (Sinha 1986). Biology: In Maharashtra, females give birth to a single infant at the beginning of May (Brosset 1962a). MATERIAL SEEN AND/ OR COLLECTED IN MARCH 1992 Locality Size of Colony No. of specimens taken Nature of biotope Hindola Palace, Three colonies: 4 Dungeons near Mandu (11 March) each of 40-50 individuals palace Lohani Caves, Mandu (13 March) 50- 60 individuals 2 Man-made caves, with water supply inside Discussion: During the March 1992 survey, this species was seen at two different localities at Mandu. The colony sizes appeared similar to those observed by Brosset (1962a) in this ancient city. Brosset also collected specimens at Mahableshwar. This species was not mist netted at this latter locality during the recent survey, but may have been present in small numbers. Status: This species appears to have a relatively stable population. However, many of its diurnal roosts are potentially susceptible to disturbance by man, not least those in sites of archaeological interest. The fitness of populations in roosts such as Mandu and Tuglakabad Fort, New Delhi deserve careful monitoring. Hipposideros fuivus Gray, 1838 — Fulvous Leaf-nosed bat Hipposideros fuivus Gray, 1838: 492. Dharwar, India. External characters: A relatively small species of Hipposideros with very large ears. Forearm length exceeds that of H. ater but is significantly shorter than that of H. speoris. Ears with tips broadly rounded off, posterior margins THE BATS OF WESTERN INDIA REVISITED 365 Fig. 13. Hipposideros futvus ranges from Afghanistan to India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Records from INDIA include Jaipur [1], (BMNH coll.); Jodhpur [2]; Jhalara-Patan [3]; Ajmer [4], (Sinha, 1980); Bundi [5]; Dungarpur [6]; Jhalawar [7], (Advani, 1982); Bharatpur [8], (Bhupathy, 1987) in Rajasthan; Bhuj [9], (Wroughton, 1912a); Junagadh [10]; Rajkot [11]; Keshod [12]; Talala [13]; Sasan [14]; Sadia [15], (Ryley, 1913b); Palanpur [16], (Ryley, 1914a); Bochasan [17], (Brosset, 1962a) in Gujarat; Bandra [18], (BMNH coll.); Shirgaum [19], (Wroughton, 19 16a); Elephanta [20], (Ali, 1953); Chikalda [21]; Aurangabad [22]; Nasik [23]; Bombay [24]; Vihar Lake [25]; Lonavla [26]; Mahableshwar [27]; Ratnagiri [28], (Brosset, 1962a); Nagpur [29], (Sabnis, 1973); Nanded [30]; Marathwada [nl], (Madhavan et al., 1978) in Maharashtra; Gadag [31]; Dharwar [32], (Wroughton, 1912 b); Honawar [33]; Vijyanagar [34], (Wroughton, 1913); Coromandal [35], (Ryley, 1913a); [specimen from Haleri listed by Ryley (1913b) considered to be type of pomona , (Hill etal., 1986)] in Karnataka; Sohagpur [36], (BMNH coll.); Hoshangabad [37], (Wroughton, 1913); Shepore [38], (Lindsay, 1927); Jabalpur District [39], (Khajuria, 1979) in Madhya Pradesh; Varanasi [40], (Khajuria, 1979) in Uttar Pradesh; Chaibassa [41], (BMNH coll.); districts of Darbhanga [42]; Gaya [43]; Giridih [44]; Hazaribag [45] and Munger [46], (Sinha, 1986) in Bihar. Extralimital localities based on Siddiqi (1961), Roberts (1977) and Wroughton (1916c) for PAKISTAN and Scully (1887) for NEPAL. There is no confirmation that this species has been found in SRI LANKA; it would appear that past records, (Ryley, 1914b; Wroughton, 1915b), are in fact referrable to H. ater. Hill et al. (1986) suggest that specimens from Sikkim, north-east India and Burma (and therefore by inference Bangladesh) referred to H.fulvus may actually prove to be H. pomona; therefore the following records have not been included on the map: Pashok; Narbong, (Wroughton, 1916b) in West Bengal; Rongli, (Wroughton, 1916b) in Sikkim; Nazira; Sibsagar; Cachar, (Kurup, 1968) in Assam; Cherrapunji, (Kurup, 1968) in Meghalaya; Kamorta Island, (Saha, 1980) in Nicobar Islands. 366 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) without a concavity near the tip. Noseleaf without supplementary leaflets; anterior leaf with a greatest width of about 5.0 mm; internarial septum uninflated; intermediate leaf simple; posterior leaf subdivided into four cells by three vertical septa. Pelage variable in colour ranging from dull yellow to pale grey to golden-orange. Adult weight ranges from 8 to 9 grams (Gopalakrishna 1969). Cranial characters: Skull intermediate in size between H. speoris and the smaller//, ater. Rostrum relatively narrower than that of H. speoris, with the nasal inflations less developed and without a shallow frontal depression; zygomata with well defined post- orbital projections; anterior border of mesopterygoid space usually V-shaped. Skull differs from that of H. pomona in having the posterior part of the vomer narrow and rather more slender, a narrower sphenoidal bridge and a narrower sphenoidal depression, (Hill et al. 1986). Anterior upper premolar (pm2) minute, extruded from the toothrow, c1 and second upper premolar (pm4) in contact or nearly so. In contrast to H. pomona, anterior lower premolar (pm2) much reduced, its length one quarter to one third the length of the second premolar (pm4), its height one quarter to one half the height of that tooth. In pomona pm2 is less reduced, its length one half or more the length of pm4 and its height two thirds that of the second tooth (Hill et al. 1986). Dental formula: i 1/2 c 1/1 pm 2/2 m 3/3 = 30. Measurements: Based on specimens of both sexes from throughout the Indian subcontinent. mean range s n HB: 46.7 40 . 52 3.1 33 T: 29.2 24 - 35 3.2 32 HE: 7.6 5 - 11 1.4 32 FA: 40.4 37.9 - 44.0 1.8 34 E: 21.8 19.0 - 24.0 1.0 32 GTL: 18.0 17.2 - 18.6 0.3 25 CCL: 15.6 15.0 16.4 0.3 34 ZB: 9.2 8.6 - 9.6 0.2 38 BB: 8.4 7.5 - 9.4 0.5 37 PC: 2.5 2.2 - 2.8 0.1 41 C-M3: 6.3 6.0 _ 6.9 0.2 45 C-M3: 6.8 6.4 - 7.5 0.2 47 M: 11.5 10.9 - 12.2 0.3 42 Ecology: Hipposideros fulvus is found in a variety of natural biomes ranging from dry plains to forests at the highest levels of the Ghats (Brosset 1962a). Its diurnal roosts include porcupine earths (Ryley 1913b), cellars, old houses, dilapidated buildings (Madhavan et al 1978), caves, tunnels (Brosset 1962a) and open wells (Roberts 1977). It favours cool damp places and relies on the proximity of water and shade. Colony size ranges from a few individuals to over 200; when roosting it remains isolated from its neighbour. The hunting territory is close-by and hunting groups are comprised of four to five individuals. The flight is slow and fluttering and it hunts very close to the ground. The roost is often revisited during the night. It appears to favour cockroaches and beetles (Madhavan et al. 1978). Biology: In Maharashtra, copulation, ovulation, fertilisation and pregnancy all occur in mid- November. The gestation period lasts 150-160 days and parturition takes place in a two week period during the last week of April and first week of May. The single infant is carried by the mother continually for 20-22 days or until it weighs about 4.5 grams. Lactation occurs until 29 July; there is communal suckling within the colony. Sexual maturity for both sexes is attained at 18-19 months. Adult females are more common than males (Madhavan et al 1978). MATERIAL SEEN AND/ OR COLLECTED IN MARCH 1992 Locality Size of Colony No. of Nature of specimens taken biotope Elephanta 18 in three caves 1 Man-made (8 March) caves Discussion: Brosset (1962a) located this species at nine localities; colony size varied from 8 to 250 individuals. During the recent expedition it was only seen at Elephanta, where the colony THE BATS OF WESTERN INDIA REVISITED 367 size was considerably reduced from that reported by Brosset (1962a). Status: This species has wide geographical range but appears to have a relatively low population density. It is probable that tourist pressure at some of the more popular archaeological sites has led to a reduction in colony size. Hippos id eros speoris (Schneider, 1800) — Schneider’s Leaf-nosed bat Vespertilio speoris Schneider, 1800: pi. 59b. Tranquebar, India (Tate 1941: 377). External characters: A medium-small species of Hipposideros, with the forearm significantly longer than that of H. fulvus but the ears markedly smaller and with pointed tips. Noseleaf with three supplementary leaflets; posterior leaf divided into four cells by three vertical septa, its upper edge slightly thickened and without processes; frontal sac present in males; in females represented by a tuft of hairs. Hind feet large in comparison to those of H. fulvus. Pelage colour variable; some individuals are grey, palest on the ventral surface and between the shoulders on the upper back, darker on the flanks and posteriorly; others are yellowish -brown or bright orange -brown. Body weight of males and non- pregnant females is 9-10 grams (Gopalakrishna and Bhatia 1982) Cranial and dental characters: Skull short and robust with the sagittal crest well defined anteriorly and with low supraorbital ridges. Unlike H. fulvus , there is a shallow frontal depression. Nasal inflations well developed, separated by a shallow groove; mesopterygoid space is U-shaped anteriorly. Upper incisor simple and spatulate; upper canine with weak anterior and low posterior cusps; anterior upper premolar (pm2) compressed and extruded from tooth row; second upper premolar (pm4) with well defined anterior cusp; anterior lower premolar (pm2) relatively larger than that of H. fulvus. Measurements: Based on specimens of both sexes from throughout the Indian subcontinent. mean range s n HB: 54.7 46 - 62 3.7 42 T: 25.2 20 29 2.3 42 HF: 8.2 7 11 0.7 42 FA: 50.8 46 54 1.6 50 E: 16.9 13 19 1.3 43 GTL: 19.4 18.3 - 20.5 0.5 44 CCL: 16.6 15.9 - 17.5 0.4 52 ZB: 10.9 10.2 - 11.5 0.4 53 BB: 8.6 8.1 - 9.0 0.3 53 PC: 2.9 2.5 - 3.2 0.2 63 C-M3: 7.2 6.6 - 7.5 0.2 67 C-M3: 7.7 7.2 - 8.5 0.3 67 M: 13.1 12.3 - 13.9 0.3 66 Ecology: Hipposideros speoris is found in a variety of biotopes ranging from dry, flat country to forested hills; it has been collected at altitudes ranging upto 1385 metres (4500 feet) in Sri Lanka (Phillips 1980). Its diurnal roosts include crevices in hills (Wroughton 1913); caves, caverns; disused buildings (Phillips 1980); tunnels and temples (Brosset 1962a). Colony size ranges from a few individuals to several hundred or even a thousand (Brosset 1962a, Usman 1988). According to Brosset (1962a), at Badami in Karnataka, it leaves the diurnal roost about 10 minutes after sunset and tends to feed close to the roost. It hunts in groups of 10- 15 individuals, flying close to the ground, almost touching rocks and bushes, with a slow but very skilful flight and with continual changes of direction. It feeds on mosquitoes, flies (Brosset 1962a); beetles and other low flying insects, especially termites (Phillips 1980). Biology: At Chandrapur in Maharashtra, copulation, followed by ovulation and fertilization, takes place in different individuals of the colony on different dates from the last week of December to the second week of March. Gestation lasts for 135- MO days and parturition in the colony takes place from the first week of May to the last week of July. The majority of deliveries occur between 17 May and 13 June. Females in lactation were collected until 14 September. The single infant is carried by the mother until it weighs about 6 grams. Females attain sexual maturity at 7.5 to 8 months whilst males do 368 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) Fig. 14. Hipposideros speoris is confined to the Indian subcontinent. Records from INDIA include Baroda [1]; Rajmahal [2], (Sinha, 1981) in Gujarat; Asgani [nl], (BMNH coll.); Elephanta [3]; Borivli [4]; Kanheri [5]; Poona [6]; Alibag [7]; Pakhal [8], (Shivkumara Swamy etal., 1984); Chanda [8J, (Blanford, 1888-91); Nanded district [9], (Gopalakrishna & Bhatia, 1982); Ellora [10], (this paper) in Maharashtra; Mysore [11]; Kolar [50], (BMNH coll.); Gadag [12], (Wroughton, 1912b); Gersoppa [13]; Honawar [14]; Vijayanagar [15], (Wroughton, 1913); Seringapatam [16]; Sivasamudram [17], (Ryley, 1913a); Wotekolli [18], (Ryley, 1913b); Hampi [19]; Pattadkal [20]; Badami [21], (Brosset, 1962a); Belgaum [22], (Sinha, 1976); Bangalore [23], (Ramakrishna et al., 1981) in Karnataka; Trivandrum [24], (Sinha, 1976) in Kerala; Kurumbapatti [nl]; Tirthamalai [nl], (BMNH coll); Salem [25] ; Madras [26], (Jerdon, 1874); Trichinopoly [27]; Travancore [28], (Blanford, 1888-91); Nagercoil [29], (Sinha, 1976); Keela Kuyil Kudi [30]; Kanavai Katha Bootham [nl]; Pannian Malai [51], (Usman, 1988); Madurai [31], (Marimuthu & Selvanayagam, 1981) in Tamil Nadu; Koduru [32]; Thummalah [33], (BMNH coll.); Nellore [34], (Jerdon, 1874); Cuddapah [35]; Palkonda Hills [36], (Sinha, 1976) in Andhra Pradesh; Mahendragiri [37], (BMNH coll.) in Orissa; Dehra Dun [38], (Jerdon, 1874) in Uttar Pradesh. Extralimital localities based on BMNH coll., Wroughton (1915b), Phillips (1980) and Ryley (1914b). THE BATS OF WESTERN INDIA REVISITED 369 not attain maturity until at least 16-17 months (Gopalakrishna and Bhatia 1982). Ramakrishna et al (1981) noted that the breeding season commences in mid-November in Bangalore; in Tamil Nadu, most females gave birth during September and October (Radhamani et al 1990). MATERIAL SEEN AND/ OR COLLECTED IN MARCH 1992 Locality Size of Colony No. of Nature of specimens biotope taken Ellora (4 March) 40-50 individuals in cave 16 2 Artificial cave Discussion: Brosset (1962a) located this bat at nine localities. It was extremely common in some sites, for example at Alibag where colony size was estimated at 1000 in a natural cave on a hill. During this recent study, it was only found at Ellora. It was not seen atElephanta, although Brosset (1962a) had previously located a colony of some 350 specimens in an artificial cave. Status: This is a widespread and plentiful species. Although only one colony was located on this recent survey, it is apparently a common species throughout much of its range. Hipposideros lankadiva Kelaart, 1850 — Kelaart’s Leaf-nosed bat Hipposideros lankadiva Kelaart, 1850: 216. Kandy, Ceylon. External characters: A large Hipposideros with a characteristic pelage colour ranging from pale cream, to fulvous brown, orange and even a bright red (Brosset 1962a); tends to be darker on the forehead, shoulders and on the rump; paler on the belly. Noseleaf with four supplementary leaflets bordering the horseshoe, the fourth much reduced, sometimes absent. The maximum weight of males is 76 grams and of non-pregnant females is 55 grams (Sapkal and Bhandarkar 1984). Cranial and dental characters: Skull robust with the frontal region of the rostrum inflated and convex, in H. armiger it is flattened; unlike H. diadema , there is no posterior depression. Breadth of the frontals (8. 1-8.5 mm) is significantly narrower than that of H . armiger (9.6 mm). In lateral profile, there is a sharp angle between the plane of the nasal orifice and the dorsal surface of the nasal inflations; in H. armiger this sharp angulation is not present. Sagittal crest less well developed than that of H. armiger and braincase shallower in dorsal-ventral diameter; mesopterygoid space V-shaped anteriorly, in H. armiger it is rounded; cochlea of each tympanic bulla less inflated than that of H. armiger. Upper incisor bicuspid; anterior upper premolar (pm2) smooth crowned and minute, situated external to the cingulum of c1; crown area of outer lower incisor greatly exceeds that of the inner. Measurements: Based on specimens of both sexes from throughout the Indian subcontinent. mean range s n HB: 92.2 89 98 3.6 5 T: 46.0 39 58 7.5 6 HF: 15.3 12.7 - 20 2.6 6 FA: 89 84 99 5.2 1 WSP: 468 468 468 - 1 E: 23.6 19.5 - 30 37 6 GTL: 32.9 30.2 - 36.0 2.5 7 CCL: 29.4 27.1 - 31.0 1.5 9 ZB: 19.2 17.5 - 20.6 1.2 12 BB: 12.1 11.2 - 13.2 0.8 10 PC: 3.9 3.5 - 4.2 0.3 10 C-M3: 13.8 12.5 - 14.5 0.7 14 C-M3: 15.2 13.7 - 16.5 ' 1.0 12 M: 24.4 22.0 - 26.2 1.6 13 Ecology: Hipposideros lankadiva is only known from a few colonies in the Indian subcontinent. Colony size ranges from 50 to several thousand individuals. Roosts include caves, old tunnels (Phillips 1980) and old temples (Sapkal and Bhandarkar 1984). It is easily disturbed, (Sapkal and Bhandarkar 1984) and a colony of the closely related H. schistaceus at Vijayanagar was completely deserted after gun-shots were fired within it (Wroughton 1913). Both sexes are usually found 370 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) / Fig. 15. Hipposideros lankadiva is confined to the Indian subcontinent. Records from INDIA include Bhimbharak [1], (Wason, 1978) in Rajasthan; Chandrapur [2], (Sapkal & Bhandarkar, 1984) in Maharashtra; Vijayanagar, (referred to schistaceus Wroughton, 1913); Kolar [3], (Ryley, 1913a); Gersoppa [4], (Brosset, 1962a) in Karnataka; Balharshah [nl], (Gopalakrishna, 1986); Mundra [5]; Hoshangabad [6], (Wroughton, 1913); Mandu [7], (Brosset, 1962a) in Madhya Pradesh ; Siju Cave [8], (Kurup, 1968) in Meghalaya. Extralimital localities based on BMNH coll, and Phillips (1980) for SRI LANKA. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 91 Plate 3 Bates et al.: Bats of Western India i 10. Rhinolophus rouxii; 11. Rhinolophus lepidus ; 12. Hipposideros fulvus; 13. Hipposideros speoris. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 91 Plate 4 Bates et al.: Bats of Western India 14. Hipposideros lankadiva; 15. Otomops wroughtoni; 16. Pipistrellus ceylonicus; 17. Miniopteris schreibersii. THE BATS OF WESTERN INDIA REVISITED 371 in the same colony throughout the year. When at rest, its wings are not folded round le body but extended as in Taphozous and hinopoma (Wroughton 1913). It is frequently a high flyer and may be seen in %e early evening, ‘hawking’ high up in the air, in the company of bats such as Pipistrellus , (Wroughton 1913). Its heavy dentition permits it to eat large, hard insects, particularly Coleoptera; quanties of fat are stored at the base of the tail and reabsorbed during winter (Brosset 1962). Biology: It breeds once a year. At Chandrapur, copulation takes place between 22 August and 5 September. The gestation period is about 260 days; it is prolonged due to a retarded development of the embryo after implantation. Deliveries take place between 10-3 1 May and females were found carrying their single young until 26 June, when the juveniles weighed 22 grams. Sexual maturity is not attained in the year of birth (Sapkal and Bhandarkar 1984). MATERIAL SEEN AND/OR COLLECTED IN MARCH 1992 Locality Size of Colony No. of Nature of specimens taken biotope Mandu Not located 4 Collected in (14 March) mist net, situated at head of valley, adjacent to Hotel Nataraj Discussion: This species would appear to be restricted to a limited number of large colonies. Brosset (1962a) observed an enormous colony of 5000-7000 in the subterranean retreats of the Champa Baoli (palace) at Mandu. This has subsequently been superseded by an equally large colony of Rousettus leschenaultii and Taphozous melanopogon. However, that individuals were caught in a near-by mist net suggests that the colony has moved but is still present within the general area. Status: Hipposideros lankadiva is an uncommon species endemic to the subcontinent. It is recorded from just eight localities within India. It is apparently easily disturbed by man. Its roosts deserve special protection. Otomops wroughtoni (Thomas, 1913) — Wroughton’ s Free- tailed bat Nyctinomus wroughtoni Thomas, 1913: 87. Barapede Cave, near Talewadi, Kanara, India. External characters: Pelage a rich glossy dark chocolate brown above, especially on crown of head and rump; thin white border on each flank, extending from axilla to groin, and on antibrachial membranes; shoulders and nape of neck with characteristic, strongly contrasting pale greyish white mantle, upper back with admixture of paler hairs; ventral surface, dull brown but with a contrasting grey collar, variably extending onto chin and upper chest; dark hairs present on underside of wing to a line extending from elbow to mid-thigh. Ears very large, connected medially, inner margin convex, dotted with a number of small homy points; tip broadly rounded; no antitragus, but with well developed extra lobe on inner side of conch; tragus minute, triangular. Small, shallow gular sac present in both sexes. Cranial and dental characters: Skull relatively long, smooth and well rounded; a marked concavity present on the upper braincase at the fronto-parietal suture; premaxillaries not always co-ossified; anterior palatal foramen small, flask- shaped, widest posteriorly; posterior edge of palate level with m3; basi sphenoid pits deep and sharply defined, with overhanging edges; septum well developed; tympanic bullae very large and elongated, their antero-intemal border nearly, or in contact with, pterygoids. Single upper incisor simple, well developed, about half the height of the canine, shaft narrowing both above and below the cingulum; canine slender but well developed, cingulum distinct, but without secondary cusps; first upper premolar (pm2) small, located in tooth row, sometimes in contact with second upper premolar (pm4), which is well developed and with a large antero-intemal cusp; upper molars normal. m3 not greatly reduced; lower incisors very small, bifid, crowns in contact with each other and with canine; lower premolars normal in form and size, JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) Fig. 16. Otomops wroughtoni is only known from the type locality of Barapede Cave, Talewadi near Belgaum [1] in Karnataka, INDIA. THE BATS OF WESTERN INDIA REVISITED 373 the first (pm2) not as high as second (pm4) but with the cross section nearly as great; lower molars with the three inner cusps approximately equal in height. Dental formula: i 1/2 c 1/1 pm 2/2 m 3/3 = 30. Measurements: Based on specimens of both sexes from India. mean range s n HB: 92.1 87 - 99 3.8 11 T: 45.2 43 - 48 2.3 11 HF: 11.8 10 - 14 1.2 11 FA: 64.5 58 - 67 2.7 11 WSP: 421.3 408 - 433 12.6 3 E: 32.5 31 - 34 0.8 11 GTL: 24.8 24.2 - 25.2 0.4 8 CBL: 22.7 22.1 - 23.2 0.4 8 ZB: 13.1 12.6 - 13.3 0.2 7 BB: 11.1 10.9 - 11.3 0.1 8 PC: 5.3 5.1 - 5.6 0.2 10 C-M2: 9.0 8.8 - 9.2 0.1 11 C-M3: 9.5 9.2 - 9.8 0.2 11 M: 16.4 15.9 - 16.9 0.3 11 Ecology: Otomops wroughtoni is apparently confined to one diurnal roost, a large natural cave, situated on a remote plateau rising above a forested valley at an altitude of about 800 metres (2600 feet). The entrance to the cave is concealed by trees and bushes. The cave is about 40 metres deep, 25 metres broad and 6-7 metres high; there are permanent patches of water and a high degree of humidity. Colony size is difficult to determine as Otomops lives in small groups of usually five to seven individuals in narrow cracks and deep hollows in the roof. During the day, they keep silent and motionless; they hang by their feet, head down and with only the extremity of their muzzles protruding; both sexes live together. According to Prater (1914), a single shot fired into one hollow secured some 30 specimens; later, Brosset (1962b) estimated the whole colony to number about 40 individuals. When disturbed they fly within the cave from one hollow to another. They coexist with Megaderma spasma and Rhinolophus rouxii (Brosset 1962b). Their flight is strong, fast and straight. According to Brosset (1962b), the dentition is relatively weak and unsuitable for crushing big or hard insects. Biology: A female with a single young was found in December; other females each had a single foetus (Prater 1914). The twelve specimens collected in May 1961 and the one female in March 1992 were sexually dormant. MATERIAL SEEN AND/OR COLLECTED IN MARCH 1992 Locality Size of Colony No. of Nature of specimens biotope taken Talewadi (25 March) Uncertain, 40 + 3 Natural cave Discussion: To date, this species is only known from one cave situated near the village of Talewadi. This site has only been visited on a limited number of occasions by zoologists who on each occasion reported the presence of Otomops within the cave. Status: An endemic bat with an apparently very restricted range. It deserves all possible protection. Pipistrellus ceylonicus (Kelaart, 1852) — Kelaarf s Pipistrelle. Scotophilus ceylonicus Kelaart, 1852: 22. Trincomalee, Ceylon. External characters: A relatively large Pipistrelle, with a forearm that usually exceeds 35 mm; dorsal pelage variable in colour, ranging from grey-brown to chestnut, reddish or golden- brown; belly with dark hair bases and pale tips; adult specimens weigh between 7-8 grams and have a wing span of about 250 mm (Madhavan 1971); each ear with a well developed tragus, which measures 4.5 -4. 8 mm in height and 2.1- 2.4 mm in greatest width, basal lobule well defined; baculum with long slender shaft curved upwards, tip bifid and strongly bifurcate, base also 374 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) r '-•> Fig. 17. Pipistrellus ceylonicus ranges from Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka to Burma, China, Vietnam and northern Borneo. Records from INDIA include Mount Abu [1], (Ryley, 1914a) in Rajasthan; Bulsar [45], (BMNH coll.); Bhuj [2]; Charwa [3], (Wroughton, 1912a); Junagadh [4]; Keshod [5]; Talala [6]; Sasan [7]; Rajkot [8], (Ryley, 1913b); Ahmedabad [9]; Anand [10]; Baroda [11], (Brosset, 1962b); Broach [12]; Rajpipla [13], (Sinha, 1981) in Gujarat; Bandra [46]; Thana [47], (BMNH coll.); Helwak [14], (Wroughton, 1916a); Chikalda [15]; Ajanta [16]; Nasik [17]; Junnar [18]; Bombay [19]; Poona [20]; Satara [21], (Brosset, 1962b); Panchgani [22], (Tiwari et al., 1971); Belgaon [nl], (Khajuria, 1967); Aurangabad [23]; Nagpur [24], (Sabnis, 1973); Nanded [25], (Madhavan, 1971) in Maharashtra; Gadag [26], (Wroughton, 1912b); Sirsi [27]; Honawar [28]; Vijyanagar [29], (Wroughton, 1913); Bangalore [30]; Seringapatam [31]; Sivasamudram [32], (Ryley, 1913a); Mercara [33]; Haleri [34]; Wotekolli [35]; Srimangala [36], (Ryley, 1913b); Dharwar [37]; Bellary [38], (Brosset, 1962b) in Karnataka; Nilgiri Hills [48], (BMNH coll.) in Tamil Nadu; Mandu [39], (Brosset, 1962b) in Madhya Pradesh; Hasimara [49], (BMNH coll.); Luia [40], (Wroughton, 1915b); Chota Nagpur [41]; Dhanbad [42], (Sinha, 1986) in Bihar; Calcutta [43], (Lai & Biswas, 1984) in West Bengal. Extralimital localities based on BMNH coll., Roberts (1977) and Wroughton (1916c); Phillips (1980); type loc. of ceylonicus and BMNH coll, in SRI LANKA and Ryley (1914b) for upper BURMA. THE BATS OF WESTERN INDIA REVISITED 375 bifid, broader than tip; basal lobes curved downwards. Cranial and dental characters: Skull exceeds that of P. javanicus babu and P. coromandra in length; cranial profile is slightly convex, raised above the frontal region, with the lambda the highest point; mastoid flanges well developed; rostrum very broad, with conspicuous incurving margins which produce well defined supraorbital ridges; zygomata are delicate; palatal length exceeds width and upper dentition is not convergent; tympanic bullae relatively small and basiocciput relatively broad. Inner upper incisor (i2) bicuspid, the secondary cusp about three- quarters the height of the principal one; outer incisor (i3) large, two-thirds height of i2; canine with posterior secondary cusp; small anterior premolar (pm2), not greatly reduced, internal to the toothrow, crown area equal to i3, not visible from without, c1 and posterior premolar (pm4) almost in contact; upper molars typical of Pipistrellus; lower incisors trifid, slightly imbricated; crown area of posterior premolar (pm4) slightly exceeds that of anterior (pm2). Measurements: Based on specimens of both sexes from throughout the Indian subcontinent. mean range s n HB: 54.2 48 _ 64 2.9 37 T: 38.1 30 - 45 4.0 38 HF: 8.6 6.5 - 11 1.0 23 FA: 37.6 30 - 42 2.4 31 WSP: 251.0 227 - 262 10.2 12 E: 12.2 9.5 - 17 1.4 35 GTL: 14.9 14.2 - 15.8 0.4 58 CCL: 13.6 12.3 - 15.2 0.4 59 ZB: 9.8 8.9 - 11.0 0.4 35 BB: 7.3 6.6 - 7.8 0.3 59 PC: 4.0 3.7 - 4.3 0.1 59 ROSTRAL B: 6.1 5.3 - 7.0 0.3 57 C-M3: 5.4 5.0 - 5.7 0.2 59 M3-M3: 6.6 5.7 - 7.1 0.3 57 C-M3: 5.9 5.5 - 6.3 0.2 59 M: 11.1 10.2 - 12.0 0.4 59 Ecology: This is an ecletic species which ranges from the tropical thorn forest of Pakistan to the highlands of central Sri Lanka. It is very common throughout much of its range and is frequently seen in towns and villages. It inhabits old houses and dilapidated buildings where it roosts between wooden rafters and inside cracks in walls and ceilings (Gopalakrishna and Madhavan 1971). Other diurnal biotopes include holes in trees, hollow branches (Phillips 1980), caves, wells, temples and even a roller blind in an hotel (Brosset 1962b). Colony size tends to be small, ranging from a single individual to a maximum of about 200 (Gopalakrishna and Madhavan 1971). It does not hang suspended like the Rhinolophidae but rather clings to the sides with feet and wing claws, while retaining the head-downwards position (Phillips 1980). It is inactive during cold or wet seasons, when individuals become partially torpid (Madhavan 1971). It appears early in the evening, almost as soon as the sun has set. It does not fly particularly fast or high but continually turns, twists and wheels in flight. As the evening progresses, it often ascends higher and flies rather straighter. It feeds on small beetles and other insects (Phillips 1980). Biology: In Maharashtra, copulation takes place during the first two weeks of June. The inseminated sperm remains alive inside the female genital tract until about the second week of July when ovulation and fertilisation take place, followed immediately by pregnancy (Gopalakrishna et al. 1970). Gestation lasts about 50-55 days and deliveries take place during the first two weeks of September. Normally each female bears two young; in rare cases there is one young or triplets (Gopalakrishna and Madhavan 1971). The young are carried by the mother for 25-30 days and lactation is concluded by the third week of October. MATERIAL SEEN AND/ OR COLLECTED IN MARCH 1992 Locality Size of Colony No. of specimens taken Nature of biotope Khirasara, Uncertain 4 Ruins of old Rajkot fort (18 March) 376 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) Discussion: Brosset (1962b) studied this species at 15 sites in central and western India. Colony size varied from a single individual to 100-150 at Karla. It was only collected near Rajkot during this recent study. This however reflects the difficulty in locating its diurnal roosts; its feeding pattern also makes for difficulties in catching it in mist nets. Status: Considered to be extremely common throughout its range (Brosset 1962b). Miniopteris schreibersii (Kuhl, 1819) — Schreibers’ Long-fingered bat Vespertilio schreibersii Kuhl, 1819: Annalen Wetterau Ges. Naturk., 4(2): 185. Kulmbazer Cave, mountains of Southern Bannat, Hungary. External characters: A medium-sized Vespertilionid bat with a long tail, interfemoral membrane and hind limbs; wing characterised by a highly developed second phalanx of third finger which is approximately three times the length of the first phalanx; membranes uniformly dark; pelage soft and silky, dark throughout, dorsal surface a rich russet brown in some individuals, others a deeper blackish brown; ventral surface, usually slightly paler with greyer tinge; ears small, with broadly rounded tips which scarcely project above pelage of crown; the tragus is half the height of the pinna, slightly curved forwards; the antitragus is low and ill defined. This is species is usually found with numerous ecto-parasites (Phillips 1980). Cranial and dental characters: Skull characterised by marked inflation of brain case anteriorly, abruptly elevated above the low, flattened rostrum; rostrum tapered anteriorly, dorsal surface flattened but with a distinct median concavity; mandible slender with posterior parts very small; the coronoid process almost on a level with the condyle. Crown of inner upper incisor oblique, strongly hollowed out postero-laterally and with weak postero-internal secondary cusp; outer incisor flattened, its cingulum forming a minute postero-external cusp; anterior upper premolar (pm2) unusually large, situated in toothrow, broadly triangular crown, with postero-medial base noticeably expanded; large upper premolar (pm4) with well defined antero-medial cingular cusp and feeble an tero -lateral one; m1 and m2 emarginated posteriorly; deep pits between the metacones and paracones and the protocones; m3 more than half crown area of m2 with metacone and third commissure well developed; lower incisors trifid, outer tooth distinctly larger; anterior premolar (pm2) subequal in crown area to the second (pm3); posterior premolar (pm4) three-quarters the height of the canine; m3 with talonid little reduced, more than half width of m2. Measurements: Based on specimens of both sexes from throughout the Indian subcontinent. mean range s HB: 56.0 47 . 65 5.3 21 T: 54.5 48 - 60 3.7 21 HF: 10.0 7 - 12 1.3 21 TIBIA: 19.2 17.7 - 20.5 0.9 12 FA: 47.4 45 - 50.5 1.7 21 3 MET: 43.5 41.1 - 45.4 1.2 14 4MET: 41.7 38.9 - 43.0 1.2 14 5MET: 38.4 36.5 - 40.1 1.0 14 3MET/1PH: 11.2 10.2 - 12.2 0.5 14 3MET/2PH: 35.8 31.2 - 40.0 2.7 14 WSP: 325 322 - 328 - 2 E: 11.3 10 - 12 0.8 21 GTL: 15.7 15.3 - 16.1 0.2 20 CCL: 14.2 13.5 - 15.3 0.4 21 ZB: 8.8 8.5 - 9.3 0.2 17 BB: 7.9 7.5. - 8.5 0.2 21 PC: 3.9 3.7 - 4.1 0.1 21 C-M3: 6.0 5.7 - 6.2 0.1 20 C-M3: 6.5 6.2 - 6.8 0.2 21 M: 11.4 11.1 _ 11.9 0.2 21 Ecology: Miniopterus schreibersii appears to favour hilly and forested country, ranging up to about 2150 metres (7000') in the foothills of the THE BATS OF WESTERN INDIA REVISITED 377 Fig. 18. Miniopteris schreibersii ranges from southern Europe and Morocco through the Caucasus and Iran to Japan, the Indian subcontinent and east to Australia; also subsaharan Africa. Records from INDIA include Mahableshwar [1], (Wroughton, 1916a); Panchgani [2], (Bros set, 1962b) in Maharashtra; Mussoorie [3], (Scully, 1887); Ramnagar [4], (Wroughton, 1914) in Uttar Pradesh; Sonari [5], (BMNH coll.) in Sikkim. Extralimital records based on Scully (1887) and IIZM coll, for NEPAL; BMNH coll., Wroughton (1915a) and Phillips (1924) for upper BURMA and Phillips (1980) for SRI LANKA. 378 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) Himalayas (Blanford 1888-91; HZM collection). The colonies are large but extrmely rare; they are situated in caves, caverns and even crevices in rocks (Scully 1887). At Robbers' Cave, near Mahableshwar, Brosset (1962b) estimated there were some 100,000 individuals with a density of about 2000 bats/m2 ; the majority were in vast swarms, neither segregated by sex or age. There appear to be two types of colonies; the 'mother- colony' which is situated in a large natural cave, usually with a subterranean water source inside and 'secondary colony', situated within 70 km of the mother house and located in caves of much smaller size, here groups of individuals stay periodically. The young are confined to the principal diurnal roost. Miniopterus leaves its roost soon after sunset to feed; individuals fly away in many different directions and hunt alone. The diet is probably comprised of small insects, including Diptera and Coleoptera (Brosset 1962b). Biology: At Mahableshwar, copulation and conception takes place in the second and third week of February. Gestation lasts 120-125 days; females give birth between 15 and 25 June to a single infant weighing about 3 grams; they carry the new-born young for one or two days after which the infants are gathered into communal groups of 100 or more, which they do not leave until they can fly. Lactating mothers visit the groups to suckle the young and according to Brosset (1962b), suckle the first infant that contacts them, sometimes two feed together. Weaning occurs after two months. There is a single breeding cycle and sexual maturity is attained at about 20 months (Gopalakrishna et al. 1985/86). MATERIAL SEEN AND/ OR COLLECTED IN MARCH 1992 Locality Size of Colony No. of specimens taken Nature of biotope Robber's cave, Not known 4 Undergound Mahableshwar cave (28 March) Discussion: This species was collected at just one site, Robber’s Cave. It is not known whether the colony size has changed since the survey of Brosset (1962b). Status: Although widely distributed, the small number of diurnal roosts within India makes this species vulnerable to disturbance. Acknowledgements We are deeply grateful to Mr. J.C. Daniel, and the Director and all the staff of the BNHS whose tireless efforts have made this survey possible. We would also like to thank Dr Neil Kemp and others of the British Council (India and London Divisions) for their generous support and enthusiasm. Kind co-operation in the field was provided by many individuals, including Subodh Mittra of the Archaeological Survey of India, Aurangabad and the staff and students of Rajkot University and Kotak Science College, Rajkot. Finally we would like to thank John E. Hill, Dr Gordon Corbet, Dr Ken Stager and Alaric Smith for their invaluable help and adivce. References Advani, R. (1982): Distribution and status of chiroptera species in Rajasthan, India. Sugertierk. Mitt. 30 (1): 49-52. Agrawal, V.C. (1973): On a collection of bats from Goa. Records zool. Surv. 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Gopalakrishna (1978): Breeding habits and some associated phenomena in some Indian bats. Part 4 - Hipposideros fulvus fulvus (Gray). Hipposideridae. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc., 75(1): 96- 103. Marimuthu, G., & P.F.L. Selvanayagam (1981): Apparent allomatemal care in an insectivorous bat Hipposideros speoris. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc., 78(3): 591-593. Mitchell, R.M. (1980): New records of bats (Chiroptera) from Nepal. Mammalia, 44(3): 339-342. Modak, S.P. & D.N. Kamat (1968): A study of periodic acid Schiff material in the ovarian follicles of tropical bats. Cytologia, 33: 54-59. Neuweeler, G., W. Metzner, U. Heilmann, R. Rubsamen , M. Eckrich & H.H. Costa (1987): Foraging behavior and echolocation in the rufous horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus rouxi) of Sri Lanka. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol., 20(1): 53- 67. Phillips, W.W.A. (1924): A guide to the Mammals of Ceylon: Chiroptera. Spolia zeylan. 13: 1-63. Phillips, W.W.A. 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Bhandarkar (1984): Breeding habits and associated phenomenon in some Indian bats. Part 9- Hipposideros lankadiva (Kelaart) - Hipposideridae. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc., 81(2): 380-386. Schneider, J.G. (1800): In Schreber, J.C.D. Die Saugethiere. Leipzig. Scully, J. (1887): On the Chiroptera of Nepal. J. Asiatic Soc. Bengal, 56: 233-259. Shivkumara Swamy, N., P. Mohan Reddy, & M. Kameswari (1984) : Host-parasite relationship: posthelminth infection muscle protein changes in bat Hipposideros speoris. Current Sci., 53(4): 207-208. Siddiqi, M.S. (1961): Checklist of Mammals of Pakistan with particular reference to the Mammalian Collection in the British Museum (Natural History), London. Biologia, 7(1-2): 93- 225. Sinha, Y.P. (1973): Taxonomic studies on the Indian horseshoe bats of the genus Rhinolophus. Mammalia, 37(4): 603- 630. Sinha, Y.P. (1976): Notes on the status of the noseleaf bat, Hipposideros speoris pulchellus Andersen (Mammalia: Chiroptera: Rhinolophidae). J. Bombay nat. Hist. 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Soc., 24: 749-781. (Concluded) MOULT IN BABBLERS ( TURDOIDES spp.)1 V.J. Zacharias2, D.N. Mathew3 and K.V. Jayashree4 Key words: whiteheaded babbler, jungle babbler, post-ju venal moult, body feathers, primaries, secondaries, rectries, breeding and moult, duration. The juvenile Whiteheaded Babbler Turdoides affinis and the Jungle Babbler Turdoides striatus undergo partial moult beginning at 3 months after fledging. This moult is complete only in the birds fledged in the early part of the year. In others, the late developing feathers are retained. They undergo a complete moult in the next year. In both the species, there is only one annual moult, and they breed and moult simultaneously. The body feathers start moulting from March to November in the Whiteheaded Babbler and from February to November in the Jungle Babbler. In both species, moult of body feathers proceeds at a slow tempo. Primaries moult from a single focus from late April to October/November in both the species. In both the species secondaries moult from two foci, the tertiaries, irregularly, and the rectrices centrifugal. Babblers of the genus Turdoides live in groups and breed co-operatively. In the Calicut University Campus, these birds breed throughout the year with a lull in July, the month of heaviest rainfall (Gaston et al. 1979). They breed and moult simultaneously. The Whiteheaded Babbler Turdoides affinis and the Jungle Babbler T striatus co-exist in several parts of South India. The former prefers open dry scrub habitat, while the latter frequents woody areas. We studied the biology of these species of babblers (Zacharias and Mathew 1988) in the Calicut area from 1974 to 1980. An account of their moult is given here. Materials and Methods Specimens of the Whiteheaded Babbler and the Jungle Babbler were collected by shooting at a rate of 5-10 per month. The specimens collected for analysis of stomach contents were preserved in 10% formalin or 70% alcohol. All the specimens were collected near the Chelannur area of Calicut and Thenhippalam village of Malappuram. These two areas had the same type of climate, physiographic conditions and layout of crops. Specimens of the two babblers were collected for studying various aspects of biology by different workers over a period of 3 years from a vast area of about 240 sq. km. Particular care was taken to see that no group of babblers was 1 Accepted March 1994. 2 Tiger Project, Periyar Tiger Reserve, Thekkady, India. 3 Department of Zoology, University of Calicut, Kerala. 4 Department of Zoology, Providence College, Calicut. repeatedly used for collection; we very frequently changed sites of collection. These specimens were used for the doctoral theses on ecology and biology by the first author, leg myology and pterylography by Dr. K.V. Jayashree and for two M. Phil, dissertations on comparative appendicular myology by Elizabeth Stephen and Lija Thomas. The remaining specimens were preserved carefully and used for other studies as and when required. After other studies were conducted they were dried in the laboratory and the feather tracts examined carefully. Information on the state of plumage in the birds collected over three years from 1975-1977 was pooled. Data collected from the examination of the plumage of the birds trapped for ringing and those ringed as nestlings, were also used for studying the moult. Details of moult were recorded on cards. Moult in the body feathers was estimated by counting the number of moulting feathers out of a sample of 30 feathers each in all the body tracts every month. In the humeral, femoral and crural tracts, which had very few feathers the entire tracts were examined to estimate the percentage of feathers moulting. The system and symbols used by Stressemann and Stressemann (1966) were followed for numbering and naming the remiges and rectrices. Results WHITEHEADED BABBLER Post-juvenal moult: The juvenile undergoes 382 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 91(1994) a partial or complete moult of its feathers starting about three months after fledging. The post- juvenile moult begins in the frontal region of the capital tract or with the first primary. We did not see any post-juvenile moult between October and April. In many juveniles which fledged late in the year, the dormant papillae of the late developing feathers started proliferating just before or during the post-juvenile moult. It is presumed that some of these were retained during the post-juvenile moult, if they moulted in the year of hatching, and moulted completely if they moulted in the next season. We have not examined a large sample of juveniles to draw any definite conclusion about the above aspect. The feather coat in both the species of babblers never changes colour and there is no sexual dimorphism. Adult body feathers: In the Calicut area, moult of the adult body feathers in the Whiteheaded Babbler started in March, beginning in the frontal region of the capital tract. Moult of the body feathers was more intensive during the period September to October, but was otherwise a slow and long drawn process which ended in November. The dorsal and ventral tracts took the longest duration to complete renewal. At no time between March and November were more than 50% of the feathers of any of the regions counted moulting. Primaries: There are ten primaries of which the outermost is the smallest. The moult of the primaries normally started in late April from the first primary and proceeded in the ascending order. Growing of two primaries simultaneously was the usual pattern. There were a few exceptional cases of 3-4 primaries growing simultaneously; these were noted towards the end of the moulting period of the primaries. Most birds had completed their primary moult by the end of October. Primary moult in the population thus covered about 6 months. Secondaries: There are nine secondaries, of which the innermost is the smallest. The secondaries moulted from two foci i.e., from A1 and A6. The latter sometimes dropped only after A5 had moulted. The secondaries sometimes moulted simultaneously from both ends. Secondary moult usually started when the third primary (H3) was moulting and ended after H10 had been renewed. There were exceptional cases of the secondary moult starting and ending earlier than the beginning and end of primary moult respectively. The moult of tertiaries started in any of its three quills (A7-9). They moulted before, during or after the renewal of the other remiges. Wing coverts: The upper greater primary coverts moulted in close coordination with their respective primaries. Moulting of several upper secondary greater coverts ahead of the renewal of the respective secondaries was a frequent occurrence. Rectrices: There are 12rectrices. Therectrices started moulting when H3 was growing and proceeded centrifugally. After the first pair had completed their growth, rectrices 2-6 moulted rapidly, sometimes as many as 3 pairs of rectrices grew simultaneously. In one third of the cases examined (N = 90) rectrix moult was symmetrical. The large number of cases of asymmetrical moult of rectrices was probably due to the accidental loss of these feathers. Moulting of rectrices was completed either before the completion of the primary moult or along with H10, but in 10% of the cases (N = 90), moulting of the tail feathers continued after the completion of the primary moult. Alula: The alula was renewed during the span of the moult of the primaries. Alular quills moulted from the proximal to the distal end and in an orderly manner. Relationship between moult and breeding: Eventhough a clearly marked breeding season was absent in T. affinis , two peak periods of egg laying were identified in March/April and November/December (Gaston et al. 1979, Zacharias and Mathew 1988). Females with developing eggs collected in May (2)5, August (2), September (1) and October (1) were all moulting their remiges. JUNGLE BABBLER The moult of the Jungle Babbler was studied 5 Number of females collected in each month are given in brackets. MOULT IN BABBLERS (TURDOIDES SPP.) 383 Tabi£ 1 COMMENCEMENT AND COMPLETION OF PRIMARY MOULT IN T. affinis and T. striatus Stages of Primary Moult Earliest recorded date Last recorded date T. affinis T. striatus T. affinis T. striatus Commencement of April 26 April 20-26 June first week June 6 primary moult (1) (6) (4) (1) Completion of September 28 August 27 November November primary moult (1) (2) first week first week (4) (4) The figures in brackets show the number of specimens examined. by Naik and Andrews (1966) in Baroda (May to October/November) and by Gaston in Delhi (June- November). In our study area in Calicut T. striatus started moulting its body feathers from February. The frontal region of the capital tract was the first to moult. The flight feathers moulted between April and October. Primaries: The primary moult was orderly, regular and symmetrical. It began in April and ended in November. Unilateral growth of primary feathers simultaneously, probably due to accidental loss of feathers of one wing and cases of 3-4 primaries growing together were also noted occasionally. Secondaries: The secondaries moulted from both proximal and the distal foci. The sixth secondary and the tertiaries moulted at different times. In 12 out of 29 cases in which the beginning of the tertiary moult was recorded, A8 moulted ahead of A7 and A9. Of these 29, A9 moulted first in 8 specimens and A7 in nine. Secondaries started moulting simultaneously with the primaries in a few cases but usually only after the second primary had moulted. Usually the moult of the secondaries was not completed along with that of the primaries. The tertiaries moulted before, during or after the other remiges were renewed. The upper greater wing coverts: The upper primary greater coverts moulted in co-ordination with their respective remiges. The secondary upper greater coverts moulted in bunches as in the Whiteheaded Babbler. Alula: The tail feathers moulted from the centre to the periphery. Unilateral growing of the tail feathers of one side was noticed in four out of 72 cases of rectrix moult. In the rest, the tail feathers moulted symmetrically. Rectrices started moulting after H3 in some cases, but in 50% of the cases only when H3 was moulting. The tail coverts appeared to moult symmetrically. The rectrices completed moulting before the completion of the moult of the primaries or along with them. Moult in relation to breeding: In our study area the Jungle Babbler bred throughout the year. There were records of egg laying by the birds in all the months except June and July. So moult of feathers and breeding activity in this species were not temporarily separated. The midpoint of the moult coincided with the period of lowest breeding in June and July. Comparison of Moult in the Whiteheaded and the Jungle Babbler The first complete moult: Both species undergo their first complete moult in their second year of life. Pattern of this moult and all subsequent moults are identical. Duration of Moult: Table 1 gives the earliest and last cases of recorded commencement and completion of primary moult in the Whiteheaded and the Jungle Babbler. The moult of the primaries spans almost the entire moulting period. Using the method of Pimm (1976) the duration of primary moult at individual level was crudely estimated to be 16-20 384 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 91(1994) weeks in both the babblers. Gaston (1981) described a shorter duration of primary moult in babblers and some other birds in Delhi, the duration of primary moult in Baroda was not worked out. But at the population level the primary moult in the Jungle Babbler began in May and ended in October/ November in Baroda (Naik and Andrews 1966). In Delhi it was from June to October (Gaston pers. comm.), while in Calicut it was from April to October/ November. In Sarawak, Fogden (1972) recorded the duration of primary moult of individual birds of 18 species, ranging from 17-20 weeks. The duration of moult in the Whiteheaded Babbler and the Jungle Babbler in the study area were slow, compared to temperate birds and some birds of seasonal tropics (Delhi), but similar to the duration for species of moist tropics. Discussion The pattern of moult of feathers of the Whiteheaded and the Jungle Babbler were very similar in several respects but differed from that of many other passerine birds. Their pattern of moult is well adapted to their way of life in the study area. As they breed irregularly throughout the year, they have no exclusive breeding and moulting seasons. At the population level the primaries in the Jungle Babbler moulted from April to October/November, from May to October/ November in Baroda and from June to October in Delhi. The shorter duration of primary moult in Delhi may be related to the climatic conditions there — the severe summer and winter. In Calicut there are no severe extremes of climate except for the heavy rainfall in June- July. As both breeding and moult of feathers are functions which demand much energy, it may be advantageous to renew feathers at a slow tempo, so that too much strain is not placed on the bird’s energy budget at any particular period. In birds which have a breeding-moult overlap, the moult of feathers may be considerably protracted by means of a decrease in the number of feathers growing at any one time or in their rate of growth (Snow and Snow 1964, Newton 1966). Generally the pattern of moult of flight feathers in these two species of babblers agree with the general pattern (Stressemann and Stressemann, op. cit.) for passerine birds. The renewal of tertiaries at times different from the times of renewal of the rest of the remiges is an adaptive feature. According to Stressemann and Stressemann (1966), H7-9 act as guard feathers which cover the rest of the wing feathers in the closed wing. So they should not be weakened by moulting simultaneously with the rest of the feathers. The simultaneous renewal of several upper secondary coverts also should serve the same purpose. However the cases of tertiary moult examined are too few to establish their exact pattern of renewal. Varying degrees of overlap between breeding and moulting activities were reported in many species of tropical birds like the common Babbler T. caudatus (Gaston 1966), the Indian Myna Acridotheres tristis , the Bank Myna A. ginginianus , the Brahminy Myna Sturnus pagodarum (Naik 1970) and the House Swift Apus affinis (Naik and Naik 1965). Acknowledgements One of us (V.J.Z) is indebted to the Bombay Natural History Society for granting the S£lim Ali-Loke Wan Tho Ornithological research fund fellowship for carrying out the work. We are grateful to Dr. A.J. Gaston for his criticism and suggestions. Our sincere thanks are due to the late Dr. Salim Ali and Sri J.C. Daniel for their encouragement. We record our thanks to Sri K.K. Ravindran who helped us in collecting the specimens. K.V.J. acknowledges with gratitude the support received from the University Grants Commission. We record our gratitude to the spirit of Swargiya Prof. Ramesh M. Naik for his advice, encouragement and criticism of this paper. MOULT IN BABBLERS (TURDOIDES SPP.) 385 References Gaston, A.J., D.N. Mathew & VJ. Zacharias (1979): Regional variation in the breeding season of babblers ( Turdoides spp.) in India. Ibis 121: 512-516. Gaston, A.J. (1981): Seasonal breeding, moulting and weight changes among birds of dry deciduous forest in N. India. J. zool, Lond. 194:219-243. Fodgen, M.P.H. (1972): The seasonability and population dynam- ics of Equatorial Forest birds in Sarawak. Ibis 114: 307- 342. Naik, R.M. & M.I. Andrews (1966): Pterylosis, age determina- tion and moult in the Jungle Babbler. Pavo 4: 22-47. Naik, R.M. & S. Naik (1965): A study on the House swift Apus affinis (G.E. Gray) moult cycles in the adults. Pavo, 3: 96- Nak, N.L. (1970): Studies on the pterylosis, moults, plumages and leg myology of the starlings (avian family Stumidae). Ph.D. thesis, M.S. University. Newton, I. (1966): Moult of the Bullfinch Pyrhula pyrrhula. Ibis 108: 41-47. Pimm, S.L. (1976): Estimation of the duration of bird moult. Con- dor 78: 550. Snow, D.W. & B.K. Snow (1964): Breeding seasons and annual cycles of Trinidad land birds. Zoologica 49: 1-39. Stressemann, E. & V. Stressemann (1966): Die mauser der vogel. Journal fur Omithoiogica 107: 1-53. Zacharias, VJ. & D.N. Mathew (1988): The Ecology of Bab- blers ( Turdoides spp.). J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 85 (1): 50- 63. TRADITIONAL PHYTOTHERAPY IN THE HEALTH CARE OF GOND TRIB ALS OF SONBHADRA DISTRICT, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA1 K.K. Singh2, B.S. Kalakoti3 and Anand Prakash2 Key words: traditional phytotherapy, Gond tribes, Sonbhadra district The paper describes the traditional indigenous phytotherapy as practised by Gond medicinemen. The information on local name, preparation of ethnomedicine recipes, dosage and mode of their administration, etc. have been discussed. The study provides new knowledge on the traditional uses of 44 medicinal plants, useful database for phytochemists and pharmacologists to determine their active compound after clinical trials for their safe use. There is good potential of medicinal plants in the area needed for establishment of herbal farm for processing and production of herbal medicine as well as generating employment schemes for the benefit of tribal and local population. Introduction We were engaged in medico-botanical surveys and studies among the tribal and aboriginal populations of Uttar Pradesh (Maheshwari et al. 1981, 1986; Singh and Maheshwari 1989, 1992). In this connection, detailed medicobotany of the Gond tribe of Sonapar tribal area of Sonbhadra district, U.P. with a view to gather information on traditional phytotherapy used by the tribe for meeting their health care was undertaken. The Gonds constitute the principal tribe of the district and have two main sects the ‘Raj’ and ‘Khatolas’ . They practice primitive agriculture and grow rice, millets, maize, wheat, barley, lentil, pea, plantain etc. Besides these, they depend on many wild roots, flowers, and fruits. The forests are of tropical dry deciduous type. The vegetation growing in the forest plays a vital role in the life, economy and health care of the tribe. Due to long association with the forests they have learnt to utilize many medicinal plants for treatment of common diseases and disorders prevailing in their communities. Due to urbanisation, acculturation and depletion of plant cover the indigenous knowledge and therapy about the medicinal plants used by the tribe is fast disappearing. It is therefore, considered important to preserve and document the traditional knowledge before it is lost for ever. The ethnomedicinal information Accepted June 1994 2 National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, U.P. 3 Research Scientist, Hoechst Research Centre, Mulund (West), Bombay 400 080. presented here has not been recorded earlier (Ambasta 1986, Chopra et al. 1956, 1969, Jain 1975, Kirtikar and Basu 1935). Materials and Methods During the study, 17 villages inhabited by Gond tribal s adjacent to the forest areas were surveyed. The indigenous knolwedge and therapy of medicinal plants used for their health care were gathered from the medicine men, Baigas, Ojhas, Village heads, healers and other old, experienced and knowledgeable informants who were practising indigenous medicine among the Gond communities. The medicine men accompanied us during the survey, collection, and documentation of plants in the forest areas. The ethnomedicinal uses of plants, dosages, and mode of administration were recorded in the field books. The dialogues and discussions with regard to plants used in their daily life were also tape recorded during interviews. The data obtained from different villages and localities on uses of ethnomedicinal plants were compared, scrutinised and are presented here. The voucher specimens and crude samples of medicinal plants are preserved in the ethnobotanical herbarium cum museum of the National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, under EBH Number. The species are arranged alphabetically giving information on local name, locality* ethnomedicinal recipes, uses, dosages, mode of administration and voucher specimens number. PHYTOTHERAPY IN THE HEALTH CARE OF GOND TRIBALS 387 Results Herbal Drugs 1. Achyranthes aspera Linn. (Amaranthaceae) Ln. Chirchiri; Loc. Dubha. Leaf juice is dropped in the eye twice a day for one month for the treatment of cataract (EBH 9348). 2. Abrus precatorius Linn. (Fabaceae) Ln. Gomchi; Loc. Jhareeltola. Root extract is given 2 teaspoonsful once a day for 3-4 days for the treatment of Syphilis. The extract of the root together with the root extract of Asparagus racemosus and plant of Cuscuta reflexa is given 1 teaspoonful thrice a day for 3 days after 8th day of menstruation to check conception (EBH 9395). 3. Adina cordifolia (Willd. ex Roxb.) Hook. f. ex Brandis (Rubiaceae) Ln. Karam; Loc. Raspahari, Jhareeltola, Kundadeh. Extract of the stem bark 1 teaspoonful thrice a day for 3 days is given for malarial fever and stomach disorder (EBH 7608, 9307). 4. Aegle marmelos (Linn.) Correa (Rutaceae) Ln. Bel; Loc. Raspahari, Muirpur, Dubha. The extract of the stem bark is given as an antidote for snakebite. Warm leaf paste is applied on inflamed eye, and extract of tender leaf is dropped in the eyes twice a day for 5-10 days for the treatment of inflammation of eyes (EBH 9359). 5. Alangium salvifolium (Linn, f.) Wang (Alangiaceae) Ln. Dhera; Loc. Chhaga. Stem bark along with the stem bark of Caesalpinia bonduc , lime, jaggery is made into tablets. 1 tablet thrice a day for 21 days is given for the treatment of asthma (EBH 9389). 6. Ampelocissus latifolia (Roxb.) Planch (Vitaceae) Ln. Baunhath; Loc. Chhaga. The lukewarm root paste is applied on carbuncle boils for suppuration and healing. The stem juice is given 1 teaspoonful twice a day for 15 days for bone fracture (EBH 9390). 7. Bombax ceiba Linn. (Malvaceae) Ln. Semar; Loc. Jhareeltola, Sahgora. The root extract of young plant 1 teaspoonful twice a day for 4 days is given in the treatment of gonorrhoea. 1 teaspoonful powdered gum twice a day for 2 days is given in dysentery (EBH 9393). 8. Buchanania lanzan Spreng (Anacardiaceae) Ln. Piyar; Loc. Kurchatta. Aqueous extract of leaf 1 teaspoonful twice a day for 15 days is given for the treatment of spermatorrhoea (EBH 9357). 9. Bauhinia vahlii W. & A. (Caesalpiniaceae) Ln. Mohlan; Loc. Dadhiera. Aqueous extract of the root 1 teaspoonful thrice a day is given orally for 3 days for the treatment of Syphilis (EBH 9392). 10. Cajanus cajan (Linn.) Millsp. (Fabaceae) Ln. Rahar; Loc. Kurkuchi. The paste of the leaves together with black pepper and butter milk 2 teaspoonful thrice a day for 7 days is given for the treatment of jaundice (EBH 9395). 11. Calotropis procera (Ait.) R. Br. (Asclepiadaceae) Ln. Mannar; Loc. Dubha. Extract of the root is given orally 1 teaspoonful twice a day for 1 day as an antidote for snakebite. Root extract together with stem juice of Nicotiana sp., a pinch of lime coal, 1 teaspoonful thrice a day is given for 15 days to treat the enlargement of the spleen. Root garland is tied around the neck for the treatment of insanity (EBH 9396, 9320). 12. Casearia elliptica Willd. (Samydaceae) Ln. Bheri; Loc. Jhareeltola. Root extract is given 2 teaspoonful once a day for 3 days for the treatment of cholera (EBH 9337). 1 3 . Cassine glauca (Rottb.) Kuntze (Celastraceae) Ln. Namar; Loc. Banvashi Sewaashram, Pami, Muirpur. Root bark extract is given orally once a day for 3-4 days for the treatment of rheumatism, gout and dysentery. The fruit paste together with fruit paste of Xeromphis spinosa, and wheat flour is given for abortion (EBH 7607, 7637, 9302). 14. Celastrus paniculatus Willd. (Celastraceae) Ln. Umjan; Loc. Jhareeltola. 388 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) Powedered root 1 teaspoonful twice a day for 10 days is given for the treatment of cancer (EBH 9336). 15. Cryptolepis buchananii Roem. & Schult. (Asclepiadaceae) Ln. Lakhan; Loc. Chhaga. Paste of the root is applied on the fractured bone and wrapped with bamboo pieces for 3-4 days and paste is also given orally twice a day for treating fractured bone. Root extract is given 1 teaspoonful once a day for 8 days to females during monthly period to control menstrual disorder (EBH 9326). 16. Cyperus scariosus R. Br. (Cyperaceae) Ln. Nagar motha, Gondhila; Loc. Muirpur, Banvashi Sewaashram. The aqueous extract of the tuber of this plant and the leaves of Cajanus cajan is given twice a day after 10 days of dog bite. Extract of the tuber is given after 2 hours interval thrice a day as an antidiote to snakebite (EBH 7604, 9301). 17. Dendrophthoe falcata (Linn.f.) Etting. (Loranthaceae) Ln. Banjholi; Loc. Jhareeltola, Phullidumer. The lukewarm juice of the leaves dropped against internal ear pain. Aqueous extract of the plant 1 teaspoonful thrice a day is given for 3 days for control of blood vomitting due to tuberculosis (EBH 9398). 18. Dillenia pentagyna Roxb. (Dilleniaceae) Ln. Korkat; Loc. Dahiera. Powdered stem bark is applied on cuts (EBH 7628, 7645). 19. Ficus racemosa Linn. (Moraceae) Ln. Gular, Loc. Kurchatta. The leaf juice together with boiled rice water and jaggery is given twice a day for 1 month for the treatment of paralysis. Sheep butter is applied externally on paralysed portion (EBH 7647). 20. Ficus religiosa Linn. (Moraceae) Ln. Pepper; Loc. Muirpur. Ash of the stem bark together with stem bark of Azadirachta indica and cow dung, mustard oil and Cu So4 is made into ointment. It is applied thrice a day for 15 days for the treatment of Eczema (EBH 7646). 21. Grewia hirsuta Vahl (Tiliaceae) Ln. Gursakari; Loc. Banvashi Sewaashram. Root extract is given as an antidote for scorpion sting. Paste of the root bark is applied on boils and blisters (EBH 7614, 9360). 22. Hemidesmus indicus (Linn.) R. Br. (Asclepiadacea) Ln. Padhin, Chherdudhia; Loc. Chhaga. The aqueous extract of the root 1 tablespoonful is given for 9 days for the treatment of diabetes. Root bark is given orally as an antidote for snakebite. Root extract twice a day for 3 days is given for the treatment of fever (EBH 7624, 9309). 23. Ipomoea came a Jacq. ssp. fi stulos a Austin (Convolvulaceae) Ln. Behaya; Loc. Kurchatta. Latex of the plant is applied on scorpion sting (EBH 9340). 24. Lablab purpureus (Linn.) Sweet (Fabaceae) Ln. Sem; Loc. Jhareeltola. The paste of the leaf together with the latex of the Calotropis procera . Carica papaya and lime is made into ointment which is applied in various skin diseases (EBH 9344). 25. Leucas aspera (Willd.) Link (Lamiaceae) Ln. Guinmi; Loc. Kurchatta. Root paste is applied on forehead and root powder is sniffed for treating migraine (EBH 9316). 26. Madhuca longifolia (Koen.) Macbride var. latifolia Chev. (Sapotaceae) Ln. Koinadori; Loc. Dubha, Muirpur. Powdered seed cake together with powdered root of Boerhaavia diffusa in equal proportion 2 teaspoonful once a day is given as an antidote for snake bite (EBH 9371, 7606). 27. Momordica char ant ia Linn. (Cucurbitaceae) Ln. Kareli; Loc. Raspahari. Root extract is given thrice a day for 3 days for the treatment of fever (EBH 7651). 28. Musa paradisiaca Linn. (Musaceae) Ln. Kera; Loc. Kundadeeh. The paste of the flower together with jaggery, 2 teaspoons twice a day for 5-7 days is given orally in empty stomach after monthly period to females to check conception (EBH 7652). PHYTOTHERAPY IN THE HEALTH CARE OF GOND TRIBALS 389 29. Ochna pumila Ham. ex D. Don (Ochnaceae) Ln. Champa; Loc. Jhareeltola. Root extract is given thrice a day for 3 days in dysentery and diarrhoea. It is also given for 15-30 days for the treatment of piles (EBH 9338). 30. Ocimum sanctum Linn. (Lamiaceae) Ln. Tulasi; Loc. Kurkuchi. Powdered leaves along with powder of seeds of Strychnos nuxvomica, opium, black pepper and clove are made into pills, 2 pills a day for 10 days is given for the treatment of arthritis (EBH 7653). 31. Opuntia dillenii Haw. (Cactaceae) Ln. Nagphani; Loc. Muirpur. The ash of dried phylloclade is applied on boils for suppuration and healing (EBH 7654). 32. Oroxylum indicum (Linn .) Vent. (Bignoniaceae) Ln. Dagdagawa; Loc. Jhareeltola. The decoction of the stem bark together with stem bark of Madhuca longifolia , Mangifera indica and whole plant of Achyranthes aspera is used for taking bath for 3 days in the treatment of jaundice (EBH 7655). 33. Plumbago zeylanica Linn. (Plumbaginaceae) Ln. Chit; Loc. Kurchatta. The root paste is applied twice a day for 7 days for suppuration of boils (EBH 7656). 34. Sarcostemma acidum Voigt (Asclepiadaceae) Ln. Harsingar; Loc. Jhareeltola. Aqueous extract of the stem, 2 teaspoonful twice a day for 7 days is given orally for the treatment of bone fracture (EBH 9387). 35. Sida cordata (Bunn, f.) Borssum (Malvaceae) Ln. Baharbuta; Loc. Kundi. The paste of the whole plant 1 teaspoonful twice a day is given for 15 days in chronic veneral diseases (EBH 7636). 36. Solanurn violaceum Ortega (Solanaceae) Ln. Bhanta; Loc. Kundi. Powdered root bark together with root of Hemidesmus indicus 1 teaspoonful twice a day for 15 days is given for the treatment of piles (EBH 9312). 37. Solanurn surattense Burm.f. (Solanaceae) Ln. Bhejraina; Loc. Jhareeltola. Root bark is chewed as an antidote for scorpion sting (EBH 9330). 38. Tephrosia purpurea (Linn.) Pers. (Fabaceae) Ln. Sarpokha; Loc. Jhareeltola. Root is tied on the neck of patient suffering from fever. The powdered root bark along with black pepper is given as antidote for snake bite. The aqueous extract of the plant together with Calotropis procera is given as an antidote for snake bite. The powdered root bark once a day is given for 3 days for the treatment of impotency. Lukewarm root paste is applied on hydrocele and the leaf extract of Boerhaavia diffusa is also given twice a day in hydrocele. The decoction of the root along with the root of Stereospermum suaveolens is given to females after monthly cycle to check conception. The root extract 1 teaspoonful once a day is given in the treatment of spermatorrhoea for 15 days. The seed paste is also given in the treatment of spermatorrhoea. The stem is used as tooth brush for the treatment of pyorrhoea (EBH 9327). 39. Tridax procumbens Linn. (Asteraceae) Ln. Phoolghas; Loc. Jhareeltola. Leaf juice is dropped in the eye for treatment of inflammation, once a day for 7 days (EBH 9306). 40. Woodfordiafruticosa (Linn.) Kurz (Lythraceae) Ln. Dhawai; Loc. Kundadeeh. Root paste is applied externally twice a day for 7 days for the treatment of piles. Extract of the flowers is also given orally 1 teaspoonful twice a day for 7 days for the same purpose (EBH 9397). 41. Xantkium strumarium Linn. (Asteraceae) Ln. Kathua; Loc. Kundadeeh. Seed oil twice a day for 2-5 days is applied in various skin diseases (EBH 9396). 42. Xeromphis uliginosa (Retz.) Maheshwari (Rubiaceae) Ln. Pedar, Loc. Banvashi sewaashram. Paste of the stem bark applied on bonefracture for 4-15 days. The aqueous extract of pith of Cochlospermum religiosum is also given orally twice a day for 15 days in bone fracture (EBH 7657). 43. Zingiber officinale Rose. (Zingiberaceae) Ln. Sonth; Loc. Jhareeltola. The powdered rhizome together with powdered rhizome of Curcuma longa, old jaggery and lime is 390 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) made into pills. 2 pills a day for 20 days are given for the treatment of tuberculosis (EBH 9399). 44. Ziziphus mauritiana Lamk. (Rhamnaceae) Ln. Ber; Loc. Phullidumer. Extract of the root 2 teaspoonful twice a day for 3 days is given for malarial fever (EBH 9311). Discussion The Gonds are dependent on medicinal plants growing in nearby forests for treating their diseases. The indigenous knolwedge and efficacy of these medicinal plants has been proven in their community since time immemorial. There is need to follow up with ethnopharmacological screening of the tribal claims, by testing these ethnomedicinal recipes in their crude form, aqueous extract and alcoholic extracts on animal models. There is enormous potential in the Refer Ambasta, S.P. (1986): (Ed.) The useful plants of India, C.S.I.R., New Delhi. Chopra, R.N., I.C. Chopra & S.L. Nayar (1956): Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants. C.S.I.R., New Delhi, India. Chopra, R.N., I.C. Chopra & B.S. Verma (1969): Supplement to the Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants. C.S.I.R., New Delhi, India. Jain, S.K. (1975): Medicinal Plants. National Book Trust, New Delhi. Kirtikar, K.R. & B.D. Basu (1935): Indian Medicinal Plants, 4 vols. Lalit Mohan Basu, M.B. 49 Leader Road, Allahabad. district for establishing herbal drug centres for collection, processing, and preparation of ethnomedicine and to develop cultivation, farming and domestication of potential and promising ethnomedicinal plants in social forestry operation for improving the economy of Gond tribe and for human welfare. Acknowledgements We thank Dr. P.V. Sane, Director, National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow for providing facilities for carrying out the investigations and to the Divisional forest officer, Renukoot forest division, Sonbhadra district, for the help rendered during the study in the tribal and forest areas and Mr. M.R. Almeida for going through the manuscript. ENCES Maheshwari, J.K., K.K. Singh, & S. Saha (1981): The ethnobotany of the Tharus of Kheri district, Uttar Pradesh. Economic Botany Information Service, N.B.R.I., Lucknow. Maheshwari, J.K., K.K. Singh & S. Saha (1986): Ethnobotany of tribals of Mirzapur district, Uttar Pradesh. Economic Botany Information Service, N.B.R.I., Lucknow. Singh, K.K. & J.K. Maheshwari (1989): Traditional Herbal Remedies among the Tharus of Bahraich District, U.P., India. Ethnobotany 1: 51-56. Singh, K.K. & J.N. Maheshwari (1992): Folk Medicinal Uses of some Plants among the Tharus of Gorakhpur District, UP. Ethnobotany 4: 39-43. GROUP COMPOSITION, PERCENTAGE SURVIVORSHIP, BIRTH RATE AND POPULATION OF PRESBYTIS ENTELLUS IN JAIPUR, RAJASTHAN1 Reena Mathur and B . Ram Manohar2 Key words: langur population, Jaipur Group composition, birth rate, percentage of survival and population growth of Presbytis entellus were recorded in temple, tourist, residential and forest/village habitats in and around Jaipur city. It appeared from data that there was a gradual decline in AF:I, AF:J and AF:SA ratio indicating a poor recruitment of breeding individuals. The population of langurs thrived comparatively well in temples. Introduction Macaques and langurs are found almost all over India but knowledge about their countrywide population is scanty and scattered, the status of rhesus population is better known than that of the most primates (Dolhinow and Lindburg 1983). Till 1978 the primate populations specially Macaca mulatta and Presbytis entellus were under pressure of export but presently they are under various pressures namely deforestation, industrialization, increased agricultural development of their habitat, human habitat, human population growth and commercial trapping (Bishop et al. 1981) and the changing attitude of people. In some areas in India the population of rhesus is reported to be declining (Southwick et al 1980) but not much is known about the population trends of langurs. However, a decline in langur population was reported from Dharwar (Sugiyama and Parthasarathy 1969), only at some places their population has remained stable (Mohnot et al 1981) and an increase has only been reported from temple areas (Southwick et al 1983, Southwick and Siddiqui 1983). The urgency to estimate primate abundance in various parts of their range is being emphasised repeatedly in almost all the conferences on primates. The present paper is outcome of such a study done in Jaipur between 1985 and 1987. Study Area Jaipur (26°55'N, 75°55'E) is the capital of the state of Rajasthan in India with an area of about 1 Accepted October 1993. department of Zoology, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur 302 004. 120 sq km. The region is semi-arid and the average annual rainfall is about 600 mm. Maximum temperature goes as high as 44°C during June and minimum could be 4°C in January. Common plant species are Azadirachta indie a, Delonix regia , Anogeissus pendula , Mangifera indica, Bauhinia sp.. Cassia sp., Holoptelia sp., Bouganvillea sp., Polyalthia longifolia , Tamarindus indica and species of Ficus and Acacia. Methodology During reconnaissance observations, all the groups of Presbytis entellus in and around the Jaipur city were located and identified (Mathur and Manohar 1987, 1990). For the present study selected groups were followed for 10-15 consecutive days. The habitat in and around the Jaipur city was differentiated into four types: (i) Temple, (ii) Residential, (iii) Tourist and (iv) Forest/Village. Selected groups in each habitat were observed to estimate population growth, and the birth rates, individuals of study groups were identified according to approximate age, (adults, subadults, juveniles and infant-I and infant-II), sex for group composition and survivorship. The survivorship is the percentage of individuals living at various ages in a population (Emmel 1973), it was calculated by dividing the total number of particular age-sex by total number of animals, multiplied by 100. Four unimale bisexual groups in four different habitats were censused regularly for twelve months for birth rate which was calculated using the following formula: b = It/Ft b = Birth rate 392 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) Ft = Total number of adult females observed throughout the year. It = Total number of infants. Results Group composition and survivorship: A total of 1509 langurs were counted in 35 different groups. Twenty three unimale bisexual groups contributed 1179 individuals (Mathur and Manohar 1994). On an average, each unimale bisexual group had 1 adult male, 23.6 adult females, 3.3 subadult females, 10.1 juveniles, 7.2 infants-II and 6.3 infant-I (Table 1). Three multimale bisexual groups added 124 members to the grand total. Their mean group size was 41.3 with a composition of 3.6 adult males, 17 adult females, 5.6 subadult males, 2.3 subadult females, 7.3 juveniles and 5.3 infants (Table 2). Lastly, 9 allmale groups (total 206 members, mean group size 22.9) had an average group composition of 5.3 adult males, 9.6 subadult males and 7.9 juvenile males (Table 3). Among 1509 individuals there were in all 82 adult males, 104 subadult males, 594 adult females, 83 subadult females, 327 juveniles and 319 infants. Out of 82 adult males 23 lived in unimale bisexual groups, 11 in multimale bisexual groups and 48 in all male groups. But out of the total adult and subadult males (i.e. 186) 135 lived outside bisexual groups in Table 1 GROUP NUMBER AND COMPOSITION OF UNIMALE GROUPS OF THE HANUMAN LANGUR ( Presbytis entellus ) IN JAIPUR No. Place Habitat Group AM AF SAM SAF JUV I2 I1 Total Sex Ratio 1. Govindeo Temple Temple GUM I 1 22 0 6 7 5 1 42 1:22 2. Galta Temple Temple GV 1 35 0 3 20 5 12 76 1:35 3. Gaitore Tourist spot GAUM II 1 18 0 3 4 0 5 31 1:18 4. Gaitore Tourist spot GAUM III 1 11 0 0 6 9 0 27 1:11 5. Jantar Mantar Tourist spot JAM 1 18 0 5 5 4 3 36 1:18 6. Amber Fort Tourist spot AUMI 1 34 0 5 23 16 1 80 1:34 7. Vidhyadhar Garden Tourist spot YUM 1 27 0 3 11 3 10 55 1:27 8. Brahmpuri Residential Area GAUM I 1 22 0 2 6 7 4 42 1:22 9. Bani Park Residential Area BPUM I 1 16 0 3 8 6 2 36 1:16 10. Tilaknagar Residential Area TUM I 1 21 0 2 10 1 6 41 1:21 11. Bapu Nagar Residential Area BUM I 1 12 0 1 2 0 4 20 1:12 12. Durgapura Residential Area DUMI 1 12 0 2 6 4 2 27 1:12 13. Jhotwara Residential Area JWUM I 1 10 0 2 2 2 2 19 1:10 14. Sanganer Residential Area SAUMI 1 17 0 1 6 6 7 38 1:17 15. 'C' Scheme Residential Area CUM 1 20 0 0 4 9 2 36 1:20 16. Ambagarh Reserve Forest Forest/Village GUI 1 49 0 7 34 13 14 118 1:49 17. A mb agar h Reserve Forest Forest/Village GIV 1 43 0 11 14 18 15 102 1:43 18. Jhalana Forest/Village JHUM 1 13 0 3 4 0 0 21 1:13 19. Sagar I Forest/Village SGUMI 1 28 0 2 7 8 6 52 1:28 20. Sagar II Forest/Village SGUM II 1 26 0 3 5 7 11 53 1:26 21. Khatipura Forest/Village KUMI 1 24 0 1 9 11 8 54 1:24 22. Khatipura Forest/Village KUM II 1 27 0 3 11 3 10 55 1:27 23. Jagatpura Forest/Village JGUM 1 38 0 8 30 21 20 118 1:38 Jaipur 1 23.6 0 3.3 10.1 7.2 6.3 51.2 1:23 Total individuals: 1179 Average group size : 51.2 PRESBYTIS ENTELLUS IN JAIPUR, RAJASTHAN 393 Table 2 COMPOSITION AND SEX RATIO OF MULTIMALE GROUPS OF HANUMAN LANGUR (Presbytis entellus) No. Place Habitat Group AM AF SAM SAF JUV I2 I1 Total AM/AF sex ratio 1. Govindeo Temple Temple GMMII 5 16 8 4 7 5 0 45 1:3.2 2. Amber Fort Tourist Spot AMM II 4 13 2 2 1 3 1 26 1:3.2 3. Sisodia Garden Tourist Spot SMM I 2 22 7 1 14 7 0 53 1:11 3.6 17 5.6 2.3 7.3 5.3 41.3 1:4.7 Total individuals: 124 Average groupsize 41.3 Table 3 COMPOSITION OF ALLMALE GROUPS OF HANUMAN LANGUR {Presbytis entellus ) No. Place Habitat Group AM SAM JUV Total 1. Govindeo Temple Temple GAM 3 4 7 14 2. Ghatgate Residential area GGAM 5 4 9 18 3. Tilak Nagar " " TAM 8 3 11 22 4. Bani Park " " BPAMII 8 10 5 23 5. Jhotwara " " JWAMI 4 15 3 22 6. Nahargarh Reserve Forest Forest/Village NHAM 5 28 9 42 7. Durgapura Residential area DAM II 4 0 0 4 8. Ambagarh Reserve Forest Forest/Village AMI 8 23 27 58 9. Ambagarh Reserve Forest " " AM II 3 0 0 3 Mean 5.3 9.7 7.9 22.9 Total Individuals: 206 Average groupsize: 22.9 Table 4 GROUP COMPOSITION AND SEX RATIO OF HANUMAN LANGUR GROUPS No. Type of group AM AF SAM SAF J I Total Sex Ratio AM : AF 1. Unimale (n =23) 23 543 - 76 234 303 1179 1 : 23 2. Multimale (n = 3) 11 51 17 7 22 16 124 1 : 4.6 Total 34 594 17 83 256 319 1303 3. Allmale (n = 9) 48 - 87 - 71 - 206 Grand Total 82 594 104 83 327 319 1509 Overall SAM + AM : SAF + AF : 3.6 394 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) Table 5 SOCIONOMIC AGE SEX RATIO IN BISEXUAL GROUPS No. Age and Sex Ratio 1. AM AF 1 17.4 2. AM + AF SA+J+I 1 1.07 3. AF SA+J+I 1 1.13 4. AF J+I 1 0.96 5. AF I 1 0.53 6. AF SA 1 0.16 7. AF J 1 0.43 Table 6 GROUP COMPOSITION OF BISEXUAL GROUPS IN DIFFERENT HABITATS No. Habitat Total number of individuals Ratio AM A/F SAM SA/F J I AF:J AF:I 1. Temple 7 73 8 13 34 28 1:0.4 1:0.2 2. Tourist 11 143 9 19 • 64 62 1:0.4 1:0.1 3. Residential 8 130 - 13 44 64 1:0.3 1:0.1 4. Forest village 8 248 - 38 114 165 1:0.4 1:0.1 Table 7 BIRTH RATE IN UNIMALE BISEXUAL GROUPS IN FOUR DIFFERENT HABITAT No. Place and habitat Type of group and number Total No. of adult female Infants born in whole year Birth rate 1. Govindeo Unimale 26 8 0.3 (Temple area) GUM I 2. Brahmpuri Uni male 22 4 0.18 (Residential area) GAUM I 3. Jagatpura Unimale 40 6 0.15 (Forest/Village area) JAUM 4. Jantar Mantar Unimale 18 6 0.3 =X 0.23 (Tourist area) JUM PRESBYTIS ENTELLUS IN JAIPUR, RAJASTHAN 395 Table 8 PER CAPITA RATE INCREASE IN THE POPULATION OF HANUMAN LANGURS (1986 - 8?) No. Year Group Place Habitat AM AF SAM SAF JUV 12 11 Total Growth Popu- lation rate 1. 1986 GUM I Govindeo Temple 1 22 0 6 7 5 1 42 1987 Temple 1 24 0 2 7 7 8 49 1.16 2. 1986 GAM III Govindeo Temple 3 0 4 0 8 0 0 15 1987 Temple 5 0 4 0 2 0 0 11 0.73 3. 1986 G V Galta Temple 1 35 0 3 20 5 12 76 1987 1 32 0 2 21 10 10 80 1.05 4. 1986 JUM Jantar Tourist 1 18 0 3 4 5 5 36 1987 Mantar spot 1 18 0 3 7 7 6 42 1.16 5. 1986 AUMI Amber Tourist 1 34 0 5 23 16 1 80 1987 Fort Spot 1 34 0 6 26 12 10 88 1.10 6. 1986 VUM Vidhyadhar Tourist 1 27 0 3 11 3 10 55 1987 Garden spot 1 26 0 1 10 4 13 55 1.00 7. 1986 SMM I Sisodia Tourist 2 22 7 1 14 7 0 53 1987 Garden spot 1 22 0 1 5 0 7 36 0.67 8. 1986 BUM Bapu Nagar Residen- tial area 1 12 0 1 2 2 2 20 1987 1 12 0 1 2 4 3 23 1.15 9. 1986 GAUM Brahmpuri Residen- tial area 1 22 0 2 6 7 4 42 1987 1 20 0 2 8 7 6 44 1.04 10. 1986 TAM II Tilak Nagar Residen- tial area 8 0 3 0 11 0 0 22 1987 12 0 3 0 14 0 0 29 1.31 11. 1986 DUMI Durgapura Residen- tial area 1 12 0 2 6 4 2 27 1987 1 12 0 2 6 3 2 26 0.96 12. 1986 JWUMI Jhotwara Residen- tial area 1 10 0 2 2 2 2 19 1987 1 10 0 3 1 3 2 20 1.05 13. 1986 SAUM Sanganer Residen- tial area 1 17 0 1 6 6 7 38 1987 1 16 0 1 6 5 9 38 1.00 14. 1986 GGAM Ghatgate Residen- tial area 5 0 4 0 9 0 0 18 1987 4 0 2 0 9 0 0 15 0.83 15. 1986 BPUM Bani Park Residen- tial area 1 16 0 3 8 6 2 36 1987 1 14 0 3 4 4 0 26 0.72 16. 1986 ’C’ UM 'C ' Scheme Residen- tial area 1 20 0 0 4 9 2 36 1987 1 24 0 0 2 4 1 32 0.88 17. 1986 JHUM Jhalana Forest/ 1 13 0 3 4 0 0 21 1987 Village 1 11 0 3 4 0 3 22 1.04 18. 1986 SGUMI Sagar Forest/ 1 28 0 2 7 8 6 52 1987 Village 1 28 0 2 5 9 8 53 1.01 19. 1986 JGUM Jagatpura Forest/ 1 38 0 8 30 21 20 118 1987 Village 1 38 0 9 32 22 23 125 1.06 20. 1986 KUMI Khatipura Forest/ 1 27 0 3 11 3 10 55 1987 Village 1 27. 0 3 14 6 12 63 1.14 = X 1.003 396 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) allmale groups (Table 4). Sex-ratio between adult males and adult females of unimale bisexual groups was 1:23. If all the females (adults and subadults) and all the males (adults and subadults) of all three types of groups were added then the sex-ratio was 1:3.6 (Table 4). The socionomic sex and age ratio in bisexual groups (unimale and multimale) between AF:I was 1:0.53, whereas, the ratio between AF:SA and AF: J was 1:0.16 and 1:0.43 (Table 5). Maximum number of infants were observed in forest/village habitat followed by residential, tourist and least in temple areas (Table 6). Percentage of different age- sex classes were calculated for survivorship. Percentage of adult males was more in the residential area as compared to other habitats. Adult female survivorship was highest in the forest/village (46.5%). Percentage of subadult males was more in residential area whereas, subadult females and juveniles percentage was highest in temple areas (73% subadult females, 23.1% juvenile). The highest percentage in the langur groups was that of adult females followed by juveniles, infants-I, subadult males, adult males and lastly subadult females. Monthly census of unimale bisexual groups in different habitats for birth rate: Between 1986 to March 1987 eight infants were born in GUM, four in GAUM, six each in JUM and JAUM and the birth rate was calculated as 0.3, 0.18, 0.3 and 0.15 respectively. The average birth rate for Jaipur langurs in one year was 0.23 (Table 7). Population growth: The per capita rate of increase in group size, i.e. population growth X was estimated in twenty langur groups in different habitats. Three groups in temple area (GUM, GAM III and G V), four groups from tourist area (JUM, AUM I, VUM and SMM I) nine groups in residential area (BUM, GAUM, TAM II, DUM I, JWUM I, SAUM, GGAM, BPUM and ‘CUM) and four groups from forest/village, namely JHUM, SGUM I, JGUM and KUM I were censused in 1986 and then in 1987 for population growth. The mean value of lambda in temple, tourist, residential and forest/village was 0.98, 9.8, 0.99 and 1.06 respectively. The mean value of lambda was 1.003 (Table 8). Discussion In the present investigation, birth rate, survival of infant and AF: J ratio were highest in temple and tourist areas perhaps due to high rate of provisioning, and complete protection from religious beliefs. Similar type of results for rhesus were reported by Southwick and Siddiqi (1977). A comparison of mean group composition of bisexual groups of Jaipur with other research sites indicated much higher number of females (17.4) to each adult male. The sex ratio for Presbytis entellus is reported to vary with habitat (Poirier 1988). Laws and Laws (1984) reported 1:4 male to female ratio in four bisexual groups. Jay (1965) had noted 1:1.5 to 2 for Kaukori and Orcha langurs. Hrdy (1977) noted 1:8 for Mount Abu. Roonwal and Mohnot (1977) noted that the range of socionomic, sex ratio for Presbytis entellus varies from 1:1.5 to 1:9 with the average in the range of 1 : 1 .5 to 2. In the present investigation the sex ratio between SAM + AM (subadult male + adult male) : S AF + AF (Subadult female + adult female) was 1:3.6 (Table 4). The socionomic sex and age ratio of langurs of bisexual groups of Jaipur showed a gradual decline in AF:I, AF: J and AF:S A ratio indicating a poor recruitment of breeding individuals in their population. The ratio of AF:I reflects potential recruitment to the population if mortality factors do not operate. AF:SA’s ratio on the other hand, shows the actual rate of addition to the breeding population after considering mortality factors that have operated. A comparison of data with other research sites suggested that the population of langurs in Jaipur are breeding better than langur population at Bhimthal, Bundala, Dharwar, Kanha, Polonnaruwa, Raipur, Ranthambhore, Wilpattu (Refer Table in Moore 1985). Acknowledgements The financial support from University Grants Commission, New Delhi and friendly help of Mr Shekhar Verma, Assistant Professor is thankfully acknowledged. PRESBYTIS ENTELLUS IN JAIPUR, RAJASTHAN 397 References Bishop, N., S.B. Hrdy, T. Teas & J. Moore (1981): Measures of human interference in South Asian Monkeys. Int. J. Primatol. 2: 153-167. Dolhinow, P. & D.G. Lindberg (1983): A population survey of for- est dwelling rhesus monkeys (Primates : Cercopithe-cidae) in North India. In: Perspectives of primate biology. Ed. P.K. Seth and S. Seth. pp. 201-209. Emmel, T.C. (1973): An introduction to Ecology and population bi- ology. Von Nostrand company. New York. London. Hrdy, S.B. (1977): The langurs of Abu. Ed. S.B. Hrdy, Harvard University Press. Jay, P.C. (1965): The common langurs of Northern India. In: Pri- mate Behaviour. Ed. I. Devore. Holt, Rinehart and Winston. New York. pp. 197-249. Laws, W.J. & J.V.H. Laws (1984): Social interactions among adult male langurs at Rajaji wildlife sanctuary. Int. J. of Primatol 5: 31-51. Mathur, Reena & B. Ram Manohar (1987): Group number and composition of Hanuman langurs ( Presbytis entellus ) in Jaipur, India. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 84: 193-198. Mathur, Reena & B. Ram Manohar (1994): Number and size of group of Presbytis entellus in four different habitat in and around Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 91(2): Mohnot, S.M., M. Gadgil & S.C. Makwana (1981): On the popu- lation dynamics of hanuman langur population in Jodhpur (Rajasthan, India). Primates 22: 182-191. Moore, J. (19 85) demography and sociality in primates. Ph.D. The- sis, Harvard University. Cambridge. Poirier, F.E. (1988): Cross specific review of Asian Colobine so- cial organisation. In: Perspective of primate biology. Ed. P.K. Seth and S. Seth. pp. 1-7. Roonwal, M.L. & S.M. Mohnot (1977): Hanuman langurs. In: Primates of South Asia Ecology, Sociobiology and behaviour. Harvard University Press. Chicago, Ed. M.L. Roonwal and S.M. Mohnot. pp. 234-270. Southwick, C.H. & M.F. Siddiqui (1977): Population dynamics of rhesus monkeys in Northern India. In: Primate conserva- tion. Ed. H.S. Serene Highness Prince Ramier of Monaco. Academic Press. New York. pp. 339-362. Southwick, C.H.,T. Richie, H. Taylor, H.J. Teas & M.F. Siddiqui (1980): Rhesus monkey population in India and Nepal. Pat- terns of growth, decline and natural regulations. In. Biosocial mechanism of population regulations. Ed. M.N. Cohen, R.S. Malpass and H.G. Klein. Yale Univ. Press, pp. 151-171. Southwick, C.H., M.F. Siddiqui & J.R. Oppenheimer (1983): Twenty year changes in rhesus population in agricultural areas of Northern India. Ecology 64: 434-439. Southwick, C.H. & M.F. Siddiqui (1983): Status and conservation of rhesus monkeys in India. In: Perspectives in primate biol- ogy. Ed. P.K. Seth and S. Seth pp. 227-236. Sugiyama, Y. & M.D. Parthasarathy (1969): A brief account of the social life of hanuman langurs. Proceedings Nat. Ins. of Sci. of India (New Delhi). Ser. B. Vol. 35: 306-319. AESTIVATION OF TURTLES IN KEOLADEO NATIONAL PARK, BHARATPUR WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO LISSEMYS PUNCTATA (REPTILIA : TRIONYCHIDAE)1 S. Bhupathyand V.S. Vuayan2 (With a text-figure) Key words: Lissemys punctata, aestivation, critical temperature, Bharatpur The aestivation of the Indian flapshell turtle, Lissemys punctata was studied in Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur between January and June 1987. Plots were laid in dried up marshes to locate and study the aestivating turtles. Lissemys punctata spent about 1 60 days in aestivation and the aestivation depth of the turtle varied from 2 to 10 cm with a mean of 5.20 cm (n = 304). Bushes near the drying water body had the highest concentration of 166 turtles/ha. Overall, the highest density of aestivating Lissemys punctata (75 turtles/ ha) were observed within 50 m radius of the drying water body. Diurnal substratum temperature in the aestivating habitats varied from 28° to 48°C. Introduction Methods Ecological studies on Indian freshwater turtles are few. The Indian flapshell turtle, Lissemys punctata is one of the most wide spread turtle species of the Indian subcontinent and inhabits ponds and shallow waterbodies (i.e. non-perennial/ fluctuating habitats). Despite its commonness, only some aspects of its biology have been worked out. Most reptiles reduce their activity during extreme climatic conditions and undergo hibernation or aestivation. This is one of the physiological strategies for surviving and for avoiding predators. It is reported that apart from desert reptiles, many tropical and temperate forms such as turtles burrow and remain dormant until rain occurs (Gregory 1982). Some species such as the American mud turtle, Kinosternon subrubrum travel overland during summer in search of suitable aestivation sites when waterbodies dry (Bennett et al. 1970). However, studies on the terrestrial activity of aquatic turtles are scanty and restricted to Western countries. This study examines the aestivation behaviour of Lissemys punctata. The following aspects were covered; aestivation habitat, duration, depth and substratum temperature. The study was conducted in Keoladeo National Park (KNP), Bharatpur between January and June 1987, when the Park experienced severe drought. Accepted May 1993. 2Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology & Natural History, Kalampalayam (Post), Coimbatore 621 010, India. The K.N.P., Bharatpur is a non-perennial wetland situated in the flood plains of the rivers Banganga and Gambir. The total area of the Park is 29 sq. km and the aquatic area during winter is about 8.5 sq. km. During summer, especially in drought years, water spread recedes to a few hectares exposing aquatic fauna to severe predation. Detailed information on the flora and fauna of the Park is available elsewhere (Vijayan 1987, 1991). Plots of varying size (c. 50 x 50 m) were laid throughout the dried aquatic area and intensely searched for aestivating turtles. A stick with a pointed metal tip was used in locating the buried reptiles. Burrowing turtles in drying marsh were located by the presence of a breathing hole and in grass and other habitats by the disturbed nature of the surface. The following details were recorded at each location of an aestivating turtle: (1) name of the species, (2) microhabitat and (3) aestivation depth (from soil surface to the carapace of the aestivating turtle). Microhabitat classification was based on the plant cover and moisture content in the soil. A digital thermometer was used to record the atmospheric and substratum temperature of the turtle aestivation site. Temperature was recorded every hour from 0600 to 1800 hrs for two days in the first half of June 1987 to determine the temperature tolerance of Lissemys punctata. The aestivating turtles were also monitored to record the aestivation duration. AESTIVATION OF TURTLES IN KEOLADEO NATIONAL PARK 399 Results and Discussion Ttirtle fauna of the Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur: Seven species of freshwater turtles have been recorded from KNP, Bharatpur. They are, 1. Indian flapshell turtle ( Lissemys punctata ), 2. Indian softshell turtle ( Aspideretes ( Trionyx ) gangeticus), 3. Indian peacock softshell turtle (A. hurum), 4. Indian roofed turtle (. Kachuga tecta), 5. Indian tent turtle ( K . tentoria ), 6. Crowned river turtle (. Hardella thurjii ) and 7. Spotted pond turtle ( Geoclemys hamiltonii). The first three species are softshells and remaining are hardshells. Turtle aestivation in K.N.P., Bharatpur: A total of 7.9 ha were surveyed and 319 aestivating turtles were recorded. All species, except K. tecta and K. tentoria were recorded in the survey plots. However, turtles of all species, except Lissemys punctata stayed temporarily in the drying mud and they either deserted their aestivation site or were found dead after about one month (Table 1). Lissemys punctata stayed in the aestivation site until' normal conditions returned (i.e. till the monsoon). Hence, only Lissemys punctata should be considered as a truly aestivating species in the KNP, Bharatpur. Kachuga spp. are basically riverine species which could be the reason for not aestivating. Aestivation of Lissemys punctata inhabiting semipermanent waterbodies has already been reported by Daniel (1983). Similar to Lissemys punctata, aestivation has been reported in the American mud turtle, Kinosternon flavescens (Seidel 1978). Table 1 TURTLE AESTIVATION IN KEOLADEO NATIONAL PARK, BHARATPUR Turtle species Number recorded Mean aestivation depth (cm) Maximum aestivation (in days) Geoclemys hamiltonii 1 1 23 (1) Hardella thurjii 9 3.63 32 (9) Trionyx spp. 27 11.87 49 (5) Lissemys punctata 304 5.20 160 (20) No. in parenthesis is number of turtles monitored. Aestivation of Lissemys punctata Aestivation habitat: In KNP, Bharatpur five types of turtle aestivation habitats was distinguished during the present study. They were bushes, Eicchornia, grass, soft mud and dried mud. The distribution of the grass habitat was throughout the study area, whereas the other habitats were restricted mostly within 50 m of the vicinity of water. Hence, turtles observed in a 50 m radius from the existing water body were taken for analysis. Among the five habitats recorded, grass was the commonest (40.5%) and soft mud the least (1.78%). The area surveyed in each habitat type is given in Table 2. A total of 304 aestivating Lissemys punctata were recorded in the intensive survey plots (i.e. in 7.9 ha). About 82% (249) of the turtles were recorded in the plots of 50 m radius of the last remaining waterbodies which accounted for 3.33 ha (42.2%) of the sampled area. A high density of aestivating turtles, 950 turtles/ ha was recorded in the soft mud habitat (Table 2). This was a temporary habitat and in due course, this dried mud became unsuitable for aestivation. Aestivating turtles in the soft mud deserted this habitat when it became dry and lost moisture drastically and cracked. No cover was available and aestivation in open dried mud in such a concentration seemed risky, as an efficient predator can easily find the hiding prey (Bennett et al. 1970). Hence, turtles aestivating in this habitat might have abandoned it when it dried up. The more stable habitats such as bushes adjacent to the drying marsh had the highest density Table 2 DENSITY OF AESTIVATING Lissemys punctata IN THE VICINITY OF 50 M OF EXISTING WATER Habitat Area Aestivating turtle Number Density Bushes 0.410 68 166 Eichhomia 0.761 57 75 Grass 1.361 67 49 Slushy mud 0.060 57 950 Dried mud 0.740 0 - 400 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) of 166 Lissemys punctata per ha. This is mainly because, these habitats had sufficient moisture and cover which saved the turtles from dessication and » predation. Aestivation duration and site fidelity: After selecting a suitable aestivation site, turtles stayed there for the rest of the dry season. Lissemys punctata is adapted to xeric conditions and was observed aestivating for more than 160 days (Table 1). Other species mostly abandoned or were found dead in the aestivation site within a month, indicating that turtles other than Lissemys punctata are not adapted for aestivation or to withstand prolonged drought conditions. Bennett et al. (1970) report that Kinostemon subrubrum left aestivation sites within 5-7 days in search of new sites. Among the turtles recorded in KNP, only Lissemys punctata is adapted to fluctuating or semipermanent habitats (i.e. ponds, shallow water bodies, etc.) and changing water conditions. Lissemys punctata was observed emerging out of the drying water body well before the pond disappeared. However, other species did not leave the water till the water body became totally dry. Lissemys punctata is a moderate sized turtle and prone to higher predation. Hence, aestivation during dry season would be beneficial for Lissemys punctata to protect itself from heat (dessication) and predators. Other species recorded in K.N.P. are two Aspideretes spp. (softshells) which are larger in size and the remaining are hardshells and might have higher chances of survival from avian predators while staying in a drying waterbody. Also, A. gangeticus was observed feeding on Lissemys punctata during summer when the water level was low (Bhupathy 1990). The White scavenger vulture ( Neophron percnopterus) has been recorded as a major predator of Lissemys punctata in K.N.P. (Bhupathy and Vijayan 1989). Also, herons, storks, jackals and stray dogs fed on turtles in this study area. Aestivation depth: Lissemys punctata buries itself in a suitable substratum for aestivation till the next monsoon. The depth varied from 2 to 10 cm with a mean of 5.20 cm Table 3 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DISTANCE FROM THE EXISTING WATERBODY AND AESTIVATING Lissemys punctata Distance (Metre) Area (ha) Aestivating turtle Number Density <50 3.33 (42.2) 249 (81.9) 75 100 1.61 (20.5) 26 (8.5) 16 200 1.47 (18.6) 25 (8.2) 17 300 0.86 (11.0) 4 (1.3) 5 400 0.61 (7.7) 0 - Number in parentheses are percentage. (n = 304, Table 1). Auffenburg (1981) and Das (1991) have recorded this depth as 3-6 cm. There appears to be a relation between the neck length and aestivation depth of turtle species. The turtle species having the longest neck (in the study area), Aspideretes spp. buried themselves deep in the soil (i.e. 12 cm) as against the short necked hardshells 1-3 cm (Table 1). Turtle aestivation and distance from drying water body: The highest density of aestivating turtles was recorded within a 50 m radius of the last remaining waterbodies. As the distance increased, the density of aestivating reptiles decreased (Table 3). At about 400 m aestivating turtles were not recorded. This might be due to the fact that whenever turtles emerged from a drying water body (i.e. 0 m), they were immediately attacked by predators such as the White scavenger vulture (Bhupathy and Vijayan 1989). Hence, turtles were forced to aestivate nearby drying marsh and had no chance to move far away. This is supported by the fact that about 75% of the predation on this species was observed within 100 m of a drying waterbody (Bhupathy and Vijayan 1989). However during monsoon, turtles were observed emerging from woodland forest, which was about one kilometer away from the last remaining water body. This may have resulted from crepuscular or nocturnal movement overland of some turtles when most of its predators are inactive. Turtle aestivation and temperature: Diurnal temperature monitored in the aestivation sites of turtles in different habitats showed that in the early AESTIVATION OF TURTLES IN KEOLADEO NATIONAL PARK 401 Atmosphere — Bush — Grass ”R- Dried mud Fig. 1. Temperature recorded in various aestivation habitats of Lissemys punctata. hours of the day, substratum temperatures were similar in different habitats (i.e. 29°C). However, substratum temperatures in open habitat (drying marsh) rose steadily reaching a peak (48°C) at 1500 hrs and remained above 45°C till 1800 hrs. (Fig. 1). On the other hand, under bushes, the substratum temperature reached a peak of 40°C and never exceeded the atmospheric temperature (Fig. 1). It is reported that the Maximum Critical Temperature (MCT, i.e. the thermal point at which locomotory activity becomes disorganised and leads to death) for Trionychid turtles is 40°C (Hutchinson 1982). Hence, habitats with cover are better for aestivation and in the present case it is bushes, as the temperature never exceeded 40°C. However, turtles were observed aestivating in harsher habitats such as grass. The present observations show that the wild Lissemys punctata has a considerably higher temperature tolerance. Acknowledgements The present work is a part of the Bombay Natural History Society and US Fish and Wildlife Service collaborative project on the Ecology of Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur sponsored through the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India. We thank the Rajasthan Forest Department for permission and cooperation. We record our thanks to Mr. Rajan Mathur, the then Divisional Forest Officer in- charge of the Park and his colleagues for their help in the field. We are grateful to Mr. J.C. Daniel for his critical comments and encouragement. Thanks are due to Dr. E.O. Moll, Eastern Illinois University, Charlston, U.S.A.; Dr. John Behler, New York Zoological Society, Bronx Zoo, U.S.A.; Dr. (Mrs.) Lalitha Vijayan, Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural 402 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) History, Coimbatore and Dr. Ranjit Daniels, Centre for Herpetology, Madras Crocodile Bank, Madras for going through the manuscript and offering comments. We thank Dr. U. Sridharan, Refer Auffenburg, W. (1981): Behaviour of Lissemys punctata (Reptilia: Testudinata, Trionychidae) in a drying lake in Rajasthan, India. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 78(3): 487- 494. Bennett, D.H., J.W. Gibbons & J.C. Franson (1970): Terrestrial activity in aquatic turtles. Ecology 51(4): 738- 740. Bhupaihy, S. (1990): Observations on the food of the Ganges- softshell turtle, Trionyx gangeticus in Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 87 (3 ): 460-46 1 . Bhupaihy, S. & V.S. Vuayan (1989): Predation on the Indian flapshell turtle (Lissemys punctata ) in Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan. Proc. Nat. Symp. anim. Behav. In: Behaviour, Patel, B.H. (Ed.)., Sir P.P. Institute of Science, Bhavnagar: 27-33. Daniel, J.C. (1983): The Book of Indian Reptiles. Bombay Natural History Society, Bombay. 141 p. Scientist SD, Ministry of Environment and Forests (Eastern Regional Office), Bhubaneswar for providing transparencies. ENCES Das, I. (1991): Colour guide to the turtle and tortoise of the Indian subcontinent. R & A Publishing Limited. 133 p. Gregory, P.T. (1982): Reptilian hibernation. In: Biology of Reptilia, Vol. 13, C. Gans andF.H. Pough (Eds.), Academic Press, London. 345 p. Hutchinson, V.H. (1982): Thermoregulation. In: Turtles Perspectives and Research, M. Harless and H. Morlock (Eds.), John Wiley & Sons, New York: 207-228. Seidel, M.E. (1978): Terrestrial dormancy in the turtle Kinosternon flavescens: Respiratory metabolism and dehydration. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 61 A: 1-4. Vuayan, V.S. (1987): Vertebrate fauna of Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur (Contribution 1). Bombay Natural History Society, Bombay. 27 p. Vuayan, V.S. (1991): Keoladeo National Park Ecology Study. Final Report, Bombay Natural History Society, Bombay. 337 p. THE CHECKERED BEETLES OF NEPAL (COLEOPTERA : CLERIDAE)1 Jonathan R. Mawdsley2 Key words: Coleoptera, Cleridae, Nepal Four species of Cleridae are recorded from Nepal for the first time: Cylidroctenus birmanicum (Gorham), New Combination; Opilo sordidus (Westwood); Orthrius corporaali (Winkler), New Combination; and Stigmatium mutillaecolor (White); New Record. The genus Tillopilo Winkler (type-species T. corporaali Winkler) is synonymized with the genus Orthrius Gorham (type-species O. cylindricus Gorham), New Synonymy. Tillopilo discoidalis (Fairmaire) from China is transferred to the genus Tillus Olivier, New Combination. A key to the 1 1 species of Cleridae known from Nepal is provided. For each species, a complete bibliography, type locality, type repository, brief diagnosis, and distributional data are provided. Introduction I was recently given a small collection of Cleridae from Nepal which increased the number of species known from this country by four. I thought that a summary of the present state of knowledge of Cleridae in Nepal would be beneficial to collectors and those interested in forest entomology. For each species, complete bibliographic information, type locality, location of type specimens, a brief diagnosis, and distributional data are provided below. The information given here will doubtless have to be updated as more material becomes available for study. Key to Cleridae of Nepal 1. Procoxal cavities closed posteriorly (Subfamily Tillinae) 2 Procoxal cavities open posteriorly 5 2. Metatibiae strongly swollen Diplopherusa rosti (Schenkling) Metatibiae not strongly swollen 3 3. Antennomere 3 serrate Gracilotillus fasciatus (Schenkling) Antennomere 3 cylindrical 4 4. General form elongate, slender; elytra densely striatopunctate; head and pronotum red, elytra yellow .... Orthocladiscus longipennis (Westwood) General form robust; elytra feebly striatopunctate, shining; head and pronotum black; elytra black laterally and brown medially, with a lateral white macula Cylidroctorms birmanicum (Gorham) 5. Antennae very small, not attaining base of pronotum, usually with fewer than 11 segments; elytra elongate, flattened, metallic blue (Subfamily Phyllobaeninae) 6 Accepted October 1993. 2 Department of Entomology, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A. Antennae large, attaining base of pronotum, always with 11 segments; elytra elongate or robust, usually rounded, not metallic blue (Subfamily Clerinae) 8 6. Elytra with six patches of grey or white pubescence 7 Elytra with four patches of white pubescence Callimerus benedictus Gorham 7. Apical patch of pubescence on elytra round, not attaining suture, comprised of dense white pubescence Callimerus albovarius (Westwood) Apical patch of pubescence on elytra tiangular, attaining the suture, comprised of sparse grey pubescence Callimerus amabilis Gorham 8. Eyes coarsely granulate (facets having diameter 0.30 mm or greater) 9 Eyesfrnely granulate (facets having diameter less than 0.30 mm) 10 9. Terminal segment of maxillary palpi triangular Opilo sordidus (Westwood) Terminal segment of maxillary palpi elongate, not triangular Orthrius corporaali (Winkler) 1 0. Elytra with large, coarse punctures at base alternating with small tubercles Stigmatium mutillaecolor (White) Elytra finely punctate at base, lacking tubercles Thanasimus himalayensis Stebbing 1. Diplopherusa rosti (Schenkling) References: Schenkling 1908:362 (Cladiscus); Corporaal 1939: 19 ( Cladiscus ); Corporaal and Van Der Wiel 1948: 183, 185; Corporaal 1950: 20. Type locality: Western Himalayas. Type specimen: Deutsche Entomologische Institut, Berlin. Diagnosis: The enlarged metatibiae will distinguish this species from all other sympatric Cleridae; head and elytra black, pronotum medially red, laterally black; length 8.0 mm. Distribution: Known only from the Western Himalayas. 404 JOURNAL BOMBAY NATURAL HIST SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) 2. Gracilotillus fasciatus (Schenkling) References: Schenkling 1908:362 (Cladiscus); Corporaal 1939:19 ( Cladiscus ); Corporaal and Van Der Wiel 1948:181, 183; Corporaal 1950:20. Type locality: Western Himalayas. Type specimen: Deutsche Entomologische Institut, Berlin. Diagnosis: Head black; pronotum and scutellum red; elytra black with a narrow transverse yellow macula and/or base of elytra red; length 5.0 to 8.0 mm. Distribution: Northern India to Western Himalayas. 3. Orthocladiscus longipennis (Westwood) References: Westwood 1849:52 ( Cladiscus ); 1852:39 ( Cladiscus ); Gorham 1876:62 ( Cladiscus ); Schenkling 1908:362; Corporaal 1939:20; Corporaal and Van Der Wiel 1948:158-188; Corporaal 1950:21. "type locality: Himalayas. Type specimen: Hope collection, Oxford University. Diagnosis: Large, robust; covered with dense black pubescence; head and pronotum red; elytra yellowish-brown; length 15.0-20.0 mm. Distribution: From Northern India throughout (he Himalayan region. 4. Cylidroctonus birmanicum (Gorham) New combination and new record References: Gorham 1892:729 ( Tillus ). Type locality: India. Type specimen: Museo Civico di Storia Naturale, Genova. Diagnosis: Integument predominantly black; eltyra brown along suture, with a white arcuate median fascia; pronotum and elytral apices robust; length 8.0-12.0 mm. Discussion of new placement: This species does not belong in the genus Tillus Olivier as redefined by Gerstmeier and Kuff (1992: 57-59); it is my opinion that it rather belongs to the genus Cylidroctonus Kraatz. Distribution: Found throughout much of India. This is the first record of this species from Nepal; my material is from Amelkghanj, Nepal. 5. Callimerus albovarius (Westwood) References: Westwood 1849:50 ( Xylobius ); 1852:40 ( Clerus ); Gorham 1876:65; Corporaal 1950:84. Type locality: Himalayas. Type specimen: Hope collection, Oxford University. Diagnosis: Superficially similar to C. amabilis , differing in the details of the apical elytral patch of pubescence (as described in key). Distribution: Known only from the type locality. 6. Callimerus amabilis Gorham References: Gorham 1876:66; Schenkling 1915:111; Corporaal 1939:39; 1950:84. Type locality: Himalayas. Type specimen: Gorham Collection, Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris. Diagnosis: Very dark bluish-black, legs yellow; elytra coarsely punctate at base; pronotum with white pubescence at apex and base; elytra with six patches of white pubescence, two on the basal third, one medial, two at apical third, one at apices; length 12.0-15.0 mm. Distribution: Generally distributed from Nepal to southern China. 7. Callimerus benedictus Gorham References: Gorham 1893:573; Corporaal 1950:85. Type locality: Assam. Type specimen: Gorham Collection, Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris. Diagnosis: Very dark bluish-black, shining, legs yellow; elytra coarsely punctate at base; pronotum with scattered basal and apical white pubescence; THE CHECKERED BEETLES OF NEPAL 405 elytra with four patches of white pubescence, one basal, two medial, one apical; length 8.5 mm. Distribution: From Northern India into the Western Himalayan region. 8. Opilo sordidus (Westwood) New record References: Westwood 1852:42 ( Opilus ); Corporaal 1926:212; 1939:23; 1950:113. Type locality: India. Type specimen: Hope collection, Oxford University.. Diagnosis: Head, pronotum, femoral apices, tibiae, tarsi, and ventrum dark reddish-brown; base of femora and elytra (with the exception of irregular reddish-brown maculae along the suture) yellowish- brown; length 15.0-20.0 mm. Distribution: Previously known only from India. This is the first record of this species from Nepal; my material is from Sangda, Nepal. 9. Orthrius corporaali (Winkler) New combination and New record References: Winkler 1958:245-248 ( Tillopilo ). Type locality: Tienmuschan, Northwest China. Type specimen: Winkler Collection, Prague. Diagnosis: Uniformly reddish-brown, covered with dense brown pubescence; elytra with small punctures in rows; length 8.0-11.0 mm. Distribution: Previously known only from the type locality. This is the first record of this species from Nepal; my material is from the A run Valley, Nepal. Note on new combination: The three specimens of this species which I have examined from Nepal are all extremely similar to the illustrations and description of Tillopilo corporaali provided by Winkler (1958:245-248); however, they clearly belong to the subfamily Clerinae, not Tillinae as claimed by Winkler, as their procoxal cavities are not closed posteriorly. Furthermore, these specimens belong to the clerine genus Orthrius Gorham as defined by Schenkling (1903:45) and Chapin (1924:211). I therefore have no difficulty in synonymizing Winkler’s genus Tillopilo (type- species T corporaali Winkler) with Orthrius Gorham (type- species O. cylindricus Gorham). The additional species included in Tillopilo by Winkler [Tillopilo discoidalis Fairmaire)] may be returned to the genus Tillus Olivier [type-species T. elongatus (Linnaeus)], New combination; I have examined the holotype of this species at the Museum National d’Hostoire Naturelle in Paris and judge it to be congeneric with T. elongatus (L.) 10. Stigmatium mutillaecolor (White) New record References: White 1849:51 ( Tillicera ); Chevrolat 1876:5; Gorham 1876:5; 1892:740; Schenkling 1932:25; Corporaal 1939:27; 1950:171. Type locality: Bengal. Type specimen: The Natural History Museum, London. Diagnosis: Integument largely black, abdomen and base of elytra red; pronotum basally and apically with dense reclinate white pubescence; elytra with two broad transverse bands of reclinate white pubescence; length 10.0-15.0 mm. Distribution: Generally distributed from central India through Southeast Asia to Western China. This is the first record of this species from Nepal; my material is from Amelkghanj, Nepal. 11. Thanasimus himalayensis Stebbing References: Stebbing 1914:186, 508; Corporaal 1926:213; 1939:26; 1950:142. Type locality: Himalayas. Type specimen: The Natural History Museum, London. Diagnosis: Integument predominantly black; basal third of elytra reddish-orange; elytra with two transverse bands, somewhat recurved on disc; length 10.0-12.0 mm. Distribution: Northern India throughout the Himalayan Region. 406 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) References Chapin, E.A. (1924): Classification of the Phillippine Components of the Coleopterous Family Cleridae. Phil. Joum. Sci.25: 2: 159-286 + pi. 1-5. Chevrolat, A. (1876): Memoire sur la famille des Clerites. L. Buquet, Paris. 51 pp. Corporaal, J.B. (1926): Some new species of Oriental Cleridae and re- marks on known species. Encycl Ent B. Col. 1: 4: 175-188 + pi. 2. Corporaal, J.B. (1939): Some Cleridae from India, Burma, and Ceylon with Descriptions of New Species and notes on others. Ind. ForRec. (n.s.). 6: 2: 17-39. Corporaal, J.B. (1950): Coleopterorum Catalogus Pars 23, Editio Secunda, Cleridae. W. Junk, The hague. 373 pp. Corporaal, J.B. & P. Van Der Wiel (1948): Studies in Cladiscus and allied Genera. Tijdschr. v. Ent. 91: 180-198 + pi. 1-2. Gerstmeier, R. & T.L. Kuff (1992): Revision der palaarktischen Arten der Gattungen Tillus Olivier 1790, Tilloidea Castelnau 1832, Falsotillus gen. n. und Flabellotillidea gen. n. Mitt. Munch. Ent. Ges. 82: 55-72. Gorham, H.S. (1876): Notes on the Coleopterous Family Cleridae. Cist. Ent. 2: 57-106. Gorham, H.S. (1892): Cleridae di Viaggio di Leonardo fea in Birmania e Regioni vicine. Ann. Mus. Genova 32: 3-31. Gorham, H.S. (1893): A list of the Coleoptera, of the Family Cleridae collected by Mr. Doherty in Burmah and Northern India, with Descriptions of New Species, and of some species from Borneo, Perak, etc., from the Collection of Alexander Fry, Esq. Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 39: 566-581. Schenkling, S. (1903): Coleoptera, Malacodermata, Cleridae. Gen. Ins. (Wytsman). 13: 1-124 + 5 pi. Schenkling, S. (1908) : Die Cleriden des Deutschen Entomologischen National-Museums, Nachtrag 1. Deutsche Ent. Zeitschr. 1908 361-367. Schenkling, S. (1915): Neue Beitrage zur Kenntnis der Cleriden (Col.) I. Ent. Mitt. 4(4/6): 107-114. Schenkling, S. (1932): Cleriden von Yunnan. Mitt. Deutsche. Ent. Gesellsch. 3:2: 24-25. Stebbing (1914): Indian Forest Insects of Economic Importance, Coleoptera, Eyre & Spottiswoode, London, x + 648 pp. Westwood, J.O. (1849): Descriptions of New Species of Cleridae. Nomenclature Col. Ins. Brit. Mus. 4: 48-63. Westwood, J.O. (1852): Descriptions of New Species of Cleridae, from Asia, Africa, and Australia. Proc. Zool. Soc. London. 20: 34-55 + pi. 24-27. White, A. (1849): Cleridae. Nomeclature Col. Ins. Brit. Mus. 4: 1- 47. Winkler, J.R. (1958): Tillopilo corporaali, n. gen. n. sp., New Ge- nus and Species of the Checkered Beetles from China (Col., Cleridae). Acta Soc. Ent. Czech. 55: 3: 244-249. COMPOSITION OF RAJASTHAN FLORA1 Alka Awasthi2 (With a text-figure ) Keywords: phytogeography, floristic element, flora, Rajasthan The flora of Rajasthan comprises 1714 species belonging to 728 genera and 139 families. The largest families of the flora studied are Poaceae, Fabaceae and Asteraceae. Thirty-six families are monotypic in this region. The largest floristic element in the flora is the Indian element followed by the Palaeotropical element. Within the Pal neotropical kingdom, this region shows greater affinity with the Indo-Malaysian subkingdom than with the African subkingdom. Introduction Several contributions on enumeration of taxa, phytogeography, additions to flora, extended ranges, monographs, notes on ecology, economic importance, forest and grassland management, plant introduction, vegetation types, etc., have appeared from time to time (Jain 1970, Shama 1980). The floras of different regions of the State which have been published, include Flora of the Indian Desert (Blatter & Hallberg 1918-21), Flora of Indian Desert (Bhandari 1978, revised 1990), The flora of North East Rajasthan (Shanna & Tiagi 1979), Flora of Banswara District (Singh 1983), Flora of Tonk District (Shetty & Pandey 1983), Flora of Rajasthan - Series Inferae (Sharma & Shanna 1989), Shetty & Singh’s Flora of Rajasthan which appeared simultaneously while this study was being conducted, is still incomplete. The present study is the first report on taxa occurring in the whole of the State and their phytogeography. Area: The State of Rajasthan is situated in the north-western part of the country occupying about 11 per cent of its total area. The most prominent feature of Rajasthan are the Aravalli Ranges which separate the S aharo-Raj asth an Desert from the semi- arid region. The region is characterised by extremes of atmospheric temperatures coupled with low and erratic rainfall. Soil types range from sandy or saline to heavy clayey soils. The habitat types include Accepted May 1994. 2 The Herbarium, Department of Botany, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, India. Present address: National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nehru Marg, Nagpur 440 020. aquatic, sandy, gravelly ruderal habitats, forested zones, protected areas including desertic tracts as well as forests and swamps, and also agricultural fields and plantations. Such a variety of ecological factors support a mosaic of vegetation types including xerophytic plants, temperate flora (byophytes, ferns besides flowering plants) and aquatic plants. Agriculture brings along with it the weeds of cultivation. The potential natural vegetation of Rajasthan is “northern tropical dry deciduous forest” and “tropical thorn forest” (Champion and Seth 1968). Phytogeographical position of Rajasthan: The State falls within the Palaeotropical Kingdom (Good 1964). The desert region of western Rajasthan is included in the North African-Indian Desert region of the African subkingdom, and the rest of the region is included in the Indian region of the Indo-Malaysian subkingdom. Observations THE FLORA According to Jain (1970), the angiospennic flora of Rajasthan comprises 1280 species belonging to 600 genera and 110 families. The present study has revealed that the flora comprises 1714 species, grouped into 728 genera and 139 families. These taxa can be categorised as under: A comparison of the largest families in the Flora of Rajasthan with the largest families in the Flora of India (Nayar 1987) shows that Qrchidaceae which is among the largest in India, is among the smallest families in Rajasthan. The same is true for the 408 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) Indigenous Adventive Dicot Monocot Total Dicot Naturalised Monocot Total Dicot Cultivated Monocot Total Families 104 29 133 6 0 139 7 2 148 Genera 535 163 698 30 0 728 132 27 887 Species 1227 420 1647 58 9 1714 277 43 2034 Table 1 THE LARGEST FAMILIES IN THE FLORA OF RAJASTHAN A. On the basis of number of species: 1. POACEAE 250 2. Fabaceae 237 3. Asteraceae 125 4. Acanthaceae 74 Cyperaceae 74 5. Euphorbiaceae 56 6. SCHROPHULARIACEAE 50 7. Convolvulaceae 48 8. Malvaceae 44 9. Rubiaceae 41 10. Lamiaceae 40 B. On the basis of number of genera: 1. POACEAE 96 2. Fabaceae 66 3. Asteraceae 62 4. Acanthaceae 31 5. SCHROPHULARIACEAE 25 6. Rubiaceae 22 7. Asclepiadaceae 18 Euphorbiaceae 18 8. Lamiaceae 16 9. Brassicaceae 13 CUCURBITACEAE 13 10. Malvaceae 12 familiy Rosaceae. Families Convolvulaceae and Malvaceae become dominant in this region. There are 47 monogeneric families out of which 36 are monotypic. Floristic Analysis A. Endemism According to Singh (1977), 28 taxa are endemic (considering the administrative boundaries of the State), however, 59 species are endemic to the State and regions confluent with it. B . Floristic elements (i) Cosmopolitan element: As defined by Good (1964), the cosmopolitan element comprises those species which occur throughout the temperate and tropical zones. This element forms about 2% of the naturally occurring species of Rajasthan. Some of the cosmopolitan species of Rajasthan are Chenopodium album , C. ambrosoides , C. murale , Sonchus asper, S. oleraceus , etc. ii) Pantropical element: This element is distributed generally in the tropics, or it may be absent in any one continent ( vide Good, loc. cit.). This category includes species which were once native in one continent, but now they are naturalised throughout the tropical zone. This element forms 11% of the flora of Rajasthan. The pantropical element is represented in Rajasthan by Blainvillea acmella , Cassia occidentalism Cyperus spp., Digitaria ciliaris, Eclipta alba, etc. iii) Boreal element: This element occurs throughout the north temperate zone, some COMPOSITION OF RAJASTHAN FLORA 409 Table 2 PHYTOGEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS OF NATURALLY OCCURRING TAXA S. No. Floristic Element West of Aravallis Aravallis East of Aravallis Rajasthan No. % 1. Cosmopolitan 32 30 32 33 1.99 2. Pantropical 135 136 163 183 11.04 3. Boreal 21 14 21 33 1.99 4. Palaeotemperate 36 26 31 40 2.41 5. Himalayan 13 20 18 39 2.35 6. Palaeotropical 227 237 252 310 18.71 7. Indo-Malayan 133 184 217 273 16.47 8. Indian 241 333 337 510 30.78 9. African 94 53 60 110 6.64 10. West Asian 42 35 32 46 2.78 11. Mediterranean 41 23 36 50+2* 3.14 12. Old World 2 3 3 4 0.24 13. * South African 0 1 1 2 0.12 14. * Neotropical 2 3 4 5 0.30 15. * Burma (Myanmar) 2 1 3 6 0.36 16. * Sri Lanka 1 0 0 1 0.06 (^Discontinuous distribution). The phytogeographical analysis is presented only for the 1647 indigenous species. The percentages are, therefore calculated out of 1647. of the species occur in the south temperate zone also. It forms 2% of the naturally occurring species of Rajasthan. The boreal element is exemplified by Anaqallis arvensis , Galium aparine , Koeleria cristata, Ranunculus spp. and Stellaria media , etc. iv) Palaeotemperate element : A new term “Palaeotemperate” is suggested, which is equivalent to the zoogeographical term “Palaearctic.” This element occurs in Europe, North Asia, North Africa, Central and West Asia, extending southwards to the Himalayas. This element forms 2.41% of the natural flora of Rajasthan. Some of the species of this element are Anthemis cotula, Bunium macuca, Cirsium arvense, Epilobium hirsutum, Fumaria indica , Potentilla desertorum, Viola odorata, etc. v) Himalayan element: This element is a subdivision within the Palaeotemperate element, but considering the prominence of Himalayas in Indian biogeoraphy, this element has been treated separately. This element occurs in the Aravallis, and is also recorded from the surrounding plains in smaller numbers. It forms 2.35% of the flora of Rajasthan. The Himalayan element in Rajasthan comprises species like Dilophia salsa , Euphorbia thomsoniana and Koeleria argentea , etc. (vi) Palaeo tropical element: This element is distributed in the Palaeotropical kingdom ( vide Good, loc.cit.). It also extends into North Australia and Pacific Islands. The element forms 18.71% of the indigenous flora of Rajasthan. It is represented by Aerva lanata, Bergia ammanoides, Dentella repens, Melothria maderaspatana, Sterculiafoetida, Ziziphus mauritiana, etc. in Rajasthan. (vii) Indo-Malayan element: The element occurs in Indo-Malaysian sub-kingdom (fide Good, loc. cit.) and extends into South China, Pacific Islands and North Australia. The general trend of increase is from west to east in Rajasthan. It amounts to 16.47% of the flora of the State. 410 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) Some of the species showing this type of distribution pattern are Alysicarpus bupleurifolius , Blumea laciniata , Bombax ceiba , Caesaria elliptica, Crotalaria linifolia and Rorripa indica, etc. (viii) Indian element: This floristic element is distributed in Indian Region ( vide Good, loc. cit.) and in different cases extends into Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Himalayas, Burma (Myanmar) and South China, and sometimes into Mauritius and Mascarene Islands as well. The Indian element forms 30.78% of the flora of Rajasthan. This element is represented by Adhatoda beddomei, Anogeissus pendula , Dalbergia sericea, Moullava spicata , Ougenia oogeinsis , etc. (ix) African element: This western element occurs in tropical Africa and in some cases extends into South Africa. It forms 6.64% of the flora of Rajasthan. In Rajasthan this element decreases from west to east. Some of the species comprising this element are Balanites aegyptiaca, Blastania fimbristipula , Dactyliandra welwitschii, Pavonia arabica , Sclerocarpus africanus and Tribulus pentandrus, etc. (x) West Asian element: The element of West Asia, also called ‘Oriental’ element occurs in the region Arabia to Afghanistan. This element also decreases from west to east in Rajasthan and forms 2.78% of the flora of this region. The West Asian species include Celligonum polygonoides , Farsetia heliophila, Lycium barbarum, L. edgeworthii, Nonnea pulla ssp. rudbarensis , Prosopis cineraria and Tecomella undulata , etc. (xi) Mediterranean element: The Mediterranean element occurs in South Europe, North Africa and West Asia. It forms 3.14% of the flora of Rajasthan. Two species of this element, namely Fagonia cretica and Oligomeris linifolia show discontinuous distribution, they occur in regions having Mediterranean climate. (xii) Old World element: This element occurs in the temperate and tropical zones of the Old world only, e.g. Najas graminea , N. indica , Polygonum plebium and Wahlenbergia marginata. The Old World element amounts to 0.24% of the indigenous flora of Rajasthan. (xiii) Species having discontinuous distribution: About 0,97% of the species occurring in this region have discontinuous distribution. The species which occur in disjunct areas could not be included in any floristic element with certainty, e.g. Vernonia anceps occurs in Rajasthan and Sri Lanka; Millettia peguensis and Galactia oxyophylla are known from Rajasthan and Burma (Myanmar) only. The flora of the region represents 11% of the flora of the country. The richness of the flora may be attributed to the variety of niches available. Within the State, the highest floristic diversity is encountered in the Aravalli Ranges. The State receives floristic elements from all 1. Boreal 4. African 2. Palaeaotemperate 5. Indian Peninsular 3. West Asian 6. Indo- Malayan Fig. 1. Possible routes of migration of floristic elements into Rajasthan COMPOSITION OF RAJASTHAN FLORA 411 the four directions — Boreal and Palaeotemperate from the north, Mediterranean, African and West Asian from the west, Indian Peninsular element from the south and Indo-Malayan element from the south and south-east (Fig. 1). Cosmopolitan element comprises 2% of the flora, temperate element forms 10% and the remaining 88% of the flora is the tropical element. The largest element in the flora of Rajasthan is the Indian (30.78%) followed by the Palaeotropical (18.71%) and Indo-Malayan element (16.47%). The western elements (African, West Asian and Mediterranean) are dominant over the eastern (Indo- Malayan) only in the region west of Aravallis. It is impossible, on available evidence, to accept Singh’s Refe Bhandari, M.M. (1978): Flora of the Indian Desert, Jodhpur, pp. 1- 471 (2 ed. 1990). Blatter, E. &F. Hallberg (1918-21): The flora of the Indian desert (Jodhpur and Jaiselmer). J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 26: 218- 246, 1918; 525-551; 881-818, 1919; 968-987, 1920: 27: 40-47, 270-279, 1920; 506-579, 1921. Champion, H.G. & S.K. Seth (1968): A revised survey of the forest types of India. Government of India, New Delhi. Good, R. (1964): The Geography of the Flowering Plants. London, pp. 1-518. Jain, S.K. (1970): Floral Composition of Rajasthan — A review. Bull. Bot. Surv. India 12: 176-187. (1977) view that the Perso-Arabian or western element predominates the Indo-Malayan element almost throughout the State. Within the Palaeotropical Kingdom, this region has greater affinity with the flora of the Indo-Malaysian subkingdom as compared to that of the African subkingdom. Though this region fonns a part of the Indian biogeographical region, the flora of this region shows signs of diverging from the typical Indian flora — perhaps due to the prevailing aridity. Acknowledgement I thank the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi for financial assistance. ENCES Sharma, K.K. & S. Sharma (1989): Flora of Rajasthan — Series Inferae. Scientific Publishers, Jodhpur, pp. 1-221. Sharma, S. (1980): Floristic studies in Rajasthan in retrospect and prospect. J. Econ. Tax. Bot. 1: 55-75. Sharma, S. & B. Tiagi (1979): Flora of North East Rajasthan. New Delhi, pp. 1-540. Shetty, B.V. & R.P. Pandey (1983): Flora of Tonk District, Rajasthan, Flora of India. Ser. 3. B.S.I. Howrah, pp. 1-253. Singh, V. (1977): Phytogeographical reassessment on the flora of Rajasthan. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 74: 444-452. Singh, V. (1983): Flora of Banswara District, Rajasthan. B.S.I. Howrah, pp. 1-312. DICHOTOMOUS KEY TO THE TADPOLES OF TWELVE ANURAN SPECIES FROM NORTH EASTERN INDIA1 A.K. Sahu2 (With a map and twelve text-figures) Key words: dichotomous key, anuran tadpoles, larval systematics, ontogeny, morphology A dichotomous key to the tadpoles erf Leptobrachium hasselti Tschudi; Leptobrachium nigrops Berry and Hendrickson; Bufomelanostictus Schneider; Microhyla omata (Dum. and Bibr.); Rana alticola Boulenger; Rana danieli Pillai and Chanda; Rana limnocharis Weigmann; Rana cyanophlyctis Schneider; Amolops afghanus (Gunther); Philautus cherrapunjiae Roonwal and Kripalani; and Rhacophoridae; Rhacophorus leucomystax (Kuhl) and Rhacophorus nigropalmatus Boulenger at stages 36-38 (Gosner 1960) has been presented. The characters incorporated in the key are: oral disc, rostrodonts, keratodonts, presence or absence of oral papillae, poison gland or parotid gland, tail ocelli, ventral sucker, nostril shape, presence or absence of rim around the nostrils, presence or absence of depressions, and papillae, position of vent whether dextral or median and position of spiracle whether sinistral or median. Introduction Adult anurans of Indian Sub-continent are relatively well known (Boulenger 1918, 1920; Daniel 1975, Rao 1918) but studies on their tadpoles have lagged behind mainly due to the difficulty of correct identification. 40 anuran species belonging to Pelobatidae, Bufonidae, Hylidae, Microhylidae, Ranidae and Rhacophoridae have so far been reported from North Eastern India (Pillai and Chanda 1976). With increasing thrust these days on ecological, developmental and phylogenetic studies of anurans a knowledge of larval systematics has become essential. Tadpoles form an important developmental stage in the ontogeny of anurans. Anuran tadpoles are identified by their unique distinguishing characteristics: compact head and trunk united with short vertebral column, gills and forelimbs concealed under operculum, long spirally coiled intestine and internal supporting structures of mouth and gills displaced forward and small mouth usually with elaborate external features (Orton 1953). Amongst the earliest works, reference may be made to the description of 10 anuran species from Travancore (Ferguson 1904). Works on the 1 Accepted July 1993. 2 Developmental Biology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences, North Eastern Hill University, Meghalaya. tadpoles from India are brief and not based on uniform diagnostic features (Annandale 1912, Annandale and Rao 1918, Annandale and Hora 1922, Hora 1923, Kripalani 1952, Pillai and Chanda 1976, Rao 1918, Roonwal and Kripalani 1961, Swammerdam 1737, Smith 1927). Eversince the work on tadpole mouthparts, various aspects of tadpole morphology and polymorphism have been studied by different workers (see Van Dijk 1966 for review). Some of these works include detailed key to anuran larvae (Altig 1970, Van Dijk 1966, Kripalani 1952, Orton 1952, Mansukhani and Murthy 1971). In the present paper a key to the tadpoles of 12 anuran species belonging to 5 families, namely Pelobatidae: Leptobrachium hasselti , Tschudi, Leptobrachium nigrops Berry and Hendrickson; Bufonidae: Bufo melanostictus Schneider; Microhylidae: Microhyla omata (Dum. and Bibr.); Ranidae: Rana alticola Boulenger, Rana danieli Pillai and Chanda, Rana limnocharis Weigmann, Rana cyanophlyctis Schneider, Amolops afghanus (Gunther) and Rhacophoridae: Philautus cherrapunjiae Roonwal and Kripalani and Rhacophorus leucomystax (Kuhl) and Rhacophorus nigropalmatus Boulenger at stages 36-38 (Gosner 1960) has been presented. Further, for easy identification of the above tadpoles, a diagrammatic key is also included here. Body length was found to show considerable variations and hence not taken as a key character. MAP OF MEGHALAYA TADPOLES OF TWELVE ANNURAN SPECIES 413 E ab s 1 414 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) Table 1 DETAILS OF TADPOLES COLLECTION No. Species State Place of Type of Altitude Distance (km) from collection habitats (m) ASL Shillong 1. L hasselti Meghalaya i) Khasi hills Lai lad Slow stream 296 65.00 ii) Sumer -do- 1200 35.00 Garo Hills i) William nagar -do- 1000 350.00 2. L nigrops -do- i) Khasi Hills Mawkdok -do- 1225 24.00 ii) Nonghtymmai -do- 1520 8.00 3. B. melanostictus -do- i) Khasi Hills Mawpun Pond 1225 24.00 ii) Nongthymmai Pond 1520 8.00 4. R. alticola -do- i) Khasi Hills Barapani Jaintia Hills Stream 1250 20.00 i) Thadlaskein Pond (permanent) 1340 40.00 ii) Jowai -do- 1350 55.00 Garo Hills i) William nagar Stream 1000 350.00 5. R. danieli -do- i) Khasi Hills Umling Swamp 290 65.00 ii) Kyrdemkulai Garo Hills Stream 1200 30.00 i) Tasek Stream 1400 323.00 6. R. limnocharis Meghalaya i) Khasi Hills Golf link Temporary pond 1515 6.00 ii) Pologround -do- 1515 5.00 iii) Nongthymmai -do- 1515 8.00 iv) Pynursla -do- 1350 75.00 7. R. cyanophlyctis -do- i) Khasi Hills Golf link -do- 1515 6.00 ii) Pologround -do- 1515 5.00 8. A. afghanus -do- i) Khasi Hills Umling Rapid stream 1515 1.5 ii) Cherapunji -do- 1337 45.00 iii) Pynursla -do- 1350 75.00 9. R cherrapunjiae -do- i) Khasi Hills Pynursla Slow stream 1350 75.00 ii) Cherrapunji -do- 1337 45.00 10. R. leucomystax -do- i) Khasi Hills Lynngkyrdam Temporary pond 1350 58.00 11. R. nigropalmatus -do- i) Khasi Hills Mawsynram -do 1305 45.00 ii) Cherrapunji -do 1337 45.00 12. M. omata Assam Barpeta Temporary pond 50 200.00 TADPOLES OF TWELVE ANURAN SPl Till ORAL DISC ABSENT vbrt and Ipiraclb MIMAS NOSTRIL loBND, HIT! BIN, NOT IN DEPRESSIONS , I * N. onata RAIN POOL ■margSatb WITS POISON GLAND, WITH OR WITHOUT VENTRAL WITHOUT POISON GLAND SUCKBR AND TAIL OCELLI, VBRT DEXTRAL OR MEDIAN TAIL OCELLI, VENT KB! VEI WITH POIsAn GLAND WITH POISON GLAND WITH- MeI ilAN AND VENTRAL SUCKBR OUT VBNTRAL SUCKER WITH WITHOUT TAIL OCELLI OR WITHOUT TAIL OCELLI VBNT MBDIi IN VBNT DBXTRAL ' 1 NOSTRIL K DNEY SHAPED OCELLI ocIlli NO! TRIL WITH RIM, IN DEPRESSIONS PRBSENT 1 ABSENT I NOSTRIL OVAL NOSTRIL ROUND ROUND WITH R WITHOUT RIH, WITHOUT RIM, ROT IN DBPR8SSIOI IN DEPRESSIONS 1 IN DEPRESSIONS 3:5*5 1*1:2 2:515/1*1:6 1 1 : 1*1/1+1 : 2 j 1: ♦1/3 A* afgians B. alticola R. daieili B. Mla»ost: STREAM STREAM RAIN POOL TEMPORARY Al PERMANENT Pi till® wit! RIM, IB DEPRESSION! l:lll/3 1 | R. liiaockaris B. C' RAIN POOL RAIN RENT FIELD KEY TO THE 12 MMB JM TADPOLES OF TWELVE ANURAN SPECIES 415 l DISC AID r _l V BIT AID SPIRACLE HBDIAI IOSTIIL loBID, HITS BII HOT II DBPBBSSIORS prbIbit spiracl! siiistral ORAL DISC _L_ HITB POISOI GLAID, HH OR HITBODT VBITRAL SOCIBR AID TAIL OCELLI, VBIT D8ITRAL OR MBDIAI AID VBITRAL SDCIBR HITBODT TAIL OCBLLI VBIT HBDIAI IOSTRIL IIDIBT SRAPBD HITBODT P0I80I GLAND, VBITRAL SDCIBR OR TAIL OCBLLI, VBIT HBDIAI OB DBXTRAL vbIt HITB POISOI GLAID HITB- ODT VBITRAL SDCIBR HITB OR HITBODT TAIL OCBLLI ""ocllLI ABSBHT iostIil R liJs/Mif 1 : 1 *1 /I *1 : 2 I. ilticola I. diieili STRBAH RAII POOL ~m\u HITB BASAL PAPILLAB 1: ♦♦1/2*2: 1 , I. IOT IB DBPRBSSIOH l:l*4/l*l:2 I SIAP&D I 1:5*575*5:1 II DBPRBSSIOIS 1: 1*1/3 1/1 R. liikockarii B. cyi RAII POOL cvaiopklTCtia R. liqLpalutii RAII POOL OR IOT II DBPRBSSIOIS II DbIiBSSIOI IOT II DBPRBSSIOIS 2: 4*1/ 1*1: 2 Ulli/l leJo.Tfli« RAII POOL FIELD KEY TO i FRCM N.E. HILLS OF HOIA Mi-t1 416 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) Figs. 1-6. Oral discs of tadpoles: 1. Microphyla omata (Dum. & Bibr.); 2. Amolops afghanus (Gunther); 3. Rana alticola Boulenger; 4. Rana danieli Pillai & Chanda; 5. Bufo melanostictus Schneider; 6. Philautus cherrapunjiae Roonwal & Kripalani. Abbreviations: Fr - Free rim of the ventral sucker; Ir - Infra-rostrodont; K - Keratodont row; LI - Lower labium; M - Marginal tet Mg - Mental gap; Oa - Oral angle; Op - Oral papillae; Rg - Rostral gap; Sr - Supra-rostrodont; U1 - Upper labium; Vs - Ventral sucker. TADPOLES OF TWELVE ANURAN SPECIES 417 £ £ £ £ o do f* 4T| _ , W\MI I ' ' 1 '/ W/vJjJMfclLollUl ' "Wl,,.. r m w*Vi *t O' Ss^ %""'"sf fHP«»V v,.-gr O ^ i CL>3%, //"f>/,,/,ir'liiiiiiiniii"'l,']^ \^^hii»i)iWiiii»i,,'yiy^ ;. ■ t'OM ( U I ,,^^^///» ' 1 O? . ,0^ Figs. 7-12. Oral discs of tadpoles: 7. Rhacophorus nigropalmatus Boulenger; 8. Rhacophorus leucomystax (Kuhl); 9. /torn* cyanophlyctis Schneider; 10. itamz limnocharis Weigmann; 11. Leptobrachium hasselti Tschudi; 12. Leptobrachium nigrops Berry & Hendrickson. Abbreviations :Ir - Infra-rostrodont; K - Keratodont row; LI - Lower labium; Mg - Mental gap; Op - Oral papillae; Rg - Rostral gap; Sr - Supra-rostrodont; U1 - Upper labium. 418 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) Materials and Method The tadpoles of different species of frogs and toads for the present study were collected from different parts of Meghalaya (Map 1), Assam and Nagaland as detailed below (Table 1). These tadpoles were reared in the laboratory in glass aquaria filled with pond water up to a height of approximately 15.00 cm set with a steep sand base on one side and some stones on the other to provide an amphibious environment. Some tadpoles (stages 36 - 38) were fixed in 6% formaldehyde solution and the rest allowed to metamorphose to froglet stage for identification of the species. Key character were studied under a dissecting binocular microscope as per the criteria of Van Dijk (1966). Dichotomous Key True oral disc with rostrodonts, keratodonts and oral papillae present. Poison or parotid gland, tail ocelli and ventral sucker present or absent. Nostril round, oval or kidney shaped with or without rim and in depression or not in depression, with or without nasal papillae 1 True oral disc with rostrodonts, keratodonts and oral papillae absent. Poison or parotid glands, tail ocelli and ventral sucker absent. Nostrils round with rim and not in depression, without nasal papillae 2 1. Spiracle sinistral, vent median or dextral 3 2. Spiracle and vent median Microhyla omata (Fig. 1) 3. a) Oral disc emarginate, with 1-8 supra and 2-7 infraangular keratodontrows. Vent median or dextral. Nostrils without nasal papillae. Poison or parotid glands, tail ocelli and ventral sucker present or absent 4 3. b) Oral disc nonemarginate with 5-6 supraangular and 3-6 infraangular keratodontrows. Vent dextral. Nostrils with or without nasal papillae. Poison or parotid glands, tail ocelli and ventral sucker absent 10 4. a) Nostrils without nasal papillae. Poison or parotid gland present, ventral sucker and tail ocelli present or absent 5 4. b) Nostrils without nasal papillae, Ventral sucker and tail ocelli absent 5 5. a) Oral disc with 8 supra - (5 interrupted) and 3 infraangular (1 interrupted) keratodont rows, vent median, nostrils kidney shaped with rim and in depression. Ventral sucker present but tail ocelli absent Amolops afghanus (Fig. 2) 5. b) Oral disc with 2-7 supra - and 2-7 infraangular keratodont rows. Vent dextral. Nostrils round or oval without rim and in depression or not in depression. Ventral sucker absent and tail ocelli present or absent 6 6. a) Oral disc with 7 supra - (5 interrupted) and 7 infraangular (1 interrupted) keratodont rows. Nostrils oval and in depressions. Tail ocelli present Rana alticola (Fig. 3) 6. b) Oral disc with 7 supra- (5 interrupted) and 7 infraangular (1- interrupted) keratodont rows. Nostrils oval and in depression. Tail ocelli absent Rana danieli (Fig. 4) 7. a) Vent median. Nostrils round or kidney shaped with or without rim and in depression or not in depression .... 8 7. b) Vent dextral. Nostrils round, oval or kidney shaped with or without rim and in depression or not in depression 9 8. a) Oral disc with 2 supra (1 interrupted) and 3 infra angular (uninterrupted) keratodont rows. Nostrils round in depression Bufo melanostictus (Fig. 5) 9 . a) Oral disc with 1 -6 supra - and 2-3 infraangular keratodont rows. Nostrils round or oval with or without rim and in depressions or not in depressions 10 9. b) Oral disc with 5 supra - (4 interrupted) and 3 infraangular (1 interrupted) keratodontrows. Nostrils kidney shaped, without rim and not in depressions Philautus cherrapunjiae (Fig. 6) 10. a) Nostrils round with or without rim and in depression or not in depression 11 10. b) Nostrils oval with rim and in depressions or not depressions 12 1 1 . Oral disc with 1-2 supra and 2-3 infraangular keratodont rows. Nostrils with rim and in depressions 13 1 2. a) Oral disc with 6 supra - (4 interrupted) and 3 infraangular (1 interrupted) keratodont rows. Nostrils with rim and in depressions Rhacophorus nigropalmatus (Fig. 7) 1 2. b) Oral disc with 5 supra - (4 interrupted) and 3 infraangular (1 interrupted) keratodont rows. Nostrils with rim and not in depressions Rhacophorus leucomystax (Fig. 8) 13. a) Oral disc with 1 supra - (uninterrupted) and 2 infraangular (1 interrupted) keratodont rows Rana cyanophlyctis (Fig. 9) TADPOLES OF TWELVE ANURAN SPECIES 419 13. b) Oral disc with 2 supra - (1 interrupted) and 3 infraangular (1 interrupted) keratodont rows • Rana limnocharis (Fig. 10) 14. Oral disc with 6 supra - (5 interrupted) and 6 infraangular (5 interrupted) keratodont rows. Nostrils kidney shaped, with rim but without nasal papillae and in depressions Leptobrachium hasselti (Fig. 1 1) 15. Oral disc with 5 supra - (1 interrupted) and 3 infraangular (2 interrupted) keratodont rows. Nostrils round without rim, with Refe Altig, R. (1970): A key to the tadpoles of the continental United States and Canada. Herpetologica 26: 108-207. Annandale, N. (1912): Zoological results of the Abor Expedition, 1911-12, Batrachia. Rec. Ind. Mus.: 7-36, Pis. II-IV. Annandale, N. & C.R.N. Rao (1918): The tadpoles of the families Ranidae and Bufonidae found in the plains of India. Rec. Ind. Mus. 15: 25-40. Annandale, N. & S.L. Hora (1922): Parallel evolution in the fish and tadpoles of mountain torrents. Rec. Ind. Mus. 24: 505- 509. Boulenger, G.A. (191 8):Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and Batrachia. XVIII +541 pp. Taylor and Francis Ltd., London. Boulenger, G.A. (1920): A monograph of the South Asian, Pupuian, Melanesian and Australian frogs of the genus Rana. Rec. Ind. Mus. Calcutta 20: 1-116. Daniel, J.C. (1975): Field guide to the Amphibians of Western India. Part 3. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 72(2): 507-522. Dijk, D.E. Van (1966): Systematic and field keys to the families, genera and described species of Southern African Anuran tadpoles. Ann. Natal. Mus. 18(2): 231-386. Ferguson, H.S. (1904): A list of Travancore Batrachia. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 15: 499. Gosner, K.L. (1960): A simplified table for staging Anuran embryos and larvae with notes on identification. Herpetologica 16: 188-190. nasal papillae and not in depressions ..Leptobrachium nigrops (Fig. 12) Acknowledgements I thank the North Eastern Hill University, Shillong (Meghalaya) for providing necessary facilities for carrying out the study This work is dedicated to the late Prof. M.K. Khare, North Eastern Hill University Shillong under whose guidance it was carried out. ENCES Hora, S.L. (1923): Observations on the fauna of certain torrential streams in the Khasi hills. Rec. Ind. Mus. 25: 579-598. Kripalani, M.B. (1952): On Indian tadpoles with a suctorial disc. Rec. Ind. Mus. 50: 359-365. Mansukhani, M.R. & T.S.N. Murthy (1971): Fauna of Rajasthan, India. 62 (1/2): 51-60. Orton, G.L. (1952): Key to the genera of tadpoles in the United States and Canada. Amer. Midi. Natural 47: 382-395. Orton, G.L. (1953): The systematics of vertebrate larvae. Syst. Zool. 2: 63-75. Pillai, R.S. & S.K. Chanda(1976): The distribution of Amphibia in North East India. J. Assam Sci. Soc. 19: 53-56. Rao, C.R.N. (1918): Notes on the tadpoles of Indian Engystomidae. Rec. Ind. Mus. 15: 41-45. Roonwal, M.L. & M.B. Kripalani (1961): A new frog Philautus cherrapunjiae (family: Ranidae) from Assam, India with field observation on its behaviour and metamorphosis. Rec. Ind. Mus. 59: 325-333. Smith, M.A. (1924): Description of Indian and Indo-Chinese tadpoles. Rec. Ind. Mus. 26: 137-148. Smith, M.A. (1927): On a collection of Amphibians and Reptiles from the upper reaches of the Brahmaputra. Rec. Ind. Mus. 31: 77-78. *S wammerda m (1737): Biblia naturae, 2. * Not consulted in original. POLY CHAETES OF THE GENUS MANAYUNKIA LEIDY (POLY CHAETA: S ABELLIDAE) FROM EAST COAST OF INDIA (BAY OF BENGAL)1 A.L.N. Sarma2, K.R. Raju3 and V. Wilsamamd2 (With eleven text-figures) Key words: polychaeta, Sabellidae, Manayunkia , zoogeography, migration, budding The present communication redescribes Manayunkia spongicola and gives a synopsis of four undetermined species of Manayunkia , inhabiting flocculent soft detritus-laden coral skeletons of Tubastraea aurea off the Orissa coast, at a depth of 12 metres. Indication of reproduction by budding is reported. Zoogeography of the known species of Manayunkia and their probable migration from marine to brackish and fresh waters are discussed. The impact of aphytal biota on the distribution of benthic faunal communities' is also discussed. The possible utility of Manayunkia in aquacultural practices is indicated. Introduction The genus Manayunkia consists of tubicolous micro-annelid sabellids, essentially known from fresh water environs like rivers, lakes of North America (Leidy 1883, Foster 1972, Holmquist 1973, Poe and Stefan 1974, Spencer 1976) and estuarine and coastal brackish waters of Western Europe (Muus 1967, Green 1968, Remane 1971, Barnes 1976). Manayunkia is also known from the Congo River, West Africa; Brasilian mangroves; Danube River and North Japan Sea ( vide Hartman 1959). From Indian Waters, so far only a single species, M. spongicola inhabiting tubes embedded in the sponge Laxosuberites lacustris and among the algae under rocks in the littoral region of Chilka lagoon was described by Southern (1921). A perusal of the published literature reveals no subsequent reporting of Manayunkia from the Indian aquatic (marine, brackish, fresh water) systems excepting for its being listed among the phytal fauna of Chilka lagoon by Satapathy (1985). In the present systematic studies, a large number of specimens of Manayunkia have been recovered from the meiofauna of the coral skeletal washings of Tubastraea aurea laden with fine flocculent mud at a depth of 12 metres off the coast of Gopalpur, Orissa (19° 14' to 20° 2* N; 84° 5 F to 85° 2’ E). They were found inhabiting delicate membranous tubes covered with flocculent mud. The Accepted June 1992. 2 P.G. Dept, of Life Sciences, Regional College of Education, Bhubaneswar 751 001, Orissa. 3 Regional Research Laboratory, Bhubaneswar, Orissa. specimens appear to represent a species complex of the genus and do not belong to a single species. However, a good number of specimens excellently confirmed with M. spongicola described from Chilka lagoon seven decades ago (Southern 1921). In view of the characters, namely the nature of the branchiae, cephalic eye spots, segmental length and the presence or absence of caudal eyes (often one or two characters only), considered for the specific determination by the earlier taxonomists, the specimens could not be satisfactorily identified with any of the known species of the genus, and could be new to science. However, since intraspecific variation (within and amongst the characters) of the members of the genus are not known, new description and erection of new species is not resorted to as identifications based on a single or two characters would invariably lead to abandonment of the species sooner or later. Further, Mayer (1971) stated “Intraspecific morphs are often far more different from each other than sibling species” (p. 81). As such, a brief description of the rediscovered M. spongicola with remarks on the present finds is presented here alongwith a synopsis of the observed characters of the undetermined species at hand. The systematic and ecological importance of Manayunkia is also discussed. Material and Methods Aphytal communities of sponges ( Petprosia testudinaria, Aurora globostellata , Fasciospongia POLYCHAETES OF THE GENUS MANAYUNKIA 421 cavernosa, Spongia officinalis, Phakellia dendyi ), skeletons of corals ( Cladangia exusta , Cyathelia auxillaris, Dendrophyllia arbuscula, Tubastraea aurea ) and gorgonians ( Echinogorgia complexa, E. reticulata, Gorgonella umbraculum , G. sanguinolenta, Muricella complanata) were collected from a depth of 12 metres off the coast of Gopalpur, Orissa, employing SCUBA diving. The different aphytal colonies brought on to the board of the vessel were transferred separately to large polythene containers with 4% formalin solution and brought to the laboratory. The contents of each of the polythene containers were poured into separate polythene tubs and thoroughly washed in 4% formalin solution to dislodge the epifauna. Later, the coral skeletons and sponges were broken into small pieces and placed in petri dishes and thoroughly searched for the epibionts and endobionts under stereoscopic binocular microscope. Each of the residues left in the polythene tubs was sieved separately with 500 p and 60 p sieves. The residue left on the 500 p sieve was considered for macrofauna and that on 60 p sieve for meiofaunal studies. Results SYSTEMATICS Genus Manayunkia Leidy, 1859 Haplobranchus Bourne, 1883; Dybowscella Nusbaum, 1901; Garjaiewella Dy bow ski, 1929. ( vide Hartman 1959). Cylindrical body; unbranched symmetrical branchial lobes; no branchial radicles with cartilagenous axis and lateral pinnules; two short clavate processes, ‘the palps’ of prostomial tentacles within the circle of the branchiae; a well developed entire collar; with or without the caudal eyes; dorsal thoracic setae; uncini with a long stalk; pick-axe shaped setae absent; abdominal uncini elongated and ventral capillary setae. Type species: Manayunkia speciosa Leidy, 1859. Manayunkia spongicola Southern, 1921 (Figs. 1-5) Locality: Numerous specimens associated with the coral. Tubastraea aurea off the Gopalpur coast at a depth of 12 metres. Material: In our collection in the Department of Life Sciences, Regional College of Education, Bhubaneswar. Description: The specimens varied in length from 0.4 mm to 2 mm; branchial region measured 0.06 mm to 0.6 mm; thoracic region 0.27 mm to 1.6 mm and abdomen 0.09 to 0.25 mm. Body cylindrical. Head conical infront bearing 2 black eyes. Two short clavate palps or prostomial tentacles. A prominent well developed collar which is entire and convex ventrally. No otocysts. Thorax consists of 8 segments. The first three segments behind the collar are short and the succeeding segments gradually increase up to 8th segment, which is the largest of the body. Thoracic segments bear capillary setae with short flattened blade and long slender tips (Fig. 2). Ventral hooks stout with 3 teeth above the main fang (Fig. 3). Three abdominal neuro setae with 1-2 capillary setae (Fig. 4). Notopodia 9-11 hooks with numerous long fine teeth (Fig. 5) in several rows at one end. First and last segments of the body devoid of setae; pygidium spatulate or pear- shaped bearing 2 black eye spots. Tube membranous covered with flocculent mud. Circulatory system is well developed and whole body is coloured by the bright green chlorocruorin of the blood. Distribution: Chilka lake: Gopalpur coast (Bay of Bengal), India. Remarks: A large sized lateral swelling on the 5th trunk segment was noted (Figs. 6,7). This appears to be an indication that these polychaetes also reproduce by budding. Leidy (1883) observed in M. speciosa that the development is direct and a free swimming trochophore larva is absent. Pennak (1978) commented on the large size and lateral swellings of the 6th trunk segment of M. speciosa as an indication of reproduction by budding. A brief synospsis of the distinct characters of the undetermined species is given below. 422 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) 110 U Figs. 1-11. Manayunkia spongicola Southern 1. Entire animal, dorsal view; 2. Thoracic capillary setae; 3. Thoracic crochet; 4. Abdominal capillary setae; 5. Abdominal crochet; 6. M. spongicola showing bud on 5th trunk segment and everted proboscis on cephalic region; 7. Enlarged view of 5th segment showing bud; 8. M. sp. showing long and short tentacles; 9. M. sp. showing short and blunt tentacles; 10. M. sp. showing 4 eye-spots on cephalic region; 11. M. sp. showing 3 eye-spots on cephalic region. POLYCHAETES OF THE GENUS MANAYUNKIA 423 Manayunkia sp. 1: Typically characterised by simple, unbranched branchiae of two kinds, namely 1) short and blunt (club shaped); 2) long and slender (Fig. 8). The morphological details of head, collar, thoracic and abdominal setae and uncini and pygidium are similar to those of M. spongicola. Manayunkia sp. 2: Presence of six simple, unbranched short and blunt (digitiform) branchiae is the distinguishing feature (Fig. 9). Body comprised of 13 thoracic and 3 abdominal setigerous segments. Seventh, eighth and ninth thoracic segments relatively larger than the rest of the segments. The nature of shape, size and arrangement of the thoracic and abdominal setae and uncini as in M. spongicola. Manayunkia sp. 3: Characterised by 4 eye-spots on the cephalic region (Fig. 10) and 2 eye-spots on the pygidium. The morphological features of general body including head, collar, branchiae, thorax, abdomen and pygidium are similar to those of M. spongicola. Manayunkia sp. 4: The distinguishing character is the presence of 3 eye-spots on the head (Fig. 11) and 2 eye-spots on the pygidium while the rest of the body morphology conforms with those of M. spongicola. Discussion Taxonomically the genera Manayunkia and Fabricia present interdigitating characters. Both the genera share the following characters: 1. The body consists of 11 setigerous segments, of which 8 are thoracic and 3 abdominal. 2. The dorsal and ventral setae on the thoracic segments are similar in shape. 3. Elongate crochets in the abdominal segments. 4. The first segment bears eyes. 5. Otocysts absent. However, Manayunkia differs from Fabricia in having a well developed collar and simple, unbranched branchiae. The genus is a rare exception among sabellids in the sense the branchial radioles are devoid of a cartilaginous axis and lateral pinnules (Day 1967). Zoogeographically, the genus appears to be well speciated and distributed in the temperate, warm temperate latitudes than in the tropical and subtropical latitudes (Table 1). M. speciosa , M. eriensis from the American river systems; M. aestuarina ; M. caspia; M. baltica; M. baicalensis from the fresh water, coastal lagoon and estuarine locales of Europe; M. pacifica from Bering sea and Western Canada; M. polaris from North Western Russia; M. siaukhu from North Japan Sea; M. cifricana from Congo River; M. brasiliensis from mangroves of Brazil and M. spongicola from Chilka lagoon of India are known. The apparent low speciation of Manayunkia in tropics and subtropics in general, and the Indian Ocean in particular, reflects lack of intensive faunistic searches for these interesting micro- sabellids in these locales. Ecologically the genus is eurytopic and one of the very few euryhaline polychaete members which presumably have surmounted the physiological adjustments necessary for the marine - brackish- fresh water transition. Green (1968) opined, considering the ability of M. aestuarina to tolerate low salinities (2%° ), that the genus might have probably penetrated into fresh water with its representatives like M. speciosa known from several rivers of Philadelphia and from Great Lakes. While discussing the probability of marine origin of Manayunkia , it is worth quoting Remane (1971, p. 148) who stated that “High percentage of the pontocaspian relicts of marine origin have succeeded in invading fresh water, at least the lower reaches of the river, e.g. the polychaetes Hypania invalida , Manayunkia caspia Lagoonal biotopes/substrates rich in detritus are stated to be congenial for the densities of M. aestuarina (Remane 1971, p. 165). The euryoecious nature of Manayunkia and the abundance of M. aestuarina up to 20,000 individuals per square metre was reported by Muus (1967) in his studies on the lagoons of Denmark. Of late, the occurrence of Manayunkia from soft detritus in a fully marine condition is also known (Barnes 1976, p. 18). The present finding from typical marine location further validates the euryoecious nature of Manayunkia. In view of the predominantly soft detritus rich biotopes or substrata inhabitation of Manayunkia 424 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol 91 (1994) Table 1 ZOOGEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF SPECIES OF MANAYUNKIA Name of species Locality Author Manayunkia aestuarina Thames Estuary, England; estuaries of Western Europe; lagoons cf Denmark. Bourne (1883); Green (1968); Muss (1967). M. africana River Congo, Africa. Monro (1939) (vide Hartman, 1959). M. baicalensis Lake Baikal; river systems of Siberia. Nusbaum (1901) (vide Hartman, 1959), Green (1968). M. baicalensis hydani Lake Baikal. Slastnikov (1942) (vide Hartman, 1959). M. baltica Baltic Sea. Karling (1933) (vide Hartman, 1959). M. brasiliensis Estuarine mangroves, Brazil. Banse (1956) M. caspia Caspian Sea; Black Seas. Annenkova (1928) (vide, Hartman, 1959), Green (1968). M. caspia fluviatilis Danube River, Romania. Bacesco (1949) (vide Hartman, 1959). M. eriensis Lake Erie, Ohio. Krecker (1939) (vide Pennak, 1978). M. pacifica Bering Sea. Annenkova (1934) (vide Hartman, 1959). M. polaris Bering Sea, Murman coast, Russia. Zenkevitch (1935) (vide Hartman, 1959). M. siaukhn North Japan Sea. Annenkova (1938) (vide Hartman, 1959). M. speciosa Schuylkill River, Philadelphia; South eastern Pennsylvania; New Jersey; Great Lakes; Alaska; Cayuga Lake, New York; California; Carolina; Georgia. Leidy (1859); Pennak (1978); Holmquist (1973); Spencer (1976). M. spongicola Chilka Lake, India (embedded in sponge Laxosuberites and among algae under rocks). Southern (1921). Gopalpur, Orissa Coast (Bay of Bengal), at a depth of 12 metres. Present authors. M. sp. 1 Gopalpur, Orissa Coast (Bay of Bengal), at a depth of 12 metres. Present authors. M. sp. 2 Gopalpur, Orissa Coast (Bay of Bengal), at a depth of 12 metres. Present authors. M. sp. 3 Gopalpur, Orissa Coast (Bay of Bengal), at a depth of 12 metres. Present authors. M. sp. 4 Gopalpur, Orissa Coast (Bay of Bengal), at a depth of 12 metres. Present authors. POLYCHAETES OF THE GENUS MANAYUNKIA 425 in various American rivers and lakes; brackish and estuarine environs of Western Europe as indicated above, the occurrence of M. spongicola among the sponge Laxosuberites lacustris and among the algae under rocks from Chilka Lake and coral skeletons in the present study is attributed to the presence of rich soft detritus deposition on the aphytal systems. Further, the physiognomy of the non- sedimentary biota like phytal (algal thickets) and aphytal (sessile animal growth of sponges, corals, bryozoans, gorgonians etc.) besides the quality and quantity of sediment deposited on them were reported dictating patterns of distribution and abundance of organ ismic communities among the benthic biota (Dahl 1948, Wieser 1952, 1959; Hagerman 1966, Sarma 1972, 1974a, 1974b, 1974c; Sarma and Ganapati 1972, 1975; Sarma and Gopalswamy 1975, Sarma and Satapathy 1978, Sarma et al. 1979, 1981). By implication, the eurytopic and the euryoecious nature of the species of Manayunkia should render them as effective tools not only to enquire into the nature of adaptational physiology but also to conduct bio-assay studies with reference Refer Banse, K. (1956): Beitrage Zur Kenntnis der Gattung Fabricia, Manayunkia and Fabriciola. Zool. Jb. Syst. 84: 415-438. Barnes, R.S.K. (1976): Estuarine Biology. Edward Arnold, London. Bourne, A.G. (1883): On Haplobranchus, a new genus of Capitobranchiate Annelids. Quart. Joum. Microscop. Science , 23: 169. Dahl, E. (1948): On the smaller Arthropoda of marine algae especially in the polyhaline waters off the Swedish West Coast.- In Unders. resund. 35: 1-193. Day, J.H. (1967): A monograph on the polychaeta of Southern Africa. Part 2. Sedentaria. The British Museum (Natural History), London, pp. 751-790. Foster, N. (1972): Fresh water Polychaetes (Annelida) of North America. Biota of Freshwater Ecosystems Identification Mannual 4: 1-15. Green, J. (1968): The Biology of Estuarine Animals. Sidgwick and Jackson, London. Hagerman, L. (1966): The macro and micro fauna associated with Fucus serratus L. ; with some ecological remarks. Ophelia 3 : 1-42. Hartman, O. (1959): Catalogue of the Polychaetous annelids of the World. Part II. Los Angeles: Allan Handcock foundation publication, pp. 534-568. to aquatic pollutants. Their mass cultivation in laboratory conditions could also be resorted to produce protein -rich viable feed for fin fish and shell fishes in aquacultural practices. The known direct development strategy of reproduction adopted by Manayunkia without a free swimming trochophore larva, besides its probable ability to reproduce asexually by budding, should further enhance the potential of this micro-annelid for mass cultivation to be used as fish food. Studies aimed at determining its nutritive value would probably go a long way to render it an efficient and economic feed for cultivable prawns and fishes. Acknowledgements We thank the Director, Regional Research Laboratory, Bhubaneswar for financial assistance to one of us (K.R.R.); Dr. M. Bapuji, Project leader, “Bio-active substances from the marine organisms of Orissa coast”, for organising and giving an opportunity to participate in the cruises and authorities of Regional College of Education, Bhubaneswar ENCES Holmquist, C. (1973): Fresh water polychaete worms of Alaska with notes on the anatomy of Manayunkia speciosa Leidy. Zool. Jahrb. Syst. 100: 497-516. Leedy, J. (1 859): Contributions towards a knowledge of the Marine invertebrate fauna of the coasts of Rhode Island and New Jersey. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila ., Jour.; Ser. 2, Vol. 3: 135-158. Leidy, J. (1883): Manayunkia speciosa. Proc. phila. Acad. Nat. Sci.: 204-212. Mayer, E. (1 97 1) : Principles of Systematic Zoology. McGraw - Hill, INC., New Delhi. Muus, B.J. (1967): The fauna of Danish estuaries and Lagoons. Medd. Danmarks Fisk. Havunders 5: 1-315. Pennak, R.W. (1978): Fresh water Invertebrates of the United State. 2nd Ed. John Wiley & Sons, New York. Poe, T. P. & Stefan (1974): Several environmental factors influencing the distribution of the fresh-water polychaeta, Manayunkia speciosa Leidy. Chesapeake sci. 12: 235-231. Remane, A. (1971): Biology of Brackish water. 2nd Ed. John Wiley & Sons, New York. Sarma, A.L.N. (1972): the phytal fauna of littoral algae of Visakhapatnam Coast (Bay of Bengal). Ph.D. Thesis, Andhra University, Waltair. Sarma, A.L.N. (1974a): The phytal fauna of Ulva fasciata off 426 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) Visakhapatnam Coast. Proc. Ind. Acad. Sci. 80 B: 147-161. Sarma, A.L.N. (1974b): The phytal fauna of Caulerpa taxifolia and C. racemosa off Visakhapatnam Coast. Ind. J. Mar. Sci. 3: 155-164. Sarma, A.L.N. (1974c): The phytal fauna of Sargassum off Visakhapatnam Coast. J. Mar. Biol Assoc. Ind: 16(3 ): 741-755. Sarma, A.L.N. & P.N. Ganapati (1972): The faunal associations of algae in the inter-tidal region of Visakhapatnam. Proc. Ind. Nat. Sci. Acad. 38 B: 380-396. Sarma, A.L.N. & N. Ganapati (1975): Phytal fauna off the Visakhapatnam Harbour Buyos. Bull. Dept. mar. Sci Univ. Cochin 7 (2): 263-272. Sarma, A.L.N. & Gopalswamy (1975): On fresh water phytal fauna of Visakhapatnam. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 72(1): 237- 240. Sarma, A.L.N. & S. Satpathy (1978): A note on the phytal fauna in and around Balugaon in Chilka Lake. Curr. Sci. 4(3): 117- 126. Sarma, A.L.N., D.G. Rao & S. Satapathy (1979): Faunal associations of littoral sponges in and around Balugaon in chilka lake (Lagoon). J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc., 76(1): 192- 195. Sarma, A.L.N., S. Satapathy & D.G. Rao (1981): Phytal macro and meiofaunaof Chilka Lake. Ind. J. Mar. Sci. 10: 61-65. Satapathy, S. (1985): Qualitative and quantitative studies on the tropical littoral brackish water phytal macro and meiofauna of chilka Lagoon (Bay of Bengal). Ph.D. Thesis, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar. Southern, R. (1921): Fauna of Chilka Lake: Polychaeta of the Chilka Lake and also of fresh and brackish water in other parts of India. Mem. Ind. Mus. 5: 653-655. Spencer, D.R. (1976): Occurrence of Manayunkia speciosa (Polychaeta : Sabellidae) in Cayuga Lake, New York, with additional notes on its north American distribution. Trans, am. Microsc. Soc. 95: 127-128. Weiser, W. (1952): Investigations on the micro-fauna inhabiting seaweeds on rockey coasts, iv. Studies on the vertical distribution of the fauna inhabiting Seaweeds below the Plymouth Laboratory. J. Mar. biol. Ass. U.K., 31: 145-174. Weiser, W. (1959): Zur Okologie der Fauna mariner Algen mit besondere Berucksichtigung des Mittelmeeres. Int. Revue, ges. Hydrobiol., 44: 137-180. A FALL LAND BIRD MIGRATION ACROSS THE SOUTH CHINA SEA FROM INDO-CHINA TO THE GREATER SUNDA ISLANDS1 David H. Ellis2, Angela K. Kepler3, Cameron B. Kepler3 (With two text-figures ) Key words: landbirds, migration, corridor, south China sea We encountered 150 land birds representing 14 families along the cruise track of the Soviet Oceanographic Research Vessel AKADEMIK KOROLEV in the South China Sea. We saw most of these birds during a 3-day period in a small area c. 350 km southeast of the southern tip of the Indo-China Peninsula. These observations suggest that a significant land bird migration corridor crosses the South China Sea from Viet Nam to Borneo. Introduction Until 1960, migration corridors for eastern Asia were poorly known (Wetmore 1926, Delacour 1947, McClure 1974, Medway and Wells 1976), but important flights have recently been discovered: one extends south from Japan and eastern China through the Philippine Islands, and another corridor passes down the Malay Peninsula (McClure 1974, Medway and Wells 1976). A less important passerine migration pathway crosses the Gulf of Thailand from Indo-China to the Malay Peninsula (McClure 1974). Evidence for a land bird migration corridor across the South China Sea is very limited. Biologists from the Chinese Academy of Science and the Beijing Natural History Museum (Anon. 1974) noted 44 species of land birds during 1974 surveys of the islets in the northern two-thirds of the South China Sea (outside our study area). More recently, Simpson (1983a; b) encountered hundreds of migrant land birds at the Tembungo offshore oil drilling platform near the northeastern tip of Borneo during the fall migration of 1981. Although Simpson reported his observations as evidence of a passage directly over the South China Sea, his location near Balabac Strait suggests that the migrants he observed were likely moving south and west from the Philippines. Further, McClure (1974) asserts that many m ‘ its passing through the Philippines enroute to D^meo fly west from Palawan then south to Borneo. More Accepted 2U.S. National Biological Survey. Patuxent Environmental Science Centre, Laurel, Maryland 20708, U.S.A. 3 U.S. National Biological Survey, Wamell School of Forest Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, 30602, U.S.A. recently, Simpson (Wells pers. comm, and 1990) reported a substantial fall movement of land birds (36 species) in the Terengganu oil field (c. 05°25' N, 105°13’E, see Fig. 1). Although this location is only c. 200 km east of the Malay Peninsula, Simpson’s records provide the best evidence to date of a direct South China Sea crossing for migrant land birds. The geography of the land masses surrounding the South China Sea seem to create three natural funnels that should concentrate migrant land birds into three primary corridors. First, migrants moving south from Burma and western Thailand should flow onto the Malay Peninsula. Second, many of those in eastern China could island-hop south through the Philippines, and third, those moving south into Indo-China would naturally converge south of the Mekong River delta on Mui Bai Bung cape. From the Indo-China Peninsula, birds travelling overland must fly north and west into Thailand before proceeding south, while those capable of a relatively short oversea migration can fly southwest toward the Malay Peninsula. Those adapted for long over- water passage could fly south toward the distant land masses of Borneo and the other Greater Sunda Islands. The first two routes (i.e. down the Malay Peninsula and island-hopping through the Philippines) are known to be important corridors for fall migrants (Wetmore 1926, McClure 1974, Ng 1978). In addition, McClure (1974) and Hails (1987) portray a minor pathway for land birds extending from Indo-China across the Gulf of Thailand to the Malay Peninsula. McClure (1974) also mentions a fall passage of Willow Warblers (Phylloscopus sp.) across the South China Sea to 428 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) Sarawak (Borneo) without offering details on their point of origin north of the sea. Further, Ng (1978) presents evidence for a Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) migration from mainland China to the Philippines. Finally, McClure (1968 in McClure 1974) illustrated a coastal migration route from Taiwan to northern Viet Nam, thence south crossing the South China Sea to Borneo. However, none of these authors report the pooling of migrants on the tip of Indo-China or at any other point of departure north of the South China Sea. The only published suggestion of such a migration corridor is Simpson’s (1983a) observations of sizable movements of land birds near the northeastern tip of Borneo, not far southwest of Palawan. This location, however, lies on a migration route already recognized by McClure (1974) as important in the passage of birds, not across the South China Sea to Borneo, but through the Philippines to Borneo. Study Area and Methods In this report, we present observations of migrant land birds encountered during our 23-31 October 1988 indirect passage (Fig. 1) from Balabac Strait to Singapore on the Soviet Research Vessel AKADEMIK KOROLEV (Ellis etal. 1992). While in transit, we observed birds during dawn-to-dusk seabird surveys from the flying bridge (12 m above sea level). During a 3 -day period while the ship was anchored or drifting without power (Fig. 1, station 13; 06° OF N, 106° 55’ E), we conducted periodic walking inspections of the ship (usually at half-hour intervals) and searched the ship each night by torch to count roosting birds. Five raptors and several Barn Swallows were captured by hand (primarily during these nightly tours) and examined for physical condition. Results And Discussion During our 9-day passage, we encountered c. 150 land birds (121 by conservative count, 84 minimum count; Table 1) representing 14 Families. Almost all were migrants that winter (at least in part) south of the South China Sea. Most of these birds (104 by conservative count) arrived on the ship during the 3 -day period while we were stationary (Fig. 1, station 13) c. 350 km southeast of the southern tip of Indo-China. The presence of land birds at this location suggests that these birds were in passage across the South China Sqa from Indo- China to the Greater Sunda Islands. The low bird counts seen before arriving at and after leaving this location (Table 2) strongly suggests that this spot lies on a rather narrow migratory corridor. Alternately, birds may be reluctant to approach a moving vessel. Simpson’s (Wells 1990) 1982 observations, made in the Terengganu oil field (Fig. 1) very near our cruise track, suggest that he was sampling the same corridor we visited; if so, the pathway may be somewhat wider than we detected. The number of birds we observed (Tables 1 and 2) is small when compared with record counts for well-known migration pathways. However, our visit was brief and probably too late for detecting the bulk of migrating land birds. Simpson’s (1983a) dates for 6 of 9 frequently encountered land birds near northeastern Borneo fell before the time of our visit, and, just as important, migrating land birds most often aggregate where land and water configurations encourage them to collect (e.g. on north or south projecting peninsula). By contrast, we were on the open sea where birds are much less likely to concentrate. Considering these factors, it seems likely that adequate spatial and temporal sampling will reveal many thousands of land birds moving south from Indo-China across the South China Sea. Although our records and Simpson’s (Wells 1990) 1982 observations demonstrate that a sizable migration is probably normal across the South China Sea, we should mention an alternate hypothesis that may help explain the presence of these birds where and when we observed them. First, our passage occurred when Typhoon Ruby was ravaging the Philippine Islands (Anon. 1989). Although we did not encounter heavy seas or strong winds, some of the birds we observed may have been forced out to sea, if non-migratory, or shunted away from their normal migration route, if migratory, by the storm. BIRD MIGRATION ACROSS THE SOUTH CHINA SEA 429 Table 1 LAND BIRD TOTALS FOR R.V. AKADEMIK KOROLEV CRUISE TRACK SEGMENTS AND STATIONARY WATCHES IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA, OCTOBER 1988 Date Station / Segment2 Duration of Obs. (min.) No. Land Birds Observed1 Number Length (Km) Raptors Non-raptors All land birds Min. cons. Min. Cons. Min. Cons. 23 1 38 88 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 15 45 0 0 0 0 0 0 24 3 6 17 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 67 158 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 14 44 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 19 48 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 49 109 0 0 1 1 1 1 25 8 22 50 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 3 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 30 67 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 17 38 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 63 143 0 0 4 4 4 4 26-28 13 ca 0 912 22 30 32 44 54 74 28 14 caO 43 1 1 0 0 1 1 15 22 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 16 26 78 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 ca 0 195 1 4 4 8 5 12 29 18 ca 0 105 1 1 1 4 2 5 19 ca 0 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 25 62 0 0 0 1 0 1 21 ca 0 80 0 0 0 0 0 0 30 22 ca 0 23 1 1 3 3 4 4 23 ca 0 110 0 0 2 4 2 4 24 ca 0 25 0 0 0 1 0 1 25 ca 0 95 0 1 3 3 3 4 26 ca 0 54 0 0 0 0 0 0 27 ca 0 52 0 0 3 5 3 5 28 ca 0 30 1 1 0 0 1 1 31 28 ca 0 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 29 ca 0 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 30 135 280 1 1 3 3 4 4 Totals 3,022 28 40 56 81 84 121 because accurate bird counts were sometimes difficult to obtain for stationary watches (i.e., some birds remain aboard ship for an ex- tended period), we report both the minimum (min.) number of birds observed (based on subtractive values) and a conservative (cons.) number based primarily on new arrivals. The actual number observed is believed to be about 20% higher than the conservative count. bruise track segment locations are illustrated in Fig. 1. 430 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) Table 2 MINIMUM AND CONSERVATIVE LAND BIRD COUNTS ALONG CRUISE TRACK OF R.V. AKADEMIK KOROLEV IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA, 23-31 OCTOBER1-2 Species Segments 1-7 (Oct. 23-24) Min. (Cons.) Segments 8-19 (Oct. 25-29) Min. (Cons.) Segments 20-30 (Oct. 29-31) Min. (Cons.) Small juv. accipiter 0(0) 14 (24) 3(3) (Accipiter ap.) Ad. Japanese Sparrow-hawk 0(0) 2(2) 0(0) (Accipiter gularis) Ad. Shikra (A. badius )3 0(0) 1(2) 0(0) Ad. Crested Goshawk (A. trivirgatus )3 0(0) 2 (2) 0(0) Eagle/Kite (Accipitridae) 0(0) 1(1) 0(0) Peregrine Falcon (F ale o peregrinus ) 0(0) 3(3) 0(0) Oriental Scops Owl (Otus sunia )4 0(0) 2(2) 0(1) Chinese Pond Heron (Ardeola bacchus ) 0(0) 0(0) 3(3) Watercock (Gallicrex sinerea ) 0(0) KD 0(0) Dove (Streptopelia sp.)3 0(0) 1(1) 0(0) Grey Nightjar (Caprimulgus indicus) 0(0) KD 1(1) Fork-tailed Swift (Apus pacificus ) 0(0) 4(4) 0(0) Swift (Apodidae) 0(0) 2(2) 0(0) Dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis ) 1(1) 0(0) 0(0) Bam Swallow (Hirundo rustica ) 0(0) 14 (29) 5(10) Swallow (Hirundo sp.) 0(0) KD 0(0) Ashy Minivet (Pericrocotus divaricatus)4 0(0) KD KD Lanceolated Warbler 0(0) KD KD (Locustella lanceolata ) 4 Great Reed Warbler 0(0) KD 0 (0) (Acrocephalus arundinaceus ) Warbler (Acrocephalus sp.) 0(0) 1(2) 1 (1) Arctic Warbler (Phylloscopus borealis ) 0(0) 0(0) 1 (1) Flycatcher (Ficedula sp.) 0(0) 2(2) 0 (0) Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus) 0(0) 6(6) 1 (1) Unidentified passerines or remains 0(0) 5(8) 0 (1) Totals 1(1) 66 (96) 17 (24) 'Cruise track segments and stations are illustrated in Fig. 1 and described in Table 1. Abbreviations in column headings are: Min. (minimum count) and Cons, (conservative count) as explained in Table 1, Footnote 1. 3Because these birds are considered non- migratory, these identifications should be treated as tentative. All are based on nearby visual observations aided by 10 x binoculars, but without photographic or other substantiation. 4Individuals of these species were deposited in the U.S. National Museum: Oriental Scops Owl, USNM No. 607190: Ashy Minivet, USNM No. 607193; and Lanceolated Warbler, spirit specimen (not assigned numbers at USNM). BIRD MIGRATION ACROSS THE SOUTH CHINA SEA 431 Table 3 PHYSICALCONDITION AND MIGRATORY STATUS OF LAND BIRDS ARRIVING ON R.V. AKADEMIK KOROLEV, 25-29 OCTOBER 1988, SOUTH CHINA SEA1’2 Physical Condition3 Known Taxon (Number) Migrant Mobility Classes4 Known Known Over- water Colonizer Migrant5 of Islands Known Straggler to Islands Comments Good Japanese Sparrow-hawk + (Accipiter gularis ) (2) - - - Common migrant. Good Shikra (A. badius) (2) + Western population is highly migratory ; eastern population migratory in Malasia. Good Crested Goshawk (A. trivirgatus) (2) - - - Non-migrant throughout range. Good Peregrine Falcon ( Falco + peregrinus ) (3) + + + Fatigued Watercock ( Gallicrex cinerea ) + (1) - - - Winters in Greater Sunda Islands and Celebes; very few records as straggler. Good Dove (Streptopella sp. (1) - - - Emaciated Oriental Scops Owl + (Otus sunia) (1) - - - Good Grey (Jungle) Nightjar + (Caprimulgus indicus ) (1) + “ + Strongly migratory, scatters across Malasia in winter. Good Fork-tailed Swift + (Apus pacificus) (4) - - - A few migratory stragglers recorded as far east as Marshall Islands. Good Barn Swallow + (Hirundo rustica ) (29) + - + Winters throughout region and tropics world wide. Fatigued Ashy Minivet ( Pericrocotus divaricatus ) (1) - - - Winters on larger islands of Indonesia, but not on islands separated by large bodies of water. Fatigued Lanceolated Warbler + ( Locustella lanceolata) - - - Winters in Greater Sunda Islands. Good Great Reed Warbler + ( Acrocephalus arundinaceus) (1) + + Common migrant in Indonesia. Good Brown shrike + ( Lanius cristatus ) (6) + ■ ■ Common migrant to Greater Sunda Islands; recorded in Palau. 3Data are included only for that portion of the cruise track (stations 8-19) where the ship was far (over 100 km) from land. 2Assignment to mobility class (i.e., regular migrant over land and overlarge bodies of water, colonizer of distant land masses and islands as a breeding bird, straggler either on migration or as a resident) is at best tentative for some species, but was largely made from information in Brown and Amadon (1968), Clements (1978), King and Dickinson (1975), Medway and Wells (1976), and Pratt et al. (1987). 3Physical condition was reported Good, if bird flew well and was adept at avoiding capture by hand; Fatigued, if readily captured by hand; and Emaciated, if sternum was sharply protruding upon capture. 4Symbols in these columns: + = yes, - = no. 5Those species scored as + in this column are known to regularly cross large bodies of water (> 500 km) on migration. 432 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY Vol. 91 (1994) Fig. 1. Geography of the southern half of the South China Sea showing bird survey locations. Numbered segments are bird survey locations for R.V. Akademik Korolev , 23-31 October 1988. However, most of the birds we observed far from land (Table 3) are known to be strong migrants. The four hawks tentatively identified as Shikras (Accipiter badius) and Crested Goshawks (A. trivirgatus), and the dove ( Streptopelia sp.) are the only real surprises although a few others in Table 3 would not be expected this far from land. Flight direction may give some indication of the likelihood of either hypothesis. If the birds were displaced migrants, they would probably have been heading southwest (i.e. away from the storm). If in passage from a concentration zone on the Indo- China Peninsula to Borneo, they should have been heading southeast to encounter our vessel. If, as we observed, the raptors (33% of all land birds) were foraging at sea (Ellis et al. 1990) rather than BIRD MIGRATION ACROSS THE SOUTH CHINA SEA 433 B. Passerines and Swifts (N=7) c. Bam Swallows (N=4) Fig. 2. Arriving and departing flight directions for birds seen on cruise track segments 8-19 of R.V. Akademik Korolev , 26-29 October 1988. migrating, there would likely be no consistent trend in their flight direction. In Fig. 2, there is no clear east-west trend in arriving or departing flights. However, although the data are very few, a strong southward component is evident. In constructing Fig. 2, we eliminated directional readings for birds seen on cruise track segments 1-7 and 20-30 because these segments were near enough to land (i.e. within 100 km) that the birds’ flight directions would probably have been influenced by sight or sign of nearby land. In addition, flight bearing could have been influenced by the presence of the ship. Physical condition of the birds we observed may also be an indicator of the regularity with which this migration route is used. If a high proportion of the known overseas migrants were in good body condition this far from land, it is more tenable to suppose that these species regularly use this route. In Table 3, our best estimate of physical condition is compared for all species encountered far from land. We know from handling a few captives, and infer from the energetic flight of others, that the raptors and the Bam Swallows at station 13 were in good physical condition. For the other species, too few individuals were present to draw firm conclusions, but all individuals of most species appeared to be in good condition. A final hypothesis may explain the presence of some of the raptors. Many of these were opportunistically foraging at sea. During the 3-day waiting period (Fig. 1, station 13), we recorded raptors perching for extended periods, roosting nightly on the ship, and engaging in at least 21 hunting forays. Of 14 forays for which the outcome was known, 13 (93%) were successful. Some accipiters even used the ship’s deck lights to forage at night. We gathered prey remains during the 3- day period consisting of at least 20 kills. Two species, the Bam Swallow and the Brown Shrike ( Lanius cri status ) suffered heavy mortality from predation. Of 14 Bam Swallows (minimum count) observed from 25-29 October, at least 7 turned up as prey. Even more significant, 5 of 6 (minimum count) Brown Shrikes seen during the same 5 -day period were observed as prey. Simpson’s (1983a and Wells 1990) observations of raptor behavior at both oil fields led him to conclude that Japanese Sparrow- hawks ( Accipiter gularis ) were hunting and “commuting between nearby rigs”. Our observations confirm that the raptors were opportunistically using our stationary ship for perching, roosting, and hunting. When the ship was moving under power, however, none of the raptors perched for any extended period and none roosted on the ship. From all available evidence, it seems most likely that the birds we encountered were a small part of what must be a sizable wave of fall migrants on their way across the South China Sea. The configuration of the land masses suggests that the point of departure for these birds was the southern tip of Indo-China; however, further land- based research is needed to substantiate the point of origin and destination of birds crossing the South China Sea to Borneo. Additional work at sea will also be helpful in determining the timing and magnitude of the migration, as well as corridor width. Work on islands in the South China Sea or stationary platforms may substitute in part for the at-sea studies, but it is important to examine birds on arrival in the Greater Sunda Islands to determine body condition. Intensive banding operations in Viet Nam, at sea, and in Borneo could reveal much about survival rates and all other aspects of this little known migration route. 434 JOURNAL BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY Vol. 91 (1994) Acknowledgements This project was part of the in Soviet/ American Oceanographic Expedition to the central Pacific Ocean and South China Sea: we express appreciation to the agents of both governments who made our participation possible. We especially thank Captain Oleg A. Rostovtsev, Professor Alla V. Tsyban (Chief Scientist), Harold J. O’Connor (Director, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center and U.S. organizer of the expedition), and our many Soviet friends who enhanced our enjoyment of the Refe Anonymous (1974): Report of the Zoological Survey of the Islands of the South China Sea. ACTA Zoologica Sinica 20(2): 113- 130. Anonymous (1989): Marine Weather Review. Mariners Weather Log 33(2): 40-50. Brown L. & D. Amadon (1968): Eagles, Hawks and Falcons of the World. Country Life Books, London. Clements, J.F. (1978): Birds of the World: a Check List. Two Con- tinents Publishing Group, New York. Delacour, J. (1947): Birds of Malaysia. Macmillan Co., New York. Ellis, D.H., A.K. Kepler & C.B. Kepler (1990): Evidence for a Fall Raptor Migration Pathway Across the South China Sea. J. Raptor Res. 24: 12-18. Ellis, D.H., A.K. Kepler & C.B. Kepler (1992): Evidence for a Major Fall Land Bird Migration Corridor Across the South China Sea from Indo-China to the Greater Sunda Islands. Pp. 247-252. In: P.A. Nagel (ed.). Results of the First Joint US- USSR Central Pacific Expedition (BERPAC), Autumn 1988. US Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, D.C. Hails, C. (1987): Birds of Singapore. Times Editions, Singapore. King, B.F. & E.C. Dickinson (1975): A Field Guide to the Birds of trip. Joe Marshall and Ralph Browning assisted in specimen identification at the Smithsonian Institution. Linda J. Miller and Cathy Ellis assisted greatly in data handling and manuscript preparation. The following people commented on an early version of this manuscript and thereby compensated for our inexperience with the birds of the South China Sea region: H. Elliott McClure, Duncan Parish, Philip D. Round, Lucia Liu Severinghaus, and David R. Wells. We appreciate addition editorial comments from Mark R. Fuller, George F. Gee, and Gary H. Heinz. ENCES South-East Asia. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston. McClure, H.E. (1974): Migration and Survival of the Birds of Asia. U.S. Army Medical Component, SEATO Medical Project, Bangkok, Thailand. Medway, Lord & D.R. Wells (1976): Birds of the Malay Penin- sula, Vol. V. Witherby, London. Ng, Soon Chye (1978): Migratory Bam Swallows ( Hirundo rustica ) in the South China Sea. Malayan Nature J. 32: 67- 73. Pratt, D.H., P.L. Bruner & D.G. Berrett (1987): The Birds of Hawaii and the Tropical Pacific. Princeton Univ. Press, Pinceton, N.J. Simpson, D.M. (1983a): Autumn Migration of Landbirds off North Borneo in 1981. Sea Swallow 32: 48-54. Simpson, D.M. (1983b): Birds Seen at the Tembungo Gas Rare, North Borneo During the Development of Typhoon ‘Clara.’ Sea Swallow 32: 82-83. Wells, D.R. (1990): Malayan Bird Report: 1982 and 1983. Ma- layan Nature J. 43(3): 116-147. Wetmore, A. (1926); The Migrations of Birds. Harvard Univ. Press, Cambridge, Mass. NEW DESCRIPTIONS A NEW SPECIES OF GENUS GLYPTOTENDIPES KIEFFER (DIPTERA : CHIRONOMIDAE) FROM INDIA1 T.K. Dutta and PK. Chaudhuri2 (With six text-figures) Kieffer (1913) erected Glyptotendipes as a genus in the family Chironomidae with G. sigillatus as its type which was described later by Kieffer (1922). Various chironomidologists of the past considered it as one of the subgenera of Chironomus Meigen but it is now recognised as a full genus in the family. The genus is least represented from the Afrotropics, Micronesia, Australia and Oceania regions. In India, four species, barbipes (Staeger), melanostolus (Kieffer), oriplanus (Kieffer) and verrucosus (Kieffer) were recognised before this investigation. In this paper, one new species of the genus, Glyptotendipes pilosus is described from the duars of the Himalayas of West Bengal. Terminologies and usages followed in this paper are after Saether (1980) and Chaudhuri and Chattopadhyay (1990). Glyptotendipes pilosus sp. nov. male: Body length 3.86 (3.64-3.89, n=10), wing length 2.01 (1 .80-2.01, n=10) and wing breadth 0.58 (0.56-0.63, n=10). [Measurements in millimeter (mm)]. Head: Vertex with 20-22 IV 4, OV 16-18 and PO 0 setae. Corona with 7-8 setae. Clypeus with 15-16 long setae, clypeal ratio 0.85. Maxillary palp light brown, length ratio of palpomeres I-V 10: 13: 35: 26: 28, LAV ratio 4.37. Eyes reniform with a dorsal extension of 0.11. Antenna dark brown, length ratio of flagellomeres I-XI 6: 7: 7: 6: 6: 6: 6: 7: 7: 7: 192, AR 2.95; CA 0.66; CP 1.60. Thorax: Dark brown, Antepronotum wide at the base with a median narrow “V” shaped emergination, antepronotal 0; mesonotum with 3 Accepted August 1994. 2DepL of Zoology, University of Burdwan, Burdwan 713 104, West Bengal (India). dark vittae, acrostichals 2-3, dorsocentrals 8-10, humeral 0, prealars 4 and scutellars 6 in transverse row, postnotum dark brown and bare. Wing (Fig. 1) hyaline with coarse microtrichia. Brachiolum with 2 setae and 15-16 sensilla companlformia; 18, Rl, 15-16 and R+5 with 20-22 setae. RM little proximal to FCu, An ends just below FCu. Squama fringed with 10-12 setae. Haltere light brown and bare. CR 1.01; VR 1.06. Legs: Femora and tibia of all legs yellow, fore tibia dark brown and tarsomeres of all legs dark brown. Fore tibia with a blunt scale (Fig. 2) bearing 4 apical setae. Spurs of mid tibia equal 0.027 long, ratio of spurs to the apical diameter of mid tibia 9:8; spurs of hind tibia unequal 0.021 and 0.015 long, ratio of length of spurs to the apical diameter of hind tibia 7:13 and 5:13. Abdomen yellow with more or less dense scattered setae. Tergites II-VIII each with a characteristic mid dorsal horse-shoe shaped or racket like impression. Hypopygium (Fig. 3) with long tubular anal point 0.039 long having 4 setae at each basal margin. Gonocoxite massive more or less conical, with 14-15 strong setae over it; gonostylus also massive strongly pubescent and attenuated near the apex with 5 minute setae at its inner apical margin. Superior volsella (Fig. 4) digitiform hooked inward at its apex and without setae beyond the base; inferior volsella stout, long with numerous incurved apical setae. Transverse stemapodeme 0.045, lateral sternapodeme 0.078, coxapodeme 0.03 and phallapodeme 0.054 long. HR 0.71, HV 3.45. female: Body length 4.14 (3.92-4,38, n=4), wing length 2.04 (1.98-2.12, n=4) and wing breadth 0.63 (0.62-0.66, n=4). Similar to male with usual sex differences. Antenna (Fig. 5) light brown, flagellomeres II-IV long necked flask like, length ratio of flagellomeres 436 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) I-V 9 : 9: 8: 7: 12, AR0.36. Genitalia (Fig. 6): Notum 0.85 long. Gonocoxapodeme VIII blunt or pouch like. Coxosternapodeme stout well developed and more or less bowed. Gonapophysis VIII divided into a broad shallow dorsomesal lobe and a stout leaf-like ventrolateral lobe, apodeme lobe weak and bent. Postgenital plate relatively small and narrowed down to assume a V-shape. Seminal capsule more or less equal, oval 0.99 long by 0.051 wide, ducts of capsule without loop opening into the vagina by a single aperture. Cerci well developed and finely setose. Holotype Male (Type no. 209, B.U. Ent.), Birpara, West Bengal, 15. ix. 1985, Coll. T.K. Dutta. Allotype Female, data same as holotype. Paratypes 4 males and 3 females, Birpara, 15.x. 1986, Coll. T.K. Dutta; 3 males, Jalpaiguri, Fig. 1-4. Gyptotendipes pilosus sp. nov.: 1. Wing; 2. Fore tibial scale; 3. Hypopygium; 4. Superior volsella of male. NEW DESCRIPTIONS 437 PROPORTION AND RATIO OF LEG-SEGMENTS Fe Ti tax ta2 ta3 ^4 ta5 LR BV SV BR Fore 62 49 38 18 15 10 77 0.77 2.98 3.46 1.75 Mid 60 52 34 16 10 9 7 0.65 3.47 4.30 3.75 Hind 65 70 52 27 22 11 9 0.74 2.71 3.21 1.80 Figs. 5-6. Glyptotendipes pilosus sp. nov. 5. Antenna and 6. Genitalia of female. West Bengal, 12. vi. 1984, Coll. P.K. Chaudhuri; 4 males, Madarihat, West Bengal, 14. iii.1988, Coll. T.K. Dutta. All are kept in the collections of insects at the Department of Zoology, University of Burdwan and will be deposited to suitable depositors shortly. Remarks: In view of the hairy style, the species is named as Glyptotendipes pilosus. It appears to be very similar to G. tokunagi (Sasa 1979) in respect of gonocoxite, gonostylus, superior and inferior volsella but differs from it in colour pattern of abdomen and fore legs and apical expansion of the* anal point. The species also resembles G. pallens (Meigen) and G. seminole Townes (1945) in superior and inferior volsella of male hypopygium. The following combination of characters segregate the new species from previously described species of Glyptotendipes Kieffer : i) scutellars 6 small in transverse row, ii) abdomen yellow and densely setose, iii) long tubular anal point, iv) gonostylus stout, strongly pubescent and attenuated near apex, v) superior volsella digitiform, apically curved and bare, vi) inferior volsella stout, elongate with profuse long, curved apical setae and vii) female genitalia with weak apodeme lobe, V-shaped postgenital plate and two approximately oval and equal seminar capsules. Acknowledgements We are grateful to Professor Odwin Hoffrichter of Freibur University (Germany) for kindly going through the manuscript and providing valuable suggestions, and to the University of Burdwan for laboratory facilities. 438 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) References Chaudhuri, P.K. & S. Chattopadhyay (1990): Chironomids of the rice paddy areas of West Bengal, India. Hjdschr. voor. Ent. 133(2): 149-195. Kieffer, J .J. (1913): Nouvelle etude sue des Chionomides d 1 ’Indian Museum de Calcutta, Rec. Indian Mus., 9: 119-197. Kieffer, J .J. (1922): Chironomides de la Nouvelle Zemble. Annls. Soc. ent. Fr. 91: 1-72. Saether, Ole A. (1980): Glossary of Chironomid morphology, terminology (Diptera : Chironomidae). Ent. Scand. Suppl. 14: 1-51. Sasa, M. (1979): A morphological study of adults and immature stages of 20 Japanese species of the family Chironomidae. Res. Rep. Natl. Inst. Environ. Stud. 3: 1-147. Townes, H.K. (1945): The Nearctic species of Tendipedini (Diptera: Tendipedidae-Chironomidae). Am. Mid. Nat. 34(1): 1-206. MAPANIA ARUNACHALENSIS — A NEW SPECIES OF CYPERACEAE FROM ARUNACHAL PRADESH, INDIA1 G. D. Pal2 (With a text-figure) A new species of the genus Mapania Aubl. (Cyperaceae) is described with illustrations. A tabulated key for the allied species is also provided. Mapania arunachalensis sp. nov. M. kurzii Clarke proxime affinis, sed scapis sparsim strigosis ad apicem, bracteolis cum striationibus plus quam 15, bracteisque majoribus triangularibus vel ovato-oblongis, distinguenda. Ttypus: Holotypus lectus a G.D. Pal ad locum Arunachal, Inferior Subansiri district, Itanagar c. 400m, dia 27.3.1979, sub-numero 72507, etpositus in CAL. Isotypus positus in ARUN. Erect, rhizomatous perennial herbs, 1-1.75 m high. Rhizomes : 2.5 cm long, 0.5-1 cm across, partly covered with stiff, imbricate scales; scales broadly ovate, 2-5 x 1.5-3. 5 mm, deep brown. Stems: stout, cylindric, 1.5-3 cm long and 1-1.5 cm across, enclosed by the cauline leaves. Scaly leaves : lowermost broadly ovate to ovate-orbicular, 0.8-2. 5 x 0.6-2 cm, margin scarious; upper ones ovate -lanceolate, keeled, 4-12 x 2-3 cm, gradually tapering to the stiff apex, margin scarious, turn greyish-brown on drying. Leaves: densely equitant, linear, (125-)150-175 (-200) x (2-) 2.2-2.8 (-3) cm, prominently keeled; apex long attenuate, flagellate and distinctly trigonous; margin subentire to Accepted July 1994. 2Botanical Survey of India, Arunachal Field Station, Itanagar 791 111, India. distantly serrulate towards base, closely denticulate upward, teeth strong, recurved; midrib finely channelled above, distinctly raised beneath, closely or distantly sharp spinescent as those of margins; venetion parallel, more or less prominent; subcoriaceous, scabrous, whitish hairs along margin towards apex, dull green to pale brown on drying. Inflorescence: scape solitary, lateral, 25- 40 cm long, longitudinally ribbed and furrowed, terete or slightly compressed with more or less dilated, trigonous, strigose apices, about one-third length at base covered with 8-12 equitant scales; lower scales suborbicular to broadly ovate, (0.5 -) 1-2 (-2.5) x (0.4-) 1-1.5 (-1.8) cm, apex acute, incurved; upper scales ovate -oblong, 4-6.5 x 1.8- 2.2 cm, apex acuminate, incurved, margin scarious. Spikes: 4-6 in compact capitate head, ellipsoid, 1.5- 2 cm long, subtended by 4-6 bracts; bracts triangular, ovate -oblong or oblong, 2-2.5 x 1.4- 1.8 cm, acute, scabrous, margin scarious, sometimes lacerate towards bracteoles in 6-8 series, (2-) 3(-4) in each whorl, concave, midrib often keeled, sparsely to densely strigose or glabrous: 1st series oblong, 1.8-2 x 1-1.2 cm, keeled, apex fimbriate; 2nd series oblong, 1.5-1. 8 x 0.9-1 cm, midvein prominent but not keeled, sparsely strigose along the midvein, brownish streaks scattered, apex lacerate; 3rd and 4th series broadly-oblong, 1.5 x NEW DESCRIPTIONS 439 Fig. 1 (A-Q). Mapania arunachalensis sp. nov. A. Habit; B. Spike; C. Rower; D. Bracteoles (First series ventral and dorsal view respectively); E-K. Bracteoles (Second to Eighth series respectively); L. First and second glume (monandrous); M. Third glume (monandrous); N-O. Glumes (empty); P. Stamen; Q. Gynoecium. 440 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) A TABULATED KEY FOR THE THREE SPECIES Mapania palustris (Hassk. ex Steud.) F. Vill. Mapania arunachalensis sp. nov. Mapania kurzii Clarke 1. Leaves c. 4 cm broad, margin scabrous, Leaves 2-3 cm broad, margin closely denticulate Leaves c 2.5 cm broad, margin acutely scabrous on keel beneath, apex acutely spinescent on the keel beneath, apex rigid harse, keel rigid harse, neither flagellate nor acutely trigonous. flagellate, distinctly trigonous. long attenuate trigonous. 2. Scapes 30-60 cm long, glandular scabrous Scapes 25-40 cm long, very sparsely strigose near Scapes 10-40 cm long, smooth upward. the apex. upward. 3. Scapes covered basally by a few sheaths One-third part of the scape covered basally by Scapes covered basally by a few or scaly leaves. scaly leaves. sheaths. 4. Heads composed of 10-50 spikes. Heads composed of 4-6 spikes. Heads composed of 1-15 spikes. 5. Bracts ovate-oblong, 1.5-2 cm long. Bracts triangular or ovate-oblong, 2-2.5 cm long. Bracts short, ovate. 6. Bracteoles less than Bracteoles usually Bracteoles small, up to 10 mm long, 3-5 striate 15-18 mm long, 15-25 striate. 10 mm long, strongly 13-striate. 7. Spikes 15-20 mm long. Spikes 15-20 mm long. Spikes 12-13 mm long. 8. First pair of glume ciliolate on the keel. First pair of glume stellate hairy with distinct stalk on the keel. First pair of glume ciliolate on the keel. 9. Third glume empty Third glume monandrous. Third glume monandrous. 0.9-1 cm, not keeled; 5th to 7th series oblong, 1.5 x 0.7-0. 8 cm, not keeled, brownish streaks scattered; inner most series broadly oblong, 1.1- 1.3 x 0.6-0.7 cm, brownish streaks concentrated towards base and along midrib like those of flowering bracteoles. Spikelets: each spikelet subtended by a chaffy bracteole; bracteoles deeply concave, elliptic-oblong, 11-13 x 6.5 -8.5 mm, obtuse, margin scarious or rarely lacerate towards apex, longitudinally veined, brown streaks scattered, glabrous; flowers bisexual, dorsiventrally compressed. Glumes 6, almost biseriate, linear- oblong, concave, membranous: First and second glumes 10-12 x 1.5-2 mm, distinctly keeled, hairs stellate with a short stalk, deep brown streaked, monandrous; third glume opposite to posterior glume, 10-12 x 1-1.5 mm, not keeled, pale brown with scattered streaks, monandrous; three other glumes almost in a single whorl; fourth glume opposite to anterior glume, 9-11 x 1.25-1.75 mm, sparsely brownish streaked towards apex, empty; fifth and sixth glumes enclosing gynoecium almost at right angle to previous glumes, 9-10.5 x 1-1.5 mm, brownish, sparsely streaked, empty; stamens 3, filaments c 0.5 mm long; anthers linear-oblong, dorsiventrally flattened, 5-6 mm long; ovary ellipsoid with cuneate base, 4-5 x 3-3.5 mm; style continuous, 10-15 mm long, wiry, about two-third connate at base, 3 -branched above, sometimes branches unequal. FEs.: March -April. EcoL: In moist and shaded places on thick humus in primary forests and along streams. Distribution: india: Arunachal Pradesh, Lower Subansiri district, Itanagar c. 400 m, 27.3.1979, G.D. Pal 72507 A (Holotype-CAL). Isotype: G.D. Pal 72507 B (ARUN). Note: The species is closely allied to M. kurzii Clarke but can be distinguished by its scapes being sparsely strigose at the apices, the larger bracteoles with more than 15 striations and larger triangular or ovate-oblong bracts. The species also comes near to M. palustris (Hassk. ex Steud.) F. Vill. but the former can be easily distinguished by the third monandrous glume, nature of leaves, scapes and bracteoles. Acknowledgements I thank the Director, Botanical Survey of India, for all facilities. Thanks are also due to Dr. N.C. Mazumdar, Ex-Scientist ‘SE’, Botanical Survey of India, Calcutta for Latin diagnosis of the taxon and Shri G.S. Giri, Scientist ‘SD’ for the neat sketches and helpful suggestions. NEW DESCRIPTIONS 441 ON A NEW SPECIES OF SPATHIUS NEES (HYMENOPTERA : BRACONIDAE) FROM INDIA1 S.M. Kurhade2 and PK. Nikam3 ( With three text-figures) Spathius deccanemis sp. nov. is described and illustrated. Introduction Spathius is a moderate sized genus of the subfamily Spathiinae. Nees (1818) erected this genus with the type species, Cryptus clavatus Panzer. Other species reported are Stenophasmus ruflceps Smith (1859), Euspathius Foerster (1862) and Rhacospathius striolatus Cameron (1905). Spathius comprises about 291 species distributed world wide, from which 204 species are recorded from Indo-Australian and Pacific region and 17 species are known from India (Shenefelt and Marsh 1976). Spathius has been divided into 55 species groups by Nixon (1943). The taxa studied here belongs to the vulnificus group. The earlier works on Spathius in Indo-australian region are by Motschoulsky (1863), Westwood (1882), Szepligeti (1905, 1908), Cameron (1908, 1910), Enderlein (1912), Brues (1918), Wilkinson (1931), Nixon (1939, 1943), Krishna Ayyar and Narayanswami (1940) and Granger (1949). In this study the key to the species of the vulnificus group of Spathius of the old world by Nixon (1943) is followed and the new species, Spathius deccanensis described from India in Indo- Australian region is included in the key. Types and other material of the species are in the collection of the junior author for the time being and will be deposited in the National Collection of the Zoological Survey of India, Calcutta, India in due course. Spathius deccanensis sp. nov. Female: 4.9 mm. in length (Fig. 1). Head (Fig. 1 Accepted August 1994. 2 Post-graduate Dept of Zoology, New Arts, Commerce and Science College, Ahmednagar 414 001 (Maharashtra), India. 3 Department of Zoology, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad 431 004 (Maharashtra), India. 2): 0.7 times the own width; vertex smooth, moderately, shallowly punctate, pubescent; interocellar distance 0.42 times the ocellocular distance; frons transversely striate; face 0.55 times the own width, transversely strigose, moderately punctate, pubescent; clypeus narrow, 0.25 times the own width; malar space as long as basal width of mandible, smooth, weakly punctate, pubescent; mandible 2 x as long as its basal width, bidentate, overlapping; temple 0.45 times the length of eye, smooth, subpolished, very weakly, shallowly punctate, pubescent; maxillary palp 5 segmented. Antenna: 2 + 47 segmented; scape 2 x as long as wide, shorter than first flagellar segment; pedicel 1.25 x as long as wide; post pedicel 8 x as long as wide; penultimate segment 4 x as long as wide; terminal segment 6 x as long as wide. Thorax: Pronotum strigose; mesonotum coriaceous; middle lobe of mesoscutum transversely strigose, pubescent; lateral lobes of mesoscutum rugoso-reticulate, pubescent; notauli distinct; prescutellar depression with five transverse carinae; scutellum shiny, smooth; mesoplerum smooth, shiny, very weakly, shallowly punctate, anterior comer with transverse carinae, pubescent; prepectal carina distinct, transversely carinated; mesopleural fovea prominant; speculum smooth, shiny; metapleurum rugoso-reticulate; propodeum (Fig. 3) areolated; areola quadrangular, 1.42 x as long as wide, with four transverse carinae; first and second pleural areas transeversely carinated; first and second lateral areas smooth, shiny, pubescent; propodeal spiracle small, rounded. Hind coxa : 1.65 x as long as wide, transversely striate, with long pubescence; trochanters I + II 4.2 x as long as wide; femur 4 x as long as wide; tibia 1.5 x as long as femur, 13.4 x as long as wide apically; long tibial spur 0.25 times thebasitarsus; basitarsus 0.6 times the femur; tarsus 5 segmented; claw simple, bifid. 442 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) 1. Adult, Lateral view; 2. Head, viewed from front; 3. Propodeum with first abdominal tergite. Fore wings: 3.85 x as long as broad; stigma 6 x as long as wide; costa 2.8 x as long as stigma; first abscissa of radius as long as width of stigma; second abscissa of radius 3.4 x as long as first abscissa; third abscissa of radius 6.6 x as long as first abscissa 1.9 x as long as second abscissa; first intercubitus 2 x as long as basal; nervulus vertical, opposite, 0.8 times the width of stigma; submedius as long as medius; subdiscoideus 1.5 x as long as stigma. Hind wings : 5.4 x as long as broad; mediella 3.75 x as long as basella; cubitella as long as mediella; nervulus reclivous, basad, 0.5 times the basella; post nervulus opposite. Abdomen: 3.6 x as long as wide, petiolate, spindle shaped; first tergite strongly petiolate, 7.85 x as long as wide, rugose, closely punctate, with long pubescence, striate apically, two mid-dorsal longitudinal carinae present on apical 0.3 region; second tergite as long as wide apically, smooth, polished, pubescent; third tergite 0.6 times the apical width, smooth, polished, pubescent; remaining tergites smooth, polished, pubescent; ovipositor very long, 3.9 x as long as hind basitarsus; ovipositor sheath as long as ovipositor, longer than abdomen, pubescent throughout the length. Coloration: Reddish-brown. Head, antenna, legs yellowish red; propodeum, tips of mandibles black; stigma, veins, ovipositor sheath brownish-black; mesopleurum brown. male: Unknown. Holotype: Female, India; Maharashtra: Ahmednagar, 10. ix. 1989 on wing, S.M. Kurhade coll.; Regd. No. Br spVMUZ/SMKl; Antenna, wings and legs mounted on slides and labelled as above. Paratypes: 17 females, data same as holotype, except 5 females 7.x. 1989. Comments: In accordance to the key to the species of the vulnificus group (Nixon 1943) of the genus Spathius , the new species, Spathius deccanensis is close to Spathius vulnificus (Wilkinson 1931) and resembles it in having : (i) reddish-brown body, (ii) coriaceous mesonotum, (iii) distinct notauli and (iv) propodeum areolated, with four transverse carinae. However, the new taxa differs from the same in having : (i) transversely striated frons, (ii) vertex smooth, (iii) malar space smooth, (iv) flagellum 47 segmented, (v) scape shorter than first flagellar segment, (vi) mesoplerum smooth, (vii) first tergite rugose, (viii) tergites 2 and 3 smooth, polished and (ix) ovipositor sheath longer than abdomen. The new species also superficially resembles Spathius sul (Nixon 1943), but differs from the same in having: (i) reddish-brown body, (ii) face transversley strigose, (iii) frons transversely striate, (iv) mesoplerum smooth, shiny, very weakly, shallowly punctate and (v) tergites 2 and 3 smooth, polished. A KEY TO THE SPECIES OF vulnificus GROUP FEMALES OF Spathius BY NIXON (1943) 1 . Wings vestigeal . Yellowish-brown species with the abdomen except tergites 2 and 3 which are pale in part, blackish; tergites 2 and 3 except for the narrow apical margin, finely longitudinally striate critolaus Nixon (1939) Wings fully developed 2 2. Tergites 2 and 3 dull, extremely closely reticulate, appearing finely mgulose, almost shargreened species with tergites 2 and 3 having the basal half entirely yellow and a yellowish spot on each side of apical half sul Nixon (1943) Tergites 2 and 3 differently sculptured 3 3. Tergites 2 and 3 smooth, without a yellowish semicircular area at base deccanensis sp. nov. NEW DESCRIPTIONS 443 Tergites 2 and 3 yellowish at base 4 4. Tergites 2 and 3 with yellowish semicircular area at the base, finely, obliquely aciculate; beyond this area almost smooth; 2nd abscissa of the radius of the forewing only slightly more than half the length of the 3rd; ovipositor longer vulnificus Wilkinson (193 1) Tergites 2 and 3 yellowish at base but without this colour being restricted to a semicircular area in greater part, finely longitudinally striated; 2nd abscissa of radius about 2/3 of the length of the 3rd; ovipositor shorter critolaus Nixon (1939) Refe *Brues, C.T. (1918): Proc. Am. Acad. Arts. Sci. 61(8): 379. Cameron, P. (1905): New species of Hymenoptera (Aculeata, Ichneumonidae and Braconidae) from India. The Entomologist , 38: 105-107. Cameron, P. (1 908) : Description of new species of Braconidae from Borneo. Dt. Ent. Z. 1908: 687-694. Cameron, P. (1910): On some Asiatic species of the subfamilies Exothecinae, Spathiinae, Hormiinae, Cheloninae and Macrocentrinae. Tijdschr, V. Ent. 53: 52. Enderlein, G. (1912): Sauler’s Formosa- Ausbeute Braconidae, Proctotrupidae and Evaniidae (Hymenoptera). Ent. Mitt. 1: 257-267. *Foerster, A. (1862): Naturh. Ver. Rheinlande, Verb, 19: 224-228. *Granger, (1949): Mem. Inst. Sci. Madagascar, 2A: 50-148. Krishna Ayyar, P.N. & P.S. Narayan Swami (1940): On the biology of Spathius vulnificus Wilk. a possible effective parasite of Pempheres affinis in South India. Ind. Jour. Entomology 2: 224. *Motschoulsky (1863): Byull mosk. Obsch. Ispyt Prir. 36: 32. *Nees, V.E. (1818): Nova. Acta. Acad. Caes. Lep. Car. 9: 301. Acknowledgements We thank Prof. S.D. Kalyankar, Head, Department of Zoology, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad for providing laboratory facilities. The senior author wishes to thank Principal K.H. Shitole, New Arts, Commerce and Science College, Ahmednagar for permission to do this study at Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad. ENCES Nixon, G.E.J. (1939): New species of Braconidae (Hymenoptera). Bull. ent. Res. 30: 119-128. Nixon, G.E.J. (1943): A revision of the Spathiinae of the old world (Hymenoptera : Braconidae). Trans. Roy. Ent. Soc. London 93(2): 172-456. Shenefelt, R.D. &P.M. Marsh (1976): Braconidae 9, Doryctinae. Hymenopterorum catalogus, part 13, pp. 1386-1424. *Smith, F. (1859): Linn. Soc. London, Jour. Zool. 3: 169. Szepligeti, G.V. (1905): Exotische Braconiden aus den aethiopischen, orientalischen und australischen Regionen. Annals. Hist. Nat. Mus. Natl. Hungarici, 3: 25-55. Szepligeti, G.V. (1908): Braconiden aus der Sammulung des lingarischen National Museum. Annals Hist. Natl. Hungarici 6: 291 All. *Westwood, (1882): Tijdschar. Ent. 25: 43. Wilkinson, D.S. (1931): On the Indo-Australian and Ethiopian species of the Braconid genus Spathius (Hymenoptera). Trans. Ent. Soc. London, 79: 505-529. * Original not referred. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES 1 . SOME OB SERVATTONS ON THE BREEDING AND LONGEVITY OF LION-TAILED MACAQUE (MACACA S1LENUS) IN CAPTIVITY A pair of adult lion-tailed macaque ( Macaca si was received from the National Zoological Park, New Delhi in January, 1982 and displayed in one of the monkey islands surrounded by a water moat of 7 metres width at the Nandankanan Biological Park, Orissa. The land area of the circular island with 12 metres diameter and 2.50 metres deep including the 0.60 metre high parapet on the viewer’s side. The shelter house in the centre of the island measures 2.70 x 1.50 x 2.10 metres. The island has natural growth of vegetation. The zoo diet of these macaques consists of a variety of fruits, vegetables, greens, bread, milk and cooked rice. They have also free access to insects in the natural vegetation. During the period from January 1982 to June 1991, the female of this pair and their two female offsprings gave birth to nine young including two still-births. There was always one young bom. Births have taken place in January, 4; March, 2; October, 1 and November, 2. The inter-parturition interval recorded four times in one female (Dates of birth: 4-10-1983, 28-3-1985, 21-1-1987, 3-11- 1988 and 16-3-1990) varied from 1 year, 4 months and 13 'days to 1 year, 9 months and 24 days with a mean of 1 year, 7 months and 11 days. The two zoo- born females gave birth to their first young at the age of 3 years, 9 months and 29 days and 4 years, 3 months and 16 days respectively. The two still-bom male young weighed 417- 495 gm (mean 456 gm) and measured 39-42 cm (mean 40.50 cm) from tip of the nose to tip of the tail including 12.50-14.00 cm (mean 13.25 cm) long tails. One adult female living in the park since January 29, 1966 died on June 16, 1984 after remaining for 18 years, 4 months and 1 8 days in captivity at an estimated age of 20 years. Usually all primates produce their young singly and in the wild new born young of this species are seen Crandall, Lee S. (1965): The Management of Wild Mammals in Captivity. The University of Chicago Press, Chicago and London, pp. 110-111. Desai, J.H. & A.K. Malhotra (1976): A note on the captive status of the Lion-tailed macaque, Macaca silenus in India and its Breeding at Delhi Zoo. Int. Zoo Yb. 16: 116-117. Flower, S.S. (1931): Cited by Crandall, Lee S. (1965). * Jones, M.L. (1962): Mammals in captivity: Primate longevity. Laboratory Primate News letter, 1: 3-13. Lindburg, D.G., A.M. Lyles & N.M. Czekala (1989): Status and regularly in September in South India (Prater 1980). There is only one set of twins in 309 births recorded in North American Zoos during 1932-1982 and 305 births for which birth dates are available occur in all the months of the year with minimum of 20 during August to a maximum of 33 in April and December with no evidence of seasonality in reproduction (Lindburg et al. 1989). According to Walker et al. (1964) all the Macaca species usually produce one young but occasionally twins are born. At Delhi Zoological Park 15 births are recorded from March to November with the maximum number of births in April and May (Desai and Malhotra 1976). The sex ratio at birth was strongly in favour of males (58.5%) which is similar to the present limited findings (Lindburg et al. 1989). They further stated that the mean inter-birth interval was 17.3 months for lactating mothers (14.2 months for non-lactating mothers) and the age of sexual maturity for females of this species is given as about 4 years. The birth weight is given as 450 gm (Parker 1990) and 348.8 gm for one specimen (Crandall 1965). The life span for all species of Macaca in general is given as 30 years or more (Walker et al. 1964) and for this species as over 20 years (Parker 1990). The maximum longevity recorded for this species is 17 years and 7 months (Jones 1962) and at Rotterdam Zoo one specimen of this species lived for 16 years, 11 months and 16 days (Flower 1931). March 24, 1994 L.N. ACHARJYO Senior Veterinary Officer, Nandankanan Biological Park, P.O. Barang, Dist. Cuttack, Orissa 754 005. S.K. PATNA IK Director, Nanandankanan Biological Park,Sahidnagar, Mayur Bhawan, Bhubaneswar 751 007, ( Orissa ) NCES Reproductive Potentiality of Lion- tailed macaques in captivity. Zoo Biology supplement 1: 5-16. Parker, S.P. (1990): Grzimek’s Encyclopedia of Mammals, Vol. 2. Mcgraw-Hill-Publishing company, New York, St. Lovis, San Francisco, pp. 229-235. Prater, S.H. (1980): The Book of Indian Animals. Bombay Natural History Society, Bombay, pp. 30-39. Walker, E.P. etal. (1964): Mammals of the World, Volume-I. The Johns Hopkins Press, Baltimore, pp. 448. ^Original not consulted. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES 445 2. NOTES ON THE LARGE-EARED HEDGEHOG, HEMIECHINUS AURITUS GMELIN Introduction The present study was undertaken to collect information on the habitats and habits of hedgehogs in the rural areas of Etawah and Kanpur districts of Uttar Pradesh. Materials and Methods The animals were trapped by setting twenty traps baited with a piece of meat for 2-3 consecutive nights at random in each month of a calendar year. The traps were placed under hedges in different localities of rural areas of Etawah and Kanpur districts. These are relatively open areas with varied habitats including dense Eucalyptus, small to medium size dense shrubs and scattered trees. At times, burrows were also dug out to capture the animals. Overall, trapping was done 25 times in a year. The percentage of trapping success is depicted in Table 2. Animals trapped from the wild were kept under seminatural condition in a terrarium (90 x 45 x 45 cm) fixed on the ground by the side of the animal house located in the college campus. The soil surface was covered with 90 cm of sand. Animals were released in the terrarium for about a week to acclimatize them to the conditions and then visual observations were made for 30 min. each day for 21 days on burrowing pattern and other activities. For studying the activity in the burrow, the opening of the burrow in the terrarium was covered with a glass pane. Even after this change the hedgehogs continued to use the tunnel. Sometimes, a burrow was dug out to study the internal structure and depth of the burrow. Field work was also carried out to study burrow, habitat selection, and diurnal and annual activity from April 1992 to March 1993. Each trapped hedgehog was sexed and weighed. Physical measurements were recorded (Table 1). The animals were individually marked with paint and released. Such marks were recognizable for up to one year. After completion of the study these animals were released back in the field (Table 2). Table 1 SIZE PARAMETERS OF LARGE-EARED HEDGEHOGS, HEMIECHINUS AURITUS GMELIN No. of animals Body length (mm) 12 220 + 12 Tail length (mm) 12 30 + 2 Foot length (mm) 12 45 + 2 Ear length (mm) 12 30 + 3 Body weight* (gm) 40 220 + 25 *Data on body weight included only wild trapped animals. Table 2 THE TRAPPING SUCCESS OF HEDGEHOGS IN EACH MONTHS OF A CALENDAR YEAR Months Total No. No. and percentage of animals trapped Male Female Young January 40 2, 5% 2 . February 40 3, 7.5% 2 1 - March 40 6, 15% 2 2 2 April 40 8, 20% 2 4 2 May 40 7, 17.5% 3 3 1 June 60 10, 16.6% 4 3 3 July 40 7, 17.5% 2 3 2 August 40 5, 12.5% 3 2 - September 40 6, 15.0% 1 3 2 October 40 4, 10.0% 2 1 1 November 40 3, 7.5% 1 1 1 December 40 2, 5% 1 1 - Results and Discussion Present observations are based on the studies carried out in a terrarium, a seminatural device. Being nocturnal hedgehogs emerged at dusk and remained active for about 5 to 6 hrs and retired to their burrows at mid night. The little activity observed in the wild out side the burrow during the day was mainly that of 2-3 lactating females in months of April, May and June. It seems that the energy demands of the lactating females forced them to become active during the day. The nocturnal activity pattern was not affected by the presence or absence of moonlight. The animals spent most of their time underground in small burrows invariably under a hedge or dense I 446 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) bush, but never in open ground and loose soil. The burrows were simple and straight or L-shaped with single opening and were usually 60-90 cm in length. Only one individual occupied a burrow during February, except during breeding season (March to August) when the female lived with her offsprings. To accommodate the offsprings the female widened the blind distal end of the burrow. Animals tended to dig burrow at dusk or afterwards. Most of the burrow openings were on the slopes. In soft soil Hemiechinus auritus could dig about 10 cm in 5 minutes, in a manner similar to that reported in moles (Hisaw 1923) using their forelegs and hind legs. There was a marked seasonality in trapping success. The peak was noticed in summer (April- July) while in winter months (December-February) the trapping success was least (Table 2). During May and early August most of the females were trapped with their litters. One female was accompanied with 4 to 6 young. The number of young trapped during different months of a calendar year is given in Table 2. The maximum body weight was in summer (March-July) and the minimum was in winter (December-January). The average difference in body weight of the animals between summer and winter was 12%. These differences were not found to be statistically significant (Student’s ‘t’ test, P>0.01), probably due to large variation between the individuals. The maximum body weight in summer is probably a reflection of greater food availability. The females lost much of their weight after parturition. The presence of a male reduced the weight of female in a captivity or under restriction of food. It seemed that male was dominant over the female in captivity (Personal observations. Unpublished). Acknowledgements This study was financially supported by Department of Science and Technology (SR/SY/L- 15/91) to A. Kumar. March 18, 1994 A. KUMAR S.D. PANDEY Department of Zoology, Christ Church College, Kanpur. Reference Hisaw, F.L. (1923): Observations of the burrowing habits of mole (Scalopus aguaticus machrinoides ). J. Mamm., 4: 79-88. 3. DO SHREWS PREY UPON RATS? Grey musk shrews, Suncus murinus (L.) are often found in houses, poultry farms, grain stores, shops and fields in Asia and Europe. Grey musk shrews feed on household insects such as cockroaches and crickets, as well as on other invertebrates, small amphibians and reptiles (Annon. 1990). The range of this species is increasing. Prater (1980) has described grey musk shrews as “very intolerant of rats” and are believed to repel the rats by their strong and obnoxious body odour. We captured one grey musk shrew in a multicatch rat trap (wonder traps, Jalgaon) on 3 December 1992 along the fields of Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana (30°56' N, 75°52' E and c. 247 m above MSL), India. This shrew had apparently consumed a gerbille, Tatera indica (Hardwicke) in the trap. From the size of the tail and other remaining parts the gerbille appeared to have been a juvenile. This apparent case of predation by the shrew on the rat was in a confined condition. In natural conditions the shrews might prey upon young and weak rats. On many earlier occasions, -we have trapped grey musk shrews in the multicatch rat traps but did not recover any rodent along with a shrew (unpublished data). We think, either the trapped rodents might have been consumed by the shrews or, probably, they avoided entering a trap that already contained a shrew. We hypothesize that the strong smell of musk emitted by shrews might be responsible for repelling adult rats and enable shrews to capture inexperienced young and diseased ones. This predatory capability of musk shrews towards rodents and potential of their musk as a rodent repellent needs to be investigated. November 8, 1993 M.S. SAINI V.R. PARSHAD Department of Zoology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 141 004, India. References Anonymous (1 990) rGrezimek’s Encyclopedia of Mammals. Vol. 1. Prater, S.H. (1990): The Book of Indian Animals. Bombay Natural pp. 494-495. New York McGraw-Hill Publishing Company. History Society, Bombay. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 91 Plate 1 Vasishta & Badwaik: Cynop terns sphinx gangeticus Indian short-nosed fruitbats clustered together forming a circle with their heads towards the centre of the circle. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES 447 4. AN UNUSUAL ROOST CHOICE BY THE INDIAN SHORT-NOSED FRUIT BAT, CYNOPTERUS SPHINX GANGETICUS (ANDERSON) (With a plate ) Two sub-species of Cynopterus sphinx have been recognised by Hill (1983). These are C.s. sphinx (Vahl) and C.s. gangeticus (Anderson). Not only are there some morphological differences between these two sub-species (C. s. sphinx being much smaller in size than C. s. gangeticus ), but they occur in different geographical localities. The former occurs in peninsular India while the latter in central and northern India. Both species are essentially arboreal, but there seems to be some difference between the two species regarding their adaptability to new roosting sites. C.s. sphinx has a variety of roosting sites such as ‘tents’ made among the dried drooping fronds, within the drooping clusters of strings of flowers and fruits of palm trees (Kitur palm) (Bhat and Kunz 1993), inside the foliage of creeper plants (Balasingh et al. 1993) and under the eaves of windows of large buildings. However, C.s. gangeticus does not normally roost anywhere except within the space amidst drooping dried fronds of palm trees in groups of 10 to 25 individuals. The bats fly away and take temporary refuge elsewhere only when the roost is disturbed. Our attention was drawn to two groups of C.s. gangeticus roosting on the main stem of an Ashoka tree (Saraca asoka). One group had seven individuals and the other five. In both groups the bats were clustered closely together and were deposed in such a manner that they formed nearly a circle with their heads towards the center of the circle (Plate 1). rrhe thick foliage of Ashoka tree hid them from all sides except from below, and hence they escaped being spotted by crows, kites etc. The fact that these groups were noticed in the same place for several days suggests that C.s. gangeticus adopts thickly foliaged Ashoka tree for new roosts occasionally. The close huddling of the bats in such a location is, probably, an adaptation to conserve heat. The photographs were taken for us by Mr. Vilas Mangrulkar to whom we are thankful. January 9, 1994 S.G. VASISHTA N. BADWA1K Department of Zoology, Institute of Science, Nagpur 440 001. References Balasingh, J., S. Suthakar Isaac & R. Subbaraj (1993): Tent- Cynopterus sphinx (Chiroptera-Pteropodidae). First Indian roosting by the frugivorous bat, Cynopterus sphinx (Vahl) in National Bat Research Conference. Abst. 1: 1 Southern India. Curr. Sci. 65 (5): 418. Hell, J.E. (1983): Chiroptera ft om Indo-Australia. Bull. Brit. Mus. Bhat, H.R. & T.H. Kunz (1993): Altered flower and fruit clusters of (Nat. Hist) - Bats (Mammalia)-, Zoology Series Vol. 45, No. the Kitur palm used as roosts by the short-nosed fruit bat, 3. 1-208. 5. NOTE ON THE BREEDING PERIOD OF PAINTED BAT (KERIVOULA P1CTA) Two live specimens of bright orange coloured bats were female had a small young one clinging on to its abdomen, brought to the Kerala Forest Research Institute on August Though this species is widespread in distribution, Prater 26, 1993, for identification. The bats were captured locally (1965) recorded that there is no information on the breeding from a banana plantation at Kannara, Trichur District, Kerala habits of the animal. Present observation of a mother with a State. The bats were identified as Kerivoula picta , the painted young, gives some indication on the breeding period of the bat. Roberts (1986) had reported this species as living among species, the dry leaves of longan tree (Nephelium longana — Sapindaceae). The present sighting of the bat among the dry December 20, 1993 K.K. RAMACHANDRAN leaves of banana and their resting posture merge very much E.A. JAYSON with the environment of the bright yellowish and dry banana Division of Wildlife Biology, Kerala Forest Research Institute, leaves. What is interesting is that the bat were a pair and the Peechi 680 653. References Roberts, TJ. (Ed.) (1986): Encyclopedia of Indian Natural History. Prater, S.H. (1965): The Book of Indian Animals. Bombay Natural Ed. R.E. Hawkins, Bombay Natural History Society. Oxford History Society. Bombay. 324 p. University Press, Delhi, pp. 42-45. 448 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) 6. TOXICITY OF DIFETHIALONE (LM-2219) AGAINST MERIONES HURRIANAE UNDER NO-CHOICE FEEDING TEST Introduction Rodents are, by and large, the most destructive of vertebrates to agricultural production in India (Barnett and Prakash 1975). Their high adaptability has made it difficult to control their population. Anticoagulants are the primary means a control of rodents world wide (Marsh 1977, Brooks et al. 1980, Mukthabai et al. 1981). A recently developed anticoagulant rodenticide. desert gerbil. The acceptability of the bait was good which shows cent per cent mortality in both the sexes. The anticoagulant is effective against the house rat, Rattus rattus (Arora et al. 1992). The observations reveal that the mean days to death for the males (n=12) is 5.5 days and for females (n=12) 5.0 days. Evidently, the females were more susceptible. The symptoms of poisoning include sluggishness. Table 1 EFFICACY OF DIFETHIALONE (0.00093%) BAIT AGAINST MERIONES HURRIANAE (JERDON) NO-CHOISE FEEDING TEST Sex Average body Exposure Mean poison Mean active Mortality Days to death weight (gms) period (hours) bait intake (gm/kg b.wt) ingredient (mg/kg b.wt) % Mean Ranges Male (n = 12) 95.0 ± 25.25 24 79.285 ± 9.37 0.71 ± 0.08 100 5.5 3-8 Female (n = 12) 72.5 ± 2.52 24 78.75 ±4.13 0.70 ± 0.03 100 5.0 5 Difethialone was tested for its toxicity on the Indian desert gerbil, Meriones hurrianae (Jerdon). The chemical is a product patented by LIPHA of France. Materials and Methods Poison trials were conducted in the laboratory using the anticoagulant-Difethialone against Meriones hurrianae. Twelve individually caged rodents for each sex were tested. The poison bait of 0.00093 per cent concentration was prepared using Difethialone (liquid 1.25 gm/htre), Bajra flour, and 2 per cent sugar and 2 per cent groundnut oil as additives. Freshwater was given ad libitum. Single day exposure was given with the above prepared bait. The remaining bait was weighed next day and computations done as in Table 1. Fresh rat feed was provided thereafter until death. The symptoms of Difethialone poisoning were recorded. Results and Discussion The results of the toxicity test (Table 1) indicate that Difethialone is a potent rodenticide against the Indian Traces of blood were observed in the nose and claws after 3rd day of poisoning. Subcutaneous hemorrhage was noted in the necropsied animals. It is concluded from the above results that Difethialone is highly effective at 0.0093 per cent concentration against M. hurrianae. This is further confirmed by Lechevin (1987) who has reported its efficacy against two native field rodents of Europe (Arvicola sp. and Pity mis sp.) Acknowledgements We are grateful to Prof. D. Jacob, Head of the Department of Zoology, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur for providing necessary facilities. The free samples of Difethialone supplied by M/s Russels India Ltd. are gratefully acknowledged. May 21, 1994 Y. SAXENA KANAN SAXENA Department of Zoology, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur - 302004, India. References Arora , K.K., J. Lal, V. Kumar, Babu Ram & SoneLal (1992): rodenticide against house rat, Rattus rattus. Rodent Evaluation of Difethialone (LM-2219), a new anticoagulant Newsletter, ICAR, Vol. 16(4): 10-11. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES 449 Barnett, S.A. & I. Prakash (1975): Rodents of Economic Importance in India. Amold-Heinemann, New Delhi and London, pp. 1-175. Brooks, J.E., P.T. Htun & H. Naing (1980): The suceptibility of Bandicota bengalensis from Rangoon, Burma to several anticoagulant rodenticides. J. Hyg. Camb. 84(1): 127-135. Marsh, R.E. (1977): Bromadiolone, a new anticoagulant rodenticide. EPPO Bull. 7: 495-502. Mukthabai, K., M.K. Krishna Kumari & S.K. Majumdar (1981): Toxicity of calciferol, warfarin and their combinations to Rattus norvegicus (albino) and Rattus rattus. Pestic Sci. 9: 44-50. Leschevin, J.C. (1987): Laboratory and field tests on difethialone for the control of field rodents (A rvicola terrestris and Pitymys duodecimostatus). Compilation of Abstracts, EPPO Conf. on Rodents, Rome, pp. 45. 7. CROP PROTECTION FROM BANDICOTA BENGALENSIS BY THE TRIBALS IN SOUTHERN RAJASTHAN Bandicota bengalensis is nocturnal and remains active throughout the night. Extensive damage is caused by them to the crop at various stages, right from the sowing stage. It takes heavy toll, specially of wheat crop in many localities in southern Rajasthan. Bhils, the tribals of southern Rajasthan, check crop damaging activities of this rodent by a simple ingenuous method. Many ‘rattlers’, which are locally called ‘Jalra’ are erected at different points in the field, especially towards the periphery to frighten the night raiding bandicoots. A ‘rattler’ is prepared with locally available plant material. A bamboo pole about 2 to 3 metre in length is erected firmly in the field. Then a large sized teak 8. RODENT DAMAGE AND Introduction Rice is the major crop in Bangladesh and is cultivated over 10.1 million ha and for this reason field research was initiated to evaluate the impact of rats on rice crops. The effects of various levels of rat damage on rice yields were examined by means of mechanically cutting stems. The principal rodent pests in Bangladesh rice fields are burrowing Muridae, primarily the lesser bandicoot rat; Bandicota bengalensis (Gray). In addition to what it consumes during the growing season, the rodents dig elaborate underground burrow system and store large amount of grains (Poche et al. 1982). Swink et al. (1968) estimated 10% yield reduction in rice in the Philippines due to rat damage while Posamentier (1981) found 3.5% of damage of rice by the same species in Bangladesh. It has been calculated that at least 21 kg of food grain could be consumed by a rat annually (Husain and Siddiqi 1977). The objectives of this study were to quantify the extent of rodent damage in rice (T. Aman, HYV), identify the rodent species causing most of the damage, and determine the effect of stem cutting on the yield. The ( Tectona grandis) leaf is hung at upper end of the bamboo pole using a 0.50 to 0.80 m long peel strip, procured from leaf-rachis of a wild date palm ( Phoneix sylvestris). After drying, the striated leaf strikes on the bamboo pole and produces a sort of rat-tat sound which is said to be effective to keep the nocturnal rodents away from the crop field. Besides this, the owls also use the bamboo pole-tips as a perch and help in rodent control. March 18. 1994 SATTSH KUMAR SHARMA Range Forest Officer, Aravalli Afforestation Programme, Jhadol(F.), Udaipur (Raj.) 313 702, India. YIELD REDUCTION IN RICE stem is defined as that portion of the plant that gives rise to a panicle (i.e. seed head). Existing methods for damage assessments in rice are few; however, Posamentier (1981) examined rice losses in Bangladesh and Bindra and Sagar (1968) conducted similar studies in India. Material and Methods To determine the loss of rice by the field rats, experiments were conducted in villages Boyra, Achintapur and Kazirshimla of district Mymensingh. For rat damage assessment 360 plots, i.e. about 36.93 ha of agricultural lands were studied. To assess the yield reduction of crop ten plots were marked in the three study villages during the tilling, booting, dough and mature stages. Five steps along a diagonal line were paced off and a 100 x 50 cm wooden frame was used to sample the plants. Cut and uncut stems within the frame were counted and recorded. Data were analysed to determine per cent of crop damage using the formula of Posamentier (1984). The effect of damage on yield was evaluated by cutting the normal mature stem on 10 m2 quadrants spaced equidistant on the field diagonally. This process was repeated 450 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) in all the study villages. Panicles were threshed by hand, sun dried for 8 hours and weighed to the nearest g. To get the weight of grains per stem, the total weight of the grain was divided by the number of stems (Gomez 1972). Results and Discussion Destruction of tillers by rats during the vegetative stage of rice was slight in all areas sampled. The rat damage did not increase appreciably until about the booting stage and the maximum loss was experienced in the mature stage. The damage in the tillering stage of the crop was not more than 0.60% of all stems cut (Table 1). The effect of damage on yield showed that at the tillering stage cutting of stem had little impact on the yield because of compensatory growth of the stems. Rat damage in rice was 2.32 per cent on an average increased to 2.15% at the booting stage and the yield reduction of grains was 54.25 kg/ha. During the dough stage the average grain loss was 34.42 kg/ha accounting for a total damage of 1.23% of stem. This extent increased at the mature stage and the loss of stem was 5.41%. The average grain loss of this stage was 121.93 kg/ha. The average loss of grain in all the study villages was 55.13 kg/ha. The highest yield reduction was at Boyra than at Achintapur and Kazirshimla (Table 1). Analysis of variance resulted significant F (P<0.01) and DMRT revealed that grain reduction of rice caused at mature stage was the highest (PcO.Ol). The study showed that the maximum number of B. bengalensis was trapped during the months of November and December, i.e. the harvesting period of Table 1 RAT DAMAGE ASSESSMENT IN RICE FIELDS (T. AMAN, HYV) AT DIFFERENT GROWTH STAGES Stages Villages No. of tillers/ha % of tiller damaged Area studied (ha) Grain loss (kg/ha) Uncut Cut Tillering Boyra 2532700 10700 0.40 2.51 10.16 Achintapur 1888700 10700 0.60 5.50 10.27 Kazirshinila 1973700 9600 0.50 2.85 9.31 Booting Boyra 2724000 55900 2.02 2.66 53.10 Achintapur 2560600 81-700 3.10 4.30 78.43 Kazirshmila 2396100 32200 1.32 3.65 31.23 Dough Boyra 3143300 31100 0.98 1.24 29.54 Achintapur 3646400 25800 0.71 0.75 24.76 Kazirshmila 2516500 50500 1.99 2.74 48.98 Mature Boyra 2420900 159100 6.91 3.12 151.14 Achintapur 2333800 131100 5.32 3.86 125.85 Kazirshimla 2234900 93500 4.01 4.01 88.82 4-Stage X 2.32 55.13 in the study areas with the maximum in the mature stage (Table 1). In contrast to this, a total of 10% damage was assessed by Swink et al. (1968) while Srivastava and Pandey (1968) found a total 4.04% damage by field rats. Once the soil became dry, B. bengalensis moved into the fields, established burrow system and began storing panicles. In general as the stem density in the field increased, rat damage also increased concomitantly. Damage was severe in the immediate proximity of the burrow openings. Brooks et al. (1982) and Poche et al. (1982) found similar results in their studies. At the tillering stage of rice the yield reduction of grain was 9.91 kg/ha corresponding to the per cent damage of 0.50% of stem. This per cent reduction T. Aman. Other rodents, particularly Rattus rattus, Mus booduga and B indica were found in low proportion. Acknowledgements I thank Professor Kazi Zaker Husain, Department of Zoology, University of Dhaka for his suggestions during the research work. He is also grateful to Professor Mosharraf Hossain, Department of Entomology, Bangladesh Agricultural Unviersity, Mymensingh for critical revision of the manuscript. I am indebted to Bangladesh University Grants Commission for financial assistance. November 10, 1993 M.R. KARIM Department of Zoology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES 451 References Bindra, O.S. & P. Sagar (1968): Study on the losses to wheat, Groundnut and Sugarcane crops by the field rats in the Punjab. Int. Symp. Bionomics and control of rodents. Kanpur, India, 28-31 pp. Brooks, J.E., P. Sultana & R.M. Poch£ (1982): Damage by Bandicota bengalensis to growing wheat in Bangladesh and method of control. BARI, Joydevpur Tech. Rep. 15 pp. Gomez, K.A. (1972): Techniques for field experiments with rice. Int. Rice. Res. Inst Los Banos, Laguno, Philippines, 46 pp. Husain, K.Z. & N.A. Siddiqi (1977): Bionomics of the lesser Bandicoot rat, Bandicota bengalensis (Gray). Bangladesh J. Zool. 5(2): 113-116. Poche, R.M., M.Y. Mian, M.E. Haque&P. Sultana (1982): Rodent damage and burrowing characteristics in Bangladesh wheat 9. A NOTE. ON NEST BUILDING, BEHAVIOUR Among the two members of the family Suidae, the wild pig (Sus scrofa) is the only representative from South India. Prater (1980 The Book of Indian Animals) reported the nest building behaviour of wild pig as follows: “the mother shelters them in a heaped-up mass of grass or branches which she builds before she litters”. During the field studies in Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, while searching for indirect evidences of wild animals in a three year old teak (Tectona gradis ) plantation near Anappady, construction of an abandoned nest built by a wild pig was studied. The nest was built at the centre of a teak plantation of about 5 ha in area. The whole plantation was covered by the weed Chromolena odorata growing more than 2 m in height. The basal portion of the nest was lined with uprooted grass to a height of 10-15 cm. Along with this, fields. J. Wild L. manage. 46 (1): 139-147. Posamentier, H. (1981): Observation on three species of rodents in deep water rice in Bangladesh. Z. Angew Zool. 64(2): 155- 167. Posamentier, H. (1984): Rodent pest, their biology and control in Bangladesh. Bangladesh German P.P. Programme, Khamarbari, Farmgate, Dhaka. Ill pp. Srivastava, A.S.& R.C. Pandey (1968): Technique for assessing damage to crops caused by field rats. Proc. Int. Symp. Bionomics and control of rodents. Kanpur, India, 32-34 pp. Swink, N., K. Lavoie, P.T. Alfonso, J.P. Sumangil & N. Kverno (1968): Rat damage in relation to rice development. Ann. Prog. Rept. of Rodent Research centre, Los Banos, Laguno, Philippines. 9: 4-9. OF WELD BOAR ( SUS SCROFA LINNAEUS) eight pieces of teak branches and some Chromolena odorata twigs of one metre length were also found in the basal portion. The nest had an area of 2 m in diametre. The entrance to the nest was in the form of a tunnel of one metre height. The middle portion of the nest had a depression to the extent of 75 cm diametre and depth of 20 cm. The nest was positioned in between two live three year old teak saplings. Even after elaborate search, no other nest was found in the teak plantation. Water was available within a distance of 200 m from the nest. March 24, 1994 E.A. JAYSON Division of Wildlife Biology, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, Kerala - 680 653. 10. ON THE RECOVERY OF A FOETUS FROM A SPERM WHALE PHYSETER MACROCEPHALUS LINNAEUS STRANDED AT CHETLAT ISLAND, LAKSHADWEEP Though James and Panicker (1990) listed the strandings of the sperm whale 17 times from the Indian Seas no foetus was found in any of them. Usually sperm whales stranded are cut open to see whether any ambergris is present. This is the first time that a foetus was found in the body of a sperm whale stranded from the Indian Seas. On 15-8-1990 a female specimen of 9.5 m length with body girth of 12 m was stranded at the Southern extremity of Chetlat Island in the Lakshadweep group of Islands. Earlier sperm whales have been stranded thrice at Chetlat Island (James and Panicker, op. cit.). The foetus was a female measuring 3.5 m in length and 2.3 m in girth and was laying in an ob normal position inside the uterus and this could have probably caused the death and subsequent stranding of the whale. According to Berzin (1972) calving is almost round the year in sperm whale and the gestation period is 11-12 months. The largest embryos varied in length from 4.6 to 6.0 m and the smallest sucklings varied in length from 3.7 to 5.6 m. Average length at the time of birth is 4.0 to 4.2 m. Judging from the size of the present foetus we can say that it was near time. We are most grateful to Dr. P.S.B.R. James, Director, Central Marine fisheries Research Institute, Kochi for his kind interest and encouragment. April 18, 1994 D.B. JAMES Tuticorin Research Centre of CMFRI, Tuticorin 628 001. K.C.S. PANICKER Department of Fisheries, Chetlat Island 682 554. 452 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) References Berzin, A.A. (1972): The Sperm Whale. In: A.V. Yabolokov (Ed.) James, D.B. & K.C.S. Panicker (1990): On a sperm whale landed Israel programme for scientific translations. 1-394. (Translated at Kalpeni Island with notes on ambergris. Mar Fish. Inf or. from Russian). Serv., T.E. Ser. No. 104: 11-14. 11. FIRST RECORD OF THE ROSY PELICAN PELECANUS ONOCROTALUS LINNAEUS IN KERALA The Rosy Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus Linnaeus is recorded as a common winter visitor to Pakistan and North India, from Punjab to Assam, Andhra Pradesh and Madras. But, so far there is no record of this species from Kerala. In the course of our routine field observation at Vellimukkuchali, a swampy area in Tirur taluk, Malappuram district, Kerala, on the morning of 18th December 1992 we noted eight birds floating in water. At first sight itself it was very much evident that they were pelicans. Since we have had field guides with us we identified them as Rosy Pelicans. Rose tinged white colour, long characteristic beak and marginal black feathers (primaries and secondaries) in the wings showed that Kerala got an addition to its list of birds. We observed them for about two hours. After two hours they flew upward, made 3-4 rounds there and slowly flew away from our sight. The locals told us that the pelicans had arrived in the early morning that day. After a few days we received information on the sighting of the same species from Arkulum lake, Trivandrum. Recently, Kerala is being revisited by hitherto unrecorded birds. For example, we observed and photographed the Flamingos last year on 9th January 1991 at Ponnani. February 5, 1993 TYTUS T. JACOB P. PRAMOD K. GANGADHARAN M. MAHESH Department of Zoology, University of Calicut, Kerala 673 635. 12. ROSY PELICANS PELECANUS ONOCROTALUS LINN., IN THE HIMALAYA In May of 1992 I was resting at over 3050 m on the Patalsu mountain which is a 4250 m fermination of a spur south of the prominent Sheeti Dhar range at the head of the Beas Valley separating the southern valleys of Kulu from the arid trans montane regions of Lahaul and Ladakh beyond. It was a brilliant morning and updrafts had just started with the first clouds forming above each column of rising air. A wonderful day for large gliding birds like vultures, lammergeyers, eagles and storks and pelicans. Just as I thought of pelicans, I saw a tight group of eleven white birds which indeed were Rosy Pelicans! I must have watched them circling and going higher and higher for full fifteen minutes till, as mere specks they flew west parallel to the mountain range. This is perhaps what they normally do in their migration from the plains of India towards Central Asia. For great gliders like the Pelicans the snow range is in striking distance from the lowlands and the series of updrafts along the western flanks of the Dhauladhar Range overlooking Kangra and Punjat convenient for covering immense distances. As far as I know there are no records of Pelicans migrating across Tibet. November 3, 1993 LAVKUMAR KHACHER 646, Vastunirman, Gandhinagar 382 022. 13. SOUTHERNMOST RECORD OF COMMON POCHARD AYTHYA FERINA (LINNAEUS) AND TUFTED DUCK AYTHYA FULIGULA (LINNAEUS) IN MADURAI DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU While conducting midwinter waterfowl counts during 1990 and 1991 Common Pochard Aythya ferina and Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula were sighted on three irrigation tanks. During 1990 the birds were sighted on Vellari Kanmai tank, about 20 km from Madurai and Urappanur Tank, a few kilometres south of Madurai. During 1991 about 400 Common Pochards were sighted in Kunnatur irrigation tank, east of Madurai. Madurai is out of the known range of both the species. According to Ali and Ripley (1983) the species is seen decreasingly southward in the peninsula, irregularly to Karnataka and not recorded further south. Their southernmost record is from Pondicherry (Perennou 1989). The Tufted Duck was recorded as occurring in Madurai District (Nichols 1945) but there does not seem to be any record after that. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES 453 This is possibly the southernmost record of Common May 28, 1994 T. BADRI NARAYANAN Pochard and the second record of the occurrence of Tufted 6, Nanmai Thaeuvae Koil Street, (NearWest Masi Street), Pochard after 45 years in its southern most range. Madurai 625 001, Tamil Nadu (India). References Ali, S. & S.D. Ripley (1983): Handbook of the Birds of India and Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 45(2): 122. Pakistan (Compact Edition). Oxford University Press, Delhi. Perennou, C. (1 989): Southern Wintering range of some water birds. Nichols, K.G. (1945): Occurrence of Birds in Madurai District. J. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 86 (2):247-248 14. RARE CRANE OF INDIA On 2nd of December 1992 while entering within the Bhutanghat Forests of the core area of Buxa Tiger Reserve a pair of Blacknecked crane Grus nigricollis Przevalski was sighted, on a freshly harvested paddy field. This large crane having a black neck, and a milky white body, breeds in Ladakh. The reports of the wintering of these cranes were so far known only from the upper reaches of Bhutan and the hills of Arunachal Pradesh not below 2000 m altitude. The pair sighted in Mainabari Beat of Buxa Tiger reserve near Bhutanghat Forest is more or less a Bhabar tract having an altitude of 200 m. only. The Director of the International Crane Foundation, George Archibald has confirmed that the photograph of the crane taken within Buxa Tiger Reserve as of the Blacknecked Crane and stated that it as an extremely unusual drop in the wintering habits for the species to be found in the Indian plains. Interestingly enough the local villagers confirmed its arrival every year during this period and the Wild Life Conservator Shri M.K. Nandi, has also confirmed sighting of this species at Chapramari sanctuary of West Bengal which again is a bhabar area. This first report of a Blacknecked Crane in West Bengal; as well as from any place at such low altitude during the winter season is noteworthy. Let us hope for sighting this bird every year in Buxa Tiger Reserve. April 10, 1993 P. SANYAL Buxa Tiger Reserve, Alipurduar Court 736 122, Jalpaiguri, W. Bengal. 15. COMMENTS ON THE NOTE OCCURRENCE OF BLACK TERN CHUDON1AS NIGER (LINNAEUS) AT POINT CALIMERE BY VIVEK MENON The occurrence of black tern Chlidonias niger at Point Calimere was earlier reported by Abdulali and Ambedkar (1983) and Natarajan and Balasubramanian (1990). Its further occurrence at Point Calimere had been confirmed under the Bird Migration studies conducted by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) by ringing 48 individuals of the same species by me between 1989-1991. Also 17 individuals were ringed at Kaliveli Lake and one from Table 1 MEASUREMENTS OF CHLIDONIAS NIGER Wing Bill (from feather) Tarns Tail Outer Central Fork n 201-226 25-30 15-18 69 57 10-16 38 (Cramp 1985) 205-210 23-26 _ 70-76 64-66 6-10 3 (Natarajan & Balasubramanian 1990) 194-222 23-27 17-22 62-82 _ _ 48 (Balachandran, unpub 1.) 202 28.5 17 (Mohapatra, unpubl.) - 1 257 40 19 107 63 44 1 454 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) Pulicat Lake. As there is no specimen at the bnhs, the measurements of the species is not given in the handbook. However, the biometrics of three individuals ringed by Natarajan and Balasubramanian is the only available measurements for this species from India which fall within the range of the measurements given by Cramp (1985) with slight variation in tarsus length (Table 1). The measurements obtained from the remaining individuals tallies with the measurements of Cramp (loc. cit.) with slight variations. These slight variations may be due to the differences in the measurements of the museum and live specimens. But the measurements given by Vivek Menon is no way in the close ranges of this species, except the tarsus. For example wing, bill, and tail measurements exceeded the maximum ranges by 31 mm, 10 mm and 28 mm respectively. The fork (the difference between T1 (63) and T6 (107) is 44 mm, which is also too much for this species, as this species has almost a squarish tail with the maximum fork length of 16 mm. From the measurements the species mentioned in the note (JBNHS Vol. 89(1): 120) is not the black tern but probably a common tern Sterna hirundo. January 6, 1993 S. BALACHANDRAN Bombay Natural History Society, Hombill House, Dr. Salim Ali Chowk, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Road, Bombay 400 023. References Abdulali, H. & V.C. Ambedkar (1983): Occurrence of the black tern Chlidonias niger (Linn.) in India. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 80: 640. Cramp, S. (ed.). (1985): The birds of the Western Palearctic. Vol. IV. Oxford University Press, London. Natarajan, V. & P. Balasubramanian (1990): Additional notes on the occurrence of black tern Chlidonias niger (Linn.) in India. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 87: 451-452. 16. FOREST EAGLE OWL (BUBO NIPALENSIS HODGSON) — A PREDATOR OF THE INDIAN GIANT SQUIRREL (RATU FA INDICA ) On 29 October 1992, at about 9.30 a.m., I was conducting a routine bird census along the trail across the evergreen Forests of Karian Shola National Park (10°28'N; 76°50'E) near Top Slip, Tamil Nadu. Hearing a commotion ahead, I saw a Forest Eagle Owl flying across the trail a little distance from me, and alighting on a small tree. Dangling from its talons was the partially eaten carcass of an Indian Giant Squirrel. For nearly five minutes the owl remained perched there ignoring the ceaseless agitations by the many bulbuls and drongos around. Eventually the owl saw me and flew away deeper into the Forest, leaving the prey hanging on the limb. A couple of days later, the carcass was still there. The Forest Eagle Owl is an efficient predator against a variety of forest dwelling small to medium sized animals, a list of which is given by Ali and Ripley (1987). Since the Giant Squirrel does not feature in this list, and considering the endangered status of these squirrels, I decided that this rarely seen incident was worthy of recording. Incidentally, Borges (1986) reports a predation attempt on this squirrel by the Black Eagle (Ictinaetus malayensis ) a raptor which is seen regularly at the Karian Shola National Park. January 10, 1993 R. KANNAN Hombill Project, Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary, Top Slip 642 141, South India. References Ali, Salim & S.D. Ripley (1987): Compact Handbook of the Borges, Renee (19 86): Predation attempt by Blade Eagle (Ictinaetus birds of India and Pakistan. Second edition, p. 248. Oxford malayensis perniger) on Indian Giant Squirrel (Ratufa indica University Press, Delhi. elephinstonii). J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 83 (Suppl.): 203. 17. NOTES ON THE STATUS AND ECOLOGY OF THE CEYLON FROGMOUTH (BATRACHOSTOMUS MON1LIGER BLYTH) FROM THE ANA IM ALAI HILLS OF TAMIL NADU The status of the Ceylon Fromouth Batrachostomus moniliger was little known and was a cause for concern until the publication of Sugathan’s (1981, JBNHS 78: 309-316) in which he revealed that the bird exists in reasonable numbers in the state of Kerala. His surveys did not, however, cover the adjacent hill forests of Western Tamil Nadu from where no published information on the bird exists. This note throws light on its occurrence in Tamil Nadu and its status in the Anaimalai hills. Anecdotal information on the birds’ habits and habitat are also given. During 22 months of intensive field-work in the forests of Topslip (10°28' N; 76°51'E), seven birds were encountered MISCELLANEOUS NOTES 455 by chance in the following three different localities. All these sites lie within the Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary. L Karian Shola, 1 km from Topslip; Three birds (2 adults, 1 young). Seen regularly at roost between December 1991 and February 1993. 2. Varagaliar Shola, 24 km from Topslip: A pair, seen on 19 December 1992. 3. Seechali, c. 10 km from Topslip: A pair seen on 8 October 1992. These three areas are just between 0.2 to 2 km east of the Kerala border. The birds were seen in two very different habitats, i.e. evergreen forest undergrowth and dense bamboo jungle, adding support to Sugathan’s finding that their habitat choice is varied. The evergreen forest area is represented by tree species such as Carallia, Polyalthia, Mesua , Myristica, Alseodaphne and Garcinia. The bamboo forest is almost exclusively bamboo, but for occasional lofty trees like Terminal ia, Ptero carpus and Bombax. This Catholic nature of the Frogmouth’s habitat choice makes them less vulnerable to local extinction. This leaves room for optimism that the birds are less- specialised than once believed and may survive even in areas where the evergreen forests have been damaged. The Karian Shola birds were first seen at their roost on 29 December 1991 as a pair. This pair roosted in the same general area, (albeit with some brief disappearances), and mostly on the very same perch, until February of 1993, i.e. a period of 14 months. The pair appeared with a young bird in November 1992, which stayed with the parents for 2 months, till January 1993. The young bird would roost huddled and sandwiched between the parents. On one occasion, however, the young was seen roosting in a small plant some distance away. The roosting birds were perched between c. 2 to 4 m above the ground. They would flush only when almost stumbled upon. They appeared very tame, allowing close approach, and seemed unperturbed by camera bulbs going off close by. When approached too closely, i.e. within a metre so, the birds would open their mouth wide revealing the extraordinarily large gape and the small grey flap of a tongue. Evidently this is a threat gesture, hitherto unreported by other observers. The fact that seven of these cryptic, hard-to-find birds were recorded without actually searching for them, may mean that the bird may be much more common than is apparent. Sugathan (1981) also came to a similar conclusion after his extensive survey in Kerala. These notes on the ceylon Frogmouths’ habits, site- fidelity and parental care, although anecdotal, represent some of the first known information on this enigmatic bird. The Topslip area, with its convenient logistics, terrain and Frogmouth population, may be an ideal place to conduct a more detailed investigation of this species. I thank my tribal guide Natarajan, but for whose “Frogmouth-eye” this note would never have materialised. April 25, 1993 R. KANNAN Hombill Project, Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary, TopSlip-642 141, (Via) Pollachi, Tamil Nadu. 18. AN ALBINO MYNA ACRIDOTHERES TRISTIS (LINNAEUS) On 18th September, 1992, I was going from Malda to Raiganj. These two are well known towns of West Bengal. While I was in the midst of Itahar and Raiganj our car stopped near Durgapur (a village of the district Uttar Dinajpur). I observed there a white Myna walking and feeding on the insects and food grains near the road side accompanied by three normal coloured common mynas (Acrido there s tristis ). The albino was dusty white but the head was chocolate brown. Two brown stripes on each wing and on tail was clearly visible during flight. The colour of the legs and cheek was pinkish instead of yellow but the colour of the bill was yellowish. I had no doubt that the bird was a common myna (Acridotheres tristis ) and albino one due to lack of pigmentation. Its walking style and call was same as common myna’s. Before I could get some more details the bird flew away with its three companions. I have never heard or seen albinism in common myna. February 23, 1993 SAMIRA N JHA Panta Pally, P.O. Malda, West Bengal 732 101. 19. DISPERSED COMMUNAL ROOSTING IN COMMON MYNAS ACRIDOTHERES TRISTIS (LINNAEUS) Common Mynas Acridotheres tristis roost at night in large noisy assemblages in trees (Sengupta 1982). In these roosts, song can continue late into the evening and disturbances can lead to renewed singing throughout the night. In Singapore, this leads urban myna roosts to be regarded as troublesome on account of the noise (Hails 1985). Prior to entering the roost site, Common Mynas gather in pre-roost assemblies in open areas or on 456 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) buildings. Although this behaviour is the norm for Common Mynas (Ali and Ripley 1972, Sengupta 1982), and occurs on the main islands of the Seychelles (Greig- Smith 1982), Feare (1976a) recorded an instance on Bird Island (70 ha) Seychelles, where they did not roost communally at night. During a study of Common Mynas on Fregate Island (1200 ha), Seychelles, between 31 January and 12 February 1992, we found that these birds failed to form a large and noisy communal roost and here describe an hitherto unrecorded type of night time roosting for this species. Fregate Island is roughly ovoid and hilly but on the north-east coast is a plateau of about 10 ha. The coastal fringe of the plateau is a grass airstrip while the inland part is the main area of cultivation on the island. The Fregate Island myna population comprises about 300 birds (Feare and Allan unpublished). During this study, observations of nest-building and examination of the gonads of a small sample of birds suggested that breeding was about to commence. Singing birds, all apparently paired and attending nest cavities, were widely distributed over the island during the day but the highest density was on the north-east plateau. Some mynas roosted in tree cavities at night but in the late afternoon and evening many were seen flying from all parts of the island to the north-east plateau and were seen returning to their nest sites shortly after dawn. During the afternoon mynas gathered on the airstrip, especially on windless days when insects were abundant there. Up to 180 mynas were recorded on the airstrip, suggesting that most of the island’s population gathered there in a pre-roost assembly. They fed and also displayed, with members of pairs bowing and giving short bouts of song, and pairs also indulged in chases. At dusk, mynas flew into the crowns of coconut Cocos nucifera trees on the inland part of the plateau. By 1845 h the birds had moved deep into the crowns among the fruits and were not visible, and by 1900 h the roosting birds were silent. However, only 2-4 birds flew into each tree so that the entire roost was dispersed over 3-4 ha of the coconut plantation. This dispersed and comparatively silent roosting has not previously been described and contrasts with this species’ more usual roosting behaviour. The reasons for this dispersed system of roosting on Fregate Island are not clear but we suggest three possibilities: a lack of predators, reduced need for information on food availability, and a response to large numbers of roosting seabirds. Fregate Island has no avian predators (apart from scarce palaearctic migrant raptors) and the only terrestrial predators, two species of snake, are unlikely to be able to take full grown mynas. If predation is a factor that promotes dense communal roosting (Eiserer 1984), the absence of predators on Fregate Island could alow the more dispersed roosting system observed, assuming that there were other advantages in dispersal or disadvantages in dense aggregation. On smal oceanic islands, the daily movements of mynas could be such that each bird could survey the food resources over much of the island. For example, Kang (1992) found that radio-tagged Common Mynas in Singapore ranged over about 0.25 sq.km, while on fregate Island our observations showed that birds from most of the island flew to the pre- roost assembly on the airstrip. Under these circumstances, mynas may not need information about food distribution which Ward and Zahavi (1973) considered to be available through communal roosting. The mechanism of presumed information transfer in roosts is not known, however, and some information might still be available in dispersed roosts. Finally, the dispersed roosting may be a means of avoiding the large numbers of seabirds, mainly White Terns Gygis alba and Black Noddies Anous tenuirostris, that also roosted at night (and for much of the day) on Fregate Island. Avoidance of seabirds could be advantageous for two reasons. First, roosting seabirds produce large quantities of droppings which can impair the plumage quality of birds whose feathers become soiled (Yom-Tov 1979). Second, seabird assemblages can be sources of heavy ectoparasite infestations which can adversely affect avian hosts* (Feare 1976b). On Fregate Island, however, mynas could avoid seabirds by roosting further inland away from the coastal plateau, where seabirds roost at lower density. None of the above explanations is entirely satisfactory in explaining the dispersed roosting of Common Mynas on Fregate Island. However, these observations, and those on the absence of communal roosting on Bird Island (Feare 1976a), suggest that Common Mynas exhibit some flexibility in their roosting behaviour and that studies of this species could be instructive in elucidating the advantages of communal roosting behaviour. Common Mynas have been introduced to many oceanic islands (Lever 1987) and studies on islands of different sizes, predator pressures, food availabilities and distributions, and climates might indicate correlates of different roosting tactics. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES 457 December 23, 1992 C.J. FEARE1 1 Central Science Laboratory (MAFF), J.R. ALLAN1 Tangley Place, Worplesdon, Surrey GU3 3 LQ, U.K. A GRETTUN2 2 International Council for Bird Preservation, Fregate Island, Seychelles. References AliS. & S.D. Ripley (1972): Handbook of the birds of India and Pakistan. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Feare, C.J. (1976a) : Communal roosting of the mynah Acridotheres tristis. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 73: 525-527 . Feare, C.J. (1976b): Desertion and abnormal development in a colony of sooty terns infested with virus -infected ticks. Ibis 118: 112-115. Greig-Smtih, P.W. (1982): Behaviour of birds entering and leaving communal roosts of Madagascar Fodies Foudia madagascariensis and Indian Mynalis Acridotheres tristis. Ibis 124: 529-534. Hails, C.J. (1985): Bird pests, management techniques and the status of bird pests in Singapore. J. Singapore Nat. Acad. Sci. 14: 15-23. Kang, N. (1992): Radio tel erne try in an urban environment — a study of mynas (Acridotheres spp.) in Singapore. In: I.M. Priede & S.M. Swift (eds) Wildlife telemetry. Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Radiotelemetry. Chichester: Ellis Harwood. Lever, C. (1987): Naturalized birds of the World. Harlow: Longman. Sengupta, S. (1982): The Common Myna. S. (hand & Co., New Delhi. Ward, P. & A. Zahavi (1973): The importance of certain assemblages as “information centres” for food finding. Ibis 775:517-534. Yom-Tov, Y. (1979): The disadvantage of low positions in communal roosts: an experiment to test the effects of droppings on plumage quality. Ibis 121: 331-333. 20. FLYCATCHING BY SUNBIRDS NECTARINIA ASIATICA (LATHAM) I happened to spend a week at Vazhachal R.F. (Trissur District, Kerala) and was able to observe a rather remarkable behaviour among sunbirds. The immediate environs of our quarters were mostly teak plantations, highly degraded secondary forest and a small riparian patch fringing the river. Here by the river side stood a large Xylia xylocarpa tree, the canopy of which was more or less completely draped with a climber (species unidentified) in bloom. The blossoms attracted large numbers of insects. Four Purple sunbirds (Nectarinia asiatica ) — three males in eclipse plumage and a solitary female were seen on the tree. Every few seconds one of them would launch an aerial sally, catch an insect and return to its perch. The method of capture was exactly in the typical flycatcher and the sunbirds seemed as adept and dexterous as flycatchers. Some insects were pursued for considerable distances before they were captured. Close scrutiny through binoculars revealed that the sunbirds had a high percentage of success. I was able to observe this interesting behaviour on three consecutive days, namely 28-12-93, 29-12-93 and 30-12-93. All three occasions were on mornings at about 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. Frequently a pair of loten’s sunbird (Nectarinia lotenia) and a few Purple rumped sunbirds (Nectarinia zeylonica ) also joined the flycatching. Once I counted 1 1 sunbirds of the three species sallying for insects. While the loten’s runbird and Purple rumped sunbird left after a few minutes, the four Purple sunbirds stayed on assiduously intent on capturing insects. The birds were very vocal chittering excitedly. Rarely one bird chased away another, but otherwise no aggressive behaviour was observed. According to the handbook, Purple sunbirds do indulge in flycatching, but nothing is said regarding this habit of either loten’s or Purple rumped sunbird. At Vazhachal I could observe all three species actively engaged in flycatching. It was strange that not even once were they observed probing the flowers of the creeper for nectar, a favourite food of sunbirds. May 28, 1994 MANOJ V. NAIR 34, Thoppil Nagar, Kumarapuram, Trivandrum, Kerala 695 Oil. 21. NOTES ON FEEDING HABITS AND SOME MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES OF THE BOSTAMI TURTLE, ASPIDERETES NIGRICANS (ANDERSON) (With a text-figure) Introduction (kachim = turtle) after the Mohammedan shrine of Sultan al-Arefin Hazrat Bayazid Bistami (locally Aspideretes nigricans (Anderson), locally called pronounced Bostami) is endemic to Bangladesh. Little ‘gazari’, ‘madari’ or Bayazid Bostameer kachim is known about this species (see Khan 1980, 1982; 458 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) Table 1 ECONOMICS INVOLVED IN THE FEEDING OF THE BOSTAMI TURTLE Bread (kg.) Banana (no.) Offal (kg.) offered/ eaten Total cost sold eaten sold eaten sold eaten Daily sale (± SD) 65 ±47 24 1032 ± 313 271 0.63 _ _ Price (in Taka) 497 84 341 89 11.71 850 287 (in US $) 17 6 11 3 0.39 28 9 Yearly sale (± SD) 23,531 8,783 376,680 98,915 330.00 - - Price (in Taka) 181,405 67,708 124,304 32,642 5,610.00 311,319 105,960 (in US $) 6,047 2,257 4,143 1,008 187.00 10,377 3,532 Ahsan and Haque 1987, Ahsan et al. 1991, Ahsan and Saeed 1989, 1992). This paper deals with food habits and feeding behaviour and economics of the species and describes some morphological features. Study Area and Methods The species is restricted to a pond attached to a shrine situated about 6.5 km to the north-west of Chittagong town (22° 1 T N and 9 1 °09' E) . The study was carried out between January and July 1984. The food habits and feeding behaviour were observed from the main platform of the pond. Feeding was defmed when an individual was actually seen swallowing a food item. The time spent in major activities (feeding, resting, floating and moving) were noted for all focal animals. Feeding was noted for all focal animals (males and females separately) at intervals of 5 minute scan samples. Each animal in each scan was considered as one observation. Data were collected for 2 to 3 days a week from 0700 to 1 800 hours randomly and only feeding is described in this paper. Food assessment was done from the data collected by personal communication with the local shops. Some of the offal (mainly cattle lung), fed to the turtles, is brought from outside the shrine area. Hence the quantity fed has been estimated from visual observations. To find out their food preference we offered bread, banana, offal, puffed rice, cooked rice, and ‘chapati’ to the turtles and observed that all the food offered at a time to the turtles were not eaten except for offal. Morphological features have been described from live specimens observed in the pond. Osteological features were studied from carapace, plastron and skulls collected from the turtle burial ground on the bank of the Bayazid Bostami pond. Skeletal material has been deposited at the Museum of the Zoology Department, Chittagong University. Results Food Habits and Feeding Behaviour: The Bostami turtles are dependant on food supplied by visitors and pilgrims. The main food consists of bread, banana and offal; but puffed rice, chapati, and cooked rice and meat, are also occasionally offered. The turtles have no scheduled feeding time, but spend more time feeding in the mid-and late morning and afternoon. Thus they spend most of the day alternately feeding and resting above or under water. Proportion of time spent feeding; Of 15,933 observations (1,938 for feeding) during 633 scanning over 61 hours in 22 days, the turtle spent 12.2% of day time in feeding. The food involved in 37.4% of this time was bread, 26.3% on banana and 36.4% on offal. Male and female turtles spent 65.2% and 34.8%, 59.4% and 40.6% and 63.8% and 36.4% of time eating bread, banana, and offal respectively. It thus appears that males spend more time feeding than females. Economics of feeding: From the average amount of bread and banana sold daily from the 1 1 shops during January to July 1984, we estimated the yearly sale and cost (Table 1). The annual expenditure on food, including offal which are brought from outside, for the Bostami turtle is about Taka 3,11,153 (= US $ 10,372) (Table 1). The amount of food eaten, especially bread and banana, by the turtles was nearly the same as the amount of time they spent feeding and therefore, their cost was also estimated (Table 1). On the yearly ‘oros’ (death anniversary of the saint), 10-15 cattle are slaughtered and their offal are offered to the turtles, the meat being eaten by the pilgrims, but these have been excluded from the above estimate. Morphology of Aspideretes nigricans : Meylan (1987) has described the osteology of the species. What follows is a description of gross morphology. An ovipositing female was considered to be adult. Specimens MISCELLANEOUS NOTES 459 Table 2 MEASUREMENTS OF THE BOS TAM I TURTLE Parameters (cm) Adult male Adult female Curved width of carapace 52.85 ± 9.08 44.50 ± 11.05 Straight width of carapace 42.65 ± 8.27 34.64 ± 6.53 Shell height 12.28 ± 2.48 7.80 ± 1.03 (nesting) Straight length 54.89 ± 9.05 37.70 ± 4.08 (nesting) Shell height - 14.90 ± 2.47 (Non-nesting) Straight length - 60.25 ± 5.74 (Non-nesting) Distance between hind limb 17.37 ± 3.93 14.45 ± 2.61 (Nesting) 23.95 ±2.11 (Non-nesting) Maximum length of carapace 78 74 Maximum width of carapace 66 68 Maximum wet body weight (kg) 54 50 much smaller in body size than ovipositing adults were regarded as juveniles. At the caudal extremity of the carapace, the cartilaginous flap is much extended. The carapace is covered with soft skin. The carapace and plastron are connected by cartilaginous plates. Irrespective of sex (n=100), the minimum and maximum values of curved carapace length and width recorded were 39 and 78 cm (mean 62 ± 10.16), and 33 and 71 cm (mean 53.27 ± 9.27) respectively (Ahsan and Saeed 1989). Generally males are larger than females. Adult males and adult females can be differentiated by the following characters (mainly based on Ahsan and Saeed 1989): (1) Tail of females shorter than that of males, the female cloaca not protruding outside the carapace. (2) Carapace of females more rounded than that of males (see Table 2). (3) Males shell height is larger and smaller respectively than that of ovulating and non-ovulating females1 (see Table 2). (4) Mature males are larger and heavier than mature females2 (see Table 2). In the larger specimens a deep longitudinal groove is found in the middle of the carapace (common in large trionychids). Osteological Features: Carapace Plastron and Skull (Fig. la and lb): The carapace consists of eight pairs of costals plates. Among these, the last one is most developed and in contact throughout the median line. There are two neurals between the first pair of costals. The entire carapace is coarse and vermiculated. There are eight neurals in the middle of the costals. The 8th pair of costals touch each other and are connected with the pygal plate. Neurals broad on the cranial side and 1 For measurements given in items 3 and 4, ten specimens each of ovulating and non-ovulating females, and males were randomly chosen. 2 Measurements after Ahsan and Saeed 1989. Fig. la. Carapace and plastron of Aspideretes nigricans 1. Costal; 2. Neural; 3. Nuchal; 4. Pygal; 5. Entoplastron; 6. Epiplastron; 7. Hyoplastron; 8. Hypoplastron; 9. Xiphiplastron 460 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) 10 Fig. lb: Skull of Aspideretes nigricans 1. Basioccipital; 2. Basiphenoid; 3. Exoccipital; 4. Frontal; 5. Jugal; 6. Maxillary; 7. Opisthotic; 8. Parietal; 9. Palatine; 10. Praemaxillary; 11. Praefrontal; 12. Prootic; 13. Pterygoid; 14. Postfrontal; 15. Quadrate; 16. Quadrato jugal; 17. Supraoccipital; 18. Squamosal; 19. Vomer. become narrower caudally around the costals. The plastron is very large and more or less cross-shaped. Both cranial and caudal sides are blunt and parallel vertebrally. Epiplastra narrowly separated from each other in front of entoplastron. Hyoplastron and hypoplastron connected with each other looking like a single bone. Rostrum of the skull is a little longer than the diameter of the orbit.The inter-orbital region in the adult is as broad as the nasal fossa. The post-orbital arch is one half or less than the diameter of the orbit. The alveolar surface of the upper jaw is flat, with a well-defined median (maxillary) groove between them. Discussion Food (bread, banana, offal, puffed-rice, etc.) is brought daily by the visitors and pilgrims to the shrine and offered to the turtles from dawn to dusk. The proportion of time spent in feeding is not constant throughout the year, varying daily, depending on the number of visitors that offer food. The Bostami turtle prefer lung and/or other offal to items like bread, banana and puffed-rice. Turtles were recorded swallowing 25-30 medium sized pieces of lung (about 120 gm) within 10 mintues. It may be mentioned here that hundreds of people make a living in different ways from the shrine — some by selling turtle food, some as caretakers, and many others by begging from the visitors and pilgrims. Acknowledgements The Bayazid Bostami Dargah Committee allowed us to work on the turtle and Mr. M. S. Alam, Ex-Chairman, Department of Zoology, Chittagong University provided necessary facilities. Drs. David J. Chivers, Department of Anatomy, University of Cambridge, Ian Swingland, Durell MISCELLANEOUS NOTES 461 Institute of Conservation and Ecology, University of Kent, MA. Gofur Khan, Department of Zoology, Chittagong University and Indraneil Das, Madras Crocodile Bank Trust and an anonymous reviwer read the manuscript. We are grateful to all of them. Refer Ahsan, M.F. & M.N.Haque (1987): Bostami kachim. Bangla Academy Bijjnan Potrica (in Bangla). 13(2): 15-39. Ahsan, ME., M.N. Haque & C.M. Fugler (1991): Observations on Aspideretes nigricans (Anderson), a semi -domesticated endemic species of eastern Bangladesh. Amphibia Reptilia 12: 131-136. Ahsan, M.F. & M.A. Saeed (1989): The Bostami turtle, Trinonyx nigricans Anderson: population status, distribution, historical background and length-weight relationship. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 86(1): 1-6. March 21, 1994 MD. FARID AHSAN MD. NURUL HAQUE MD. ABU SAEED Department of Zoology, University of Chittagong, Chittagong 4331, Bangladesh. ENCES Ahsan, M.F. & M.A. Saseed (1992): Some aspects of the breeding biology of the Bostami turtle, Aspideretes nigricans. Hamadryad 17. Khan, M.A.R. (1980): A ‘holy’ turtle of Bangladesh. Hombill 4: 7-11. Khan, M.A.R. (1982): Chelonians of Bangladesh and their conservation. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc 79(1): 110-116. Meylan, PA. (1987): The phylogenetic relationships of soft-shelled turtles (Family Trionychidae). Bull. American Mus. nat. Hist. 186: 1-101. 22. OCCURRENCE OF THE INDIAN BLACK TURTLE MELANOCHELYS TRIJUGA IN SIMBALBARA SANCTUARY, HIMACHAL PRADESH The Indian black turtle or pond terrapin ( Melanochelys trijuga ) is one of the most common and widespread of the Indian freshwater turtles. Seven subspecies have been described, of which four are distributed within Indian limits, namely peninsular black turtle (M. t. trijuga). Cochin black turtle (M.l. coronata ), Bangladesh black turtle (M.t. indopeninsularis ) and Sri Lankan black turtle (M.t. thermalis ). The others, namely the Burmese black turtle (M.t. edeniana ), Parker’s black turtle (M.t. parkeri) and Thai black turtle (M.t. wiroti ) are distributed in Burma, Sri Lanka and Thailand, respectively. Daniel (1983) reported Melanochelys trijuga to be a peninsular species (below 20° N latitudes), with a possibility of it occurring further northwards. However, more recent surveys have revealed that it is distributed as far as north-west Bihar (Valmiki Nagar, West Champaran; Moll and Vijaya 1986), Nepal (Royal Chitwan National Park; Dinerstein et al. 1987) and in north-eastern India (Assam and Meghalaya; Das 1990). In this paper, we report the occurrence of Melanochelys trijuga in Simbalbara Sanctuary, Himachal Pradesh. Simbalbara is a 19 sq. km sanctuary which lies in the Shiwalik region (Outer Himalaya) in Sirmaur District of Himachal Pradesh. The sanctuary is covered by moist salbearing forests (Type 3C/C2 of Champion and Seth 1968) and is the westernmost limit of sal (Shorea robusta ) distribution in India. The valleys and low-lying reverine areas have sal forests dominated by Shorea robusta - Ougeinia ougeinensis — Buchanania lanzan associates, whereas, the hills have mixed forests dominated by Anogeissus latifolia — Acacia catechu — Boswellia serrata associates. On 18th April 1993, one of the authors (A.P.) collected a specimen of Melanochelys trijuga in the sal forest. This specimen was found about 10 m from a perennial stream at around 14:15 hours (alt. 450 m.s.l.). The turtle, a male was apparently feeding when first located in a thick layer of sal leaves. It was photographed and released. The posterior marginals were broken indicating a possible attempt of predation on this individual. The turtle excreted on being handled, the faeces showing remains of leaves, ants and crustaceans. The turtle was active and moving although the temperature was 41° C. On 6th June 1993, the second author (TJ.) collected and photographed another live specimen of the same species. This individual was also an adult male and was located around 5 m from a stream, covered with sal leaves. The specimen had a broken marginal scale and was found c. one kilometre upstream from where the former specimen was located. Its morphometric measurements were as follows: straight carapace length: 194 mm, straight carapace width: 142 mm and shell height: 68 mm. Enquiries with locals about the frequency of its sightings, revealed that this species is common all along the edge of the river and in the forested regions with streams and pools, in Simbalbara Sanctuary. The seven subspecies that are currently recognized, are differentiated predominantly on head coloration. Although the head was blackish in colour, no distinct characteristics for subspecific identification were observed. Moll and Vijaya (1986) had indicated that the subspecies M.t. indopeninsularis may be 462 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) distributed further north-west in parts of Uttar Pradesh and Nepal. Recently, Das (1991) has also recorded M.t. indopeninsularis from Corbett National Park (Uttar Pradesh). The specimens observed at Simbalbara Sanctuary are thus suspected to be M.t. indopeninsularis. Nonetheless, the presence of this species in Himachal Pradesh, northwest of its previously known range, is a record of considerable importance. We suggest that more survey and collection of specimens be made for allocation of subspecies and commenting further on their distribution. Acknowledgements We are grateful to the Director, Wildlife Institute of India and the Forest Department of Himachal Pradesh for permissions and logistic support extended to us during our research projects in Simbalbara Sanctuary. We thank Dr. S. Bhupathy for commenting on an earlier draft of this paper. May 24, 1994 ANAND PENDHARKAR Wildlife Institute of India, Post Box No. 18, Chandrabani, Dehra Dun 248 001. TOM JENNER Institute of Ecology and Resource Management, University of Edinburgh,West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JG, U.K. References Champion, HJ. & Seth, S.K. (1968): A revised survey of forest types of India. Manager of Publications, Government of India, Delhi. 404 pp. Daniel, J.C. (1983): The book of Indian Reptiles. Bombay Natural History Society, Bombay. 141 pp. Das, I. (1990): Distributional records for chelonians from Northeastern India. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 87(1 ): 91-97. Das, I. (1 991) : Colour guide to the turtles and tortoises of the Indian Subcontinent. R & A Publishing Ltd., Portishead. 133 pp. Dinerstein, E. , G.R. Zug & J.C. Mitchell (1987) : Notes on the biology of Melanochelys (Reptilia, Testudines, Emydidae). in the Terai of Nepal. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 84(3): 221-222. Moll, E.O. & J. Vuaya (1986): Distributional records for some Indian turtles J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 83(1): 57-62. 23. PRESENCE OF THE COMMON INDIAN BRONZEBACK SNAKE (DENDRELAPHIS TRISTIS) IN RAJASTHAN The common Indian bronzeback or Tree Snake (Dendrelaphis tristis ) is a highly arboreal snake, living almost entirely on trees and shrubs. According to Daniel (1983 THE BOOK OF Indian reptiles), it is distributed in peninsular India, Gangetic Plain and Himalayan foothills. It is worth noting that this snake is present in the southern part of Rajasthan State where it is locally caked Udani, i.e., one which flies. This name is derived from the rapid movement of the snake. This snake has been seen by me many times in the dense forests of Jhadol and Ogana Forest Ranges of Udaipur (North) Forest Division. These forests are rich in plant species. The major plant species are: Tectona grandis, Butea monosperma, Wrightia tinctoria. W. tomentosa, Diospyros melanoxylon , D. montana var. cordifolia, Santalum album , Saccopetalum tomentosa , Sterculia urens , Lannea coromandelica, Alangium salvifolium, Anogeissus latifolia, A. sericea, Acacia catechu, Albizia procera, Dalbergia paniculata, Syzygium heyneanum, Mitragyna parvifolia, Aegle marmelosa, Limonia acidissima , Pongamia pinnata, etc. The density of vegetation is high in many pockets, where crown contact stage prevails round the year even in the summer. This condition presumably facilitates movement of the tree snake from one tree to another. July 29, 1994 SAUSH KUMAR SHARMA Range Forest Officer, Aravalli Afforestation Programme, Jhadol (F.), Distt. Udaipur (Raj.) 313 702. 24. UNUSUAL CAUDAL SCALES OF BUFF-STRIPED KEELBACK AMPHIESMA STOLATA (LINNAEUS) On 18.7.1993, 1 captured a 417 mm long buff-striped keelback snake, Amphiesma stolata (Linnaeus) from Mahipal Reserve Forest Block in southern Aravallis. Its caudal scales had an unusual arrangement pattern. The arrangement of anal and caudal scales (from cloaca to tail end) is given below: Anal Paired Caudals (1 to 4) Paired MISCELLANEOUS NOTES 463 Caudals (5 to 13) Unpaired Caudals (14 to 27) Paired Caudals (28 to 29) Unpaired Caudals (30 to 40) Paired Caudal (Terminal) Unpaired. Subsequently, I captured two more snakes from the same locality but both had the usual paired caudal scales, except the terminal one. June 11, 1994 SAT1SH KUMAR SHARMA Range Forest Officer, Aravalli Afforestation Programme, Jhadol (F.), Udaipur (Raj.) 313 702. 25. THROAT COLORATION IN FEMALE MICROHYLA ORNATA (DUM. & BIBR.) Microhyla ornata (Dum. & Bibr.) is a small microhylid. In Rajasthan, this species is confined to the southern Aravallis (McCann 1943, Mansukhani and Murthy 1964, Sharma, in press). Daniel (1963) and Mansukhani and Murthy (1964) have described the coloration of this species. According to them, the colour of the ventrum of this species is white, although throat and chest may be stippled with brown. During the breeding period (i.e. rainy season) the throat of males appear black. In July, 1993, I collected many gravid females from various localities in Udaipur district. The throats of all the females were black similar to the males. I have seen the same coloration during the winter Hence differenciation of sexes on the basis of throat coloration is not possible. June 11, 1994 SAUSH KUMAR SHARMA Range Forest Officer, Aravalli Afforestation Programme, Jhadol (F.), Udaipur (Raj.) 313 702. References Daniel, J.C. (1963): Field Guide to the amphibians of Western India. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 60(3): 690-702. Mansukhani, M.R. & T.S.N. Murjhv' (1964): Fauna of Rajasthan, Part 1-6, Amphibia. Rec. ZooL Survey India 62(1 &2): 51-60. McCann, C. (1943): A Busman’s holiday in the Abu hills. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 43(2): 206-17. Sharma, S.K. (In Press): Presence of Microhyla ornata (Dum. & B ibr.) in Udaipur district (Raj) . 26. ADDITIONS TO THE LEPIDOCEPHALID FISHES OF BIHAR, INDIA Introduction During the course of studies on the hill-stream fishes along the Nepal-Bihar border, three specimens of Lepidocephalids were collected from the river Pandai of Bihar, which, on examination, were identified as Lepidocephalus annandalei (Chaudhuri), L. guntea (Hamilton) and L. thermalis (Valenciennes). The river Pandai rises in Sumeswar range of Nepal territory and enters the district of West Champaran through a pass between the Sumeswar range and Churiaghat at Bhikhanathori. It is joined by several rivulets arising from the Someswar range and ultimately drains into the Ganges river system. A perusal of existing Indian literature on the ichthyofauna including Das (1939), Menon (1950), Hora (1953), Jhingran (1956) and Venkateshwarlu (1977) reveals that two of the loaches, Lepidocephalus annandalei (Chaudhuri) and L thermalis (Valenciennes) were not previously recorded from Bihar, and are, therefore, additions to the ichthyofauna of Bihar. Descriptions Lepidocephalus annandalei (Choudhuri) Local name: Nakati; English name: Annandale loach. Material examined: 1 ex., 47 mm TL, Bhikhanathri, Pandai river, Bihar, S.K. Mishra : 6 April 1978. Diagnostic features: D ii 7 ; P 8; V 7; Aii5; C 16. Length of head 6, depth of body 5.9, both in total length. Eye diameter 4 in length of head, equal to interorbital width; predorsal length 2.5 in total length. Barbels 2 pairs, maxillary and rostral pairs of barbels small. Dorsal fin origin between eye and base of caudal fin. Caudal fin slightly emarginate; ventral fins nearly opposite to dorsal fin; scales indistinct. Colour in life; Body dirty yellowish; a black band extending mid-laterally from posterior margin of head to base of caudal fin; head with numerous black spots; dorsal fin with three black spots, anal with two and caudal fin with two dark spots encircled in white rings. Distribution: Northern India, Nepal and Bangladesh. The present record is a noteworthy addition to the fish fauna of Bihar. 464 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) Lepidocephaius thermalis (Valenciennes) Local name: Nakati; English name: Burmese loach. Material examined: 1 ex., 36 mm TL, Bhikhanathori, Pandai river, Bihar, S.K. Mishra, 6 April 1978. Diagnostic features: D ii 6; Pi 6; V7; Aii5; C 16. Length of head 5.5, depth of body 9, both in total length. Eye diameter 3.1 in length of head, entirely in anterior half of head. Barbels 4 pairs, rostral, inter-maxillarv, maxillary and mental pairs. Dorsal fin origin opposite to ventral fins, caudal fin slightly emerginate. Scales unconspicuous, about 30 rows between the anal fin abse and back. Lateral line absent. Colour in life: Body yellow with iridiocytes on head, blotches on back and on lateral line; base of upper half of caudal fin with a black spot; a dark streak extending from eye to end of snout; dorsal fm with black spots, and four bands on caudal fin. Distribution: India, coastal districts of Kerala, Karnataka and Maharashtra, and Sri Lanka. The present record is an addition to the ichthyofauna of Bihar. Key to specks Lepidocephaius 1. (a) Caudal fin with two dark spots encircled in white rings L annandalei (Chaudhuri) (b) Caudal fin with one or numerous spots but not encircled in white rings 2 2. (a) Length of head 6.5-6.7, depth of body 5.7-6.5 in total length L. guntea (Hamilton) (b) Length of head 5.5-6.0, depth of body 8.1-9.7 in total length L thermalis (Valenciennes) Discussion These loaches are bottom dwellers, found in swift streams, rivers and lakes of hilly areas and are able to burrow and quickly disappear, if alarmed. The spinous first pectoral ray helps in “digging in”. They are of little interest in fisheries but Lepidocephaius thermalis (Valenciennes) is valued as an aquarium fish. They are small but nourishing fish, eaten locally as they are not suitable for transport in fresh state, nor sufficiently common at any one place for large scale processing. February 8, 1994 SAFAL KUMAR MISHRA Department of Zoology, T.P.V. College, Narkatiaganj, W. Champaran, Bihar 845 455. References Das, K.N. (1939): On a collection of fish from the Hazaribagh District, Bihar. Rec. Indian Mus., Calcutta, 41(4): 437- 450. Hora, S.L. (1953): Systematics of the fishes of the family Cobitidae: Addendum. Proc. nat. Inst. Sci. India, Calcutta 19 (3): 347. Jhingran, V.G. (1956): The capture fishery of river Ganges at Buxar (Bihar, India) in the years 1952-54. Indian Joum. Fish. 3: 197-215. Menon, A.G.K. (1950): On a collection of fish from the foot of Parasnath hill, Chotanagpur, Bihar. Rec. Indian Mus., 48(1): 71-72. Venkateshwarlu, T. (1977): Fishes of River Poonpun (Bihar, India). Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria, Vol. VII, Fasc. I. 27. ON PUNTIUS SETNA1 CHHAPGAR AND SANE: NEW REPORT AND COMMENTS (With a text-figure) A barb, identical in description with Puntius setnai , described by Chhapgar and Sane (1992), has recently been collected from South Kannara (Hoshangadi, S. Kannara, Kamatak State, date of collection 2/9/1991, collected by S. Kamble, WRS, ZSI, Pune, reg. no. V/1516). According to the collector, the fish is very common in the shallow streams of the area. A line drawing showing salient taxonomic features of the fish is presented here (Fig. 1). Comments: This barb was first identified as Puntius nigrofasciatus on the basis of a few specimens collected by ZSI personnel from a rivulet in the forested area of Ponda, Goa (Yazdani 1977). The fish was described to possess three vertical bands on the body, serrations on the last undivided dorsal ray and complete lateral line with 20-22 scales. Barbels were found to be absent. Fin-ray counts and other details of the specimens were not given (Yazdani 1977). Later, Chhapgar and Sane (1980) pointed out that the fish described by Yazdani (1977) is Puntius narayani. This statement was based on the observations carried out on the ZSI specimens mentioned above (fishes from a rivulet in Ponda, Goa, date of collection 13/12/73, name of the collector B.S. Lamba, determined as P. nigrofasciatus by G.M. Yazdani). Obviously these authors had overlooked the serrated nature of the dorsal spine. While examining recent collections from S. Kannara, we came across these 3-banded barbs again. We found that the specimens are exactly like the ones collected from Ponda, Goa in 1973. The fish could not be easily placed anywhere in the latest key and MISCELLANEOUS NOTES 465 Fig. 1. Puntius setnai fish showing taxonomic details. revision of genus Puntius by Jayaram (1991). The serrated dorsal spine and different pattern of bands than that of P. narayani and P. nigrofasciatus were noticeable features. We were in the process of comparing this barb with the holotype of P. narayani to check the possibility whether this barb could be a variant of already described species. This was necessary because the fishes of the genus Puntius are much generalised and exhibit variations, both within individuals of the same species and also within the same sex (Jayaram 1991). Apart from variation in colour, it has been stated that even the serrations on the dorsal spine later become indistinct in some species (for example in P phutunio and P. cuming ii see Jayaram 1991). It appears certain that this barb is different from those described earlier and is similar to one described as P setnai. The fish fits within the “ fasciatus ” group due to the following characters: (1) body with vertically coloured bands ranging from 3 to 7, (2) deep bodied fish 2 to 4 times in standard length, (3) lateral line scales 18 to 24 (20 to 22 common), (4) predorsal scales most often 6 to 9, (5) lateral line complete or incomplete, (6) 4 to 8 scales between pelvic and anal fins. It appears close to “ cumingii ” complex (though members of this complex, described so far, are known to be endemic to Sri Lanka) (Jayaram 1991). We are grateful to the Director, Zoological. Survey of India, Calcutta, for permission to carry out this work and publish the findings. Thanks are also due to the authorities of Modern College, Pune, for encouragement and facilities. September 6, 1994 G.M. YAZDANI Western Regional Station, Zoological Survey of India, Shivajinagar, Pune 411 004. H.V. GHATE Modem College, Pune 411 005. References Chhapgar, B.F. & S.R. Sane (1980): On the record of the black ruby barb, Puntius nigrofasciatus (Gunther) (Pisces : Cyprinidae) from India. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc., 77 : 526- 527. Chhapgar, BP. & S.R. Sane (1992) : A new fish of the genus Puntius Hamilton (Ostariophysi : Cyprinidae) from Goa. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc., 89: 357-359. Jayaram, K.C. (1991): Revision of the genus Punitus Hamilton from the Indian region (Pisces, Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae, Cyprininae). Rec. Zool. Surv. India , Occ. Paper No. 135, Zoological Survey of India, Calcutta. Yazdani, G.M. (1977): On a new record of black ruby, Puntius nigrofasciatus (Gunther) from India (Cypriniformes : Cyprinidae). Curr. Sci. 46: 760. 466 JOURNAL BOMBAY NATURAL HIST SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) 28. NEW ADULT MALE ATTRACTANTS OF DANAID BUTTERFLIES Earlier Amladi (1975) and Chaturvedi and Satheesan (1979) had reported adult Danaid Butterflies visiting Heliotropium indicum and Crotalaria retusa for Pyrrolizidine alkaloids and Monocretolene respectively. According to Ackery and Vane — Wright 1984), while working on Butterflies of Borivli National Park, I came across two new adult male attractant belonging to family Boraginaceae, i.e. Trichodesma indicum R. Br. Prodr., and Paracaryum coelestinum. The Trichodesma is annual herb much branched, hispid, 45-50 cm tall and bears paleviolet blue flowers. Though it emerges during mid of June and grows till December the butterflies, i.e. Euploea core, and Euploea klugii visit this plant in late august till October. On 23rd August I saw Euploea core hovering around the Trichodesma plant and alighting near the top of the plant rather than on the flowers. A closer look revealed that the butterfly uncoils its proboscis and rubs it on the hispid stem. When disturbed it flew around and returned to the same branch. Till September end the main visitors of Trichodesma plant were Euploea' s. Later the Danaus genutia, Danaus chrysippus, Tirumala limniace were also seen visiting these plants and rubbing their proboscis on the hairy stems. In all cases butterflies invariably settled near the apical region of the plant. Individuals of two or three species were also seen on the same plant at a time. The time spent by the butterflies on a plant varies from a few seconds to 8 mintues. Trichodesma is a genus of about 35 species distributed mainly in tropics and sub-tropics of the old world. According to Miller and Morris (1988) some Trichodesma species are like the heliotropes known to contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Apparently this may be the reason why males of the Danaid butterflies visit this plant to obtain important precursor for the male phermones. Haribal (1992) has reported the Blue Tiger Tirumala liminiace and Common Indian Crow Euploea core visiting dried plants of Paracaryum coelestinum. Subsequently I had also observed the Euploea core and Euploea klugii Moore visiting this plant. Paracaryum is erect branched herb around 1 to 1 .5 m high, the stem and branches are red pubescent when young and become glabrous later. The butterflies settle on the dried plant and rub their proboscis when disturbed they fly in an area of around 4 m and return to same spot. November 11, 1993 NARESH CHATURVEDI Bombay Natural History Society, Hombill House, Dr. Salim Ali Chowk, S.B.S. Road, Bombay 400 023. References Ackery, P.R. & R.I. Vane- Wright (1984): Milkweed Butterflies, their cladistics and biology. British Museum (N.H.), London, p. 425. Amladi, S.R. (1975): Danaid butterflies attracted to Heliotropium indicum (Boraginaceae), an alkaloid containing plant. J. Bombay not. Hist. Soc. 72: 535-587. Chaturvedi, N. & S.M. Satheesan (1979): Attraction of Butterflies to Crotalaria retusa (Papilionaceae) at Khandala, Western Ghats. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 76: 534-535. Haribal, Meena (1992): The Butterflies of Sikkim Himalaya and their Natural History. Sikkim Nature Conservation Foundation (SNCF), Gangtok, Sikkim. Miller, Anthony G. & Miranda Morris (1987): Plants of Dhofar, the southern of Oman Traditional Economic and Medicinal uses. Published by the office of the Adviser for Conservation of the Environment, Diwan of Royal court Sultanate of Oman, pp. 361. 29. OCCURRENCE OF PALAEARCTTC CLADOCERA DIAPHANOSOMA BRACHYURUM (LIEVEN) IN WEST BENGAL (With three text-figures ) During a survey of the wetlands of Hughly District of West Bengal, we came across a palaearctic species Diaphanosoma brachyurum (Lieven), of the family Sididae. Three species of the genus Diaphanosoma, viz. D. senegalinsis, D. excisum and D. sarsi (Michael and Sharma 1988) have been reported from India, Brehm (1936) reported the present species from Kashmir. Subsequent record of this species is from Bangladesh (Khan et al. 1988). The present study reports the occurrence of this species in a pond at Hughly District, West Bengal (22° 53’ N, 87°56’ E), with a short description. Diaphanosoma brachyurum (Lieven) (Figs. 1-3) female: Body size 8.8 mm. Head large, without rostrum, fornix or ocellus. Carapace almost oblong; postero-dorsal corner with a distinct angle, dorsal MISCELLANEOUS NOTES 467 Figs. 1-3. Diaphanosoma brachyurum (Lieven) Female 1. Lateral view; 2. Ventral margin of valve; 3. Postabdomen. margin slightly arched (Fig. 1). Ventral margin of valves series of setae, distal part of ventral margin with small denticles (Fig. 2). Head large, with sloping anterior margin. Eye large, located near the anterior ventral margin of head. Antennules small, truncated, with terminal olfactory setae and a single flagellum. Antennae not reaching posterior end of valves. Postabdomen narrow. Claw with three basal spines decreasing in size proximally and with setae on its concave margin (Fig. 3). Remarks: D. brachyurum is considered to be one of the northern species occurring in India. Brehm (1936) reported this species from Kashmir, Khan et al. (1978) from Bangladesh and Fernando & Kanduru (1984) from Bhopal. Khan et al. (1978) described this species with postabdominal claw having two basal spines. This is rather surprising as no species of Diaphanosoma has two basal spines. They also stated that this species can be differentiated from D. leuchtenbergianum by the length of the antenna and number of basal spines of the postabdomen. From previous studies it is clear that the presence of three basal spines is a generic character. We are grateful to the Director, Zoological Survey of India, Calcutta, for facilities provided and Dr. N.C. Nandi for his encouragement. July 31, 1993 K. VENKATARAMAN S.R. DAS Zoological Survey of India, Calcutta 700 053. References Brehim, V. (1936): Yale North India Expedition. Report on Cladocera. Article XVI. Mem. Conn. Acad, Arts. Sci. 10: 283-297. Fernando, C.H. & A. Kanduru (1984): Some remarks on the latitudinal distribution of Cladocera on the Indian subcontinent. Hydrobiologia 113: 69-76. Khan, Y.SA., A.M.A. Salam & M.K. Ahmed (1978): Cladocera of the river Buriganga, Dacca, Bangladesh. Bangladesh J. Zool. 6(2): 73. Michael, R.G. & B.K. Sharma (1988) Fauna of India, Indian Cladocera. Zoological Survey of India, Calcutta, 262 PP- 30. SPONDIAS ACUMINATA ROXB. February 1992 I received from the Botanical Survey of India, Western Circle, Poona, some fruiting specimens of Spondias acuminata Roxb., collected near the Kanheri caves near Bombay, the type locality and one specimen from a tree, growing on the Campus of the Poona (Pune) Univeristy. This enables me to provide some description of the species, although the flowers are still missing. Spondias acuminata Roxb. Hortus Bengal. 34. 1814 (nomen); FI. Indica, ed. Carey 2: 387. 1832; ed. Wall. 2:453. 1834; Wight & Walker- Amott, Prodr. FI. Penins. Ind. or. 1: 173. 1834; Steudel, Nomencl. Bot., ed. 2, 1:625. 1840; Walp., Repert. 1: 556. 1842; Voigt, Hort. suburb. Calc. 144. 1845; Hooker f., FI. Brit. Ind. 2: 42. 1876;Kurz, J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal 45(2): 468 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) 213. 1876; Engler in DC., Monogr. Phaner. 4: 249. 1883; Graham, Catal. Bombay PI. 1: 352. 1909; Gamble, FI. Pres. Madras 1: 262. 1918 (in oberv.); id., Kew Bull. 226. 1918; Craib, FI. Siam. Enum. 1:255. 1926 (quoad nomen?); Airy Shaw & Forman, Kew Bull. 21(1): 8. 1967 (as a synon. of Sp. pinnata ); Almeida, FI. Savantwadi : 113. 1990; Kostermans, Kedondong, Ambarella, Amra. The Spondiadeae (Anacard.) of Asia and the Pacific Area: 63. 1991 (Bogor, Indonesia). Proposed lectotype : Graham s.n. (K), Kanheri (Kennery) Caves near Bombay (top o- type). Cat-Ambalam, Pee-Ambalam, Rheede, Hort. Ind. Malab. 1:93. 1678 (no plate, the plate indicated is that of Ambalam = Sp. pinnata ); Nicolson & al., Interpret. Rheede, Hort. Mai., Regnum Veget. 199:89. 1988. Katampazham, acc. to Nicolson; Ranawade, acc. to Almeida; Ambada (Kanheri Caves). Tree, c. 15 m tall. Terminal bud glabrous. Leaves aggregate, glabrous, thickish (fresh, when dried papyraceous), imparip innate, up to 30 cm long; bare part of rachis up to 8 cm, smooth. Folio les opposite, 2-5 pairs, thickish (when dried very thin), ovate or broadly elliptic, 3x5 (lower ones) - 5.5 x 9 cm (apical one), conspicuously caudate-acuminate, entire, acumen slender, 2-9 mm long, above smooth, midrib, thin, prominent, laterals numerous, straight, parallel, filiform, erect-patent (lower ones), connected into a thin marginal nerve, between the ribs an obscure, lax reticulation; petiole 5-15 (terminal one) mm long, apical part with narrow triangular decurrent wings. Flowers appear on the bare branches (not seen), fruit developes with the new leaves and ripens, when the leaves drop. Fruit on a short infructescence, elliptic to subobovoid, pointed at one end, up to 3.5 x 4.4 cm, yellow when mature, smooth, glossy, mesocarp very thin, acid- astringent; endocarp woody, very large, ellipsoid, consisting of a winged inner part, the wings very broad with in between them a little parenchyma, the whole surrounded by a thin capsule of close fibres with some tiny holes; no fibres in the mesocarp. In one specimen 3 developed ovules. Distribution: Peninsular India, perhaps Burma and Thailand. Specimens examined: Garden of the Botany Dept, of the Poona University, Pune-7, Jan., mature fr., S. Karthikayan , Bot. Surv. Ind. 121894; Borivli National Park, Kanheri Caves, 450 m alt., Dec. fir., Venkanna, Bot. Surv. 107995 and 107998; ibid., 425 m alt., Venkanna , Bot. Surv. 107994. Note: Indication of a neotype is better postponed, until flowering material is available. As I discussed in my treatment of the species in 1991, Airy Shaw and Forman suggested, that part of a Wallich sheet at Kew might represent S. acuminata, collected from Roxburgh’s tree in Calcutta. After having examined now the leaves of the species, it becomes more likely, that a part of the Wallich material might represent S. acuminata, as there is no difference between the folioles of S. pinnata and S. acuminata, except the larger size of the former and the slightly less pronounced acumen. As there is now a specimen of S. acuminata growing on the campus of the Pune (Poona) University, I suggest, that a specimen of S. pinnata be planted next to it. This will enable Indian botanists to study both species intensively and discover the differences. The information on the labels of the material, collected by the Botanical Survey, are poor and inadequate. Nothing is said about buttresses (if any), about their number, size, shape, thickness, nothing is said about the characteristics of the dead and live bark (thickness, way of peeling off, colour, taste and smell), nothing about the sap- and heart- wood (merging or defined, colour, hardness, etc.). If flowers become available, the label should have annotations about the colour of the inflorescence peduncle and stalk, their consistency (diam.), the colour, shape, consistency of calyx and petals, whether the petals are esplanate or reflexed; the number of stamens, the size and thickness of the filaments, the size and length of the style and the size and shape of the stigma (the latter important), the size and thickness of the pedicel. With all the above information at hand, I am sure that more differences between the two species will turn up. August 13, 1993 AJ.G.H. KOSTERMANS Herbarium Bogoriense,Jalan Luanda 22, Bogor, Indonesia. 31. ON THE STQMATAL PECULIARITIES IN MYRTALES ( With three text -figures) While studying the epidermal morphology and stomata! ontogeny in 60 species under 35 genera of nine famihes of the order Mvrtales, were encountered certain interesting peculiarities in the polar regions of the stomata of some members. Their structural features and uncommon occurrence have necessitated this report. Usually the inner wall of guard cells lining the stomatal pore is highly thickened. In Osbeckia octandra. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES 469 O. truncata, O. zeylanica (Melastomataceae), Anogeissus latifolia and Calycopteris floribunda (Combretaceae) atleast some stomata show unusual thickening of outer walls at one or both poles (Figs. 1,3). In those stomata the lateral part of the outer wall of the guard cells is completely thinner than the part at the polar regions. Due to this wall thickening arch-like structure appears prominent at the polar regions of the stomata. The wall thickening may even extend from the middle of the arch to the common inner wall of the guard cells for a short distance; hence they were called T-shaped thickening by Stace (1965). The above type of uncommon thickening has been reported in some members of Combretaceae, namely species of Strephonema, Pteleopsis, Ramatuella and Terminalia (Stace 1965), in seven species of Zingiberaceae, Cannaceae, Rubiaceae and Theaceae (Raju et al. 1975) and Tradescantia (Tikku et al. 1978). Our histochemical studies also confirm the PAS positive nature (Raju et al. 1975) of the T-shaped thickenings and reveal that the presence of insoluble polysaccharides in the thickened wall. The present study confirms that though, this type of thickening is rare in the stomata of angiosperms, it appears to be common in the member of the family Combretaceae as several species of this family possess this thickening. Interestingly, besides the above type of thickening, some stomata of Calycopteris floribunda (Fig. 2) possess peg-like extensions which extend from the stomatal pole into the cavities of subsidiary cells. Such extensions have been reported earlier only in Penaea myrtoides and Sarcocolla fucata (Metacalfe and Chalk 1950). The functional role of these thickenings and peg- like extensions is not definitely known. September 2, 1993 V. RAM ASSAM Y Department of Botany, Bharathidasan Govt. College for Women, Pondicherry - 605 003. B. KANNABIRAN School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Kalpet, Pondicherry 605 104. 470 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) References Metcalfe, C.R. & L. Chalk (1950): Anatomy of the Dicotyledons. Vol. I. Clarendon Press. U.K. Raju, E.C., J.D. Patel & J.J. Shah (1975): An uncommon wall thickening of guard cells. Ann. Bot. 39: 125- 127. Stage, C.A. (1965): The significance of leaf epidermis in the taxonomy of the Combretaceae I. A general review of tribal, generic and specific characters. J. Linn. Soc. (Bot.) 59: 229- 252. Tikku, A.K., E.C. Raju, R.L. Fotedar & J.J. Shah (1978): Structure and histochemistry of stomata in Monocotyledons. Phyta 1: 117-125. 32. NEW RECORDS OF FABACEAE FROM GARHWAL HIMALAYA (With four text-figures ) Situated in the central part of North-west Himalaya. Garhwal Himalaya have attracted attention of several plant explorers (Hooker 1876, Duthie 1903, Osmaston 1927, Babu 1977, Naithani 1985, Gaur 1987, Gaur et al. in press). This communication includes rare and interesting specimens of the Fabaceae with short notes on the distribution, localities, approximate elevation and collector’s herbarium number, along with their line diagrams. The voucher specimens after following usual Herbarium methods are deposited and maintained at the Herbarium Department of Botany, H.N.B. Garhwal University, Srinagar Garhwal. Desmodium laxum DC., Ann. Sci. Nat. Paris 4: 1022. Jan. 1825 & Prod. 2: 336. 1825; Sanjappa, Leg. Ind. 156. 1992. Desmodium podocarpum DC. var. laxum Baker in Hook, f., FBI. 2: 165. 1876. (Fig. 1). Distribution: Pinswar, Tehri Garhwal, 1600 m a.s.l Collector’s Herbarium No.: GUH - 20002. Specimens Examined: BSD - 8501. The plant species was collected by Hooker (1876) from temperate and tropical Himalaya without any definite locality and Sanjappa (1992) from West Peninsula, Eastern Himalaya, Assam, etc. This is a rare collection for this region. Desmodium neomexicanum A. Gray, PI. Wright 1:53. 1852; Sanjappa, Leg. Ind. 159. 1992. Desmodium spirale DC. Baker in Hook, f., FBI. 2: 164.1876; Duthie, FI. Upp. Gang. Plain 284. 1903. (Fig. 2). Distribution: Towards Chelusain, Pauri Garhwal, 1600 m a.s.1. Collector’s Herbarium No. : GUH- 20070. Specimen Examined: DD - 12. Hooker (1876) reported the plant species from North-West Provinces and Sanjappa (1992) from Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh. This is a new record as well as rare collection for this region. Lotus coreiculatus L. Sp. PL 773. 1753. var. tenuifolius L. Sp. PI. 776. 1753; Sanjappa, Leg. Ind. 206. 1992. Lotus comiculatus L. var. minor Baker in Hook, f., FBI. 2: 91.1876. (Fig. 3). Distribution: Garurchatti, Chamoli garhwal, 3300 m a.s.l. Specimens Examined: BSD - 36386. The plant species was reported by Hooker (1876) from Western Himalaya without any definite locality and Sanjappa (1992) from temperate Western Himalaya as well as Punjab Plains. Trigonella fimbriata Royle ex Benth. in Royle, Illust. Bot. Himal. 197. 1835; Ah in Nasir & Ali, fl. W. Pak. 298. 1977; Sanjappa Leg. Ind. 264. 1992. (Fig. 4). Distribution: Above Kedamath, Chamoli Garhwal, 3700 m a.s.l. Collector’s Herbarium No.: GUH - 26050. The plant species is cohected by Ali (1977) from Kashmir, North Punjab, Kumaon and Nepal. This is a rare collection from Garhwal, Himalaya. Acknowledgements We are. thankful to the authorities of Botanical Survey of India, Northern Circle, Dehradun (BSD) and 'Herbarium, Forest Research Institute, Dehradun (DD) for providing herbarium facilities. Financial assistance from Department of Environment, Govt, of India, New Delhi is also thankfully acknowledged. August 15, 1993 L.R. DANGWAL D.S. RAWAT R.D. GAUR Department of Botany, H.N.B. Garhwal University, Srinagar (Garhwal) 246 174, U.P. (India). MISCELLANEOUS NOTES 471 cm Fig. 1A - C. Desmodium laxum: A. Flowering and fruiting branch; B. Flower; C. Pod. Fig. 2A- C. Desmodium neomexicanum : A. Flowering and fruiting branch; B. Flower; C. Pod. Fig. 3A - C. Lotus comiculatus var. tenuifolius : A. Flowering and fruiting branch; B. Flower; C. Pod. Fig. 4A - C. Trigonellafimbriata : A. Flowering and fruiting branch; B. Flower; C. Pod. 472 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) Refer Ali, S.L (1977): Papilionaceae in Nasir E. and Ali, S.L Flora of West Pakistan. Department of Botany, Unviersity of Karachi, Karachi. Babu, C.R. (1977) ; Herbaceous Flora of Dehradun. Publication and Information Directorate (CSIR), New Delhi. Duthje, JF. (1903): Flora of the Upper Gangetic Plain. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Rep. ed., Dehradun. Gaur, R.D. (1987): A contribution to the Flora of Srinagar Garhwal. J. Econ. Tax. Bot. 9: 31-63. Gaur, R.D., L.R. Dangwal & D.S. Rawat (in press): Some Rare 33. THE ENTADA ADANS. In 1980 (Notes on Ceylonese plants I, Miscellaneous papers, Landbouwhogeschool, Wageningen 19: 223-227) I tried to disentangle the confused nomenclature of the genus Entada Adans. (nomen conserv.), but for lack of proper flowering and fruiting material, could not arrive at a definite conclusion, which may only be reached, when Indian botanists collect adequate flowering and fruiting material. The general trend is now to accept a single species of Entada in the Indian peninsula, described by Rheede van Draakestein (8:59) and considered to be conspecific with Entada pusaetha DC., of Sri Lanka. This is not proved and Indian botanists are invited to pursue this matter. In Sri Lanka two species of Entada occur, one E. pusaetha DC,, an enormous liana with a straight enormous pod, up to 1 m long and very large, round, compressed conspicuous seeds, up to 10 cm diameter. The specific name is derived from Hermann’s Museum zeylanicum, the Catalogue of the Hermann collection of plants in the Natural History Museum, London. There is no herbarium specimen of this plant in Hermann’s herbarium and Linnaeus hence included it in his Flora Zeylanica of 1747 under the “Barbarae annihilatae” (plants with a local name, but without herbarium material). Pusaetha means, sinhala language: Pus (pronounced poos), the name of the plant (its meaning: hollow). The plant is called in Sinhalese: Pus wael (wael: climber); aetha (Sinhalese: Etta) means seed; apparently Hermann was only aquainted with the seeds. De Candole called it pursaetha, manifestly a typographical error. ENCES and Little Known Plants of Fabaceae from Garhwal Himalaya. Ind. Joum. Forestry. Hooker, J.D. (1876): Flora of British India. Vol. II. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Rep. ed., Dehradun. Naithani, B.D. (1985): Flora of Chamoli. Vol. I. BSI. Howrah. Osmaston, A.E. (1927): A Forest Flora for Kumaon. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Rep. ed., Dehradun. Sanjappa, M. (1992): Legumes of India. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehradun. (MIMOSACEAE) PUZZLE In Sri Lanka another species occurs, called in Sinhala: Heen pus wael (heen = small), a much smaller liana, with a pod only half the size of that of E. pusaetha and with the apical part bent and partly twisted (not straight as in E. pusaetha ), the seeds not more than 3-4 cm in diameter. I have described it as E. zeylanica in the paper quoted above (page 226). E. zeylanica is found in other areas than E. pusaetha. I found it in the forest park above the city of Kandy, where I could study it at leisure. The pods have always the same shape. The small seeds have puzzled Ceylonese botanists for a long time; they were familiar only with the large seeds of E. pusaetha. The question is now: what is the identity of E. mono st achy a DC. (a synonym of E. rheedii Sprengel, Syst. veg. 2: 335. Jan.-May 1825) It might be E. pusaetha DC. with the long straight pods and the large seeds or E. zeylanica with the short, partly bent and twisted pods and small seeds. At any rate Nielsen (FI.) Thailand 4:144 1985) is in error, when he described the pods of E. rheedii as having either straight or curved pods, the size of the seeds (3-4 cm diam.) as described by him, points to E. zeylanica Kostermans. I wrote this article in context with a note of A.S. Reddy in the Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 87(1): 170-171. (1990). August 13, 1993 AJ.G.H. KOSTERMANS Herbarium Bogariense, Jl. Juanda 22, Bogor, Indonesia. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES 473 34. SOME NOMENCLATURAL CORRECTIONS IN GENUS TO ON A ROEMER The senior author in ‘Flora of Savant wadi’ adopted Toona hexandra (Wall, ex Roxb.) Roemer for the species commonly found in Maharashtra, known under the name Cedrela toona Roxb. in most of our Indian Floras. The decision was based on the various descriptions and synonymy found in the literature. We had no access to the type materials of the species. Although the Flora of Savantwadi was ready for publication in 1983 and was communicated for publication, it was ready only in 1990 due to various reasons. Meanwhile, late Dr. K.N. Bahadur compiled an excellent account of the genus Toona Roemer which is published as a taxonomic monograph. This monograph published in 1988, was available for consultation to us only few days ago. It appears that the typical T. hexandra is the species restricted to Nepal only and the plant found in our area is T. hexandra ssp. hexandra var. gamblei. After going through the monograph we noticed that although the work of the monograph is carried out very methodically and with consultation of relevant type materials and examination of hundreds of herbarium specimens in some of the prominent herbaria, the nomenclature used by the author requires revision as per rules of the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature. In this communication, we propose a few nomenclature! changes for some of the tax a given in the monograph, and we accept the typifications and the taxonomic conclusions of Dr. K.N. Bahadur. We invite attention of the readers to the original work of Dr. Bahadur for complete synonymy and give only the proposed new names along with basionyms and the names adopted by Dr. K.N. Bahadur in the monograph. 1. Toona hexandra (Wall, ex Roxb.) Roemer, Monog. Hesperid. 1: 139. 1846. ssp. hexandra var. gamblei (C.DC.) comb. nov. T. ciliata Roem., Monogr. Hesperid. 1: 139. 1846. Cedrela toona Roxb. ex Rottl. et Willd. var. gamblei C.DC., Rec. Bot. Surv. Ind. 3: 367. 1908. Under synonymy of Toona ciliata Roemer ssp. ciliata var. ciliata , the earliest available binomial accepted by Dr. K.N. Bahadur is Cedrela hexandra Wall, ex Roxb. Some recent Indian botanists notably Dr. Panigrahi (1974) had maintained Toona hexandra (Wall, ex Roxb.) Roem. as a distinct species from Toona ciliata Roemer. However, Dr. K.N. Bahadur has not treated them as distinct species, but as mere varieties. Therefore, in the species complex, specific epithet hexandra has the priority over ciliata and consequently, the variety representing taxon known as ciliata should be correctly called as Toona hexandra (Wall, ex Roxb.) ssp. hexandra var. gamblei (C.DC.) Almeida & Almeida. 2. Toona hexandra (Wall, ex Roxb.) Roemer ssp. hexandra var. griffithiana (Pierre) comb. nov. Toona ciliata Roemer ssp. ciliata var. australis (F. Muell.) Bahadur, Monogr. Toona 78. 1988. Cedrela australis F. Muell. Fregm. Phyto. Fr. Austr. 1:4. 1858. T. febrifuga Blume var. griffithiana Pierre, FI. For. Cochinch. 4: 358. 1897. Under Toona hexandra complex, the earliest varietal name published for this variety is griffithiana. Therefore it should be used in new combination for the variety. 3. Toona hexandra (Wall, ex Roxb.) Roemer ssp. hexandra var. grandifolia (C. DC.) comb. nov. Toona ciliata Roem. ssp. ciliata var. grandifolia (C. DC.) Bahadur, Monogr. Toona 90. 1988. C. microcarpa C. DC. var. gradifolia C.DC. in Rec. Bot. Surv. Ind. 3: 371. 1908. 4. Toona hexandra (Wall, ex Roxb.) Roemer ssp. hexandra var. haslettii (Haines) comb. nov. T. ciliata Roemer ssp. ciliata var. haslettii (Haines) Bahadur, Mongr. Toona 92. 1988. Cedrela toona Roxb. var. haslettii Haines. R Ch. Nag. 250. 1910. 5. Toona hexandra (Wall, ex Roxb.) Roem., Syn. Monogr. Hesper. 1:139. 1846 ssp. hexandra var. hexandra (Bahadur) comb. nov. Toona ciliata Roem. ssp. ciliata var. hexandra (Wall, ex Roxb.) Bahadur, Mongor. Toona 93. 1988. 6. Toona hexandra (Wall, ex Roxb.) Roem. ssp. hexandra var. listeri (C. DC.) comb. nov. Toona ciliata Roem. ssp. ciliata var. listeri (C. DC.) Bahadur, Monogr. Toona 94. 1988. C. toona Roxb. var. listeri C. DC., Rec. Bot. Surv. Ind. 3: 370. 1908. 7. Toona hexandra (Wall, ex Roxb.) Roem. ssp. hexandra var. parviflora (Benth.) comb. nov. Toona ciliata Roem. ssp. ciliata var. parviflora (Benth.) Bahadur, Monogr. Toona 94. 1988. Cedrela toona Roxb. var. parviflora Benth., FI. Austr. 1: 387, 1863. 8. Toona hexandra (Wall, ex Roxb.) Roem. ssp. hexandra var. pilistila (C. DC.) comb. nov. Toona ciliata Roem. ssp. ciliata var. pilistila (C. DC.) Bahadur, Monogr. Toona 95. 1988. C. toona Roxb. var. pilistila C. DC. in Rec. Bot. Surv. Ind. 3: 365. 1908. 474 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) 9. Toona hexandra (Wall. ex. Roxb.) Roem. ssp. hexandra var. pubinervis (C. DC.) comb. nov. Toona ciliata Roem. ssp. ciliata var. pubinervis (C. DC.) Bahadur, Monogr. Toona 96. 1988. C. toona Roxb. var. pubinervis C. DC. in Rec. Bot. Surv. Ind. 3: 368. 1908. 10. Toona hexandra (Wall, ex Roxb.) Roem. ssp. velutina (Bahadur) comb. nov. Toona ciliata Roem. ssp. velutina (C. DC.) Bahadur, Monogr. Toona 97, 1988. var. velutina. C. velutina C. DC., Prodr. 1:625. 1824. var. velutina. 11. Toona hexandra (Wall, ex Roxb.) Roemer ssp. velutina (Bahadur) Almeida & Almeida var. candollei (Bahadur) comb. nov. Toona ciliata Roemer ssp. velutina Bahadur. Monogr. Toona 99. 1988. 12. Toona hexandra (Wall, ex Roxb.) Roem. ssp. velutina (Bahadur) Almeida & Almeida var. kingii (C. DC.) comb. nov. Toona ciliata Roemer ssp. velutina Bahadur var. kingii (C. DC.) Bahadur, Monogr. Toona 100. 1988. Cedrela kingii C. DC., Rec. Bot. Surv. Ind. 3: 371. 1908. 13. Toona hexandra (Wall, ex Roxb.) Roem. ssp. velutina (Bahadur) Almedia & Almeida var. mollis (Hand.-Maz.) comb. nov. Toona ciliata Roemer ssp. velutina var. mollis (Hand.-Mazz.) Bahadur, Monogr. Toona 101, 1988. C. mollis Hand.-Mazz. in Anzeing. Acad. Wissen. Wien. 24: 266, 1920; var. mollis. 14. Toona sinengii (A. Juss.) Roem. var. longifolia (Wall, ex C. DC.) comb. nov. Cedrela longifolia Wall, ex DC. in Rec. Bot. Surv. Ind. 3: 375. 1908. C. longifolia Wall, ex C. DC. var. kumoona C. DC. l.c. 376. 1908. C. sinensis A. Juss. var. shensiana C. DC. l.c. 361, 1908. All the three names mentioned in the synonymy above are published in the same publication on the same date. The latter two names pertain to the varietal rank, whereas the first, only gives a binomial. However, by virtue of publication of a variety of the first, and both the species and variety being taxonomically identical under Article 57.3 of the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature, the binomial Cedrela longifolia Wall, ex C. DC. automatically becomes Cedrela longifolia Wall, ex DC. var. longifolia and it has priority as a varietal name. Therefore the varietal name longifolia is selected here for this variety. 15. Toona sureni Blume var. glabrior (C. DC.) comb. nov. Cendrela febrifuga Blume var. glabrior C. DC. in Mon. Phan. 1: 744. 1878. C. febrifuga Blume var. inodora (Hassk.) C. DC. in Rec. Bot. Surv. Ind. 3: 373. 1908. C. inodora Hassk., Hort. Bog. 131. 1844. Toona sureni Blume var. inodora (Hassk.) Bahadur. Monogr. Tooona 136. 1988. Bahadur’s varietal name is based on Hasskarl’s specific epithet inodora. As the rule of priority of publication does not apply outside its own rank, Bhadur’s varietal epithet has to be considered as a new varietal name dating from 1988 (See Article 60.1 of ICBN) out of the two earlier varietal epithets, inodora has been in use from 1988, and the only unused earlier epithet available for the new combination is glabrior which is proposed here in new combination. 16. Toona sureni Blume var. velutina (Koorders et Val.) comb. nov. Cedrela febrifuga Blume var. velutina Koorders et Val. ex Adelbert, Blumea 6: 313. 1948. Acknowledgement We are grateful to Mr. R.S. Rawat, ONGC - Dehra Dun, for providing the copy of Monograph on the Genus Toona. October 9, 1993 S.M. ALMEIDA M.R. ALMEIDA Blatter Herbarium, St. Xavier's College, Bombay 400 001. References Almeida, S.M. (1990): The Flora of Savantwadi. Scientific Panigrahi,G. (1974): A note on the nomenclature of certain species Publishers, Jodhpur. of Toona in Bangladesh . J. Bot. 3(1): 51-55. Bahadur, K.N. (1988): Monograph on the Genus Toona. Bishen Voss etal. (1983): International Code of Botanical Nomenclature Singh & Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehradun. - Leningrad. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES 475 35. UNUSUAL FLOWERING EPISODES AS A FUNCTION OF RAINFALL IN ANISOMELES INDICA O.KUNTZE (LAMIACEAE) The Labiatae weed, Anisomeles indica is an Asiatic herb and occurs in the Philippines, mainland China, Thailand, Taiwan, Timor, Java, Sumatra, Indonesia, Japan, India, Sri Lanka and Australia. This plant is widespread throughout India up to 1600 m at the foot of the Indian Himalaya (Ridley 1967, Uphof 1968, Huang and Cheng 1978). It is a perennial shrubby herb occupying various weedy habitats in both moist and arid soils as per the notes of the herbarium specimens of this plant collected from different countries of Asia by Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, U.SA. Our observations in Turimella region of Nallamalai forests in Andhra Pradesh, India indicate that it grows in moist sandy loam, lateritic and granitic soils. It is confined to stream edges in irrigated rice fields. We also found it growing well by the side of a field-well in a village, Racherla near Turimella. The soil surrounding the well is wet and a good water source for the plant. Further, a few individuals of this species found in relatively less-water or moisture-saturated soils quickly dried up or disappeared while in vegetative growth or during mid-flowering season. It indicates that the plant is successful only in wet habitats and shows full vegetative and flowering growth as long as there is availability of water or moisture in the soil. Attempts to test this phenomenon in a green house by growing this plant experimentally have been made without success. Because the seeds of this plant did not germinate in different treatments, and it appears that there are unknown barriers for breaking dormancy and subsequent germination. The plant, however, was tested by sowing its seeds in the backyard of the first author’s house. The seeds sown on 16.7.1992 germinated on 19.7.1992. It suggests that there is an unknown chemical stimulus present in the soil to quickly break the seed coat of A. indica for immediate germination (within three days from the day of sowing). The seeds germinated only in rainy season which bringforth water- saturation to the soil. Rrst flowers on the plant raised from the seeds were observed on 7.11.1992 and the plants continued to flower until 18.2.1993; they, then, showed withering. At this stage, we removed 3/4 of the aerial part of some of the plants to test whether it would again start to regrow immediately from the same stalk. Surprisingly, it started to produce leaves as there is enough moisture in the soil. This response from the plant shows that it is capable of producing leaves and flowers as long as there is enough soil-moisture once it first appeared following the first rains. The last flowers of the plant, however, are small and less conspicuous compared to the first flowers. The plant flowers annually on a regular basis at about the same dates each year and such on-time phenology according to Opler et al. (1976) is due to endogenous rhythms. It naturally starts vegetative growth in October. After a month’s vegetative phase, it begins to flower everyday until it withers in January provided there is enough soil-moisture throughout. The plant ceased flowering when there was little moisture and reflowered again when the soil was wet. The soil- moisture in which the plant grows is dependent upon water flow in streams which in turn, is associated with rain. From this account, it is evident that the rainfall plays a key role in regulating flowering in A. indica. The flowering episodes in this plant due to water stress is in a way similar to typical episodic flowering as a function of rainfall found in some tropical plants, mostly the herbs and shrubs (Opler et al. 1976). These authors view the occurrence of episodic flowering as a bet-hedging strategy in the face of uncertainty in the environment. The uncertainty includes a variety of factors, principally the soil, the weather conditions and the pollinator availability (Gentry 1974). In A. indica such unusual flowering episodes within a flowering season as a function of watpr stress is exhibited in the presence of diverse pollinator species in abundance. Our observations show that the pollinators and other foragers regularly visited the plant until the completion of first episodic flowering. The foragers infrequently foraged on this plant in the next successive episodes. Each of these episodes produced only few flowers per plant and could not draw attention of the foragers. It, therefore, suggests that the phenomenon acts negatively for the success of reproduction in A. indica and totally contrasts with the observation of Gentry (1974) as mentioned earlier. Although rainfall has a great influence on vegetative growth and flowering, it does not regulate the timings of anthesis and anther dehiscence. The two events are postponed by about an hour on cloudy and foggy days. Pollinator activity is similarly delayed. Our study conclude that flowering in A. indica is totally a function of rainfall. This serious drawback cannot be corrected in natural conditions but can be corrected in experimental conditions or in our fields and gardens by periodically wetting the soil. Its allied 476 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) species, A. malabarica with similar flowering phenology and floral features presents a different story, details of which will be presented in a separate paper. Regardless, A. indica is a good ornamental by its pretty size and showy, purple flowers. The plant is a good source of nutrients for diverse species of insects and sunbirds for about 3-4 months. The first author thanks the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi for money support through Pool Scheme. April 30, 1993 RAJU J.S. ALURI C. SUBBA REDDI Department of Environmental Sciences, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam 530 003. References Gentry, A.H. (1974): Coevolutionary patterns in central American Bignoniacea. Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 61: 728-759. Huang, T.C. & W.T. Cheng (1978): Labiatae. In: Flora of Taiwan 449-451, Epoch publishing Company Limited, Taipei, Taiwan. Opler, P.A., G.W. Frankie & H.G. Baker (1976): Rainfall as a factor in the release, timing, and synchronization of anthesis by tropical trees and shrubs. J. Biogeography 3: 231-236. Ridley, H.N. (1967): The Dispersal of Plants throughout the World. L. Reeve & Company Limited, Kent. Uphof, J.C.T. (1968): The Dictionary of Economic Plants. Stechert- Hafner Service Agency, Inc. New York. 36. DOUM PALMS AT BHAMGARH IN INTERIOR RAJASTHAN After reading in the Botany Notes of the April 1992 JBNHS (Vol. 89 No. 1 p. 151-2) that doum palms are Threatened Plants of India, and unusual in interior areas like West Khandesh, I invite your readers' attention to an extensive dense old stand of doum palms in Rajasthan. They lie along the banks of a small stream feeding the temple tank at Bhamgarh, the ruined capital of the mystic Queen Ratnavati said to have been destroyed by earthquake, not war, these little-known ruins are extensive and interesting. Bhamgarh is 45 km south of Sariska and 139 km north of Sawai Madhopur, at an unmarked westward U-turn near some scenic cenotaphs on the road, just north of Golkabad, a white-marble carving centre. Many went forth as merchant seamen from Bhangarh. Once, in a terrible storm, they called upon their saintly queen, who "lifted their ship out of the water in her hand" to safety. Her husband the king demanded an explanation for the water suddenly dripping from her arm as they played chess. His disbelief in her story (later "confirmed by returning sailors) and other events led to her exhortation to her people to quickly abandon their doomed city, she jumped to her death from the battlements just before the earthquake. The doum palms must have been brought to Bhamgarh by these numerous sailors. It would be worth inquiring whether there was a similar tradition of residents going to sea from the West Khandesh villages near the (unspecified doum palm grove. July 27, 1993 ALMTIRA H. PATEL 50, Kothanur Bagalur Road, Bangalore 560 007. 37. THE BRANCHING PALM IN DIU One of the most striking features of Diu are the dense stands of the Branching Doum Palm. From records in the journal very few botanists seem to know about this palm as being plentiful on Diu and across on the mainland from Una to Kodinar. That the palm was more widespread along the Saurashtra coast can be conjectured from scattered specimens at Veraval, near Miani north of Porbandar, a couple of badly damaged specimens near Dwarka and a fine one Beyt Dwarka off Okha. The fruit has a thick fiberous pulp which can be sucked. This replaces the fibers of the coconut. The hard nut itself is comparatively small about half that of the coconut. Germination takes place by the embryonic palm moving outside the hard nut. The root rapidly elongates into the soil before the shoot unfurls above the soil. An umbilical chord like connection absorbs the nutrition stored in the hard nut. This type of germination resembles that in the date palm. May 1, 1993 LAVKUMAR KHACHER 646, Vastunirman, Gandhinagar, 382 022. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES 477 38. THE LOCATION OF DRUDE'S LINE IN RAJASTHAN Introduction Drude’s Line- the line limiting the Perso- Arabian and Indo-Malayan elements, runs along the Aravallis and extends southwards to the Gulf of Cambay (Drude 1890). The location of this line along the Aravallis has been confirmed by Blatter and Hallberg (1920), Blatter et al. (1929), Biswas and Rao (1953), Meher-Homji (1970) and Bhandari (1978). However, Nair and Nathawat (1957), Nair and Kanodia (1959), Mulay (1960), Vyas (1962, 1964, 1965, 1967), Ramdeo (1969) and Singh (1977) prefer to shift Drude’s line beyond the eastern boundary of Rajasthan. The taxa occurring in Rajasthan were first listed from the available literature and herbarium specimens. Following this the distribution of these taxa in the world was noted and interpretted to study the phytogeographical status of Rajasthan. Observations The flora of Rajasthan comprises 1714 species, including 67 naturalised species of alien origin. The Perso- Arabian element in Rajasthan is represented by 207 species and Indo-Malayan by 272 species. From Table L (showing the percentage of floristic elements) it is seen that the Perso- Arabian element first decreases from west to east up to the Eastern Rajasthan Uplands and then again increases in Madhya Bharat Plateau, followed by a subsequent decline in the Malwa Plateau. The Indo-Malayan element decreases from east to west, the trend being broken by a sharp increase in the Aravalli region. the eastern element (Indo-Malayan) exceeds that of the western element (Perso- Arabian). It follows that the line of demarcation between the Perso-Arabian and Indo- Malayan elements runs along the western flank of the Aravallis. Drude’s line marks the limits of the two floristic elements (eastern and western), it does not represent the 1:1 ratio zone for these elements. In fact, it has been observed (Sharma 1967), that this zone is a place of confluence of the Perso-Arabian and Indo-Malayan elements, the Indo-Malayan element dominates the moist shady habitats and the western element colonizes the sandy habitats within the same general area. Though not using the phrase ‘Drude’s line’, Burkill’s (1924), following remark about a line restricting the Malayan element, suggests that this line has been shifting with climatic changes in the past: and now his (Hooker’s) new figures suggests another line, say from southern Gujarat to Nepal Himalayas sagging southward in the centre line that under increasing dryness might sag right to the south of India, restricting without driving out the flora, which Hooker calls ‘Malayan’ .... If that line at one time sagged enough on the map for this and the patanas of Ceylon suggest that it did - it has retreated as well as advanced. Singh (1977) has stated that several plants of Afro- Arabian origin have recently invaded the western desert. He further opines that in the near future the western element would be recorded in higher percentage from eastern Rajasthan. A similar view has been expressed by Mani (1974) regarding the faunal affinities of the region. While discussing the Western Borderlands, he states: Table 1 THE VARIATION OF PERSO-ARABIAN AND INDO-MALAYAN ELEMENTS IN THE DIFFERENT GEOGRAPHICAL REGIONS (PER CENT OF INDIGENOUS SPECIES IN GEOGRAPHICAL REGION) Floristic element Mamsthali Bagar Aravalli Eastern Madhya Malwa ranges Rajasthan Uplands Bharat Plateau Indo-Malayan 10.41 12.14 16.91 17.53 16.01 18.32 Perso- Arabai an 17.26 16.94 10.20 8.06 13.05 8.62 Geographical regions of Rajasthan - Source: S. Sharma in litt. The Perso-Arabian element is dominant over the "This transition has been gradually shifting and fanning out Indo-Malayan element in the region west of Aravallis. In eastwards and is at present practically at the Aravalli strike in the the Aravallis and the eastern region, the proportion of Indo-Gangetic Divide." 478 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) The combination of progressive dessication (Randhawa 1945) and biotic interference in this region is likely to result in a shift of Drude’s line. However, the location of Drude’s line along the Aravallis has been reaffirmed for the extant flora of the area under study. Refer Bhandari, M.M. (1978): Flora of the Indian Desert, pp. 1-471 (2 ed. 1990). Biswas, K. & R.B. Rao (1953): Raj putana desert vegetation. Proc. natn. Inst. Sci. India 19: 411-421. Blatter, E. & Hallberg, F. (1920): Theflora of the Indian desert (Jodhpur and Jaisalmer). J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 26: 968-987. Blotter E., C. Mccann & T.S. Sabnis (1929): Flora of Indus Delta. Indian Botanical Society, Madras. Burkill, I.H. (1924): the Botany of Abor Expedition. Rec. Bot. Surv. India. 10: 1-420. *Drude, O. (1890): Handbuch der Pflanzengeographie, Stuutgart. Mani, M.S. (1974): Ecology and Biogeography in India. Dr. W. Junk, B.V. Publishers, The Hague. MfflER-HoMJi, V.M. (1970): Some phytogeographic aspects of Rajasthan, India. Vegetatio Acta Geo-Botanica, 21: 299-320. Mulay, B.N. (1960): Patterns of Plant distribution in Rajasthan. Memoirs of Indian bot. Soc. Ill: 9-12. Nair, N.C. & Kanodia, K.C. (1959): A study of the vegetation of Ajit Sagar Bundh, Rajasthan. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 56: Acknowledgements Thanks to Dr. Shiva Sharma for his valuable criticisms and guidance. The financial assistance provided by C.S.I.R. New Delhi is gratefully acknowledged. September 28, 1993 ALKA AWASTBJ Department of Botany, University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, India. ENCES 524-557. Nair, N.C. & Nathawat, G.S. (1957): Vegetation of Harshnath hills. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 54: 281-301. Ramdeo, K.D. (1969): Contribution to the flora of Udaipur (S.E. Raj.). Udaipur, pp. 1-70. Randhawa, M.S. (1945): Progressive dessication of northern India in historic times. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 45: 558- 565. Sharma, S. (1967): Some facts about the Phytogeography of Rajasthan. Univ. Raj. Studies Biol. Sci. Bot. 1965: 25-32. Singh, V. (1977): Phytogeographical reassessment on the flora of Rajasthan. J. Bombay nat. Hist. Soc. 74: 444-452. Vyas, L.N. (1962): Vegetation of Jai-Samand Lake, Alwar. Proc. Rajasthan. Acad. Sci. 9: 45-60. Vyas, L.N. (1964): Studies on the Phytogeographical affinities of the flora of north east Rajasthan. Indian For. 90: 535- 538. Vyas, L.N. (1965): Vegetation of Parashuram hills and its neighbourhood. J. Indian bot. Soc. XUV (2): 149-158. 39. NEANOTIS LANCIFOUA (HOOK. F.) LEWIS - AN ADDITION TO THE FLORA OF ANDHRA PRADESH ( With a text figure) While working on the Flora of Andhra Pradesh we collected a specimen of Rubiaceae which we found difficult to identify. We sent the specimen to Kew where Mrs. Diane Bridson identified it as Neanotis concanensis Daniel & Vajravelu with a remark ‘the small seeds stick together in a mass to resemble one larger single seed’ . The identification was later confirmed by Prof. V.V. Sivarajan of Calicut University. When we examiend the literature we found some nomenclatural confusion. All the 14 species of Anotis DC. originally included in that genus by de Candolle are referable to an earlier valid genus, namely Arcytophyllum and a few others which are distinctly native to New World. None are associated with the Asian genus Anotis auct. Therefore W.H. Lewis (in Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 53: 32. 1966) proposed a new generic name Neanotis for the related but distinct species indigeneous to Asia and transferred all such species (including Indian taxa) to his new genus. The very name Hedyotis lancifolia Dalz., 1850 is preoccupied by a different plant named by Schumm. & Thonn. 1827. Hence it is not available for the plant under Anotis DC. Neanotis concanensis Daniel & Vajravelu is a superfluous name, since they cited Dalzel’s basionym instead of Hook, f.’s Anotis lancifolia. W.H. Lewis has validly published the combination based on Anotis lancifolia Hook. f. which is the next available name for the plant as basionym. Hence the name Neanotis lancifolia (Hook.f.) W.H. Lewis is correct. Gamble has not reported even a single species of Neanotis from the region which is now called as Andhra Pradesh. Later Rolla Rao and Hara Sreeramulu (1986) reported Neanotis calycina from Srikakulam district. There are two specimens of this species at CAL, one collected by V. Narayana Swamy and Party from Rampa hills of east Godavari district and another by N.P. Balakrishnan collected from Sunkarimetta of Araku in Visakhapatnam district. Bir Bahadur (quoted from Rao et al. 1983) reported the occurrence of Neanotis montholoni (Hook.f.) Lewis from Nizamabad district. Pullaiah et al. (1992) also reported the occurrence of N montholoni from Adilabad district. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES 479 480 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) Our collection of Neanotis lancifolia (Hook.f.) Lewis is the first from Andhra Pradesh. Gamble reported the occurrence of this species from the Western Ghats in the hills of Mysore. The present report extends its distribution. With the present report of N. lancifolia the genus Neanotis is represented by three species in the State of Andhra Pradesh. Since this species is of rare occurrence and it may occur in the intervening region a citation description and illustration is given for its easy identification. Neanotis lancifolia (Hook.f.) Lewis in Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 53: 59. 1966. Anotis lancifolia Hook, f. R. Brit. India 3: 73. 1880; Gamble, FI. Pres. Madras 605 (427). Hedy otis lancifolia Dalz. in Hook. J. Bot. 2: 135. 1850 non Schumm. & Thonn. 1827. Neanotis concanensis Daniel & Vajravelu in J. Econ. Tax. Bot. 3: 675. 1982. Erect annual herb, diffusely branched, 30 cm tall; stems and branches sparsely hairy. Leaves membranous, 3-5 x 0.6- 1.5 cm, ovate-lanceolate, green, sparsely hairy on the above and paler and hairy on the nerves beneath, base acute, margin entire, acuminate at apex; stipules pubescent, shortly bristly. Flowers purple in terminal and axillary cymes; calyx lobes 4, 2 mm, lanceolate, hairy; corolla lobes 4, 2.5 mm, tube short, 2 mm, triangular- oblong; stamens 4, 0.75 mm, on the mouth of corolla, included; ovary 1 mm, style filiform, 3.75 mm, stigmas 2, linear, 1.25 mm. Capsules compressed, 4x2 mm, broad, much broader than long; seeds 2 x 1.5 mm, ellipsoid, convex on the back, pitted, black. (Fig. 1). Rare, in moist locations in Adilabad district. FI. & Fr.: October-December. Sone (Adilabad), T. Pullaiah & P.V. Prasanna 4029 (K & SKU). 21 July, 1993 M.S. GAYATHRI T. PULLAIAH P.V. PRASANNA Department of Botany, Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Anantapur 515 003, A.P. References Pullaiah, T., P.V. Prasanna & G. Obulesu (1992): Flora of work in Andhra Pradesh. Bull. Bot. Surv. 23: 90-95. Adilabad district, Andhra Pradesh, India. Delhi. Rao, S. Rolla & Sreeramulu, S. Hara (1986): Flora of Srikakdlam Rao, P.N., V.S. Raju & R.S. Rao (1983): Floristic Research district, Andhra Pradesh, India. Meerut. 40. PULICARIA FOLIOLOSA DC., A NEW DISTRIBUTIONAL RECORD TO PENINSULAR INDIA (With a text-figure) While exploring the flora of Nizamabad district, Andhra Pradesh, India we collected a rare taxon belonging to the family Asteraceae which was identified as Pulicaria foliolosa DC. The species in the Gangetic plains and Central India (Hook. 1881, Rao et al. 1988) and has not been reported from Peninsular India so far. Hence the present report extends its distribution to Peninsular India. The taxon is easily distinguishable from other species of the genus Pulicaria in having capitula with tubular ray florets and mostly spathulate leaves. Citation, detailed description, lillustration and phenological data are provided to enable easy identification. Pulicaria folioiosa DC., Prodr. 5:480. 1836; Hook, f., FL Brit. India 3: 298. 1881. Exact annual herb, to 40 cm. Root stock woody, stem striate, pubescent, branchlets villous. Leaves alternate, sessile, oblong, oblanceolale-spathulate, 2.0-7 .5 x 0.1 - 1.5 cm, sparsely scabrid, base narrowed, amplexicaul, apex apiculate, recurved, obscurely serrulate. Capituld solitary or few, to 5 x 6 mm, terminal, heterogamous, pedunculate; peduncles with multicellular hairs and minute sessile glands. Involucre campanulate. Phyllaries linear, 3-seriate, not exceeding the florets, acute; outer ones to 3 x 1 mm, covered with multi-cellular hairs and sessile glands; inner ones to 5 x 2 mm, sparsely hairy with densely segregated colleters and sessile glands. Receptacle to 5 mm across, pitted. Outer florets female, inner ones bisexual. Pappus 2-seriate, outer forming a fimbriate cup, inner 4-7 minutely setose. Bisexual florets: up to 260 in number, tubular, glabrous to 4 mm; lobes 5, deeply cleft, triangular covered with colleters, acute, papillate. Stamens 5, subexserted; anther linear, to 2 mm, base tailed, tails unequal, longer than the thickened portion of filament, often branched, hood gradually narrow, acute. Ovary el liptic- oblong, style to 3 mm, subexserted, bifid; stigma minutely muricate, acute. Female florets: up to 180 in number, tubular, 3-lobed, lobes covered with colleters, acute, papillate. Achenes elliptic- oblong, to 1 mm, puberulous with unicellular hairs. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES 481 Fig. 1. Pulicaria foliolosa DC. A. Twig; B. Outer involucral bract; C. Inner involucral bract; D. Bisexual floret; E. Bisexual floret - Gynoecium; F. Anther; G. Female floret; H. Female floret - Gynoecium. 482 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) Occasional in moist locations especially along the river banks in Nizamabad district (Andhra Pradesh). FI. & Fr.: September -March. Representative specimen: Kandakurthi (Godavari River banks), B. Ravi Prasad Rao Acc. No. 7251. Acknowledgement One of us (BR) is grateful to University Refer Hooker, J.D. (1881): Compositae: In: Flora of British India. London. 297-300. Rao, R.R., H.J. Chowdhery, P.K. Hajra, S. Kumar, P.C. Pant, Grants Commission, New Delhi for financial assistance. September 2, 1993 C. PRABHAKAR RAJU B. RAVI PRASAD RAO R.R. VENKATA RAJU Department of Botany, Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Ananatapur 515 003. :nces B.D. Naithani, B.P. Uniyal, R. Mathur & S.K. Mamgain (1988): Florae Indicae En umeratio - Asteraceae. Calcutta. BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY Hombill House, S.B. Singh Road, Bombay 400 023 109TH ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR 1ST APRIL 1992 TO 31ST MARCH 1993 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE FOR 1992-93 President Prof. PV. Bole Vice Presidents Mr. Humayun Abdulali (Dec. 1992) Mr. Kisan Mehta (Dec. 1992) Ms. D.S. Variava Dr. Pratap Saraiya (Jan. 1993) Mr. Divyabhanusinh Chavda (Jan. 1993) Hon. Secretary Dr. (Ms) Meena Haribal (22-12-92) Mr. J.C. Daniel (From 28-12-92) Hon. Treasurer Mr. Chandrakant Wakankar (Feb. 1993) Mr. Sunil Zaveri Director Dr. Jay Sam ant MEMBERS Mr. M.R. Almeida, Dr. Erach K. Bharucha, Dr. Ashok Kothari, Mr. Sunjoy Monga, Dr. Shashi Kumar Menon, Prof. Parvish Pandya, Mr. Unmesh Brahme (Dec. ’92), Dr. B.F. Chhapgar, Mr. Nandan Maluste, Mr. Shrikant Pol, Dr. A.M. Bhagwat, Mr. T.V. Sowrirajan, Mr. Yogi Andley The Director of Archaeology & Museums, Govt, of Maharashtra The Secretary, Ministry of Environment & Forests, Govt, of India ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS Dr. D.K. Lahiri Choudhury, Prof. Raghavendra Gadagkar, Dr. Anil Gore, Prof. K.C. Malhotra, Dr. A.N.D. Nanavati, Mr. Ulhas Rane, Dr. E.G. Silas, Lt. Gen. Baljit Singh, AVSM, VSM, Mr. Samar Singh, Mr. Romulus Whitaker AUDITORS M/s Habib & Company, Chartered Accountants, Bombay 400 003 484 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED ON 3 1ST MARCH 1993 MEMBERSHIP The membership for the year 1992-93 were as follows: Type of Membership 1990 1991 1992 Ordinary (Indian) 1584 1584 1527 Student 308 416 403 Life (Indian) 1148 1261 1305 Corporate 75 75 32 Compound Corporate 113 113 111 Family - 46 57 Ordinary (Foreign) 140 54 15 Life (Foreign) 210 213 211 The membership particularly of ordinary members has stagnated at about 1500. This is now receiving the serious attention of your Committee. Your assistance and advise on this account would be welcome. MEMBERS PROGRAMMES Annual Nature Camps One of the main field activities of the Society greatly appreciated by Members are the camps. It is often difficult to accommodate all interested members. This year. Annual Nature Camps were arranged at Panwali in the Garhwal Himalayas, Ranthambore National Park and Keoladeo National Park, Namdapha National park, Arunachal Pradesh and Little Rann of Kutch. Overnight Camps Overnight nature camps are unfortunately available only for Bombay members. We shall in future try through members elsewhere to arrange for overnight outings for our members in other parts of the country. The organisation of such programmes is under consideration. Overnight weekend camps were arranged at Mahuli Fort, Rehkuri near Pune, Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary, Malshej Ghat, Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary, Nane Ghat, Raigad and Toma, Panchgani and Dapoli Weekend Outings Weekend outings were largely nature conservation and wildlife preservation awareness outings. The areas visited on weekends were Borivli National Park, Yewoor and Nagla Trail, Karnala, Kankeshwar, Dharamtar and Goregaon creek, Vihar lake. Outings were arranged to Godrej land to see mangrove flora and fauna and to Borivli National Park for monsoon flora. A seashore outing was arranged to see coastal marine fauna. The monthly bird count programme was arranged to monitor resident and migratory birds of the Borivli National Park. Weekend outings are also one of the programme that require wider dissemination. Such outings need to be organised in different parts of the country. Bird Banding Programme One of the major activities of the BNHS has been the ringing of migratory and other species of birds in various parts of the country. This programme was started in 1959 by Dr Salim Ali and we have now ringed over 3 lakh birds of over A.G.M. 1992-93 — PROCEEDINGS AND ACCOUNTS 485 200 species. The recovery of our ringed birds in Russia and elsewhere have shown us the movements of migratory birds between India and countries to the North. It is now necessary to extend this programme and we held bird banding training camps for members so that a larger number of trained individuals will be available for field work in this very useful field programme. Film/Slide Shows Several video and 16 mm films on wildlife and nature were screened for members. Slide shows and talks on a wide variety of subjects like monsoon flora; trek to Rara lake in Nepal; rare birds of Brahmaputra valley; Rio Conference; wildlife protection act and its implementation; why conserve bats?. Oceanic expedition; Asian elephants; butterflies and how to study them? were arranged during the year. Dr Gren Lucas, Deputy Director, Kew Botanical Garden gave a lecture on Kew Botanical Garden in 21st .Century, and Dr Roger Clarke, a Visiting Scientist from the Owl & Hawk Trust gave a lecture on Birds of Prey - Harriers. A panel discussion on recently launched Project Elephant was arranged. The talk “Arunachal pradesh, a ravaged frontier” brought out conservation issues. Environment Awareness week was organised jointly with Max Muller Bhavan, Bombay. Films on environment, pollution, etc., followed by panel discussions by eminent environmentalists were arranged. World Environmental Day and Wildlife Week Wildlife Week was celebrated and public awareness programmes like Quiz for children, know your trees, and panel discussions on current subjects were arranged. Slogan competition on “Save the Earth” was arranged jointly with British Council, Bombay Division. Exhibition Wildlife Photograph Exhibition: “Beautiful People”, a one man show of nature and wildlife photographs was arranged by Mr Hemendra Shah, a BNHS member and photo journalist from Ahmedabad. The exhibition was inaugurated by His Excellency the Governor of Maharashtra. Bird Stamps Exhibition: An exhibition of postal stamps on birds was organised on 12th November to celebrate the 96th birth anniversary of the late Dr Salim Ali. Mr N Chaturvedi and Mr Farrukh Shah displayed birds stamps on the occasion. Release of postal stamps on Birds of Prey: The release of a set of four stamps depicting of Birds of Prey was held at Hombill House. The Governor was the Chief Guest on this occasion. The Post Master General, Maharashtra, presided. Mr. J.P. Irani, a life member of the Society, also well known for painting birds, was honoured by the Society on this occasion. We thank the Forest officials specifically Mr Walke for allowing us to conduct some educational programmes at Borivli National Park; the In-charge of Godrej Park; Film Librarian — British Council and other officials connected with “Save the Earth” slogan competitors; the Governor’s Secretariat for arranging the Governor’s visit to BNHS, the Director and officials of Max Muller Bhavan and forest officials connected with National Parks and Sanctuaries where our nature camps were held. The Chief Wildlife Warden, Tamil Nadu for permitting us to conduct Bird Banding Programme. SALIM ALI NATURE CONSERVATION FUND Research Projects Funded 1. The following two research projects were funded under a special scheme to assist scientists of the Society: a. “An Ecological Investigation of the Avian Community of the Sriharikota Island” - Prakash Rao b. Conservation Perspectives of Pulicat Lake with Respect to its Avifauna” — K.K. Mohapatra. 2. A small project for studying the Kanakeshwar Hills near Kihim, one of the favourite spots of Dr. Salim Ali, was initiated to find ways for better preservation of the temple forest. 486 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST SOCIETY, Vol 91 (1994) Reports 1. Large Dams Project: Kalpavriksha has submitted a preliminary report on one (Ukai in Gujarat) of the three sites studied under the S ANCF supported project for “Post Construction Evaluation of Large Dams". A Comprehensive report is under preparation. 2. Pooyamkiitty: The report on Pooyamkutty in Kerala, undertaken by R. Sugathan, is critical of the proposed dam. Beside, destruction of tropical moist deciduous and semi evergreen forests including their reed brakes, the dam may lead to local extinction of some endemic flora and fauna of the region. The reservoir will also interfere with migration of terrestrial animals. Displacement and loss of reed and bamboo area will adversely affect the local human population. BNHS is trying to create public awareness against this and other large dams in the country. 3. Bhimashankar: The final report of the Study on the Wildlife — People Conflict in the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary by Renee Borges and Ulhas Rane was received. Beside other issues, the Society has taken up the case of Karvi exploitation from the sanctuary with the authorities. 4. The Dangs: Reports of the following two projects undertaken by E.K. Bharucha and Sejal Worah partly funded by SANCF were received: (i) The Ecology and Management of Fragmented Forests in the Dangs, South Gujarat, India, (ii) Forest and Land Use Survey of the dangs, Gujarat - Using low level systematic aerial reconnaissance (with W.A. Rodgers). Other Environmental Issues 1. Narmada: SANCF continued its support to the movement against damming Narmada and meetings of the environmental activists were regularly organised at Hombill House. 2. Nagarhole and Manas: The Society joined others in condemning burning of Nagarhole National Park in Karnataka and destructive activities at Manas Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam and started a campaign against these activities. Networking and Documentation SANCF maintained contact with several environmental NGOs and government departments of the country. The activity of SANCF, particularly its environmental, workshops for the officers of the Indian Army, were presented at the IUCN sponsored workshop on South and Southeast Asia Network for Environmental Education (SASEANEE) held at CEE, Ahmedabad, from 10 to 12 February 1993. A workshop on Human Right, Environment and Law was planned at Bangalore in June 1993 by the Bombay based Human Rights Law network. BNHS is one of the co-convenors of the workshop. Seminars, Training Workshops and Lectures 1. Environment and Nature conservation Workshops for the Indian Army: Three workshops for the officers of the following Commands were organised. a. Southern Command, 16 to 23 June 1992. NDA, Khadakvasla. b. Northern command, 15 to 21 October 1992, Paiampur (H.P.). c. Western Command, 13 to 19 November 1992, Kota. The main aim was to train the officers for spreading the message of nature conservation among the ranks and file. They were also encouraged to take up local environmental issue at the place of their posting. About 40 officers from different units of the respective commands attended each workshop beside resource persons from BNHS, Army and local institutes. 2. Environmental Workshop for Social Communication Media Students of Sophia Polytechnic, Bombay, was organised on 21 and 22 September 1992 at the Society. 3. Bombay Earth Forum: A week long programme of talks, film shows, debates, exhibitions etc. was organised in collaboration with the British Council Division, British Deputy High Commission, Bombay during the 1992 wildlife week. 4. Lectures: Dr. Amotz Zahavi, the renowned behavioural scientists from Tel Aviv University, A.G.M. 1992-93 — PROCEEDINGS AND ACCOUNTS 487 delivered the Salim Ali Lecture on “Messages in Bird Displays” on 7 September 1992. Two lectures on “Biodiversity”, one by Mr David Ferguson of US Fish & Wildlife Service on 29 May 1992 (jointly with USIS) and other by Mr. Ashish Kothari of Kalpavriksha on 1 February 1993, were organised. NATURAL HISTORY STUDIES Three major projects were funded namely: “Survey of Reptiles in Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Borivli” by Mrs Gitanjali Hora for a period of nine months in 1992-93. The main objectives of her study are (1) to prepare a checklist of the existing reptile species along with their crude abundance in the study area, (2) to correlate reptile species diversity with disturbance in the study area, (3) to compare the reptile species richness and habitat indicator species, extinct or nearly extinct species and potential species for reintroduction in the study area. A total of 31 species of reptiles (which includes 11 species of lizards, one species of turtle and 19 species of snakes) were identified to occur in the Sanjay Gandhi National Park based on the study conducted by her from 7th February to 8th June 1993. The second: “Ecology of Amphibians of Northern Western Ghats, with special reference to the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Borivli, Bombay” for a period of two years from 1993 to 1995 was by Mr. A.G. Sekar. The main objectives of his study are (1) to study the species richness, relative abundance and species diversity of amphibian fauna of the study area, (2) to study the habitat and microhabitat preference by the amphibian fauna of the study area, (3) to study the biometrics of the breeding populations for certain species and (4) to study the breeding biology of amphibians of the study area. The work on indepth study on eight species of amphibians is in progress. The third project was on “Insect Fauna of the Borivli National Park” by Mr N. Chaturvedi. Documentation of Insect fauna of Borivli National Park which started in November 1990 is continuing. Several aspects of the ecology of species of butterflies such as seasonal population, feeding and migration were studied. Bugs and ants were studied in detail. The final report is expected after the study is over. In addition financial assistance was extended to members and staff to attend seminars and conferences namely for Mr V C Ambedkar to attend Maharashtra Pakshi Mitra Sammelan at Nagpur, Mr A G Sekar to attend the International Conference on Amphibia and Reptiles at Bhubaneshwar and to Mr Manoj Muni to participate in the International bat Research Conference at Madurai. PROJECTS During the year, the BNHS handled 13 major and minor projects and surveys. The progress of research work under each of these projects is detailed below: 1 . Birds of Prey Project Scientist In-Charge: Dr Vibhu Prakash A 3 month extensive survey of raptors in the wildlife sanctuaries all over India was conducted by 2 teams of scientists. The main states covered were Goa, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Orissa and West Bengal. Gujarat, Ladakh and Andaman & Nicobar islands were also covered. Breeding biology of raptors was undertaken in Corbett National Park, but could not be completed due to terrorist problems in the area. A static camp was established at Anaimalai Sanctuary and endangered target species were studied up to March 1993. The tenure of the project ended in March 1993 but writing of the report was undertaken up to June 1993 on No Cost Extension basis. U.S. Advisor, Mr William Clark joined the survey team to the Andamans. 2. Grassland Ecology Project Scientist In-Charge: Dr A.R. Rahmani Research under this project is continuing in collaboration with AMU. Field stations were established at Dahod (Gujarat), Nannaj (Maharashtra), Rollapadu (Andhra Pradesh), Dudhwa (Uttar Pradesh) and at Fulay-Chhari (Kutch). U.S. Advisor, Prof. Mark Behen visited Dahod and Nannaj field stations. 488 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Voi 91 (1994) 3. Bird Migration Project Scientists In-Charge: Dr S. Balachandran Work on this project concluded in July 1992. Executive Summary of the final report is being prepared. 4. Elephant Ecology Project Scientist In-Charge: Mr Ajai Desai Project ended in September 1992. Annual Executive Summary was prepared and copies were given to U S Advisors during the Research Advisory Panel meeting in November 1992. Final Technical Report is awaited. 5. Elephant Ecology (Radio Telemetry) Project Scientist In-Charge: Mr Ajai Desai Radio Telemetry Study of elephants was a part of the Elephant Ecology Project. This study was continued from October 1992 onwards in collaboration with SACON. SACON funded the study for 6 months from October 1992 to March 1993. a report on capturing and radio collaring of elephants and a progress report on telemetry studies for the period October 1992 to December 1992 has been submitted. A summary report for SACON for the period October 1992/March 1993 is awaited. 6. Point Calimere Ecology Project Scientist In-Charge: Dr Y N Rao This project ended in June 1991. A draft final report was sent to the funding authorities for comments from Advisors. The second half of the final technical report has been prepared. 7. Bird Hazard Research Cell Scientists In-Charge: Dr Robert B Grubh Dr S M Satheesan The work of the Bird Hazard Research Cell included: i) Identifying Bird Strike Remnants from both Military and Civil Aviations. ii) Giving advice and guidance to aviation authorities and reducing bird menace. iii) Offering advice and guidance to aviation personnel and attending bird strike committee meetings. The BNHS conducted a Bird Strike Prevention Training Course for aviation officials at Delhi from 23rd to 28th July 1992. A report of this training course has been prepared. Extension to the BHRC has been granted by the funding agencies. 8. Enviromroeetal Impact Assessment (EIA) Scientist In-charge: Dr Robert B. Grubh Environmental Impact Assessment study was conducted at the site of the proposed Lignite mining at Barsingar (Rajasthan) for Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd. The study period was from November 1991 to August 1992. A report incorporating the relevant findings and pertinent recommendations has been prepared. 9. Endangered Turtles of Pondicherry Scientist In-charge: Dr. S Balachandran This study has been initiated to record different species of turtles found along the coast of Pondicherry, to educate/inform people living in this coastal area and initiate conservation measures and also to provide protection to nests and nesting sites in collaboration with the Department of Animal Husbandry, Government of Pondicherry. The study started in December 1992 and is to continue till August 1993. 10. Bird Communities of Sriharikota Scientist In-Charge: Mr Prakash Rao This ISRO funded project has the following objectives: - To investigate the avian community of Sriharikota Island and its habitat types. - Documenting the movement, distribution and behaviour of birds within the island, in relation to biotic and abiotic factors. - To study the winter migration of birds. To investigate the exotic plantations occurring within the island and its probable impact on the avian community. The study started in January ’93 and will continue till 1994. 11. Harrier Project Scientist In-Charge: Mr. Asad Akhtar Sponsored by the Hawk and Owl Trust, UK, to study roosting harriers at Velavadar National Park (Gujarat). Study was started in November 1992. Duration of study 6 months. 2 naturalists from U.K. who sponsored this project visited Velavadar National Park. A.G.M. 1992-93 — PROCEEDINGS AND ACCOUNTS 489 12. Study of Bats Scientist In-Charge: Mr Manoj Muni Sponsored by the Harrison Zoological Museum, U.K. This survey was for a short period from 4th March to 12th April 1993. During the survey the team members found the rare species of bat, Latidens salimali. 13. Wetlands of India Scientist In-Charge: Dr Jay Sam ant This short term project funded by UNDP and sponsored by Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, was to recommend strategy for conservation of wetlands, mangroves, and coral reefs in India. Preliminary draft recommendations has been submitted to MOE, GOI. UNIVERSITY STUDIES The University department which started functioning in 1957 is likely to have its quota of student registration increased for research in Zoology. The Botany section which came into existence in 1989, is being considered for permanent recognition by the University. The details of the students who qualified or are working for a higher degree are given in Table. NATURE EDUCATION The Nature Education Scheme of the Society which was started in 1948 continued to be active covering Kalyan and Ambernath and Teachers’ Training Colleges in Bombay. During the year approximately 8000 students took advantage of our different activities. Apart from students nearly 200 trainee teachers participated in our training programme for environmental education. Our programmes also covered rural areas of Maharashtra as well as personnel of the Army and Navy. In addition to routine activities the World Forestry Day was celebrated with a quiz programme. Eighteen schools participated and students of Girton High School won the competition while the students from A.K. Joshi High School, Thane and Bharda New High School, Bombay were joint runners up. An Environment Awareness Course with the theme “Ponds and Forests for Prosperity and Posterity” was conducted in January 1992 for college lecturers and professors from Kanyakumari district in Tamil Nadu. A detailed report was prepared and copies were sent to the Collector, Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu; DFO, Kanyakumari district and other active resource persons. Interaction with Scouts Ten students from 10th standard were examined for the proficiency badges (friends to animals) and a talk illustrated with slides on “Our Wildlife” was arranged for the scout and guide instructors at their headquarters. The NEO assisted in the camps organised by the YWCA, the Society for Clean Cities, Institute for the Psychologically Handicapped and the Swami Vivekananda Kendra. Field Trips In all 37 field trips to Borivli National Park, two to Karnala, two to Yewoor and three to Nirje, Dombivli were conducted during the year. Among these 5 were for college students, 3 for trainee teachers and remaining were for school students of 8 to 12 std. About 30/35 students were taken in each batch. Two field trips to Manori beach were arranged for shore life study. Teaching through Exhibits Children of 6th to 8th std. were taken to the Zoo, Museum and Aquarium during the year. Seventeen visits to Prince of Wales Museum, six visits to Victoria Garden and eight visits to Taraporewala aquarium were arranged. Extension of Activities During the year 4 new schools were introduced to the BNHS nature education activities. Among these 2 were from Vashi, New Bombay. Talks illustrated with slides were arranged in other schools and colleges. 490 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) Table Students Degree Guide Subject A. Students who qualified 1. Mr. Goutam Narayan Ph.D. Mr. J. C. Daniel Ecology, distribution and conservation of the Bengal Florican Houbaropsis bengalensis Gmelin in India 2. Mr. Ranjit Manakadan Ph.D. Ecology of Flamingoes at Point Calimere, S. India. 3. Mr. Shahid Ali M.Sc. (By Research) B. Students who have submitted thesis Ecology and behaviour of Grey Francolin 1. Mr. N.K. Ramachandran Ph.D. Dr. V. S. Vijayan Comparative Ecology of the Pheasant-tailed and Bronzewinged Jacanas in Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur, Rajasthan. 2. Mr. Gurmeet Singh M.Sc. (By Research) Dr. R.B. Grubh The Ecology of the Bank Myna Acridotheres ginginianus (Latham) in an urban environment 3. Students continuing research 1 . Mr. Bharat Bhushan Ph.D. Mr. J.C. Daniel Birds of Eastern Ghats 2. Mr. Prakash Rao Ph.D Bird Communities of Tropics Dry Evergreen Forests of Sriharikota Island 3. Mr. N. Chaturvedi Ph.D. " Ecology of butterflies of the Borivli National Park 4. Mr. AlagarRajan Ph.D. Dr. R.B. Grubh Avifauna of Tropical Dry/ Evergreen Forests of Point Calimere 5. Mr. P.D. Vivek M.Sc. (By Research) Birds of Delhi Ridge 6. Ms. Nikita V. Mathur M.Sc. (By Research) Mr. J.C. Daniel Some rare raptors breeding at Bharatpur 7. Ms. Neelam Patil M.Sc. (By Research) in Botany Mr. M.R. Almeida Plant insect interaction D. New registrations 1 . Mr. Asad Akhtar Ph.D. Mr. J.C. Daniel Ecology of Harriers wintering in India 2. Mr. Satish Kumar Ph.D. Dr. Jay Samant Prey predator relationship in the grasslands of Nannaj. A.G.M. 1992-93 — PROCEEDINGS AND ACCOUNTS 491 Meetings, Workshops The NEC) collaborated with the Indian Institute of Education, Pune, in the production of literature for rural people. The NEO also attended SASEANEE Workshop organised at the Centre for Environmental Education (CEE), Ahmedabad. COLLECTIONS MAMMAL Mr. Manoj Muni, In-Charge, Mammals. A collaborative project on resurvey of ‘Mammals of India” was continued with the scientists of Harrison Zoological Museum, UK. Areas like Madras, Madurai, High Wavy's Mountains, Mysore, Srirangapattam, Goa, Sirsi, Jog and Gersoppa in south India and Nainital, Haldwani, Rhishikesh, Dehradun, Mussoorie, Delhi and Agra , in north India were surveyed with Dr Paul Bates, Dr David Harrison and Ms Nicky Thomas of HZM. The representative collection of bats was made from each of these areas and notes on their present status was collected. During the last week of the expedition in Madurai District, Tamil Nadu, Salim All’s Fruit Bat, Latidens salimalii was rediscovered. This bat was discovered after a gap of 45 years and is recorded in the Guiness Book of World records as one of the three rare fruit bats of the world. Two individual projects of the titles ‘Chemotaxonomy of Indian Bats’ and ‘Hair structure study of Indian mammals’ were continued. Under the first project, blood samples obtained from the bats collected during the Mammal Survey of India project conducted in March 1992, were analysed electrophoretically and the haemoglobin protein profiles were prepared for the individual animals. While under the second project, standard catalogue of hair slides of the Indian Felidae was prepared. The computerisation of the card- index data was continued. In all 13000 records completed. Preparation of a status report on the mammal collection was undertaken. In all, checking of 6000 animals was completed. Publications: A paper on ‘The Bats of Western India revisited’ by Dr Paul Bates and Dr David Harrison of HZM and Manoj Muni of BNHS has been submitted for the publication in the JBNHS. BIRDS Dr (Mrs) Unnithan, In-Charge, Birds. The cataloguing of the Collections by Mr Humayun Abdulali was continued. Part 35 of the catalogue dealing with Traglodytidae, Cinclidae, Prunellidae, Paridae, Sittidae and Certhidae was published in JBNHS 89(1), April 1992. This part covered 866 specimens of 88 species and subspecies. In the same journal an article titled “Plumages, female dimorphism and polymorphism of the endemic Indian species Parus xanthogenys and a detailed study was done on the Nectarina jugularis (olive backed S unbirds) from different islands of Andaman and Nicobar. Herpetology Mr. Aloysius G. Sekar, In- Charge, Herpetology. (a) About 62 specimens of 19 species donated by Dr. R.J. Ranjit Daniels were registered. This included the rare toad Ansonia ornata, a new addition to the Collection, (b) another noteworthy addition was of the snake Uropeltis macrolepis collected by Mr. M.R. Almeida. A list of type specimens in the collection has been prepared and Collection data of 500 specimens have been entered in the computer. Research: (a) A short term project has been undertaken to study the frogs and toads of Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Borivli. (b) Experiments were done to determine the food requirements of developing tadpoles of the Indian Burrowing Frog Tomopterna breviceps. Publications: (a) ‘Key to the amphibian fauna of Goa’ - Herpeton. (b) ‘Habitat and microhabitat utilisation of amphibian fauna of Goa during monsoon’ — Indian journal of Forestry (in press), (c) ‘Occurrence of Cantor’s Black headed snake Sibynophis Sagittarius in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh’ and ‘Range extension of the Bombay Shiel- tail snake Uropeltis macrolepis ’ JBNHS (in Press). Seven papers were evaluated foY the Journal of BNHS. 492 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) ENTOMOLOGY Mr. N Chaturvedi, In-Charge, Insects. Life cycle of moth feeding on crinum lily was worked out and moth was identified as of Polytela graciosa. Tags to study butterfly migration were put on 300 Dan aid butterflies. Information on Papilo butterflies was sent to Dr Rose of Punjab University, Assistance was given to students of Institute of Science and Sophia College in identification and studies of insects. Also assistance was given to CRY to design and prepare products depicting butterflies. Insects received from the Grassland Project, Dahod fieldstation were identified. Publications: A note on new larval food plant was published in the Journal of Tropical Lepidoptera. A note on gynandromorph of Indian Sunbeam Curetis thelis was published in Tropical Lepidoptera Newsletter. A note on cannibalism in butterfly larvae; Northward migration of Euploea , core (Cramer), Common Indian Butterfly in and around Bombay was published. HERBARIUM Ms Neelam Patil, In -charge, Herbarium. Specimens added to the collections: 96 specimens of Bharatpurand47 specimens ofBorivli National park were added to the collection after properly poisoning. The entire collection was rearranged according to the Bentham and Hooker’s classification. A computerized list of plants of Maharashtra region, present in the BNHS Collection was prepared. PRODUCTS During the year the Products Committee produced 1,88,000 cards of 9 designs. The total number of cards sold was 1,94,000 inclusive of old cards. The department also produced and sold 10,000 desk calendars. (The net earnings were in the range of around Rs. 2.2 to 2.5 lacs). Besides cards and calendars which are the main items on sale other items include mugs, caps, T- shirts and photographs. Special thanks are due to Mr Mantosh Lai of We graphics for providing subsidised services for product design. The marketing strategy adopted during the year was mainly by way of despatching catalogues to Corporate houses and contacting people on phone, personal visits, etc. Efforts are being made to paper for cards and calendars. And most important that we create a name that every person would want to be associated with their corporate gifts. PUBLICATIONS The Book of Indian Birds. The Book of Indian Mammals and the Book of Indian Reptiles continued to be the mainstay of the Publications Division of the Society. The Oxford University Press, our sole selling agents, have been successful in promoting the sales of our publications which has made this activity of the Society self supporting and has the potential to be a substantial fund raiser for the Society. This has been appreciated by our Committee and efforts are under way to increase the list of publications. In addition to reprinting the Pictorial Guide to Indian Birds, a revised and enlarged version of the Bird Book is under preparation. The mammal and reptile books are under revision. A new book on trees as well as books on butterflies and other insects are under consideration. A series of booklets on various aspects of natural history under the general title of Hombill Series is under preparation. The mammal and reptile books are under revision. A new book on trees as well as books on butterflies and other insects are under consideration. The Hombill and the Journal continue to be a resource drain in spite of their importance, namely the Hombill to popularize Natural History and the Journal to disseminate the science of Natural History. The Ministries concerned with Science and Environment have unfortunately not been as helpful as they should. We are continuing our efforts to meet the deficits in the publication costs of the two journals. LIBRARY The Library continues to be the most used A.G.M. 1992-93 — PROCEEDINGS AND ACCOUNTS 493 facility of the Society and an important source of information to scientists, researchers, journalists and students about conservation education, flora and fauna, environment and related matters. At the end of March 1993, the library collection stands at 11,879 books including bound volumes of periodicals. In 1992, 88 books were added to the library. 10 books were received from the publishers for review in the Journal and 11 as complimentary copies from authors and publishers. 11 books were received as donation and 56 books were purchased for the library and various projects. The Librarian attended one day workshop at the SNDT on Library Automation and later visited libraries of the Centre for Ecological Sciences at IISc, National Centre for Science Information at IISc., INSDOC Centre at IISc. and the WWF Data Centre for Natural Resources, Bangalore. This visit was mainly to see the working set up of special libraries that are attached to research institutes and which of these libraries could provide information to our researchers. For book selection, the Sub-Committee members visited bookshops for on the spot selection. SUB COMMITTEES OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP & PROGRAMME SUBCOMMITTEE Chairman Members Hon. Secretary Hon. Treasurer Director Convenor Mr.. Sunjoy Monga Dr. AshokKothari Mr. T. V. Sowrirajan Mr. P.B. Shekar Dr. (Ms) Meena Haribal (up to 26-12-92) Mr. J.C. Daniel (from 28-12-92) Mr. C.G.Wakankar (up to 22.12.92) Sunil Zaveri (from 23-12-92) Dr.. Jay Samant Mr.. N. Chaturvedi SALIM ALI NATURE CONSERVATION FUND SUBCOMMITTEE Chairman Members Hon. Secretary Hon. Treasurers Director Convenor Dr. Erach K. Bharucha Mrs. Dilnavaz S. Variava Mr. J.C. Daniel (Hon. Secretary Since 28-12-92) Dr. Meena Haribal (up to 26-12- 92) Mr. Chandrakant Wakankar (up to 22-12-92). Mr. Sunil Zaveri (from 23-12-92) Dr. Jay S. Samant Mr Goutam Narayan NATURAL HISTORY STUDIES SUBCOMMITTEE Chairman Dr. Erach Bharucha Members Mrs. D.S. Variava Dr. Pratap Saraiya Dr. B.F. Chhapgar Mr. M.R. Almeida Hon. Secretary Hon. Treasurer Director Convenor Dr. A.M. Bhagwat Dr. Shashi Menon Dr. Parvish Pandya Dr. (Ms) Meena Haribal (up to 26-12-92) Mr. J. C. Daniel (from 28-12-92) Mr. C.J. Wakankar (up to 22-12-92) Mr. Sunil Zavery (from 23-12-92) Dr. Jay S. Samant Dr. S.M. Satheesan PROJECTS SUB COMMITTEE Chairperson Members Hon. Secretary Hon. Treasurer Director Convenor Dr A.M. Bhagwat Mr Humayun Abdulali Mr Kisan Mehta Adm. M.P. Awati (Retd.) Mr. K.P. Karamchandani Mr J. C. Daniel Dr B.F. Chhapgar Dr. Renee Borges Dr. (Ms.) Meena Haribal (up to 26-12-92) Mr. J. C. Daniel (from 28.12.92) Mr. C.G. Wakankar (up to 22.12.92) Mr. Sunil Zaveri (from 23.12.92) Dr. Jay S. Samant Mr. S.R. Nayak UNIVERSITY STUDIES SUB-COMMITTEE Chairman Head. Univ. Dept. Members Prof. P.V. Bole Dr Jay Samant (Director) Mr M.R. Almeida Dr. Ashok Bhagwat Dr. B.F. Chhapgar Dr. Parvish Pandya Dr. Shashi Menon Mr. J.C. Daniel 494 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) Dr. R.B. Grubh Dr. Renee Borges Hon. Secretary Dr (Ms.) Meena Haribal (up to 26.12.92) Hon. Treasurer Mr. C.G. Wakankar (up to 22.12.92) Mr. Sunil Zaveri (from 23.12.92) Convenor Mr. N. Chaturvedi NATURE EDUCATION SUB COMMITTEE Chairman Members Hon. Secretary Hon. Treasurer Director Convenor Dr. Parvish Pandya Dr. Arun Joshi Dr. Sanjay Bhagwat Mr. Vilas Shingre Mrs. Shobhana Bijoor Mrs. Sadhana Rasal Dr. (Ms) Meena Haribal (upto 26.12.92) Mr. J.C. Daniel (from 28.12.92) Mr. C.G. Wakankar (upto 22.12.92) Mr. Sunil Zaveri (from 23.12.92) Dr. Jay Sam ant Mrs. Shailaja Grubh COLLECTIONS SUB-COMMITTEE Chairman Mr. M.R. Almeida Members Hon. Secretary Dr. B.F. Chhapgar Mr. Andy Mendonca Mr. Oswald Thayil Dr. (Ms) Meena Haribal (up to 26. 1 2.92) Mr. J.C. Daniel (from 28-12-92) Hon. Treasurer Director Convenor Mr. C.G. Wakankar (up to 22-12-92) Mr. Sunil Zaveri (from 23. 12. 92) Dr. Jay Samant Mr. N. Chaturvedi PRODUCTS SUB COMMITTEE Chairperson Mrs. D.S. Variava Members Mr. Sunjoy Monga Mr. MantoshLal Mr. Atul Mathur Mr. Pritish Basu Mrs. Ranj ana Shah Hon. Secretary Dr. (Ms) Meena Haribal (up to 26.12.92) Mr. J. C. Daniel (from 28.12.92) Hon. Treasurer Mr. C.G. Wakankar (up to 22.12.92) Mr. Sunil Zaveri (from 23.12.92) Convenor Mr. J. Rodrigues PUBLICATIONS SUB-COMMITTEE Chairman Mr. J. C. Daniel Members Hon. Secretary Hon. Treasurer Director Convenor Dr. Pratap Saraiya Mr. Bittu Sahgal Mr. Sunjoy Monga Dr. B.F. Chhapgar Dr. (Ms) Meena Haribal (up to 26.12.92) Mr. J.C. Daniel (from 28-12-92) Mr. C.G. Wakankar (upto 22.12.92) Mr. Sunil Zaveri (from 23.12.92) Dr. Jay Samant Mr. Ajay Varadachary LIBRARY SUB COMMITTEE Chairman Members Hon. Secretary Hon. Treasurer Director Convenor Dr. AshokKothari Dr. B.F. Chhapgar Mr. Kiran Srivastava Ms. Doreen D’Sa Mr. V.K. Paralkar Dr. (Ms.) Meena Haribal (up to 26.12.92) Mr. J. C. Daniel (from 28.12.92) Mr. C.G. Wakankar (upto 22.12.92) Mr. Sunil Zaveri (from 23.12.92) Dr. Jay S. Samant Mr. Isaac Kehimkar PERSONNEL SUB COMMITTEE Chairman Members Hon. Secretary Hon. Treasurer Convenor Dr. Jay Samant Mrs. D.S. Variava Dr. Pratap R. Saraiya Dr. A.M. Bhagwat Mr. Yogi Andley Dr. (Ms.) Meena Haribal (up to 26-12-92) Mr. J.C. Daniel (from 28-12-92) Mr. C.G. Wakankar (up to 22.12.92) Mr. Sunil Zaveri (from 23-12-92) Mr. S.V. Ramakrishnan A.G.M. 1992-93 — PROCEEDINGS AND ACCOUNTS 495 HONORARY TREASURER’S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH 1993 II have the pleasure to report on the 109th Annual Accounts and that the following points may be highlighted hile considering the Accounts and the Auditor’s Report for the year 1992-93. During the year, the Society had surrender 19280 units under various CRTS scheme for repurchase to the nit Trust of India, and have bought right units under the same scheme at par, without investing additional sum ; f money for exercising the rights offer. The Society had therefore got 23090 units. The old units which were ought at a higher value (not at par) were therefore surrender for more units to be purchased at par. The Society is made a notional profit of Rs. 1,63,917/-. However, a sum of Rs. 31,810/- may be deducted from the Divident om Units received, being the loss on surrendering the units being the units sold “Cum-dividend”. The profit is ius reflected in the Balance sheet, being more number of units being the assets of the Society, at face value of Rs. 30/- whereas the present value is around Rs. 110/-. During the year, there are 3 projects which has shown a cumulative over-run of Rs. 12,71,086. There are ill some monies payable to the said projects. It is a matter of grave concern that such over-run had taken places, may be noted that the over-runs are after the 15% administrative charges payable to the Society. However, steps re being taken to avoid them in the future. The funding authorities as on date have already granted sanction for ppropriation of the project assets of the Keoladeo Ghana National Park Project. The over-run shall therefore be educed to nearly 3.00 lacs after giving effect of recovery of the same and after providing for depreciation on the une. The Society is making hectic efforts to take sanction of the other two projects also. It is therefore expected lat as on 31st March 1994, the over-run, after 15% administrative fees and depreciation of the project assets ^covered, shall be reduced by 10.00 lacs. The Society is facing a serious situation of entering into a situation whereby the -funds of the Society lave started showing inadequate funding. This can be highlighted from the following: II FIXED, CORPUS, AND CAPITAL FUNDS 31.3.1993 31.3.1992 !• Life membership funds 18,30,325 16,89,995 2. Corporate Life Membership Funds 2,25,742 2,15,742 3. Vice Patron Funds 42,769 42,769 4. Corpus Funds (Schedule ’A') 25,31,288 25,26,174 5. Other Funds (Schedule 'B') 93,33,921 81,07,942 Total A . ASSETS REPRESENTING THE ABOVE CAPITAL 1,39,64,045 1,25,82,622 31.3.1993 31.3.1992 1. 5.5% Government of India loan 2,000 2,000 2. Various Units of UTI 40,22,078 38,68,842 3. Fixed Deposit with HDFC 15,00,000 15,00,000 496 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) 4. Vehicles 5. Furniture, Fixtures & Equipments 6. Stock of Books & Publications 7. Bank Balances 8. FDR 25,962 32,453 18,89,008 21,33,974 3,52,877 3,68,607 7,14,427 9,09,622 17,54,158 19,25,000 Total B 1,02,60,510 1,07,40,497 This is the shortfall ‘A-B’ This is on account of the following: 1 . Over-runs on proj ects (Refer Annex. 1) 2. Non receipt of Govt, of India Airconditioning Grant 3. Non-receipt of Govt, of Maharashtra (1992-93) Grant (Received till date Rs. 2,15,000) 4. Non receipt of full amount of grants for the Journal, Collection expenses, Education Scheme and other defeciets & miscellaneous (Refer Annex. 2) 37,03,535 18,42,125 12,71,087 1,58,483 6,44,838 Nil 4,45,804 Nil 13,41,806 16,83,642 Total Rs. 37,03,535 18,42,125 The Society is now trying to bridge this gap by formulation of strict internal checks, controls and whole hearted follow-up for the same. 4. During the year a 40 page Budget, of the nature of Cash and Fund flow statement. This is an exercise done for the first time. The said statement have been introduced to have strict day to day monitoring of the finances and to have more fiscal discipline in the Society. 5. Notwithstanding anything above, now is the time to work harder and strive to raise more funds for the Society and be much more actively involved in fund raising task. I also happy to inform the members that till date the fund raising efforts have raised a sum of Rs. 5,00,000, other than normal income and donations that are regularly being received by the Society. The Society is hopeful to raise a further sum of Rs. 5,00,000 by the end of the year. For BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY Sd/- Place : Bombay Date : 2nd November 1993 HONORARY TREASURER A.G.M. 1992-93 — PROCEEDINGS AND ACCOUNTS 497 ANNEXURE 1 Expenses Head Bharatpur Bird Migration Elephant BNHS Administrative Fees - 1,39,082 91,483 Termination benefits & other Salaries (Net) 20,128 6,69,525 3,72,872 Travel & Perdiem 61,708 1,55,178 1,26,230 Material Supply & Service 16,767 88,509 96,317 Books, Reports, Publications, etc. 15,460 11,999 12,117 Audit fees - 2,000 2,000 Miscellaneous - - 361 Total 1,14,063 10,66,293 7,01,371 ANNEXURE 2 As on 31.3.1993 As on 31.3. 1992 Journal Grant not received to the full extent Govt, of Maharashtra, Collection Maintenance & Nature Education Scheme, grant not 1,25,000 75,000 received to the full extent 6,34,744 6,34,744 Govt, of Maharashtra for repairs 1,00,000 1,00,000 Air conditioning Grant - 3,28,917 Miscellaneous 4,82,062 5,44,981 Total 13,41,806 16,83,642 AUDITORS REPORT Re: BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY (Registration No. F-244 Bom) We have audited the attached Balance Sheet of the Society as at March 31, 1993 and also the annexed Income & Expenditure Account for the financial year ended on that date and report that in our opinion and to the best of our information and according to the explanations given to us: (a) The accounts are maintained regularly and in accordance with the provisions of the Bombay Public Trust Act, 1950 subject to the observation that as per past practice separate Receipts & Payments Account has been drawn for the Nature Education Scheme and the same has not been incorporated in the accounts of the Society. In this context, we observe that as per the accounts so drawn up, a sum of Rs. 1,62,386.62 is considered to be due from the Nature Education Scheme as at the end of the year. We have been given to understand that on settlement of the claim for arrears of the grant from the government, the entire amount would be adjusted. (b) The receipts and disbursements have been properly and correctly shown in the accounts, subject to the observations that the Society has changed the accounting practice in regard to accounting of the grants from the State Government, which to the extent of Rs. 2, 3 0,804/- have been accounted in anticipation of the Sanction, based on the claim preferred. The said grants were hitherto being accounted on receipt of the sanction letters. In our view such income should be accounted when there is no uncertainty about its realisation. We also observe that in respect of the expenses of Rs.6,44,838.38 incurred towards air-conditioning of reference collection rooms and library, the Society is seeking grant from the Central Government, Ministry of Environment and Forests and though by the date of this report, sanction to the extent of 75% of the expenditure incurred by the date of Balance Sheet has been received, subject to certain stipulations to be complied with, the entire expenditure of Rs.6,44,838.38 has been carried forward, as we are informed that efforts are being continued to obtain additional grant to cover the entire expenditure. We are not in a position to offer any comments about its readability. We also wish to invite attention to para l(iii) of our last report dated 9.1.93 accompanying the statement of accounts for the year ended 31.3.92, and observe that by the end of the year under report the following three projects were completed and the accounts thereof reflect the over run position as under: Keoladeo Ghana Sanctuary Project 2,64,927.93 Study of Migration Patterns of Indian Birds 7,80,369.60 Ecology of Indian Elephants 2,25,789.07 We understand that in respect of the last two namedprojects, the compilation of the report and other summing up process of the study carried out are pending and certain further expenditure may be involved in respect of the said projects. In the case of the first named project, the Society as referred to in our last report had received back certain assets, which the Society has since been authorised by the sponsoring authorities to retain. However, pending the evaluation of its useful life and current value, no adjustment has been made in the accounts. We are further informed that the assets forming part of the other two projects are also being retrieved and approval of the sponsoring authorities is proposed to be sought for retaining the assets as may be found useful. We are further informed that on obtaining the necessary approval and evaluation of the useful life of the assets, its estimated value shall also be brought into accounts as per the accounting policy adopted by the Society as outlined in para (e) hereinbelow, and the balance, if any, in the said accounts shall be accordingly adjusted in the current year. We also wish to refer to the observations made in the other paras hereinbelow. (c) The cash balance and the vouchers in the custody of the accountant on the date of audit were in agreement with the books of accounts. (d) The books, deeds, accounts, vouchers and/ A.G.M. 1992-93 — PROCEEDINGS AND ACCOUNTS 499 or other documents or records required by us were produced to us. (e) The register of movable and immovable properties has been maintained. However, the changes therein have remained to be communicated to the Regional Office. In the context of the equipments and other such capital items acquired out of the various grants and other project funds, we observe that initially the cost of such equipments etc. is charged to the relevant project accounts and on completion of the projects, the Society generally seeks the permission of the concerned sponsoring authorities to retain such assets as are found to be useful for other projects and/or purposes and on obtaining such approvals, the necessary entries are passed in the books of accounts to record the residual value of such items. We observe that pending such approval, the Society is actually utilising a number of such capital assets including vehicles for other projects. It will be appreciated, if the matter is followed up with the concerned authorities to regularise the matter and to bring into account the value of such assets. We have been given to understand that a record of such assets is being separately maintained by the project officers. (0 The Finance Manager appeared before us and furnished the necessary information required by us. (g) We are not aware of any property or funds of the Society having been applied for any objects or purpose other than the objects of the Society. (h) The following items were outstanding for more than one year: Dues towards Supplies & Services 36,969.80 Loans to staff 8,150.00 Advance for expenses (for projects and other expenses : Employees 19,616.45 Others 25,890.75 Other Dues 32,798.00 Souvenir Advertisement 5,350.00 Hombill Advertisement (since recovered) 24,000.00 Included under the head ‘other dues’ are certain expenses amounting to Rs. 12,433.75, which have been incurred in connection with certain projects and pending certain clarification sought from the concerned sponsoring authority have remained to be adjusted. Included under the said head is a sum of Rs. 6,534/- considered to be due from the Bihar State Government, which is being carried forward for the last few years. We are informed that the matter is being followed up with the said State Government. No amount has been written off during the year. We have been assured that the outstanding balances are considered good and realisable. Incidentally it may be stated that included in other dues are the amount of three remittances aggregating to Rs. 10,252,25 made per Demand Drafts, which are stated to have been lost in transit. We are informed that the matter is being followed up with the concerned bank. Pending the outcome of the enquiries, the said amount is considered good. In the context of the aforesaid outstanding of Rs. 19,616.75 representing advance to employees, we understand that the said employee is no longer in the employment, of the Society and the said amount is proposed to be adjusted against the retirement dues payable to him. Included under the head ‘Advance for Expenses’ (for projects and other expenses) is a sum of Rs. 15,890.75 paid to certain organisation for certain project. It will be appreciated, if a proper account of the said advance is obtained from the said organisation and the account is appropriately adjusted. (i) During the year under report there were no repairs or construction carried, out involving an expenditure exceeding Rs. 5,000/- at any time. (j) We are not aware of any money of the Society having been invested in contravention of Sec. 35 of the Bombay Public Trust Act, 1950. (k) We are not aware of any immovable property of the Society, therefore, the question of alienation of any property contrary to the provisions of Sec. 36 of the Bombay Public Trust Act, 1950 does not arise. (l) i) In regard to the expenses charged to various grants and funds we have relied on the information given to us and the authentication of the Hon. Secretary and Hon. Treasurer that the expenses so charged relate to these grants and have 500 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) been spent on the specific objects for which the grants were received. While checking the statement of accounts in regard to the expenditure incurred at various camps, we have relied on the authorisation by the Hon.Secretary and Hon. Treasurer, as to the reasonableness of the expenditure. ii) While on the above subject, we observe that some of the local field workers, whose services were engaged for the said project at Bharatpur, are claiming reinstatement and other service benefits, which is being disputed by the Society. The contingent liability in this regard remains imdeterminate. The matter, we are informed, is pending before the Labour Court at Bharatpur and Provident Fund authorities. An ad-hoc provision of Rs.2,64,907/- has been made in the accounts by debiting various projects accounts. The liability has not been determined on actuarial basis. iii) The income towards membership subscription is being accounted on realisation basis. iv) The subscriptions received in foreign currency, we observe, are deposited in an account maintained with Grindlays Bank pic., London Branch. The said receipts and disbursements made therefrom have been accounted at the exchange rate prevailing at the date of the Balance Sheet. The closing balance has been translated at the current exchange rate, at the date of the Balance Sheet and the difference in exchange amounting to Rs.4, 592.95 has been debited to Income & Expenditure Account. We observe that during the year under report a sum of £.50 equivalent to Rs.2,320/- was credited to the said account. As no proper particulars in respect of the said item were available, the said amount has been credited to Suspense Account. The said Suspense Account as at the date of Balance Sheet shows a balance of Rs. 2,685.75. We suggest that effective steps may be taken to clear the balance in Suspense account. v) We observe that during the year the Society surrendered the CRTS Units of U.T.I. which it was holding and exercised the option for acquiring the new CRTS which were offered on preferential basis. Since the repurchase price offered was less than the book value, the Society has suffered a book loss of Rs.3 1,809.54, which has been charged to Income & Expenditure Account. vi) We suggest the following items of disbursements effected, appropriations made and administrative charges levied be confirmed and ratified at the next meeting of the Executive Committee. A. DISBURSEMENT FROM i) Salim Ah Nature Conservation Fund Invest-ment Revenue Account 1,31,742.51 ii) Salim Ali Lok Wan Tho Ornithological Fund Investment Revenue Account 2,237.27 iii) Pirojsha Godrej Foundation Fieldwork Fund Investment Revenue Account 300.00 iv) Col.Burton Nature Conservation Fund Invest- ment Revenue Account 86.12 v) Charles McCann Vertebrate Zoology Fieldwork Fund 8,627.26 vi) Sir Dorabji Tata Trust Fieldwork Fund 2,233.30 vii) Shri M Y Ghorpade of Sandur Photography Exhibition Fund 1,101.60 viii) Education and Research Fund created out of Income 3,217.70 ix) Salim Ali Memorial Fund 9,050.00 x) Staff Gratuity Fund 6,346.00 xi) Proposed Institute Fund 9,212.35 xii) Ministry of Defence, AR &DB, for Bird Hazard Research Cell 1,49,866.95 xiii) Ministry of Defence, ARDB, travel grant for attending Seminar in Israel 46,967.00 xiv) Ministry of Environment & Forests for air- conditioning Library and Hornbill House (Maintenance Grant) 21,453.30 xv) Ministry of Environment and Forests for purchasing scientific equipments during 1988-89 continued in 1989-90 5,218.50 xvi) Ministry of Environment & Forests for purchasing equipments during 1989-90 16,298.00 xvii) Department of Space, Ecological Investiga- tion of Avian Community of Sriharikota 22,552.70 A.G.M. 1992-93 — PROCEEDINGS AND ACCOUNTS 501 xviii) Ministry of Environment & Forests - Nature Conservation Course — Indian Army. 56,5 54 .45 xix) Grants from United States, Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service for: a) Hydrobiological (Ecological) Research Project, Keoladeo Ghana Sanctuary, Bharatpur, Rajasthan 7,617.47 b) Ecology of Dry Grassland 10,75,027.13 c) Ecology of Keoladeo Ghana Sanctuary, Bharatpur, Rajasthan 1,14,062.65 d) Ecology of Indian Elephants 7,01,371.10 e) Ecology of Point Calimere Sanctuary 5,464.10 f) Study of the Migration patterns of Indian B irds and Avifauna Migration Study Data Bank 10,66,293.10 g) Study of Conservation of Birds of Prey with particular emphasis upon restoration of Endangered Species 11,13,323.45 h) Habitat and Population Dynamics of Wolves and Blackbucks 4,656.00 xx) Ministry of Environment & Forests for the project “A study of the Habitat requirement of the Rusty Spotted Cat and other Endangered Wildlife of the Dang Forest” by Dr E K Bharucha 3,842.44 xxi) Ministry of Environment & Forests, Indian Environmental Society for Environmental Awareness Campaign 1991-92 30,000.00 xxii) World Wide Fund for Publication of Newsletter 1,985.30 xxiii)Hawk & Owl Trust - Grassland & Roosting Harriers 38,980.75 xxiv) Endangered Turtles of Pondicherry 96,075.60 xxv) Wetland, Mangrove & Coral Reefs in India (UNDP) 11,010.80 xxvi) Smithsonian Institution, Washington, for revision of ‘The Handbook of Birds of India and Pakistan’ 71,657.50 xxvii) Neyveli Lignite Corporation Limited for Environmental Study at Rajasthan Plant 1,24,008.85 xxviii) National Organic Chemical Industries Ltd. for Environmental Study 2,7 85 .00 xxix) Asian Wetland Bureau for Environmental Awareness Campaign 1991-92 5 , 1 1 3 .49 xxx) Grant Govt, of Maharashtra for 1991-92 towards Establishment, Building Maintenance, Educational activity (i.e. Journal printing expenses) 4,45,804.00 B. APPROPRIATIONS i) Salim Ali Nature Conservation Fund 5,113.4 9 ii) Salim Ali Nature Conservation Fund Investment Revenue Account 9,714.80 iii) Charles McCann Vertebrate Zoology Fieldwork Fund 600.00 iv) Salim Ali Memorial Fund 21,453.38 v) Publication Fund - BNHS 76,467.95 vi) Publication Fund from Govt, of India, Dept, of Science & Technology 1,06,634.36 vii) Addition to Fixed Assets 5,13,703.50 viii) General Reserve Fund 61,014.20 ix) Staff Gratuity Fund 2,50,000.00 x) Staff Welfare Fund 1,00,000.00 xi) Fixed Assets Fund towards depreciation on Fixed Assets 2,76,348.69 C. Administrative Fees charged to various Grants/ Funds for handling the projects etc. 5,97,321.70 While referring to the observations made in para (b) hereinabove, we suggest that the deferring of the adjustment of the value of the assets retrieved from the Keoladeo Ghana Sanctuary Project pending ascertainment of the useful life of the said assets and its proper evaluation be confirmed in supercession of the resolution passed in the Finance Sub-Committee meeting held on 22.7.1993. (1) (vii) We observe that the contribution to Employees Provident Fund (both the employees and management contribution) continue to be deposited with the Trustees of a recognised provident fund 502 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) established by the Society and governed by the rules framed for the purpose. There seems to have been certain amendments to the Employees Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952, whereunder the Society may be considered to be liable not only to transfer the accumulated balance in the Employee’s Provident Fund a/c. to the Provident Fund Commissioner Govt. Scheme, but also for the difference in the amount of contribution. The liability in this regard remains undeterminate. We suggest that proper legal opinion may be sought in this regard and needful may be done in the matter. (m) So far as is ascertainable from the books of accounts and according to the information and explanation furnished to us by the Finance Manager and the Hon. Secretary, there were no cases of irregular, illegal or improper expenditure or failure to recover the monies or other properties belonging to the Society or loss or waste of money or other property of the Society, subject to the observations made in para (h) hereinabove. (n) Provisions of Sec. 31-A of the Bombay Public Trust Act, 1950 and Rule 16-A of the Rules framed under the said Act have been complied with. (o) The maximum and minimum number of Executive Committee members is maintained having regard to the provisions contained in the rules and regulations of the Society. (p) There is no specific provisions in the rules and regulations of the Society regarding the holding of the meetings of the Executive Committee. (q) The minute book recording the proceedings of the meetings is maintained. (r) No member of the Executive Committee has any interest in the investment of the Society. (s) No member of the Executive Committee is a debtor or creditor of the Society, subject to the observation that a sum of Rs.313/- was due from two members against bills for certain supplies of publication, etc. The said amount has since been received. (t) There were no irregularities pointed out in our last report dt. 9.1. 93 accompanying the statement of accounts for the year ended 31st March, 1992 except the observations made in para (e), (h) and (l)(ii), the observations whereof have been reiterated hereinabove mutalis mutandis. CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS Bombay Dated: 27th September, 1993 Regn. No. F-244 (BOM) BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY BOMBAY PUBLIC TRUST ACT, 1950 SCHEDULE VIII VIDE RULE 17 (1) BALANCE SHEET AS ON 31-3-1993 FUNDS AND LIABILITIES Rs. Rs. PROPERTIES AND ASSETS Rs. Rs. LIFE MEMBERSHIP FUND (Individual) Balance as per last Balance Sheet 16,89,995.16 Add: Received during the year 1,40,330.00 CORPORATE LIFE MEMBERSHIP FUND Balance as per last Blance Sheet Add: Received during the year VICE PATRON FUND Balance as per last Balance Sheet CORPUS FUNDS As per Schedule 'A' OTHER FUNDS As Per Schedule B' CURRENT LIABILITIES For Unspent Grants as per Schedule 'C' For Expenses For Library Deposits For Sundry Credit Balances For Advances for Publications and Products OTHER LIABILITIES 2,15,742.31 10,000.00 IMMOVABLE PROPERTIES 18,30,325.16 INVESTMENTS (AT COST) 5.5% Govt, of India Loan 2000 of the Face Value Rs. 2000 (Market Value Rs. 1365/-) 2,25,742.31 29,60,634.71 4,86,167.98 6,100.00 1,54,032.29 29,639.87 2,000.00 8530 Units of Unit Trust of India Under CRTS 1981 Reinvestment Plan 42,769.00 of the Face Value Rs. 100/- Each (Repurchase Value Rs. 9,38,300/-) 8,53,000.00 25,31,287.97 70150 Units of Unit Trust of India Under Unit Scheme 1964 of the Face Value Rs. 10/- Each 93,33,920.68 (Total Face Value Rs. 701500/-) 9,99,637.50 (Repurchase Value Rs. 11,22,400/-) 4940 Units of Unit Trust of India Under CRTS 1981 of the Face Value Rs. 100/- Each 4,94,000.00 (Repurchase Value Rs. 5,43,400/-) 4770 Units of Unit Trust of India 36,36,574.85 Under CRTS 1981 of the Face Value Rs. 100/- Each 4,77,000.00 5,721.00 (Repurchase Value 5,24,700/-) Amount received for & On Behalf of Proposed Institute:- Balance as per last Balance Sheet 2,48,086.11 4850 Units of Unit Trust of India Under CRTS 1981 of the Face Value Rs. 100/- Each (Repurchase value Rs. 5,33,500/-) 4,85,000.00 Less: Transferred to Schedule B' Other funds 2,48,086.11 INCOME & EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT Balance As Per Last Balance Sheet 46,687.96 Add: Excess of Income over expenditure during the year 37,722.90 50000 Units of Unit Trust of India — Under US 1964 Reinvestment Plan of the Face Value Rs. 10/- Each (Repurchase Value Rs. 8,00,000/-) 1200 Units of Unit Trust of India 84,410.86 Under US 1964 Reinvestment Plan of the Face Value Rs. 10/- Each (Repurchase Value Rs. 19,200/-) 7,00,000.00 13,440.00 40,22,077.50 Carried over 1,76,90.751.83 Carried over 40,24,077.50 504 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) FUNDS AND LIABILITIES Brought over Rs. Rs. PROPERTIES AND ASSETS Rs. Rs. 1,76,90,751.83 Brought over 40,24,077.50 Fixed Deposit With Housing Development Corporation Ltd. 15,00,000.00 VEHICLES Balance As per Last Blance Sheet 32,453.43 Less: Depreciation during the year 6,490.69 25,962.74 FURNITURE, FIXTURES & EQUIPMENTS Balanace As Per Last Blance Sheet 21,33,974.29 Add: Additions during the year 24,89 1 .50 21,58,865.79 Less: Depreciation during the year 2,69,858.00 18,89,007.79 LOANS (Unsecured Considered Good) To Employees 69,320.00 ADVANCE For Project & Other Expenses 4,28,646.60 To Others For Project & Other Expenses 2,23,250.66 Advances against salaries To Employees 4,010.00 Dues From Nature Education Scheme 1 ,62,3 86.62 Due from Unit Trust of India 867.57 Other dues for Travel and other expenses 1,91,357.90 10,10,519.35 DEPOSITS BEST Undertaking Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd. P & T Dept, for Project Telephones NCST for Electronic Mailing Gas Cylinder for Projects Elec. Deposit for Projects For Vehicle Fuel Supply For Franking Machine For Accommodation 68,130.00 11,000.00 11,000.00 1,000.00 8.950.00 561.00 2.500.00 420.15 1,78,396.00 2,81,957.15 Carried over ... 1,76,90,751.83 Carried over ... 88,00,844.53 A.G.M. 1992-93 — PROCEEDINGS AND ACCOUNTS 505 FUNDS AND LIABILITIES Brought over Rs. Rs. PROPERTIES AND ASSETS Rs. 1,76,90,751.83 Brought over STOCKS As Per Inventories Taken And Certified By the Hon. Secretary BNHS Publications 3,10,987.32 Govt. Publications 41,890.80 Greeting Cards 86,389.08 BNHS T Shirts 715.00 BNHS Mugs 2,796.50 BNHS Caps Rare Painting Photographs 3 , 100.00 Books Under Publication (Expenses Incurred Till Date) Book of Indian Birds (New Edition) 1 ,55,305.00 Some Beautiful Indian Trees 22,891.36 INCOME OUTSTANDING Interested Accrued For Publications For Greeting Cards For Calendars For Souvenir Advertisements For Hombill Advertisements For Xerox Charges 2,02,568.40 2,45,833.73 70,081.20 23,119.50 5,350.00 36,000.00 40,157.75 Grants Receivable From NOCIL From AR&DB From Neyveli Lignite Corpn. Ltd. From Govt, of India (Reference Collection airconditioning Exp.) From Govt, of Maharashtra (1992-93) From Govt, of India (Environment and Forests), Nature Conservation course for Indian Army 6,23,110.60 29,000.00 2.31.710.00 1,80,000.00 6,44,838.38 4.45.804.00 1,00,000.00 Rs. 88,00,844.53 4,45,878.70 1,78,196.36 22,54,462.98 Carried over ... ,76,90,751.83 Carried over ... 1,16,79,382.57 506 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) FUNDS AND LIABILITIES Rs. Rs. PROPERTIES AND ASSETS Rs. Brought over 1,76,90,751.83 Brought over CASH AND BANK BALANCES As Per Schedule D UNADJUSTED DEFICIT ON PROJECTS (a) Keoladeo Ghana Sanctuary Project as per last Balance Sheet 1,58,482.75 Less: transfer of grant balances from Hydrobiological Research project 7,617.47 1,50,865.28 Add: Expenditure during the year 1,14,062.65 (b) Study of Migration patterns of Indian Birds as per last balance Sheet (Credit Balance) 2,85,923.50 Less: Expenditure during the year 10,66,293.10 (c) Ecology of Indian Elephants as per the last Balance Sheet (Credit Balance) 4,75,582.03 Less: Expenditure during the year 7,01,371.10 Grand Total ... 1,76,90,751.83 Grand Total ... BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY AS PER OUR REPORT OF EVEN DATE Sd /- Sd /- Sd/- J.C. DANIEL SUNIL R. ZAVERI HABIB AND COMPANY HONORARY SECRETARY HONORARY TREASURER CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS BOMBAY Boinbay Dated 27th September 1993 Rs. 1,16,79,382.57 47,40,282.66 2,64,927.93 7,80,369.60 2,25,789.07 1,76,90,751.83 A.G.M. 1992-93 — PROCEEDINGS AND ACCOUNTS 507 BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY SCHEDULE FORMING PART OF THE BALANCE SHEET AS ON 31-3-1993 SCHEDULE A : CORPUS FUNDS Name of the Corpus Bund Balance as per last Balance Sheet Amounts received/ Total of Appropriated Columns during the year land 2 Balance as on 31-3-1993 1 2 3 4 Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs. Salim Ali Nature Conservation Fund 20,71,554.96 5,113.49 20,76,668.45 20,76,668.45 Salim Ali/Loke Wan Tho Ornithological Research Fund 4,03,136.52 - 4,03,136.52 4,03,136.52 Pirojsha Godrej Foundation Fieldwork Fund 40,000.00 - 40,000.00 40,000.00 Col. Burton's Nature Conservation Fund 11,483.00 - 11,483.00 11,483.00 Total Rs. 25,26,174.48 5,113.49 25,31,287.97 25,31,287.97 508 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY SCHEDULE FORMING PART OF THE BALANCE SHEET AS ON 31-3-1993 SCHEDULE B: OTHER FUNDS Name of the Other Fund Balance As Per Last Balance Sheet Amount Reed/ Appropriated during the year Interest Credited during the year Total of Columns 1,2 & 3 Transferred to Income & Expenditure Account during the year Expenditure on objects of Trust/ Other Exps. as shown in Income & Exp. Account Balance as on 31-3-1993 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Salim Ali Nature Conservation Fund Investment Revenue Account 1,38,559.06 10,274.80 2,07,155.50 3,55,989.36 Ul, 742.51 1,31,742.51 2,24,246.85 Salim Ali - Loke Wan Tho Ornithological Fund Investment Revenue Account 71,926.87 40,313.65 1,12,240.52 2,237.27 2,237.27 1,10,003.25 Pirojsha Godrej Foundation Fieldwork Fund Investment Revenue Account 7,950.49 - 4,000.00 11,950.49 300.00 300.00 11,650.49 Col. Burton's Nature Conservation Fund Investment Revenue Account 3,362.81 - 1,148.30 4,511.11 86.12 86.12 4,424.99 Charles MaCann Vertebrate Zoology Fieldwork Fund 1,05,707.93 600.00 10,570.79 1,16,878.72 8,627.26 8,627.26 1,08,251.46 Sir Dorabji Tata. Trust Fieldwork Fund 2, 233.30 - - 2,233.30 2,233.30 2,233.30 - Shri M.Y. Ghorpade of Sandur Photography Exhibition Fund 1,101.60 - - 1,101.60 1,101.60 1,101.60 - Plant Study Fund 43,774.80 - - 43,774.80 - - 43,774.80 Education & Research Fund Created Out of Income 63,392.46 - - 63,392.46 3,217.70 3,217.70 60,174.76 Chacko Fund For Education And Conservation 37,559.70 - - 37,559.70 - - 37,559.70 Salim Ali Memorial Fund 22,73,429.41 23,189.38 - 22,96,618.79 9,050.00 9,050.00 22,87,568.79 Publication Fund - BNHS 12,71,224.32 1,76,467.95 - 14,47,692.27 - - 14,47,692.27 Publication Fund From Govt, of India DepL of Science & Technology t. 5,16,994.66 6,694.36 - 5,23,689.02 - - 5,23,689.02 Carried over Rs. 45,37,217.41 2,17,226.49 2,63,188.24 50,17,632.14 1,58,595.76 1,58,595.76 48,59,036.38 A.G.M. 1992-93 — PROCEEDINGS AND ACCOUNTS 509 Schedule 'B' contd. Balance As Amount Reed/ Interest Total of Transferred Expenditure Balance Per Last Appropriated Credited Columns to Income & on objects as on Name of the Other Fund Balance Sheet during the year during the year 1,2 & 3 Expenditure Account during of Trust/ Other Exps. as shown in Income & Exp. Account 31-3-1993 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Brought over Rs. 45,37,217.41 2,17,226.49 2,63,188.24 2,63,188.24 50,17,632.14 1,58,595.76 48,59,036.38 Fixed AssetsFund 13,85,320.68 5,13,703.50 _ 18,99,024.18 2,76,348.69 2,76,348.69 16,22,675.49 Building Fund 5,03,227.68 - - 5,03,227.68 - - 5,03,227.68 General Reserve Fund 6,72,624.02 61,014.20 - 7,33,638.22 - - 7,33,638.22 Staff Gratuity Fund 8,36,309.81 2,50,00.00 - 10,86,309.81 6,346.00 6,346.00 10,79,963.81 Staff Welfare Fund 98,242.34 1,03,263.00 - 2,01,505.34 - - 2,01,505.34 Donation From Seth Purshotamdas Thakurdas & Divaliba Charitable Trust For Publication of Tree Book 75,000.00 - - 75,000.00 - - 75,000.00 Proposed Institute Fund (amount received in earlier year transferred from other head) - 2,48,086.11 20,000.00 2,68,086.11 9,212.35 9,212.35 2,58,873.76 81,07,941.94 13,93,293.30 2,83,188.24 97,84,423.48 4,50,502.80 4,50,502.80 93,33,920.68 Summary of Expenditure From Funds /Donations Details of Amounts Transferred to Fixed Assets Fund Expenditure Head Amount Rs. Expenses on objects: Nature Conservation 1,31 ,742.5 1 Natural History Study 12,231.08 Hombill printing (part) 1,101.60 Nature Education Camp (part) 2,233.30 Other Educational expenses 2,237.27 1,49,545.76 Others Miscellaneous: Beautification of Dr. Salim Ali Chowk 9,050.00 Goregaon plot expenses 9,212.35 18,262.35 Gratuity to staff 6,346.00 Depreciation 2,76,348.69 4,50,502.80 1 . Grant Govt, of India D.O.E. For Airconditioning Library and Collection Rooms against expenditure in earlier year. 2. Appropriation of funds - Ministry of Environment for Scientific equipment (1989-90) 3. -do- Amount Rs. 4,92,187.00 5,218.50 16,298.00 Total Rs. 5,13,703.50 Total Rs. 510 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY SCHEDULE FORMING PART OF THE BALANCE SHEET AS ON 31-3-1993 SCHEDULE C: GRANTS Name of the Grant Balance As Per Last Balance Sheet Amount Reed./ Receivable during the year Total of Columns 1&2 Transferred To Income & Expenditure Account during the year Expenditure On Objects of Trust/ Other Exps As Shown In Income & Exp. Account Balance As On 31-3-1993 1 2 3 4 5 6 GRANTS FROM GOVT. OF INDIA Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs. Ministry of Defence, ARDB, For Bird Hazard Research Cell 1,60,911.21 2,00,000.05 3,60,911.26 1,49,866.95 1,49,866.95 2,11,044.31 Ministry of defence, ARDB, Travel Grant for attending seminar in Israel 46,967.00 - 46,967.00 46,967.00 46,967.00 - Ministry of Environment & Forests for secretarial assistance to Dr. Salim Ali for Environmental Research Program & Processing Archieval Material 21,453.38 21,453.38 21,453.38 21,453.38 Ministry of Environment & Forests For Airconditioning Library & Collection Rooms At Hombill House 4,92,187.00 4,92,187.00 4,92,187.00 4,92,187.00 Ministry of Environmsnt & Forests For Purchasing Scientific Equipments during 1988-89 continued In 1989-90 12,574.10 12,574.10 5,218.50 5,218.50 7,355.60 Ministry of Environment & Forests For Purchasing Equipments during 1989-90 16,298.00 16,298.00 16,298.00 16,298.00 Dept, of Science & Technology For Publication of Tree Book 51,873.10 - 51,873.10 - - 51,873.10 Ministry of Environment & Forests For the Project A Study of the Habitat Requirement of the Rusty Spotted Cat and other Endangered Wildlife of the Dang Forest By Dr. E.K. Bharucha 3,842.44 3,842.44 3,842.44 3,842.44 Carried over Rs. 3,13,919.23 6,92,187.05 10,06,106.28 7,35,833.27 7,35,833.27 2,70,273.01 A.G.M. 1992-93 — PROCEEDINGS AND ACCOUNTS 511 Schedule 'C' contd.. Name of the Grant Balance As Per Last Balance Sheet Amount Reed./ Receivable during the year Total of Columns 1&2 Transferred To Income & Expenditure Account during the year Expenditure On Objects of Trust/ Other Exps As Shown In Income & Exp. Account Balance As On 31-3-1993 1 2 3 4 5 6 Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs. Brought over Rs. 3,13,919.23 6,92,187.05 10,06,106.28 7,35,833.27 7,35,833.27 2,70,273.01 Deptt. of Space, Ecological Investi- gation of Avian Community of Sriharikota - 1,12,640.00 1,12,640.00 22,552.70 22,552.70 90,087.30 Dept, of Science & Technology NCSTC for Publications of Hombill Series - 2,40,000.00 2,40,000.00 - - 2,40,000.00 Ministry of Environment & Forests Nature Conservation Course - Indian Army 1,25,000.00 1,25,000.00 56,554.45 56,554.45 68,445.55 GRANTS FROM UNITED STATES DEPT. OF INTERIOR, FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE FOR RESEARCH PROJECTS Hydrobiological (Ecological) Research Project - Keoladeo Ghana Sanctuary Bharatpur, Rajasthan 7,617.47 7,617.47 7,617.47 7,617.47 Ecology of Dry Grasslands 10,07,225.70 8,52,017.00 18,59,242.70 10,75,027.13 10,75,027.13 7,84,215.57 Ecology of Keoladeo Ghana Sanctuary Bharatpur, Rajasthan -1,58,482.75 7,617.47 -1,50,865.28 1,14,062.65 1,14,062.65 -2,64,927.93 Ecology of Indian Elephant 4,75,582.03 - 4,75,582.03 7,01,371.10 7,01,371.10 -2,25,789.07 Ecology of Pt. Calimere Sanctuary 83,504.52 - 83,504.52 5,464.10 5,464.10 78,04b.42 Study of the Migration Patterns of Indian Birds and Avifauna Migration Study Data Bank 2,85,923.50 - 2,85,923.50 10,66,293.10 10,66,293.10 -7,80,369.60 Study of Conservation of Birds of Prey with particular emphasis upon Restoration of Endangered Species 17,38,728.25 17,38,728.25 11,13,323.45 11,13,323.45 6,25,404.80 Habitat and Population Dynamics of Wolves & Blackbucks 4,656.00 - 4,656.00 4,656.00 4,656.00 - Carried over Rs. 37,58,673.95 20,29,461.52 67,88,135.47 49,02,755.42 49,02,755.42 8,85,380.05 512 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) Schedule 'C Contd.. Name of the Grant Balance As Per Last Balance Sheet Amount Reed./ Receivable during the year Total of Columns 1 & 2 Transferred To Income & Expenditure Account during the year Expenditure On Objects of Trust/ Other Exps As Shown In Income & Exp. Account Balance As On 31-3-1993 1 2 3 4 5 6 Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs. Brought over Rs. 37,58,673.95 20,29,461.52 67,88,135.47 49,02,755.42 49,02,755.42 8,85,380.05 OTHER GRANTS Chief Wildlife Warden Jammu & Kashmir For survey of Blacknecked Crane 26,111.94 - 26,111.94 - - 26,111.94 Smithsonian Institution, Washington For Revision of 'the Handbook of Birds of India & Pakistan' 1,01,137.97 1,01,137.97 71,657.50 71,657.50 29,480.47 World Wide Fund For Publication of Newsletter 1,985.30 - 1,985.30 1,985.30 1,985.30 - Neyveli Lignite Corporation Ltd. For Environment Study At Rajasthan Plant 3,21,133.70 1,80,939.50 5,02,073.20 1,24,008.85 1,24,008.85 3,78,064.35 Gujarat Ambuja Cement Co. Ltd. For Environment Study At Rajasthan Plant 11,138.00 - 11,138.00 - - 11,138.00 National Organic Chemical Industries Ltd. For Environmental Study 76,871.45 29,000.00 1,05,871.45 2,785.00 2,785.00 1,03,086.45 Asian Wetland Bureau For Environmental Awareness Campaign 1991-92 5,113.49 - 5,113.49 5,113.49 5,113.49 - Hawk & Owl Trust - Grassland Roosting Harriers - 79,854.00 79,854.00 38,980.75 38,980.75 40,873.25 Endangered Turtles of Pondicherry - 1,95,000.00 1,95,000.00 96,075.60 96,075.60 99,424.40 Wetland, mangroves and Coral Reefs in India (UNDP) - 1,27,000.00 1,27,000.00 11,010.80 11,010.80 1,15,989.20 Total Rs. 43,02,165.80 26,41,755.02 69,43,920.82 52,54,372.41 52,54,372.41 16,89,548.11 A.G.M. 1992-93 — PROCEEDINGS AND ACCOUNTS 513 Schedule 'C Contd.. Summary of Expenditure Out of Grants Particulars Amount Rs. Expenditure on various Projects including Capital Expenditure 47,09,446.34 Total Unspent Balances 29,60,634.71 Less: Overspent On - Capital Expenditure from Grants - Keoladeo Ghana Sanctuary Project 2,64,927.93 Amount transferred to Fixed Assets Fund (Refer To Schedule 'B') 5,13,703.50 Ecology of Indian Elephant 2,25,789.07 Amount trasnferred to General Reserve Fund Amount Transferred to Salim Ali 4,656.00 Study of Migration Pattern of Indian Memorial Fund 21,453.38 Birds 7,80,369.60 12,71,086.60 Amount transferred to Salim Ali Nature Conservation Fund 5,113.49 Total Rs. 52,54,372.71 16,89,548.11 514 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY SCHEDULE FORMING PART OF THE BALANCE SHEET AS ON 31-3-1993 SCHEDULE D: CASH AND BANK BALANCES A. In Current Account With Rs. Rs. ANZ Grindlays Bank p.l.c. M.G. Road Branch 10,274.38 ANZ Grindlays Bank p.l.c. James Square, London Branch (Sterling Pounds 2229.59 @ Rs. 48.46 Each) B. In Savings Account With 1,02,934.96 1,13,209.34 ANZ Grindlays Bank p.l.c. M.G. Road Branch 29,523.77 Bank of India Museum Savings Branch 5,48,899.24 State Bank of India Gateway of India Branch 17,71,696.43 Canara Bank Sir P.M. Road Branch 5,172.50 Corporation Bank Dalai Street Fort Branch 16,434.56 Corporation Bank Dalai Street Fort Branch (FCRA Account) C. In Fixed Deposit With 1,188.82 23,72,915.32 ANZ Grindlays Bank p.l.c., M.G. Road Branch 6,00,000.00 Bank of India, Bombay Main Branch 6,50,000.00 Corporation Bank, Dalai Street Fort Branch 5,04,158.00 State Bank of India, Gateway of India Branch 5,00,000.00 22,54,158.00 Total Rs. 47,40,282.66 A.G.M. 1992-93 — PROCEEDINGS AND ACCOUNTS 515 Regn. No. F-244 (BOM) BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY INCOME & EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31-3-1993 EXPENDITURE Rs. Rs. INCOME Rs. Rs. EXPENDITURE IN RESPECT INTEREST (RECEIVED OF PROPERTIES & ACCRUED) On Govt. Securities 110.00 Municipal Taxes 4,926.00 On Fixed Deposits 5,71,619.60 Building Insurance 278.00 On Saving Accounts 38,737.54 6,10,467.14 Building Maintenance 15,535.00 20,739.00 DIVIDENDS ESTABLISHMENT EXPENSES On Units of UTI Schemes 8,22,088.50 Salaries of Reference Collection & Maintenance staff 4,35,257.00 DONATIONS Salaries of other Staff 10,73,508.00 For Specific Purposes:- Leave Travel Allowances 19,920.00 SANCF Corpus Fund 560.00 Medical Allowances 19,797.30 Salim Ali Memorial Fund 1,736.00 Compensation to staff 31,281.00 Charles MaCann Vertebrate Uniform and umbrellas to staff 7,737.40 Zoology Fund 600.00 Washing Allowances 3,600.00 Hombill printing 20,000.00 Management's contribution to Provident Fund 65,434.00 22,896.00 Gratuity paid to staff 6,346.00 For various projects 4,04,585.18 4,27,481.18 Casual Labour 11,146.00 Meeting Expenses 52,283.35 GRANTS Postage Expenses 16,339.70 From Govt, of Maharashtra for Printing & Stationery 48,415.75 Establishment Expenses for Advertisements 12,308.00 1992-93 Telephone Expenses 57,605.90 Collections 3,74,151.00 Electricity Expenses 41,433.20 Nature Education 59,653.00 Electrical Repairs 13,194.00 Building maintenance 8,000.00 Travelling Expenses 56,319.76 Journal printing 4,000.00 Conveyance Expenses 25,222.10 Vehicle Maintenance 61,541.50 4,45,804.00 Bank Charges (Net) 6,477.50 Audit Fees 2,000.00 Other grants As per Schedule 'C Repairs to Furniture & (To the extend utilised during Equipment 42,972.30 the year) 52,54,372.71 57,00,176.71 Insurance other than building 4,219.00 Professional & Legal Fees 40,200.00 SUBSCRIPTIONS Loss on surrender of Units of UTI 31,869.54 Ordinary Members Exchange fluctuation 4,592.95 Individuals 1,61,610.99 Computer maintenance 45,000.00 22,36,021.25 Family 7,300.00 Student 11,940.00 MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES Corporate 11,300.00 Garden Maintenance Exps. 8,748.00 Life Memberships (Individual) 1,40,330.00 Beautification of Dr. Salim Life Memberships (Corporate) 10,000.00 Ali Chowk 9,050.00 Journal - Members 40,207.00 General Expenses 24,195.00 Journal - Non-Members 60,990.55 Goregaon Plot Expenses 9,212.35 5 1 ,205.35 Entrance Fees 28,409.00 4,71,997.54 Salaries, etc. Carried over Rs. 23,07,965.60 Carried over Rs. 80,32,211.07 516 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) EXPENDITURE Rs. Rs. INCOME Rs. Rs. Brought over Rs. 23,07,965.60 Brought over Rs. 80,32,211.07 DEPRECIATION INCOME On Vehicles, Furniture From BNHS Publications (net) 2,32,218.44 and Equipments 2,76,348.69 From Govt. Publications 6,694.36 From Greeting Cards 66,453.79 Calendars 14,982.09 AMOUNTS TRANSFERRED TO FUNDS BNHS Caps 662.90 AGAINST INCOME Old Paintings Photographs 200.00 Specific Purpose Donations BNHS Mugs 591.30 as per Contra 22,896.00 Life Membership Fees Fund 1,40,330.00 3,21,802.88 Corporate Life Membership 10,000.00 Less: Deficit on BNHS Publication Fund BNHS T-Shirts 171.46 3,21,631.42 50% Royalty on Dr. Salim Ali's Publications 76,467.95 OTHER RECEIPTS Govt. Publication Fund 6,694.36 Miscellaneous Receipts 13,186.01 Staff Welfare Fund Surplus on Members' Camps 68,780.30 Interest on loan to staff 3,263.00 Royalty on Dr. Salim Ali's Fixed Asset Funds 5,13,703.50 Publications 1,52,935.91 Interest allocation to Funds 2,83,188.24 Xerox service charges 6,433.50 General Reserve Fund 11,014.20 Interest on Loan to staff 3,263.00 Salim Ali Memorial Fund 21,453.38 Sundry credit balance written off 16,073.00 2,60,671.72 Salim Ali Nature Conservation Fund 5,113.49 Salim Ali Investment Revenue a/c. 9,714.8011,03,838.92 ADMINISTRATIVE FEES APPROPRIATIONS TO FUNDS For Project Funds 5,66,660.73 OUT OF SURPLUS For Govt. Publication Funds 1,505.64 Staff Welfare Fund 1,00,000.00 For Other Funds 29,155.33 5,97,321.70 Staff Gratuity Fund 2,50,000.00 General Reserve Fund 50,000.00 Publication Fund 1,00,000.00 5,00,000.00 AMOUNTS DRAWN FROM FUNDS For Natural History Study 12,231.08 EXPENDITURE ON THE For Nature Conservation 1,31,742.51 OBJECTS OF THE TRUST For Other Educational Exps 2,237.27 Expenses met out of funds For Gratuity Payment 6,346.00 as per Schedule 'B' 1,49,545.76 For Depreciation 2,76,348.69 Expenses met out of grants For Beautification of as per Schedule 'C 47,09,446.34 Dr. Salim Ali Chowk 9,050.00 Journal Printing & Postage 2,85,950.35 For Hornbill Printing Hornbill Printing & Postage 1,94,217.30 (M.Y. Ghorpade Fund) 1,101.60 Nature Education 25,171.75 For Nature Education Camp Members activities 38,037.70 (Dorabji Tata Trust Fund) 2,233.30 For Goregaon Plot expenses - 54,02,369.20 (Proposed Institute Fund) 9,212.35 4,50,502.80 Carried over Rs. 41,88,153.21 Carried over Rs. 91,62,338.71 A.G.M. 1992-93 — PROCEEDINGS AND ACCOUNTS 517 EXPENDITURE Rs. Rs. INCOME Rs. Brought over Rs. 54,02,369.20 41,88,153.21 Brought over Rs. Library Books, Books binding, Subscriptions & Contingencies 33,465.40 Post Graduate Studies 628.00 54,36,462.60 96,24,615.81 BALANCE OF SURPLUS CARRIED FORWARD 37,722.90 96,62,338.71 BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY AS PER OUR REPORT OF EVEN DATE Sd 1- Sd /- Sd/- J. C. DANIEL HONORARY SECRETARY SUNIL R. ZAVERI HONORARY TREASURER HABIB AND COMPANY CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS BOMBAY Rs. 96,62,338.71 96,62,338.71 Bombay Dated 27th September, 1993. 518 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol 91 (1994) BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY NATURE EDUCATION SCHEME RECEIPT AND PAYMENT ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31-3-1993 RECEIPTS Rs. PAYMENTS Rs. To Balance as onl-4-1992 By Amounts Due to BNHS 1,02,966.87 In Current Account with As on 1-4-1992 ANZ Grindlays Bank p.l.c. 1,200.99 By Salaries To Nature Education Organiser 56,653.00 To Grant - Govt, of Maharashtra For the year 1992-93 - By Contingency Expenses 3,000.00 To Sale of Nature Education By Balance As On 31-3-1993 Booklets 233.25 In Current Account With ANZ Grindlays Bank p.l.c. 1,200.99 To Amounts Due to BNHS As on 31-3-1993 1,62,386.62 1,63,820.86 1,63,820.86 BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY AS PER OUR REPORT OF EVEN DATE Sd/- Sd/- Sd/- J. C. DANIEL SUNIL R. ZAVERI HABIB AND COMPANY HONORARY SECRETARY HONORARY TREASURER CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS BOMBAY Bombay Dated 27th September, 1993 BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on 28th January 1993 The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Society for the year 1991-92 was held at Hombill House on 28.1.1993 at 6.30 p.m. The following were present: Mr S.R. Burman, Mr. H.C. Mistry, Mr. K.K. Doctor, Mr. Virinder Singh, Mr. Suhel Quader, Mr. K.P. Karamchandani, Mr. N.D. Mulla, Mr. Mihir Devare, Mr. Ulhas Paralkar, Mr. N.P. Behramfram, Mr. Nitin Jamdar, Mr. Rishad Naoroji, Mr. Vilas Shingre, Mr. Ashutosh Gogate, Dr. Shashi Menon, Ms. Jayshree Sethna, Mr. Bharat Bhushan, Mr. S. Krishnan, Mr. N. Chaturvedi, Mr. Kiran Srivastava, Mr. Ulhas Rane, Ms. Katie Rustomjee, Mr. Unmesh Brahme, Mr. Sam Bhacka, Mr. S.L. Chullani, Mr. M.I. Fernandes, Mr. J.C. Daniel, Dr. A.M. Bhagwat, Mr. Shashank S. Ranjit, Dr. Pratap R. Saraiya, Prof. P.V. Bole, Mr. D.C. Balsara, Mr. Sunil R. Zaveri, Mr. Sunjoy Monga, Mr. Humayun Abdulali, Dr. Jay S. Samant, Mrs. D.S. Variava, Mr. H.C. Khatiwala, Mr. Yazdi Bulsara, Dr. Renee Borges, Mr. Kishore Somaiya, Mr. Anil Kunte, Ms Celine Anthony, Mr Rusi Kharas, Mr. Ajay Varadachary, Mr. Goutam Narayan, Mr. J.G. Mahajan, Mr. Eustace Vessaokar, Mr. Sudhakar Solomon Raj, Mr. S.R. Sane, Mr. H. Panjabi, Ms Doreen D’Sa, Mr. Leo Soares, Ms. M.D. Bharucha, Mr. K.R. Shah, Mr. K.K. Vajifdar, Mr. S. K. Vajifdar. Mr. M.K. Fatehi, Mr. Bittu Sahgal, M/s Sanctuary Magazine, Mr. C.G. Wakankar, Mr. M.R. Almeida, Dr. Robert Grubh, Dr. B.F. Chhapgar, Mr. Mangesh Chavan. The President, Prof. P.V. Bole, welcomed the members to the AGM. Before the proceedings commenced the members stood in silence for 2 minutes as a mark of respect to the memory of Mr. Justice M. Hidayatullah, former President of the Society and Dr. P. J. Deoras, former member of the Executive Committee of the Society who died during the year. The President announced that the Executive Committee had elected Mr. Humayun Abdulali, former Vice- President of the Society as ‘Emeritus Scientist’ of the Society. He also stated that two senior employees of the Society, namely Mr. V.C. Ambedkar, Scientist, and Dr. Robert B. Grubh, Dy. Director (Research), had retired; the former on superannuation and the latter on voluntary retirement. As a token of the appreciation and regard of the Society the President presented Mr. Humayun Abdulali, Mr. V.C. Ambedkar, Dr. Robert B. Grubh with bouquets. The Hon. Secretary advised that Prof. Bole had expressed his desire not to seek rp-election as President in view of his deteriorating health and the Executive Committee had acceded to this with great regret. In appre- ciation of Prof. Bole’s commitment to the welfare of the Society and as a token of the love and regard of its members a bouquet was presented to Prof. Bole. Prof. Bole stated that Mr. B.G. Deshmukh, retired Cabinet Secretary to the Government of India, had kindly consented to be President of the Society from 1.2.1993. The President then reported on: i) the nominations of Mrs. D.S. Variava, Dr. Pratap R. Saraiya and Mr. D.S. Chavda as Vice Presidents of the Society for 1993 and 1994. ii) elections of Mr. J.C. Daniel as Honorary Secretary (in place of Dr. (Ms) Meena Haribal who has gone to Cornell University for further studies) and Mr. Sunil R. Zaveri as Honorary Treasurer (in place of Mr. C.G. Wakankar) for the remaining period of the Committee; iii) confirmation of Dr. Jay S. Samant as Director of the Society from 10 December 1992. ItemI) Confirmation of Minutes: The minutes of: (a) Annual General Meeting held on 14th September 1991 and b) Adjourned Annual General Meeting held on 11.11.1991 were confirmed. Proposed by Dr. B.F. Chhapgar and seconded by Mr. Ulhas Rane. 520 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) Item II) Annual Report of the Committee for the year 1991-92. Mr. Ulhas Rane suggested that (i) on the cover page, the names of those office bearers elected at the time of formation of the new Committee only need be mentioned, (ii) the report should cover the period January - December and not the financial year, and (iii) items not covered during the period of the report may be excluded. Mr. S. Krishnan enquired whether a report on the survey of plants in Borivli National Park (mentioned at page 5 of the Report under Natural History Studies Sub-committee) had been received. Mr. Nitin Jamdar suggested that instead of “one of the scientists presented a paper (reported under Reptiles and Amphibians section on page 2 of the Report), the name or names of the Scientists may be given. Mr. N.K. Behramfram desired to know the level of membership at the end of December 1992. Mrs. Variava advised that the suggestions made by the members had been noted and requested that the Report as presented by the Committee be approved. The report was thereafter approved, duly proposed by Mr. Ulhas Rane and seconded by Dr. A.M. Bhagwat. Item III) Balance Sheet and Statement of Accounts for 1991-92; Mr. C.G. Wakankar while presenting a note on the Balance Sheet, etc. cautioned that in the absence of new Projects being funded administrative fees would not be available as a source of income and all members should endeavour to raise resources for the Society. Mr. N.D. Mulla drew attention to the over run in the “Ecology of Keoladeo Ghana” Sanctuary Project to the extent of Rs. 1,58,482.75, which may drastically affect the income from administrative charges. He desired that the responsibilities for the over run should be fixed and adequate steps be taken to avoid recurrence of this type. Responding the Hon. Secretary clarified the appropriate steps had been initiated to avoid over runs. Mr. N.K. Behramfram inquired about the position of the other Projects. Mr. Anil Kunte desired to know as to how the Absorption Spectro Photometer brought from Bharatpur to Bombay was being put to use. Mr Humayun Abdulali suggested having a large number of smaller projects. This was supported by Mr Hirabhai Khati walla. Mr. Nitin Jamdar noted that there was an income surplus on members’ camps and suggested there should appropriately be spent on members’ activities. This aspect may be looked into by the Programmes Sub-Com- mittee. Ms Katie Rustomjee complained that the charges for camps were high. Reacting to this, Mr. C.G. Wakankar mentioned the case of the RSPB which spent only a small portion of the subscription on members’ activities. It raised its funds through other sources. Similarly for BNHS also the members should join together to bring in more funds. Mr Kunte suggested the need to have local Chapters. In Thane alone, there were about 200 members Mr. Nitin Jamdar suggested organising programmes at District levels. Mr. Wakankar clarified that the Executive Committee of BNHS had supported the Programmes undertaken at Thane and similar activities should be started in other centres also. In this context, Mr Hirabahai Khatiwalla enquired about the response received for the Appeal for donation issued by the Hon. Secretary. (It was noted that Rs. 63,000/- had been received up to the date of the AGM). Mr. Rishad Naoroji suggested that fund raising activities should be entrusted to professionals responding to the above suggestions, Mrs. D.S. Variava stated that there was a certain hesitation among prospective donors to assist the Society. It is necessary to instill a sense of confidence in BNHS in the minds of donors and others through building up its image. Constant changes in personnel caused uneasiness in the minds of donors about the stability of the Society. MINUTES OF THEA.G.M. OF THE BNHS 521 Ms. Bharucha inquired about the manner in which the Pirojsha Godrej Field work Fund (page 5 of the Statement of accounts) was being utilised. Dr. Pratap R. Saraiya clarified that this item was a corpus and only the interest earned thereon was to be utilised for the Society’s activities. Mr. N.D. Mulla enquired about the nature of expenditure amounting to Rs. 1,66,606 and the claim for reinstatement by staff at Bharatpur (item ii and iii on page 3 of Auditors’ report). The Hon. Secretary clarified that the former represented the expenditure on preparing the report on Bharatpur Project; about the latter the Personnel Sub-Committee was looking into the cases Filed by the staff in the Labour Court at Bharatpur. Fr. Leopold J. Soares drew attention to the drop in the income from sale of books. The Hon. Secretary clarified that this was due to publications going out of print that publication have to be handled on a profes- sional basis. Mr. Nitin Jamdar expressed concern on over the deficit on sale of calendars. The Hon. Secretary explained that this was due to printing of an unduly large number of wall calendars which could not be sold. Mr. C.N. Chandrashekar desired to know details of the sum of Rs. 6,534/- due from Bihar State Govern- ment (item h) of Auditors Report. The Hon. Secretary stated that this covered expenditure for attending a conference at the invitation of the Govt, and assured that efforts are continuing to recover the amount from Bihar Government. Mr. N.D. Mulla inquired as to how the eletricity charges for running the air conditioning unit were met. He drew attention to the fact that the Rules and Regulations of the Society were amended earlier so as to provide for a nominee of the Government of India on the Executive Committee so long as the Government provided a recurring grant for the air-conditioning. The Honorary Secretary replied that the Society has requested the Ministry of Environment and Forests for an adhoc grant for the amount spent on electricity charges so far. In case, this was not acceded to the Society will reconsider the issue which may include closing down the air-conditioning unit. Mr. Behramfram desired to know the manner in which the grant received during the year from Asian Wetland Bureau was spent. The Hon. Secretary replied that the annual waterfowl count was not with BNHS now and that the amount had been received to enable Dr. Robert B . Grubh to conduct an Environment Aware- ness Campaign in January 1992, at Nagercoil (TN). Mr. Ulhas Rane cautioned that (a) the Society should not depend on scientific projects only for funds and (b) the grants received for the Building Fund was not adequate for maintenance and it was necessary to build up a sinking fund for maintenance of the building. Mrs. Variava advised that a proposal for the constitution of a Committee which would include Govt, representatives to look after the ‘Collections’ was being worked out. Mr. C.N. Chandrashekar expressed concern about the large amount shown as ‘Income outstanding’ in the Statement of Accounts. Mr Daniel replied that a large part of the amount has been realised subsequently. Mr. Ulhas Rane mentioned that this year’s audit has been considerably delayed. Mr. C.G. Wakankar explained that the delay was mainly due to (a) the Dy. Director (Accounts) leaving the services of the Society, (b) the Auditor auditing the Society’s Accounts having gone abroad in between and (c) disturbed conditions in Bombay in December 1992 and January 1993. Mr. Daniel gave an assurance that this year the Society’s audit will be completed in time. The Balance Sheet and Statement of Accounts was there after adopted duly proposed by Mr. Nitin Jamdar and seconded by Mr. K. Patel. Item IV) Appointment of Auditors for 1992-1993 M/s Habib & Company, Chartered Accountants, Bombay 400 023 be reappointed as the Auditors for the Society for the year 1.4.1992 to 31.3.1993 on a total remuneration of Rs. 2000/- (Rupees two thousand only). JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST SOCIETY, Vol. 91 (1994) Dr. Shashi Menon proposed and Dr. A.M. Bhagwat seconded. The proposal was passed unanimously. Item V) Amendments to Rules and Regulations: Rules regarding absence from Committee meetings Mr. N.D. Mulla desired that there should be a referendum on this matter. Mr. Bittu Sahgal, and Mr. K.K. Doctor felt that there was no need for the rule. Mr. Varinder Singh proposed that this amendment should be referred back to the Executive Committee for reconsideration which was seconded by Mr. Balsara. When put to vote, 11 voted in favour of Mr. Virinder Singh’s proposal and 23 voted against. Thereafter, Mr. Ulhas Rane proposed to amend the Rule as follows: Amendment proposed by the Committee Absence from Committee Meetings: A member absenting himself/herself without assigning reasons from three consecutive meetings of the Committee shall be deemed to have vacated his/her seat on the committee. In such cases, the Committee shall fill the vacancy by co-opting any other eligible member. Rule regarding EGM Amendment proposed by Committee The quorum for an EGM convened either at the initiative of the Committee or upon the requisition of members shall be the same as prescribed under Rule 24 for Annual General Meetings. Amendment proposed by Mr. Rane Absence from Committee meetings Any member absenting himself/herself without sanction of leave of absence from three consecutive meet- ings of the Committee will be liable to be removed from the Committee. In such cases, the Committee shall fill the vacancy by co-opting any other eligible member. When this was put to vote, 20 voted in favour of the amendment proposed by Mr Ulhas Rane and 10 voted against. Thus, Mr. Rane’s proposal was accepted. Amendment proposed by Mr. N.D. Mulla The quorum for an EGM convened either at the initiative of the Committee or upon the requisition of members shall be the same as prescribed for Annual General Meetings. The amendment was unanimously approved. MINUTES OF THE A.G.M. OF THE BNHS 523 Item VI) Any Other Business: Amendment to Rules and Regulations: Rule 17: Some members suggested that the above rule should be amended so as to provide some proof for being a Student. The Rule, therefore was amended as follows: “A student of any recognised educational institution shall on the production of proof to this effect from the institution attended, be eligible for election as a student member at such concessional subscription as may be determined by the Committee from time to time”. Rule No. 34: Procedure for Election of Committee: Mr. Daniel read out the proposal submitted by Mr. Bharat Bhushan suggesting amendment to above Rule so as to provide for a) The names of the proposer and seconder. b) Biodata of the candidate to be circulated along with the list of names. Dr. B.F. Chhapgar, Mr. Nitin Jamdar and Mr. N.D. Mulla expressed their views on this subject. The meeting unanimously resolved that all amendments of Rules and Regulations of the Society should be circulated in advance with the notice for the AGM. Accordingly, the amendment in question may be brought before the next AGM. Hornbill Mr. Daniel read out the letter received from Mr. Sharad Sane about the loss incurred by the Society in the Publication of Hornbill. Mr Daniel clarified that necessary steps are being taken to cover the loss. Mr. Ulhas Rane suggested that the cost of publishing Hornbill cannot be met through subscriptions alone; it should carry advertisements also. Translation of works/old issues of BNHS Journal: Mr. C.N. Chandrasekar stated that he had written to the Society offering his services for the translation of BNHS publications into other languages and also the return of issues of Journal not required by him and that no reply has been received. Prof. Bole advised the Honorary Secretary to sort out the issue with Mr. Chandrasekar. The meeting ended with a vote of thanks to the Chair. ERRATA Vol.91(2) NUMBER AND SIZE OF GROUPS OF PRESBYTIS ENTELLUS IN FOUR DIFFERENT HABITATS IN AND AROUND JAIPUR, RAJASTHAN Running head, pages 277, 279, 281 For NUMBER AND SIZE OF GROUPS OF PRESBYTIS ENTELLU Read NUMBER AND SIZE OF GROUPS OF PRESBYTIS ENTELLUS Miscellaneous Note No.38 NEW RECORDS OF PLANTS FROM ORISSA on p.352, author’s name For A.K. BISWAS Read A.K. BISWAL THE SOCIETY'S PUBLICATIONS The Book of Indian Animals, by S.H. Prater, 4th edition (Reprint). 28 plates in colour by Paul Barruel and many other monochrome illustrations. (Price to members Rs. 170) The Book of Indian Birds, by Salim Ali, 11th (revised) edition (Reprint). 74 coloured and many monochrome plates. (Price to members Rs. 150) A Pictorial Guide to the Birds of the Indian Subcontinent, by Salim Ali & S. Dillon Ripley.. (Reprint). (Price to members Rs. 210) A Synopsis of the Birds of India and Pakistan, by S. Dillon Ripley II. An up-to- date checklist of all the birds resident and migrant, including those of Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, 2nd edition. (Price to members Rs. 85) Checklist of the Birds of Maharashtra, by Humayun Abdulali, 2nd edition. Rs. 2 Checklist of the Birds of Delhi, Agra and Bharatpur, by Humayun Abdulali & J.D. Panday Rs. 3 The Book of Indian Reptiles, by J.C. Daniel (Price to members Rs. 162) Some Beautiful Indian Trees, by Blatter and Millard. With many coloured and monochrome plates. 3rd edition (Reprint). (Price to members Rs. 160) Some Beautiful Indian Climbers and Shrubs, by Bor and Raizada. With many coloured and monochrome plates, 2nd edition. (Price to members Rs. 120) Encyclopedia of Indian Natural History, Edited by R.E. Hawkins (Price to members Rs. 225) A Century of Natural History, Edited by J.C. Daniel (Price to members Rs. 160) Conservation in Developing Countries : Problems and Prospects, Edited by J.C. Daniel and J.S. Serrao (Price to members Rs. 300) Types of membership, fees and subscription for publications (As on Dec. 1993) Type of membership Entrance Membership Annual subscription for fees fees Hornbill Journal I. Individual Ordinary (a) Resident within India (b) Resident in Bangladesh, Rs. 50 Rs. 150 (annual) Free Rs. 80 Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan Indian Indian Indian and Sri Lanka Rs. 50 Rs. 200 (annual) Free Rs. 150 (c) Resident outside India, in countries. other than those under (b) above £ 2 £ 12 (annual) Free £ 13 II. Individual-Life (a) Resident within India Rs. 50 Rs. 3500 (1 time) Free Rs.2000 (Journal) (b) Resident in Bangldesh, Indian Indian Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan Rs. 50 Rs. 3000 (1 time) Free - and Shri Lanka Rs. 5000 (with Journal) (c) Resident outside India, in countries other than those under (b) above £5 £ 400 (1 time) Free Free III. Individual — Student (only within India) Proof of studentship from concerned institution required at the time of enrolling and Rs. 25 Rs. 75 (annual) Free Rs. 80 renewal every year IV. Institutional/Corporate (a) Within India Rs. 50 Rs. 5000 (annual) Free Free (Companies, Small Scale Industries) (b) Educational Institutions Rs. 50 Rs. 1000 (annual) Free Free Libraries, Schools, Colleges, Universities and Forest Dept. (Special, membership) (c) Outside India £ 5 £ 100 (annual) Free £ 15 (d) Publishers, Booksellers - - - Rs. 1335 RN 5685/57 CONTENTS SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION LIBRARIES 3 9088 012051330 ISSN 0006-6982 WHY BONELLI'S EAGLES HUNT IN PAIR : AN ASSESSMENT OF INDIVIDUAL AND PAIRED HUNTING SUCCESSES (With a text- figure) By Milind G. Watve, Niranjan R. Sant and Vijay Joshi 355 THE BATS OF WESTERN INDIA REVISITED - Part 3 (With tw’o plates and eight text-figures) By P. J. J. Bates, D. L. Harrison and M. Muni 360 MOULT IN BABBLERS ( TURDOIDES spp.) By V. J. Zacharias, D. N. Mathew and K. V. Jayashree 381 TRADITIONAL PHYTOTHERAPY IN THE HEALTH CARE OF GOND TRIBALS OF SONBHADRA DISTRICT, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA By K. K. Singh, B. S. Kalakoti and Anand Prakash 386 GROUP COMPOSITION, PERCENTAGE SURVIVORSHIP, BIRTH RATE AND POPULATION OF PRESBYTIS ENTELLUS IN JAIPUR, RAJASTHAN By Reena Mathur and B. Ram Manohar . 391 AESTIVATION OF TURTLES IN KEOLADEO NATIONAL PARK, BHARATPUR WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO LISSEMYS PUNCTATA (REPTILIA: TRIONYCHIDAE) (With a text-figure) By S. Bhupathy and V. S. Vijayan 398 THE CHECKERED BEETLES OF NEPAL ( COLEOPTERA: CLERIDAE) By Jonathan R. Mawdsley ' . 403 COMPOSITION OF RAJASTHAN FLORA ( With a text-figure) By Alka Avasthi 407 DICHOTOMOUS KEY TO THE TADPOLES OF TWELVE ANURAN SPECIE S FROM NORTH EASTERN INDIA (With a map and twelve text-figures) By A. K. Sahu 412 POLYCHAETES OF THE GENUS MANAYUNKIA LEIDY (POLY - CFLAETA : SABELLIDAE) (With eleven text-figures) By A. L. N. Sharma, K. R. Raju and V. Wilsanand 420 A FALL LAND BIRD MIGRATION ACROSS THE SOUTH CHINA SEA FROM 1NDO-CHINA TO THE GREATER SUNDA ISLANDS (With two text-figures) By David H. Ellis, Angela K. Kepler, Cameron B. Kepler 427 NEW DESCRIPTIONS . . 435 MISCELLANEOUS NOTES 444 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY 483 STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS OF THE B.N.H.S 503 MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 519 Printed by Bro. Leo at St. Francis Industrial Training Institute, Borivli, Bombay 400 103 and published by J.C. Daniel for Bombay Natural History Society, Hornbill House, Dr. Salim Ali Chowk, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Road, Bombay 400 023.