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JOURNAL

OF THE

GIVES ZA

Alatural History Society,

No. 1] | BOMBAY. [Vol. VIII.

THE BULBULS OF NORTH CACHAR,

By E. C. Stuart-BakeEr.
Part VY.
(With a Plate.)

(Read before the Bombay Natural History Society on
19th April, 1893).

HEMIXUS MACLELLANDI.
THe RUFOUS-BREASTED BULBUL.

Gates’ “By of B. B,” No. 72; Vol, 1, p. 171; Wypsipetes
maclelland:, Jerdon’s “B. of India,’ No. 447, Vol. IL, p. 79;
Hume ; “Nests and Eggs,” (2nd Ed.), Vol. I, p. 168; Oates’
“ Fauna of India,” Vol. I., p. 275.

Drscription.—Forehead, crown and back of head bright vandyke-brown,
the shafts being pale reddish-white give the head a streaky appearance.
Remainder of upper plumage, including wing-coverts and tertiaries, olive-green ;
brightest and sometimes inclining to yellow on the upper tail-coverts ; primaries
and secondaries brown edged with olive-green ; tail bright olive-green ; lores

and cheeks grey, or grey and white; ear-coverts, sides of neck, breast and
1

2 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIIi.

flanks chestnut ; belly albescent, more or less suffused with rufous ; chin and
upper throat white ; under tail-coverts favescent-rufous. Bull, upper mandible
dark blue-grey, culmen, tip and base of lower mandible dusky, remainder
fleshy-white ; legs dull yellowish to purplish-brown ; irides of various shades of
reds and, red-browns.

MMale—Length 9°5”; wing 4°4” ; tail 44" ; targus °75" ; bill at front ion
and from gape 12”,

Female—Length barely 9” ; both wing and tail as nearly as possible 4:2”,
the wing sometimes as much as 4°25” or even more.

Niprrication.—I have taken a considerable number of nests of this species,
all of which were of almost exactly the same description. They are placed. in
trees at heights varying from twenty to forty feet, more often nearer the former
than the latter, and in every instance the nest has been suspended from a fork of
a small branch. It is suspended much in the same manner as an Oriole’s, and
not like that of Hypszpetes and other bulbuls. ‘The main portion of the nest is
made of coarse grasses, bamboo leaves, soft bark in long shreds, and of other
suitable fibrous materials. Moss is never used, moss roots and fern roots very
seldom, except in the lining, which is sometimes composed of the latter.

The grass is so used as to pass under and through the base of the nest, and
is then brought inside and over the fork, round the nest again and over the
fork on the opposite side. This is carried out with all, or nearly all, the longer
materials, so that the nest assumes a rather bulky and, often, very untidy
appearance, It is, though, very strong, and it requires no inconsiderable force
to detach it from its support.

The lining is generally composed of rather fine grasses, more or less mixed
with fine, soft fern roots. In some nests it is composed almost entirely of the
last material, and in a few there is little or no lining of any sort whatsoever.

They are rather shallow, as a rule, but differ considerably in this respect. I
have taken nests of depths ranging from 1:2” only to over 2°9”. In breadth
they vary from 8°2” to. very nearly 5”.

The branch selected as a site for the nest is generally one towards the outer
part of the tree, and it is, therefore, often very difficult to obtain -without
cutting off a large portion of the branch.

The normal number of the eggs is three, four is quite exceptional, and two
very common.

The ground-colour is a very pale reddish-white or dead-white, and they are
spotted profusely throughout with dark brownish-red. Underlying these
marks are numerous tiny specks of pale inky, which, however, are not notice-
able until the egg is very closely looked into.

THE BULBULS OF NORTH CACHAR 3

In a few eggs the general tone is rather brighter, and in these there is also
more of the ground-colour to be seen, but the typical egg is decidedly dull-
coloured.

Towards the large end the markings generally tend to form a cap or, less
often, a zone.

In shape they are typically a rather long regular oval; in a few eggs a little
compressed towards the small end. Abnormal specimens tend towards the
short broad oval or broad peg-top form.

The shell is smooth and fairly close in texture, but none of my eggs exhibit
any gless.

In size they vary more than any other bulbuls’ eges that I know. I have
them varying in length from ‘74” to 1:1” and in breadth from °58” to °71”.
The average size of 19 eges is °91” X °66”, or rather more both ways.

They are rather late breeders. June is the month in which most eggs will be
taken, and nearly as many in July. My earliest and latest dates are the 23rd.
May, 1890, and 22nd July, 1888, respectively. They, no doubt, lay well on into
August, but I have never been in their principal breeding haunts during
that month,

I have only once or twice observed this bulbul as low as 2,000 feet, even in
the cold weather, but it does sometimes descend into the Plains.

‘They are most common between three thousand and four thousand feet,
breeding chiefly at and above the latter height up to nearly 7,000 feet. I have
not personally observed it in flocks; and from the little that has been recorded
of its habits, it does not appear to be sociable during the cold weather as are
most bulbuls.

They keep much to the higher branches of tall trees, but do not hesitate to
descend lower, even to scrubby bushes when these are rendered attractive by
the plentitude of their berries. I have examined a good many birds, but have
neyer discovered any remains of insects, and I believe they are almost entirely,
if not quite, vegetable feeders.

It has a very pleasant call, and its many other and diversified notes are all,
more or less, agreeable, none that I have heard heing at all harsh in character.
It has also a full sweet song, consisting { .ee bars, which it constantly
repeats, but I have only heard this uttered during the breeding season. When
singing, it erects its crest, the feathers of which, though short, are full. The
lanceolate feathers of the chin and throat are often also puffed out, giving the
bird the appearance of having a most disproportionately large head.

Tt is not a shy bird, and I have frequently watched either a single bird or a
pair within less than twenty yards. They have not been at all disturbed by my

4. JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, VIII.

appearance on such occasions, but continued to feed until I tried to approach still
nearer, when they would fly away for a short distance and recommence feeding.

The flight is rather quicker and straighter than most bulbuls’, but not as
strong as, though more level than, that of Hypsipetes.

It is nowhere very common, and is rather local in its habits. I have noticed
that where Psarisomus is to be found, there are nearly always a few of these
birds also. This species, however, keeps to the outskirts of the forest, and will
not be found in the interior. Its favourite resort is scattered trees, with an
undergrowth of grass (not bush). I have also seen it in thin scrub jungle, in
cultivation jhums, and yery often amongst the jungle of nullas which are
surrounded by open country.

MicRoPUS MELANOCEPHALUS,

THE BLACK-HEADED BULBUL.

Brachypodius melanocephalus, Hume’s Cat. No. 457 67s.; Hume
and Davison, 8. F., Vol. VI, p. 318; Micropus melanocephalus,
Osta," Brot BAB.” Vol. 1p. 181 3 a.,: * fauna of BS, 1 Bods
Vol. 1., p. 294,

DescrrpTion.— Whole head and throat, extending to the upper breast, black,
brilliantly glossed with blue and purple , remainder of upper plumage olive-green,
brighter on the rump and yellow on the upper tail-coverts ; breast and flanks
the same, shading into bright yellow on the belly and under tail-coverts.
Tail olive-green for half its length, then black and tipped yellow, narrowly on
the centre feathers and increasingly broadly on the others.

Primary-coverts dull black, very narrowly edged olive-green ; other coverts
wholly olive on the visible portions. Primaries and secondaries black, the first
almost imperceptibly, the latter broadly-edged olive-green; the tertiaries, with the
outer webs, all of this colour.

The feathers of the rump and upper tail-coverts are very dark grey at the
base and then black, the tips alone being broadly yellow, consequently the rump
nearly always looks as if barred with black, though, in a perfect specimen, in
which the rump feathers le properly, these black markings scarcely show at all.
Bill very dark plumbeous, nearly black ; irides pale blue, varying a little in
depth of colour, but never at all dark ; legs dark plumbeous, claws black, mouth
and gape bluish, tinged fleshy occasionally.

Length 6°8” to 7:1"; wing 3°2” to 3°35”; tail 3°3”; tarsus °5”; bill at
front ‘55” and from gape °8”.

Nivirication.—I have taken but one nest of this bird, and on this the male
bird. was trapped. The nest might easily haye been mistaken for one of the

THE BULBULS OF NORTH CACHAR. 5

common Bengal bulbul (MJolpastes bengalensis). It was a good deal stouter,
however, than 8 out of 10 of the nests of that bird, and was also more neatly
and compactly made. Outwardly it was made of the tough brown stems of a
climbing plant, together with a few fine soft twigs, and one or two coarse pieces
of grass blades; inside these was a scanty, but neat, lining of fine grass-stems
and a single skeleton leaf. It was placed in the fork of a stout branch of a
thorny bush, some three feet from the ground. The surrounding country was
dense jungle, merely a little lighter and clearer in the immediate vicinity.
Heavy rain had fallen on the two days previous to my finding the nest, and
when taken, it was sopped through and through, but it still, when removed, held
well together, and was just as strong and compact as before when it again
dried.

The eggs were three in number, slightly incubated, and they, like the nest,
may also be matched by many eggs of either I. bengalensis or burmanicus.
The ground-colour is a pale fleshy-pink, and the markings consist of large and
small blotches and freckles of reddish and purplish-brown, the underlying
marks being a pale dull inky. Some of the primary blotches are very large
varying from *1” to nearly °3” in length and up to ‘17” in breadth.

The distribution of both blotches and freckles is fairly equal, and in two -
eggs very numerous over the whole surface. In the third egg the marks are
fewer in number, with the exception of the very pale secondary blotches. The
texture is just the same as in the eggs of Molpastes, but there is a very faint
gloss, 7

They measure 97" X *65”, ‘96” X °60” and °93”%°64”. In shape they are
long ovals, rather compressed towards the smaller end and slightly pointed.

The nest was taken on the 12th of May, 1891, at an elevation of about 1,600
feet.

This bird is by no means rare in North Cachar, but I think it must be
partially migratory in its habits, for some years it is quite plentiful, and during
others hardly a single bird can be obtained.

During the cold weather, and well on into May, it is found in large flocks in
company with the next species (if it is a good species), keeping, asa rule, to
scattered forest or light jungle of some kind, rarely being found in quite open
country, and very nearly as seldom in heavy forest. It appears to be most
common in valleys which are well wooded, but at the same time have frequent
open spaces at no great distance from one another, and the J. atinga Valley and.
the low hills surrounding the Tea Estates to the North-West of Cachar seem to
be their most favourite haunts, It never, during the cold weather, seems ta
descend to low bushes, keeping almost entirely to the higher trees and to the

6 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

tops of even such. Now and then, tempted by some unusually luxuriant
growth of fruit or berries, it may descend to the higher bushes ; but, generally,
they seem to withstand temptation, and I have seldom seen them lower down
than the tops of small saplings. ‘The very few birds I have come across
during the breeding season alter their habits greatly, and I have most often
seen them in thick bushes or undergrowth, sometimes in the interior of dense
forest, more seldom just on the outskirts of it. At this period, too, they
become very silent, though at other times their loud and musical chirp is con-
stantly being uttered. The ‘‘ melancholy double whistle,” mentioned by Davi-
son as being one of their notes, I do not think I have heard, but I once, during
a rainy afternoon in March, 1892, heard some bird giving vent to his sadness
in a leng, soft whistle, suddenly terminating in a lower key, and this note may
have been that of either 2. melanocephalus or IL. cinereiventris. It was more
like the rainy weather call of ygithina typlia than that of any other bird
I know, but it was far deeper and softer.

The bird appears to be almost entirely a fruit-eater, but that it is not al-
together so was proved by my finding two wood-lice in the stomach of one and
the remains of a small green grasshopper in another. White ants, of course,
these birds eat, but I know of no fruit or grain-eating bird that will not readily,
even greedily, eat those insects.

I have never come across this bird above 2,600 feet (about), but in Burma
it seems to ascend far higher.

Two of the birds of this species in my collection, as also two of the next,
I owe to Mr. H. A. Hole, of Jellalpur, and the notes he has sent me about the
birds agree with my own experiences.

MIcCROPUS CINEREIVENTRIS.

Tur GREY-BREASTED BULBUL.

Brachypodius cinereiventris, Hume’s Cat. No. 457; quat.; Hume
and Davison, 8. F., Vol. VII, p. 319; Micropus cinererewtris, Oates’
“B. of B. B.,” Vol. L., p. 295 ; ad., “ Fauna of B. I. Birds,” Vol. L., p.
295,

DEscRIPTION.—Breast and flanks pure erey, darker nearest the head and.
paler lower, where it gradually merges into the yellow of the belly and vent.
In some birds the grey extends over a great part of the abdomen, in others
only over the upper portion. ‘The interscapulary plumage generally, and the
hind neck always, the same colour as the upper breast.

THE BULBULS OF NORTH CACHAR, 7

I can discover no other difference between this bird and the last. The
margins to the primaries seem to me to be much the same in both birds, I
know nothing in its habits, &c., to distinguish it from J. melanocephalus.
In 1891 I also took a nest containing three young which, unfortunately, were
merely naked squabs when found, and all died within two days; in spite of the
most anxious care being bestowed on them, The female which I trapped on
the nest was alone caught, and the male bird I never saw, so that I could not
say whether it was of this or the last species.

I have spent a good deal of time and trouble in trying to find evidence to
prove either that 27. melanocephalus and I. cinereiventris are one and the same
bird or that they are distinct.

In the first place, neither Mr. Hole nor I have ever seen a flock of either
kind unmixed with the other, and the only times I have taken either kind on
the nest, the pair to it was not obtained or even seen.

It is queer that all the specimens of J. melanocephalus in my collection should
be males, whereas all those of I. cinereiventris except one, should be females,
The one exception is a young male in imperfect plumage. One of my speci-
mens of IM. cinereiventris (given me by Mr, Hole) shows very narrow, obscure
margins of olive-green on the grey feathers behind the neck.

Again, one of the birds in Lord Tweedale’s collection is said by him to be
“ina stage of transition from yellow to grey.”

The amount of grey is not constant on the lower plumage, and on the
upper is sometimes entirely absent. Personally I believe the two birds to be
identical, but it would certainly seem that neither sex nor age can have any-
thing to do with the differences in coloration. In Lord Tweedale’s bird ‘the
change is from yellow to grey, whereas in mine, if it is changing, the reverse
would seem to be in process, Thus in the former bird it would appear that
age was destroying the power of secreting the yellow pigment, whereas in the
latter the assumption would be that the young bird had not developed the
power. I have had several collectors kind enough to give me the sexes of
their specimens and of the sexed birds. I have only heard of two male
MI. cinerewentris. and of but one female M. melanocephalus. The birds in the
Asiatic Museum are not sexed, Had sex, however, been the cause of the
difference in coloration, it would most certainly have been ascertained in the
fine collection in the British Museum, if not in those of private persons.

The nest I have above mentioned was exactly like that of the former species
already described, and was found in the same valley and on the following day.
It was in a bush placed at about two feet from the ground, and, as it was
surrounded by cane, was only got at with a good deal of difficulty,

8 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

CHLOROPSIS AURIFRONS.
Tur GoLp-FRONTED CHLOROPSIS.

Phylornis aurifrons, Jerdon’s “ B,I.,” Vol. IL, p. 99 ; Hume and
Davison, 8. F., Vol. VI., p. 826 ; Hume’s Cat., No. 465 ; 2d., 8. F.,
Vol. XL, p. 184 ; Chloropsis aurifrons, Oates’ “ B. of B. B.,” Vol. L,
p- 205 ;¢d. * Fauna B. 1.” Vol. L., p. 234.

Descrrerion.—Forehead and crown golden-orange; chin, cheeks
and extreme upper throat brilliant purplish-blue; remainder of throat,
ear-coverts, round the eye, lores, and a narrow line up to the top of the nostrils
black. An indistinct supercilium and a broad line surrounding the black
golden; a patch on the wing, consisting of nearly all the lesser coverts, bright
pale blue; edge of wing rather darker blue; inner and concealed part of
wing-feathers dark brown; lower aspect of tail lead-colour ; remainder of
plumage bright grass-green, lighter below and sometimes inclined to an
emerald tinge. ;

The female has the gold collar far less developed and often almost absent,
the blue of the throat mixed with black, and the colour of the crown less vivid.

The young bird in its first plumage has the head wholly green, a moustachial
streak of the same colour as the wing-patch in the adult ; chin and throat tinged
with the same. Primaries and secondaries edged with brilliant greenish-blue ;
tail suffused with the same, and with the under surface wholly pale dusky-blue,

A young bird in the Spring of the second year has the forehead golden; the
upper throat and chin green; the black of the lower throat mixed with green,
and with only two or three traces of the golden collar. The moustachial streak
is small, and the wing patch the same.

Bill black ; gape and base of lower mandible hommy ; mouth bluish ; irides
light to dark brown ; legs pale, clear to dark, dusky-plumbeous ; the younger
the bird, the brighter and clearer the colour.

Male—Length 7°5" to 7°8" ; wing 3°7” to 3°85” ; tail 2°7” to 2:9"; tarsus
°7" ; bill at front °7” and from gape 1”.

Female—7'2" to 75" ; wing 3°5" to 3°65" ; tail 2°4” to 2:6",

NIpIFICATION.—The nest is a rather shallow cup, varying in breadth from
about 3°5” to about 4” and in depth from about 1°3” to 1°8”, few nests being
more than 1°5”, It is made of very fine twigs, moss roots and the tendrils of
climbing plants, outwardly bound together, and also interwoven with grasses,
moss, cobwebs, and a material which appears to be the inner bark of some tree.
Some nests have no lining at all, but others are lined with fine grass-stems or,
less often, with fern and moss roots, One nest taken in 1887 was lined with

THE BULBULS OF NORTH CACHAR. 9

the dead dry fronds of a species of fern moss, and another one had a number
of dead leaves mixed with the lining of grass-stems.

Most nests are placed in between two or more horizontal twigs in a semi-
pendant position, not like the nest of the genus Oriolus but more like the nests
of the genera Hemixus, Zypsipetes, &c., having little more than half the depth
of the nest below the supporting twigs. About one nest in three is placed in
an. upright fork, and in such cases they are rather less strongly built, and
fewer cobwebs are used for attachment purposes. As a rule, the nest is
very neat, but some few have the outer surface covered with scraps aoe
hanging on by a cobweb or two.

The eves appear to be of two fairly distinct types. In the most common the
ground varies from very pale cream to a reddish-cream, deep tinted egys being
exceptional. Most of the spots are very small, and in colour a dark reddish-
brown; intermingled with these are sometimes a few streaks and short irregular
lines of brown, so dark as to appear black unless closely looked into. The
second type of ege has the ground-colour a clear pale cream, and the whole
surface blotched and mottled with reddish and reddish-brown, and again with
others, beneath these, of pale purple and lavender.

These last eges show a strong resemblance to some badly-marked, dull-
coloured eggs of Criniger flaveolus. In shape they are a long, pointed oval, or a
long regular oval, hardly compressed at all towards the smaller end. The shell
is fairly close grained and smooth, but rather delicate. About two eggs in three
show a faint gloss. Fifteen eggs taken in North Cachar average °94” x °69”,
and vary in leneth between 86” and 1°1”, and in breadth between *62” and 69”.
They commence breeding in the end of May or beginning of June, and their
nests may be found throughout June and July up to nearly the end of August.

The earliest date I have recorded as having taken eggs is the 12th May, 1891,
and the latest the 16th of August, 1892, This bird is the most common
Chioropsis to be met with here, and is found in great numbers all the year
round, descending in the cold weather to the plains, and sometimes, if but
rarely, remaining there to breed, for in July, 1891, I had a nest sent to me
containing two eggs, undoubtedly belonging to a bird of this genus and, I think,
this species, which was taken at the foot of the hills to the north-west of
Cachar. As a general rule, they keep much to the higher trees, small saplings,
&c., in their quest for food ; but they do sometimes come down to low bushes,
even quite close to the ground, ‘They are nearly always to be seen in my
compound any time from November up to the end of March, or even later,
clambering about some tall shrubs which are covered during these months with
clusters of red flowers—the attraction for numerous insects of all kinds and

also for many other birds, besides those of this species. Unfortunately, this
2

10 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCTETY, Vol. VII,

bird is most dreadfully pugnacious and quarrelsome, and whilst feeding on
these bushes will allow no other bird to come near. I found out this trait
very soon after I first became acquainted with the bird. I was engaged in
watching a small party of Flower-peckers (Dicceum olivacewm) feeding on
a babul tree, when a green bulbul appeared on the scene and prompily
commenced chasing the unoffending small birds who, one by one, were forced
to take shelter in a densely foliaged tree close by. The same day a King-crow,
a bird usually so bumptious and aggressive, was badly hustled and punished by a
pair of C.aurifrons. This occurred some time between the 25th November and
the 5th December, so could not well have been the result of any grievance
which the bulbuls had against the shrike on nesting grounds. They do not
mind what kind of bird they bully, and if they can get nothing else to quarrel
with, will fight amongst themselves. ‘Twice have I picked up birds mortally
wounded in these fights. Once, as I was walking to Cutcherry, I noticed two of
these birds fighting in a cotton tree, and whilst I watched, one fell to the ground
dead. Another time I was out for a stroll with a planterand his nephew, when,
just in front, two of these birds fluttered fighting to the ground. One of my
companions at once rushed forward towards the birds, whereupon one flew away,
but the other, after a few convulsive movements, lay dead. On yet a third
occasion, one of my servants succeeded in catching two males by rushing forward.
and throwing his pwygree over them as they struggled in some grass, too
engrossed in their quarrel to notice his approach. On this occasion neither
bird was very badly wounded, though both of them showed signs of blood on
the shoulders and heads.

The only bird of its own size with which it does not care to compete is its
first cousin C. hardwichii, and rather than fight with this bird, it will even
leave a choice feeding-ground.

During the cold weather it assembles in fairly large flocks, generally num-
bering nearly a dozen individuals, though sometimes only three or four, and
very rarely they may be seen alone or in pairs. The separate members of the
flock are very independent, and they often wander some distance from one
another ; but, if driven away, they make off in the same direction, and keep up
an. intermittent conversation between themselves.

They seem to be almost entirely insectivorous, and of the birds which I have
examined, none contained seeds or other vegetable food in their stomachs, with
two exceptions.

These two had in them numerous small black seeds which had been taken
from the pods of a bean-like climbing plant, and when I carefully examined the
plant, I found that many of these pods, which had burst, were crowded with

THE BULBULS OF NORTH CACHAR. 11

tiny blue beetles, so it is possible that the seeds may merely have been
swallowed by the birds, either by mistake for, or together with, the insects,

I was once watching some Bronzed Drongo-shrikes catching white ants, when
my attention was attracted by some other birds joining in the pursuit. At
first I could not make out what they were, but one of them uttered a note
which I recognised as being that of the genus Chloropsis, and on shooting
the bird which uttered it, I found it belonged to this species. They were making
swoops into the air from the top of a lofty tree, and before returning to their
perch, they seemed to seize two and even three ants, whereas all the other
bulbuls I have seen catching insects on the wing invariably perched after
making one attempt to capture, whether successful or not. I noticed also that
though the white ants were rising to our right and the birds were on our left,
yet they appeared to see and give chase to insects which had disappeared far
beyond the range of sight, either of myself or the more sharp-sighted Naga
who accompanied me.

The ordinary cry of this bird is, as many observers have already remarked,
a low sweet rippling note, very like the softened cry of a Drongo-shrike. Ithas,
however, a2 most wonderful range of notes, some like those of Molpastes and.
Otocompsa, and others harsh, loud and jarring ; avery common sound, uttered
more especially during the breeding season, is just like the plaintive little chirp
of a very young chicken which has lost the hen. This note, like most, seems
to be common to the whole genus.

The song is very pretty, but short and rather interrupted, and very inferior
to that of the next bird, though perhaps rather louder.

The flight is fairly quick and strong, and consists of long rises and dips
alternately. ‘They sometimes hover in front of a flower, exactly in the same
way as many of the sun-birds do, and the movements of their wings when thus:
engaged are incredibly rapid.

All the birds of this genus have a habit of spreading their tails whilst feeding,
very much in the manner of Siphia, or, still more, like Myiophoneustemminckit,

Tt is a very early rooster, retiring directly the sun sets, sometimes even
before this, and always before it becomes in the least dark.

Tt does not always roost on high trees, and Iam inclined to think that, more
often than not, it prefers high, thick bushes to any other place.

I have twice disturbed it from patches of sun-grass when coming home at
dusk, and I have known it stay during the night in a dense orange-tree in my
compound. It is, like the other members of the genus, a great mimic, and
when in captivity, soon learns to imitate sounds made near it,

12 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

CHLOROPSIS HARDWICEII.
THE ORANGH-BELLIED CHLOROPSIS.

Phyllornis hardwickii, Jerdon’s “B. of 1,” Vol. IL, p. 100;
Hume’s Cat., No. 460 ; Chloropsis hardwickii, Oates’ ““ B. of B. B.,”
Vol. I., p. 206 ; éd., “ Fauna of B. L., Birds,” Vol. I, p. 236.

Description.— Male.—Whole upper plumage, tertiaries and greater coverts
next the back rather bright green; the forehead, above the eye, down the neck
tinged strongly with yellow, lores, the ear-coverts and behind them on the
_ sides of the neck, dead black ; chin, throat and upper breast black, velvety im
appearance, and strongly glossed with deep purply-blue, moustachial streak
bright dark ultramarine. Tail above purply-blue, the inner webs dusky black ;
lesser wing-coverts verdigris-blue ; other coverts black, edged purple ; primaries
the same, secondaries black on the inner and green on the outer webs ; flanks
ereen ; remainder of lower plumage bright deep orange.

Female.—A moustachial streak bright pale cobalt; lesser wing-coveris
the same as in the male; primaries and secondaries brown, the former very
narrowly, the latter broadly, edged green ; remainder of wings and whole upper
plumage green ; flanks and sides of the abdomen and breast green; centre of
lower breast, abdomen and under tail-coverts orange.

Young birds in their first plumage are wholly green, there being only a faint
indication ef the blue on the lesser wing-coverts.

First a cobalt moustachial streak appears, then the orange belly, &c., im
patches, together with patches of black on the breast. As the black develops,
the lesser wing-coverts assume their proper colour, and the moustachial streak
deepens into the ultramarine blue of the adult, and, finally, the yellow on the
head appears in the autumn of the second year, with the bright deep tints
on the wing and tail.

Bill black ; irides vary considerably; in some they are almost a bright red-
brown, in others dull and almost black, and they range between these
extremes; lees, plumbeous-blue, brightest and clearest in the young, and dull
and dark in old birds.

Length 7°3” to 7°6”; tail °8” to 8:1”; wing 3°7” to 3:95”; tarsus “71”; bill
at front °67” and from gape *98".

The female seems to be but little smaller than the male, and I have measured
none under 7°25” and from that up to 7°5”, the wing varying from 3°6” to 3°75".

Nipiricatron.—There is practically no difference between the nests of this
bird and those of C. aurifrons, though two were rather deeper than any I have
seen of that bird, one measuring 1°8” and the other 2°05” in depth. They
build in just the same sort of places, but, generally, rather higher, and I have
seen no nest under about 25 fect from the ground, ;

THE BULBULS OF NORTH CACHAR. 13

The few eggs I have seen could not possibly be distinguished from those of
the last bird. One clutch of two is of the blotched type, and five are of the
other. In my remarks on this bird in the Asian, by mistake I wrote “ the
blotched eggs number four in every five taken” it should have been number
only two to five of the other kind taken. Seven eggs average 91” x °67”; in
length they vary between *89” and 1:05”, and in breadth between *56” and ‘7”,
The largest egg is very much larger than any of the others, measuring
1:05” >¢ °7” whereas the next largest is only just °95” % °67”,

I have never seen this bird in as large flocks as those in which C. aurifrons
assembles, Asa rule, nob more than five or six are seen together, and often
they are found in pairs. They do not, either, descend as low as C. aurifrons does.
I have never heard of their being found quite in the plains, and only once or
twice have I met with them anywhere below some 600 feet. Although they
are very nearly entirely insectivorous, they are not altogether so, and in a caged
state accustom themselves to a wholly vegetable diet. I have seen them two or
three times, when wild, eating berries, and one I once shot in my compound
had its stomach full of oranges about the size of a No. 4 shot.

This bird and its mate lived in my compound, and did a good deal of damage
to the one orange tree they particularly fancied. At first I flattered myself that
they were destroying the red ants which infested the tree, but I soon discovered
my mistake and did my best to drive them away, finally having to shoot one,
that being the only way of ridding myself of their company. In captivity they
seem to thrive on plantains and similar food, though they are grateful for any
insects which may be offered to them, and more especially for any grasshoppers.
A great friend of mine in Silchar had one of these birds in a cage, which was a
most charming pet. It soon got to know that certain people gave it grass-
hoppers or other dainties, and would become most excited whenever they came
into the verandah, coming to the side of its cage and calling loudly to
attract their attention. When J last saw it, it was beginning to sing, but had
not come to its full powers, though it possessed, even then, a very sweet and
musical littlesong. This bird had a habit of turning complete somersaults from
off the top perch of its cage on to one of the lower ones, and this it would
do some half-dozen, or even more, times in rapid succession. ‘This trick,
however, is one which is common to the species—and, I believe, to the genus—
and. in a wild state they may occassionally be seen indulging in these acrobatic
feats. In turning these somersaults, the bird does not appear to apen its wing
in the least ; it suddenly turns round on its perch, and drops, with closed wings,
on to the place it desires to reach, either seizing something edible as it first
turns round, or else directly after arriving on the lower twig. _

14 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Voi, VIII.

It is not nearly so quarrelsome a bird as its cousin already described, but it
is quite as bold and plucky, and seems to be even a more finished fighter, for,
as I have mentioned before, C. aurifrons does not care about attacking this bird,
and gets the worst of it when he does.

The song is the fullest and most prolonged, as well as by far the sweetest, of
any bird of this genus, and it shares with the other members of it the wide
variety of notes and wonderful power of mimicry.

T have one female of this bird, which, however, is not an adult, which
measures as follows :—

Length °7”; tail 2°8”; wing 3°5”,

This is the bird whose measurements I gave in the Asian; but now, with
my greater experience of the species, I think that these figures are abnormally
small, or that the bird would have become slightly larger with increased age.

CHLOROPSIS CHLOROCEPHALA.
Tuer Burmese CHLOROPSIS.

Phyllornis chlorocephala, Hume’s Cat., No. 463, bis. 3 Chioropsis
chlorocephala, Oates’ “ B. of B. B.,” Vol. 1., p. 208 ; ¢d., “ Fauna of
B. L., Birds,” Vol. I, p. 237.

Desoriprion.—Lores, feathers under and in front of the eye, cheeks, chin
and throat, black ; forehead and a broad band from eye to eye passing round
and encircling the throat pale yellowish-green ; front of the crown above the
forehead and a broad streak passing over the eyes and ear-coverts pale green ;
a very short moustachial streak cobalt ; crown of the head and nape goiden-
green; back, rump, upper tail-coverts and scapulars deep green ; tail blue ;
primaries and their coverts black, edged with blue; secondaries black on the
inner, blue on the outer webs, and edged with green; tertiaries and inner-
coverts green tinged with blue; lesser coverts glistening smalt-blue; medium
and greater-coverts green, tinged with blue at the base, under plumage bright
green, tinged with yellow on the breast (Oates).

I have only seen one male of this species, and that in such bad condition
that I give Oates’ description.

' The female has no black on the head, these parts being bluish-green; the
moustachial streak is paler and less glistening, and the plumage generally is

duller.
Length °7"; tail 27”; wing 3°3”; tarsus "75"; bill from gape *9” (Oates).
T have only seen a single pair of these birds in North Cachar. They were shot
at Gunjong, in January, 1891, feeding on a very high cotton tree. I know of

nothing in their habits differing from those of the other members of the genus.

THE BULBULS OF NORTH CACHAR. 15

The male several times uttered a cry exactly like one of the lower notes of
the large Racket-tailed Drongo-shrike, and for some moments I thought that
it was one of these birds calling, nor did I find out my mistake, until I shot
the bird which uttered it and saw that there were no others in the tree.

CHLOROPSIS JERDONI.

JERDON 'S CHLOROPSIS.

Phyllornis jerdoni, Jerdon’s “ B. of I.,” Vol. IL., p. 97 ; Hume’s
Cat., No. 463 ; Chloropsis jerdoni, Oates’ “ Fauna of B. I., Birds,”
Wolk Wy p. 238); zd., Hume's “ Nests and Hegs,” Vol. I., p. loo
(2nd Hd.).

Description.— Hale.—Whole visible plumage, with the exceptions noted
below, bright grass-green, paler below and brightest on the head, rump, and
upper tail-coverts ; shoulder-patch, formed by the lesser wing-coverts, bright
smalt-blue, moustachial streak bright purplish-blue or ultramarine, chin and
throat, lores, and over the moustache, black surrounded by yellowish, com-
mencing from the forehead and continuing through the eyes downwards.

The female has no black, and the moustachial streak is paler and inclined to
greenish-blue.

The young are wholly green.

Nipirication.—If I confine my notes on this subject to those nests taken
in North Cachar, I can give practically no information beyond what is already
known, for, most undoubtedly, the bird is not an inhabitant of these hills, and
the few which have been seen are only the progeny of tame birds let loose.

As far as I can ascertain, the original birds, some three or four, were brought
up to Gunjong by some sepoys in, or about, the year 1883, and released when
the sepoys left the stockade. The first bird I ever saw was shot by Mr. Hughes,
of the Frontier Police, at Gunjong, and two more birds were obtained by me
that same year.

In 1886 I found a nest containing three eggs, and this is the only one I have
actually taken in North Cachar itself. It was just like those described as
belonging to C. aurifrons, and was built in a small tree quite close to the cotton
tree, on which the first bird was shot.

The whole of my eggs, including the three found in Gunjong, average
*91” X60", but I have only had a very small series pass through my hands, and
out of this series two pairs were abnormally large, the four eggs measuring
between *1” and 1:06” in length and ‘68” and °7” in. breadth,

Deducting these four eggs, the remaining nine average only °86” x °58”
even narrower than the dimensions given by Oates (vide “Nests and Eggs”).

16 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, VIIT.

A pair of eggs which I took in Nuddea has not been included in these
measurements.

Tn captivity this species also seems to be fed by natives principally on a
vegetable diet, and it appears to thrive on this; but I have noticed—it may be
only fancy—that birds fed thus are duller in colour than those fed on a meat or
insect diet. Such is certainly the case with O. hardwickii, the blue parts beng
duller and the green the same, and, moreover, tinged with blue, much as is the
case with caged green magpies (Cissa sinensis). The first bird of this species I
ever saw in captivity belonged to one of my servants, and I have never seen one
as tame since. As it was allowed to fly about without restraint, it naturally
gave free vent to its appetite for insects, and thus retained its proper coloration ;
but at the same time it by no means despised plantains, and when shut up,
as it sometimes was, ate them freely, I was told by the servants that this
bird caught and devoured wasps and hees, but could get none at the time to test
the truth of the assertion, and shortly afterwards the bird died a violent death.

This habit of catching wasps may have been copied from a tame Racket-tailed
Drongo (Dissemurus yaradiseus) which shared with it its semi-imprisonment.
It was remarkably noticeable how the small bulbul “bossed” its much larger
companion who, had he wished, could have easily killed him, As a rule, they
got on very well together, but the bulbul was very jealous and resented any
attention being shown to the shrike.

I am much afraid that this bird, like I/yiophoneus temminckit, has died out,
for, since 1890, I have not seen a single bird, of course, amongst the many
C. aurifrons that I am constantly seeing, it is quite possible that I may over-
look one or two birds of this species, and it is to be hoped that such may be
the case.

17

LES FORMICIDES DE L’EMPIRE DES INDES ET DE
CHY LAN.

Par Auguste Fort,
Professeur 4 1’ Université de Ziirich.
Part III.
gme Genre Potyracais, Shuck.
Tableau des ouvrieres des espéces de la faune de V Empire des Indes
et de Ceylan.

1. Yeux proéminents, perpendiculairement tronqués 4 leur face inférieure-
postérieure (comme la moitié d’un ceil), Hemioprica (Roger)... 2
Yeux arrondis, de forme ordinaire ...... jandocacone Snap Dbi Se goosonnoaostononebe 4.
Une fente verticale, profonde, étroite et sinueuse entre le mégonotum et le
métanotum. Thorax convexe, sans épines, non bordé. Glabre.
Hcaille bidentée ..... secesensceressescsesecsecsesessresls SCISSA (Roger).
Thorax sans fente, ni échancrure, convexe, avec deux longues épines au
pronotum. Poilues. Thorax bordé. Leaille bispineuse ...0......03
Luisante, faiblement chagrinée. Pubescence tres éparse, - Métanotum
AMET C MI OLUOMstevoseeceeenopepasecitccieasaslsnn ne s-eP, ACULEATA (Mayr).
Subopaque ou opaque; rugueuse-striée; abdomen densément coriacé-
ponctué. Une pubescence jaundtre formant toison, Métanotum
bidenté, bordé entre ses deux faces. i: 5 Mill.......c.sccccsees panini
P. PUBESCENS (Mayr).
Angles supérieurs, latéraux de l’écaille prolongés en lobe large,
bispineux, aliforme. L’épine anterieure est courte, dentiforme,
var : ALATISQUAMIS, nov. var.
4, Thorax fortement bordé latéralement dans toute sa longueur; ses cdtés

nN)

(3)

VETUlCAylUNewecis cian ee Geen caweeeiciee eeose POSCHHSHOTETESOSFOSSSEESFEOREOOSED eeeve000 ai)
Thorax non bordé, ou bien le métanotum seul est distinctement bordé ;
pronotum nullement Hordé ....c..sccccscescescneccsececnes Konponn doneenlia

5. Thorax armé de quatre larges épines; celles du pronotum sont les plus
courtes. L’écaille a deux longues épines qui embrassent l’abdomen
et deux dents entre deux. Abdomen bordé devant et 4 ses angles
antérieurs. Corps court et large. Li: 4°5 a 5°3 Mill.......... caveeces

P. JERDONII (Forel).
Thorax n’a que deux épines ou n’en a pas........ Saesericsendoad secsceeseeeesG

6. Pas d’épines au pronotum, qui n’a que deux angles oe ou moins arrondis

ou deux dents....... “DoDONDeEDE dos BECOADD ODE cares swsetiesesiciace arses eit |
Deux épines aigties au pronotum. Pasd’épines aumétanotum, tout au plus

deux petites dents et en général une aréte transyersale entre elles...12
3

18 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

7. Hcaille avec une épine impaire ou 1M COne aVl MINEU rereeesereeseresceerened
Toutes les dents ou épines de Pécaille sont paires..esesercersereccsoeseesee Ll
8. Hcaille nodiforme, avec un cone médian et deux angles latéraux. Prono-
tum avec deux angles. Le métanotum a deux cornes deprimées,
courbées en dedans, formant ensemble un croissant (quart de lume)
P. SELENE (Emery)
Heaille avec une longue Epine MEdIANE ...sceocscescseccserccncscecescsceverD
9. Heaille squamiforme, quoique, épaisse, trispmeuse. Les faces antérieure et
postérieure de ’épine médiane sont la simple continuation des faces
antérieure et postérieure de l’écaille. Tete carrée, & peine plus longue
que large, & peine plus large derri¢re que devant. Métanotum avec
deux fortes dents obtuses et verticales. Arétes frontales aussi
rapprochées derriére que devant, non divergentes. Dents de I’épistome
plus écartées que chez les P. frauenfeldi et thrinax*, i: 6 Mill.
D’tn jaune TOUSSAtTe ........sceecceseeroeceeseeL, SAIGONENSIS (Forel).
Ecaille nodiforme, aussi épaisse que large, ou peu s’en faut, avec une surface
supérieure convexe, au milieu de laquelle l’épine médiane est implantée.
Tete pluslongue que large et bien plus large derriére que devant...10
10. L: 8895 Mul. Arétes frontales comme chez la P. saigonensis. 'Téte
et thorax mats, densément réticulés-ponctués, sans rides. Dents du
métanotum aussi courtes ou plus courtes que celles du pronotum.
Dents latérales de Vécaille longues et pointues. Noire ; extrémité
des funicules et des tarses d’un jaune brun...P. FRAUENFELDI (Mayr).
L: Environ 8 Mill. Noire, avec le front, l’épistome les mandibules,
Vextrémité des funicules et celle des tarses d’un brun roussatre. Tete
et thorax ridés. Métanotum avec deux épines trés courtes, Hcaille
avec deux courtes épines latérales (WVaprés Smith) ....-.secsecccsees
P. TEXTOR (Smith).
I.; 4455 Mill, Arétes frontales divergeant en arri¢re ot elles sont
bien plus écartées que devant. 'Téte et thorax réticulés et longitudi-
nalement ridés, mats ou subopaques, épines métanotales assez longues,
subyerticales. D’un brun plus on moins chatain ou roussatre ......
P. THRINAX (Roger).
L: 5455 Mill. D’un brun roussitre. Ecaille avec deux dents

ou spinules latérales pointues.........race : P. THRINAX id. sp.

*La P. thrinar race: javana (Mayr) de Java alécaille 4 peu pres conformée
comme la P. saigonensis, mais les caractéres de la téte sont comme chez la P. thrinaz.
+ C’est avec doute que je place cette espéce sous le chiffre 10, car je ne l’ai pas vue.

Smith et Mayr ne disent pas si l’écaille est nodiforme et ne parlent pas de la forme de
la téte, les arétes frontales, &c.

LES FORMICIDES DES INDES ET DE CEYLAN,. 19

L: 445 Mill. D’un brun chatain, Ecaille au moins aussi épaisse,

sinon plus épaisse que large......... var: P, LANCEARIUS 0, var,

[L: 55 Mill. Ecaille plus mince, trispineuse, (épines subégales).

Dents du pronotum plus fortes. Java.,race : P. JAVANA(Mayr).]

11. Bord supérieur de I’écaille faiblement convexe, portant au milieu deux
dents pointues et a ses angles latéranx deux épines assez longues,
droites, dirigées en haut et en dehors. Téte et thorax fortement
ridés en long, et réticulés-ponctués, L: 6447 Mill...... SHBoRonAeE

P, HALIDAYI (Emery).

Bord supérieur de Vécaille fort convexe, armé de deux longues épines
medianes trés rapprochées l'une de J’autre et a peu pres verticales.

Les deux épines latérales sont situées plus bas que chez Vhalidayi et

sont en général un peu plus courtes que les médianes. Dents du méta-
notum plus aplaties et plus horizontales. Téte et thorax réticulés-
ponctués, avec de fines rides longitudinales moins apparentes. L :

5 2 7:3 Mill.......00.0 ....P, CLYPEATA (Mayr) [—1npica (Mayr). ]
,L: 75 Mill. Téte et thorax régulierement et tres distinctement
ridés longitudinalement............race : P. RASTRATA (Hmery).

Ecaille quadridentée, Dents du métanotum verticales. Subopaque, fine-
ment pubescente (pruineuse). Yeux sphériques. Abdomen réticulé-
ponctué, Tete et thorax ridés-ponctués. Noire, L: 5 Mill.
(Vapres Roger) .ccccccccssscoessseesseeeeeee-b, PUNCTILLATA (Roger).

12. Téte plus large derriére que devant. Robuste. Grossierement striée-
ridée, Hcaille avec quatre épines courtes, subégales. Noire. Poilue.
Eparsément pubescente. Arétes frontales divergentes. Thorax a
bord biincisé. L: 9 4 10 Mill......... »»6P, STRIATO-RUGOSA (Mayr).

Ecaille comme chez la précédente. L: 5546 Mill. Pruineuse. Ridée-
ponctuée, Une pubescence grisdtre sur le corps, jaunatre sur abdo-
men. Pilosité dressée presque nulle. Thorax fort convexe .o.........-

P. CONVEXA (Roger).

Ecaille armée en haut de deux longues épines verticales ou subverticales,
de coté de deux dents ou petites épines beaucoup plus courtes. Téte
aussi large ou plus large devant que derricre .eersseeeereersecoeees eeeld

13. Téte fortement rétrécie en arricre, 4 partir des yeux, sans autre bord
postérieur que V’articulation occipitale. La distance V’un ceil 4 langle
postérieur de la téte est aussi grande que celle d'un ceil 4 Pautre.
Opaque, réticulée-ponctuée; thorax et tebe en outre striés, Noire.
Pilosité noiratre, Faiblement pubescente. Thorax étroit, allongé, a
peine plus large devant que derritre. L. 9 & 10 Mill.........s00 wen

P. srRiaTa (Mayr).

20 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

Téte pas ou a peine rétrécie derriere les yeux, avec un bord particulier,
distinct, en avant de l’articulation occipitale. Yeux bien plus éloignés
l'un de l’autre que des angles postérieurs de la téte. Plus robuste...14

14. Une pubescence plus ou moins grisatre, dorée ou argentée, formant un
duvet trés abondant et apparent, qui cache la sculpture, au moins
BUH AOC OMICTIY certs enatsiretelesuelsieieecess ce ves cecee since aeeivmce=tala vce cd

Une pubescence courte, espacée, ne cachant pas la sculpture et ne formant

pas de duvet apparent. 'Téte et thorax stries. Noire ......sescceec0016

15. Arétes frontales trés rapprochées l'une de l’autre, 4 peine distantes comme
4 ou 4 de leur longueur. Pronotum aussi large derriére que devant.

Epines latérales de Vécaille trés courtes et bimucronées. Pilosité

éparse. Pubescence plutot argentée ou faiblement dorée. Taille un

peu moins robuste que chez la P. mayri. 1: 8 & 9 Mill ............008

. P. PROXIMA (Roger).

Arétes frontales distantes de la moitié de leur longueur environs. Prono-
tum un peu élargi devant. Taille robuste et courte. Pubescence grise-
dorée, parfois plusgris 4tre ou un peu argentée. L:7°5 49 Mill...

P. MAYRI (Roger).

Pilosité abondante sur le corps et sur les pattes. Pubescence

dense et d’un gris doré. Arétes frontales tres distantes...race :
P. MAYRI, id. sp.

Pubescence grise et peu dense sur l’abdomen...var: PAUPERATA
(Emery).

Pilosité dressée trés éparse partout. Abdomen avec une pubes-
cence grise ne formant qu’un assez faible duvet. Abdomen

brun. Arétes frontales plus rapprochées que chez le type

race : P, INTERMEDIA (Forel),

Stature trapue et pubescence dorée dense de la P. mayri, i. sp.
Arétes frontales presque aussi rapprochées que chez la P.
prozima. Pilosité tres éparse, comme chez la P, intermedia...

var : PROXIMO-MAYRI, n. var.

16. Epines médianes de l’écaille courbées en arriére pres de leur extréemité et
plus rapprochées I’une de l’autre 4 leurs bases que des épines latér-
ales. Pas de pilosité dressée, sauf quelques poils roussatres au deux
extrémités du corps. Pubescence jaunatre tres courte, formant sur
Vabdomen un trés faible duvet pruineux. Abdomen subopaque, trés
finement réticulé. L: 849 Mill. Pas de dent médiane entre les
épines supérieures de l’écaille .....+.sseeeseeeeeeeek. YERBURYI, 0. Sp.
Epines médianes de V’écaille droites, bien plus éloignées Pune de lautre
que des épines latérales. Pilosité dressée abondante sur le corps, les
pattes et les antennes. Abdomen mat, ridé-ponctué ou strié.
Pubescence grise, plus éparse que chez la précédente. Une dent
médiane entre les épines supérieures de Vécaille. L:9 4 12 Mill.
P. SUMATRENSIS (Smith).

Ie

18,

19,

20.

21.

LES FORMICIDES DES INDES ET DE CEYLAN. 21

Epines supérieures de Vécaille de longueur médiocre ; dent
médiane forte, spiniforme. Métanotum sans dents distinctes.
Abdomen ridéponctué ............race : P. SUMATRENSIS, id. sp.
Hpines supérieures de I’écaille longues ; dent médiane tres faible
et obtuse, Métanotum avec deux fortes dents verticales.
Abdomen strié ..,.........02. wecwoerace : P, HAMULATA (Hmery).
Luisantes, lisses ou faiblement chagrinées. Thorax sans épines ou avec
deux dents ou épines plus ou moins caduques, gréles des leur base,
au métanotum seulement. Pas de pubescence.......cscccesoeeeeo-e 18,
Sculpture accentuée. Mates ou subopaques (sauf chez la P. laevigata).
"Thorax EPUMCUX sevseavercccreeres sceccrccercescesscceceoerssseescssscooe lds
Pronotum avec deux angles antérieurs aigus, dentiformes. lcaille a
peine quadridentée. Métanotum inerme. Noire; pattes rougeatres,
sauf les tarses. L: 5°5 & 6°2, Mill.......00..P. LAVISSIMA (Smith),
Abdomen et pattes d’un roux jaundtre. Antennes et devant de
Habe Le OUSSA LES idacceepacescesereteconices var : DICHROUS (Forel).
Pronotum avec ses angles antérieurs arrondis. Hcaille quadrispimeuse
(épines latérales courtes, épines médianes rapprochées). Noire ; pattes
brunatres ou rougedtres. L:5 a 6. Mill...P. RASTELLATA (Latreille).
Métanotum absolument inerme...... race : P. RASTELLATA, id. sp.
Metanotum armé de deux épines gréles, plus ou moins caduques,
aussi étroites 4 leur base que vers leur extrémité ...... coceccnodoac
race: P. LAVIOR (Roger),
Métanotum armé seulement de deux petites dents... var : DEBILIS
(Emery),
Mésonotum armé de deux fortes épines, recourbées en arricre ...00.00.20
Micsonoium imerme, Heaille bispinetise <......cuesescscscececcssccecnsenso22
Métanotum armé de deux fortes dents. Epines du pronotum fortement
courbées en dehors. LHcaille surmontée d’un pilier d’ou partent deux
longues épines médianes, d’abord verticales, paralléles et contigues,
puis divergentes et recourbées en dehors en cornes de chamois & leur
sommet. Thorax, sauf lesépines, base de l’écaille, devant du premier
segment abdominal d’un roux foncé ; le reste noiratre. Pubescence
peu dense. Li: 849 Mill .........ccvceeeeevesP, BELLICOSA (Smith),
Métanotum armé de deux tubercules dentiformes plus ou moins obtus,
souvent peu distincts. Epines du pronotum longues, recourbées 4 la
fois en dehors et en arriére. Taille plus grande ..........0. o0-.-00-21
Kcaille comme chez la P. Gellicosa. D’un roux vif. Téte, antennes,
tibias, tarses, articulations, extrémité des épines et moitié postérieur
de Vabdomen noiratres. Pubescence longue, abondante, jaunatre
Li: 9°5 & 10 Mill .....e00s..scceeeeseeseceeereeeeeb, BIHAMATA (Drury).
Les épines de l’écaille divergent dés le sommet du pilier d’ot elles
partent, comme les branches d’un Y. Abdomen irés large. Tubercules

22. JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII,

du métanotum presque nuls. Enticrement noire, avec la base

de Técaille, et parfois une partie du thorax, d’un roux brunatre.
Pubescence plus grisatre que chez la P. bihamata. Li: 10411

IMG 2. seencacecissnconssacenssacceessccomcssecannrascnks YPSILON (Hmery).

22. Lisse et Iuisante. Noire. Angles antérieurs du thorax aigus. Métano-
tum avec deux longues épines divergentes, dirigées en arriére, ce qui

la distingue de la P. levior. Cuisses et hanches ferrugineuses.

Heaille avec deux longues épines embrassant Vabdomen. L: 5 4 6

Mill (apres Smith) ......000 serersecereseeveees- bP, LAVIGATA (Smith).

Corps, en partie du moins, avec une sculpture bien distincte, mat ou
SUDOPAGUC Jsccerscnvecscroevvarcaveccceeessseansors+s:,seessecccssccacasd4oe

23. Pronotum avec deux angles antérieurs aigus, subdentés. Deux épines
au métanotum. Lcaille avec deux épines dirigées en arriére et
embrassant abdomen. Sutures du thorax assez nettes. Subopaque ;

téte et thorax finement réticulés-ponctués. Abdomen réticulé.

Pilosité dressée nulle. Pubescence extrémement courte et tres

éparse. Noire, avec un treflet métallique bleuatre foncé, surtout
apparent au métathorax. Funicules et pattes, sauf les métatarses,

testacés, L: 4447 Mill.........P. HIPPOMANES (Smith). Race :
CEYLONENSIS™ (C. Emery).

Pronotum armé de deux EpiMes .....ccccseerscseccesencsescascecsonseeses seedy

24, Suture méso-métanotale distincte. caille simplement bispineuse.
Pilosité dressée 4 peu pres nulle. Métanotum ordinairement bordé...25

Suture méso-métanotale indistincte ou nulle. Souvent deux dents entre

les épines de l’écaille. Métanotum nullement bordé ..........0....31

25. D’un noir verdatre bronzé. Métanotum bordé. Beaucoup plus gréle que
la P. venus. Téte et thorax densément réticulés-ponctués; les

points ou réticulations fines sont plus ou moins disposés par groupes

de 5 ou 6, séparés les uns des autres par une maille réticulaire un peu

plus élevée, souvent peu distincte. Abdomen subopaque, assez

luisant, assez faiblement et trés finement ponctué-ridé transyersale-

ment. Tibias et scapes comprimés. L: 7 Mill...P. a:DIPUS, n. sp.

D’un noir brundtre mat; uniformément eb densément réticulées-ponc-
tuées. Abdomen parfois d’un brun roussatre, Tibias eb scapes
comprimes, ces derniers du moins vers l’extrémité ......seeeseeese-27

D’un bleu foncé, métallique en tout ou en partie. Deux longues épimes

au pronotum. Subopaques; abdomen Iluisant, finement chagrine.

* Je dois a mon ami M. C. Hmery la*connaissance des caractéres qui distinguent
cette race de Vhippomanes id. sp. C’est done sous son nom et avec sa signature que
je publie la diagnose de ce tableau.—A. Forel.

LES FORMICIDES DES INDES ET DE CEYLAN, 23

Face basale du métanotum subbordée. Epistome échancrée au milieude

son bord antérieur. Scapes, cuisses, ef tibias, comprimés. Dépourvues

de pilosité dressée eb de pubescence, Li: 8 a 9 Mill. ...............26

26. Téte rétrécie fortement derriere les yeux. Epines du métanotum plus
courtes que celles du pronotum, paralleles, dressées, Thorax étroit,
alloneé, finement rugueux transversalement, nullement convexe
dessus. Ecaille avec deux longues épines, trés écartées et trés diver-
gentes, courbées en arricre. Téte, prothorax et méso-thorax noirs...

P, CHALYBEA (Smith),

Téte non rétrécie derriére les yeux. Epines du métanotum extremement
fortes et extremement longues, longues comme plus de deux fois
Vintervalle de leurs bases, tres fortement divergentes, beaucoup plus
longues que les épines pronotales, dirigées en arriére et en haut.
Thorax plus robuste que chez la P. chalybea. Pronotum et méso-
notum un peu convexes. Hcaille comme chez la P. chalybea. 'Téte

et thorax réticulés-ponctués ou réticulés, et subopaques ou faiblement
luisants, sauf la face basale du métanotum qui est trés luisante et
faiblement chagrinée: En outre une ponctuation éparse, assez
effacée. D’un bleu métallique foncé, uniforme. Pattes et antennes
Cun noir bleuatre so.seorsseseeeecesocseserscersceeseseel. VENUS, I. SP.

27. ‘Tete considerablement rétrécie par lignes convergentes, presque droites,
derriére les yeux, sans bord postérieur distinct de Varticulation occipi-
tale; Vextrémité postérieure de la téte est aussi étroite que larticu-
lation occipitale. Antennes, pattes, et palpes tres longs et trés
‘gréles, Les palpes et les scapes dépassent en arri¢re la suture pro-
mésonotale. Corps tres étroit. Chaque article du funicule renflé &

son extrémité. Epines métanotales paralléles, de la longueur des
épines pronotales et des épines de Técaille; ces derniéres, assez
dressées et courbées en arriére. Métanotum nonbordé, Tout le corps
mat, densément réticulé-ponctué et glabre ou peu s’en faut. L: 7.
ET, coscos ccaccspeseebeondadeacesbaated spsgcéccococennd-eoles alROMiNIMIENL, 42, (fm,
Tete médiocrement rétrécie par lignes, plus ou moins convexes, derriére les
yeux, avec un bord postérieur plus ou moins distinct, ou indistinct,
mais toujours plus long que articulation occipitale 4 gon ex-
trémité postcrieure. Palpes et scapes n’atteignant ou ne dépassant pas

la suture pro-mésonotale. Métanotum bordé ou au moins subbordé..28

28. Dront et aretes frontales élevés, proéminents. Pas de dent sous l’extrémité
antérieure du 1° segment abdominal, Pubescence extraordinairement
courte et diluée, presque nulle. .Cdtés de la téte faiblement convexes
entre Poeil et le bord postérieur, Corps relativement robuste ou
médiocrement gréle, Abdomen souvent d’un brun roussitre .....29

DA JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII,

Front eb arétes frontales peu élevés, peu proéminents. Une dent lamelli-
forme sous V’extrémité antérieure du 1° segment abdominal. Une
pubescence grisitre, fort distincte, qui rend l’abdomen un peu
pruineux, sans former de duvet. Cotés de la téte derriere les yeux plus
fortement convexes que chez 28. Corps gréle, étroit, mais lesantennes
NE SONL Pas LONGUES ..--eeeeecaveeevenrcecesccvscescrsescossoreceseseceees DO

29, caille épaisse mais non cubique, surmontée de deux fortes et longues
épines divergentes, dirigées en haut, en arricre et en dehors, médio-
crement courbées en arriére, plus longues que les épines du métanotum.
Ces derniéres divergentes, légerement courbées en dehors, pas plus
longues que celles du pronotum; leur bord antérieur ne se continue
pas isa base en une arcte bordant la face basale du métanotum.
Cette derniére plane, faiblement subbordée. ‘Tibias postérieurs et
médians armés 4 leur bord interne de deux ou trois petits piquants
tres courts et trés obliques. Stature relativement robuste, presque
comme P. armata. UL: 10 Mill..........seseceoeeeek, ACHILLES, 0, SD.

Heaille cubique, avec un angle plus ou moins droit entre sa face antérieure
et sa face supérieure qui s’éleve dans sa moitié postérieure en bourre-
let, d’ot partent deux épines assez longues, dirigées en arriére, en
dehors et un peu en haut, assez fortement courbées en arriére. Face
basale du métanotum concave, en gouttiére longitudinale, bordée
d’une aréte qui se continue directement dans le bord antérieur des
épines. Ces dernicres trés longues, droites, & peine divergentes, plus
longues que celles du pronotum et de V’écaille. Tibias sans trace de
piquants, Stature moins robuste. L : 8 & 9 Mill sessecsesesssesceeees

P. ABDOMINALS (Smith) ; [= PHYLLOPHILA (Smith). |

30. Vertex bas, faiblement convexe, de méme que le front. Tibias armés
de piquants distincts 4 leur bord interne. Neeud du pédicule plus
long que large, avec les stigmates fort proéminents, Face basale du
métanotum bordée et concave de droite a gauche. Hpines du
métanotum et de l’écaille comme chez la P. abdominalis, mais les
premiéres encore plus longues, extrémement longues, pointues et plus
divergentes. Articles 1 4 4 du funicule trés distinctement €paissis
A leur extrémité, Téte 4 eine rétrécie derriére les yeux. Pronotum
un peu concave entre les dx épines, Li: 7°8 Mill........sceceeees

-P, murat (Smith) ? race: AJAX. n. st.

Vertex plus fortement convexe. ‘Tete fort distinctement rétrécie derriére
les yeux. ‘Tibias sans trace de piquants. Noeud du pédicule un peu
plus large que long, armé derriére de deux épines fort courtes,
dirigées presque horizontalement en arri¢re et en dehors, courbées

LES FORMICIDES DES INDES ET DE CEYLAN. 25

de fagon & embrasser un peu l’abdomen. Métanotum comme chez
Vespéce précédente, mais les arétes qui bordent la face basale sont
plus faibles et les épines un peu plus courtes et plus divergentes,
Articles 1 & 4 du funicule & peine épaissis a@ leur extrémité,
Pronotum faiblement convexe entre les deux épines. Tres voisine de
Vespéce précédente, mais L:: 5°5 Mill, et pubescence un peu plus
HC CCMUICCIMenaeeeebanis +s ecinidy- succes cevacecses<k BINGTAMEI. TN. Sp:
31. Pédicule comme chez la P. ypsilon, c. a, d. surmonté d’un pilier épais
et élevé qui porte deux longues épines, divergeant en Y, un peu
inclinges en arriére et recourbées en dehors 4 Vextrémité, comme les
cornes d’un chamois. ‘'Téte large derriére, nullement rétrécie derriére
Jes yeux. Pronotum et mésonotum fort convexes; métanotum trés
abaissé, surmonté de deux épines tres longues. Abdomen globuleux,
atténué devant, en dessus. Téte et abdomen lisses et Inisants. Thorax
et pédicule tres grossiérement réticulés-ponctués. 'Trés poilues.
Noire, avec les pattes, les funicules, et souvent V’abdomen d’un
roux plus ou moins brundire. L: 5°34 5°6, Mill....P. rurcata
(Smith)...
Téte distinctement rétrécie derriére les yeux, Hpines du méta-
notum plus courtes. Pilier du pédicule plus gréle et plus bas,
surmonté de deux épines, abaissées, trés divergentes, dirigées
en dehors et 4 peine en haut, courbées en arriere et embrassant
plus ou moins l’abdomen ; les épines de I’écaille ne sont re-
courbées que tout pres de leur extrémité ot elles forment un
petit crochet. Avant ce crochet trés atténué, elles sont com-
primées et larges. D’un roux jaundtre testacé. Téte (sans les
mandibules) et extrémité des épines noirdtres, Scapes bruns,
Li: 45 Mill......... soseccsseccesarassosveneeLaCO ; P, GRACILIOR, n. st,
___ Pédicule sans pilier ; ses épines nullement recourbées 4 l’extrémité......32
32. Hpines du métanotum longues, fortes, recourbées en dehors a leur extré-
mité, en forme de cornes de chamois. 'Téte sans tubercules, Epines
de l’écaille embrassant l’abdomen, deux dents verticales entre elles,
au sommet de I’écaille. Une petisse dorée sur l’abdomen et sous les
métatarses. Presque pas de poils dressés. Noire, mate. L: 8,
Mill setteereceeerarceessscessseseesageerseeseeesessesbs RUPICAPRA (Roger).
Epines du métanotum recourbées a dehors 4 leur extrémité, mais plus
faiblement, ne formant pas\.ie corne de chamois aussi accentué,
Deux gros tubercules proéminents sur la téte, 4 Vocciput, un derriéré
chaque ceil. Hcaille comme chez la P. rupicapra. Abdomen
presque subbordé et un peuavancé devant, en dessus. Mésonotum
presque plan de profil ; pronotum fortement convexe devant. Noire,
mate, finement reticulée-ponctucée ; thorax, téte et écaille en outre

26 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII,

erossiérement réticulés. Pilosité presque nulle. Pubescence tres
diluée. du: 6°8 47 Mill............secessseseesk. TUBERICEPS, D. Sp.
Epines du métanotum non recourbées en cornes de chamois, tout au plus
faiblement courbées en dehors vers leur extrémité, 'T’éte sans tuber-
CCA eclereicasices see scmcieidecectenesciros-m soso ssedeeeasceeecmensseace aoe
33. Téte et thorax grossiérement et profondément réticulés-ponctués ainsi
que l’écaille, finement ponctués au fond des mailles. Abdomen fine-
ment et densément réticulé-ponctué et mat. Pedicule subcubique,
bidenté 4 ses angles antérieurs supérieurs, surmonté derriére de deux
longues et fortes épimes divergentes, courbées en arricre. Epines
du pronotum et du métanotum longues et robustes ; lespace qui
separe leur bases un peu concave dune épine 4 lautre. Epistome
bidenté devant. Presque glabre. Mate ; noire ; abdomen souvent
d’un brun roussatre. L: 8 410 Mill......P. armava (Le Guillon).
Abdomen d’un roux clair. Pattes, antennes, thorax et pédicule

bruns, L: 7 Mill : seulement...,....0.00. -. Var : MINOR (Forel).
Tete et thorax avec de grossiéres réticulations qui sont faibles, plus ou
moins effacées ; du reste finement et densément réticulés-ponctués et
mats comme l’abdomen. Pronotum fort convexe devant. Hpines du
thorax assez courtes, surtout celles du pronotum. Celles du méta-
notum divergentes, courbées on dehors, caille et abdomen comme
chez la P. tubericeps, mais les épines, et surtout les dents supérieures
de l’écaille, sont plus courtes. Noire, mate ; pubescence tres courte
et extrémement diluée ; pilosite presque nulle, L : 4°8 45°8 Mill......
P. SIMPLEX (Mayr).
[—sPINIGERA (Mayr) ].
Réticulations de la téte et du thorax presque entic¢rement effacces.

4a, Ao Mallee tc ceccre poscanenoniacdagoconned var : OBSOLETA, n. var.
La téte, le thorax et Yabdomen n’ont guere qu'une sculpture fine.
Poilues on. pubescentes + 80804168 CO8OeTHOABESBCCeoeCE ©00000000 BO0000s00 Beco:

34, Les épies de I’écaille n’embrassent pas abdomen ; elles sont divergentes,
dirigées en haut et pas ou @ peine courbées en arricre. L’intervalle
de leurs bases n’a pas de dents. Hpines du métanotum paralleles, un
peu courbées en dedans, Pilosité dressée assez abondante sur le
corps et sur les pattes. Pubescence jaunatre, assez abondante, assez
erossicre eb contournée, laissant voir la sculpture dans ses intervalles.
Epines médiocres. Noire ; abdomen, pattes, antennes eb mandibules
dun rouge brunatre. L:6a6°5 Mill ......... P. BICOLOR (Smith).

Les épines de 1’écaille sont abaissées en arriére, divergentes, courbées en
dedans eb embrassent la base de abdomen, L’intervalle de leurs

LES FORMICIDES DES INDES ET DE CEYLAN. 27

bases a deux petites dents. Pilosité dressée presque nulle. Pubes-
cence serrée, formant un duvet argenté ou doré ...... cesserecceseres 35

35, Hpines du pronotum assez gréles ; épines du métanotum @ peine plus
longues qu’elles, assez dressées, divergentes et courbées en dehors
pres de leur extremité. Une impression transversale entre le pro-
notum et le mésonotum. L’écaille a trois dents entre la base de ses
épines ; l'une d’elles est médiane et située devant les deux autres,
Les tibias ont & leur bord interne quelques petits piquants. Pubes-

~ cence d’un gris doré. Hpistome avec un lobe antérieur. Quelques
rugosités plus grossi¢res sur la téte et le thorax, L: 4°57 Mill...

P. DIVES (Smith),

Epines du pronotum robustes. pines du métanotum bien plus longues
qu’elles, trés divergentes, bien moins dressées, robustes, pas ou 4 peine
courbées en dehors. Epines de lécaille plus longues; seulement
deux dents dans Pintervalle de leurs bases. Stature bien plus robuste.
Thorax plus large, bien plus convexe, sans impression transversale
Tibias sans trace de piquants ...... dai eeSecielse atecutsiee sopeccecoce 2030

36. Cotés du mésothorax renfiés. Noire, avec une pubescence d’un doré
| pale. Hpines de Vécaille plut6t gréles. Noire. Hperons testacés,
L: 4545 Mill. Waprés Smith) .....0..-seeceeeeeP. AFFINIS (Smith)
[vicina (Roger) }

Cotés du mésonotum non renflés. Pattes rougedtres. Epines de I’écaille
robustes. L:546 Mill........ cceeoaeeepoce ecoOSU cecoonceeenot cucce Poesy 4

37. Le pronotum et le mésonotum forment une bosse trés proéminente. Tout
Je corps convert d’une pubescence argentée trés dense. Robuste......

P. ARGENTEA (Mayr).

Le thorax est moins fortement convexe et l’est uniformément, d’avant en
arriére. Taille moinsrobuste. Pubescence moins dense, laissant voir

Ja sculpture sur la tete eb le thorax, d’un grisaétre moins argenté,
souvent en partie d’un doré pale sur l’abdomen. ‘Trés voisine de la
précédente ; peut-etre simple race.............0.+2.P. TIBIALIS (Smith),

Liste DES PotyracHis DE LINDE AVEC DESCRIPTION DES ESPE/CES
NOUVELLES, SYNONYMIE ET GEOGRAPHIE.
1. P. scissa (Roger).
Hemioptica scissa (Roger).

Ceylon (Major Yerbury, Roger).

6 :-—L: 57 4a 62 Mill. Entiérement noir. Ailes brunes. Valvules
génitales jaundtres, avec lextrémité de leurs prolongements d’un brun noiratre.
Assez finement chagriné et assez Inisant. Yeux allongés, assez comprimés
dans le sens transversal, mais non tronqués derriére.

23 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

2. P. aculeata (Mayr).

Ceylon (Major Yerbury) 8 Q @; Kanara (E. H. Aitken) 9 ; Travancore
(HI. Ferguson) 8.

9 :—L: 6°5 Mill, Comme l’ouvriére, mais les cuisses et les fémurs sont
noirs et les ailes teintées de brunatre. Pronotum avec deux courtes épines.
T’écaille a, au lieu d’épines, 4 ses angles supérieurs deux prolongements lamelli-
formes, comprimés, bituberculés a l’extrémité.. La pubescence grise est aussi
plus abondante sur le devant de la téte et sur le thorax, C’est peut-étre une
variété,

& :—L: 5°8 Mill. Teéte plus courte que chez la P. seissa. Yeux arrondis
non comprimés ni tronqués, Téte et thorax réticulés-ponctuds et subopaques,
Ecaille en noeud arrondi,

3. P. pubescens (Mayr).

Birmanie et Tenasserim (Fea).

var: dlatisquamis, 1, Var.

Birmanie (Major Bingham) (voir tableau).

4, P. jerdonii (Forel).

Ceylon (Major Yerbury) & @Q (voir Forel: Die Nester der Ameisen,
Ziirich, 1892, et le tableau ci-dessus). :

@ :—L: 57 4 6 Mill, Ailes teintées de brun, Nervures et tache
marginale foncées. Large, trapue; thorax déprimé en dessus. Hpines du
thorax un peu plus courtes que chez Pouvriére 4 laquelle elle est du reste
identique. ‘Le thorax est subbordé.

5. P. selene (Emery),

Tenasserim (ea).

6. P. saigonensis (Forel).
P. thrinax vax : saigonensis (Forel),

Saigon (par M. L, Lortet).

7. P. frauenfeldi (Mayr).

Ceylon (ma collection).

8. P. textor (Smith).

Malacca (d’aprés Smith).

9, P. thrinax (Roger).

Ceylon (Major Yerbury); Calcutta (G. A. J. AOHIEEY) 5 Travancore
(H. Ferguson) ; Kanara (T. R. D. Bell).

@ :—L: 6°8 47°5 Mill. Ailes jaunatres ou d’un jaune brunatre, a nervures
pales, Le pronotum n’a que deux angles obtus. Epines du métanotum plus
courtes que chez louvriére. Hcaille moins épaisse, moins cubique, avec l’épine
médiane plus courte et les épines latérales plus longues que chez ¥, ces
derniéres presque aussi longues que l’épine médiane, Du reste comme &.

LES FORMICIDES DES INDES ET DE CEYLAN. 29

f:—L: 5°7 46 Mill. Brunatre, varié de brun jaunatre; funicules plus
foncés, Chagriné, assez luisant. Pédicule avec un noeud plus ou moins dis-
tinctement bituberculé ou trituberculé au sommet.

var : lancearius n. var. (voir tableau) 8 ¢.

Trevandrum (H, Ferguson); Kanara (H. H. Aitken),

10. P. halidayi (Emery).

Tenasserim (Fea).

11. P. elypeata (Mayr).
Polyrachis indica (Mayr) (d’aprés Emery in litt):
Camponotus indicus (Forel).

Thana District (7. Gleadow); Kanara (IT. Bell); Pooree, Bengale (Tull

Walsh); Orissa (Jas. Taylor); Travancore (Ferguson) ; Ceylon (Mayr),
race: P, rastrata (Emery).
Polyrachis rastrata (Emery).
Tenasserim (Fea).
12. P. punctillata (Roger).
Ceylon (d’aprés Roger).
13. PP. striato-rugosa (Mayr).
Birmanie (d’apres Mayr).
14, P. convera (Roger).
Ceylon (d’aprés Roger),
15. P. striata (Mayr).
Singapore (Dr. Arthur Miller).
16. LP. proxima (Roger).
Birmanie (Major Bingham et Fea); Singapore (Dr. A. Miller),
17. 2. mayri (Roger).
Polyrachis relucens (Mayr) ; nec Latreille.

Ceylon (d’aprés Roger eb Major Yerbury); Kanara (E. H. Aitken); Siam
Frontier (Major Fulton); Birmanie (Major- Bingham); Tenasserim (Fea) ;
Darjeeling, prés de Sikkim (Christie) ; Travancore (H. 8. Ferguson),

var: pauperata (Emery).
Tenasserim (Fea),
race: P. intermedia (Forel).
Sibsagar, Assam (Wood-Mason),
var: prozimo-mayri n, var. (voir tableau).
Birmanie (Major Bingham).
18. P. yerburyi 0. sp.

Ceylon (Major Yerbury).

% :—Mandibules striées, mates, avec quelques points et 5 dents. Epistome
sans caréne, avec un lobe antérieur arrondi et convexe, non échancré. Dessous

G

30 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIiT.

de la téte bordé d’une aréte latérale faible. Front convexe et assez proéminent.
Arétes frontales plutot rapprochées. Scapes cylindriques. Tete plus longue
que large, 4 cotés convexes. Hpines du pronotum fortes et assez divergentes.
Pronotum et mésonotum plus larges que longs (chacun); face basale du
métanotum un peu plus longue que large, & peine plus large devant que derriere,
terminée derriére par une aréte transversale et par deux dents verticales trés
accentuées et comprimées dans le sens antéro-postérieur. Thorax biincisé,
bordé d@’une aréte vive un peu moins prolongée que chez la P. swmatrensis.
Ecaille épaisse 4 sa base et amincie vers le haut. pines latérales de l’écaille
plus fortes que chez la P. swmatrensis et surtout que chez la race P. hamulata.

Téte et thorax striés en long (striés-ridés sur les cotés du thorax et Je devant
de la téte), finement rugueux entre les stries, ce qui les rend mats ou soyeux.
Pédicule rugueux ; abdomen densément et trés finement réticulé. Sur la téte
et sur le thorax la pubescence est plus jaune (moins grise) que sur l’abdomen.
Entiérement noire, avec les palpes et le dernier article des tarses roussatres.
Pas de reflet métallique distinct (voir du reste le tableau), Stature bien moins
robuste que chez la P. pruinosa.

@ :—L: 10 Mill. Ailes brunatres avec les nervures et le pterostigma
foncés. Absolument semblable & % ; épmes aussi longues que chez elle et
disposées de méme. ‘Trés voisine de la P. pruimosa (Mayr) de Borneo dont
elle différe par la forme du métanotum et de lécaille.

19. LP. sumatrensis (Smith).
race: P. hamulata (Emery).

Birmanie (Major Bingham) ; Tenasserim (Fea) ; Sibsagar, Assam (Wood-
Mason).

La race swmatrensis id. sp. ne se trouve qu’a Sumatra,

20. BP. levissima (Smith).
Polyrachis globularia (Mayr).

Barrackpore (Rothney, Minchin) ; Birmanie (Major Bingham et Fea) ; Orissa
(Jas. Taylor) ; Calcutta (Wood-Mason) ; Bangkok (Sige).

var : dichrous (Forel).

Sibsagar, Assam (Wood-Mason).

21. P. rastellata (Laireille).
Polyrachis busiris (Smith).
Polyrachis euryalus (Smith),

Ceylon (Major Yerbury) ; Kanara (E. H. Aitken et T. Bell); Birmanie

(Major Bingham) ; South Konkan (R. C. Wroughton).
22. LP. bellicosa (Smith).
Singapore (Dr. A. Muller).

LES FORMICIDES DES INDES ET DE CEYLAN. 31

23. P. bihamata (Drury).
Formica affinis (Le Guillon ; nec Smith),
Birmanie (Major Bingham) ; Tavoy (Wood-Mason) ; Tenasserim (Fea),
24, P. ypsilon (Emery).
Ceylon (Tristschler) ; Malacca (regue du Dr. Emery).
25. PP. levigata (Smith).
Malacca (d’aprés Smith).
26. P. hippomanes (Smith).
Race: P. ceylonensis (Kmery).
M. Emery publiera plus tard le diagnostic de cette race qui differe de la vraie
P. hippomanes de Celebes.

27. P. chalybea (Smith).

Singapore (d’aprés Smith),

28. P. venus 0. sp.

Ataran Valley, Birmanie (Major Bingham),

% :—Téte au moins aussi large derriére que devant. Thorax plus large
devant que derriére (aussi large devant que derriere chez la P. chalybea.) Les
mandibules sont tres finement striées et éparsément ponctuées. Bord antérieur
de l’épistome avec une impression médiane, Hpistome sublobé devant. Une
marche d’escalier assez distincte du mésonotum 4 la face basale du métanotum.
Stature plus robuste que celle de la P. abdominalis (phyllophila), presque aussi
robuste que celle de la P. armata. Tout le corps est d’un magnifique bleu
foncé, métallique, rappellant celui des espéces bleues des coleopteres du genre
Meloe. La teimte du thorax et de la téte tire un peu sur le verdatre, tandis que
Je bleu de ’abdomen est pur (voir du reste le tableau).

Mes amis les Prof. G. Mayr et C. Emery m’ont indiqué les differences qui
existent entre la P. venus et la P. chalybea en la comparant A leurs types, ce
dont j’ai a les remercier ici.

29. P. edipus n. sp.

Ceylon (Major Yerbury).

%:—L: 7 Mill. Longueur d’un scape 2°6, d’un tibia postérieur 3°83 Mill,
Mandibules armées de 6 dents, finement striées, avec une ponctuation espacée.
Kpistome avec une faible caréne et un lobe antérieur trapéziforme, trés cout,
4 bord antérieur rectiligne eb suberénélé. Arétes frontales fort rapprochées.
Front proéminent, 'Téte assez arrondie derriére, d’un ceil 4 l’autre ; cdtés de
la téte & peine convexes devant les yeux. Dessous de la téte sans arétes latérales,
Thorax long et étroit, sans convexité dorsale, sauf le pronotum qui est
légerement convexe ; pronotum et mésonotum chacun beaucoup plus long
que large, Pronotum nullement subbordé ; mésonotum fortement subbordé,

32 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

Face basale du métanotum 17 fois plus longue que large. Le dos du thorax
est & peine convexe d’avant en arriére. L’écaille est conformée tout a fait
comme chez la P. abdominalis (voir le tableau), aussi épaisse que large, mais
ses épines sont plus abaissées et embrassent un peu V’abdomen. Pubescence
d’un jaune grisdtre, courte, assez éparse partout, plus abondante sur Vabdomen
ot elle forme un léger duvet grisitre. L’abdomen a encore une ponctuation
espacée tres fine.

Tout le corps, les pattes et les antennes d’un verdatre bronzé, trés foncé,
en partie noiratre, ayant souvent des reflets d’un rouge cuivré (voir du reste le
tableau).

30. P. miillert n. sp.

Singapore (récoltée par le Dr. Arthur Miller auquel je la dédie).

%:—L: 7 Mill. Longueur d'un scape 3°2, d’un tibia postérieur 3°9 Mill.
Hpistome fortement caréné ; du reste l’épistome, arctes frontales et mandibules
conformés comme chez l4dipus. Front beaucoup plus proéminent et vertex
beaucoup moins convexe que chez la précédente. Thorax encore plus étroit et
plus alloneé que chez l_Adipus mais sans apparence de bordure nulle part. Une
légére échancrure entre le pronotum et le mésonotum, ce qui donne au dos du
thorax deux covexités tres faibles. Le mésonotum est deux fois aussi long que
large, la face basale du métanotum 24 fois aussi longue que large. Epines
métanotales légérement courbées en dedans (comme chez la P. bicolor), assez
eréles comme celles du pronotum. Lcaille haute, conique, avec deux épines
divergentes. Pubescence extrémement éparse. Scapes élargis eb déprimés vers
Vextrémité seulement. Noire ; abdomen en partie d’un rouge ferrugineux fonceé
(voir du reste le tableau).

31. P. achilles n. sp.

Birmanie (Major Bingham).

A part sa taille plus robuste, la forme de I’écaille, la face basale du meétano-
tum non bordée et ne continuant pas ses bords dans l’épine, enfin 4 part les
petits piquants des tibias, cette espece est identique a labdominalis (phyllophita)
dont elle n’est peut: tre qu’une race locale (voir le tableau).

32. P. abdominalis (Smith).
Polyrachis phyllophila (Smith).

Tenasserim (Kea). .

33. P. mutata (Smith) ?
Race : P. aaa n. st.

Birmanie (Major Bingham).

%:—L:7°8 Mill. Longueur d’un scape 2°6, d’un tibia postérieur 4°1 Mill.
Mandibules finement et densément strices, armées de 5 dents distinctes. Epis-

LES FORMICIDES DES INDES ET DE CEYLAN. 33

tome 4 peme subcaréné, briévement lobé devant, lareement et faiblement
échancré au milieu de son bord antérieur, Thorax allongé, étroit, sans con-
vexité dorsale c, 4. d : le mésonotum est concave d’avant en arriére, ce qui donne
une faible convexité 4 la région de la suture pro-mésonotale. Pronotum et
mésonotum chacun un peu plus long que large ; face basale du métanotum deux
fois aussi longue que large. Mésonotum fortement subbordé, pronotum nulle-
ment, pines du pronotum longues et divergentes. Abdomen ovale. Noire.
Abdomen d’un noir brunatre. Tibias trés comprimés (voir du reste Je tableau).

Tist-ce bien une race de la P. mutata (Smith) ? La description de Smith ne
suffit pas pour Je prouver, mais cela me parait probable. Smith en disant
“ entirely destitute of haix’’ aura negligé la pubescence, comme il le fait souvent
quand elle est faible. La. couleur ne concorde qu’’ moitié et les tibias ne sont
pas “ without spies.” Du reste la figure de Smith ne convient pas mal 4
notre type.

34. P. binghamit, n. sp.

Birmanie (Major Bingham).

Q :—L: 55 Mill. Longueur d’un scape 2:1, d’un tibia postérieur 2°5
Mill. Epistome sans apparence de carene, avec un lobe court, trapéziforme,
nullement échancré 4 son bord antérieur. Antennes faiblement mais visible-
ment renflées vers Vextrémité. Mésonotum légérement concave. 'Tibias moins
déprimés que chez la précédente. Voir du reste le tableau qui indique les
autres caractéres qui distinguent cette espece de la précédente.

La P. binghamiw est du reste extrémement voisine dela P. mutata race :
ajax, mais les caracteres indiqués (antennes, forme de la téte, écailles,*piquants,
tibias, dimensions, &c.) sont assez importants pour que je croie qu'il faille len
séparer spécifiquement.

35. P. furcata (Smith),

Sibsagar, Assam (Wood-Mason) ; Birmanie (Major Bingham); Tenasserim
(Fea). ©

Les exemplaires de ces diverses provenances ont l’abdomen noir, tandis que
le type de Smith (Birmanie) l’avait d’un roux testacé.

Race : P. gracilior n. st. (voir le tableau).

Trevandrum (H. Ferguson) ; Sibsagar, Assam (Wood-Mason),

36. P. rupicapra (Roger).
Ceylon (d’aprés Roger).
37. LP. tubericeps, 0. sp.

Barrackpore et Benares (Rothney).

% :—L: 6847 Mill. Voisine dela P. rupicapra et de la P. spinigera,
dont elle se distingue cependant du premier coup par le tubercule proéminent
situé de chaque cété de la téte, un peu en dessus de l’angle postérieur. Hpis-
tome subcaréné, avec un lobe court et étroit, subbidenté. Sculpture grossiére

beaucoup plus forte que chez la P. simplex. Tibias cylindriques, sans petits.
5

34 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

piquants. Les deux dents, entre les épines de Vécaille, sont tres pointues.
Epines métanotales fort distantes 4 leur base. La fine sculpture réticulée-
ponctuée est trés dense. Couleur absolument noire partout. Un peu plus
robuste que la P. simplex.
38. P. armata (Le Guillou).
Polyrachis pandarus (Smith).
Polyrachis defensus (Smith).
Birmanie (Major Bingham et Fea); Sibsagar, Assam (Wood-Mason),
Myingyan, Birmanie infériewre (B. Y. Watson).
var : minor (Forel).
Sibsagar, Assam (Wood-Mason).

39. P. simplex (Mayr).
Polyrachis spinigera (Mayr).

Poona District (R. Wroughton) ; Calcutta et Barrackpore (Rothney) ;
Mussoorie, N.-W. P. (Rothney); Thana District (F. Gleadow); Siwaliks,
N W. P. (H. M. Phipson); Birmanie (Major Bingham) ; Trincomali, Cey-
lon (Major Yerbury) ; Myingyan, Birmanie ipférieure (H. Y. Watson).

Certainement l’espéce la plus commune du genre en Inde.

@ :—L: 7 Mill. Ailes subhyalines, faiblement teintées de jaunatre.
Le pronotum n’a que deux dents triangulaires fort petites. Mésonotum et
scutellum avec une grossiére ponctuation espacée, en partie un peu effacée,
outre la dense ponctuation réticulaire. Sur la téte, le métathorax et le pro-
thorax, de grossitres ponctuations divisent la fine ponctuation réticulaire en
eroupes. Du reste comme §.

Var : obsoleta n. var.

Poona (R. Wroughton).

40. LP. bicolor (Smith).

Barrackpore (Rothney) ; Birmanie (Major Bingham).

41, P. dives (Smith).

Peeu Hills, Birmanie (Major Bingham) ; Tounghoo, Birmanie (EH. Y. Wat-
son); Ceylon (Major Yerbury); Bangkok (Sige); Hongkong (Dr. Ris) ;
Singapore (W’aprés Smith).

42. P. affinis (Smith ; nec Le Guillou).
Polyrachis vicina (Roger).
Birmanie (d’aprés Smith).
43. P. argentea (Mayr).

Kanara (EB. H. Aitken).

Variété & thorax un peu moins convexe et 4 stature un peu moins robuste
que les types de Manille que je dois & l’obligeance de mon ami le Prof. Emery.

9 :—L: 6'°5 Mill. Comme %, mais les épines plus courtes, Ailes brunatres,
a neryures bien marquées.

LES FORMICIDES DES INDES ET DE CEYLAN. 35

6 :—L:545°5 Mill. Pubescence plus grisitre eb moins dense, n’ayant
qu'un faible reflet argenté. eaille arrondie, ayant & peine deux angles latéraux
arrondis, D’un noir en partie un peu brunatre. Pattes d’un brun jaunatre.
Pas trace d’épines, Métanotum arrondi, Mandibules sans dents. Epistome
subcaréné, 'Téte aussi large que longue.

44, P. tibialis (Smith).

Barrackpore, prés Calcutta (Minchin) 9; Birmanie (Major Bingham),

M. HB. H. Aitken et M. Bell ont récolté & Kanara des exemplaires qu’il est
difficile & rapporter & la é/bialis ou & Vargentea, car ils forment assez le passage,
de sorte que je pense qu’on en viendra 4 considerer |’ aryenfea comme race de la
uubialis.

Dans le tableau jai été obligé de ne tenir compte que des espéces qui me
paraissaient assez nettement décrites pour pouvoir étre déterminées. Tl reste
plusieurs especes de PInde et de Ceylon qui sont indéchiffrables, ainsi que
Wautres dont la Q seule est décrite, ce qui ne permet pas de fixer leur identité,
ni leur position dans la systématique. Voici la liste de ce reste dont on ne sait
que faire :—

45. P. hasiata (Latreille).

Indes orientales.

ae agit-il de Inde continentale ? C’est peu probable, car c’est 4 Celebes qu’on

retrouvé plus tard cette espéce.

46. P. relucens (Latveille),

Ne se trouve probablement pas sur le continent Indien, ni 4 Ceylan.

47. P. sexspinosa (Latreille).
Ne se trouve probablement pas sur le continent Indien, ni 4 Palems
48, P. mdificans (Jerdon).

Indéchiffrable.

49. P. sylvicola (Jerdon),

Indéchiffrable.

50. P. lacteipennis (Smith).

2 Seule décrite.

51. WP. hector (Smith),

Tnsuffisament décrite.

52. P. piliventris (Smith).
© Seule décrite,
53. P. flavicornis (Smith).

Insuffisament décrite.

54. P. modesta (Smith).

2 Seule décrite,

55. PP. carbonaria (Smith).

Indéchiffrable, .

56. P. nigra (Mayr).
2 Seule décrite,

36 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIIT.

57. PP. acasta (Smith).

D’apres Forel, Indian Ants, Part II. Je doute maintenant d’avoir eu la
veritable P. acasta sous les yeux. Je n’ai plus lexemplaire de Sibsagar sur
lequel j’ai fait cette détermination mais je soupconne qu'il s’agissait de la
P. tibialis. )

Les déterminations provisoires dont M. Wroughton s’est servi dans son travail
“ Our Ants” doivent subir quelques modifications,

La P. levior race : debilis de ce travail est la P. rastellata.

La P. chalybea est la P. venus.

Une partie des P. argentea (Barrackpore) sont la P. tidialis.

La P. indica est synonyme de clypeata.

La P. sumatrensis est la race : P. hamulata (Emery).

La P. sp. (40) est la P. tubericeps.

La P. spinigera (Mayr). Se trouve étre synonyme de la P. simplex (Mayr).
Les 9 récoltées par M. Wroughton m’ont améné 4 établir cette synonymie.

NIDS DES POLYRACHIS. .

Dans un travail récent sur les nids des fourmis (Die nester der Ameisen,
Zurich, 1892, Neujahrsblatt der Naturf : Gesellsch) : j’ai parlé des différentes
manieres dont les fourmis font leurs nids. Dans ‘“ Our Ants” M. Wroughton
a décrit divers nids de fourmis des Indes. I] a eu l’obligeance de m’en envoyer
un grand nombre.

Le nid des Polyrachis est unique en sont genre, et se distingue de celui de tous
les autres genres de fourmis, en ce qu’ il n’a qu'une seule cavité, tapissée de
soie, comme le nid d'une arraignée.

J’ai été frappé du fait que ces nids présentent évidemment des faits
de mimétisme qui servent 4 les rendre caches. Ils simulent souvent la
couleur des féuilles en partie séches (P. argentea) ou aspect d’une feuille tordue
par les galles d’autres insectes (P. scissa). Dans le nid de la P. argentea
que je viens de recevoir de M. Wroughton, on peut bien observer comment
les fourmis tapissent la feuille de soie pure, tandis qu’elles recouvrent la partie
libre du nid de débris végétaux grisatres, fixés ala surface extérieure des
tissus, de facon a donner 4 cette portion du nid, qui ferme l’aperture de la
feuille 4 demi ouverte, Vaspect grisatre de la portion desséchée d’une feuille en

partie morte. L’ouverture par laquelle sortent les fourmis est situeé 4 une place
cachée, la ot le tissus de soie touche la feuille.

Un nid de P. rastellata était situé entre deux feuilles et ainsi entiérement
caché.
_ Les Polyrachis ne paraissent pas tous faire des nids de soie filée ; c'est sur-
tout le fait des groupes armata et ammon. La P. mayri fait un nid en carton
qui rappelle celui des Dolichoderus et des Cremastogaster, et dont les matériaux
sont unis par une substance gluante, non filée, mais évidement sécrétée, comme
la soie, par les glandes mandibulaires des fourmis.

The illustrations for this paper (Plates K, LZ and M) will be issued in a
subsequent number of the Journal, as soon ag they arrive from England, The paper
is piiblished at once at the Special request of the author,—Zd, *

37

ON NEW AND LITTLE-KNOWN BUTTERFLIES
FROM NORTH-EAST SUMATRA
COLLECTED BY HOFRATH Dr. L. MARTIN.*
By Lionet ve Nicr'vitiz, F. E.8., C. M. Z.8., &e.
‘ (With Plates K, L, and M.)

All the butterflies described below were obtained by Hofrath
Dr. L. Martin in North-East Sumatra, the rarer ones almost entirely
from the little-known Battak Mountains. Dr. Martin has already
enriched my collection with 265 species from Sumatra, and has sent me
a list giving the names of 324 species contained in his own collection.
All of these were collected within a comparatively small radius, so that
it may probably be safely assumed that when the whole island is
explored and thoroughly collected over, it will be found that fully 600
species inhabit it, of which perhaps 50 may be endemic. The only
papers of which I am aware written solely on the butterflies of Sumatra
are by Heer P. C. T. Snellen, and are as follows :—

I, “Tijdschrift voor Entomologie,” vol. xx, p. 65 (1877), enu-
merating 35 species.
I]. “Tijdschrift voor Entomologie,” vol. xxxiii, p. 215 (1890),
enumerating 48 species.

III. “ Midden-Sumatra, Lepidoptera” (1892), enumerating 104

species.

Family NYMPHALID Ai,
Subfamily Danamnz.

1, DANAIS (Caduga) TYTIOIDES, n. sp., Pl. K, Figs. 1, #; 2, 9.

Hasrrat : Battak Mountains, Sumatra.

EXPANSE: @, 3'2 to 3°5; Q, 4:0 inches,

Description : Matz, Upprrsrpe, forewing black, with the following pale
bluish hyaline markings :—the posterior half of the discoidal cell bearing
anteriorly and outwardly a fine black line ; two small oval costal spots divided
by the second subcostal nervule ; followed by a very short and narrow streak in
the subcostal interspace ; then another streak twice as broad and three times as
long as the one above it in the upper discoidal interspace ; an oval spot in the
lower discoidal interspace ; two nearly equal-sized spots in the upper median
interspace, the outer spot rectangular, the inner triangylar ; two similar Spots in
the lower median interspace, except that the inner spot of the two is twice as
large as the outer one; a very large streak occupies nearly the whole of the

* A short preliminary description of the new species described in this paper ap-
peared in vol. vii, page 555, of this Journal.

38 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. Vitt.

submedian interspace from its base to one-fourth from the margin; a narrow
streak in the sutural area fromthe base reaching to one-fourth from the outer
margin; a curved submarginal series of seven rounded spots; a few obscure
marginal dots towards the anal angle. Hindwing with the outer third
castaneous darkening to the margin, the rest of the wing pale hyaline bluish 5
the discoidal cell bears outwardly two narrow castaneous streaks ; two small
subapical round bluish spots divided by the second subcostal nervule; the usual
secondary sexual characters of the subgenus at the anal angle. UNDERSIDE,
Forewing marked as above, but the black ground-colour at the apex and outer
margin tinted with dull castaneous. Aindwing as above, but the outer margin
bears an anterior decreasing submarginal series of small round spots, and an
incomplete (not reaching the apex) marginal series of dots. FEMALE, differs from
the male only in its much broader wings, the outer margin of the forewing
slightly, instead of deeply, emarginate, the /indwing has the outer margin
rounder, less obliquely cut off, and the castaneous colouring much redder ;
the male secondary characters, of course, are absent.

Allied to, but quite distinct from, D. tytia, Gray, which occurs throughout
the Himalayas, Assam, Burma, with a slight variety in the Malay Peninsula.
Differs therefrom in its much smaller size, conspicuously narrower wings, the
male has the outer margin of the forewing much more deeply excavated, the
hindwing with the outer margin nearly straight instead of rounded, greatly cut
off obliquely ; in both sexes the forewing has the hyaline portion of the cell
less than half as wide, the streak in the subcostal interspace very small and
narrow ; the hindwing in the male deep dull castaneous instead of ferruginous.

Of the D. tytia group of the subgenus Caduga there are at present known,
besides that species, D. niphonica, Moore, from Japan and doubtfully from
Askold, North Formosa, and Chekiang, North China*; and D. loochooana,
Moore, from the Loo Choo Islands. The occurrence of a fourth species so far
south as Sumatra is very interesting.

D. tytioides is admirably mimicked by Hestina caroline, Snellen, an insular
modified race of the continental Indian Hestina nama, Doubleday.

Described from three males and three females, which show but slight indivi-
dual differences.

2, EUPLGIA (Narmada) MARTINI, n. sp., Pl. K, Figs. 3,¢5;4, 2.

Hasrrat : Battak Mountains, Sumatra,

EXpPanse: @, 3°9 to 4:1; Q, 4:1 inches,

* This species is entirely ignored by Mr. J, H. Leech in his “ Butterflies from China,
Japan, and Corea ;” he considers that the species occurring in those regions is D. tytia,
and records it from “ China common, is found all over Japan, and has been recorded
by Oberthiiz from the Isle of Askold.”’

NEW NORTH-EASTERN SUMATRA BUTTERFLIES. 39

Description: MALE, UPPERSIDE, both wings very deep and rich velvety
dead black. Forewing with a rninute costal white dot placed between the
first and second subcostal nervules; four subapical spots—the uppermost small
and oval placed between the fourth and fifth subcostal nervules, the second and
third much larger and oval placed in the subcostal and upper discoidal inter-
spaces, the fourth equal in size to the first placed in the lower discoidal
interspace. In two specimens there is a fifth smallest spot on the costa placed
between the third and fourth subcostal nervules. ‘This series of spots is placed
obliquely outwards and appears to run into and coalesce with the marginal series
at the eighth spot (counting from the apex),which latter series consists of fourteen
small spots, decreasing in size from the inner angle to the apex, placed in pairs
in the interspaces ; the two sexual brands as usual in the submedian interspace—
the upper short and narrow, the lower broad and twice as long as the upper.
Hindwing with the costal area broadly whitish, followed by a broad pale
castaneous area reaching to the middle of the discoidal cell, the abdominal area
fuscous, all the rest of the wing deep black as in the forewing ; a marginal series
of thirteen rounded spots, with an inner series of seven spots from the second
subcostal nervule to the submedian nervure. In two specimens these two serieg
of spots, instead of being quite distinct and well separated, completely coalesce
and form short streaks. UNDERSIDE, both wings olivaceous-fuscous, the marginal
series of spots as on the upperside. orewing with an additional small spot
at the lower outer end of the discoidal cell, two on the costa making a complete
series one in each interspace divided by the subcostal nervules, and two in
each median interspace ; the inner margin broadly shining fuscous. Hindwing
with two additional spots to the inner marginal series placed anteriorly, and a dot
in the second median interspace just beyond the end of the cell. Cilia of both
wings alternately black and white in equal proportions. Frmane. Upprrsrpe,
both wings very much paler than in the male, black, but not of a deep, rich,
velvety shade. orewing with three costal spots in a cluster: a complete
submarginal series of eight spots ; two small spots inthe median interspaces ;
the marginal series of spots as in the forewing, but rather larger. Hindwing
with the two marginal series of spots almost sitely coalesced into streaks ; only
anteriorly are they free. UNDERSIDE, both wings coloured as in the male,
Forewing as on the upperside, but the two spots in each of the median inter-
Spaces larger ; the inner margin broadly white; a short white streak in the
submedian interspace. Hindwing as on the upperside, but with an additional
spot at the outer end of the cell, and a complete series of five beyond the

cell—one in each interspace,

I know of no species with which this can be compared. The beautiful deep
velyety black of the male on the upperside is only matched, as far as I know,

40 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

by the same sex of. L. (Anadara) gamelia, Hubner, from Java. 'The coalescing
of the submarginal with the marginal series of spots on the forewing in the male
is, I believe, quite a unique character.

Described from four males and two females in my own collection ; several
others of both sexes are in that of Hofrath Dr. L. Martin, after whom I have
great pleastire in naming the species as a slight tribute to his entomological
knowledge, zeal, and enterprise in sending natives imto the mountains of
Sumatra to collect in spots inaccessible to Europeans.

Subfamily SaTyRmIvz.

3, LETHE DARENA, Felder, Pl. K, Fig. 7, ¢.

Debis darena, Felder, Reise Novara, Lep., vol. i, p. 498, n. 862, pl. lxviii,
figs. 4,5, female (1866).

Haprtat : Java (elder); Sumatra.

ExpansE: @, 2°8 to 3°1 inches.

Description: Mate. Uprersipe, forewing black, but the basal three-
fourths overlaid with long hair-like rich ferruginous scales ; an orange-coloured
spot on the costa beyond the end of the discoidal cell ; a round whitish spot att
the apex ; five marginal rich ferruginous spots one in each interspace from the
lower discoidal nervule to the inner margin, the series of spots gradually, but
regularly, approaching the outer margin of the wing—the posterior spot on the
margin at the anal angle, the anterior spot well removed from it. Hindwing
with the base fuscous, but so heavily overlaid with long ferruginous setze as to
almost entirely hide the ground-colour, the outer half of the wing rich
ferruginous free of long hairs ; a submarginal series of five almost blind round
black ocelli, the uppermost ocellus much the largest, the middle one quite small
in one specimen, but in two other specimens the three posterior spots are equal-
sized ; the second spot anteriorly second also in poimt of size ; two submarginal
closely approximated dark brown lines. Unpbmrstpn, both wings richly variegat-
ed, the ground-colour purplish-brown. orewing with a broad rich deep brown
bar across the discoidal cell at about its middle ; a still broader bar beyond ;
a chevron-shaped mark across the submedian interspace at the point where
the first median nervule originates, with its angle outwards ; a broad discal
irregular band immediately beyond the outer end of the cell, commencing on the
costa, ending in the middle of the submedian interspace ; a narrower, decreasing,
pale purplish-white band placed outwardly against the first band ; followed by
a large rich deep brown triangular area, its base on the costa, its apex in the
first median interspace ; two whitish apical spots ; posterior to which in the
discoidal interspaces are two perfect ocelli, the upper twice as large as the lower ;
two submarginal rich deep brown lines ending posteriorly about the first median
nervule, the inner line lunulated, the outer straight ; the submedian interspace

NEW NORTH-EASTERN SUMATRA BUTTERFLIES. At

outwardly beyond the chevron mark rich chrome-yellow, this colour outwardly
extending into the interspace on either side of the submedian one. Hindwing
with a broad discal rich deep brown band crossing the middle of the cell, widest
on the costa, dislocated and slightly shifted outwardly posterior to the cell,
fading away to nothing in the submedian interspace; a broad outer discal
irreoular similar band, anteriorly it curves round the large anterior ocellus and
throws out inwardly a spur placed on the lower disco-cellular nervule, ending
posteriorly on the submedian nervure ; a submarginal series of six perfect ocelli,
the anterior one much the largest, the fifth the next largest, the second, fourth
and sixth the next in size and equal-sized, the third the smallest, the sixth

bipupiled ; two submarginal limes—the inner one broad and deep red, the outer
“narrow and deep brown ; cilia pale yellow inwardly defined by a fine dark
thread. Antennce with the shaft red, the club black with a red tip.

Described from three male examples obtained in the Battak Mountains. The
Species was originally described from a female example. It is the most beauti-
ful species of the genus known to me, and is probably very rare, as out of some
thousands of Javan butterflies 1 have received, I have not found LZ. darena
amongst them,

Subfamily NyMPHALIN ZA.

4, TERINOS TEOS, n. sp., Pl. K, Figs. 5, ¢ ; 6, 9.

HaAsirat : Sumatra.

EXPANSH: @, 2°85; @, 2°90 inches.

Description : Mane. UPprrsipe, both wings rich shining purple, all the
veins more or less narrowly defined with reddish-ochreous. Forewing with the
usual velvety-black shining sexual patch occupying half the surface, commenc-
ing on the inner margin ab less than half the length of the margin from the base
and reaching the anal angle, reaching to the lower discoidal nervule, and extend-
ing on the disc along the first median nervule and submedian nervure, but never |
quite touching the discoidal cell; a similar black streak extends broadly along
both sides of the upper discoidal nervule. Hindwing with a large velvety-black
shining sexual patch at the apex, ending abruptly at the second subcostal ner-
vule ; the outer margin rather, and the abdominal margin very, broadly fuscous.
Cilia of the hindwing reddish-ochreous, of the forewing posteriorly reddish-
ochreous, anteriorly black. UNDERSIDE, both wings castaneous, crossed by
numerous more or less zigzag shining pale purple lines. Forewing with a
round white subapical spot. Aindwing with a discal series of five oval deep
castaneous spots, one in each interspace from the submedian to the upper sub-
costal, except the discoidal which lacks a spot, the middle spot the smallest.
FEMALE. UPPERSIDE, loth wings fuscous. Forewing with the basal area
extending just beyond the disco-cellular nervules rich shining purple ; a broad
discal somewhat obscure dark fuscous fascia outwardly touched with the purple

6

429 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCTETY, Vol. VIII.

colour; a submarginal narrow waved similar fascia, the outer margin, especially
at the apex, broadly dark fuscous. Hindewing with the base and a large discal
area rich shining purple, the latter area inwardly bounded by the false termina-
tion to the discoidal cell, anteriorly by the second subcostal nervule, posteriorly
by the first median nervule, outwardly not reaching the margin ; a waved,
rather broad, submarginal line. UNDERSIDE, both wings asin the male, but
the ground-colour and the shining pale purple lines all paler.

Nearest to 7’. robertsia, Butler, from the Malay Peninsula, from which it
differs conspicuously in both sexes in lacking the two white (sometimes tinted
with ochreous) spots on the upperside of the hindwing near the outer margin in
the upper median and discoidal interspaces ; and on the underside of the hind-
wing in having the marginal narrow slightly waved line, and the submarginal
highly waved broad line, pale purple throughout, in 7’. robertsia they are white.

Mr, A. RB. Wallace describes a “‘ Local form £&.” of T. robertsia from
Sumatra* thus :—“ Browner [than 7’. robertsia], with the blue portions more
violet, and the white posterior spots replaced by rufous.” In 7’. feos these spots
are barely traceable. “The [lower] disco-cellular [nervule of the forewing |
meets the median nervure at the origin of the second median nervule.” In the
four specimens of 7’. feos and eight of 7’. rebertsia before me as I write, I find
that the lower disco-cellular nervule of the forewing, though varying a hundred
per cent. in position, always meets the median nervure well before the origin of
the second median nervule, which agrees with Mr. Wallace’s remarks on the
neuration of the latter species, and would appear to separate his Local form JA.
and my 7’, teos from it. It is interesting to note that 7. atlita, Fabricius, and
T’, teos, de Nicéville, differ precisely in the same way, 7.¢., in the absence of the
white spots on the upperside of the hindwing, these spots being present in their
Malay Peninsula correlatives, T. teuthras, HiGwiteon and 7’, robertsia, Butler.

Described from three male specimens in my own and one female in the collec-
tion of Dr. L. Martin.

5, ATHYMA ASSA, n. sp., Pl. K, Fig. 8, @.

Hasirat : Battak Mountains, Sumatra.

Expanse: @, 2°3 inches.

Description: Mare. UpprrsipE, both wings black. Forewing with the
following milky-white markings :—a very narrow streak in the discoidal cell
extending beyond it but for a very short distance; three narrow subapical spots,
the middle one the largest ; a large oval spot in the first median interspace, a
quadrate one below it filling the interspace and indented at both sides, a small
elongated spot on the sutural area, these three spots outwardly marked with
pale blue; a discontinuous submarginal whitish line, broken in the upper

SV ik eat opi aI SS TU a eet ge ee eaten ACE Et
* Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1869, p. 8342. Heer P.C.T. Snellen also records 7. ro-
bertsié (sic) from Sumatra in Tijd. voor Ent., vol. xxxiii, p. 218 1889-90),

NEW NORTH-EASTERN SUMATRA BUTTERFLIES. 43

median interspace, beg there curved inwards towards the base of the
wing ; a very indistinct pale marginal line. Hindwing with a broad, out-
wardly-blue-edged, discal white band, commencing broadly at the costal
nervure, increasing in width to the submedian nervare, where it terminates; a
prominent but narrow submarginal band, divided into spots by the veins,
eradually increasing in width from the costa to the submedien nervure, where
it ends; a pale indistinct marginal line. UNDERSIDE, both wings reddish-
brown, all the white markings more prominent than above, and tinted with
shining bluish. Forewing has the three subapical spots joined to the submar-
ginal line ; an oval black spot in the submedian interspace, placed internally at
the base of the first median nervule ; a diffused blackish spot in the same
interspace between the large discal white spot and the submarginal line.
Hindwing with an. additional curved basal white streak, placed anterior to the
costal nervure; the abdominal margin broadly metallic greenish. Cita of
both wings black, bearing a white dot in the middle of each interspace. A ddo-
men at the base above with a broad bluish-white band.

Nearest to A. nivifera, Butler, from Nepal and Assam (sic, Butler), the Malay
Peninsula, Sumatra, Nias, and Borneo, Differs from Straits and Sumatran
Specimens in having the discoidal streak of the forewing narrower and much
shorter, the three subapical spots half as wide, the two posterior of the discal
spots narrower, thereby all combining to make the black ground-colour of the
wing of considerably greater extent. In the hindwing the discal band is broader,
and instead of ending anteriorly in a small round spot, it is continued uninter-
ruptedly and widely to the costal nervure. ‘The first subcostal nervule of the
hindwing on the upperside is black not prominently snow-white as it is in
A, nivifera. On the underside of both wings the ground-colour is reddish-brown
or castaneous, not hair-brown ; in the forewing the discoidal streak is longer
and quite undivided; there are no black streaks placed on the ground-colour
between the veins, on the hindwing the discal band is wider, especially so at
each end, and the series of rounded blackish spots between the discal and sub-
marginal bands in A, assa is larger, more diffused, and deep castaneous instead
of blackish. I have not seen A. nefte, Cramer, from Java, but that species is
probably distinct from A, assa to judge from Mr. Moore’s figures of it in Proc,
Zool, Soc. Lond., 1858, p. 13, n. 7, pl. 1, fig. 5, male and female. A. reta,
Moore, from Sumatra, is another closely allied species, but differs apparently
from A. assa in the forewing in having the terminal spot well separated from
the rest of the discoidal streak, in the presence of an additional spot in the
second median interspace, and in the hindwing in having the discal band
widest on the costa, narrowest on the abdominal margin, while in A, assa the
reverse is the case,

Described from two male specimens in my collection,

44 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, Vit.

Genus RUTHALIA, Htibner; subgenus NORA, nov.

Mats. Differs from the subgenus Felderia, Semper, in the FOREWING being
shorter, the apex acute, not truncate, the ower margin slightly, stead of
strongly, excavated below the apex, the mmner margin straight, not outwardly
bowed, all the subcostal nervules free, instead of the first anastomosing with the
costal nervure. HiNDWING very triangular, the anal angle forming the apex of
the triangle, instead of almost quadrate; a patch of shining glandular black
scales at the base of the costa occupying the base of the subcostal interspace,
anteriorly bounded by the costal nervure, posteriorly by the second subcostal
nervule, the “ male mark”’’ being almost similar to that in Felderia, but is not
perhaps quite so dense or conspicuous. Frmate. Formwine shaped much as
in the male, the apex not quite so acute ; the first subcostal nervule anastomosing
with the costal nervure as in both sexes of Felderia, Hinpwine broad,
quadrate, shaped as in Felderia. Type, the “ Adolias” kesava, Moore.

Hurwata (Vora) Krsava, Moore.

NEW NORTH-EASTERN SUMATRA BUTTERFLIES. 45

This subgenus will comprise the following species :—
Euthalia (Nora) kesava, Moore. ‘
discispilota, Moore. Probably one species.
rangoonensis, Swinhoe. }
ramada, Moore.
decorata, Butler.
a » bipunctata, Vollenhoven.

es! » _ salia, Moore.

Ee » erana, de Nicéville.

i » (2) laverna, Butler.

se » lavernalis, de Nicéville.

All these species I possess, except #. laverna and £. lavernalis. There are
probably other described species which should also be included in the list
which J have not seen. The subgenus is a very compact and natural one, all
the species being closely allied.

I give below a key to the subgenera which I would admit in the genus
Huthalia, 'To my mind there is something peculiar and distinctive in all Luthalias,
As far as is known, their transformations are similar, and in the field they have
the same habits. ‘They have a bold flight, settle with wings both closed and
open, the former more especially when alarmed. ‘They are particularly partial
to the juices of over-ripe fruit. I deprecate as much the splitting up this genus
into numerous genera as I do those of Danais, Huplea, Lethe, Mycalesis, Neptis,
Charaxes, Papilio, and others, At the same time, for classificatory purposes, it is
most convenient to institute subgenera for the various groups into which the
above-named and other large genera can be divided. If these subgenera be
raised to the rank of genera, at once all connection between them appears to be
lost, a Dophia becomes as good a genus as an Huthalia, this being very far from
the case, while Dophia, Huthalia and, say, Charazes are all genera of equal rank,
which misrepresents the facts, as Oharares is entirely distinct from the other
two, which latter are closely allied.

Key to the subgenera included’in the genus Huthalia.
A. Forewing with the discoidal cell closed.
a, Forewing, apex much produced.
1. DOPHLA, Moore, type £. evelina, Stoll,
b, Forewing, apex not produced, the outer margin slightly concave.
2, LEXIAS, Boisduval, type H. eropus, Linnzus,
B. Forewing with the discoidal cell open.

a, Male, hindwing, upperside with a glandular patch of black scales below
the costa,

46 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

a1. Male, forewing, apex produced, truncate, the outer margin deeply
excavated, first subcostal nervule anastomosed with the costal
nervure ; hindwing quadrate.

3. FELDERIA, Semper, type EL. phiegethon, Semper.

61. Male, forewing, apex not produced, acute, the outer margin not
deeply excavated, first subcostal nervule free from the costal
nervure ; hindwing triangular.

4. NORA, de Nicéville, type L. kesava, Moore.
b. Male, hindwing, upperside with no ‘‘ male-mark.”
a1. Palpi with third joint not slenderly produced, bristle-like.
a2. Hindwing triangular, anal angle produced.
5. EUTHALIA, Hibner, type L. lubentina, Cramer.
Aconthea, Horsfield, type EL. primaria, Horsfield,—E£. aconthea,
Cramer.
Adolias, Boisduval, type E. aconthea, Cramer.
Itanus, Doubleday, type EL. phemius, Doubleday and Hewitson.
62. Hindwing quadrate, anal angle rounded, not produced.
6. SYMPHADRA, Hiibner, type LE. thyelia, Fabricius,=L. nas,
_ Forster.
61. Palpi with third joint slenderly produced, bristle-like.
7. TANAECIA, Butler, type E. pulasara, Moore.

6. EUTHALIA (Nora) ERANA, n. sp., Pl. L, Figs. 1, ¢ ; 2, 9.

Hasrrat : Sumatra.

EXpansE : @, 2°83; 2, 2°7 inches.

Description : Mate. UPpprrsipe, loth wings dark brown. Forewing
with the usual black linear markings in and below the discoidal cell ; a whitish
brown-sullied discal lunular band, consisting of six portions, the two upper-
most the widest, the third subequal to the fifth, the fourth rather smaller than
the first and second, the sixth duplicated ; this band bears outwardly a fine
highly lanceolate white line, itself outwardly narrowly defined with black ; the
outer margin towards the anal angle paler than the rest of the wing. Hindwing
with the usual black markings in the cell ; a broad discal white band from
the costa where it is widest to the submedian nervure, bearing a prominent
highly lanceolate narrow black line, which anteriorly divides the band almost
equally, but posteriorly approaches the outer border of the band ; the outer
margin broadly from the anal angle, but decreasingly towards the apex of the
wing, blue, the posterior interspace green ; the three apical interspaces margi-
nally of the colour of the ground ; the abdominal margin ereenish-white.
UNDERSIDE, both wings rich ochreous, with the usual basal black markings.
Forewing with the discal band of the upperside but bluish-white, prominently
outwardly defined with black. Hindwing with an even discal bluish-white

NEW NORTH-EASTERN SUMATRA BUTTERFLIES. 47

band, outwardly defined with the Iunulated blackish line of the wpperside ;
the abdominal margin tinted with bronzy-greenish, FEMALE, UPPERSIDE,
both wings much paler than in the male, dull ochreous-brown ; with the discal
whitish band much as in the male, but with no outer blue band on the hind-
wing, UNDERSIDE, both wings almost precisely like the male, except that the
outer margins are tinted with opalescent-whitish,

Nearest to &. salia, Moore, from Java,* from which £. erana differs in the
male on the upperside of the forewing in the discal band not being “ margined,
outwardly with dull blue,” and on the hindwing in having the lanceolate black
line much more deeply zigzagged, the discal white band twice as broad. The
female differs on the upperside of the hindwing in having the discal white band
much less prominent, sullied with brownish instead of pure white, and con-
siderably narrower.

The species figured as H. laverna by Butler in his ‘“ Lepidoptera Exotica,”
p. 174, pl. lx, fig. 5, male (1874), from Borneo, appears to be another closely
allied species, differing at a glance from Z. erana, however, in the discal band. of
the hindwing on the upperside in the male being blue instead of white, and with
no blue region beyond. It is very close to &. decorata, Butler, but, as figured>
has the discal band of the forewing on the upperside anteriorly composed of a
double series of pure white highly angled lunales, while in Z. decorata the band
throughout is sullied with fuscous. As Mr. Butler has elected to consider the
female of his &., laverna from Penang and Malacca as the type of his species
(both sexes of which are described and figured by Mr. Distant in his
“ Rhopalocera Malayana’’), I propose to name the male figured by Mr. Butler,
Euthalia lavernalis, as it is at present unnamed.

E. erana is described from a single pair of specimens in my collection,

7. EUTHALIA (Tanaécia ?) ELONH, n. sp., Pl. L, Fig. 3, ¢.
Hasirat: Battak Mountains, Sumatra,
Expanse: ¢, 2°7 inches,

DESCRIPTION: MaLe, Upprrstps, both wings dark hair-brown or fuscous,
Forewing with the usual linear black markings in and beneath the discoidal
cell ; a discal very obscure pale band, to be seen only in some lights, broad on
the costa, rapidly diminishing in width to the third median nervule; the
anal angle bearmg three increasing metallic green spots divided from the
margin by a fine line of the ground-colour and from each other by the veins,

* Heer P. C. T. Snellen in Tijd. voor Ent., vol. xxxiii, p. 217 (1890), records
“ Adolias”’ salia from Sumatra, but the species here described was apparently not
recognized by him as a species distinct from JZ. salia.

48 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. Viti.

Hindwing with the usual linear black markings in the cell; a discal series of
six small obscure black spots, followed by a broad submarginal pure white band
crossed by the black veins, decreasing in width at either end, bounded anteriorly
and posteriorly by a narrow metallic green line, both lines increasing in width
towards the abdominal margin where they meet in a poit, the anterior line
through four interspaces divided from the broad submarginal white band by
narrow lunules of the ground-colour ; abdomthal margin broadly pale fuscous.
Cilia of both wings very narrow, white. UNDERSIDE, forewing reddish-brown ;
the discoidal black markings very prominent; a discal irregular lunulated black
band; a slightly curved submarginal series of six increasing round black spots ;
the apex and outer margin decreasingly pale violet. Hindwing pale violet, the —
outer margin fuscous; the white submarginal band as above, inwardly bounded
by a series of round black spots between the veins, the innermost spots linear,
recurved to the abdominal margin; followed by a series of four linear black
spots from the third median nervule to the submedian nervure; then an
angulate series of eight spots extending right across the disc of the wing, the
discoidal cell and the base marked with numerous black spots.

Nearest to Zanaécia nicéviller, Distant, from Perak, the type and two males
of which I am able to compare with 7’. elone, differing conspicuously on the
upperside of the forewing in having a very small metallic green area at the
anal angle instead of a large blue area, and on the hindwing in having a large
submarginal pure white band defined on both sides by metallic green, and not
reaching the outer margin, not bearing a series of black spots at its middle,
instead of a much broader blue band extending right up to the outer margin,
On the underside of the hindwing the black macular markings are very well
marked and prominent, much more so than in 7’. nicevillez, and the white band
is again a conspicuous differential character. 7. zichri, Butler, from Sarawak
(Borneo) and Malacca, appears to be another allied but quite distinct species.

Can the genus Zanaécia be retained as a full genus? As ab present under-
stood it contains a very heterogeneous collection of euthaliad butterflies ; but, as
Mr. Doherty has pointed out,* the one character by which I once thought it
could be separated from Huthalia, viz., by the anastomosis of the first subcostal
nervule with the costal nervure of the forewing, has been shown by him to be
utterly inconstant, even in the same species, and there appears to be, therefore,
no other generic character left, unless the slender bristle-like terminal joint to
the palpi be considered of sufficient generic significance, but, as far as my col-
lection goes, only 7’. pulasara, Moore, which is the type of Zenaécia, T. aruna,
Feder, and 7’. martigena, Weymer, possess this feature, all the other so-called

* Jour. A. 8. B., vol. lviii, pt. 2, p. 121 (1889).

NEW NORTH-EASTERN SUMATRA BUTTERFLIES. 49

Tanaéecias, including 7. nicévillei and 7. elone, have the palpi normal and as in
typical Hathalia. At best Tanaéecia can, I think, only be retained as a subgenus.
E. elone is described from a single specimen in Dr. L. Martin’s collection.

8. CYRESTIS (Chersonesia) CYANHE, n. sp., PL. L, Figs. 6, #; 7, 9.

Hasrrat : Battak Mountains, Sumatra.

EXPANse: @, 9, 1°65 inches.

DEscrIpTION : Mate. UPpPERSIDE, both wings rich deep orange. fore-
wing with a short black basal line ; two subbasal lines filled in with fuscous ;
the disco-cellular nervules enclosed by two exceedingly fine lines, the space
between them of the ground-colour, these two lines themselves enclosed in two
other lines filled in with fuscous ; a broad discal single line ; a pair of sub-
marginal lines enclosing two short lines, the anterior of these placed between
the discoidal nervules, the posterior between the second median nervule and
the submedian nervure; a marginal line—all these black lines almost
straight, and reaching from the costa to the inner margin. AMindwing with no
basal line ; the two following pairs of lines as in the forewing, but the outer
pair, instead of enclosing two fine disco-cellular lines, has a single line on its
inner edge ; the discal and submarginal lines as in the forewing, but the latter
yaiv enclosing a continuous broad black line, ending at the anal angle in two
detached spots ; a marginal diffused line, anda very fine anteciliary line.
UnpersipE, both wings as above, all the black markings very prominent, the
two basal pairs of lines not filled in with fuscous, the ground-colour a trifle paler
perhaps than on the upperside. FEMALE, much as in the male, but the wings
broader, the ground-colour very much paler, all the black markings less intense.

Nearest to C. risa, Doubleday and Hewitson, which occurs from Kumaon —
to Assam, in Burma, and again in Java, but not in the Malay Peninsula ;
differs therefrom in the male in its darker ground-colour, the two basal pairs
of lines on the upperside being filled in with fuscous, the discal single line
being much broader, and especially in the absence of all violet markings in the
space enclosed by the submarginal pair of lines, this being a very conspicuous
feature in C. risa. In the hindwing of C. cyanee these purple markings are
replaced by a broad black line ; also in C. risa there is always a more or less
conspicuous series of pale yellow triangular markings in both wings, but more
especially in the hindwing, placed internally to the inner of the two submar-
ginal lines, which is quite absent in C. cyanee.

Described from a single pair in my collection.

Family LEMONIIDA.
Subfamily NEMEOBIINZ.
9. ABISARAVAMDAS asp) Pl. i Bis. 10, (4.
Hasrrar: Battak Mountains, Sumatra.
EXPANSE;. ¢, 2°1 inches.
Description: Mane, UppreErsipe, loth wings dull hair-brown. Forewing

with two pale, almost straight, discal bands, extending from the costa to the
7

50 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIIT

inner angle, rather far apart en the costa, close together posteriorly, the inner
band twice as wide as the outer; a short obscure fine marginal white line
at the inner angle. Hindwing outwardly becoming pale brown; the outer
third of the wing pure white, but apically and anally of the brown ground- -
colour ; a small white spot at the apex, then two large jet-black spots divided
by, and bounded anteriorily and posteriorly by, the rich ochreous termina-
tions of the second subcostal, discoidal, and third median nervules, the anterior
black spot surrounded on three sides by a white line, the posterior spot
marked anteriorly and posteriorly by a white line; a rather large triangular
brown spot at the base of the tail; a very small brown spot in the first
median interspace; a duplicated jet-black spot divided only by the fold in the
submedian interspace ; a narrow black line at the anal angle along the margin,
with similar, but still narrower, decreasing black limes in the three anterior
interspaces ; a very narrow marginal black line ; tai white. Cilia of the
forewing brown, of the hindwing pure white. UNDERSIDE, both wings with
the ground-colour much paler than above, hoary at the base. Forewing with
the discal lines more prominent than on the upperside, pure white; the fine
white line at the inner angle more prominent. Aindwing marked much as
above, but the outer white area is seen to bear inwardly an almost continuous
brown line, it being broken only in the median interspaces, where it is
represented by two brown spots, and is recurved to the abdominal margin
above the anal angle.

In the ground-colour of the upperside, A. ata resembles A. neophron,
Hewitson, but the two whitish bands of the forewing ally it more nearly to
A, savitri, Felder, which also occurs in Sumatra. A. ata is abundantly
distinct from all its allies by the presence of the large outer white area on both
sides of the hindwing.

Described from two examples in my collection.

Family LYCASNID A.

10. YASODA PITANE, n. sp., Pl. L, Fig. 5, ¢.

Hasitat : Battak Mountains, Sumatra.

Expanse: @, 1°35 inches,

Description : Maur. UPpERsIpn, both wings rich orange-yellow. Fore-
wing with a very broad deep black outer border with its inner edge evenly
curved, the border broadest at the apex, nearly three millimeters broad at the
inner angle ; a minute black dot in the second median interspace ; the base of
the wing powdered with dusky. Aindwing with more than the outer half of
the wing deep black, this black area commencing very narrowly on the costa,
then broadly on the outer margin as far as the discoidal nervule, when it is
continued across the wing to the abdominal margin parallel with the costa ; the

NEW NORTH-EASTERN SUMATRA BUTTERFLIES. ol

“ male-mark ” defined by a thin orange line ; the base of the wing powdered
with dusky; éail black, UnpERsIDE, both wings brownish-orange, with the
usual annular fine macular markings. Hindiwing powdered with violet and
lack in the anal area.

Nearest to Y. pita, Horsfield, which I have from Sumatra and Java, differ-
ing therefrom in the broader outer black margin to the forewing, and especially
in. having more than half the area of the hindwing black, in the male of Y. pita
the outer margin alone is narrowly black, with a broad black streak along
the “ male-mark.”

Described from a single male in my collection.

Family PAPILIONID A.
Subfamily Prermvz.

11. DELIAS DANALA, n. sp., Pl. L, Fig. 9, 4.

Hapitat: Battak Mountains, Sumatra.

EXPANSE: &, 2°2 inches,

DesorieTion : Mate, UPpERsipE, both wings dead chalky white. ore-
wing with the costa as far as the subcostal nervure dusky ; the apex very
broadly (extending, in fact, almost to the outer end of the discoidal cell), but
rapidly decreasing to the anal angle, where it ends in a point, dusky, bearing
three indistinct whitish spots between the veins anterior to the third median
nervule. Hindwing with the outer margin posteriorly narrowly black, the
black colour extending inwardly slightly between the veins in a dusky powder-
ing. UNDERSIDE, forewing as above, but the veins outwardly, rather broadly,
defined with black ; there are also five subapical spots between the veins, of
which the uppermost on the costa is very small, the next the largest and pale
yellow, the three following decreasingly smaller and dusky white. Aindwing
clear yellow, all the veins narrowly black, the outer margin with a rather broad
blackish border, bearmg five lunular spots between the veins, of which the three
posterior ones are whitish, the two anterior yellow.

Nearest to D. singhapura, Wallace*, known to me by the figure and descrip-
tion only, from Singapore and Borneo, differs in its smaller size, that species being
3°12 inches in alar expanse, the forewing rounded, not conspicuously elongated,
and with the apex rounded, not highly pointed ; on the underside of the fore-
wing the veins—-especially the median nervure—are less broadly defined with
black, the marginal spots are smaller and only five, instead of six, in number ;
on the hindwing the outer black border is narrower, less deeply black, the spots
smaller, less distinct, entire, not divided by the internervular folds, five instead
of six in number, the uppermost one of D. singhapura in the upper subcostal
interspace being wholly wanting. Other allied species are D. agoranis, Grose

* Trans, Ent. Soc. Lond., third series, vol. iv, p. 353, n. 29, pl. vii, fig. 2, male (1867).

52 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

Smith, Rhop. Ex., vol. i., Delias I, figs. 7, 8, male (1889), from the Siamese

frontier of Burma, and D. kuehni, Honrath, Berl. Ent. Zeitsch., vol. xxx,

p. 295, pl. vi, fig. 2, male (1886), from Bangkai Island, near Celebes.
Described from a single example in Dr. Martin’s collection.

12. DELIAS DERCETO, n. sp., Pl. L, Fig. 4, @.

Hasrrat: Battak Mountains, Sumatra.

EXPANSE: @, 3:0; @, 2°7 to 3°4 inches.

Descriprion: Mane. Uppersipn, both wings deep black. Forewing with
two white spots at the end of the discoidal cell defining the disco-cellular
nervules ; a submarginal series of seven oval whitish spots placed between the
veins. Hindwing bearing a large, anteriorly white powdered with dusky,
posteriorly pale primrose-yellow, area divided by the veins, occupying the outer
end of the cell, this area is bounded outwardly by a broad black border, which
at the anal angle dwindles away to nothing, UNDERSIDE, forewing with the
ground-colour black, but with a large area from the inner margin extending on
to the disc powdered with whitish ; the discoidal and submarginal spots as
above, but pure white, larger, and much more prominent. Hindwing with the
immediate base of the wing black; then a broad curved rich crimson area,
commencing on the costal nervure and ending on the abdominal margin,
crossed by the black veins, slightly sprinkled with black scales ; followed by a
rather narrow highly irregular black band ; the outer half of the wing pale
chrome-yellow, gradually darkening to a deeper chrome in the two posterior
interspaces, the veins crossing this area black, from the first median to the
second subcostal nervule gradually outwardly dilated and forming between those
veins a broad black border. FEMALE differs from the male only in the wings
being somewhat broader, forewing with the apex more rounded.

Apparently nearest to D. ninus, Wallace*, from Mount Ophir, Malacca,
Malay Peninsula, but unknown to me except by the original description and
figure, from which it differs in its larger size, both wings much broader, the
forewing on both sides less heavily marked, two discoidal and seven submar-
ginal spots only, no basal bluish patches whatever, the hindwing with no
crimson basal patch on the upperside ; on the underside the crimson patch and
the black band following it are twice as broad, thus reducing the chrome-yellow
area in the discoidal cell by half. It is even more closely allied to
D. crithoé, Boisduval, from Java, as identified by me, but may at once be
known by the crimson band on the hindwing below being twice as broad, and
with its outer edge evenly curved, instead. of straight, and no discal white patch
on the upperside of the forewing.

Described from one male and two females in my collection.

* Trans. Ent, Soc, Lond., third series, vol. iv, p, 347, n. 9, pl, vii, fig, 1, male 1867).

NEW NORTH-EASTERN SUMATRA BUTTERFLIES. 53

13. DELIAS DATAMES, n. sp., Pl. L, Fig. 8, @.
Hasirat: Battak Mountains, Sumatra.

EXPANSE: ¢, 2°83 inches,

DESCRIPTION: Mae. UPppErstpn, forewing dead chalky-white ; the costa
as far as the subcostal nervure, the apex very broadly reaching almost to the end
of the discoidal cell, and the outer margin decreasingly, black, bearing a series of
five prominent small round white spots, of which the fourth from the costa is
the smallest, the fifth the largest ; the disco-cellular nervules defined with black,
Hindwing white, but not of as pure a shade as in the forewing, the black
colour of the underside appearing to show through by transparency, especially
at the base of the wing, and broadly along the outer margin, where it may
almost be said that the wing has a broad outer diffused blackish border, more
intense anteriorly. UNDERSIDE, forewing with the inner margin broadly white,
eradually merging in the submedian interspace into the yellow colour of the
disc and base ; the black apical and outer marginal areas much as on the
upperside, bub extending narrowly into the outer end of the cell ; bearing six
submarginal spots, of which the two anterior ones are clear yellow, the rest
white ; there is also a second white spot in the lower discoidal interspace mid-
way between the submarginal spot and the lower disco-cellular nervule ; the
base and disc of the wing reaching anteriorly to the costal nervure clear yellow.
Hindwing dull bronzy-black throughout except a small streak of clear yellow
anterior to the costal nervure ; a submarginal series of six small clear yellow
spots placed between the veins, the one in the submedian interspace geminated,

This species is perhaps one of the most remarkable in the genus. On the
upperside it has somewhat the appearance of Huphina nama, Moore, which I
have also from the mountains of Sumatra, and for which it would certainly
pass without notice when flying. D. datames is very closely allied to D. momea,
Boisduval, from Java, the male differing from the same sex of that species in
the costa of the forewing being black up to the subcostal nervure instead of
white, the black apical area of greater extent and reaching the inner angle,
which it does not do in D. momea ; in the hindwing the black powdery outer
border is unmarked, in D. momea it bears three white spots placed one in each
interspace between the second median and second subcostal nervules ; on the
underside of the forewing the yellow coloration is of a deeper shade, and is
more extensive, in D, momea the white coloration of the inner margin extends
outwardly as far as the second median interspace, thus greatly reducing the
yellow area ; the two anterior spots of the submarginal series are yellow, in
D. momea they are white ; in the latter species there are three discal white
spots, in D, datames only one ; and in the hindwing there is no discal series of

54 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII,

streaks between the veins as there is in D. momea. I possess a single pair

only of D. momea.
Described from a single male example in Dr. Martin’s collection,

Subfamily PAPILIONINA.

14. PAPILIO (Dalchina) SARPEDON, Linnaeus, Pl L, Fig. 11, ¢.

P. sarpedon, Linneus, Syst. Nat. Ins., ed. x, p. 461, n. 14 (1758).

The very remarkable melanoid aberration or “ sport” of P. sarpedon figured was
obtained on the Battak Mountains of Sumatra by Dr. Martin’s Battak collectors,
The upperside of both wings is entirely black, save in the forewing the anterior
spob of the broad macular discal blue-green band of normal P. sarpedon, and in
the hindwing the four middle submarginal blue-green lunules of the series of six
of the typical form, are alone present. The markings of the underside similarly
differ, the broad discal blue-green band of both wings of the normal form
being reduced to the anterior spot of the forewing only, the submarginal lunules
of the hindwing as on the upperside, but all the crimson and deep black mark-

ings of the normal P. sarpedon are present.

This unique butterfly is in Dr, Martin’s collection.

15, PAPILIO (Pangerana) SYCORAX, Grose Smith, Pl. My Hic)
Papilio sycorax, Grose Smith, Ent, Month. Mag., vol. xxi, p. 247 (1885) ; id
Distant, Rhop., Malay., p. 468, n. 29, pl. xlu, fig. 10, female (1886); P. egertoni,

Distant, Ann, and Mag. Nat. Hist., fifth series, vol. xvil, p. 251 (1886).

Hasrtar: Perak, Malay Peninsula (Distant and collection de Niceville);
Sumatra (Grose Smith and collections Martin and de Nicéville).

Expanse: @, 6:0 inches. (My largest Q expands 7-0 inches).

Description: Mate. Uppmrsrpe, both wings very deep indigo-blue,
slightly glossed with a greenish tint in some lights. Forewing obscurely
streaked with greyish outwardly between the veins. Hindwing with the
abdominal margin broadly twice folded over above ; the outer margin broadly
dull olive-green, this area bearing anteriorly four rounded black spots, the ante-
riot spot coalescing with the indigo-blue ground-colour, the posterior spot hidden
beneath the fold ; a marginal series of five black spots. UNDERSIDE, both
wings deep black. Forewing with the discoidal cell, as well as all the other
interspaces, streaked with pale greenish-white. Hindiwing with the outer half
pale greenish-white, this area sharply defined, just reaching the cell at the
bifurcation of the third median and discoidal nervules, bearing inwardly five
oval black spots, the uppermost with its anterior end coalescing with the
eround-colour, and outwardly six round similar spots. ace posteriorly with
long black hairs, anteriorly these hairs are pale buff-yellow, as also is the thorax
anteriorly ; posteriorly the thorax, and the anterior third of the abdomen above
is black, the posterior two-thirds of the abdomen above is dull olive-green,

NEW NORTH-EASTERN SUMATRA BUTTERFLIES. 55

bearing on each side a series of four round black spots; thorax beneath and
anal valves black ; abdomen beneath bright chrome-yellow, the spiracles black.

It is a very remarkable fact that in certain groups of Papilios the females are
far more often met with than the males, This is especially noticeable in the
small group which contains P. sycorax, P. priapus, Boisduval, and P. hageni,
Rogenhofer, all of which are remarkable in having the face and anterior portion
of the thorax above pale buff-yellow. Even the Battaks have noticed this
curious feature, and call the butterfly “ white-head.” P. sycoraz, as Mr.
Grose Smith points out, is obviously close to P. priapus, from Java, but
having only three female specimens of the latter, | am unable to make a
comparison between the respective males of the two species. The females differ
chiefly in the outer area of the hindwing on both sides of P. sycorax being
greenish, in P. priapus buff-yellow.

Dr. Martin has only obtained three males of this fine species, two of which he
has generously presented to me, together with four females, Mr. J. Wray, Jr.,
has also sent me a female from the Perak Hills.

16. PAPILIO (Pangerana) HAGENI, Rogenhofer, Pl. M, Fig. 2, 9.

Papilio hageni, Rogenhofer, Verh. zool.-bot. Gesellsch. Wien, vol. xxxix, p.1
(1889).

Haprrat : Sumatra (Rogenhofer and collections Martin and de Niceville).

EXPANSE : Q, 6°0 inches.

DESCRIPTION ; FEMALE. UPPERSIDE, forewing sordid-white, semi-trans-
‘parent, the base, costa, apex and outer margin fuscous, all the veins broadly
marked with fuscous, the discoidal cell bearmg four longitudinal black streaks,
the interspaces beyond the cell also bearing a black streak each. Hindwing
shining black, the basal half tinted with dark olive-green ; the disc bears a large
white area crossed by the black veins and by four large oval black spots, the
anterior of these almost merged into the black ground-colour, the white area
anterior to these spots pure white, posterior to them sprinkled with black scales,
UNDERSIDE, forewing a little paler than above, similarly marked. Hindwing
with the ground-colour throughout deep black, the white area a little larger,
almost pure white throughout, the anterior oval black spot better defined,
anteriorly only coalescing with the ground-colour, Head in front and thorax
anteriorly pale buff-yellow, thorax and abdomen above black, thorax beneath
black, abdomen beneath rich crimson, cross-banded with black, and bearing on
each side a series of small black spots.

This very fine species is closely allied to P. priapus, Boisduval, and to
P. sycorax, Grose Smith, and has the face and thorax above anteriorly of the
same colour as in those species. Dr. Martin has given me the specimen figured ;
he has a male (still nondescript) and other females in his collection, but the
Species appears to be a very rare one,

56 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL AISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES.

Prats K.

Fie, 1. Danais (Caduga) tytioides, n. sp., &, p. 37.
oy) 2. ” 29 2, p. 37.
Weis; Bulan (icscnnata) Cane, n. sp. &, p. 38.
» 4 9 9 29 D) 2, p. 38.
» 9. TLerinos teos, n. sp.. &, p. 41.

” 6. 9 » £5). 41.
tiny ft Tahe darena, Felder, 6, p. 40.

» & Athyma assa, 0. sp., &, p. 42.
Prats L.

Fig. 1. Huthalia (Nora) erana, n. sp., 3, p. 46.

” 2. ry) ” 9 ep) 2, Pp. 46.

3 3 (Tanaécia 2) elone, n. sp., &, p. 47.
4, Delias derceto, n. sp., &, p. 52.
5. Yasoda pitane, n. sp., &, p. 50.
» 6. Cyrestis (Chersonesia) cyanee,n. sp.. &, p. 49.
7 39 99 99 99 g b) Pp: 49.
8. Delias datames, nu. sp., &, p. 53.
a. » adanala,n. sp. 6, p. 51.
» 10. Abisara ata, n. sp., do, p. 49.
» Ll. Papilio Dalchina) sarpedon, Linneus, 4, p. 54.
Pruate M.
Fig. 1. Papilio (Pangerana) sycorax, Grose Smith, &, p. 54.
rh ae a3 A hagent, Rogenhofer, 9, p. 55.

BOTANY OF THE LACCADIVES, sutwe NATURAL
HISTORY NOTES FROM H. M. 1. M. SURVEY
STHAMER “INVESTIGATOR,” Commanver
R. F. HOSKYN, R.N., COMMANDING.

Series II, No. 5. By D. Prain.

(Continued from Vol. VIL., page 486.)

Incomplete.
NYOTAGINES.

122. IMlirabilis Jalapa Linn., Sp. Pl. 177; Roxb., Hort. Beng,
16; Watt, Dict., v., 258. The Marvel of Peru.

Akati ; cultivated, Meming ! Muinikoi ; cultivated, Pleming !

Native of America, but widely cultivated throughout tropical Asia on account
of the supposed. purgative properties of its root, and as a garden plant.

123. Beerhaavia repens Linn : Hook. f., Flor, Brit. Ind., iv, 709.

var. typica. Boerhaavia repens Linn., Sp. Pl., 3.

Akati ; Mleming! Améni Hume !

A weed of fields, waysides and wasteplaces, cosmopolitan in tropical and sub-
tropical countries. The more usual form of this species in India (var. pro-
cumbens Hook. f., Hor. Brit. Ind., iv, 709 ; Boerhaavia procumbens, Banks in
Roxb. Flor. Ind., i, 146) does not appear to occur in the Laccadives ; the
present form is that characteristic of the drier parts of India, of Beluchistan,
Arabia and North-East Africa.

var. diffusa Hook. f., Flor. Brit. Ind., iv, 709. B. diffusa Linn.,
Sp. PL. 3.

Bitrapar ; on the shore, Hume / Anderut ; on the beach, Alcock ! Kadamum ;
Fleming ! Minikoi ; Hleming !

A littoral plant, cosmopolitan on tropical sea-shores, The sea-shore form
differs so markedly in appearance from the usual inland forms and agrees so well
with the description of var. diffusa Hook. f., that it might be convenient to
restrict the varietal name “‘ diffusa” to it alone. It does not, however, deserve
specific rank, for, as is pointed out in the Hora of British India, it is impossible
by their morphological characters to draw a line between the various forms.
Byen if recognised as a species, it could not be dealt with as 5. diffusa Linn.
since the probability is that Linneus based his descriptions, at least in part, on
the examination of inland specimens.

The ‘weed’ has probably been introduced unintentionally by man. The
“ shore” form very probably owes its introduction to the agency of sea-birds,
though it may have been introduced by ocean-currents.

8

58 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

124. WPisonia alba Spanoghe i Linnea, xv, 342; Hook. f., Flor.
Brit. Ind., iv, 711.

Bitrapar ; Fleming !

A littoral species confined, if Spanoghe’s species be really distinct from all the
Polynesian and Malayan ones, to the Andamans and Nicobars. ‘The species is
rare in the Andamans beach forests (Kurz), but it is plentiful on the shores of
Narcondam and on those of Batti Malv—one of the Nicobar group. The tree
is only known in India and Ceylon as acultivated species; but as it does
not occur on any of the other islands of the group, and as Bitrapar is an
uninhabited island, the presence of the species in the sea-coast jungle here must be:
independent of human interference. Its fruits may have been introduced by
birds, since the glutinous lines along their angles admirably adapt them for this
mode of dispersal ; but as the majority of the birds that visit Bitra must be
sea-fowl, it is much more likely that the species has been introduced by means of
ocean-currents. ‘Though not wild, it is frequently cultivated in Ceylon (¢.9., ab
Colombo) near the sea—indeed away from the sea it refuses to grow—and, if the
tree does not exist in Malaya, Ceylon, cultivated trees may be supposed to have
yielded the fruits that have reached the Laccadives. One point, however, against.
the species being confined, as an indigenous tree, to the Andamans is that the
species has been long cultivated in India and Ceylon, and. it is therefore extremely
unlikely that the plants originally introduced into India. came from that group:
of islands, with which, save for a short period in the end of the last century, there
was, till thirty years ago, practically no communication. It appears, indeed, as
Sir Joseph Hooker suggests, to be little more than a form of the Polynesian

Pisonia inermis Forst.
AMARANTACE.

125. Amerantus viridis Linn., Sp. Pl. (ed. 1), 1405 ; Roxb., Flor.
Tnd., ii, 605; Hook. f., Flor. Brit. Ind., iv, 720.

Minikoi ; Fleming !

A weed of waste places, cosmopolitan in the tropics.

126. Zrua lanata Juss. i Ann. Mus. xi, 131; Hook. f., Flor:
Brit. Ind., iv, 728. Achyranthes lanata Linn, Sp. Pl. 204; Roxb., Flor.
Ind., i, 676.

Bitrapar; Hume! Kalpéni; Alcock / Kadamum ; very common, Meming £
Akati ; Fleming / Minikoi ; common, Yleming !

A weed. of waste places and also, as here, a common littoral species throughout
tropical and subtropical Africa, the Mascarene Islands, Arabia and South-Hastern
Asia ; here almost without doubt a sea-introduced species,

127. fchyranthes aspera Linn: Hook. f., Flor. Brit, Ind., iv, 730.

var. typica. Achyranthes aspera Linn., Sp. Pl, 204; Roxb., Flor.
Ind.,; 1, 672,

BOTANY OF THE LACCADIVES. 09

Minikoi ; Fleming !
A weed of waste places, cosmopolitian in the tropics.
var. porphyristachya Hook. f., Flor. Brit. Ind., iv, 730. Achyranthes
porphyristachya, Wall., Cat. 6925.

Bitrapar; Hume! Bangéro; Hume! Kalpéni; Alcock! Kiltan ; Fleming !
Kadamum ; Fleming ! Akati ; Mleming ! Minikoi; Fleming !

A weedy climber common in the littoral zone of the Indian and Malayan
coasts ; also in the moist valleys of Sikkim, Chittagong, etc.

The common weed is only reported from Minikoi, from which island also
(and from most of the others) comes the usual littoral condition which in habit
simulates A. bidentata, Bl., but which has the fimbriate staminodes of A. aspera.
While A. aspera is undoubtedly a plant introduced unintentionally by man,
there is no doubt that here, as often elsewhere, A. porphyristachya is a sea-
introduced plant.

POLYGONACEZ,

128. Polygonum barbatum Linn., Sp. Pl., 362; Hook. f., Flor.
Brit. Ind., v., 37. P. rivulare Koenig in Roxb., Flor. Ind., ii, 290.

Kalpéni ; Alcock !

In wet places throughout tropical Asia and Africa.

PIPERACEZ:,

129, Presr Bertie Linn., Sp. Pl. 28; Roxb., Flor. Ind.,i, 158; Hook,
f., Flor. Brit. Ind., v, 85.

Akati ; Kilétn ; Kadamum ; Minikoi ; in all the islands cultivated and, as
is the custom generally in Southern India, trained round the trunks and over
the branches of the Agati (Sersbania grandiflora). ‘‘ This plant is an object of
great care” (Mleming). )

Native of Malaya, where, and in the hotter parts of India and Ceylon, it is
cultivated.

LAURINE,

130. Cassytha filiformis Linn., Sp. Pl. 35; Roxb., Flor. Ind., ii,
314; Hook. f., Flor. Brit. Ind., v, 188.

Kiltan ; on Wedelia scandens in the coast zone, Alcock! Kadamum ; on
Pleurostylia Wightit, Fleming !

A leafless parasite, common on sea-shores, cosmopolitan in the tropics.

131, Hfernandia peltata Meissn. in DC., Prodr., xv., pt. i, 263 ;
Hook.f., Flor. Brit. Ind., v, 188. Hernandia ovigera Gaertn., Fruct., 1., 193,
t. 40, f. 8; Roxb., Mor. Ind., iii, 577, nec Linn.

Korat Hume! Minikoi ; Fleming ! -

60 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

A littoral species extending from the Mascarene Islands and Eastern Africa
to Ceylon, the Andamans, Malaya, Australia and Polynesia; like Ochrosia
borbonica this does not occur on the coast of India, though it is found as far
north as Great Coco on the west and as Mergui on the east of the Andaman Sea.

Meissner (DC. Prodr., xv, pt. 1, 262—264) omits to quote, and the Hora of
British India (v, 188) does not cite Roxburgh’s account of Hernandia ovigera
(Flor. Ind., iii, 577-578), which his own diagnosis clearly shows to be a species
different from Hernandia ovigera Linn. (Aman, Ac., iv, 125), founded on
Rumf’s figure (Herb, Amboin., iii, 198, t. 123) of Arbor ovigera. Roxburgh
notes the discrepancies, and explains them by depreciating Rumf’s drawing.
In reality, however, Roxburgh’s description is a most vivid and accurate one,
made from living specimens, of the species named by Meissner (DC. Prodr., xv,
pt. i, 263) Hernandia peltata. Roxburgh cites Gaertner’s figure (Pract. 1, 193,
t. 40, f. 8) asa “ very accurate” delineation of the fruit of this tree—an exceed-
ingly just remark, which, however, Meissner has overlooked, for he quotes
Gaertner’s description and figure as referring to Linnaeus’ species, though they
differ very materially from both Rumf’s figure and Meissner’s own description
of the fruit of Hernandia ovigera,

Hernandia peltata, the species now under review, is a purely old-world plant
which has been treated by Linnaeus and, with the exceptions of Gaertner and
Roxburgh, by all botanists subsequent to Linnaeus till the appearance of
Meissner’s treatise (1864) as conspecific with the American Hernandia sonora ;
even now Sir J. D. Hooker (Flor. Brit. Ind., v, 189) suspects that 4. peltata
is no more than a variety of H. sonora. And the basis of the differentiation by
both Gaertner and Roxburgh of the present plant from H. sonora does not lie in
the differences between the two plants that Meissner has pointed out, but in the
fact that Linnaeus included under H. sonora not merely the American tree to
which Meissner would restrict that name, as well as the Ceylon tree which is
undoubtedly H. peltata, but also—though doubifully and with the remark “ sed
fructus alienus” (Amen. Ac., iv, 117)—the tree figured by Rumf (Herb. Amboin.,
ii, 257, t. $5) under the name Arbor regis. Believing, apparently, that Rumf’s
Arbor regis was, a8 Linnaeus thought, a Hernandia—a belief perhaps partly just—
but realising that it could scarcely be the tree he had before him, and seeing that
it agreed so thoroughly with the figure and description of H. ovigera given by
Gaertner, Roxburgh, not having in his possession specimens of the true #. ovigera,
followed Gaertner in bestowing that name on this species. This course was hardly
just to Rumf if Gaertner and Roxburgh believed Rumf’s figure to be correct,
hardly just to themselves if they had any grounds for supposing it to be erro-
neous, It now appears that Rumif’s figure is wonderfully reliable, for, besides his

* BOTANY OF THE LACCADIVES. 61

figure from a tree in Amboina, there are before the writer Specimens of un-
doubtedly this species from Java (Zollinger n, 2861, which, however, Zollinger
hinself has identified with H. sonora) and specimens recently collected by the
officers of the “ Eyeria” in Christmas Island, where H. ovigera occurs
(Hemsl., Journ. Linn, Soc., xxv, 357) on the summit, elevation about 1,290 feet,
a rather remarkable fact, since, according to Rumf, it occurs, like the other
Hernandias, “ semper in arenoso solo circa litora.”*

As has been remarked, the belief of Linnaeus, and of Roxburgh that Rumf’s
Arbor regis is a Hernandia is probably partly justified, for it is possible, from his
account of the habitat of his tree—“ occurrit tam in litore inter leves ac humiles
“stlvas ”’ (quite the situation affected by Hernandia peltata) “ quam in montibus
“a altioribus silvis”’ (where to find H. peltata would be somewhat surprising) —
that Rumf has included two trees in his description. His figure, moreover, bears
out this, for some of the leaves are without, while others exhibit, a pair of glands
where the petiole joins the leaf. The figure as a whole, however, suggests at once,
as Lamarck (Hneye, Meth., iii, 128) a century ago pointed out, a Euphorbiaceous
plant, while Rumf’s description of the fruit is altogether suitable to that of a
Species of this order. The first authors to recognise Rumf’s Arbor regis,
however, were Teysmann and Binnendyk, who described it as Capellenia moluccana
(Nat. Tyds, Ned, Ind., xxix, 239), founding a new genus to accommodate it ; as,
however, Capellenia does not differ generically from Endospermum, the tree has
been re-described by Beccari as Endospermum moluccanum (Malesia, ii, 38) in his
treatise Peante Ospitatrici, where another species from New Guinea (Endospermum
Sormicarum Bece., Malesia, ii, 44, t. 2) is described, which shares with Rumf’s
tree the character of sheltering a species of ant in its hollowed stems and branches,
Teysmann and Binnendyk described their species from trees grown in the Botanic
Garden at Buitenzorg; Beccari does not mention the habitat of the N ew
Guinea species; in the Calcutta Herbarium there are, however, examples
of another closely related species, with the same hollow branches, collected. in
Sumatra by H. O. Forbes, which were obtained on the volcano of Kaba at 3,500
feet elevation, This fact, therefore, does not oppose, if it does not corroborate, the
surmise that Rumf under Arbor regis has included. two trees, one found only on,

SER es ee I LY NCE) ere 1 ened

* Two parallel instances known to the writer of littoral species ascending to a con-
siderable height are met with in N arcondam, where Morinda bracteata ascends to 2,300
feet and in Barren Island, where Zerminalia Catappa ascends 1,100 feet, The expla-
nation of all three cases is doubtless the same ; these “ littoral” species being amongst the
first to appear on the respective islands were able to spread unchecked from the shore to
the summit of their peaks, and the invasion of inland species has not subsequently

been sufficiently great to compel them to retire completely from the unusual localities
they had at first invaded,

62 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCTETY, Vol. VIII.

the coast. (Hernandia peltata) and one found inland and on the mountains
(Endospermum moluccanum).
EUPHORBIACES.

132. Euphorbia Atoto Forst., Prodr. n. 207; Hook. f., Flor.
Brit. Ind., v, 248.

Améni ; Hume!

A littoral species ; seashores of India, Malaya, N. Australia and Polynesia.

1388. Buphorbia hypericifolia Linn., Hort. Cliff. 198 ; Hook. f.,
Flor. Brit. Ind., v, 249. #. parviflora Linn., Syst. Veg. (ed.x), ii, 1047 ;
Roxb., Flor. Ind., ii, 472. .

Kadamum ; Fleming! Kiltan ; Fleming ! Minikoi ; Fleming /

A weed of waste places and fields, almost cosmopolitan ; not occurring in
Australia or in Polynesia.

134. Euphorbia pilulifera Linon., Ameen. Acad., ili, 114; Hook.
f., Flor. Brit. Ind., v, 250. &. hirta Linn. Ameen. Acad., iii, 114; Roxb.,
Flor. Ind., ii. 472.

Anderut ; Alcock! Kadamum ; Hume! Fleming! Kailtan ; Alcock ! Fleming !
Minikoi ; Fleming /

A weed. of cultivation, cosmopolitan in tropical and subtropical countries.

135. Euphorbia thymifolia Burm., Flor. Ind. 2; Roxb., Flor.
Ind., ii, 473 ; Hook. f., Flor. Brit. Ind., v, 252.

Minikoi ; Hleming !

A weed almost cosmopolitan in tropical countries, not found in Australia.

136. PHynianrHus Emepuica Linn., Sp. Pl. 982; Roxb., Flor. Ind., iii,
671 ; Hook. f., Flor. Brit. Ind., v, 289. The Amila.

Améni ; cultivated, Hume.

Distributed, wild or cultivated, throughout South-Eastern Asia; here an in-
tentionally introduced plant.

137, Phyllanthus maderaspatensis Linn., Sp. Pl. 982 ; Roxb.,
Flor. Ind., iii, 654 ; Hook. f., Flor. Brit. Ind., v, 292. P. obcordatus Willd.,
Enum. Hort. Berol., Suppl., 65 ; Roxb., Flor. Ind., iii, 656.

Améni ; Hume! Anderut ; Alcock ! Bitrapar ; Fleming! Kailtan ; Mleming !
Kadamum ; Mleming ! Minikoi ; leming !

A weed of dry places and fields throughont tropical Africa, Asia and Aus-
tralia, probably unintentionally introduced by man even into the island of
Bitra, which, though not inhabited, is regularly visited.

138. Phyllanthus Urinaria Linn., Sp. Pl. 982; Roxb., Flor.
Ind., ii, 660; Hook. f., Flor. Brit. Ind., v, 298.

Kalpéni ; Alcock ! Minikoi ; Fleming !

A cosmopolitan tropical weed.

BOTANY OF THE LACCADIVES. 63

139, Phyllanthus Niruri Iinn., Sp. Pl. 981; Roxb., Flor. Ind.
ii, 659 ; Hook, f., Flor. Brit. Ind., v, 298.

Anderut ; Alcock ! Akati; Fleming! Kadamum ; Fleming! Kiltan :
Fleming ! Minikoi ; Fleming !

A weed of cultivation almost cosmopolitan in the tropics, not occurring in
Australia,

140, Phyllanthus rotundifolius Klem mm Willd, Sp. PL, iv,
584 ; Hook. f., Flor. Brit. Ind., v, 299.

Kiltan ; Fleming !

A weed of cultivation distributed throughout tropical Africa, Arabia,
Southern India and. Ceylon,

141, PHYLLANTHUS DISTICHUS Muell.-Arg. in DC., Prodr., xv, pt. ii,
413; Hook, f., Flor. Brit. Ind., v, 804. P. longifolius Jacq., Hort. Schoenb.,
ii, 36, f. 194 ; Roxb., Flor. Ind., iti, 672. Cicca disticha Linn., Mantiss. 124.

Minikoi ; cultivated, Fleming.

In gardens throughout Malaya, India and the Mascarene Islands,

142, Claoxylon Mercurialis Thwaites, Enum, 271; Hook. f.,
Flor. Brit. Ind., v, 412. TZragia Mercurialis Linn., Sp. Pl. (ed. ii) 1391
(in parte); Roxb., Flor, Ind., in, 576. Mercurialis alternifolia Desv. in
Lamk, Encyc. Meth., iv, 120. Acalypha Mercurialis A, Juss., Euphorb,
Tent. 46. Micrococca Mercurialis Benth. im Hook., Niger Flora 503.
Microstachys mercurialis Dalz. and Gibs., Bomb. Flor. 227.

Akati; Fleming! Bitrapar; Fleming! Kadamum ; Mleming! Kiltan ;
Fleming ! Minikoi ; Fleming !

A tropical weed distributed throughout Africa, Arabia and India ; there are
also specimens at Calcutta from the Malay Peninsula. JMercurialis alternifolia
Desy. is not the same plant as Mercurialis alternifolia Hochst., Un. It., which
is an Acalypha (A. Hochstetteri Ivell.-Arg.).

143. Acalypha indica Linn., Sp. Pl. 1003; Roxb., Flor. Ind.,
ii, 675; Hook. f., Flor. Brit. Ind., v., 416.

Akati; Fleming! Kadamum ; Mleming! Minikoi ; Meming !

A weed of cultivation common in tropical Africa and §.-E. Asia.

144. Acalypha fallax Muell.-Arg. i Linnea, xxxiv, 43 ; Hook,
f,, Flor. Brit. Ind., v, 416. A. indica Prain, Laccad, List. 7, nec Linn,

Anderut ; Alcock ! Akati ; Flenung ! Minikoi ; Fleming !

A weed of cultivation confined to South-Eastern Asia.

145. Ricrnus communis Linn., Sp. Pl. 1007; Roxb., Flor. Ind., iii,
689; Hook. f., Flor. Brit, Ind, v., 457. The Castor-oil Plant; vernac.
“ wndel ” (Robinson).

64 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

Kiltaén ; cultivated, Hume, Fleming! Anderut; cultivated, Alcock. Kadamum;
Fleming! Améni; cultivated for its oil, Robinson. Bitrapar ; growing near
the centre of the island, Meming ! Minikoi ; cultivated and a very common
escape, Hleming !

A native of Africa, cultivated generally in the tropics for its oil, but
readily escaping and becoming naturalised, its presence in the uninhabited island.
of Bitra being an excellent instance of the readiness with which it runs wild. © It
is noteworthy that it was not present in Bitra when Mr, Hume visited . that
island in 1875.

URTICACE,

146. Ficus BENGALENSIS Linn., Hort. Cliff. 471,n. 4; King im Hook.
f., Flor. Brit. Ind., v, 499. #. indica Linn., Amoen, Acad, (ed. ili), i, 27, n.
6; Roxb., Flor. Ind., 11, 539. The Banyan.

Améni ; planted, Hwme. Kadamum ; four trees seen in the neighbourhood
of some deserted huts, from their arrangement in a row evidently planted,
Fleming. Minikoi ; planted, Fleming.

Planted generally throughout India, wild on the lower slopes of the Himalayas
and of the Deccan hills.

147, Ficus retusa Linn., Mantiss. 129; King im Hook. f., Flor.
Brit. Ind., v, 511. F. Benjamina Willd., Sp. Pl., iv, 1148 ; Roxb., Flor. Ind.,
iii, 550 nec Linn.

var. nitida King, Ficus, 50; Hook. f., Flor. Brit. Ind., v, 511.
F. mitida Thunbg, Ficus 14.

Minikoi ; Fleming !

A large tree common throughout Eastern and South-Eastern Asia and
extending to New Caledonia. Mr. Fleming does not note if the tree be planted
in Minikoi. It is possible that it may be, but as its figs are a favourite food
with many of the migratory fruit-pigeons, there is no reason why it should not
be a “ wild” bird-introduced species.

148. ARTocarPuS rncIsA Forst., Pl. Hscul. 23; Roxb., Flor. Ind., iti,
527; Hook. f., Flor. Brit. Ind., v, 5389 ; Watt, Dict.,i,330. The Bread-
Frut Tree.

Kiltén ; does not thrive well, Robinson; not much appreciated, Hume ;
Alcock. Améni; grows most luxuriantly, Robinson, Hume. Anderut ; culti-
vated largely, Alcock. Akati; only one tree, in a garden, Fleming ! Minikoi ;
cultivated, Mleming /

A native of Polynesia and Eastern Malaya, occasionally cultivated in the
hotter parts of India, ‘The Laccadive Archipelago must be near the northern

BOTANY OF THE LACCADIVES. 65

limit of its successful cultivation, a fact that is corroborated by the evidence
given above of the want of success, and the small extent, of its cultivation in
important islands like Kiltén and. Akati.

149, ARTocaRPUS INTEGRIFOLIA Linn. f., Suppl. 412; Roxb., Flor.
TInd., ti, 522 ; Hook. f., Flor. Brit, Ind., v, 541 ; Watt, Dict.,i, 330. The
Jack-frut.

Anderut ; a stately-looking tree, with dark green foliage not unlike the
broad-leafed elm, Waod.

Dr. King, to whose attention the passage in Lieut. Wood’s paper has been
brought, suggests that the notice refers most probably to the Jack. 'The tree is
generally cultivated throughout the hotter parts of India and Indo-China and
throughout Malaya ; it is said by Beddome to be truly wild in the Western
Ghats above the Malabar Coast. That its cultivation should not have spread
in the Laccadives is not at all surprising; doubtless the islanders generally view
the Jack, as those of Kiltan, according to Mr. Hume (Stray Feathers, iv, 437),
regard the Bread-fruit : trees that are all very well in their way, but consider-
ing that, instead of fruiting all the year round like the coco-nut, they all flower
and fruit together, and their fruiting season lasts at the outside only two months
out of twelve, they are hardly worth the trouble of propagating.

150. Pouzolzia indica Gaud. : Wedd. 7m DC. Prodr., xvi, pt. i, 220 ;
Hook. f., Flor. Brit. Ind., v, 581. Urtica suffruticosa Roxb., Flor. Ind., iii,
os4,

var. typica. P. indica Gaud. in Freycinet, Voy., Bot. 503.

Kalpéni ; Alcock! Kiltan ; Fleming ! Akati; Fleming } Kadamum ; Fleming !
Minikoi ; Fleming +

A weed of cultivation common throughout tropical and subtropical Eastern
and South-Eastern Asia.

var. alienata Wedd. in DC. Prodr., xvi, pt. i, 221. P. alienata Gand.
om Freycinet, Voy., Bot. 503,
Minikoi ; Mleming !
A common Indian form of the same weed.

REonocotyledones.
ScITAMINEZ.

151. Musa Saprentum Linn., Syst. Veg. (ed. x), ii, 1303; Roxb., Flor.
Ind., i, 663 ; Watt, Dict. v, 290. 'The Plantain.

Anderut ; cultivated, Wood, Améni; cultivated, Robinson. Kiltan ; cultivated,
Hume. Kadamum ; four plants seen near some deserted huts, evidently planted,
Fleming. Minikoi ; cultivated, Fleming.

9

66 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. Viii.

AMARYLLIDEZ.

152. Pancratium zeylanicum Linn., Sp, Pl. 290; Roxb., Flor.
Ind., ii, 124 ; Hook. f., Flor. Brit. Ind., vi, 285.

Minikoi ; Fleming.

India, Ceylon, Malaya.

153, Agave vivipara Linn., Sp, Pl, 823, A. Cantula Roxb., Flor.
Ind., ii, 1€7 ; Watt, Dict., i, 148. The Bastard American Aloe,

Anderut ; cultivated, Alcock, Kiltan ; introduced from the mainland and
erows well, Meming.

A native of America, cultivated and naturalised in most warm countries,

TACCACEA,

154, TaccA PINNATIFIDA Forst., Plant. Escul. 59 ; Roxb., Flor. Ind., ii,
172. The South-Sea Taro ; vernac, “ teerny,” Robinson,

Anderut ; cultivated, Wood, Alcock. Chitlac ; cultivated, Robinson. Akati ;
cultivated, Fleming ! Minikoi ; cultivated, Mleming !

A littoral species common on South-Hastern Asiatic and Polynesian coasts,
but also extending inland either asa wild or cultivated species. Though a
very common species on the Andaman coasts, the plant is here only found as a
cultivated one.

DIOSCcOREACEZ,

155. Dioscorea bulbifera Linn., Sp. Pl. 1033. Wild Yam.

Minikoi ; Fleming !

A common species in a wild state throughout India, Indo-China, and Malaya;
possibly conspecific with the next. Mr. Fleming does not note if itisa
cultivated or a wild species. It is sometimes cultivated, and beth the root and
leaf-tubers are eaten. The latter are also in Ceylon used. as a fish-bait,

156. Droscorea sativa Linn., Sp. Pl. 1033; Watt, Dict., iii, 183, The
Garden Yom.

Améni ; cultivated, Robinson, Hume. Cultivated generally in the tropics,
native country unknown, There are no specimens either in Mr, Hume’s or
in Dr. Alcock’s collection, and it is, therefore, not impossible that it is not
D, sativa but D, bulbifera that is grown in Améni.

LILIACEZ.

157. Gloriosa superba Linn., Sp. Pl. 305 ; Roxb., Flor, Ind., ii, 148,

Anderut ; plentiful, Alcock /

Wild throughout South-Eastern Asia, but also often cultivated as an orna-
mental plant, and on account of the poisonous properties reputed to reside in its

BOTANY OF THE LACCADIVES. 67

roots. It is not cultivated, however, in Anderut, and as it is a common littoral
species throughout the Andamans and Nicobars, it is here quite possibly a sea-
introduced species.

CoMMELYNE,

158. neilema ovalifolium Hook. f., ee C. B. Clarke im DC.
Monogr, Phan., iii, 218.

Minikoi ; Mleming !

A herbaceous weed of jungles and grassy places confined to Southern India.

159. Cyanotis cristata Roem. & Schult., Syst., vii, 1150. Comme-
tina cristata Linn., Sp. Pl. 42. Zradescantia imbricata Roxb., Flor. Ind.,
i, 120.

Kadamum ; Fleming ! Kiltén ; in grass along with Leucas aspera, Fleming !
Minikoi ; on ground and also epiphytic on Cocos nucifera, Fleming !

A weed of grassy places in the Mascarene Islands, India and Malaya.

PaLMEA,

160. ARrzca Catecnu Linn., Sp. Pl. 1189 ; Roxb., Flor. Ind., ii, 615 ;
Watt, Dict., i, 291. The Betel-nut Palm.

Améni; cultivated, Robinson, Hume. Anderut ; cultivated, Wood, Alcock.
Kiltan ; does not thrive, Robison. Minikoi ; cultivated, Fleming.

Cultivated in tropical countries. ,

161. Cocos nuciFERA Linn., Sp. Pl. 1188; Roxb., Flor. Ind., iti, 614.
The Coco-nut Palin.

Améni; Robinson, Hume. Anderut ; Wood, Alcock, Akati; Mleming.
Bangaro ; Hume. Bitrapar; Robinson, Hume, Chitlac ; of slow growth and
not productive, Robinson. Kadamum ; Robinson, Hume, Fleming. Kalpéni,
Alcock. Kiltan ; Robinson, Hume, Alcock, Fleming. Korati ; Hume, Minikoi ;
Hleming.

Lieut. Wood’s list gives the coco-nut as present on all the islands except
Kalpéni Féti and Akati Féti, which are mentioned as mere sand-banks, but the
send-banks of Pirmalla and Pittiand the coral islets on Cherbaniani and—if,
indeed, there are islets there—on Cheriapani reefs are quite devoid of vegetation,
and if visited at all by the islanders are visited for the purposes of fishing or ege-
collecting, not for coco-nuts and coir. Bitra, however, which is uninhabited ,has
coco-nuts and is visited on account of these by people from the northern islands,
The coco-nuts there, from their position as described by Robinson and Hume
and from the accounts of the people, are evidently only planted. Bangéro and
(apparently) Tangdro, two uninhabited islands on the Akati reef, have coco-nuts
clearly, from Hume’s account of the former, sea-introduced and not planted.
Whether there are coco-nuts on Suheli is not clear; according to Wood’s list,

68 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

they occur, but the people misinformed him concerning so many of the other
islands, that till there is direct evidence, the point must remain doubtful.

The question whether the appearance of the coco-nut in this archipelago
preceded that of man, or if the first settlers there did not rather take the
coco-nut with them, is one that it is somewhat difficult to answer. 'The species
is pretty certainly indigenous in the Malay countries and, perhaps, Polynesia,
and seems to have spread thence to India, the Mascarene Islands and
Africa. It occurs also in America, but the question—which has been seriously
discussed—as to whether it found its way to the New World from the Old or vice
versa, has not yet been satisfactorily answered. The introduction of the coco-
nut into Ceylon at all events has been in all probability a deliberate act, and, as
M. de Candolle reminds us (Origin of Cultivated Plants, p. 435), at a period so
recent as to be almost historical. That the geographical extension of the tree is
largely due to human agency does not admit of question, but that it has been in
every place where it occurs intentionally introduced, it is neither possible nor
necessary to believe. Its fruits are highly capable of ocean-distribution and form
a constant feature of ocean-drifts on tropical shores, and it is one of the earliest
Species to appear on newly emerged coral or volcanic tropical islands,

Ag regards the Laccadives, if man did not first settle there on account of
coco-nut trees being already present, it is difficult to conceive what he went
there for ; the surface is not adequate, nor are the conditions favourable for
extensive cereal or pulse cultivation, and as for a certain period of the year
the people have to take their boats away from the islands to places of safety on the
Malabar Coast, it is clear that fishing could never have been a general or con-
stant industry among them. On the other hand, the coco-nut is in the strictest
sense a cultivated species on all the inhabited islands, and is a planted species
even in Bitra which, on account of its want of a water-supply, is only a visited
island ; and though in Bangdro it is not cultivated or planted, this island may
have only been stocked by nuts from Akati, the main island on the same atoll,
subsequently to a deliberate introduction of the species into Akati itself.

Still the state of affairs in Bangdro proves that the tree here can be,
at least locally, sea-dispersed ; and taking into account the uninvitine ap-
pearance that the islands must offer, were they destitute of coco-nuts, one cannot
but think it probable that the species reached the archipelago independently
of human agency and prior to human settlement, while the necessity for
constant renewal and, as the population increased, for planting to the greatest
advantage, has insured that now in all the inhabited islands none but cultivated
trees are to be found.

In most of the islands it is deemed necessary to raise the seedling coco-nuts
with care and attention till they are a year old, when they are transplanted and

BOTANY OF THE LACCADIVES. 69

watered for a few weeks till they become firmly established. After this the
young trees are left entirely to themselves, and are neither watered nor manured ;
they come into bearing in Kiltan in from 8 to 10 years, and produce fruit so
vigorously and. plentifully that it is sometimes necessary to support the luxuriant
growth of nuts artificially *; in this island, moreover, the preliminary attention
to seedlings is not required.

In some of the other islands, as in Chitlac, where the soil is much poorer, the
trees do not come into bearing till they are 15 to 20 years old, each tree at best
producing only about 50 nuts per annum as against 80 to 85 nuts a year in
Kiltin, In Kadamum, too, backward though the cultivation in that island is,
the average per annum is about 80 nuts per tree; in Améni, where the
cultivation is almost as extensive asin Kiltsin, the average is only about 60
nuts a year from each tree. These figures are given. by Robinson, after care-
ful and prolonged enquiry, as representing the yield in 1844 and 1845; Hume
gives the average all over for the four British islands in 1875 at 80 nuts per
tree per annum}t—doubtless rather a high general estimate, though probably
representing the yield of what the people in any of the islands would themselves
consider a good tree. Robinson thinks that 60 to 70 nuts would be a pretty
fair general average for the whole of these islands, and this is likely to be nearer
the truth than the higher estimate. 'The islanders try to plant only /irst class
trees, and they aim at obtaining such as will come into full bearing in about
10 years, throwing out every month after that age is reached a fruiting-spike
bearing 15 to 20 nuts, and so yielding 180 to 250 nuts a year, and going on
bearing at this rate till they are 60 years old. They often do go on bearing, it
is said, till they are 70 or 80 years of age, and some are believed by the people
to be more than a century old, But a tree that produces a fruiting-spike every
month is quite a rarity ; 9 to 10 fruiting branches are all that can be hoped for
in twelve months, and from accidents and casualties among the nuts, 8 to 10
a Spike is a very high average of nuts. Indeed, it is only trees with an eastern
exposure and trees growing in the Aa in the centre of the islands that yield
so highly ; those with a south-westerly exposure or those on the drier parts of
the best islands yield as poorly as those of Chitlac, where the conditions, as a
whole, are unfavourable,

There is very little exportation of coco-nuts from the islands, much the
greater portion of the crop being required for home consumption. As, more-
over, the great product of the islands is coir, not coco-nuts, an immense propor-
tion. of the crop is gathered before the nuts are perfectly ripe and before the
kernel is in the best condition for yielding oil. If allowed to remain on the

* Robinson, Madras Journal, n. s, xiv, 24,
t ‘Stray Feathers,” iv, 410.

70 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

tree for twelve or thirteen months, which is the time required for perfect
ripening, the husk becomes hard and woody and the coir difficult to separate
from the woody particles, requiring longer soaking in its preparation, which
darkens its colour and spoils it for the market ; being harder and coarser, too,
it becomes, though not weaker than the best coir ought to be, much more diffi-
cult to twist. If, on the other hand, the nuts are gathered too soon, the coir
obtained, though excellent in colour and easy to manipulate, is too weak for
yarn, though quite good for minor purposes, such asa stuffing material for
ma xttresses.

The proper age of nuts for coir-making is ten months; at the end of the
tenth month they are cut and husked, the husks being thrown into soaking-pits,
where they are left for a year. These soaking-pits are simply holes in the sand
on the lagoon-shore of the various islands, in which the husks are buried and
covered over by heaps of coral-blocks to protect them from the ripple of the
waves. After twelve months’ soaking the husks are taken from the pits and the
coir is separated from the refuse of the husk by beating. If taken out earlier, it
is very difficult to rid the coir of impurities and woody particles; if left longer,
the fibre is found to be weakened. In Améni, where, as has been said, the
island occupies the whole lagoon-space, and there is, therefore, no protected
seashore suitable for coir-soaking, the husks have to be buried in pits dug
through the coral-crust within the body of the island. ‘The coir is here, there-
fore, soaked in fresh, instead of salt water, one result of which is that the Améni
coir is weaker than that produced in the other islands; this is, no doubt, the
result of the action of some of the products of decomposition in the water of
these tanks, A further effect of this method of soaking is a discolouration of the
fibre, for the water in the tanks never being changed becomes foul and dark-
coloured by the decaying vegetable matter, and imparts this tinge to the coir.
The two effects taken together, or perhaps rather the second, used by the buyer
as an index of the first, renders Améni coir a less marketable product than
the coir of the other islands and reduces it to the level of most of the coir
manufactured on the Malabar Coast itself, which is practically all made in this
way, protected seashores on which to bury the husks being exceedingly rare
except within the lagoons of coral islands.

In separating the coir after the beating by sticks to break up the adhesion and
remove impurities, the coir is hand-rubbed, chiefly by the women, to remove the
woody tissue between the fibres. It is then rolled into loose pads as thick as
one’s finger by the palms of the hands before being twisted into yarn, of which
two strands are made at once.*

* J. Shortt, F.L.8, ; Monograph of the Coco-nut-palm, p. 16, Madras, 1888.

BOTANY OF THE LACCADIVES. 71

The yield of fibre is estimated by Robinson at one pound of coir from each
10 nuts, giving 35 fathoms of yam. He adds* that “2 Ibs. of such yarn,
“measuring from 70 to 75 fathoms, are made up into soodies, of which there are
“fourteen to a bundle, averaging about a maund of 28 Ibs. A Mangalore candy
“of 560 lbs, will, therefore, be the produce of 5,600 nuts, and should contain
“ about 20,000 fathoms of yarn.”

In contrast with this yield, Robinson mentions that it takes only three of the
large coarse coast nuts to yield a pound of coir, but that this coir will only
produce 22 fathoms. A ton of Laccadive coir will thus produce 80,000 fathoms
of yarn as against 50,000 yielded by a ton of Malabar coir,

By Mr. Robinson’s figures, it will take over 20,000 nuts (22,400) to yield a
ton of coir, which should produce 784,000 fathoms of yarn. Mr. Hume (Stray
Feathers, iv, 440) says it takes about 80,000 nuts to yield a ton of coir,

Tt is clear from what hag been written regarding the Laccadives that they
yield by far the best coir produced in India, and it will be equally evident from
what has been said here that their superiority lies altogether in the facilities for
Sea-soaking offered by their lagoons, Yet from all the information that a
consultation of the ordinary trade returns will yield, an enquirer into them
might, as Watt remarks,t conclude that the Laccadives export no coir, In trade
returns the Laccadive coir from British Islands is given along with that from
the Malabar Coast, and in European markets the best Malabar or Indian coir
is spoken of as Cochin coir. As a matter of fact, little coir comes from Cochin,
and it does not present any features peculiar to itself or Superior to those of coir
from other parts of Malabar. What the European merchant means by Cochin
coir is pretty certainly Laccadive coir. Even when the coir is known to be from
the Laccadives,some misunderstanding is produced by its being spoken of as Kiltan
coir or Améni coir. As a matter of fact, Kiltén coir has not quite the local
reputation of either Chitlac or Kadamum coir, whereas Améni coir is distinctly
inferior to that produced in any of the other British islands, The application of
the term Améni coir to the best qualities arises from two circumstances—the fact
that the island of Améni is one of the largest and often gives its name Amendivi
to the whole group, and that, till quite recently, the lower caste people of
Kadamum, where excellent coir is produced, were in some degree subject to
their higher caste neighbours of Améni, and were compelled to ship their
produce to the mainland in Améni boats,

Besides coir manufacture, a certain amount of coarse sugar (jaggery) manu-
facture is carried on, not at all extensively, however, in the British islands, since

* Robinson, Madras Journal, n. s., xiv, 16.
Tt Dict. Econom, Products of India, ii, 421.

72 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VILL.

the higher prices given for their coir render its manufacture more profitable
to the people. In the Cannanore Islands, where coir is under monopoly and the
Cannanore Raj gives much poorer prices for that article than the inhabitants of
the British islands obtain, large quantities of jaggery are produced both for
home consumption and for export to the people on the British islands, the
chief islands in which it is manufactured being, according to Robinson, those
of Anderut and Korati,

PANDANEZ.

162. Pandanus odoratissimus Linn. f., Suppl. 424; Roxb., Flor.
Ind., ii, 738 ; Balf. f., Jour. Linn. Soc., xvii, 54.

Bangaro ; abundant, Hume. Kadamum ; very abundant, Hume. Améni ;
Hume. Kiltan ; only a few plants, Hume. Kalpéni; Alcock. Minikoi ; Fe-
ming ! a regular sea-fence of this plant surrounds the island, Hamilton.

A littoral species extending from the Indian Coasts to Malaya, Australia
and Polynesia.

Tn the Laccadive Islands proper there is not, in densely peopled and carefully
planted islands like Kiltan, more than the merest remnant of a Pandanus sea-fence
left, though in uninhabited islands like Bangaro and in partially occupied ones
like Kadamum, it is well represented. But, curiously enough, it is quite absent
from the uninhabited island of Bitra, where also Cocos nucifera does not occur as
a littoral and sea-introduced species. In Minikoi, however, where the island is
fully occupied and carefully planted, the Pandanus sea-fence has been allowed to
remain as a belt all round the island. ‘This belt of jungle harbours an immense
number of rats (Mus rattus VAR. rufescens)*, which here, as in the other islands,
prove very destructive to the coco-nut crop. Captain Wentworth Hamilton,
Port Officer of Gopalpur, who commanded the 8. 8. ‘“ Martha Heathcote”
during a recent official visit to Minikoi, informed thewriterin 1889 that
the disturbances which led to the visit arose out of a Government order
to cut down this jungle and, by removing their shelter, to render possible
a systematic attempt to exterminate the rats. The populace objected most
strongly to the order, on the ground that this belt of jungle is the abode of
evil spirits that would be certain, were their domain invaded, to retaliate by
bringing misfortune on the island. Minikoi, as has been already said, though
Laccadive as to political connection, and as much Laccadive as Maldive as
to situation, has a Maldive population ; there is no evidence of superstition
So gross among the Mappila population of the other Laccadives; at all
events, they do not appear to have any scruples about clearing away the Pan-
danus belt.

* Hume, “ Stray Feathers,” iv, 433.

BOTANY OF THE LACCADIVES. 73

AROIDEA.

163. Colocasia antiquorum Schott: Engler m DC., Monoer,
Phanerog., ii, 491.
var. typica. C. antiquorum Schott, Meletem. i, 18. <Arwm Colocasia
Linn., Sp. Pl. 965; Roxb., Flor. Ind., iii, 494. The Kachu or
Indian Taro.

Améni ; cultivated, Hume. Anderut ; cultivated, Alcock. Kalpéni ; both
cultivated and wild, Alcock! Kiltaén; wild, Mleming. Kadamum; wild,
Fleming. Akati ; wild, Fleming. Minikoi; wild, Fleming.

A native of India, cultivated in nearly all tropical and subtropical countries.
There is little doubt that this has been intentionally introduced ; it receives,
however, slight attention in any of the islands, and in nearly everyone of them
it has established itself as a weed.

CYPERACEZE,

164. Cyperus hyalinus Vahl, Enum, ii, 329; Clarke, Ind.
Cyperus 46.

Kadamum ; Fleming !

A very rare South Indian weed.

165. Cyperus polystachyus Rottb., Descr. et Ic. 39, t, 11, f.1;
Roxb., Flor. Ind., i, 193 ; Clarke, Ind, Cyperus 51.

Minikoi ; Fleming !

A cosmopolitan tropical and subtropical weed, especially in islands and on
sea-shores.

166. Cyperus compressus Linn., Sp. Pl. 46; Roxb., Flor. Ind.,
i, 194 ; Clarke, Ind. Cyperus 97.

Kalpéni ; Alcock /

A cosmopolitan tropical weed.

167, Cyperus pachyrrhizus Nees ex Boeck. im Linnea, xxxv,
545 ; Clarke, Ind. Cyperus 111.

Bitrapar ; Hume! Fleming! Kadamum ; Fleming! Bangaro ; Hume !

A littoral species, confined to the coasts of India, Mr. Clarke, however, in
a letter to the writer, in which he has kindly criticised the former Laccadive
List, states that in Dr, Trimen’s opinion the purely maritime C. pachyrrhizus
cannot be specifically distinguished from C. conglomeratus (Rotth., Descr. et
Tc,, 21, t. 15, £. 7 ; Clarke, Ind. Cyperus, 112), a plant occurring in the deserts
of North-East Africa and South-West Asia (Nubia, Arabia, Syria, Socotra,
Beluchistan).

168. Cyperus pennatus Lamk i Poir., Encyc, Meth., vii, 240 ;
Clarke, Ind, Cyperus 194,

10

74 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

Anderut ; Alcock 1 Kalpéni ; Alcock ! Akati ; Fleming ! Minikoi ; Fleming !

A littoral and estuarine species, extending from the Mascarene Islands to
India, Malaya and North Australia.

169. Cyperus dubius Rottb., Descr. et Ic. 20, t. 4, f.5; Roxb.,
Flor. Ind., i, 189 ; Clarke, Ind. Cyperus 197.

Minikoi ; Mleming !

A littoral species, extending from Indo- China and Malaya to India, Ceylon,
the Mascarene Islands and the African Coast.

170. Kyllinga brevifolia Rottb., Descr. et Ic. 13, t. 4, f. 3.

Minikoi ; in the sward underneath the coat trees, Planing. !

Cosmopolitan in the tropics.

171. Fimbristylis diphylla Vahl. Enum., ii, 289. Scirpus
miliaceus Roxb., Flor. Ind., i, 227.

Kalpéni ; Alcock /

The solitary specimen is not a good one, and the identification is not absolute-
ly certain, ‘The plant is, however, not any of the other Cyperacec enumerated.

Common on seashores and in wet places throughout the tropics.

GRAMINEZ,

172. Panicum sanguinale Linn., Sp. Pl. 57.
var. ciliare. LP. ciliare Retz., Obs., iv, 16 ; Roxb., Flor. Ind., i., 293.

Akati ; dwarfed specimens, Fleming ! Minikoi ; very abundant, Fleming /

Cosmopolitan in the tropics ; the variety present here seems, however, confined
to the Eastern Hemisphere.

173. Oplismenus Burmanni Beauv., Agrost., 54. Panicum Bur-
manni Retz., Obs., tii, 10 ; Roxb., Flor. Ind., 1, 298.

Akati ; ieweny ! Kadamum ; Fleming! Kiltén; HMeming ! Minikoi ;
Fleming ! Everywhere abundant, as is the next species.

Cosmopolitan in tropical and subtropical countries.

174. Oplismenus compositus Roem. & Schult., Syst., ii, 484.
Panicum compositum Linn., Sp. Pl, 57. P. lanceolatum Roxb, Flor. Ind., i,
294.

Améni; Hume! Akati; Fleming ! Minikoi ; Fleming !

Widely distributed throughout the tropics of the old world.

175. Setaria verticillata Beauv., Agrost., 51. Panicum verticil-
latum Linn., Sp. Pl. (ed. ii) 82 ; Roxb., Flor. Ind, i, 301.

Améni ; a crop, vernac. “ badag,” Robinson. Bangaro ; Hume / Kadamum ;
Fleming ! Kiltén ; Fleming! If cultivated at the time of Mr. Robinson’s visit
(1844), apparently not cultivated when Mr, Hume was at the Laccadives (1875) ;
its presence in the uninhabited island of Bangéro indicates, moreover, that

BOTANY OF THE LACCADIVES. 75

here, as elsewhere, the species is one that readily becomes established as a
weed.

Cosmopolitan in the tropics.

176. Thuarea sarmentosa Pers., Synops., i, 110.

Bangaro ; Hume! Kadamum ; Fleming! Minikoi ; Fleming !

A littoral species, extending from the shores of Polynesia to Malaya, the
Andamans and Nicobars, Ceylon (Thwaites 0. P. 2260), the Laccadives, and the
Mascarene Islands. As with a number of other littoral species exhibiting the
same distribution, this has not yet been collected on the coast of the Indian
mainland.

177. Spinifex squarrosus Linn., Mantiss., 300.

Bitrapar ; everywhere in huge patches inside the belt of Zpomea biloba,
Hume ! Minikoi ; Fleming !

A littoral species found on the Western Indian Coast from Canara (Thomson)
to Malabar (Aheede) and on the east from Puri (Clarke) and Gopalpur (Prain) to
Madras (Wight) and Ceylon (Thwaites). Besides extending to the Laccadives, it
occurs in Java (Kurz), Siam (Schomburgk), and China (Hance). But in the
Calcutta Herbarium there are no specimens from Burma, the Malay Peninsula,
the Andamans or the Nicobars. The headquarters of the genus is Australia,
where several species occur; and if this species has originally come from the
south-east to India, it has apparently only reached the western, not the eastern,
side of the Sea of Bengal, first perhaps reaching Ceylon, whence it has crept
northward along both the coasts of the Indian Peninsula. Why it should not
have become dispersed northward from Java, along the coasts of Sumatra, the
Nicobars and Andamans to Burma, it is difficult to conceive.

178. Oryza sativa Linn., Sp. Pl, 833; Roxb., Flor. Ind., ii, 200 ;
Watt, Dict., v, 498. The Rice crop.

Anderut ; a small quantity of rice is grown in the rainy season, not more
than 15 or 20 days’ consumption, Wood.

Generally cultivated throughout the tropics ; probably originally a native of
India, where it often occurs, as Roxburgh says he has himself seen it in the
Circars, in a truly wild state, that is, mot as an escape from cultivation. It
occurs thus, for example, in the Sunderbuns along with another species (Oryza
coarctata Roxb., Flor. Ind., ii, 206), which is perfectly distinct from O. sativa
in any of its forms, is never found anywhere else than in the Sunderbuns, and
of which no use whatever is made.

The notice by Lieut, Wood is the only intimation of the Laccadive islanders
cultivating the rice crop ; but though they do not apparently attempt to grow
it now, there is no reason to suppose that Wood was misinformed or mistaken.
For though Robinson does not mention rice as a crop in 1844-45—it will be

76 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, VIII.

noted that he did not visit Anderut then—he gives a circumstantial account of
the cultivation of certain millets and pulses in Améni and Kadamum, but says
that in Chitlac field-cultivation was then quite insignificant and that in Kiltan
it had given way altogether before the planting of coco-nut trees. Writing
thirty years later, Mr. Hume says* that “in former days a certain amount of
“ millets used to be grown in all the islands; now, even in Améni, little or
“none appears to be cultivated, and the people are wholly dependent for their
“ supplies on the mainland, whence they bring, not only rice, but tobacco and
“ salt, which, curiously enough, never seems to have been manufactured on the
*‘ islands, the people being allowed to get duty-free salt from Goa.”

In Anderut, judging from Dr. Alcock’s brief notice of the island, there
appears to be even to this day more cereal cultivation than in most of the other
islands ; still he does not speak of rice as being grown, and says that the staple
crop is ragi (Hleusine Coracana).

179. Saccharum oFFIoINARUM Linn., Sp. Pl 54; ney. Flor. Ind., i,
237.

Minikei ; cultivated, Mlemmyg.

Cultivated throughout the tropics.

180. Eschaemum ciliare Retz., Obs., vi, 36. JZ. tenellum Roxb.,
Flor. Ind., i, 323.

Kalpéni; Alcock! Akati; Fleming! Bitrapar; Mleming! Kadamum ;
Fleming ! Kiltan ; Fleming! Everywhere very plentiful.

Confined to China, India and Indo-China.

181. Ischaemum muticum Linn., Sp. Pl. 1049. JZ. repens, Roxb.,
Flor. Ind., i, 323.

Kalpéni ; Alcock ! Minikoi ; Fleming !

Extends from 8. E. Asia to Australia and Western Polynesia ; is very common
on the coast in the Andamans and Nicobars.

182. Andropogon contortus Linn., Sp. Pl. 1045; Roxb., Flor.
Ind., i, 253.

Kiltan ; Alcock ! Kadamum ; very plentiful, Fleming /

A common grass of dry places, cosmopolitan in the tropics.

183. ANDROPOGON MURICATUS Retz. Obs., ii, 48; Roxb., Flor. Ind., i,
265 ; Watt, Dict., i, 245. The Ahus-khus grass,

Kiltan ; a little clump found growing near the mosque, Meming !

Cosmopolitan in the tropics ; here probably introduced. Haeckel (DC., Monogr:
Phamerog., Vi., 542) identifies A. muricatus Retz. with A. squarrosus Linn, f., but
omits to cite Roxburgh’s description of the Khus-khus grass or to gay whether

* “Stray Feathers,” iv, 441.

BOTANY OF THE LACCADIVES. 17

in his opinion A. squarrosus is, or is not, the Khus-khus. There can, of course,
be no possibility of doubt as to the grass intended by Roxburgh, though there
may be some as to the identity of Roxburgh’s plant with that of Retzius.

184, SorGHUM VULGARE Pers., Synops-, i, 101. Andropogon Sorghum
Roxb., Flor. Ind., i, 269. The Sorghum, vernac. “ Jowa.”

Améni ; cultivated, Robinson. Kadamum ; cultivated, Robinson. Minikoi ;
grows well, but very little cultivated, Fleming.

Cultivated throughout warm countries.

185. Apluda aristata Linn., Amoen. Acad., iv, 303; Roxb.,
Flor, Ind., i, 324.

Kadamum ; filling all the outskirts of the jungle, Home! Minikoi; very
abundant, Hleming !

In woods and hedges throughout South-Eastern Asia.

186. Cynodon Dactylon Pers., Synops.,i, 85. Panicum Dactylon
Linn., Sp. Pl. 58 ; Roxb., Flor. Ind., i, 289.

alpen: Alcock !

Cosmopolitan in the tropics. The plant from Bangaro, referred with clone to
this species by Mr. Hume (Stray Feathers, iv 452), is in reality Thuarea
sarmentosa.

187. HEleusine Zgyptiaca Pers., Synops. i, 82; Roxb., Flor.
Ind., i, 344.

Améni ; Hume! Kadamum ; Fleming !

A cosmopolitan tropical weed of cultivation.

188. ELEUSINE CoRACANA Gaertn., Fruct., i, 8, t. 1, f. 11; Roxb.,
Flor. Ind., i, 843 ; Watt, Dict., iii, 237. The Ragi crop; the Marua Millet.

Améni; Robinson. Anderut; Alcock. Kadamum ; Robinson. Kalpéni ;
Alcock ! Minikoi ; Fleming !

A field crop in India, Egypt and Japan.

189. EHleusine indica Gaertn., Fruct.,i, 8 ; Roxb., Flor. Ind., i, 345.

Minikoi ; Fleming !

A cosmopolitan tropical species, occurring as a weed in waste places and on
waysides,

190. Eragrostis plumosa Steud., Gram., i, 266. #. tenella Trin.
var. plumosa Trin., Act. Petrop, vi, i, 898. Poa slumosa Retz, Obs., iv, 20 ;
Roxb., Flor. Ind., i, 327. P. tenella Linn, VaR, Spreng., Syst. Veg.,
a BLS

VAR. typica,

Kalpéni ; Alcock ! Akati ; Fleming ! Kadamum ; Fleming ! Kultén ; Flem-
ing! Minikoi ; Fleming /

VAR, panculis fastiquatis,

78 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

Akati; Fleming! Kadamum ; Fleming! Minikoi ; Fleming ! —

A common grass in Indian fields and waste places.

191. Lepturus repens R. Br., Prodr. Flor. Noy. Holl., i, 207.

Bangéro ; Hume! Bitrapar ; Fleming ! Minikoi ; Fleming /

A littoral species, extending from Polynesia and Australia fo Ceylon, the
Laccadives and the Mascarene Islands.

CRYPTOGAMIA.

LYCOPODIACEA.

192, Psilotum triquetrum Swartz, Syn. Fil, 117; Baker, Fern
Allies, 30.

Minikoi ; Fleming !

Cosmopolitan in the tropics.

FILICES.

193. Nephrodium molle Desv., Mem. Soc. Linn., vi, 258 ; Bedd.,
Ferns of Brit. Ind., 277. Polypodium parasiticum Linn., Sp. Pl. (ed. ii) 1551.
P. proliferum Roxb., Flor. Ind. (ed, Clarke), 752.

Anderut ; Alcock !

Cosmopolitan in the tropics.

194. IWephrolepis cordifolia Presl., Tent. Pterid. 79; Bedd.,
Ferns of Brit. Ind., 282. Polypodium cordifolium Linn., Sp. Pl. (ed. ii) 1549.

Anderut ; Alcock /

‘Cosmopolitan in the tropics.

CHARACEAK,

195. Chara sp., Alcock, Adm. Rep. Marine Survey, 1891-92, p. 10.

Akati ; in fresh-water tanks, Alcock.

Unfortunately, no specimens were collected. It is not at all improbable that
Zanichellia palustris (Naiadacece) may be found associated with Chara in this
place ; it often is in similar localities.

MUSCTI.

196. Calymperes Dozyanum Mitt. in Journ. Linn. Soc., iii,
Suppl. 42. ©. mollucense Dozy & Molk, Bryol. Jay., i, 47, t. 387, nec
Schwaegr.

Minikoi ; Alcock /

Extends from Samoa and the Admiralty Islands to the Philippines, Java, the
Andamans (Great Coco Island, where it is very plentiful), Ceylon, India (deste
Mitten /.c.) and Minikoi, where it is plentiful. It is the only moss reported

BOTANY OF THE LACCADIVES. » ie,

from the island ; Dr. Alcock, writing from the “ Investigator,” remarks .on the
presence of so much moss and fungus at Minikoi as compared with the other
islands, where there are hardly any fungi and there is apparently no moss, On
this point he adds :—“ But the island is near the equatorial belt of condensation.”

LICHENES.
(N. O. LicHENACEI.)

197. Physcia leucomela Michx, Flor. Bor. Am., ii, 356 ; Nyland.,
Synops. Lich., i, 414.

Minikoi ; on coco-nut trees, Alcock !

Cosmopolitan in tropical and temperate regions on tree trunks.

198. Physcia obscura Fries, Lich. Hur., 84; Nyland., Synops.
Lich., i, 427. Coe

Minikoi ; on coco-nut trees, Alcock !

Cosmopolitan on trees and rocks,

FUNGI.
(N. O. HyMENOMYCETES.)

199. Pleurotus cuneatus G. Massée, sp. mov. pileo carnosulo,
tenui, exacte laterali, flabelliformi postice in stipitem brevissimum producto,
glabro, albo ; lamellis decurrentibus, divergentibus, subconfertis, angustis, albis,
siccitate pallide ochraceis ; sporis ellipsoideis.

Minikoi ; on coco-nut trees, Alcock /

Nearest to Plewrotus scabrellus, Berk.

200. Pleurotus tenuissimus Jungh., Enum. Fung. Jay.

Minikoi ; on dead screw-pines, Alcock !

Java.

201. Schizophyllum commune Fries, Syst. Mycol., i, 330.

Kiltan ; on rotten branches of Ricinus communis, Fleming ! -

Cosmopolitan,

202. Polyporus sanguineus Fries, Epicris. 404,

Kadamum ; on decayed coco-nut stumps, Fleming! Minikoi; on dead
branches of screw-pine, Alcock /

Cosmopolitan in tropical and subtropical countries.

208. Polyporus igniarius Fries, Hymen. Eur., 559,

Minikoi ; Alcock /

Cosmopolitan, or nearly so.

204, Trametes Muelleri Berk., Jour. Linn, Soc., x, 320.

Minikoi ; Alcock /

Australia, Brazil.

80 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, VIII.

205. Hirneola polytricha Mont., Syllog. Gen. & Sp. Pl. Crypt., 181.
Minikoi ; “ from a wooden house-post,” Alcock /
Almost cosmopolitan in tropical and subtropical countries.

ALG Ai,

206. IWostoc verrucosum Vauch., Conf., 225.

Minikoi ; covering the ground in damp places, Alcock !

Cosmopolitan.

There are also some Marine Alege, at least in Minikoi on the reefs of the
weather-side of the island (Alcock, Adm. Rep., Marine Survey, 1891-92) ; of
these no specimens were collected.

CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF THE FLORA.

The list given above includes 206 species, representing 156 genera and 61.
natural orders ; 191 of the species are Phanerogams and only 15 are Crypto-
gams, giving a proportion of flowering to flowerless plants of about thirteen to
one; the percentages are :—

Phanerogams, 93° °/, ;
Cryptogams, 7° °/).

Of the Phanerogams 150 are Dicots and 41 are Monocots, the proportion here

being nearly four to one ; the percentages are :—
Dicotyledons, 78°5 °/, 3
Monocotyledons, 21°5 °/,.

Only three vascular cryptogams have been found in the Archipelago, with
only one moss, while at least one species of Chara occurs ; two-thirds of the
Cryptogams obtained are Fungi or Lichens. It ought not to be concluded,
because one of Fungi enumerated has as yet been reported only from Minikoi
that it is truly endemic in that island ; in all probability it will yet be found to
occur elsewhere. ‘The Marine Algee mentioned above will in all probability be
found when they are at length collected to belong to some of the commoner
Indian Ocean forms.

A synoptic view of the Flora is given in the table which follows :—

81

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82 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCTETY, Vol. VIIT,

Of the 60 natural orders, 28 are represented by only one species ; 10 by two
species ; 7 by three species. The most extensively represented natural orders
are Leguminose (21 sp.) and Graminee (20 sp.); followed by Muphorbiacece
(14 sp.) and Composite (10 sp.) ; Malvacee (9 sp.), Rubiacee and Cyperacece
-(each 8 sp.) ; Convolvulacece and Fungi (Hymenomycetes) (cach 7 sp.) ; Rutacec,

Cucurlitacee and Solanacee (each 6 sp.) ; Acanthacea and Urtwacee (each
5 sp.) ; Verbenaceac (4 sp.).

The land-mark height of the islands of the group is usually about 60 feet ;
none of them exceed this. Deducting, therefore, the 12 to 15 feet of coral forma-
tion that composes the islands, we find that none of the trees in the group are
more than 45 to 50 feet high. ‘The tallest trees, and those that in all, the

inhabited islands, except Kadamum, form at the same time the bulk of the
vegetation, are the coco-nuts, which are cultivated ; the majority of the
remaining arboreal forms are also cultivated species, most of them being fruit-
trees like Anona: muricata, Artocarpus incisa, Mangifera indica, Tamarindus
indica, or trees like Moringa pterygosperma, with an immediate, or, like Sesbana
grandiflora, with an indirect economic interest. There are only five arboreal
species that are at all likely to be truly “ indigenous” in the accepted sense of
the term; four of these—the Thespesia, the Calophyllum, the Pisonia and.
Terminalia Catappa—are probably sea-introduced, the fifth (Ficus nitida) is
perhaps a bird-introduced species ; four, however, as it happens, are known to
be planted by the inhabitants at least in some of the islands, though three of
them are undoubtedly “‘ wild’’ as well as planted.

In the interior of the majority of the islands there is no true jungle, the whole
cultivable area being occupied by coco-nut groves with small patches of garden- -
land (Kat); on this account there is, as might be expected, only a flora of
tropical cultivated species, with the usual tropical weeds of cultivation and Indian
garden escapes reported from the centre or the islands, and with some common
Indian Ocean littoral species from the sea-fence that lines the shore. In the
interior of the smaller uninhabited islands, such as Bitra and Bangdro, a dense
jungle does, indeed, exist ; it is, however, composed of littoral species that have
spread inward from the beach on both sides of the island till the two sea-fences
have met and coalesced in the middle, In these islands the jungle is shrubby,
hardly even subarboreal. The only island where there are considerable tracts of
unoccupied ground, and where a true interior jungle exists, is Kadamum. Here
also the jungle is of the nature of “ scrub,” and though there are present in it
some quite characteristic inland forms, such as Pavetia, Pleurostylia and
Flacourtia, which are not reported from the other islands, these do not exclusively
compose the central jungle; characteristically “littoral” species, Premna, Morinda
and the like, enter largely into its formation.

BOTANY OF THE LACCADIVES. 83

Only 47 species are woody, 20 of these being trees, 25 shrubs, and 2 climbers, Of
the 20 trees, 15 are cultivated species ; 4 of the remaining 5 are “littoral.” Of the
159 herbaceous species, 119 are herbs proper, 28 are climbers,and 12 are of the class
of ‘tree-herbs” or ‘ shrub-herbs” like JZusa or Carica end Agave or Calotropis.

From the nature of the group we are led to expect that none of the species are
really indigenous ; further, that the majority of the species must have been intro-
duced by man, and that next to human agency that of the sea has been most active.
Detailed examination confirms these anticipations, for we find that as many as
127 species (three-fifths of the whole flora) are species that have been introduced
by man. Of these, 52, or a fourth of the whole flora, are purely cultivated
plants ; 7 others that appear mostly in an apparently wild state are likewise cul-
tivated ; 4 that are cultivated occur occasionally as escapes. These figures refer
to plants grown for economic reasons, but there are 13 other species that are
“ oarden escapes’ in the more usual sense, being bright-flowered or sweet-smelling
' species originally grown deliberately. The remaining 64 species are mere weeds.

Of the balance, the larger moiety (41 species or one-fifth of the whole flora)
consists of “‘ littoral’? sea-introduced species; the remainder includes 9 marsh
or water species (a very small proportion of the flora) and 27 inland species.

The people of Minikoi cultivate 40 species as against 24 cultivated in Ameni,
18 in Anderut, 13 in Akati, 13 in Kiltén and11in Kadamum. The figures
for the other islands are not at all complete. Doubtless, for some of these they are
imperfect, but there is no reason to doubt that the numbers given are approxi-
mately true ; they place the islands in a series which accords very well with the
general accounts that have been given by those who have visited the islands, of
the relative wealth and comfort of the people.

The cultivation of most of the species is the direct result of the intercourse
of the people with the Indian mainland, perhaps the chief exception is their use
of the South Sea Islanders’ Taro (Tacca pinnatifida), Of the cultivated plants, 10
are originally American, 5 originally African, 2 originally Chinese, the rest either
Indian or Indo-Malayan ; the cultivation of nearly all the species is now, however,
cosmopolitan in the tropics.

The weeds, like the cultivated plants, are by no means evenly distributed
throughout the Archipelago. Of the whole 64 species, as many as 20 are reported
from only one island ; even if we allow for the possibility of a species having
been here and there overlooked, the proportion is very high. Without going
into too ereat detail, it may be noted that 8 of these weeds—one-eighth of the
weed-list-—are reported only from Minikoi ; more remarkable still, 31 species—
very nearly one-haif the ist—occur in one or other of Laccadives proper, but not
in Minikoi. The meaning of this is not very clear; it may be partly due to
there being no large waste area in Minikoi, as there is for instance in Kadamum;
perhaps, too, the people hold less intercourse with India than do those of the other

84 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII,

islands. That they do hold some may be surmised from the presence in
Minikoi of one species, Aneilema ovalifolium, which is found in India only, not
appearing even in Ceylon or in any of the other Laccadive Islands, It is, of
course, not impossible that this isa bird-introduced species, in which case its
peculiarly limited area of distribution is difficult to explain, As regards Kadamum,
the same remarks apply to the even more restricted Cyperus hyalinus ; perhaps,
however, this species may not be in South India so rare as we at present think.
So far as their general distribution goes, 26 (40 °/,) of the weeds are cosmo-
politan in the tropics—a few have not been reported from the Mascarene Islands,
though they occur in Africa itself ; other 10 are nearly cosmopolitan, being
present in both hemispheres—of these, 4 are absent from Polynesia, 2 from
Australia, 83 from Australia and Polynesia, and one, which is confined to
South-Hastern Asia and America, from Africa also. Altogether, therefore, 36
of these species, or 56 °/, of the weeds, occur in the tropics of both hemispheres,
Of the species absent from the new world, there are 2 which extend from the
Eastern Hemisphere to Polynesia, and 2 more that extend to Australia without
reaching Polynesia. As many as 11 species, or 17 °/, of the weeds, are come
mon to Africa and South-Eastern Asia ; but 4 of these are African only in the
sense that they occur as weeds, no doubt introduced from India, in Mauritius.
Of the whole, 13 species, or 20 °/, of the weeds, are confined to Asia ; all
of them occur in India, though it is noteworthy that no fewer than 9 of
them appear to be unknown in Ceylon ; this being so, we are not surprised to
find that 14 of them are unknown in Malay countries.
Considering next the species of the “ sylvestrian” class as opposed to those
introduced by human agency, we expect that as the islands appeared above
tea-level, they must first have afforded a footing for littoral species. Such
plants could scarcely in point of time be preceded even by species of the
wind-introduced class, while the conditions on the islands would be much
more favourable for sea-introduced than for wind-introduced ones. Introduction
by birds could only become active after species of the other classes had been
established and had rendered the islands sufficiently attractive and conspicuous
for birds to alight on them. We anticipate, therefore, that of the three kinds of
Species mentioned the littoral sea-introduced class should be comparatively
numerous, the other classes relatively scarce, This expectation is fully borne
out by the facts.
The coast-flora includes 41 unequivocally sea-introduced plants, and forms
a fifth, or 20 °/,, of the entire Flora. Of these 41 species, 12, or 29 °/, (nearly
a third), are cosmopolitan on tropical seashores. Of the remainder, 11 species, or
nearly 27 °/,, extend from Polynesia to these islands, no fewer than 9 of them
extending further west to Africa, or the Mascarene Islands, or both. There are
3 species that do not extend further east than to Australia and 18 that do not

BOTANY OF THE LACCADIVES. 85

extend further than Malaya. On the other hand, 2 species (Laamea pinnatifida
and Cyperus pachyrhizus) find on the Laccadives and the adjacent Indian Coasts
their extreme eastmost extension; the Oyperus is a plant characteristic of the
western coasts of India and of Arabia, the Zaawnea occurs on the coasts of
Haste Africa—across the Arabian Sea—as well. With these two exceptions,
however, all of the littoral species occur on Malay Coasts, and it is significant of
the extent to which the sea-board flora is Malayan rather than Indian, When we
observe that though 39, or over 97 °/,, of them are found in Malaya, no fewer
than 8, or 20 °/,, of them are absent from the neighbouring Indian Coasts.
The islands come, therefore, more within the influence of those ocean-currents
that sweep up from the south-east from Malayan Seas than does the Indian
Coast ; their shores, therefore, have some of the species characteristic of nearly
every tropical coast from Fiji to the Seychelles that are wanting in India.

Of inland as opposed to littoral species those that are wind-introduced, as being
likely to appear earliest, are the first to be considered. These are Phanerogams
with seeds or fruits fitted for wind-carriage—of which there are here but two
unequivocal examples (7ylophora and Leptadenia)—and small spored Cryptogams,
of which there are 14, The two Phanerogams are species confined to South-
Eastern Asia ; of the Cryptogams, on the other hand, 10 are cosmopolitan in the
tropics ; one (Trametes Muelleri, which occurs likewise in Australia and in South
America) is nearly so ; another (Calymperes Dozyanum) oceurs throughout South-
Eastern Asia and in Polynesia ; only two are confined to South-Eastern Asia,
and of these one has, so far as is at present known, been found only in Minikoi,

Of the species introduced by birds, whether by being carried in pellets of mud
or otherwise attached to their feet or their feathers, or carried ag undigested
seeds in their crops, the flora affords very few examples.

Of the former subgroup, consisting of marsh weeds with small seeds or fruits,
there are but 9 unequivocal examples. They are, as a rule, widely distributed
Species ; here, for example, three occur in both hemispheres—two are found
throughout the tropics of the old world ; one extends from India to Polynesia.
Only one is confined to South-Eastern Asia, and of one—the Chara, whose
Specific identity is unknown—we cannot speak.

Of the second subgroup, species with soft fruits but resistent seeds, there are
only 8 clear examples. Their most notable feature as compared with the last is
their confined distribution. None are cosmopolitan, only one extends eastwards
as far as Polynesia, and this one (Ficus nitida) does not even in that direction
pass beyond New Caledonia ; at the same time only one (Datura fastuosa) ex-
tends to America, and though its introduction by birds is clearly possible,* it is, no
doubt, more usually introduced by man. While three Species extend to Austra-
lia and four to the Mascarene Islands or Africa, it is worthy of note that none of

* Prain, Proceedings of the Asiatic Society of Bengal (1891), p. 171.

86 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

them occur both in Africa and in Australia. Indeed, one species, Pleurostylia
Wightit, exhibits the peculiarity of being restricted to Ceylon, Southern India,
the Island of Kadamum and Mauritius ; with this solitary exception, however,
all the species of this kind occur in Malaya, as well as in India and Ceylon.
Reviewing in tabular form the facts indicated in the preceding paragraphs,
we find the number and proportion of the species that have been certainly, or
possibly, or probably influenced by the various distributive agencies to be as

follows :—
TanrEe IV.—Modes of introduction of Laccadive Plants.

CERTAINLY. POSSIBLY. PROBABLY.

INTRODUCED BY
No. of Sp.} Per cent. f No. of Sp.| Per cent. | No. of Sp. | Per cent.

a ———————————————————————————

Sata, Lecophooceonenodorecenss 115 66, 139 68 °/o 129 63 2,
The Sea .......ssceerenseeree 35 IDS, 45 92 9/, AY 20 °/,
WAS. .cccrescrccecceveresoe 16 3 Oh, 18 9% 17 8 /,
Birdsieertesancassee Pererere 15 7 OL 21 10 %/, 19 9 °/.

ee ee
At the same time, omitting from consideration the cultivated species and
garden escapes, the majority of which are exotics, as well as the undetermined
Chara, the general distribution of the Laccadive Flora may be tabulated as
follows :—
Tanin V.—Synopsis of Distribution of Laccadive Species.

ss —————————————— El

Cultivated species, garden escapes, TUNAeterMiNEd SPECIES cooccerececoeccceeveceee OO 81:6°/,
Cosmopolitan in the tropics .....eecee Wee Sucenesececerecneseese Sates soasaes Seerevaectne MOL 25°1°/,
Almost so: present in both Hemispheres ........c--seereesecereeresee nodoanoanDoec co Gugie

Absent from Polynesia OnLy c.csccsscscseeeeceeercerees 4 mele

Absent from Australia OnLy ...c.s.seseecerreccenveeeee 2 We

Absent from Australia and Polynesia ......2-++0+00s 4 278

Absent from Africa, Australia, Polynesia ....... 2 ee
Confined toy Ok) WVGaeC | Geosoaaonodononndo oaCcHodODHGNBEOAOD ONO OSRORORGE Mannodacseanee Tdi 37°3°/5

In Africa, Asia, Australia, Polynesia dbecwasaieccses 13 63

Tn Africa, Asia, AUStralia ....ccreccccscercrsercsenseves 5 BOD

In Africa and ASia .eccoress AandoddoqonanconéenccnasacaoaD 19 Pe}

per a) |

In Asia, Australia, Polynesia .csccocssecvecsceecesves 74 2

In Asia, Australia ...... ApaacnacnodoonnEbogednocCoOco0OnS 2 1

In Asia, Polynesia ..scccccscceceseereenceees 1000000000056 2 1

Confined to S. E, Asiaccccccccereevcsecerevcescvvesscesces 32 15°5

ee aEEEEEIEEE gE ESEEEEESSnSSnSaES SSSR

TANASE erse ace ecaraas coucs Masanaesnenn ie) anemia

NOTES ON SPORT IN SOMALI LAND.
By C, G. Dopason, I.C.S.

(Read before the Bombay Natural History Society
on 21st June 1893.)

I spent 10 weeks in Somali Land during the past cold season ; at this time of
year there is very little water in the country, almost all the nullahs being dry, and
water being obtainable only by digging deep down into the sandy beds of the
streams, and occasionally found in pools which are drying up. The Somalis are
nearly all to be found north of the range of hills which runs east and west
parallel to the coast line and at a distance of about 80 or 40 miles from it, The
high lying plateau to the south of these hills is almost devoid of human
habitation during the dry season ; the result is, that the lions, dependent as they
are, toa great extent, on the peoples’ sheep and camels for food, are generally
fairly close to the Somalis’ “ karias,” or temporary settlements. The antelope, on.
the other hand, are mostly further south far away from water, which they can do
without, and undisturbed by camels and cattle grazing and by the sight of man.

The maritime plain extends for about 30 miles inland up to the foot of the
high range of hills which runs east and west ; there is, at all events in the dry _
season, very little game to be seen between Berbera and the hills. I was told
that south of Bulhar, which lies to the west of Berbera, things are better in this
respect ; as far as my experience goes, the best country is to the south of the
range of hills on the plateau, which is, roughly speaking, about 4,000 feet above
the level of the sea. The ground here is good for tracking, consisting, due
south of Berbera, of loose red soil, free from stones; as one, however, marches
further west, the plateau becomes more undulating. The lower lands, which
contain the densest vegetation, are excellent for tracking over ; the higher lands,
which are mostly covered with a scanty growth of small thorny bushes, are freely
strewn with stones and pebbles, which in some parts areso numerous as to render

it absolutely impossible to follow an animal for a yard by his footprints,

88 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

The following is a list of the game animals to be found north of the “ Haud,”
or waterless tract of country which runs east and west across the high plateau :—

English name. Latin name. Somali name.
1 | Sand Antelope .........) Neotragus saltianis ...... Sagaro.
2 | Waller’s Gazelle ...... Gazella walleri ............ Gerenouk.
B | Ci pkopeseese0 conedaos. coe Oryx Weisaceensewscecerce sae Be’id.
4 | Soemmering’s Gazelle...] Gazella soemmeringil...... Awal.
G. spekii or naso and
5 | Cevellg sagccoads soacee a pelzelni. Dhero.
6 | Larger Kudu ......... Strepsiceros kudu ........| Godir.
Tin luesser IMIG secs sets -sinee Strepsiceros imberbis ...| Anderio or Arreh.
8 | Klpspringer ............ Nanotragus oreotragus ...| Alakud.
9 | Warthog .........00 .-.| Phacoccerus ethiopicus ...| Dophur.
uae ab hencescuecacic cece Felis pardus ...a- seeseseee| HHEYbelle,
TLL) ito cocosé sancoousaodasce IDES NEO) pacsetedqsoosee eee| Libah.
12) Wiesolae ia scosccnodanonds Elephas africanus ......--.| Marode.
13) | Wald Ass ......3... .....| Equus somalicus .........| Duber.
14 | Spotted Hyzxna ...... Hyena Crocuta....seso.ees Wariba,
15 | Striped Hyeena......... Hyzena striata ..coosssseee Lidda.
16 | Hartbeest ........0-0000. Bubalis swaynel ......0..| Syg.

ee

Besides the above-mentioned animals, there are also to be found ostriches,
hares, 2 species of foxes, jackals, porcupines, and lynx. Of the 16 animals
in the above list, I succeeded in shooting specimens of each of the first eleven
kinds, besides seeing specimens of Nos. 12, 18 and 14.

I will now briefly describe such animals as I became acquainted with. I do
not propose going into detailed descriptions of colour of skin or shepe of horns,
Such @escriptions have already appeared in this Society’s Journal, No. 4, Vol. VI,
in the paper read by Mr. J. D. Inverarity in September, 1891, and I could add
but little, if anything, to them.

The commonest and most widely distributed of all the antelope is undoubtedly
the tiny sand antelope; he is to be seen close to Berbera among the small
scattered bushes which grow on the maritime plaim, and among the ravines at
the foot of the high range of hills which I have already spoken of as running
parallel to the coast-lie. He is also found on the plateau to the south of this
range and also in thehilly wild country in the far west. It seems to him to be quite
immaterial whether he lives in long grass, under the shade of bushes, or hidden
away among the aloe plants which are common in many parts of Somali Land.
This antelope is only about 12 inches in height, and though he affords pretty
shooting with a rook rifle, can best be secured with a shot gun and No. 4 shot ;
the pace with which he manages to dart in and out of the bushes is extraordi-
nary, and makes him anything but an easy object to hit. There appears to be
no difference in colour between the males and females, the general colour being

NOTES ON SPORT IN SOMALI LAND. 89

dark grey. The males are distinguishable from the females by having short
upright horns and a tuft of dark chestnut hair on the forehead, They are gener-
ally found in couples, and, like almost all the other antelope of Somali Land,
appear to be quite independent of water. The Somalis seldom eat it, saying that
they do not like the taste ; but to me it tasted very much like that of other
antelope. Somalis in talking to a European about this antelope call it the Dik-
Dik, believing this word to be English; it is not a Somali word, the word
used by the natives of the country being Sagaro. A peculiarity of the horns
of this antelope is, that when looked at from in front, the flat part or side is
seen better than if looked at from the side ; the horns, if looked at from behind,
present a rounded appearance.

Next to the sand antelope, the commonest antelope is Waller’s gazelle. I saw
these antelope in every kind of country, both near to and far from water ; they
are extremely shy and when once alarmed seldom give one a chance of getting
near them again. ‘The males are somewhat darker in colour and larger in body
than the females, and are easily to be distinguished from them by the fact that
the latter have no horns. The most striking peculiarity about this antelope is
the length of its neck ; the distance from between the horns to the top of the
shoulder-blades of a full grown buck which I measured was, to the best of my
recollection, about 24 inches. The other measurements which I took of this
particular animal were—

From nose to insertion of tail ... de ccc seen 4: lls) une

Height at shoulder er see s60 nos soe OG fie 4 amy
From point of elbow to heel... oe a5 ene patie Qame

These figures show that the animal is long and slightly built ; his long lees
and long neck are most useful to him in helping him to reach high up to the
“srcecs of trees. On several occasions I saw these antelope standing on their
hind legs, with their forefeet resting among the branches of a tree and them-
selves busy nibbling at the leaves, in exactly the same way that goats do ;
doubtless, nature has provided the long neck to assist them in this habit. The
largest herd of Waller's gazelle which I ever saw consisted of 11 animals ; as a
rule, a herd consists of about 6 or 7 animals. Between the horns on the top
of the head there is a triangular patch of brown hair, darker on the bucks than
on the does ; with age it turns greyish. The following are the measurements
of the 4 largest pairs of horns in my possession :—

Round upper : i : F Circumference
one ee base ee ee cae Tip to tip. ai ERE.
Inches. Inches. Inches. Inches.
1 154 124 23 oF
2 143 112 3 54
3 127 102 5 og
4 12 24 Oe 4 5

~The oryx is “probably the next most gener ally distributed of the antelopes ;
he is extremely shy, and I never saw one anywhere near human habitations,

12

90 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

Until I had seen a considerable number, I was always unable to distinguish
between the sexes, the horns of the does being quite as long as those of the
bucks, and I consequently, shot some females, If one can, however, get to within
100 yards of a herd, which, by the bye, it is extremely difficult to do,
the heavier head and shoulders of the male enable one to pick him out
from among the females. The general appearance of this antelope is at first
sight somewhat disappointing ; his extremely heavy shoulders and high withers,
his broad muzzle, his manner of carrying his head low, the muzzle pointed
almost straight downwards when galloping, and his heavy lumbering action, take
away considerably from his game-like appearance. I exhibit a photograph which
gives a very fair idea of his appearance. Oryx are to be found in large herds ;
on several occasions I saw herds of between 20 or 30, and on one occasion
counted no less than 52 animals in one herd, This large herd was grazing in a
vast open plain. As far as the eye could reach, there was not a sign of a shrub or
bush of any kind—nothing but a sea of yellow grass. The oryx were extremely
wild, and there being absolutely no cover, it was impossible to get anywhere within
shot of them. I was greatly struck with the precision of the movements of this
large herd. Among bushes a herd of oryx, when disturbed, gallops away in a
dense throng, without any order or attempt to keep in line. On this open
plain, however, the herd grazed along, keeping an excellent line, the animals
all walking side by side; when disturbed, they galloped away, keeping
the same correct line, They wheeled to the right and left, with almost military
precision, and also, when turning to the right or left, travelled along in single file,
one behind the other, in perfect order. As a general rule, the horns of the females
are apt to be somewhat longer than those of the males, but less thick ; this will
be seen from the following measurements, which are those of some of the horns
in My possession :—

: Circumference
"1 F Circumf :

Length from base to tip. oat a pace 12 eae oboe
ar eeal 84 (right) and 31} (eft). 61 41
& )s 314 64 4
S38 514 6 34
4 pe 63 43
# (1 331 BL 33
3 3 3 i
oS 1
ie 8 3g

a es ES a a | ee
The two oldest males which I shot are those shown above as Nos. 1 and 4.
The horns of No. 4, though heavy and massive, are much blunted and worn

NOTES ON SPORT IN SOMALI LAND. 91

away at the points ; in the case of male No. 1, there is a considerable difference
between the length of the two horns. I found some difference in nearly every
pair of horns I secured. Somalis, I am told, ride down and spear oryx in the
rainy reason ; their grass-fed ponies have, I believe, no difficulty in overtaking
these antelopes. One day one of the Somalis with me pursued on a pony a herd
of oryx, one of which I had wounded and although the ground was stony and
the pony nota particularly good one, he soon managed to get up to and
ride alongside of the herd. The oryx are said to turn to bay at times
when thus: pursued, and I quite believe it, for on one occasion when 2 Somalis
with me ran up to cut the throat of an oryx which I had fired at and
Imocked down, the animal managed to spring to his feet and dash forwards
fora few yards at the two men—a proceeding which made them beat an
uncommonly hasty retreat. I had to put another bullet into this antelope
before the men could “ halal” him. I have recorded no measurements of the
height of oryx, but I consider him to be between 3 ft. 9 in. and 4 ft. at the
withers,

Like Waller’s gazelle and the oryx, Soemmering’s gazelle is also a desert
antelope, living far from water, and picking up in the dry season an apparently
precarious livelihood on stunted tufts of dried-up grass. I saw these antelopes
both in bush-covered country and on the vast open plain, which I have mentioned.
above as the place where I saw the large herd of oryx. Soemmering’s
gazelle generally go in herds, but I at times saw solitary bucks. The herds
contain, as a rule, about 20 members ; but on two or three occasions I saw much
larger numbers, a herd of probably not less than 70 animals being the largest
which I came across. This antelope is much easier to approach than any
other antelope in Somali Land, and, even when disturbed, will generally not
run far, but will allow one, time after time, to get within shot. Their behaviour
always reminded me strongly of Indian black buck. A herd will let you
approach to within, say, 200 yards, but will then begin to show signs of uneasi~
ness, gradually moving off, without, however, at once breaking into a gallop ;
if still followed, they will probably start away at a trot, but after going 200
or 800 yards, will again subside into a walk and go on grazing as if nothing
had occurred to alarm them. On one occasion ib was not until ] had fired 3
shots at a herd bagging 2 bucks that they made up their mind to go off
altogether. When galloping, they cover the ground at a tremendous pace,
but I never saw them indulge in the high bounds into the air which Indian
black buck are so fond of. The females have slightly annulated horns, of just
the same length as those of the males, but somewhat thinner; this fact
makes it sometimes very difficult to distinguish between the sexes, if the antelope
are standing at, say, 150 yards among bushes. The following are the
measurements of some of the best horns in my possession; I give the

-

92 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, VIII.

length, &c., of the does’, as well as of the bucks’ horns, for the sake of com-
parison :—

MIS Gl Mee i |) Tp ote ieee eames

Ga 13 163 33 3

Ei € 03 4

5 | 3 144 153 64 34
a

Wey 15h 173 3 53
8 j2 148 174 44 BE
43 4 162 4 5d

4 133 17 6 54

Of the above horns, the best pair (male No. 1) was picked up by me in the
jungle ; the rest I shot myself. The distance between the tips varies consider-
ably in different animals. In the case of one small buck which I shot, whose
horns were about 4 inches long, the tips actually overlapped each other. Not
only do the dimensions vary in different animals, but there is also a great
difference in shape. Out of seven pairs of bucks’ horns in my possession, the
tips of 4 point forwards and of 3 point backwards ; the does’ horns which I
have also point backwards.

There is some doubt as to whether Gaczella spehii (or naso) and Gazella
pelzelni are different species or not. There certainly appeared to me to be some
difference between the gazelle of the plain near Berbera and those of the high
plateau to the south ; all the gazelle which I saw on the plateau struck me as
having a dark stripe of brown, and sometimes almost black, hair along the side.
I do not remember ever seeing this stripe on the gazelle of the plain near
Berbera. Both the gazelle of the plain and those of the platean have loose skin
on the nose, but it is much more marked among the latter than among the
former. The first gazelle which I shot in Somali Land was about 15 miles from
Berbera. I looked for the loose pouch of skin on the nose said to be characteris-
tic of G. naso, and found that the skin was no doubt loose and could be pulled
up, but this characteristic was so very: slightly defined that I should not have
noticed it had I not looked for it. In the case of the next gazelle which I
shot, this time on the plateau, I at once caught sight of the pouch or flabby
loose skin which les wrinkled up on the top of the nose ; it was most marked.
I shot altogether 8 gazelles—4 on the plateau and 4 on the Berbera plain, and in
every case I noticed the above-mentioned differences ; besides the absence of the
dark stripe on its side, the skin of the gazelle of the maritime plain is, to my
mind, of distinctly lighter colour and more yellow than is the gazelle of the
plateau, the latter being much browner. Whether these differences are* suffici-
ent to justify a division of the animals into 2 different species is a question to be
decided by more learned naturalists than myself; as far as my experience

NOTES ON SPORT IN SOMALI LAND. 93

goes, there is no difference whatever between the horns of the 2 species. The
Somali gazelle closely resembles the Indian chinkara (@. bennett’) in behaviour
and general character ; it would be difficult, if not impossible, to distinguish
between the hours of the African and Indian species.

The larger kudu is not a desert antelope. He lives on steep hillsides, chiefly
among well-wooded ravines and in good shade. In character he always reminded
me of sambar, living in much the same style of country, and having the same
capacity of dashing at full speed through, what at first sight might appear, an
impenetrable thicket. He is seldom found very far from water, although he
does not drink daily. I believe that in South Africa these antelope can be
ridden down and killed off horse-back. This would be impossible in Somali Land
owing to the nature of the ground. The does have no horns and are of a pale
brown colour, the bucks being dark blue, very much like Indian nilgai in
colour. Both sexes have a ridge of hair along the spine and transverse white
stripes running down the sides. The stripes on the female are more numerous
than thoge on the male, but I cannot say exactly how many the females have.
The number of stripes on the males differs with different animals, I shot 2
males, one of which, a very old animal, had 7 stripes on each side, the other
having 6 stripes on one side and 5 on the other. The Somalis say that the number
of stripes diminishes with increasing years. This I do not believe. The old male
which I shot had lost large patches of hair all over his body and head, evidently
from old age ; but the remains of the 7 stripes on each side can easily be counted,
If any one of these had entirely disappeared, it would have been because all the
hair had gone, leaving the skin exposed to view, not because the hair had
changed colour. The number of white spots on the cheeks also varies in differ-
ent animals, some having 2, some 3 spots. ‘The Somalis say that young kudu
are born in April and May. ‘This is very likely correct, as I saw, at the end of
November, fawns which might have been 6 or 7 months old. The following are
the dimensions of the horns of the 2 larger kudu which I shot :—

Straight line from} Along the curve ray ti) a Circumference
base to tip. from base to tip. Pures round base.
3 5
1 362 A472 82 97
2 36 494 213 102

No. 1 was an older animal than No. 2 ; he measured 4 ft. 8 in. at the shoulder,
and 6 ft. 7 in. from the nose to the insertion of the tail,

The lesser kudu, like the larger kudu, is, I believe, seldom found far from
water, but, unlike him, does not live on hill-sides, He prefers dense milk bush
jungle and rough broken ground at the foot of the hills, He is not an easy animal
to shoot, owing to the thick cover in which he lives, enabling him at the first
sign of danger to put a bush or other shelter between himself and the sportsman,

§4 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

His beautiful marking makes him one of the most lovely of antelopes. The
females have no horns, and, as in the case of the larger kudu, are brown, whereas
the males are dark slate-colour. I shot 2 bucks, one having 9 white stripes on one
side and 10 on the other, the other having 13 on one side and 14 on the other,
These 2 antelope measured, respectively, 3 ft. 7 in. and 3 ft. 72 in. in height at
the shoulder. Lesser kudu seem extremely fond of aloes, a species of milk bush,
and a creeper with thick fleshy leaves. They are frequently seen in small herds.
The largest herd I saw consisted of 2 bucks and 5 does. The photograph which
T exhibit is that of a lesser kudu, wounded, but alive; it gives an idea of the
nature of the bushes among which he lives.

The klipspringer lives solely among the hills, and is generally found among
high boulders and rocks, His tiny little hoofs, which are very high, enable him
to secure a footing on what look like perfectly inaccessible rocky slopes, and the
manner in which he bounds from one boulder to another is astonishing. When
disturbed, he utters a loud hissing sound, which is at times apt to betray his
presence, for his brown colour blends wonderfully well with the rocks among
which he lives. The females have no horns, those of the males being short,
upright, and between 3 and 4 inches in length. The Somalis affect to despise the
flesh of this antelope ; to my taste, it is quite worth eating. Klipspringers are
seldom found alone. I always saw 2 or 3 together, and on one occasion saw 5
ina herd. The hair is most peculiar, being stiff and about an inch long, and
rather suggestive of a porcupine’s bristles on a small scale.

Of the warthog I can say very little, as I did not succeed in getting a boar.
I saw warthog on two occasions, and was at once struck by the almost total
absence of neck, the formidable-looking tusks, and the position of the tail, which
appears to be always carried pointed straight up in the air. ‘The colour of these
animals seemed to me to vary with the locality in which they were. Out on a
vast grass-covered plain, with little or no cover on it, these pigs looked quite
yellow, thus matching the dried-up grass ; in bush-covered land, with an under-
erowth of aloes, their colour was grey, like that of ordinary Indian pig. I shot
a sow, whose tusks looked quite as big as those of most boars in India. Very
little of the tusk is embedded in the gum, nearly the whole of it protruding.

The panther of Somali Land is exactly the same as the Indian animal, except
that the skin is somewhat paler in colour. ‘They appear to do a great deal of
damage among the sheep and goats of the Somalis, but, I believe, very seldom
kill ponies or donkeys. On two occasions a panther came close to my zeriba, but
he took no notice of the donkey which was tied outside. This particular panther,
which I afterwards shot, measured 4 ft. 1 in. from the nose to the insertion of
the tail, which was 2 ft. 8 in. long. An Indian panther, with a body 4 ft. 1 in.
in length, would have made short work of the donkey. I cannot help thinking
that the Somali panther is less powerful than his Indian brother. I shot three,

NOTES ON SPORT IN SOMALI LAND. 95

measuring, respectively, 4 ft. 1 in., 8 ft. 113 im., and 8 ft. 11 in., from nose to
the insertion of the tail (I leave out all mention of the measurement of the tails,
because the length of an animal’s tail has nothing whatever to do with his size
and strength). None of these were particularly small animals, but the fact that
they confine their attention to small animals, like sheep and goats, seems to show
that ponies and donkeys are too big for them.

The lion is, undoubtedly, the animal most in request among sportsmen in
Somali Land. Large numbers have been killed, and, before much longer, it will
be necessary to go very far inland for them. I did not see one until I had
travelled nearly 200 miles in one direction and another, and was about 100 miles
in a straight line from Berbera. ‘The lions depend very largely for food upon the
sheep, donkeys and camels belonging to the natives of the country ; they are,
consequently, generally to be found somewhere in the neighbourhood of the
Somali “ karias” or temporary settlements. They can be shot either by day, by
means of tracking and beating, or by night, the sportsman lying hidden in a
small thorn enclosure, with a live donkey or, better still, an animal that has been
recently killed by a lion, close by outside, and with a hole in the enclosure to
fire through. I never had a liking for night shooting, and though I tried it three
or four times in Somali Land, soon gave it up. All the sport I had with lions was
in the daytime. The country is mostly excellent for tracking, and, provided one
can find fresh tracks fairly early in the morning, there is every chance of, at all
events, seeing the animal before the evening. ‘The lions sometimes lie up during
the daytime in the cool shade of patches of long grass or of dense thickets of
bushes. When a lion is marked down in some such place as this, he can be
driven out by beaters or, if necessary, by means of fire. In the country in which
I was there were very few places to which one could point as being more likely
to hold a lion than others : the ground was covered with small bushes scattered
here and there, and a lon might lie up anywhere. The result was that, when
tracked up to, the lions, which were practically out in the open, constantly sprang
up before me and galloped off. They, however, never went far, and by dint of
constant tracking, it was generally possible to come up to them again and again
until by stalking and running forward a shot could be obtained. Such shots
are, however, apt to be fairly long. J found men mounted on ponies to be of
great assistance in this style of country. If the lion takes alarm and makes off,
the horsemen follow him and try to keep him in sight. By shouting they save
the trackers and sportsmen a great deal of trouble, as the latter merely have then
to follow the sound ; and if the country is at all open, the horsemen can generally
head the lion and either drive him back to the gun, or, what I found generally
to happen, the lon, finding that he cannot escape, lies down and lets you come
up and have a close shot at him. As compared with a tiger, I consider the lion
in no way physically inferior ; on the contrary, the lion’s hind-quarters appeared.

96 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

to me to be more in proportion to the rest of his body than is the case with the
tiger. ‘The difference between the pugs of a lion and those of a lioness is much
more marked than in the case of tigers ; that of the female is long and narrow,
that of the male is broader and more square. In the case of the tiger the same
rule applies, but it is, as far as my experience goes, much easier to be mistaken
as to the sex of the animals whose tracks one is looking at in India than in
Somali Land, All the lions I shot had a tuft of hair on the elbow. The mane
is disappointing, not being nearly so full as is seen on lions kept in zoological
gardens. A mane with hair 10 inches long, I should consider a very fine one.
At the end of the tail there is a tuft of black hair, If this were shaved off, a
small prickle of horny substance would be seen attached to the skin. This prickle
is less than 4 of an inch in length and is not sharp. The colour of lions varies
considerably ; most appear to be of a dark straw colour ; but some are occasion-
ally found very much darker, being in fact of a distinctly brownish-grey hue ;
the manes too vary in colour, some being pure yellow, others having a consider-
able quantity of brown or even black hair intermingled with the yellow ; the
brown and black hairs lie along the top of the shoulder-blades, and also stretch
downwards in front of the shoulder at right angles to this ridge.

I was fortunate enough to see a lioness kill an antelope in broad day-light, I had
tracked a lioness one afternoon till about 5 p.m., when the tracks went up on
to high-lying stony ground, such as I have already described, on which it was
impossible to follow them for a yard. I, however, walked on in the direction in
which they led, more with the idea of shooting anything that I might see than
with any thought of finding the lioness ; after going about half a mile over the
stones, I saw a herd of Soemmering’s gazelle, which I succeeded in getting
close to, firmg two shots at them ; the 2nd shot hit a buck lowdown on the
shoulder, knocking him over but not killing him ; the whole herd bolted, the
wounded animal struggling to his feet and limping slowly after the rest ; at this
moment a lioness, evidently the one I had been tracking, rushed out from behind
a small leafless bush about 30 yards from where I was and passing close by me
made for the wounded antelope, overtaking it. She rushed out from behind the
bush without uttering a scund and covered the ground at a great pace; although
she was not more than about 186 yards from me when she came up with the
antelope, it was not easy to see how she really killed it ; she seemed to rush right
over it and I saw her grip it with her jaws by the back of the neck, both
animals then sliding along the ground for some yards in a cloud of dust. I
next saw her shake the antelope violently, much as a terrier would do witha
rat and then lie down, apparently sucking the blood which poured from the
neck. Had I had the patience to wait a little longer I should no doubt have seen.
her either drag away the dead body or eat it on the spot, but I stopped all further
proceedings by firing and knocking her over. I afterwards examined the dead

NOTES ON SPORT IN SOMALI LAND. 97

body of the antelope ; the neck was not broken and the lioness had not used her
paws at all, the skin being free from claw marks ; life seemed to have been simply
shaken and crushed out of the antelope, and I do not wonder at it from the way
in which the lioness swung the bedy from side to side. It is curious that the
lioness apparently took no notice either of me or of the first shot which I fired ;
she must have been close by at the time and have heard the report, for the
2 shots were fired from almost exactly the same place and the interval of time
between them was certainly not more than a minute.

IT obtained two lion cubs from some Somalis who had found them in the
erass in the absence of their mother ; the men who found them said that their
eyes were not open when they first came across them ; I got them 3 days later,
their eyes being then open ; they were probably not more than a fortnight old
when they came into my possession ; they were at that time each about 20
inches long including the tail ; the hair of each cub was long and. fluffy, the
whole body was covered with black spots which were especially dense about the
head and along the top of the back ; the last 24 or 8 inches of the tail from the
end were marked by 2 or 3 black transversal stripes like a tiger’s, and there
were also 2 or 3 similar black bars across the back of the hind lees above the
hocks ; the cubs had no teeth whatever when I first got possession of them ; but
after a week the front teeth began to appear; I parted with the cubs abont
10 days later, 7. ¢., when they were about 4 or 5 weeks old; the front teeth
were then well forward, but there were as yet no signs of any but the small front
teeth ; the cubs grew about 3 inches in length during the 16 days they were
with me, besides increasing considerably in bulk and strength ; I fed them solely
on goat’s milk,

Of animals which I did not shoot, but saw, the largest was undoubtedly
the elephant. Not many years ago, elephants were fairly common in
the hills South of Berbera, but owing to having been constantly pursued
of late years by sportsmen, they have retreated far to the west ; those
I saw were about 160 miles south-west of Berbera; when I got close to
them, they turned out to be a cow and 8 young ones ; I accordingly left them
alone. I never came across a bull, not having sufficient time at my disposal to
stop long enough in the elephant country ; I saw the track of what I was told
was @ bull, in firm, damp sand ; the impression of the front feet was 18 inches
long by 14 inches wide, and of the hind feet 17 inches long by 11 or 12 inches
in width. The elephants appear to travel immense distances every night both to
and from water ; those I saw must have walked about 10 or 12 miles from the
water where they drank and from which I followed them, before I came up with
them ; it was then early in the afternoon and they showed no signs of stopping.
Considering the weight of an elephant, it is surprising how very trifling an im-
pression his feet leave on the ground ; on hard stony ground, there is practically

13

98 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIIt.

no imprint, the grass knocked away by his feet being practically the only indi-
cation of his having passed by ; on firm sandy soil the impression is clear but
not deep. ‘The elephants appear to feed largely on a particular kind of creeper
which is very common in Somali Land, and also on aloes, the broken pieces of
which lay strewn all along the path of those I followed. The country in which
I found these animals was hilly; the vegetation consisted of the usual low
thorny bushes and also of a high species of cactus to which I regret I am unable
to give a name; these cactus plants grow to a height of about 40 feet, the
branches shooting out from the trunk about 6 feet from the ground; they are
sometimes found in clumps covering several acres of ground ; their arching
branches afford dense shade, the gloom of which appears most popular with
the elephants, as I always found many signs of these animals having been
in such places ; the photograph, which I exhibit, gives some idea of what these
cactus groves are like, Somali ‘“ Midgans” (a low caste tribe of hunters) kill -
elephants with poisoned arrows.

Although I never shot a spotted hyena, I saw three and came on their tracks
almost every day ; they are most voracious animals and will eat almost anything ;
they do a considerable amount of damage among the Somali sheep and goats,
Somalis repeatedly assured me that 4 or 5 spotted hyenas would not hesitate to
make a joint attack on a lion and drive him off his prey, and that lons were
occasionally killed in such encounters ; this, if true, gives a high impression of
the hyznas’ strength and courage.

I twice saw wild donkeys but did not succeed in getting within 400 yards of
them on either occasion, Their colour struck me as being much lighter than
that of tame donkeys and in height they seemed to be higher; their action
when trotting gave them a very game-like appearance,

T one day saw an ostrich, but he was about a thousand yards away and I
could only make him out with the help of a telescope. The moment he saw me
he made off without giving me a chance. I saw 2 porcupines, exactly the same as
. the common Indian species ; a lynx which I saw was a young one, which a
Somali had caught ; he seemed to me to be just the same as the common species
in this country (Xelis caracal) ; the animal appears to be rare in Somali Land,
for the Somalis with me had no name for it. I noticed two kinds of foxes, one
with a black back and tail, the other quite brown; a jackal which I shot was very
handsomely marked with a broad black mark about 4 inches wide running down
the back from head to tail, the sides being yellowish-brown and the tail black.
I noticed two kinds of squirrels, one quite brown, which appears to live entirely
on the ground, bolting into holes when disturbed and apparently never taking to
* trees ; the other having a fringe of white hairs on either side of its tail ; a species
of field-rat with a long pointed snout about 2” or 23” lone was also common,
Hares, which are common, seem to be the same as in India,

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99

THE POISONOUS PLANTS OF BOMBAY.
BY
Surczon-Masor K. R. Kintixer, LMS; F.LS.
PARE WV.
(With Plate G.)
(Contizued from Vol VII., page 493.)

CUCUMIS TRIGONUS.—(Aowl.).
(Natural Order—CucurRBITAcEs.)
A_A .
Maratui—KARIT. (@rr.)

The plant grows wild in the Konkan ; it is an annual, succulent,
scabrous creeper, trailing along the ground or over hedges for several
yards at a stretch.

Root.—Perennial ; trailing a good distance above ground some-
times, throwing out rootlets into the soil; reddish outside, green
inside ; juicy ; bitter.

Stum.—Succulent, quadrangular ; tendrils short, wavy, simple
lateral and formed of abortive stipules. Rarely bifurcated at apex.

Lzaves.—Alternate ; deeply palmately-lobed, cordate at base ;
lobes 5, rounded, repandly and sharply toothed ; margin crenulate ;
colour deep green. “ Lobes of leaves,” says Wight, “ very broadly ovate
and almost touching each other at their broadest part, sinus rounded.”
Roxburgh, however, states that the lobes are quite distinct, sinus
widening upward. These appear to me to be mere differences in
development due to local influences. PrrTioLEs } to 4 inch. The
size of leaves C. B. Clarke puts down as 1—2 inches in diameter
(Hooker’s Flora Br. Ind., Vol. II, p. 619), but I have seen the leayes
quite double that size if not more. Leaves and petioles “ scabrid, not
softly hairy, ” says Clarke, but the plant is both scabrous and covered
with soft hair throughout. The hair markedly white.

Fiowers.—Monecious, axillary, unisexual, peduncled.

Male flowers.—Crowded in axils of leayes, opening in succession,
1—14 inch in diameter.

Female flowers.—Solitary short-peduncled, 1—12 inch in diameter,

100 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

CaLyx of male and female flowers 5-toothed ; tubular-campanu-
late ; segments subulate, scarcely of the length of the tube ; calyx of
female flowers short.

Conorna of male and female flowers 5-parted ; petals entire,
scarcely united together or with the calyx ; those of the female flowers
being sessile besides. Nerves prominent from base to apex.

STamMENS,—5, triadelphous.
Finaments.— Inserted below the mouth of the calyx-tube.
ANTHERS.—LHxserted from the tube, free ; one, I-celled ; two,
2-celled ; cells conduplicate ; connective produced in a crest.
PIsTIL—
STYLE.—Short.
Stremas.—8, very thick, obtuse ; 2-lobed, velvety.

Ovary.—Inferior, adhering to the calyx-tube ; of 3 carpels,
densely hairy ; hair short, white, soft-silky. Placentas, 3 parietal.

Fruit.—A pepo ; fleshy internally, pale cream-coloured ; coriaceous
externally ; indehiscent ; oval, rounded at both ends or sometimes
flattened ; obtusely 3-angled, the depressions at the angles correspond-
ing to the union of the carpellary margins ; about 13" long, 1}" broad ;
often almost twice as large in Thana. The outer surface of the fruit
is not smooth as stated by Roxburgh, but tuberculate ; tubercles of
the size of asmall pin’s head; brown when old; irregularly scattered all
over the fruit, but principally over the mid-portion of it. Hach tubercle
is capped with a fine white soft hair. These tubercles are liable to be
detached by the gentlest touch as the fruit gets old; hence they are often
not observed when the older specimens of fruit are examined. But yet
their position can be distinctly noted on the epicarp by a depression
surrounded with raised circular yellow markings. The readiness with
which these tubercles get detached may possibly account for .
Roxburgh’s saying that the fruit is smooth. The epicarp is leathery,
zy inch thick ; striated ; strie 10, irregular, varying from light to
deep yellow colour. The fruit keeps for several months without shrink-
ing on account of its tough coriaceous exocarp or rind,

Srzp.—Sharp, ovate, compressed, not marginated, acute at hilum,
mostly smooth, enveloped in a juicy mucilaginous arillus of white colour.

THE POISONOUS PLANTS OF BOMBAY. 101

Number varying from 150—250. Hven a small fruit, one inch in
diameter all round, was found by me to contain as many as 120 seeds,

Tusta,—Coriaceous.
ALBUMEN.—None.
Eupryo.—Straight.
RapicLe.—Next to hilum.

CoryLepons.—Foliaceous, palmate-nerved.

REMARKS.

The synonyms of this plant have been variously given by
various Botanists. What principle they have followed it is difficult
to understand. In describing the Tribe Cucurbitee of the Natural
Order Cucurbitee—a tribe to which Wight and Arnott have consigned
the species we are now describing, viz., Cucumis trigonus, they very
rightly observe (vde their Prodromus Flora Ind., Vol. L, p. 841),
that the difficulties attendant upon the description of the species from
dried specimens are insurmountable. They admit, however, and very
rightly too, that they consider it ‘more prudent to follow Roxburgh
as closely as possible, as his opportunities of examining both seeds and
stamens must have been most ample,” as they really were, for his
descriptions appear asa general rule drawn up from fresh specimens—
a circumstance which must have given him greater facilities for
noticing the minuter details of the species he describes. The following
are the various synonyms of C. trigonus :—

_ C. madraspatanus Roxb. (Hooker’s Fl. Br. Ind., Vol. IL, p. 619).
(Wight and Arnott’s Prod. Flor. Ind., Vol. I, p. 342).

C. turbinatus, Roxb. (Hooker op. cit.)

C. melo, var. agrestis, Naud. (Hook. op. cit.)

C. pubescens., Willd. (Hook. op. cit.)

C. pseudo-colocynth, Royle. (Hook. op. cit.)

C. eriocarpus, Boiss. et Noé (Naudin Ann. des. Sc. Nat., 4 Series,

Vol. XI, pp. 1-87) ; (Hook. op. cit.)

Bryonia cullosa, Herb Rottler (Hook. op. cit.)

C. pyriformis, Roxb, (Naudin op. cit.)

C, villosus, Boiss, et Nog, (Naudin op. cit.)

102 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

Why the plant is considered synonymous with C. madraspatanus
it is difficult to understand, especially as Roxburgh describes the latter
as a distinct plant, having the fruit no bigger than a partridge’s egg ;
whereas the size of the fruit of C. tragonus, Roxburgh puts down as
that of a pullet’s egg. Moreover the fruit of C. madraspatanus is
oval, downy, maculated, without any tendency to be three-sided.
The fruit of C. trzgonus, besides, is bitter and not edible, whereas that
of C. madraspatanus is said by Roxburgh to be much used in food by
the natives and much esteemed. The synonym C. pseudo-colocynth
appears to be used by Dalzell and Gibson on the authority of Royle,
The synonym C. pudescens (Willd.), as given by Clarke in Hooker’s
Flora of British India, is somewhat puzzling. Dalzell and Gibson
describe it in their Bombay Flora (p. 103) as a distinct species from
C. trigonus and add that it is cultivated in Sindh under the name of
“ Chiber”’ It is 1—1% inch long. This is “confusion worse con-
founded.” The fruit known as Chibid or Chiber, as Englishmen
would ordinarily pronounce it, is strictly speaking the genuine Cucu-
mis melo and is a much larger fruit than either Cucwmzs pubescens or
Cucumis trigonus. It is besides edible uncooked. It is seldom if
ever cooked. Again Dalzell and Gibson make C. madraspatanus and
C. turbinatus synonymous with C. pubescens, although Roxburgh
describes C. turbinatus as a distinct species with a turbinate fruit,
pyriform in shape, absolutely three-sided, with much larger flowers
than C. ¢rigonus. Note again another source of confusion, Dr, Lyon
ealls C. trigonus, Indrayan Bislumbhi, on the authority of the Phar-
macopeia of India, edited under the supervision of able Indian
Botanists. But Indrdyan is Citrullus colocynthis. In this I am
borne out by Dr. Dymock ; and Indrdéyan is a much more powerfully
drastic purgative, with a larger and much rounder fruit, of the size of
an ordinary orange or wood-apple. It may be noted, however, that
C. trigonus is occasionally used as a substitute for Colocynth to produce
purgation. To pass on to another writer;—Naudin most emphatically
says that C, trigonus is certainly the species which MM, Boissier and
Noé have described under the name of C. eriocarpus. Naudin adds
further that it will be necessary also to unite to this species the one
described by Baron Sir Ferdinand von Miieller under the name of
Cucurbita micrantha, an, Australian plant which is probably a species

THE POISONOUS PLANTS OF BOMBAY. 103

of Cucumis and which appears to be analogous to the plant under
description (J. Mitra).

A still further confusion arises in the naming of the fruit known in
the Konkan as Takmak. Dr. Dymock calls it C. trigonus, var.
pubescens (vide Dr. Dymock’s Materia Medica of Western India,
2nd Hdition, p. 339). Dr. Dymock says Takmak is less bitter than
C. trigonus. As a matter of fact Takmak is not bitter at all, If any
thing, it is sweetish ; if not that, it is almost insipid. It is not there-
fore easy to find out why Takmak is considered to be a variety of
C. trigonus. The two plants appear to me to be quite distinct. Takmak
is edible and perfectly harmless. It is cooked asa vegetable. It can
be eaten even uncooked, though never much valued in any condition.
Wight and Arnott’s description of C. pubescens shows that the fruit of
it is no bigger than about 1 or 13 inch long ; whereas the fruit of
Takmak is often as large as a medium-sized pomelo or water-melon,
6 inches long and 9 inches sideways ; and it is glabrous, The fruit of
C. pubescens, on the other hand, as described by Willdenow, and
Wight and Arnott is oval and pubescent. It is doubtful therefore whether
Takmak could be called C. pubescens, or a variety of C. trigonus,

Kurz separates C. iregonus with soletary peduncles from C. pubes
cens with clustered peduncles and makes the latter a variety of Cucu~
mis melo, Linn, (vide Journal Asiatic Soc., 1877, Part II, page
103). I think Kurz is right in doing so. In every way Takmak is
more allied to C. melo than to C. trigonus. The only objection I
have to calling Takmak C. pubescens is that the size of C. pubescens
as described, namely, that of a partridge’s ege, is considerably smaller
than that of the smallest sized Yakmak. On the whole, it appears
necessary to write a fresh description of Takmak and rename it once
for all. The present name it has been given as a pubescent variety of
C. trigonus is morphologically inaccurate and unsatisfactory. The
plants marked by Indian Botanists as C. pubescens are said to have
been reduced to C. trigonus by Naudin in the Kew Herbarium.
It is here, I believe, that the initial source of inaccuracy lay. For
although that illustrious French Botanist can claim the credit of having
furnished us with an exhaustive monograph on the Cucurbitaceous
order, he has added to the confusion of synonyms in no small
degree,

104 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Voi.,VITI.

From the above remarks it will be amply apparent that there is a
considerable difficulty in confirming and finally establishing the syno-
nyms of C. trigonus, It seems to be absolutely necessary to remove
all this confusion by a fresh and exhaustive attempt at identifying the
plants and renaming them after a careful examination locally of every
species belonging to the Cucurbitaceous order. One thing must be
remembered particularly, with a view to obtain a thoroughly accurate
description. The Cucurbitaceous plants are extremely delicate, espe-
cially as regards their hairy appendages. They must therefere be
- examined én situ—in the places where they grow ; not certainly from
dried specimens, nor even from fresh specimens taken to a distance
and examined leisurely, perhaps long after the delicate hairs have
withered or fallen off, and thus destroyed the minuter distinguishing
marks so necessary for accurate identification.

As regards the root of C. trigonus Clarke (in Hooker’s Flora of
British India loc. cit.) remarks that from the perennial character of the
root of C. trigonus alone can it be distinguished from C. melo accord-
ing to Naudin, but, says Clarke, “the examples seen and cojlected in
India are almost invariably less than one year old.” (N. B.—The italics
are mine.—K. R. K.) Asa matter of fact, it is notso. I have seen
the plants growing wild in the jungles and hedges of Thana
and I have observed the same root throwing out fresh sprouts every —
rainy season for years together. The plant.dries up after the mon-
soons and the fruit may be gathered even in the hot weather follow
ing. The plant is so persistent that the fruit can be seen hanging on
the dry creeper even when every other part of the creeper withers
and dries up. The fact of the fruit remaining hanging fresh as ever
“even in the succeeding hot weather, is, I admit, no indication whatever
of the living condition of the root underground. But wait till the
next rainy season, and you will find a fresh plant from the old root,
from where the creeper of the former rainy season sprouted. The root
does not dry up, decay or die, even although the surrounding soil is
parched and cracked in the hot weather, with hardly any moisture
to nourish it. The perennial nature of the root, therefore, must be
considered undeniable, even under such adverse circumstances,

With regard to the flowering of C. trigonus Rheede observes (Hor-
tus Ind. Mal., Vol. VIUL, page 21) that the plant grows in jungles

THE POTSONOUS PLANTS OF BOMBAY. 105

around Cochen, flowering and fruiting throughout the year. I may
observe that in the Konkan, C. trzgonus flowers and fruits only in the
rains. It begins to dry up as soon as the cold weather sets in, and is
shrivelled and leafiess before the hot weather is on. The fruit, as I
have already said, remains hanging unshrivelled and’ unshrunken even
in the succeeding hot weather.

THE POISONOUS PROPERTIES,

Being a congener of Colocynth, one would naturally expect that
the juice of the bitter fruit of C. trigonus would be a purgative of
the irritant type, and so it is more or less. Dr. Lyon, however, states
in his Medical Jurisprudence (p. 199) that the plant possesses: another
poisonous property. He says that in 1883 a case was reported to the
Bombay Chemical Analyser’s office in which it was stated that this
plant had been administered for the purpose of procuring abortion.

In the Pharmacographia of India (Vol. IL., p.67) Dymock, Hooper,.
and Wardell note that they digested the dried fruit with 84 per cent, of
alcohol and concentrated the resulting tincture until most of the
alcohol had been expelled ; they then agitated the mixture with water
and petroleum ether. This solution, still containing some alcohol,
was heated on the water bath to get rid of the alcohol ; the remnant
then mixed with water and agitated with acetic ether containing
some acetic acid. This yielded a reddish brown extract, very bitter,
and partly soluble in boiling water. The insoluble residue was brittle
when cold and very bitter, and had the properties of a resin, which
would appear to correspond with the resin of Colocynth. The scientific
world owes a deep debt of gratitude to this trio of distinguished
pharmacologists for thus advancing our knowledge regarding the
active principles of Kdrit.

I need hardly enter here into a detailed description of the
poisonous properties of Colocynth. They are well known to every
student of the British Pharmacopecia. Suffice it to say that Colocynth
and its congeners are irritant drastic purgatives. These properties
were well known to the ancients, both Hastern and Western. I may
note, however, what has been observed by Dr. Schmeidberg of Strasberg
(wide Hlements of Pharmacology, Dixon. 1887, p. 109) with regard to

the relative therapeutic action of the crystalloids and colloids in Colo-
14

106 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIL.

eynth, and presumably in the allied species like Adrit, that crystalline.
soluble Colocynthin, when pure, does not, under all conditions, cause
diarrhoea ; hence it is apparent that the crystalline element needs the
presence of colloidal substances such as occur in Colocynth, for it to be
with certainty carried into the intestine to produce any irritant or
drastic effects. .

It will be perhaps easy to account for the abortifacient effects of
Kéarit if we remember how powerful irritants of the intestinal canal
and of the rectum especially affect the pelvic organs. Increased
peristalsis produced by intestinal irritants known as “ aperients”
means increased hyperzemia of the mucous membrane of the intestines.
This hypereemia extends to the neighbouring pelvic organs when
powerful irritants attack the lowermost part of the intestine. “ Thus in
gravid uterus,” says Schmeidberg, “‘contractions may be caused ending
in abortion and premature labour.” It has ever been held a golden
rule in pregnaney not to give acrid or powerful purgatives at any time
during pregnancy. ‘The abortifacient effect of Kdarit may be pre-
sumed, in the cases recorded, to be probably of a secondary nature,
although it is not so stated in the Bombay Chemical Analyser’s report,
there being no details of the case forthcoming in that report.

DESCRIPTION OF PLATE G.

1. Terminal branch of the plant with leaves, fruits, male and female
flowers, in the axils of leaves.
2. Section transversely through the middle of the fruit.

107

BOMBAY GRASSES.
By Dr, J. C. Laszoa, F.L.S.
PART VI.
(Continued from Vol. VIT., p. 390.)

HORDE.
Triticum, Linn,

T. vulgare, Linn.

Ver.—Gohun, Mar. and Hind.

Several varieties of this cereal are cultivated in this and in other presidencies, ~
These varieties are chiefly distinguished by the colour (white or red), hardness or
softness, translucency or opacity, the size of the grain, and by their being bearded
or unbearded. Generally speaking, wheat is grown in those parts of India
which are situated to the north of the river Tapti in Guzerat, Khandesh and
Deccan ; but rarely is it cultivated anywhere south of the Deccan. It is said
that the wheat cultivated on the high table-land of the Deccan and in Maha-
bleshwar has in a given bulk about + more weight than that raised on the plains.
Below the Ghats wheat does not grow, as the climate does not suit it.

For the benefit of those who have no access to the Atlas prepared by
Mr. E, C. Ozanne, Director, Iand Records and Agriculture, Bombay Presidency,
I copy here the following extract :—

“ Wheat.—A cognate species, Triticum speltum or spelt, is commercially and
agriculturally a variety of wheat. Bombay shows samples of almost every
variety in considerable areas, except the soft whites, which command high prices
in the English market. The hard wheats are prized on the Continent for
macaroni and some confections, Tull the English miller can make free use of
hard wheats, there is little prospect of increased exports of Bombay wheats to
England, though Bombay and Karachi will continue to export the soft wheats
of Sind and the Punjab and North-West Provinces. Experiment has clearly
proved that it is futile to attempt to grow soft wheats where the climate favours
the hard varieties, and as futile to substitute red for white or vice versa, for the
colour is due to soil and not to the action of the cultivator. As wheat is either
grown alone or with rows of safflower or strips and borderings of linseed, the
complaint of admixture of mustard and other impurities of this kind cannot
apply to Bombay. Safflower ripens after wheat, and linseed is easily separated
in the winnowing. The admixture of earth from the threshing floor can be
appreciably diminished if the higher price for clean wheat will pay the
cultivator to exercise more care ; but it cannot be eliminated till the practice of
pulling the crop is superseded by cutting it with a sickle or by machine.

108 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VITL.

The admixture of earth made by middlemen and merchants for the purposes
of trade will last till the speculative dealmgs of the Bombay wheat traders
are superseded by sales based, nob on sample for forward delivery, but on
the quality and condition of the wheat ag it reaches the home markets.
Even steam wheat threshing, which is being introduced, cannot under present
conditions produce a perfectly clean sample, for particles of earth of the
size and specific gravity of the wheat grain must remain, Still the percentage
of such impurities is greatly reduced, say, to under one per cent., while the
refraction allowed is 3 or 4 per cent. Steam threshing cheapens the preparation
for the market, sets free the plough cattle from a harmful process, and gives
the chance to the grower of a larger share of the profits, which now unneces-
sarily goes into the pockets of middlemen.”

In Bombay, as has been said, the wheats which are grown are not largely in
demand in England, and there is no prospect of a largely increased area. The
growth ef wheat is not as greatly influenced by the price as some suppose.
Wheat is a late sown crop, and its area depends on the area of suitable land left
available after cotton or the early cereals have been provided for. Where cotton
is an early crop, its area is made as large as the season will allow, and in other
places land fit for wheat is always sown with other crops when the early rainfall
gives prospect of their success. There are not extensive areas of land now
uncultivated fit for wheat cultivation, nor will the extension of railways in this
Presidency have as large an effect im encouraging the growth of wheat, aided by
brisk export demand, as some writers allege. ‘There is hope that the out-turn of
present areas will be increased, perhaps very greatly increased, by better culti-
vation and more liberal use of manure. But the manure must come from
outside in the shape of artificial manure, and the improvement in cultivation
must be first studied and then taught by experiment, without which no large
increase in yield can be expected.

The usual division into hard and soft white and hard and soft red applies to
the Bombay wheats. ‘The spelt variety is classed as a hard: red. It is import-
ant to specify clearly the areas in which each variety is successful.

Hard white is the dry crop wheat (hansia, &c.) of all Guzerat, except certain
parts of Ahmedabad ; and of the Deccan (wivla). It shares with hard red the
wheat tracts of Khandesh, while in that district hard white (ans?) is also
largely grown under canal, channel, and well irrigation. In the Deccan a very
fine variety of hard white (Jakshz) is grown in the elevated plateau of Parner
Taluka as a dry crop, and it is well known all over the Deccan and Bombay
Karnatak as the best irrigated variety, though its growth is circumscribed by
its great liability to rust; and in these provinces the result is, that spelt, which is

BOMBAY GRASSES. 109

practically rust-proof, is by far the most common of the irrigated wheats. The
dry-crop hard white hag everywhere an occasional and sometimes @ normal
tendency to become bellied (potha) or soft. In the finest wheat tracts of
Nasik and Ahmednagar the pivla wheat usually keeps its hardnegs and colour,
But with heavy rain in December the percentage of soft grains is very large,
and this tendency cannot by cultivation, care, or otherwise, be lessened. In
moister tracts, bordering on such localities as those named or elsewhere, the nor-

al condition of the hard white is a semi-softness, and the most characteristic
semi-soft white is the diud khdani, These names refer greatly to the consist-
ency and colour of the varieties, though their origin is presumed by some to be
the result of importation, which theory has little support.

Hard red wheat is the dry-crop wheat of the Bombay Karndtak, where dry
white wheat is unknown. The irrigated spelt common, as above shown, in the
Deccan and Karndtak is classed as a hard red. It has at times been in. extra-
ordinary demand on the Continent. It is a large cropper and a safe crop, but
these advantages are somewhat counterbalanced by the adherent glume which
necessitates pounding to separate it from the grain, as careful and severe as in
the case of rice. The hard red wheats of the Karnitak are the best of the
kind. Hard red is the largest grown dry variety in Khandesh and a large
crop in the south talukas of Ahmedabad in what is called the Bhal country (see
Ahmedabad Summary). Hard red is grown under irrigation in some parts of
Guzerat, practically the same as those which grow the soft red vajia to be
described, though perhaps the area of such hard red is larger than that of the
soft red and perhaps more extensive, penetrating further on all sides beyond the
limits of soft red. This variety~is not liked by millers, who assert that its
strength is diminished by irrigation.

Soft red is only largely grown in Ahmedabad and with lrigation. It is the
commonest irrigated wheat of that district and of parts of Broach and Kaira,
which are close to the southern talukas of Ahmedabad. It is called VA, U.0.,
garden wheat ; but it has been seen that the vajia is also an irrigated hard red.

Soft white is only grown in the Maval taluka of Poona. It may be occa-
Sionaily seen in parts of the Panch Mahals. Its area in Bombay is thus
exceedingly small, and it is not susceptible of increase. Soft white from the
Central Provinces and from Australia have been successfully grown on experi-
mental areas in Khandesh ; but though the out-turn after the second year is
very excellent, the change in consistency is enough to cause the merchant to
class it as a mixed hard and soft,

Wheat straw is a poor fodder, but it is in wheat tracts the chief food of the
cattle. As all the wheats of the Bombay Presidency out of Sind with which

110 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII,

province these crop notes do not deal are bearded wheats, and as the crop is
trodden out by cattle, the fodder must be broken very fine indeed to prevent the
awns sticking in the gullets of the cattle, ‘The bruising is well done by the
steam thresher, which largely separates the innutritious awns from the chaff.
Spelt straw is almost inedible by cattle.

Wheat is a rotation crop generally, but the red -dry wheat of the Bhal country
of Ahmedabad is always, andthe pivia of Nasik and Ahmednagar, is some-
times, grown continuously.

Wheat in this country is exceedingly liable to damage from weevil, especial-
ly if storage in Bombay is attempted. It is preserved with great skill in grain
pits, and it may be noticed that in Guzerat the preservation is improved by
throwing a handful of quicksilver into a large pit. Samples in airtight bottles
with quicksilver in very minute quantities can be kept sound for years. The
high specific eravity of the mercury makes separation very easy and complete.

As to the composition of wheat, the following extract is taken from Church’s
<“ Food Grains of India,” p. 93 :—

“The composition of wheat grain shows some variations, but they are
almost entirely limited to the relative proportions of starch and of nitrogenous
matters, although the mineral matters or ash, and indeed all the minor consti-
tuents of the grain, are, of course, not quite fixed in amount. Stillif a wet season
increases the percentage of ash, if a thin-skinned, well-developed sample contains
less fibre, and if a plump dark-coloured specimen has a larger proportion of
oil or fat, all such variations are quite unimportant in comparison with those
exhibited by the starch and albuminoids. The starch, always constituting as it
does something like two-thirds of the weight of the grain, does not show the
difference in go marked a manner as the albuminoids. If the latter amount to
18 to 20 per cent. instead of 13, the former constituent will not be reduced
(from 68) to less than 63 or 61 per cent.—a reduction which, in comparison
with the total amount present, is much less conspicuous than a rise from 13 to
20 in the nitrogenus compounds,”

Besides the general dryness of the grain of Indian wheat, which as imported
in bulk in this country and analyzed properly contains at least 2 per cent. less
moisture than average English wheat, the albuminoids are decidedly higher. I
have never yet met with an Indian wheat containing less than 10 per cent. of
albuminoids ; but a large number of samples of first rate English, Canadian and
Australian samples give numbers between 8 and 9. The average percentage of
albuminoids in the Indian examples yeb analyzed is about 13°5, but some
specimens haye been as low as 10°3 and some as high as 16°7.

BOMBAY GRASSES. 11

Much of the Indian wheat, whether white or red, has that translucent aspect
which generally indicates a high percentage of albuminoids.

In 1867 (“ Practice with Science,” i, pp. 101—111, 345—348) T pointed out
some of the chief relationships between the aspect, density, weight per bushel,
productiveness, and chemical composition of wheat grain, showing more parti-
cularly that the exclusion of small proportion of the lightest of the grains in a
seed corn tells very favourably upon the yield, and also that there is a very
intimate connection between the translucency or horny character of a grain and
a high percentage of aloumimoids, and, again, between the softness and opacity
of a grain and a high percentage of starch, Such differences in the composition
of wheat grain show themselves, not merely in different varieties of wheat, but
even in the same variety of wheat when it has been grown under different
conditions of climate or season. liven in the grains from a single ear similar
differences may be seen—analysis showing sometimes 3 or 4 per cent. more
albuminoids in some of such grains than in others. Often a single ear will be
partly horny and partly opaque and soft; in that case its composition will
correspond with its intermediate aspect. By examining the cut surface of a
grain which has been cut transversely with a sharp knife, a fair notion of its
richness or poverty in albuminoids may indeed be easily gained.

Average composition of Indian wheat—

In 100 parts. In 1 Ib.
Wraterincacacss Seucica senmasemenactse a lies). 2 0z. 0 gts.
Albuminoids ........- conoscencese BUS PAD eros OO) oe
SUBIRED — céooocasdas Sagsececonocsece ) (ste! LOG jt boa
Oi ea, Stato Oh ee Sal
JMG corenocee Acaecedacnecee morceo 9 PAR! On ESO a.
Wainy aati sitet ie Ba Get Sse) Ons arebt 9)

The nutrient ratio is here 1to 5:2 and nutrient value 84°6. It should be
added that the starch above-named contains a small quantity (about 2 per cent.)
of the sugar or sugars found in many cereals, but this may be regarded as nob
appreciably lowering the nutrient value of the 68°4 parts set down as “ starch.”

The ash of wheat, though not large in amount, is of great importance as a
source of mineral nutrient when this grain is used as human food, about 30
per cent, of it being potash and 45 per cent. phosphoric acid,

There is no record of this useful cereal having been found in a wild state.
It has been cultivated everywhere time out of mind. There are authors,
however, who think that it is the result of the cultivation of a Species of
yylops, which is now admitted to be a section of Triticum. Tb is stated by
Bentham and Hooker (Genera Plantarum, 1204) that iy, ylops is represented

112 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

by a few species, “ quarum 203 facile formas hibridas gignunt cum 7iticis
cultis eb a nonnullis pro typis primordiabilis Triticoram habentur.”

Some people in Poona confound with wheat grass a species of Andropogon
common in the Deccan named Andropogon triticeus, R. Br. (Heteropogon
insignis, Thw.). In external form of inflorescence they slightly resemble each
other.

OrRoPETIUM, T77in.

O. thomeium, Trin., Tund. 98; Kunth Suppl. T. 38, fig. V; Dalz. and
Gibs., Bomb., Flor. 800; Rattbeilia Thomai, Willd. Sp. I. 466 ; Roxb. Cor.
Pl, 133,

Culms many together, erect, one inch high. ligula small, membranous.
Leaves numerous, bifarious, subulate. Spike one inch long, terminal, solitary,
cylindrical, subulate. Spikelets one-flowered, hermaphrodite, sessile, imbricate
and immersed alternately like those of Rottbellia and Ophiurus in the excava-
tions of the rachis. Two outer glumes empty, the first or the lowest linear,
membranous ; the second boat-shaped, acute ; the third or the flowering glume
membranous, hyaline, shorter than the empty glumes.

This curious diminutive grass is confined to India, and said to grow on old
walls, My specimens are from Sind, where it is stated to be not uncommon.
It grows also in open ground in the plains of the Punjab ; also in Rajputana, in
Agra and Etawa.

Nothing is known about its uses. It is too small to be of any value as fodder.

Horprum, Linn. Gen.

AZ, vulgare, Linn, Beau. Agr. T. 21, Fig. I.

AT, hexastichon, Roxb, Fl. Ind. I., 358.

Ver.—Satiu, Jaw, Yaw, Jove, Godthi (Mar. and Hindi, Bombay), Jab,
Bengal (Watt.), Juba (Roxb.), Chak, Jawa, Shotak, Soa, Yangma Wo, Barley.

It is cultivated in various parts of the Presidency in Guzerat, Ahmedabad,
Kaira, and in the Deccan ; in the latter country chiefly as an offering to
gods, and in the north of Guzerat is used as food. It makes much better broth
than that made with pearl barley. The authors of the “Bombay Flora” state
that the brewing of beer from malted barley has keen tried in Meahableshwar,
Poona, and Karachi, but uniformly without success, the mean temperature being
too high during fermentation. Mr. Meakin prepares beer in Dapory, but it is
not ascertained whether the barley used was malted in this country.

There are two varieties cultivated in India, one the two-rowed (Z. distichon),
and the other the six-rowed (ZH. hexastichon). The latter is much cultivated in
Northern India and in most of the temperate parts of Hindustan during the
cold season, either alone or mixed with wheat, gram, linseed, mustard, &c.

BOMBAY GRASSES. 113

The following information is kindly furnished from the Office of the Director,

Land Records and Agriculture, Bombay Presidency :—
** In the Bombay Presidency barley is not a principal cereal. In 1889-90 the
total area under barley cultivation was only 35,800

ACRES ° A 0
Cit Ae ee 19,697 BCTeS, or about 0°3 per ein of whe total area,
I cee eee 6,558 ‘The details are shown in the margin. In the
Panch Mahals ........0+. 1,364 Presidency proper the principal barley cultivation
Ahmednagar ....ccccecee BBG p F 5
en ne Segoe . 1,174 38 seen in Ahmedabad and Kaira, where, owing to
Sholapores.<.pcscacssarais: 1,364 the fact that it is nob subject to the wheat blight, it
Satalaliessswarsceeasatvesces 5,245 thre a c Pal es 7
ace ee woes 8 favourite rain crop in the Gorat o light brown
Hyderabad ssessscccsecoee 5,935 tracts. It is generally an after-crop in garden rich
ShiKArpUr...ceccsrersereree 3,003 lands, or in soils too sandy and open for wheat,
We Ss Hirontiere.-ccdssnese 194

It is always irrigated and manured, The grain is
less appreciated than wheat, and the straw, which is
considered more nourishing than wheat straw, is chopped and given to cattle
with the husk. It is less important in the Deccan, where it is used chiefly in
the preparation of a ready-cooked food called Sdtuche pith, The grain is
parched, then ground and mixed with a small proportion of gram and wheat
flour, and flavoured with spices. The grain is also used in certain religious
ceremonies. The two-rowed naked barley (4. gymnodistichon) from the.
North-West Provinces and Oudh is being experimentally cultivated on the
Bhadgaon Farm with fair success.”

As to the composition, I copy here the following from Church’s “ Food
Grains of India” :—

“ Barley is sown and cultivated in the same way as wheat, but needs fewer
ploughings. It is often grown with wheat or pulse.

Composition of barley (husked)—

Thar and Parkar ..... 475

In 100 parts. In 1 Ib.
Water... noenironriarcagancopooos | ae Py Way 0) ash
AO WITONIOONGIS Gonchoree coomoonouoeD ILS 1 SO Siers
NHaRCHMakeenimeapetatcccctssrsetewosie, a0 UG are aM ites
Batiatesescncsncceiaesr esas Neucccwscas re rete Olle
Biioteleacdecuescecscssnsccsicsestesecs | 1200 Oar Lome.
JANSIOL sogbsorqaccascobod Metaslonscns Sipe Oe tae

The nutrient ratio is here 1 to 6°3, and the nutrient value 84:5.

The above analysis of a roughly-cleaned or husked sample of Indian barley
shows that it contains a higher percentage of albuminoids than average
European barleys. ‘This fact is confirmed by the examination of other Indian
samples, At the same time it must be recollected that it is inferior to Indian
wheat in this particular, just ag the hundreds of analyses which have now been

15

114 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII. .

made of European barley show that it likewise gives a lower average percentage
of albuminoids than European wheat. When barley is completely cleaned or
pearled, it loses a very large proportion of its albuminoids, so that European
pearl barley (barley yields but 38 per cent. of pearl barley) does not usually
show more than six or seven per cent. of albuminoids. The “ pearl dust” and
“fine dust’ separated in its preparation, and amounting together to 40
per cent. of the original grain, are, however, much richer, containing 12 or 14
per cent. of albuminoids. Indian pearl barley would, however, in all pro-
bability contain as much as ten per cent.

Barley, as it is prepared for human food in India, is generally considered to
be rather difficult of digestion. It is grown and eaten throughout the whole of
the Patna Division. With wheat it forms an important staple diet in the
Benares and surrounding divisions, The grain is usually cleaned by pounding
in wooden mortars and winnowings. ‘The grain is treated in one or other of
the following ways :—

(1) Ground into coarse meal and made into chapatti, either alone or
with wheat meal. In Tirhut a mixture is used of barley one part
and Indian corn three parts.

(2) Parched and ground into coarse flour called Stéttu; this is stirred up
with sufficient water to make a thick paste, to this a little salt is
added, and the preparation is eaten with garlic, onions or chillies,
This mixture, gencrally admixed with flour of gram or other seeds
or grains, forms the chief food of the larger part of the peasantry
of Shahabad. .

Barley alone, or even in admixtures, is generally thought to be rather difficult
of digestion, at least in the form in which the grain is prepared for food in
India. Barley mixed with horse gram forms an excellent food for horses, and
is known as “ adour.”

From an observation made in a preceding paragraph, it will have been
remarked. how very closely the pearl barley prepared in Europe approaches rice
in its nutrient ratio. The Indian cleaned barley is, as we have seen, much
richer in albuminoids. This arises from two causes, one of which is the
higher percentage of nitrogen naturally present in the average whole barley
grain as grown in India ; the other is the imperfect way in which the Indian

“barley is cleaned previous to use as food. Some room there is evidently for
improvements in the mode of carrying out the cleaning or pearling operation,
A recently invented Dutch process might be used. It produces a pearled grain
of larger size than that obtained by the usual operation. The pearled grain
attains a higher percentage ; its shape is nob spherical, but much resembles

BOMBAY GRASSES. 115

that of the whole grain, and it is richer than the ordinary sort in oil, mineral
matters and albuminoids.
‘ BAMBUSEA,

This tribe is represented in this Presidency by five or six species, I have
received flowering specimens of only three. Of the remaining my knowledge is
derived from books,

Bampusa, Schreber.

B. arundinacea, Retz., Roxb. Cor. Pl. t. 79 ; Fl. Ind. Il. 191; Dalz, and
Gibs., Bomb. Fl., 299 ; Bed. Fl. Sylv. t. 321.

Ver.—Vansa, Bans, Mandgay (Bombay), Man Venduru (Telugu).

Stem tall, up to 30 to 80 ft. high, green, shining densely cespitose in clumps
of 30 to 100, hollow-jointed, with numerous spinescent branches, Cavity small,
walls thick, Thorns double or triple, at the root of the branches ; when triple,
the middle one the largest ; all strong, sharp and sometimes curved (rarely absent).
Leaves sheathing, 2 to 8 in. long, 3 to 1 inch broad, short petioled lanceolate,
broader at the base, rounded at the apex, generally glabrous, the upper surface
and margins backwardly hispid, sometimes scattered short hairs on the under
surface. Sheaths coriaceous, 12 in. long, somewhat downy, with scattered
hairs on each side of the mouth. Spathe deciduous, 1 to 1% feet long, glaucous
inside, and terminating in a long point. Flowers appear at long intervals,
probably at the age of 30 years. During inflorescence, the stem with a few
scattered leaves ; the whole covered with numerous half-verticelled spikes ; each
verticel composed. of several sessile, glabrous, 6 to 12 flowered spikelets ; fertile
flowers 3 to 10 in each spikelet. Empty glumes 2 to 4; flowering glumes
3 to 10, the upper generally sterile or staminiferous, all thickened and mucronate,
glabrous, sometimes shorter than the palea, not ciliate at the edges. Palea often
longer ; edges fimbriate. Scales two, hyaline, fimbriate, Stamens 6, free at the
base ; anthers with an obtuse glabrous point. Ovary glabrous ; style slightly
enlarged at the base, soon deeply divided in 2 to 3 long plumose branches,
Caryopsis linear oblong, 4 inch long, enclosed in the flowering glume and palea,

This bamboo occurs in Belgaum, Khandeish, Dangs, at Sironcha on the
Godavery, Malabar and Canara; abundant throughout the Madras Presidency,
up to the elevation of 3,000 ft; at the base of the Satpura range ; Jubbulpore,
Bengal, and cultivated in the sub-Himalayan tract in the Punjab and elsewhere,

The culm which attains a height of 60 to 80 ft., or higher along the coast,
and a diameter of 6 to 8 in., is by far the most important of several species. It
supphes poles and rafters for building purposes, scaffolding, ladders, fencing,
trellis-work, fishing rods, window and door blinds, and in the manufacture of
chairs, sofas, baskets and winnowing fans, &c. The rhizome and young shoots
are made into preserves, pickles, and cooked with spices is made into relishing
dishes. Mr. Lettridge says that this and other species are capable of being
employed in the manufacture of paper. Long immersion of bamboos in water,

116 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

or, better still, in salt water, for 8 to 4 days, or in a solution of sulphate of iron
or lime water renders them more durable. Salt water is said to make them proof
against attacks of insects (Bostrichi and their larvee). i

This bamboo and several other species flower in about 30 to 52 years ; the culti-
vated, I believe, at shorter periods. When such an occurrence takes place, the
whole tract, extending over many miles, is in full flower. It sometimes happens,
however, that a few bamboos of a cluster flower in each year, when the flowermg
goes on every succeeding year with the other bamboos of the cluster. Both in
this species and in others the flowering is followed by the death of the stems,
so that, after seasons of general flowering, a whole district presents for some time
the spectacle of a large forest of dried up clumps (Bedd.). The product of the
flowering of the bamboos is a fruit called by the Indians rice or seed, which is
consumed by the poorer classes in lieu of common rice or other grain,
A very palatable bread is said to be made of the flour of the bamboo seed,
although its colour is somewhat dark. Diarrhoea and dysentery and even
fever are caused by the use of this diet. Indians believe that fever is severer
in those years in which the general flowering takes place. In the scarcity
of 1812 in Orissa, of 1864 in Kanara, and of 1866 in Malda, this rice formed
the principal article of food of the poor population of those districts ; hence,
perhaps, the belief entertained by some Government officials that the bamboo
only flowers in seasons of general scarcity. General Munro says that the rice of
B. arundinacea furnished in 1864 food for 50,000 persons in Kanara. In the
hollow of this and of some other bamboos there is a silicious substance named
Tabashir. This is at first in a rather liquid state, but in time becomes solid,
Tt is employed by the hakeems in the treatment of paralytical affections and as
a stimulant and aphrodisiac. The ashes of all bamboos are rich in silica,

Composition of bamboo grain (husked)—

In 100 parts, Tn Ib.
Water (tence spswocaaooadsccnagenaonna Ji) 1 oz. 332 qrs.

/ANTSVWATIITOY ES) Gag concdacuscoocseondoon LIES Il. Bets)
Starch PCertsseees Godden sGe0eeose0sg200 13°7 11 99 346 99

OU eee career tacks eclesaeeeceewe 06 (0) 99 42 99
ION ORS Gogadnobeansdedh diepeciiosiocsansse tr nkts O19 ae
Ash eocoe # peerceeocces @evcce Gee C008 Oe 12 0 9 64 9

The nutrient ratio is here 1 to 6°4, and the nutrient value 87. The food value
of bamboo grain, after the removal of the husk, is high ; its defects are due
to the low proportion of oil and of mineral matter. Of course, it cannot be
looked upon as a staple cereal, but as an occasional substitute for a deficient
rice or millet crop it has several times proved most serviceable, ‘The grain
of other kinds of bamboo is, in all probability, similar in composition to
that of B. arundinacea.

The bamboo described under the name of B. spinosa by Roxb. FI.
Ind, 11; Munro. Monograph 104; Bedd. Fi. Syly. 231, appears to be a

BOMBAY GRASSES. 117

variety of the last species, and differs from it in more solid culm, the triple
thorns, the central larger and often compound, and almost always present
throughout the whole plant, very strong and sharp ; leaves generally smaller,
often hairy on the lower surface ; a paler-coloured and more striated flower, panicle
smaller and more coriaceous spikelets and with fewer flowers. It is not men-
tioned in Dalz. and Gibs. Bombay Flora, nor in Graham’s Catalogue of Bombay
Plants.

B. vulgaris, Wendl., Munro, Monogr. Bomb. 106 ; Dalz. and Gibs. Bomb,
Fl, 299 ; Bedd. Fl. Sylv. Manual 233 ; Brand. Forest Fl. 568; B. thouarsii,
Kunt. I. 356 ; B. arundinacea, Aiton.

Ver.—Kulluk, or Bambu (Bomb.) ; Una gass (Ceylon).

Culm 29 to 50 ft. high, unarmed, green, yellow or mottled green and yellow ;
joints 4 to 6 in, diameter ; walls of the hollow stem thin, Branches green, striated
or sulcated. Sheaths hirsute above with dark hairs, Leaves thin, linear-
lanceolate, acute, 6 to 10 in, long, # to 13 in. broad, Flowering branches often
leaf bearing. Spikelets sessile, oblong-lanceolate, laterally subcompressed, 4 to 1 in,
long, glabrous, 4 to 12 flowered, distichous, appearing as bifid, fasciculate or on
long paniculate spikes. Empty glumes 2 ; flowering glumes ovate-lanceolate,
narrow at the base, mucronate and ciliate at the apex ; fimbriate keels of palea
appear at the top of the flowering glume. Lodicules transparent, thin. Anthers
with short hairs at the apex. Style long, filiform, hirsute, divided at the end
into 2 or 38 stigmas,

This species grows in Ceylon, where it is known as Una, Indian Archipelago,
tropical America, and the West Indies (Brandis, For. FI.), Cultivated in the
Western Deccan, Poona, Satara, Kholapore, Silhet, Cachar, Chittagong, and in
the Eastern Punjab, Those who go to Mahableshwar through the Satara Road
must have seen it planted along its margins,

For remarks on the uses of this species see notes appended to the description
of B. arundinacia.

B. arundo, Kiem, Nees, Linn. IX, 471; Stend. Synop. Pl. Gramin Ef.
329 ; Dalz. and Gibs. Bomb. FI, 299.

Culm thorny ; mouths of the sheaths naked ; leaves (floral) orate-lanceolate,
6 to 7 in. long, 4 to 5 lines broad, rounded at the base, shortly-petioled, smooth ;
spike terminal, ample, leafy, the branches spreading, simple or compound ;
spikelets an inch long, erect, approximated in threes, upper ones alternate, 6 to 8
flowered ; culm 8 to 9 ft. high. Native name ‘“ Chiwaree,” Onthe Ghats, Of
this walking sticks are sold at Mahableshwar.”

I have not seen this flower,

Oxytenanthera Stochsit, Munro, Monog. 130,

Mr. Beddome has copied from Munro the following description, see p. 233:—

“ Culms slender ; internodes 4 to 7 in. long, glabrous ; the nodes with few
branchlets ; leaves linear, lanceolate ; imneronato acute at the apex ; cordate

118 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VILI.

rotundate at the base, or attenuated into a flat petiole, 3 to 4 in. long by 4 to 6 lines
broad, hirsute or glabrous above, hirsute beneath ; primary veins 4 to 5 on each side,
inconspicuous ; sheath striated, often pubescent when young, glabrous in age ;
mouth fimbriate, inflorescence as in No, 1; verticels sometimes 14 inches in
- diameter, very dense, almost echinate ; spikelets about 6 lines long ; sterile, very
acute, glabrous, 4 to 5 flowered, the 2 lower florets unipaleaceous, shining on the
back, mucronate at the apex ; the 2 next bipaleaceous and fertile, the upper one
very short or obsolete, the lower palea membranaceous ; striato nervose subulate,
with a long spine at the apex ; margin glabrous ; the upper palea in the fourth
flower convex obtuse, in the third bicarinate obtuse, the keels fimbriate.
Stamens 6 monadelphous shortly mucronate or nearly obtuse or apiculate with
1 to 2 greenish hairs, Style 2 to 3 cleft at the apex ; ovary (young) hirsute at
the apex.’—Junro. Monogr., p. 180.

Konkan Ghats. I have not seen this ; its leaves are said to be exactly like
those of Dendrocalamus strictus ; it is distinguished from the last by the short
points to the anthers and its striated membranous lower palea.

I have received an imperfect flowering branch of a bamboo cultivated in
Cumpta. It approaches in part to O. monostygma of Beddome.

Dendrocalamus strictus. Nees, Munro. Monogt. Bom. 147; Bedd. Fl.
Sylv. t. 325; Brand. For. Fl. 569; Bambusa stricta, Roxb. Fl, Ind., U,
198; Dalz. and Gibs. Bomb, Fl. 299.

Ver.—Bas, Bans (North India), Bas, Udha (Dalz and Gibs.).

Culms straight, up to 30 to 40 ft. high, nearly solid, or with a very narrow
cavity, variously bent; branches often leafless, numerous, rigid or flexuose,
horizontal or spreading in all directions. Sheaths at the base of the branches
striated, coriaceous, very smooth and shining inside, 8 to 10 in, long, terminat-
ing into a long apex. Leaves shortly-petioled, lanceolate distichous, hairy
above and below, rounded at the base, variable in size, generally 3 to 9 in., ¢ to 1
inch broad. Spikelets spinescent, 3 to 9 lines long, in dense globular heads.
1 to 4 inch in diameter, arranged in long interrupted spikes. Empty glumes 2 to 6,
flowering glumes 2 to 3, acute or with a spimescent point. Palea of lower flower
sometimes 2-keeled. Keels ciliate of upper flower convex, glabrous. Stamens
6. Ovary stipitate hairy. Style long hirsute. Stigma plumose, entire.
Caryopsis ovoid 3 to 4 lines long, ovate, narrowed into the hairy style.

Indigenous and cultivated everywhere in this Presidency, common also in
Madras, up to 3,500 ft. in Bengal, Burma and Punjab. Absent from Sind.
In Ceylon it is found only in a cultivated form,

The three most important species are B. arundinacea, B. vulgaris, and Denr-
drocalamus strictus. The latter attains, as already stated, 20-40 ft., sometimes
in good soil 100 ft. All this growth is attained within a year, The stem dies
after flowering and ripening its seed. I have seen it in flower during the
months of December and January. Its stem is solid and elastic, and is used for

BOMBAY GRASSES. 119

making spear handles, baskets, roofing, and for all the purposes for which
SB, arundinacea is used, " y

CONCLUSION.—In these Papers I have described all the species of erasses
received from Guzerat, Deccan, Thana, Bassein, Dharwar and North Kanara,
No specimens were sent from Sawuntwary, Rutnagherry, Malvan, and from
Sind, A few which have been enumerated in my papers as belonging to the
latter “place were supplied tome by Mr, Woodrow, Professor of Botany and
Agriculture of the Poona College of Science. I have reasons to believe that
the lists from Guzerat and from other localities explored by me are far from
being complete. I have received lately specimens of —

Oplismenus undalitifolius, Roem et Schult. Syst.11,482; Trin, Sp. Gram. 6. 196,

Polytoca, Sp. Nova, from the Konkan, hitherto undescribed,

Pennisetum chenchroides, Rich in Pers. Syst.; Nees in Linnei VII, 277;
Kunth, Enumi, 162,

Trichelena tenerife, Libth. Fl. Greec. t. 53 (Saccharum) ; Trin. Sp. Gram.
t. 317. From Sind, given by Mr. Woodrow,

Latipes senegalensis, Kunth Gram. t, 42: Lapago viflora, Roxb. Fi.
Tnd. I, 281; Dalz. and Gibs. Bomb. Fl. 295. From Sind (by Mr. Woodrow),
In Mr, Graham’s Catalogue of the Bombay Plants, Domus is given as a locality
where this grass is found to grow.

Even in their present state, my papers must be considered as a useful con-
tribution to the Bombay Agristology, and will, I hope, be acceptable ag a euide
to those who may wish to enter into this field of study, which is not as yet
exhausted.

Persons who have never considered the subject are not aware of the diffi-
culties one has to encounter in an undertaking of this kind. I had to work,
as stated elsewhere, under great disadvantages ; but I went on with patience and
cheerfulness, because the work I had undertaken was a labour of love,

I reiterate here my heartfelt thanks to the Government of Bombay for their
Resolution recommending the Forest Officers to supply me with grasses of their
respective districts to assist me in my studies, and also to the officers themselves
for having willingly complied with the recommendation, of Government. My
thanks are also due to Mr, Campbell, Collector of Customs, for having first
drawn my attention to, and urging me as it were to undertake, this study of
Bombay Grasses, the description of which was incomplete and imperfect,

Before I finish this, I must mention that at the end of the description of the
species I have given, as far as possible, their uses as fodder oTasses,

120 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

“THE LOCUSTS OF BENGAL, MADRAS, ASSAM, AND BOMBAY.
By E. C. Cores.
(With one plate.)

A report has recently been issued on the subject of Acridiwm peregrinum,
which is par excellence the locust of North-Western India.t In gathering to-
gether the materials upon which this report was based, information was
obtained concerning other locusts which have from time to time proved
destructive in Bengal, Madras, Assam, and Bombay. The present report,
therefore, is intended to record what has been ascertained about these other
locusts. To complete the subject, ashort réswmé has been added of what is
known of the chief locusts that are found in other parts of the world.

The principal sources of information have been the reports and specimens
furnished by the Revenue and Agricultural Department of the Government of
India, and by the Agricultural Sections of the various Local Governments in
India, but reference has also been made to the more important papers published
in the United States, Algeria, and Europe, on the subject of locusts.

A short preliminary sketch of a portion of this paper was submitted in
November, 1889, since which date a good deal of fresh information has
accumulated.

The writer takes this opportunity to acknowledge the help which has been
most kindly afforded by Dr. Henri de Saussure in identifying species.

Locusts IN BENGAL,

In Bengal, it is chiefly in the comparatively dry country to the west that
locusts appear, though occasionally flights traverse the whole of Bengal and
even penetrate into Assam, These flights are composed of insects belonging
to different species, and there are at least three distinct sources from which
they come. In the first place, flights of Acridium peregrinum occasionally
penetrate from the North-West frontier into Bengal. This was the case both
in 1863 and 1890. An account of what is known of these flights is given in
the report on Acridium peregrinum. Secondly, flights occasionally penetrate
into Bengal from the highlands of Southern India, and in these cases they
probably belong to some of the various species which occasionally prove
destructive to crops in the Madras and Bombay Presidencies and in the
Central Provincest. This was probably the case with the flights of 1877 and
1878, notices of which are given below. ‘Thirdly, flights are believed occa-

* Reprinted from Indian Museum Notes with the permission of the Trustees.

f See Journal, Bombay Natural History Society, Vol. VI, page 242.

1 The chief of these species are said to be Acridiwm succinctum, Pachytylus cinerascens,
Acridium eruginosum, Acridium melanocorne, Tryxalis turrita, Hieroglyphus Surcifer ,
Caloptenus erubescens,; Caloptenus eruginosus, Cyrtacanthacris ranacea, Oxya furcifera, Eu-
prepocnemis bramina, Oxya velox, and Chrotogonus sp.

ynal, Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. VII}.

ACR DIUM eS UC CIN PUM INN,

he

ulrabotty. dal.

yin
Bt tyd 1

LOCUSTS OF BENGAL, MADRAS, ASSAM, & BOMBAY. 19%

sionally to arise locally?. This is probably what happened in 1881, when a
flight invaded the Manbhum District from hills in Hazaribagh. No informa-
tion has yet been obtained on the subject of the identity of these local
species ; they may, perhaps, in some cases have belonged to the species
Acridium suecinetum.

Whatever the origin of the flights, the injury done by them in Bengal has
never been very extensive, and no special measures have been adopted against
them. According to a report, dated 14th July, 1883, by Mr. W. H. Grimley,
low-class Mahomedans and Hindoos are said to store the locust, both for food
and also in order to extract an oil believed to be useful in the treatment of
gout and rheumatism, but upon the whole the pest is of no very great im-
portance.

The following is an abstract of the records of the invasions of locusts
other than Aeridiun peregrinum in Bengal :—-

In 1862 locusts visited Monghyr and did considerable damage to the crops
(Report, dated 26th June, 1890, by the Commissioner of Bhagulpore and the
Santhal Parganas). We have no clue to the identity of this locust, except that
in this, as in the following instances, the year was not one in which Acridium
peregrinum was prevalent in its regular breeding grounds in North-Western
India ; so it is pretty certain that the species was not Acridiwm peregrinum.
In 1865 locusts passed over Manbhum, without, however, doing serious
damage to the harvest (Hunter’s Gazetteer); they also appeared in this year in
Durbhunga (Mr. W. H. Grimley’s Report, dated 14th July, 1883).

In 1873 they are said to have passed over part of the Burdwan District
(Commissioner of Burdwan’s Report, dated 28th April, 1890), In 1877 they
visited Monghyr and did considerable damage to the crops (Commissioner of
Bhagulpore and the Santhal Parganas’ Report, dated 26th June, 1890); a
flight was also observed in this year in the neighbourhood of Patna (Mr. Scott’s
Note), and a specimen obtained from it on 1st July, 1877, by Mr. Scott has
recently been identified by Dr. Henri de Saussure as closely allied to the
Species Acridium succinctum. In 1878 locusts, which had probably strayed
from the flights then prevalent in the Madras Presidency, appeared in the
Patkour subdivision of the Santhal Parganas from the south, but did not
alight (Commissioner of Bhagulpore and the Santhal Parganas’ Report, dated
25th June, 1890). They also appoared in small numbers in Orissa, but did no
appreciable damage (Babu C. N. Ghose’s Report, dated 20th February, 1890),
and passed over Chumparan (Mr, W. H. Grimley’s Report, dated 14th July,
1883). In 1881 a flight of local origin appeared in Manbhum and did some

2 With regard to the origin of locusts in the Durbhunga District, the Commissioner of
Patna reported (16th July, 1890) that the swarms were said to come from the Darjeeling
Hills, though some authorities were of opinion that they breed in the large tract of grass
jungles that fringe the river Ganges, The supposed inability of these local species to cross
any large body of wateris noticed in this report.
16

122 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

slight injury. The following is an extract from a report, dated 14th July, 1883,
by Mr. W. H. Grimley on the subject :—

“The subdivisional officer of Gobindpore, in the district of Manbhum, reports that,
ic June, 1881, a swarm of locusts visited the subdivision, extending over an area about
ten by five miles, and about a quarter of a mile high. They are said to have emerged
partly from the Lagoo Pahar, and partly from the Faresnath hill,in the Hazaribagh
District. Considerable numbers alighted on the young dhan seedlings, Indian-corn and
gondlee, which has just sprouted, and destroyed them. Much damage is said to have
been caused by the insects, but they did not stay for more than four or five hours.”
The insects were “ about four inches long with heads and wings of a red colour. A
large number were destroyed by the people, and some were eaten up by the kites and
crows, also by low--caste aborigines, They are said to possess the favour of shrimps oF
lobsters.” :

Locusts In Mapras.

Both in 1889 and 1890 flights of Acridium peregrinum from North-Western
India penetrated into the Madras. Presidency, and did slight damage over
considerable areas ; generally speaking, however, the locusts, which occasionally
prove destructive to crops in Madras, are of more local origin. There does
not appear to be any one species -which is invariably complamed of, but in
years of drought numerous species, which are ordinarily present in smali
numbers, multiply so as to injure the crops, some of them, however, being
much more destructive than others. An account of what bas been ascertained
about the flights of Acridiwm peregrinum, which penetrated into the Madras
Presidency in 1889 and 1890, has been given in the report on that species.
The following is a summary of what is known of the other species of locusts
that have proved injurious in the Madras Presidency :—

In 1866, a: year of scarcity, locusts appeared in one of the villages of
the Chingleput District, in the Madras Presidency, and did some damage
(Mr, W. R. Robertson’s Report, dated 23rd April, 1883). No information
has been obtained as to the identity of this insect.
~ In 1878, the last year of the great South Indian famine, locusts imvaded the
whole of the Madras Presidency, not generally doing a great amount of injury,
though in some cases the injury was sufficient seriously to increase the distress
caused by the famine. The young locusts began to appear in January, and
were found in great numbers in different districts from that date on till
September and October, the earlier swarms being found in the west and south
of the Presidency, and the latter ones in the north and east. The winged
locusts were first observed in the end of March and beginning of April in the
south-west (Wynaad and Nilgiris), and they afterwards spread over the
Presidency to the east and north, not finally disappearing in the north-east
until about November and December. They were supposed, at the time,
to have originated locally in hills and waste lands in different parts of the
Presidency. The evidence, however, seems rather to point to the locusts

LOCUSTS OF BENGAL, MADRAS, ASSAM, & BOMBAY. 193

having started, in the early part of the year, from the Wynaad and Nilgiri
Hills, in the scuth-west, and thence to have werked their way, with the
prevailing wind, over the Presidency to the north and east, occasionally stop-
ping to feed or to deposit their eggs in the ground ; for it is otherwise difficult
to account for the fact of their appearing so much earlier in the south-west
than in the north-east. Little is known of the life-history of the insects, but
it may be noticed that locusts were observed pairing in the Salem District in
the latter part of June, and also that the young locusts, which were found in
the early part of May in the Udamalpet taluq, were supposed to be the off-
spring of the large flights of winged locusts which had appeared in the pre-
_ ceding February in the same talug. The connection between the autumn
broods of young locusts and those which appeared in the early part of the
year has not been made out satisfactorily.

Of the measures adopted against these locusts, the most successful seem to
have been :—the destruction of the swarms of young wingless locusts by
driving them into lines of burning straw ; the preventing of the flights of winged
locusts from settling in the fields by lighting fires, beating drums, and waving
branches and cloths in the air, as soon as a flight appeared ; and the driving
ef the winged locusts out of the fields, when they had already alighted, by
beating through the crops. itis said thatin cases where winged flights were
driven persistently through a number of villages, without being allowed to
settle, the locusts perished without doing injury. The above account of the
Madras locust invasion of 1878 is chiefly taken from the official reports pre-
served in the Proceedings of the Revenue and Agricultural Department of the
Government of India. With regard to the identity of the insects concerned
in the Madras locust invasion of 1878, nothing seems to have been ascertained
at the time of the invasion, though the insects were spoken of in one of the
reports as belonging to the species Locusta migratoria. This, however, may
pessibly have been due to the fact that the locust of Central Europe is often
referred to in old entomology books under this antiquated name; much
importance, therefore, cannot be attached to the indentification, and the only
clue which we possess lies in the specimens preserved in the collections of the
Central Museum, Madras, From this museum a set of specimens, which are
supposed to represent the Madras locust of 1878, have been kindly furnished
by Mr. Edgar Thurston, They have been identified by Dr. Henri de Saussure
and prove to comprise no less than six very distinct species, which are as
follows: (1) Acridiwm wruginosum, Burm., represented by five or six
specimens which vary a good deal in the arrangement of the wing markings,
(2) Acridium melanocorne, Serv., var., (3) Tryxalis turrita, Linn., (4) Meco-
poda sp., (5) Euprepocnemis sp., represented in each case by one or at most
two specimens, (6) a specimen, ina very poor state of preservation, which
belongs either to the species Puchytylus mégratorius or to Pachytylus
cinerascens.

124 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

In July, 1890, locusts were noticed in the Ganjam collectorate, the following
being the Collector’s report to the Revenue Board, Madras, on the subject :—

“1 have the honour to inform you that on the 24th instant I visited Purushottapur in
order to see whether anything could be done to destroy the locusts reported to be doing
s0 much mischief there.

“ T had two large ‘bag nets’ made of bamboo matting, 15 feet long, and hoped that
I might have been able to do something with them ; but am sorry to say that all
attempts ended in failure. I also attempted to drive the insects into trenches, but
without success. The reason for the failure is, that the insects, which are of four or
five different kinds, succeed in evading the net or the drive, the large ones by flying
away when approached, the smaller ones by dropping to the ground and clinging
there, so that nothing would remove them which would not at the same time root out
altogether the crop. The number of large brown insects which seem to be really
locusts is comparatively small, the great bulk are small brown and green grass-hoppers,
which are in myriads. A great deal of damage has undoubtedly been done. The pest
extends over about 10 square miles, chiefly in the Pubbakhandam mutah of the Berham-
pore taluk, Of one hundred and four villages (including Agraharams and Mokhasas)
in the mutah, fifty-five are more or less affected and ten have suffered seriously.

“ All the villages most affected are near the Dalibhillo Tampara, the embankment of
which breached in the floods of last year and has not yet been repaired, in consequence
of which a large expanse of ground, usually under water, has been lying dry. The
ryots report that the insects first made their appearance in the vicinity of the Tam-
para, and 1 think it probable that they were brought out in unusual quantities owing
to the unusual extent of dry ground there. Steps are being taken now to repair the
embankment, and I trust that next year the Tampara will not afford so convenient a
breeding ground, and that the insects will either not re-appear or do so in diminished
numbers.”

Specimens were forwarded to the Indian Museum and were found to con-
sist of (1) ten adults and eight larve of Pachytylus cinerascens*, (2) four

1 These specimens were identified by Dr. Henri de Saussure ; the species is so closely allied
to Pachytylus migratorius, which is the common migratory locust of Central Europe, that it
is very doubtful as to whether the two forms are separable. Koppen indeed (vide Zool
Record, 1872, page 398) considers that P. cinerascens is only a variety of P. migratorius, and
the specimens of the two forms in the Indian Museum (as determined by Henri de Saus-
sure) seem to point to this being the case. According to the synopsis given on page 119 of
Dr. Saussure’s Prodromus Gidipodiorum, in P. cinerascens the male is smaller than the female,
the punctation on the pronotum is somewhat coarse, the notch in the carina is well marked,
and the teeth on the posterior femora are large ; while in P. migratorius the male is much
the same size as the female, and the punctation on the pronotum, the notch on the carina, and
the teeth on the posterior femora are less marked. To these characteristics Mons. Frey
Gessner adds that the carina on the thorax of P. cinerascens is elevated into a well-marked
ridge, while that of P. migratorius is much less distinct. These characteristics, however, seem
in the absence of any well-marked geographical boundary between the areas in which the
two forms occur, to be of scarcely sufficient importance to justify their separation into two
species, this being especially the case, as Dr. Saussure writes, that the females of the two
forms are often almost indistinguishable.

LOCUSTS OF BENGAL, MADRAS, ASSAM, & BOMBAY. 195

specimens of T’rywalis turrita, Linn., (3) one specimen of Oxya velox, Burm.,
(4) one specimen of a species which is probably Epacromia dorsalis, Thumb, ,
(5) one larvee of a grass-hopper probably belonging to the genus Qidalus, Of
these the immature specimens are probably the “small brown and green
grass-hoppers,” alluded to by the Collector as present in myriads, while the
full-grown specimens of Pachytylus cinerascens are likely to have been the
“locusts” mentioned as present in comparatively small numbers, Now,
Pachytylus cinerascens is one of the chief migratory locusts of Europe, where
it sometimes does a great deal of damage. The insect is essentially an
inhabitant of the temperate zone, and this would make it appear probable
that its permanent breeding-ground lies somewhere in the Nilgiri or other
hills, whence it might easily be carried upon the south-west monsoon across
the Presidency. The presence of nearly full-grown larve shows that the
original flight must have remained in the district sufficiently long to have
laid their eggs, and for the eggs to have hatched, and for the larve to have
passed through most of the early stages, a process which probably occupied
some months, In the Palearctic zone P. cinerascens ig said to lay its eggs in
the autumn, the young hatching out in the following summer, but we are ag
yet entirely in the dark as to the habits which the insect acquires when it
passes out of a temperate climate into a tropical one.

Locusts 1n Assam,

Assam is not generally troubled by locusts, though in the cold weather of
1890-81 a stray flight of Acridium peregrinum from North-Western India
penetrated into it, In 1879 also both the autumn and winter crops in Now-
gong were reported by the Director of Agriculture to have been largely
destroyed by locusts, which were said to have come from the tall grass jungle
at the base of the Khasi and Mikir Hills, where they breed permanently.
Nothing is known of the identity of this locust, though it may possibly have
been the insect Phymateus miliaris, which was sent to the Indian Museum in
September, 1890, by General Collett, with the information that it was common
in the neighbourhood of Shillong. The following is taken from a report,
dated 15th February, 1883, by the Director of Agricultural in Assam :-—

“TI spent three weeks marching in the N owgong District, and visited most of the
district, except the hill tracts, The Kakotiphoring, or Paper grass-hopper, as the
locust is called, is very well known. It is said to attain a length of six to seven inches,
It breeds in the tall reed and grass jungle, especially in the jungle at tle foot of the
hills along the south of the district (the Khasia and Mikir Hills). Theitime of the
appearance of the insect is in the early spring, and it continues to feed till July.

“Local visitations of locusts are common enough, I found it generally stated that
they took place every two or three years, But one general invasion was well remem-
bered everywhere; the date was 1879 : it began early and ended late, soas to include
both mustard and rice in the area of devastation. The mustard ripens in January.

“The direction in which the locust swarms moved was somewhat different in

126 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

different places. Near the Khasia and Mikir Hills they seemed to come from the
south, i.¢., from the submontane jungle, In the Chapari Mahals, between the Kalang
and Brahmaputra, the direction of their course was eastwards. They seem to have
moved with great recularity from west to east along this tract, a distance of some 50
miles. The ryots, moved perhaps by rumours of the Afghan War, which had penetrat-
ed thus far, told one another that they came from Cabul. Their numbers were such
that the reeds and grass of the jungle were bowed.down by their weight when they
alighted, and they made a clean sweep of all the fields in their way. The Mikirs and
Lalungs eat locusts after parching them in the fire. Locusts can commonly be had
in the month of Bohag (April-May). The only remedy adopted against locusts is one
which the people appear to have invented for themselves. They sprinkle the
threatened crops with water in which salt has been dissolved, and in which onions
have been steeped. This remedy is said to have been effectual in 1879, after
some time probably the locust would have moved on in any case.”

Locusts IN THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY, EXCLUDING SIND.

In the autumn of 1890 flights of Acridium peregrinum from North-Western

ae India penerated into the Bombay Deccan and Kon-

kan, and did slight damage over considerable areas.

An account of these flights has been given in the report on Acridium peregri-

num, and we are now chiefly concerned with the locusts which invaded the

Presidency in 1882-83, though it should also be noticed that, according to

Hunter’s Gazetteer, locusts appeared in 1878 in Kolaba and damaged the cold

weather crops of 1878-79, nothing further, however, being recorded about
them. :

In 1882-83 locusts proved destructive throughout the whole of the Bombay
Deccan and Konkan, and though the identity of the insects concerned was not
altogether definitely ascertained, the history of the invasion was very com-
pletely recorded in numerous official reports. The sections, therefore, on the
history of the invasion and on the remedies adopted have been taken, much
of them verbatim, from the reports of the Bombay Government by Mr. J.
Nugent, as recorded in the Records of the Revenue and Agricultural Depart-
ment of the Government of India. ‘The section on the life-history of the
insect is from a report by Mr. Hatch, as reprinted in the Indian Forester,
Volume X.

In May and June, 1882, locusts were noticed in the south-west of the Presi-

dency (Dharwar and Kanara Collectorates), but they

pane history of the inva- ottracted little attention, as such swarms are annual
visitors of the JXanarese forests, and neither in

Kanara nor in Dharwar did they cause any material injury. With the setting
in of the south-west monsoon, however, they spread in flights over the Presi-
dency, to the north and north-east (Satara, Poona, Nasik, Ahmednagar, and
Khandesh), and early in the rains proceeded to lay their eggs and die. These

eggs hatched in the end of July, or beginning of August, and the young locusts

LOCUSTS OF BENGA L, MADRAS, ASSAM, & BOMBAY. 127

did a large amount of damage, over a wide area, through the months of
August and September. In the early part of October, with the setting in of
the north-east monsoon, the young locust, which had by this time acquired
wings, took flight and travelled with the prevailing wind in a south-westerly
direction, doing some injury in the Poona Collectorate as they passed. They
then struck the Western Ghats and spread slowly over the Konkan in Novem-
ber, and thence travelled into the Native State of Sawantwari and the Kanara
district, Durmg the remainder of the cold season and the hot weather (De-
cember, 1882, to the end of May, 1883) the flights clung to the line of the Ghats
occasionally venturing inland into Belgaum, Dharwar, the Kolhapur State, and
Satara, and devouring the spring crops in the coast districts, but ordinarily
returning to the vicinity of the hill ranges. With the commencement of the
south-west monsoon, however, in the latter part of May, 1883, the flights began
to move in a north-easterly direction, as they had done the preceding year,
but in larger numbers,

At the commencement of the rains they began to alight in vast numbers
over an immense tract of country comprising the six Deccan collectorates of
Sholapur, Poona, Khandesh, Ahmednagar, Satara, and Nasik, and also in the
three coast collectorates of Ratnagiri, Kolaba, and Thana. They deposited
their eggs and died, and early in August the young locusts hatched out in
countless numbers, but were apparently more backward and possessed of less
strength and stamina than were those of the preceding year. The unusually
heavy rainfall killed vast numbers of these in different parts of the country,
and elsewhere the insects seemed stunted and feeble, and grew but slowly.
They were destroyed in vast numbers by the vigorous measures initiated by the
officials, and were also said to be diseased and attacked by mites and nematode
parasites. As late as November, the mass of the young locusts appeared unable
to fly and made no general movement to the south-west, as they had done the
year before. The invasion was, in fact, at an-end, and though (according
to Hunter’s Gazetteer) swarms appeared in Sawantwari in 1883-84, no further
injury of a serious nature seems to have occurred,

The injury occasioned to the rain crops by the locusts was very considerable
over a great portion of the Deccan and Konkan both in 1882 and 1883. But
though some relief works were started, especially in the coast district, it was
found, at the end of the invasion, that the abundance of the cold weather
crops had compensated to so great an extent for the injury occasioned to the
rain crop, that no wide-spread injury had been occasioned.

he lifehictocwm Oe the Mr. Hatch describes the life-history of the locast,
locust. as observed in the Konkan, as follows! :—

“In the Konkan locusts coupled in great numbers between the 15th May and the
15th June, 1883, and died off naturally immediately after the eges had been deposited.
The eggs are deposited mostly in flat and gently sloping land of soft friable soil, rocky

* From his report, as reprinted in the Indian Forester, Vol. X, p. 425,

128 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

and sandy soil being avoided, and land which has been ploughed up, and the lee side
of banks, where the soil has accumulated, are mostly selected. The eggs are piled in
a small cylindrical hoie, parallel to its sides, and are attached to one another by
some cohesive siccable substance. Filling the mouth of the hole is a plug, consisting
of a soft fibrous substance, and below it the eggs, arranged as described, averaging 70
in each hole, The holes are from 1°5 to 2 inches in depth, and in a good locality four
might be found inaspan. They are not easily visible, but when one is found, others
are generally near it. Brushing off the loose dust and digging here and there faci-
litates search.

“The eggs themselves are of a dirty ochre colour, in length *2 to -8, and in diameter
*05 to 08 of an inch, rounded in section, with a slight curve, and tapering very
slightly towards the rounded ends. . . When fresh, the contents of the eggs are of
a dirty orange colour, liquid but slightly viscous, with a somewhat acrid taste. The
envelope apparently consists of two layers, the outer one coloured and tough, and the
inner one white and fragile. When broken, the eggs give off an odour like a broken
toot. As the eggs approach maturity, they assume a distinctly greenish hue, and the
young locust bursts the shell down the middle on issuing into life. I experimented
on some eggs by placing them in damp and very damp soil, but the water did not
affect the hatching.

“The young locusts appeared in myriads in my district (Chiplun taluka) between
Ist and 20th Auecust, so that the period the eggs required to hatch was a little more
than two months, say seventy days.

“ The young locusts vary somewhat in colour, most being a dullish light green, some
light green, but hardly verdant, and a few almost white and only tinged with green.
A few minutes after hatching they are strong enough to jump .. . . The
antennee are darksome and short, whilst on the thigh-cases small black spots, and on
the upper side of the abdomen a faint black line, are just visible. ;

“ The young locusts generally cast their slough for the first time about 15 days
after birth, and in their new skin the black line and spots become darker and the green
colour of a deeper hue. They now leave the grass land and seek the shelter of the
crops, and are in length -8 of an inch.

“© After another interval of 15 days they again cast their slough and enter on the
third stage. In this the black line becomes very intense, as also do the spots, which
lengthen and form the so-called ‘ Koranic verses —they do show a certain similitude to
some letters of the Arabic alphabet. They arenow 1-2 of aninch in length.

“They enter the 4th stage by casting their slough after another 15 days, ard
assume, including the antenne, a yellow colour, which, towards the end of the stage,
becomes pinkish-grey. The black line and the ‘ Koranic verses ’ are now very intense
in colour, and the insect attains the length of 1-6 of an inch.

“ A creat transformation is witnessed on entry into the 5th stage after 15 more
days. The female is now two inches long, whilst the male is somewhat less. The
colour of the head, prothorax, and abdomen is a grey or drab, speckled on the prothorax,
and darker along the upper side of the abdomen. The ringed antennz are deep
yellow, the eyes chestnut and striated, whilst for the first time appears an oblong
mark under each eye, indigo-green in colour, and bordered on each side by yellow.
The Arabic letters have now disappeared, whilst the spots on the thigh-cases are

LOCUSTS OF BENGAL, MADRAS, ASSAM, € BOMBAY. 129

obsolescent. The young wings, too, now first appear. At first very small, they grow
during the period of this stage—20 days. The contents of the wing-sprouts are at
first liquid, and the young wings may be seen forming within the semi-transparency.
When they are fully formed, the insect is of a dark brownish-grey colour, whilst on
the prothorax and elsewhere may be distinguished the colouring of the next stage.

“Tn its 6th and perfect stage the insect presents a brilliant appearance. The female
is now 8 inches, and the male 25 inches, in whole length, from head to tips of wings
which overlap the abdomen by °5 of an inch, and are rounded. On casting the slough
the wings dry and unfold, and the body of the insect, at first soft and moist, gradually
hardens in the sun. The antenne are °8 inch in length, and of a bright yellow colour ;
the head is a brownish-yellow, and the eyes, finely striated, are of a deep chestnut.
The prothorax is alternately banded with a bright yellow and a rich brown, parallel-
wise to the body, and the legs are of an ochreish hue. Along the upper rim of the
femur runs a deep brown stripe, and the knee-caps are of the same colour. The tibia,
tarsus, and foot are a bright ochre, and the first is armed with 8 black-tipped spurs on
the outside and 11 on the inside, while there area pair of spurs on each side of the
ankle-joint and on each side of the foot. The outer wings, or wing cases, have the
colours on the prothorax extended to them, and on the back they form a flat
surface, tapering to the extremity. They are strongly veined and finely reticulated,
and towards the extremities are irregularly brown marked. The inner wings, which
are expansive, are hardly coloured. The abdomen is a light brown, darker along the
ridge, and in the female there are four spiky processes at its extremity, the upper pair
curling up and the lower pair downwards. In the male the lower pair is replaced by
one spiky process, larger and stronger.

“The locust now packs with its kindred, and they form the swarms which ravage
the country. After a month or so they assume a red tinge, which gradually deepens
and continues until their death, which takes place after the sexual function has been
performed in May or June. The proportion of males to females appeared to me about
1in6.

“ The whole life of the insect, including the egg-period, is exactly one year.”

Various methods were employed in the Bombay Presidency in 1882-83 to
destroy the locusts, which were to a large extent kept
under by the energetic measures taken against them.
The Cyprus screen system! was found utterly inapplicable and had to be
abandoned. ‘The search for eggs also was not found successful as a means of

Remedclies.

1 The Cyprus screen system consists in erecting a long line of screens, each two to three
feet high, in front of an advancing swarm of young wingless locusts, pits being dug at inter-
vals, close to the screens and at right angles to them, on the side towards the advancing
swarm, the object being that the young locusts, on arriving at the screens, may turn to the
right and left, and thus pour into the pits, where they can be destroyed. The chief adyan-
tage of the screen system is, that it enables a series of pits, dug at intervals, to take the place
of the continuous trench that would otherwise be necessary to catch the whole of a swarm.
The material hitherto chiefly used for the screens has been cloth bound along the top with a
strip of slippery oil-cloth, about four inches wide, to prevent the locusts climbing over, but
smooth mat screens are likely to be cheaper for use in many parts of India. The pits are
usually furnished with overhanging zinc edges to preyent the locusts escaping.

7

130 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VILL.

destroying the pest. A plan was tried of marching lines of beaters, armed
with bundles of twigs, through the fields, beating the ground so as to crush
the young locust. This was to some extent successful in short grass, but could
not be made use of with growing crops. The plan of dragging country blankets
rapidly over a field where locusts were to be found, and squeezing up the cloth
every few yards to kill the insects which had been caught, was found useful
in bushy tracts, but required, for its successful working, a good deal of activity
and intelligence. The most successful method consisted in dragging over the
fields a capacious bag, five or six feet deep by eight or ten feet long and much
like a huge bolster case, but open at the side, instead of at theend. This was
held by two men, one at each end, and was run along over the grass or young
crops, to catch the locusts, which tumbled in, and, being unable to escape
could, from time to time, be killed by twisting up the bag. This was found
to be asimple and easy means of destroying the locusts, and the people took
to it readily all over the locust-affected area. Little or no injury was done to
the crops by the men working it, and millions of insects were killed.

With regard to the numbers destroyed during the locust invasion, the
Collector of Nasik reported the destruction in his collectorate alone of some
forty-five tons of locusts, which he estimated must have represented about a
thousand millions of individual locusts. Similarly in the Satara collectorate one
hundred and eighty tons were reported to have been destroyed by the local
officials. 'The numbers destroyed in these two collectorates were no doubt
greater than in most of the collectorates which suffered from the locusts, but
the figures give some idea of the extent of the invasion.

With regard to the identity of the locust of 1882-83, Dr. Macdonald in his
report in the Indian Forester, Vol. X, advanced the
supposition that the insect was Acridium peregrinum,
and this name was adopted in most of the official reports which subsequently
appeared. There seems, however, to be conclusive proof that the insect
belonged to some other species. In the reports, both of Lieutenant-Colonel
Swinhoe and of Lieutenant-Colonel Bradford, the locust of Rajputana, which
is undoubtedly Acridiwm peregrinum, is spoken of as distinct from the Bombay
locust of 1882-83. <Acridium peregrinum has been shown to be essentially the
inhabitant of sandy deserts, while the Bombay locust of 1882-83 originated in
the tropical forests of the Western Ghats. The habits also of the Bombay
locust of 1882-83 differed materially from those of Acridiwm peregrinum, in that
the young wingless larve of Acridium peregrinum can be readily driven into
traps, while those of the Bombay species entirely declined to be destroyed
in this manner. Again, specimens said to be “ locust’? were sent from the
Bombay Presidency in 1883 to the well-known entomologist Mr. F. Moore,
who identified them as belonging to no less than five species, namely :—Acri-
dium succinctum, Caloptenus erubescens, Caloptenus caliginosus, Cyrtacanthacres
ranacea, and Oxya furcifera; Acridium peregrinum being unrepresented—a

The identity of the locust.

LOCUSTS OF BENGAL, MADRAS, ASSAM, & BOMBAY. 131

circumstance which is not likely to have occurred if this had been the species
which was at that time swarming over the Presidency. Again at a meeting
of the Entomological Society of London, held on the 4th of April, 1883,
Mr. W. F. Kirby, of the British Museum, exhibited specimens of a locust which
he identified as Acridiwm succinctum, and which he had received from Mr. T.
Davidson, who stated that it was the species which had lately been destructive
in the Deccan and other parts of India. In the absence, therefore, of actual
specimens, which do not seem to have been preserved, it may be concluded
as most probable that while numerous species of Acrididw may have been
present in great numbers in the Bombay Presidency in 1882-83, the insect
chiefly responsible for the injury to the crops was Acridiwm succinctum, which,
therefore, would be the one spoken of by most of the observers who, from
their reporis, seem to have noticed but one kind of insect.

LOCUSTS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD.

Many species of Orthoptera occasionally increase vastly in numbers, so as to
cause serious injury to agricultural crops; and there
are, in different parts of the world, certain species,
which are known distinctively as Locusts, and which possess this habit to a
remarkable degree, often migrating in swarms which devour the crops over
wide areas of country. Migratory locusts usually breed permanently in tracts
where the vegetation is sparse. In years when they increase excessively, they
descend in flights from their permanent breeding-grounds, upon cultivated
districts, where they destroy the crops, lay their eggs, and maintain themselves
fora limited period, but are unable to establish themselves permanently,
usually disappearing in the year following the invasion, to be succeeded, after
an interval of years, by fresh swarms from the permanent breeding-ground.

Generally speaking, the life circle of a locust extends through one year, in
which period it passes through its various stages of egg, young wingless larva,
active pupa, and winged adult which lays the eggs that areto produce the next
generation, the only recorded exception being Acridium peregrinum, which is
believed to pass through two generations in the year in India.

The eggs are laid in little agglutinated masses in holes which the female
bores with her ovipositor in the ground. In temperate climates the eggs are
usually laid by the end of the summer, and the parent locust dies before the
winter commences, the eggs remaining in the ground during the winter months,
and hatching out in the following spring. In sub-tropical countries, where
there is but little winter, the winged locusts live on through the cold season,
and do not die off until the following spring, when they deposit their eggs,
In thiscase the eggs hatch after lying in the ground for about a month. In both
temperate and sub-tropical regions alike, the young wingless locusts on emerg-
ing from the eggs in the spring or early summer feed voraciously and grow
rapidly for one or two months, during which period they mouli at intervals
finally developing wings and becoming adult. The adult locusts fly about in

General.

132 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

swarms, which settle from time to time and devour the crops. The damage
done by locusts is thus occasioned, first, by the young wingless insects, and
afterwards by the winged adults into which the young transform after a couple
of months of steady feeding.

The following are the chief species of locusts found in different parts of the
world other than India :-—

Pachytylus migratorius, the chief migratory locust of Europe, occurs espe-
cially in Hastern Europe and Southern Russia, also in Central Asia, Siberia,
North China, Japan, the Fiji Islands, New Zealand, North Australia, Mauritius,
Madeira, and possibly in South Africa, very little, however, being known about
its distribution in the Southern Hemisphere (McLachlan : article Locust, Eney-
clopedia Britannica). It may be looked upon as the chief locust of the tem-
perate zone, excluding America. An elaborate account of this species in South
Russia is given by Képpen (Hore Soc. Ent. Ross., iii, pp. 89—246 ; reviewed in
Zool, Record, 1867, p. 457). From eggs laid in the autumn the larvee hatch in
the spring (April and May), and moult four times before they become adult
larvze, band themselves together, and move in search of nutriment, feeding
chiefly on Gramine and doing a vast amount of damage. The imagos emerge
about July, copulate soon afterwards, and oviposition extends from August to
October. Each female copulates and oviposits about three times, at intervals
of about a month ; each time laying from 50 to 90 eggs, ina hole bored by
her horny ovipositor in the soil. This hole is about 13 inches deep and is lined
with frothy matter, which hardens into a case for the eggs. The eggs have
been found to withstand as low a temperature as 26° F. below zero. The dry
steppes constitute the chief haunts of the locust, which avoid damp places.
The females generally oviposit in solid virgin soil, and seldom visit ploughed
land for this purpose. Képpen is of opinion that the countries in which the
swarms are seen arealso, generally speaking, the countries of their origin.

Pachytylus cinerascens, Fabr., and Cidipoda tatarica, Motsch., which have
been described by different authors as distinct from P. migratorius, are consid-
ered by Képpen to be but varieties of one and the same species (Hore Soc.
Ent. Ross., iii, 1867). P. cinerascens is the form which has usually appeared in
England and Belgium, in the latter of which countries Képpen notices that it
probably breeds (Zool. Record, 1872, p. 398). It also occurs.in India.

Pachytylus pardalinus has been described as destructive in South Africa
(Trans. Soc. Afr. Phil. Soc., i, p. 193, 1880).

Pachytylus stridulus, Gidipoda vastator, Stauronotus vastator, and Pezotetti«
alpina have been noticed amongst other locusts as occasionally destructive in
Southern Russia, especially when associated with the common migratory species
Pachytylus migratorius and Caloptinus italicus of that region (K6ppen, Horz
Soc. Ent. Ross., iii, 1867).

Caloptenus spretus, the Rocky Mountain locust (see Reports of United States
Entomologists—Riley, Pachard and Thomas—Washington, 1877—79), caused

LOCUSTS OF BENGAL, MADRAS, ASSAM, &€ BOMBAY. 133

injury, between the years 1874 and 1877, estimated at 200 million dollars. It
breeds permanently only ina broad and comparatively barren region in the
north-west of America, whence the invading winged swarms swoop down upon
the fertile plains of the south and south-east, not appearing in the Mississipi
valley until the latter part of July or the beginning of August, when wheat,
barley and oats have generally reached perfection and been harvested. This,
it is reported, renders it possible to prevent serious injury by relying chiefly on
these crops when there is reason to fear incursions. On arrival the locusts
devour everything green to be found, until they deposit their eggs and die
in the autumn. From these eggs are produced in the spring, vast hordes of
young which devour everything green they can find, travelling along the
ground (not having yet acquired wings) from the fields they have exhausted
to fresh ground. They may be destroyed in vast numbers by systematic
rolling, collecting by hand, drawing bags over the field, &c., and their advance
may be prevented by digging ditches in front of them with a streak of tar at the
bottom, and also by driving them into heaps of straw to be then burnt, the trees
being protected by bands formed of poisonous or impenetrable substances,
When the larve are full-fed and acquire wings, they rise up, by this time fol-
lowed by hosts of insect parasites (Tachine, Ichneumonide, &c.), and, weakened
by disease, make their way more or less directly towards their permanent
breeding-grounds ; they perish by millions on the road, so that but few ever
reach their home in the high and barren north-west, where alone they are
able to propagate permanently. They leave (it is reported) a great part of the
country sufiiciently early to allow of corn of rapid growth being produced
after their departure, and succeeding swarms avoid the parasite-stricken dis-
tricts which their immediate predecessors have deserted. Hogs, poultry, and
all kinds of birds, besides various insects, destroy vast numbers of the locusts;
and as they can only exist permanently in the comparatively barren north-
west, it is supposed that when this breeding-ground is irrigated and settled
the locusts will gradually be exterminated.

Caloptenus italicus occurs on the Kuropean side of the Mediterranean (Italy,
Austria, &c.) ; it is also found in North Africa and South Russia (Verz, Zool.
Bot, Ges. Wien., xviii, p. 930 ; Bull. Ent. Ital., xiii, p. 210). It has been report-
ed as destructive.

Stauronotus cruciatus has proved injurious in Italy and Sicily (Bull, Ent.
Ital., xiii, p. 210). It also periodically invades Cyprus and the Troad (Proc.
Ent. Soc, Lond., 1881, pp. xiv & xxxviii ; also, Brown :—Report on the Locust
Campaign of 1885-86 in Cyprus).

In Cyprus the locust is indigenous to theisland. The young hatch ont
about the middle of March, and take about six weeks to become adult, when
they acquire wings, take flight, and soon afterwards copulate and oviposit,
The eggs are laid in uncultivated rocky ground, ploughed land and light soil
being avoided. Each egg-pod contains about 33 eggs. Some damage is done

134. JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

by the winged swarms, which, however, generally disappear by about the
middle of June, the eggs remaining in the ground until about the following
March, when they hatch.

Serious loss is often occasioned by the locusts, and of late years a regular
warfare has been waged against them by the Government of the island. The
following was found to be the most satisfactory method of destroying them :
Cloth-screens, about three feet high and bound:at the top witha strip of oilcloth
to prevent the locusts from climbing over, were erected in front of the advance
of the young locusts, pits being dug at intervals close to the screens and at right
angles to them on the side towards the locust swarm, the edges of the pit
being protected by frames made of cloth and wood, with zinc edge arranged to
prevent the young locust from escaping from the pits. A swarm, on arriving
at the screen, was found invariably to turn right and left along it, apparently
endeavouring to go round it ; the young locusts thus poured in vast numbers
into the pits dug to receive them, and, being unable to escape, were destroyed
wholesale. In the case of the locust invasion of 1886, Brown reports (wide
official report presented to both Houses of Parliament by Her Majesty,
February, 1887) :—

“ There were very few places where the locusts were sufficiently dense to justify the
use of screens and traps, and they were in most cases destroyed by covering the
ground they occupied by a thin layer of dry brushwood or rubbish and setting fire to
it. By this means large areas were burned. Where the locusts were so sparsely
scattered, or the scarcity of brushwood rendered this method inapplicable, they were
destroyed by beating (an improved beater or locust-flap of leather, weighted with
lead, having been introduced by me this season). The weak point of these methods,
as compared with the screen and trap system, is that, although the locust may be
greatly reduced, it is practically impossible absolutely to exterminate them, whereas
our experience of 1883 and 1884 abundantly proved that when carefully worked it is
possible, by the continuous screen system then first introduced, to completely clear
large tracts of land where the locust swarms were most dense.”

Stauronotus moroccanus.—This insect, which is found in most of the countries
bordering on the Mediterranean, and which has also been reported from Bad-
ghis in Afghanistan, has of late (1887—89) proved very destructive to grain
crops in Eastern Algeria, where its increase has been favoured by drought.
Unlike Acridium peregrinum , which periodically invades Algeria from the south,
it breeds permanently on the sparsely vegetated hill ranges in Algeria itself
(Batna, M’lila, M’sila, Bordj, Rendir, &c.,)and thence descends in countless
numbers into the cultivated plains towards the shores of the Mediterranean.
The invading flights appear in the summer, and the females proceed, on arrival,
to deposit their eggs in holes about an inch deep, which they bore with their
ovipositors in the ground. About thirty or forty eggs are deposited in a mass
of mucilage in each hole. These eggs remain in the ground throughout the
autumn and winter, and hatch in the following spring (eggs laid in the end of
Juneand beginning of July, 1888, hatched in April, 1889). After hatching out,

LOCUSTS OF BENGAL, MADRAS, ASSAM, & BOMBAY. 135

the young locusts band themselves together and march through the country
devouring the crops. The loss occasioned in 1888 was estimated in the Con-
sular report at about a million sterling, In 1888 measures were taken upon a
large scale by the French Government for the destruction of the eggs, about
600,600 frances being said to have been expended in buying eggs, at the rate of
1 fr. 52 c. for two decalitres, from the Arabs. These measures, however,
proved insufficient, and were considered unsatisfactory, M. Kiinckel d'Hercu-
lais indeed showing that whereas a man can rarely collect as muchas 2°60 litres
of egg-cases, containing some 72,000 eggs, ina day, he can destroy about a
million young locusts by collecting them after they have emerged from the
eggs. In 1889, therefore, the Government introduced the Cyprus screen
system upon a considerable scale for the destruction of the young locust.
About 300 kilometres of screen were procured, and 100,000 people were em-
ployed in destroying the young locusts. These measures seem to have been
attended with considerable success, though definite information has not been
received as to what extent the country was cleared of the pest!.

Acridium peregrinum.—This is the chief locust of Northern Africa, Arabia,
Persia, Baluchistan, and North-Western India. It has been fully dealt with
in the report already issued.

Acridium paranense bas been described as the migratory locust of the Argen-
tine Republic, though some writers are of opinion that it may perhaps be the
same as Acridium peregrinum (vide McLachlan : Encyclop. Brit., article Locust),

1 The above account is chiefly drawn from (1) Reports I and II by Mons. J. Kiincke}
d’Herculais, dated May and August, 1888 ; (2) Diplomatic and Consular Report on Agri-
culture in Algeria, No. 469 ; (8) Papers which have appeared in the Zllustrated London News,
Le Mobacher published in Algiers, and Insect Life published in Washington,

136 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VILL.

REVIEW.
* Breast AND MAN In Inpta,

Tux first thing to consider is, whether this review ought to be written
for the Bombay Natural History Society’s Journal, or for that of the
chum Society,—the Anthropological. It is true, indeed, that Natural
History includes Anthropology ; but this is not a popular view of the
subject, and, therefore, hardly applicable to a “‘ popular sketch,” By
the way, how did Mr. John Lockwood Kipling know that his sketch
would be “ popular,” as it certainly is, before he published it? He had
a right to expect in Bombay and the Punjab a success d’estime and
his surname has been a good deal before the world of late ; and,
perhaps, that may have encouraged him, and the event and editions
have justified him, To return to the writer’s own choice, Mr. Kipling
and most of his public think that “ Natural History’ deals rather
with “ Beasts” than with Men. And he has, with conscious or
unconscious sarcasm, put his Beast first. So here goes.

We will take in hand his discourse of beasts, and leave that on men
mostly on one side, especially so much of the book as is composed of
newspaper articles and ballads by another hand. Like Dante and
Virgil “‘ We won’t discuss these, but glance at them and pass on.”

The introductory chapter is mostly full of explanations of Indian
character foreign to our somewhat limited view of the subject. But
two somewhat curious limitations in our author’s are revealed at p. 18,
where he says that “in a few generations we may hope for an Indian
student of Natural History. At present this splendid field is left
entirely to Huropean observers, who mostly look at nature along the
barrel of a gun. Which is a false perspective.” The full stop at
“gun, we may remark, is false punctuation ; but, perhaps, the
printer’s.

But in what world does Mr. Kipling live? Any monthin Bombay
we could show him a room full of Indian students of Natural History,
and as to the Europeans who “‘ look at nature along the barrel of a gun,”
many of them have taken that view of the tiger and the panther.
Whether their perspective was true or false, let the re-peopled villages

* “ Beast and Man in India, a popular sketch of Indian Animals in their relations
with the people’. By JohniLockwood Kipling, (.1.H. London, Macmillan & Co,

REVIEW. 137

of Khandeish (for instance) tell. Whether a sportsman can be a
naturalist or not, our own columns bear abundant witness here. And
as a matter of fact, there never was a sporting society less animated by
a mere love of slaughter, or more by a taste for observation and inquiry,
than that of Western India at this present moment. You will scarcely
find even a Griffin in the mofussil who would not be somewhat
ashamed to own to “shooting for the bag,” As a practice, pigeon-
shooting, indeed, belongs to another order of things. It is not “ look-
ing at nature” in any sense, but simply looking at a target,—unfortu-
nately alive,—which represents a fraction of a prize,—unfortunately a_
money-prize. But it seems to be fast falling off in public favour.
Indeed, there is little wonder in that the trapped birds generally
supplied to Indian Gymkhanas are poor fliers compared to the birds
bred for the trap in Europe. Bazaar-bred birds turn the shooting into
a farcical lottery for those who can make up their minds to shoot at
them. To others, of course, it is a tragedy. But those who do not
shoot trapped pigeons (including the present writer) are bound, in fair-
ness, to acknowledge that that exercise requires great skill in the use of
arms, and involves, when properly managed, no more cruelty than any
other method of killing birds.

Mr. Kipling’s first bird is “the parrakeet (Paleornis cupabius).”
But he only recognises one species out of three that he can hardly have
failed to see—the Alexandrine, plum-headed, and rose-ringed, which
are in every bazaar. The rose-ringed paroquet is our common Bombay
species, the most beautiful and stupid of the three. The plum-headed
is common enough on the Ghats and in deep jungles near them. It
is easily recognized on the wing by its light-tipped tail. The Alex-
andrine is apparently rarer in our province ; at least the present
writer has not seen it in the forest ; but its colouration is not such as
to identify it on the wing except from above. Wild parrots are not
often looked upon de haut en bas nor often shot for identification.
Dr. Jerdon established one habitat of this bird by such a chance as
killing a falcon which happened to have just caught the paroquet.

Only these three paroquéets are common in our bazaars as “ forest
produce ” of this Presidency, though other parrots, in great variety,
but small in number, are imported, and seem to be outside our present
purview.

18

138 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

Mr. Kipling passes from the parrot to the weaver birds (Ploceus),
whose plumage he oddly describes as “of quaker-like simplicity.”
When did quakers wear yellow caps or yellow ribbons in their caps ?

From these, through a list of “song birds” so wide as to include
the hill-minah (Hulabes religzosa), he passes on to the fighting birds
and to the more important crow. About the first he has nothing
new to say, but has hit a new idea in Indian crow-life by allowing
“two hill-crows’” to steal and hide ice. “To the last,” he says
“‘the disappearance of the ice was a wonder.” And no wonder.

As regards kites, he says that Milwus govinda is commonly “ spoken
of by Europeans as the Brahminy kite.” But in our province this ~
misname is more commonly given to a Neophron—Pharaoh’s chicken.
The true Brahminy kite which Mr. Kipling correctly describes by that
name, and as “an eagle in miniature’ (he might have said a sea-
eagle in miniature if he had been a naturalist) is Halastur indus,
Our author’s dealings are with such creatures as are in close relation
with man. He does not, therefore, mention that really noble variety
or species of kite indicated by Hume’s name Milvus major.

Under head ‘‘ Cranes and Herons” (birds really very far apart) he
gives us a fact worth record, namely that the Adjutant Stork,
which is neither a crane nor a heron, has of late years ceased to
frequent Calcutta—probably better cleaned up than of yore by its
Municipality.

After some remarks about cocks and hens, rather anthropological
than ornithological, he passes on to the old legend of the Brahminy
duck or Ruddy Sheldrake, which we beg to give at more length for
his and others’ edification. A certain Brahmin’s wife eloped, and the
gods, at the outraged husband’s prayer, smote the lovers with the
curse of cowardice. They lost each other ata ford, and to this day
one cries to the other, “‘ Come over to me, Chakwi,” and is answered,
““ No, come over to me, Chakwa.” This, at least, is the tale of the
Tapti, on which they are common, and although by no means borne out
by observation, is not less so than Mr. Kipling’s more insipid version
of the legend.

Our author passes on to the peacock, which he describes, in
Gujarat and elsewhere, “as common as rooks in Hngland.” Peacocks

REVIEW. 139

abound in parts of Gujarat, but a rookery of peafowl remains to be
seen. Of pigeons he has little to say, and nothing so good, asa native
official said to the present writer in Rajputana many a year ago,
“ You mustn’t shoot pigeons here. It’s not that they are sacred, but
the Rajputs have a fellow-feeling for the bird, because it is ‘ bholo’
—just like themselves.”

To do our Rajput members justice, their affection for a bird which
habitually makes friends with man has a nobler root than the sarcastic
Brahmin would allow them, and is exactly the same as the English
love for house martins and the Dutchman’s attachment to his almost
sacred stork. It is below the dignity of a warlike and generous race
to wage or allow war on a bird that will nest under our eaves and in
our wells, and often wheels round, after a first shot, to expose itself to
a second, rather than lose sight of its nest. The “blue rock,” more-
over, is not much to swear by on the table.

Sir Walter Scott in “*St. Roman’s Well” notices the reasonable

- objection of Musalmans to the slaughter of doves in connection with
that of Hussein (or, as he says, Ali). But the Prophet’s own bird was
probably not a dove but a “blue rock” of the northern species ;
differing but slightly from ours. The legend of its flying out from the
cave wherein he lay in hiding is as probably true as any story of the
sort, and not in the least improbable. The present writer has seen the
like.
In this very pleasant way Mr. Kipling discourses of various fowls,
including, in his very unconventional ornithology, flying foxes. He
had a tame flying fox which escaped, and was beaten home again by
crows “‘ who had never seen such a creature before,’’ because, says he,
“ crows go to bed early;” and it would seem that, wherever this hap-
pened, the flying foxes are equally regular in their habits. In Western
India these moral ways have suffered much infraction ; and there is no
erow in the Konkan who has not seen many flying foxes on the wing.

One really good bit of bird folklore is rather spoiled by a misnomer
that can hardly be more than a slip of the pen. It is not the
sandpiper (as Mr. Kipling says, but surely does not think) who sleeps
supine with heels in air to avert the fall of Heaven. The “ Did ye

do it ?” (Lobivanellus goensis) is credited with this remarkable pre-
caution against the crack of Doom.

140 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

' Reason why.—The “Did ye do it” is of all shore fowls the

fussiest, and most given to informing every one of the ill-intentions
of every one else. May his father be roasted ; he has saved many
a duck from the shot gun, and many a crocodile from the rifle.
The sandpipers, on the other hand, are as modest in demeanour
as in plumage, much given to minding their own affairs, and so
little suspicious as to be too often converted into snipes upon the
unlearned shikari’s gamestick, We have seen them in dozens at
the Tanna Railway Station on a Sunday evening, and sorrowed for
them.

Mr. Kipling’s birds are followed by his monkeys, whereof he has
many good yarns. One is, that some Hindu evolutionists suppose the
English to be descended of Hanuman, or, as we call him in Western
India, Maruti (the monkey-god). All the ingenuity of the West can
invent no theory that is without parallel in Asiatic parable or paradox.
It is true that all Europe once believed that Englishmen had tails, and
Colonel Yule quotes authority to show that the King of Cyprus mor-
tally offended Richard Cceur de Lion by an offensive allusion to the
hero’s tail, which was then lashed to the effect of lashing the
impertinent princeling out of his island, and Richard made a Christ-
mas-box of it to a friend in right-royal fashion. The mythology of
the * missing link” would make a big book, and cannot be allowed more
of our limited space. The chapter has one or two delightful illustra~
tions that should be korrowed (with permission) by the man who writes
that big book. Mr. Kipling passes on to asses, but we have lately dealt
at length in these columns with the Zquide over the signature, alas !
of a vanished hand. Nor need we linger here over his two chapters of
““oves and boves,” except to notice the last paragraph of the cow Sura,
which relates how M. de Buffon got his name for Bos indicus, “ Zebu”
from a travelling showman. Mr. Kipling thinks “this fragment of a
French showman’s bonnement” to be indelibly branded on the poor
“bile ; but the truth is, that the word is fast passing out of anything
like zoology, and will probably soon disappear even from “ popular
science.”

It is very characteristic of our author that he excludes buffaloes from
the company of respectable Bovde to chum them upon pigs, of which
latter he justly remarks that “there is nothing to be ashamed of in the

REVIEW. 141

character and conduct of wild pigs,’ unless, indeed, it be an occasional
lapse into carrion diet.

All these beasts get in between the asses and the horses and mules,
which have over forty pages, full mostly of matter outside our
subject. After them come the elephants, of whom we get some good
stories. One is Colonel Lewin’s, who found the elephants’ ball-room
in some Indo-Chinese forest (but it was not a ball night), And a
very good characteristic one is that of a ship-load of elephants (in India
we sometimes do things on a largish scale), who found that by merely
keeping time they could turn a large steamer into a suitable rocking
chair. They very nearly managed to produce the very oddest
shipwreck on record. How would “Lloyd’s” hold that an ordinary
insurance policy covered perils of playful elephants ?

After Mr. Kipling’s elephants come his camels, and he makes just
remark upon the wide range of variety of these poor brutes, and
notes the rudimentary second hump of the dromedary recorded by
Signor Lombardini. One odd little illustration of his own observation
does not seem to have come in his way. If there is anything odious
and even dangerous to most hill or plain camels, it isslime. But
camels can be and are bred in marshes, and these grow up “ bog
trotters.” The present writer has seen such a camel carrying two men
at least five miles an hour across the Little Ran of Kachh, where
footmen painfully toiled along at little better than two, not without
an occasional fall,

The strangest thing about the camel is, that an animal so very
undomesticable hardly exists except in servitude, borne with exceed-
ing ill-grace. It may be guessed that the clumsiness and stupidity
of the original wild camel led to the extermination by the great carni-
yora of such camels as had not the aid of man in the struggle for
existence. As far as diet and clothing go the creature would seem
capable enough of survival.

“The camel,” say the men of Gujarat who understand him in his
quiddity, “ put a hump upon his back,” with a view to avoiding his
share of the mutual obligation, ‘ But then the man made his saddle.”
The application is to the sulky hopeless opposition met at every
clumsy turn by superior resource, which marks the struggle of civili-
sation with barbarism, and ends by the reduction of the savage into

142 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

some form of utility and respect for the bonds of society ; for, in
India, it does not end in his extinction. The imperceptible series of
degrees between the civilised man and the wild human animal
prevent such annihilations of the latter, as have been seen in the
great colonies, most speedy where the gulf between the two societies
was greatest.

Mr. Kipling’s chapter on “ Dogs, foxes, and jackals” is short, and
wolves, he says, are out of his line, and passes on to cats. Then he
has a chapter on animal calls ; but these are calls to, and not of,
animals, and the next is on “ Animal training” with a similar meaning.
He doesn’t think much of the art as practised in India, and goes on to
reptiles. |

And here, for the first time, we have to complain of what is dis-
tinctly a “ false perspective,” as he would say himself. The chapter is
headed with what he calls an “ Anglo-Indian Nursery Rhyme,” which
runs as follows :—

“ And death is in the garden
Awaiting till we pass,
For the krait is in the drain-pipe,
The cobra in the grass,”

Now there may be gardens in India where these things are ; but
even in such a garden of horrors, the snakes do not lie in wait for
the passing of children to bite them. As the child passed, the “ krait ”
would shrink further into his drain-pipe, and the cobra glide away
through his grass. And when was any Anglo-Indian nursery ever the
worse of either, that these morbid terrors should be admitted into it,
by any sensible mistress, to poison her children’s enjoyment of their
few times and places of outdoor play? If there isany place where the
Gruesome ought not to come, it 1s a nursery.

Nor is there much more in this chapter to call for remark from the
naturalist’s point of view. The next is upon “Animals in Indian Art,”
and is extremely valuable, as the work of a past master in his matter,
and then come on “ Beast fight,” to which, when brought about
by human backers, we object asasight or a subject. A good fair
natural duel in the wilderness is, indeed, a fine sight for the man
lucky enough to watch it, and capable of taking no unfair advan-
tage of the combatants.

REVIEW. 143

The present writer once stalked a black buck, to whom, just as
the stalk was drawing to a close, came another on battle bent. It
was a very pretty fencing match, and the spectator, lying flat with
uncocked rifle along the friendly bank of a rice field, could hear the
panting of the combatants and see their eyes flash. He had the
pleasure of seeing the matter end by the retreat of one champion,
sore, pummelled and exhausted, but not mangled. The victor seemed
to have had enough, and did not care to pursue, but walked off to
where the ladies had been when the fight began. They, however,
had long ago resented the intrusion of “strangers in the gallery,’ by
walking off,-so the buck sniffed at the ground where they had
stood, and presently seemed to “get their line” and trotted off
with little further attempt to puzzle it out, To the end he never saw
that he had a human neighbour.

There was a pleasure in watching that fight, but a battle of elephants
maring isas vulgar asa “dog-worry.” If there is any exception
to be made at all, it should be in favour of cock-fighting. The
natural man, however disciplined, has a secret joy in a cock-fight,
though he knows itis wrong. With the beast-fights, and with one
illustration of a doctrine of his own, we part with so pleasant a writer as
Mr. Kipling. He delights in remark upon the “ topsy-turveydom ”
of things oriental, as all great Western travellers in the Hast have
done since Herodotus compared the ways of Greeks and Egyptians.

But of all the “contraries,” in religion and nature, between
England and India, the most contrary is the Indian Daddy Longlegs
that does say his prayers, and is “ chucked” all the same,

144 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.

No, I.—THE HABITS OF THE COPPERSMITH.

Since Jerdon’s time it has been sometimes matter of doubt whether the
Coppersmith Barbet (Xantholema indica) climbs and taps like a woodpecker,

Some eighteen years ago I shot a Barbet which I saw so employed ona banyan
tree in the Thana District, but had no books with me then and lost the specimen.

Long afterwards at Rohe, with a fresh specimen and books before me, I made
sure of the species to my own satisfaction, and had ample opportunity of
watching these birds feeding in the large wild fig tree before the Travellers’
Bungalow at Poladpur, then in full fruit. But neither the Rohe specimen
nor the Poladpur birds tapped the tree. The former was singing when shot,
and the others were eating the fruit with very much the action of green
pigeons similarly employed.

On the 15th March, 1893, in the Thana District, I heard a tapping in an old
mango tree, less powerful than a woodpecker’s, and less like the roll of a drum
in rhythm. After a few minutes’ dodging around the tree, I was able to see the
Coppersmith climbing up a limb, in woodpecker fashion, only a few yards from
me. The green streaks on the breast were distinctly visible. Another,
probably its mate, had just flown out of the tree disturbed by my move-
ments, and was uttering the usual note on the next tree.

W. F. SENCLATR, 1.C.8.
THANA District, 12th March, 1893.

Since writing to you about the tapping and climbing habits of the Copper-
smith, I have again heard the same tapping in the same tree, and upon
examination and disturbance of the tree, found no bird in it but the Copper-
smith, who flew from the spot where the tapping seemed to be, and allowed
me to identify him at pretty close quarters with a powerful field glass.

Thave long had no doubt about the habit myself, and I think that I
have given evidence enough of it. But I am tempted to make another obsery-
ation which I should not have hazarded on my own account. Many of our
readers know Mr. Wallace’s theory that brilliance of colour is (or may be) a
result of high vitality in the animal, and especially in the organ. This Barbet
and some woodpeckers show very brilliant colour on the head and neck, which
must be highly vitalized for such an effort as their tammering on the trees.

Is there any other reason for this curious resemblance of their coloration ?

WTEETS:

Tana Disrrict, 15th March, 1893.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 145

No. I—WOLF HUNTING IN THE SOUTHERN MAHRATTA
COUNTRY.*

I have been tempted by the interesting account of your correspondent, Mr.
C. W. Waddington, on the subject of Wolf Hunting, published in Vol. VII
of this Journal, to recount a somewhat similar experience that I had last year.
My experience, however, differs in one important respect, which, of course,
considerably qualifies my pleasure in the recollection of it, and that is, whereas
“C. W. W.” was riding with a spear, I was riding (by an unlucky circumstance)
with a gun. As, however, my object in writing this is to show the staying
powers of a country-bred horse as against those of a full grown male wolf, and
as the point of my story is in no way affected by my having had a gun instead
of a spear, I hope it may still be of interest to your sporting readers,

im the month of February, last year, I was encamped in a remote village,
Ootgee, in the Jath District of the Southern Mahratta Country. I went to
this village, because I had heard that great annoyance was being caused in the
neighbourhood by wolves who carried off sheep and goats, and attacked
children, On the evening of my arrival I was told that a pair of large
wolves, male and female, with a couple of cubs, had taken up a position in a
“eave” (as it was called) within a mile or so of my camp, close to a thorough-
fare, and that the parents were in the habit of watching for passers-by and _ at-
tacking them. My informants persisted that the jungle was impenetrable and
riding an impossibility. In the morning I went to look at the place (taking
both a gun and a spear), and found it to be a very large babul plantation,
several hundred acres in area, thick in some places, but more or less rideable
in others, though not sufficiently so for there to be any hope of Spearing a
wolf ; and, moreover, it seemed impossible to imagine that any animal would
be foolish enough to leave such an extensive shelter and trust itself to the
open country outside. I, therefore, gave up all idea of spearing, and wander-
ed about with my gun, looking for the wolves; but not seeing anything of
them, I went back to camp, leaving men on the watch. At 12 o'clock one of
these men ran in to say the large male wolf was lying under a tree close to
where I had been in the morning. I immediately galloped off, taking, un-
luckily, only my gun with a few ball cartridges, and little thinking that I
should uever cease to regret not having taken a spear, I soon came on the
wolf, and, dismounting, I approached him for the shot ; but before I could get
within range, he moved off, first slowly, then faster, so I called out for my
horse and followed him, as well as I could, through the babul, keeping on the
inside of the circle in which he was going, and between him and the centre of
the cover, After a while I saw the open country before us, and so did the
wolf, for he stopped short, turned inwards towards me, and stood still, allow-
ing me to ride close up to him and fire. Isaw the bullet strike the ground,
and my horse at that moment, being a bit startled at the shot, reared straight

* This appeared in the J'imes of India on 22nd March, 1893,
19

146 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

up and faced the other way. When I was able to get him round again, the wolf
was still there, and snarling. I fired the second barrel, and again (my horse
being very unsteady) the bu!let.struck the ground; but to my intense satisfaction
it had the effect of determining the wolf to head for the open, and go away
over the most perfect country I have ever seen—light sandy soil, absolutely
flat, with only some small nullahs, and afew stones here and there—crops
down, and not a bush or anything else to obstruct the view.

The horse I was riding was a short-backed 14°1 country-bred, five years old,
and in the hardest possible condition, as he had been doing fifteen or twenty
miles a day for some time, So, with everything in my favour, I made up my
mind that, though I had the wrong weapon, I would try and compromise the
matter by not using the gun till I had arrived at as close quarters as would
have been necessary had I had a spear. Having headed for the open, the wolf
at first went a great pace, evidently thinking that I was going to do the same ;
but I had no such intention, for I was anxious to get him well away from the
cover, and, moreover, from what I saw of the country, there was no necessity
for hurry. I, therefore, went comparatively slowly, and ina couple of miles
he began to come back to me, and we strode along together, he at a comfort-
able lobbing canter, and £ at an ordinary staging pace, about nine or ten miles
an hour. This sort of thing lasted about half an hour, when we came to
a small group of babuls, into which the wolf for a moment disappeared, I at
once pulled up into a walk, and yelling at him as [I went slowly through, I
caught sight of him through the trees, going away at his best pace on the
further side, still in the same direction. ‘This gave my horse a breather which
the wolf did not get, so I calculated I had scored the first point, Then again
we settled down tothe same steady gallop for the next four or five miles
(150 yards separating us), when I saw the wolf was beginning to tire, and so
was my horse, and I wondered how it was going to end. All of a sudden the
wolf vanished, and on reaching the spot where I had last seen him I found
myself at the edge of a steep bank of the river (Boor), and there immediately
below me was the wolf's head emerging from the water, as he swam about
enjoying his bath. The opposite side of the river was fringed with oleander
bushes, which continued for some distance, and beyond again, about a mile or
two distant, I saw what seemed to me tobe another plantation. It was
obviously necessary, therefore, to get to the other side as quickly as possible,
and turn the wolf back, for I knew he could never get home again the ten
miles that I judged it to be. I got across the river lower down without being
noticed, reaching the other side while he was still in the stream, and was able
to give my horse another breather and let him have a few mouthfuls of water.

Thus I scored my second point, for the wolf in the meantime was tiring
himself with swimming about, Instinctively, as an old pig-sticker, I waited
for him to charge, as a good old boar would have done after his bath ; but he
came quietly out, gave himself a shake, and dived into the oleander bushes.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES, 147

I then trotted slowly up alongside the bushes for about half a mile, keeping
him in sight and preventing him from breaking on my side, till suddenly he
plunged across the water again, back up the bank, and headed away at a great
pace for our original starting point, My horse being comparatively fresh, I
soon got up to him again, and we went along together at the same steady pace
till we came near the group of babuls, where the first check had been ; but
instead of entering this he began to bear round to the right, and I saw he was
making for what looked like a large cover to our right front about a couple of
miles distant, and I knew I must “ride” him now or never, so for the first
time in the run I began to press him, It was astonishing with what ease he
got away from me at first, but he soon came back, and I could see he was done.
He had had three spurts and a swim, which had all been against him. My
horse had had no spurts, but two good breathers and some water. So he had
decidedly the advantage, as he proved by soon bringing me alongside, and then
it was I would have given all [ possessed for aspear. The wolf jinked, but
went on—a couple more rushes, a couple more jinks, till (both of us going
slower and slower) the wolf stopped and sat down on his haunches, got up and
went on, stopped again, and sat down altogether unable to go another yard.
I jumped off, slipped in a cartridge, and placing my gun up against his side
put an end to him within a quarter of a mile of the forest lands of Boorgee,
the shelter he had been making for. I felt a good deal of compunction in
deliberately shooting him after such a run, as somehow it did not seem con-
sistent ; but remembering that if I had had a spear I should have killed him a
mile sooner, and also remembering that he and his friends had never had any
compunction in destroying whatever they could get hold of, I thought it was
legitimate to use what weapon I had. The little horse was exhausted, but by
no means ‘‘dead beat,” anda few mouthfuls out of my saddle flask soon
revived him, and constitutionally he was none the worse the next day. The
wolf was a large male, in excellent coat and condition, and stood thirty-three
inches at the shoulder.

Now as regards the length and duration of the run. The start was about
two miles short of Hullee village. The turn at the river was opposite the
village of Madgeehal, and I deduct three miles for rounding the corner. The
finish was close to the forest lands of Boorgee, and about two miles from the
Boorgee village. By the map Hullee village to Madgeehal village is thirteen
miles ; Madgechal village to Boorgee village is twelve miles ; total twenty-five
miles. Deduct seven miles as above, and it makes the whole distance traversed
as nearly as can be estimated eighteen miles. It was 12-40 when I looked at
my watch shortly before seeing the wolf for the first time, and it must have
been nearly one o’clock when he broke away. It was 2-45 exactly when I
killed him. Taking the average pace throughout the run to have been nine or
ten miles an hour, I imagine my estimate of eighteen miles in 13 to 2 hours is
a fairly correct one, I must apologize for the length of this letter, but f have

148 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

gone into details on purpose to try and show that it is not impossible with an
exceptionally good country and lots of it, and a horse in hard condition with a
fair stride, for a single horseman to ride a wolf toa standstill.

J. W. WRAY, Major.
March, 1893.

No. I1].—THE BREEDING SEASON OF THE SARUS CRANE.

On the 15th ultimo I took three eggs of the Sarus (Grus antigone) ; two
from one nest were partly incubated, while the third, from another nest, was
fresh. On the 12th of this month I found two more eggs slightly incubated.
As a rule, these birds breed, in these parts, during the monsoon months—July,
August, and September—so I think the above fact is worth recording. I have
also taken this month two full clutches (4) of the Red-wattled Lapwing, quite
fresh.

H. BULKLEY.
KHARAGHORA, 16th April, 1893.

No. IV.—A BUTTERFLY ATTRACTED BY TOBACCO SMOKE.

Insects and their like are generaily supposed to dislike tobacco, but I have
met with a butterfly to-day which evidently enjoyed it. I was sitting in the
verandah, about 3 p.m., when one of the large black and white butterflies,
common here now, appeared and began flying about me, so I sat perfectly still
to watch him. He seemed to be attracted by the cheroot I was smoking, for
he fluttered about it and actually settled upon it three or four times, once on
the ash which dropped off under him. He settled on my forehead several
times, and once or twice on the arm of my chair onthe leeside, where he got
the smoke. He went off to the garden, but soon came back and repeated his
performance. This is so entirely different from the behaviour I should
expect ina butterfly, that I think the incident is worthy of record in our
Journal,

R. G. OXENHAM.
MATHERAN, April, 1893.

No. V—HABITS OF THE INDIAN ROBIN.

Every one is aware that our English robin has a tendency to build its nest
in all sorts of odd nooks and corners, and this peculiarity is shared to a great
extent by its Indian representative, the “ brown-backed robin” (Thamnobia
combazensis). At the present moment there is a nest containing young ones in
the Mess of the 22nd Bombay Infantry, which is placed in the fold of a curtain,
where it is looped up. The curtain separates the ante-room from the dining-

Journ. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soe.

eS SS ea
Fig. 1. HEAD OF ORYX CALLOTIS. Fig. 2. HEAD OF JACKSON’S HARTEBEESTE (BUBALIS JACKSONI).-
Fig. 3. SKULL OF JACKSON’S HARTEBEESTE (BUBALIS JACKSONI).

Fig. 4. HEAD OF WHITE-BEARDED GNU (CONNOCH(TES ALBO-JUBATU). Fig. 5. SKULLOF WHITE-BEARDED GNU.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 149

room, and is constantly being pushed aside by persons passing in or out ; but
the bird soon got accustomed to these interruptions, and only moved when the
fold was opened to permit of a closer inspection.

A. NEWNHAM, 22nd Regt., Bombay Cavalry.
AUMEDABAD, 10th April, 1893.

No. VI.—NEW AFRICAN ANTELOPES.

T have had the good fortune to recognise three new species of African
animals under conditions that are noteworthy. Amongst the vast number of
heads and skins that come to me for preservation, particularly from Africa,
I frequently discover many points that-have not been noticed by the owners
of the specimens ; and now and then the discovery is of greater importance,
inasmuch as it leads to the recognition by experts of anew species. For
example, looking carefully over a collection of antelopes from Kilimanjaro and
Masailand, I found what appeared to me to be a new Species of Oryaz, and so
it proved to be; for though at first sight it resembled Oryx beisa, a comparison
showed many points of difference ; as will be seen in the annexed figure. The
long tufted ears, which suggested to its describer, Mr. Oldfield Thomas, the
specific name Ory callotis, are particularly noticeable. It differs, moreover,
from other species of Oryx in the general colour of the skin, which is much
browner than that of its congeners, particularly on the head. So far as ai
present known, this antelope is found only in Masailand and contiguous regions,
The example of which the head is now figured came from Kilimanjaro, and was
described by Mr. Oldfield Thomas, F.Z.S., at a meeting of the Zoological
Society in March last ; the type being now in the national collection at South
Kensington. I may add that this species has been several times shot in
Eastern Africa by sportsmen, among others by Sir John Willoughby, Sir
Robert Harvey, the late Hon. Guy Dawnay, Mr. H. C. V. Hunter, Mr. T. W. H.
Greenfield, Mr. E. Gedge, Mr. F. J. Jackson, Mr. Astor Chanler, Mr. R. P.
Carroll, Dr. Abbott, and Count Teleki. But having been hastily identified as
Oryx beisa, and so called for several years, its specific distinctness has until
recently escaped notice. During his last visit to London, the late Sir Victor
Brooke examined the specimen referred to with me, and our discussion was
adjourned to enable further comparison with more examples of Oryx beisa.
But before that could be effected, to the infinite regret of all naturalists and
sportsmen, his untimely death was announced. Thus the opinion of one of
the best authorities on deer and antelopes was lost.

A second species discovered in like manner is a hartebeeste which has been
named Bubalis gacksoni by Mr. Thomas. It was collected in Uganda by
Mr. F. J. Jackson, who directed my attention to it. In general form and
colour it is very like the South African Bubalis caama, figured in the Field,
June 6,1891. Its horns curve in much the same way, though not so sharply,

150 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

as will be seen on reference to the annexed cut. But its distinguishing features
are the uniform colour of the face; Bubalis caama has black face markings,
B, jacksoné none at all. In this respect the new species resembles Coke’s harte-
beeste, the head of which is figured by Sir John Willoughby in his volume on
“Bast Africa and its Big Game” (pl. 1, fig. 1), and which also has no face
markings. But a comparison of the two heads will show a considerable differ-
ence in the character of the horns. In Coke’s hartebeeste the horns diverge
laterally, in Jackson’s species their direction is vertical and backwards.

A third new form, perhaps only a variety, is a wildebeeste, or Gnu. Itis a
fine creature, closely allied to the South African brindled Gnu (Coxnochwtes
taurinus), but having the beard white, instead of dark brown.

It is commendable that in so short a space of time as six months so many
new forms should have been brought to light, it may be said, through the
enterprise of English sportsmen, to whom naturalists are so much indebted for
discoveries in Africa. How many other novelties have been lost for want of
proper identification it would be difficult to say ; but if sportsmen haying
trophies which they are unable to name would refer them to experts on their
return home, they would lessen the chances of being forestalled in the
discovery of new species. It is with the view of clearing up confusion in
regard to the species here figured that I venture to send you these notes for
publication.

ROWLAND WARD.
166, Piccadilly, London, W.

[The above appeared in the Jéeld last year, and is reprinted with the
permission of the author who has kindly supplied us with the accompanying
illustrations.—ED. ]

No. VII.—THE OCCURRENCE OF THE HYAINA IN
SOUTH TRAVANCORE.

I think the following fact is worth recording. My brother writes to me
from Quilon, forty miles north of this place :—

“ A female hyena has been shot at Pundalam, about 15 miles north of
Quilon. There is no doubt about it, as I have got the skim. Ialso examined
the old man who shot it, and took down his statement. A large number of
people saw the dead animal when it was brought to the Cutcherry for the
reward, for it was supposed to be a kind of cheetah,”

This is the first occurrence to my knowledge of the hyzna in Travancore.

H. S. FERGUSON.
TREVANDRUM, SouTH TRAVANCORE,
Vth April, 1893.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES, 151

No. VIII.—NOTES ON ARGYNNIS NIPHE, LINN AUS, A
NYMPHALID BUTTERFLY.

During this last cold weather (1892-93) I was very much surprised to see
females of Argynnis niphe, Linneus, in my garden at Bankipore, Behar.
I had never seen this butterfly here, though I had often caught it at Mussoorie
in the Western Himalayas. Mr. de Nicéville tells us that the food-plant of the
larvee is usually the wild violet. So far as I could find out, this does not
grow in Bankipore ; and I, therefore, tried shutting up a female in a cage with
a pot of garden violets, but she did not lay. Very soon after this, I picked
up a caterpillar which I found crawling on the ground ina bed of pansies.
Further search led to the discovery of others on the pansies. These
were allput ona growing pansy under a cage. The caterpillar is black,
with a broad orange band down the back, and has thorn-like black spines
projecting laterally. It keeps itself carefully concealed under the leaves,
but it feels the cold during the night ; and when the sun gets warm in the
morning, it leaves the plant, and takes a httle promenade on the ground, and
frequently lies basking in the sunshine. When it has got comfortably warmed
up, it returns to the food-plant with renewed vigour and a keen appetite.
This made it easy to find them, and saved one the trouble of hunting under
the leaves. Those in the cage behaved in the same way, and always left the
plant in the forenoon to lie on the ground and bask in the warm sunshine.

They are very good-natured caterpillars,and easy to move about ; they
have good appetites, and seem happy and contented with things as they are,
and donot sulk and mope, or spend their time rampaging about in a vain
endeavour to escape, as so many others do.

The butterflies seem to have preferred the pansies (Viola tricolor) to the
violets (Viola odorata), because the violets were in pots, whereas the pansies
were in the ground. I found that a female which refused to lay when caged
on a pot of pansies laid freely when caged over pansies planted out. She
walked about over the plant depositing anegg here and there, sometimes on the
leaf, sometimes under it. Occasionally she would flit from one place to
another. The eggs are cone-shaped, slightly flattened on the top, and when
first laid, are pure white. They gradually take a bluish-green tint.

I have also observed a female laying eggs in freedom. She kept partially
opening and shutting her wings while she walked along the ground. Then she
would get well into a plant, curl her body round the edge of a leaf, and de-
posit an egg on the under surface. Then she walked on the ground to another
plant, opening and shutting her wings the while ; she always laid under a leaf,
except when she laid on a half-opened one, and then she deposited the egg
well down and on the upperside. She laid only one egg on each leaf at one
time. On one occasion she went back and laid a second egg on a leaf—at some
distance from the first. After laying three or four eggs, she would refresh
herself with a sip of honey from the flowers, and then begin to lay again. She

152 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII,

showed no sign of fear, and on one occasion left the pansy and sat for some
time on my dress.

In going from one plant to another she sometimes dragged her body along
the ground as if in the act of laying, but deposited no eggs.

She sometimes curled her body round leaves of Phlox that were growing
among the pansies, but seemed to recoil from their rough surface, and left no
egg on them. ;

Most of the eggs were laid on the underside of the outer leaves, a few on
the stalk of the plant. I did a great deal of searching and reading in Mr. de
Nicéville’s invaluable book “ The Butterflies of India, Burmah and Ceylon,”
to find out what my caterpillars were, but in vain. Mr. A. Grahame Young’s
description of the larva of a Kulu specimen there given is as follows :—“ Larva.
Head and legs black, body black ; this colour, however, almost obscured by
the orange-tawny markings ; a broad orange-tawny dorsal stripe ; four straight
horizontal simple black spines on the head; spines on the pectoral segments
black ; on the abdominal segments pink, tipped with black; on the caudal
segments pink, faintly black tipped.’”’ Mine were all black, except the orange-
tawny dorsal stripe ; and all the spines were black.

Presently they went into pupz, suspending themselves by the tail from
the top of the cage. When the imago emerged, I was equally surprised and
delighted to find ita beautiful Argynnis niphe. Males and females emerged
in about equal numbers. One lusus nature, a male, had one wing as in the
ordinary male, and the other as in the ordinary female !

I expected to have a second brood from the eggs laid by the female caged
on the pansies, but the ants ate up every one. I cannot imagine how any-
thing can escape these little pests. I suppose that the first batch of eggs
escaped only by being laid when it was too cold for the ants to move about.

Shortly after the imago emerges, it exudes a few drops of a bright crimson
fluid. It is this fluid which has given rise in Hurope to the tales of “ showers
of blood.” Sometimes species of Vanessa and Pyrameis emerge as butterflies
in large numbers simultaneously, each butterfly deposits its drops of red fluid,
and hence the popular scare of a bloody shower !

I saw an imago on the wing to-day (9th April) ; but I have seen no second
brood of caterpillars.

The following is the biography of a beautiful specimen from the egg to
the killing-bottle :—

February 18th.—Put into a cage a pansy with one egg on it.

March 6th.—Larva emerged, made its first meal off the egg-shell, and then
proceeded to eat a tender shoot of the pansy. It changed its
skin on the night of the 12th, again on the 20th, and again on
the night of the 24th. It left the food-plant on the 27th. On
the 30th the larva suspended itself by its tail to the top of the
cage, and on the morning of the 31st I found it im chrysalis.

April Tth_—The imago emerged—a beautiful female.

Mrs. S. ROBSON.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 153

- 4
Norse spy Mr. pE NICEVILLE.

Argynnis nizhe in its various forms is one of the most interesting of
butterflies. Of all the species of the genus it has the widest geographical
range—from Abyssinia, throughout Southern Asia, to Australia. A more exact
list of localities where it is found may be of interest.

Africa—A byssinia.

Continental Asia—Throughout the Himalayas, Assam, Shan States, Northern
Burma, Punjab (Campbellpore and Rawal Pindi), North-Western
Provinces (Agra), Oudh, Western Bengal (Bankipore and Durbungha),
throughout Southern India (Bombay, Nilgiri and Pulni Hills, Trichino-
poly, Travancore), China (Omei-shan, Wa-shan, Moupin, Chia- -kou-ho,
Chia-ting-fu, Chang-yang, Ichang, Ningpo).

Ceylon.

Sumatra.

Java.

Formosa.

Japan.

Australia—Hunter River, Nerang River, Moreton Bay.

‘Mr. H. J. Elwes remarks that, except Argynnis hanningtoni, Elwes, from
Central Africa, A. niphe is the only species inthe whole genus which has a
tropical habitat. It may also be noted that though it appears to thrive in the
tropics, itis equally happy in temperate climates, where at one stage of its
existence, at any rate, it is annually exposed to severe frosts and snow.

Another most interesting feature is the fact of the great divergence usually
found in the coloration and markings of the opposite sexes. The male is not
strikingly different from other species of the genus Argynnis, but the female
with the apical half of the forewing on the upperside deep purple crossed by
a broad white band is an entirely unique animal. There is no doubt that this
distinctive type of coloration has been acquired by the female as a protection
against its enemies, as, on the wing, that sex passes very well for a Danais
(Limnas) chrysippus, Linnzus, which is a highly protected butterfly. In Java
the female has assumed a slightly different dress, the ground-color of the
upperside being considerably deeper and richer than the Indian form, the
butterfly mimicking Danais (Limnas) bataviana, Moore, which is a dark red
geographical race of D. chrysippus. This geographical race of A. niphe has
been named javanica by Monsieur C. Oberthiir.*

But the most wonderful feature of all with regard to A. niphe is the
occurrence in South India (Trichinopoly and the high range of bills in
Travancore) and in Australia (Hunter and Nerang Rivers and Moreton Bay)
of two geographical races which have females, to all intents and purposes,
similar to their respective males, the distinctive purple ground and white band

* Bull. Soc, Ent. France, sixth series, vol. ix, p. ccxxxv (1889),
20

154 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

of the forewing above having entirely disappeared! The two species (as they
have been called, though it is perhaps better to treat them as geographical
races) may be indistinguishable the one from the other. I have only seen the
Indian form, which has been named A. castetsi by Oberthtir,* the Australian
form being called A. inconstans by Butler.t It is highly probable that this
form represents the ancestral (atavistic) one of the species,and the typical
A. niphe a more recent development. Itisa matter for interesting speculation
why in all Asia the form found in a most limited area in extreme Southern
India should alone have remained unaltered, while the form occurring over
the immensely wide area enclosed between extreme Hastern Africa and
extreme Western Asia should have shown such great sexual divergence in
coloration and markings.

There are two other points which I may mention. One is the curious fact
that A. niphe does not exist apparently in Southern Burma and the Malay
Peninsula, though it is found to the north in Upper Burma and to the south
in Sumatra ; the other point is the presence in the males of both forms
(typical A. niphe and A. castetsi), occurring in Southern India, on the upperside
of the forewing of raised modified scales (androconia) along a portion of its
length of the first median nervule. This feature is, moreover, absent from
Ceylon specimens, which is again an extraordinary fact, Ceylon being so close
to India, divided from it only by a narrow shallow strait. I may also note that
were sufficient material available from South India, it would probably be
found that typical A. niphe and A. castetsi merge into one another, as I
possess female examples of the former from the Nilgiri Hills, which have the
purple area indistinct and the white bar narrow of the forewing on the
upperside, showing by the partial obsolescence of these especial features a
distinct approach to the ancestral form, as I am inclined to believe A. castetsé
and A. inconstans to be.

* Bull. Soc. Ent. France, sixth series, vol. ix, p. ccxxxy (1889); idem, id, E’tudes
d’ Ent., vol. xv, p. 9, pl. i, fig. 1, female (1891).
? d 7 }.

+ Cist, Ent., vol. i, p. 164, n. 36 (1873).

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 155

No, IX.—SMALL GAME SHOOTING IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD
OF BOMBAY.
SEASON 1892-93,

The season of 1892-93 as regards small game sport within a radius of
forty miles of Bombay was a very poor one ; in fact, if a record had been kept
of previous seasons, I believe it would be found to be the poorest we have
had within the last ten years, The heaviest monsoon on record in Bombay
(126°75 inches) and the fair distribution of rain over other parts of Western
India had, I think, a good deal to do with the sport being so bad.

The snipe began to arrive towards the end of September, and one or two were
killed as early as the 17th of that month, but no decent bags were made before
the middle of October, when to all appearance a fairly good season for snipe
might have been expected, During the Diwali holidays (20th to 23rd October)
we had several thunderstorms with heavy rain, flooding the juggers which
had previously held snipe, scattering the birds over the country and driving a
good many away altogether, The rains continued until late in the season,
35°75 inches falling in September, 2°24 in October, and 1°80 in November,
so that the paddy was not cut until fully a month later than usual. This
was also against sport, as October and November are our two best months for
snipe. Jack snipe, if anything, were more abundant this season, judging from
the proportion in the bags of snipe recorded,

There was plenty of water everywhere up-country, and duck were con-
sequently anything but plentiful near Bombay and there is little inducement
for them to come and stay any length of time about Bombay, unless the tanks
up-country are low and the feeding poor.

Quail were conspicuous by their absence, and on juggers where forty to fifty
couple were killed in a day’s shooting during January and February, 1892.
The best bag made in the same months of 1893 was 8 couples for two guns,
and the total killed for this season did not exceed 60 head, chiefly of course
because sportsmen did not find it worth while going after them, the khubber
brought in being so poor. I myself, although shooting pretty regularly
throughout the season, only saw two quail which I shot, one on the 30th
October and the other on the 20th November, There being plenty of grass
and cover for quail up-country accounts for the scarcity down here, although
even in Guzerat the quail season was not so good as in former years.

Partridges and hares were much the same in number as last year, and little
need be said about them, as the sport is so poor and will decrease each season
as long as netting and snaring is allowed to be carried on around Bombay
during the whole year.

Golden plover also made a better show than in former seasons, and _ six to
seven couple picked up in a day’s snipe shooting was not exceptional.

Curlew were in fair numbers along the creeks, and early in the season were not
difficult to obtain, but later on they got very wily and were not easy to approach,

156 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII,

Of rare cold weather visitants shot or seen L have received no information.
I did not notice any myself,

As far as I can make out, there were twenty-eight sportsmen shooting this
season, and they were out 473 days. The amount of small game killed was
4.022 head, showing the poor total of 8°50 head per gun per diem. The two
largest bags, made of snipe in one day, by three guns, were 104 and 103 head in
November.

Small game killed during the season—

Full Snipe. Jack Snipe.

Septembev.......... WAS fle Gorunee ain cane ate
CCtOber,.....0.0.0--..0r-s 862 A‘)
IN ON CTAB eI He vaseste ater ce 1,184. 169
December,.........s00+0« 801 72
SANUALY.-.se-weereererece 386 49
JEG) OPERA ee acosonsonecse sa 30

Diack cosa dos cseeeecaase 120
Quailess. ces. Wealeeeanees 55
PANES ele seiate iar lewiestesiaten Se 10
JE RIANENS IBES. soodncondeocss 100

285+3,737 = Total...4,022 head.

I have to thank the sportsmen who have kept records of their bags and
who have kindly sent them tome, I only hope that more will do so in the
coming season. I shall be happy to send any one game books gratis for that
purpose if they will apply to me.

The season of 1892-93 is the first in which any sort of record has been
kept of game shot within a radius of forty miles of Bombay, and although from
inadequate infcrmation it can only be called “approximate,” still, if it is
kept up year after year, comparisons can ke made, and the causes shown
why one season is better or worse than another, This will be of interest both

to sportsmen and naturalists.

E, L. BARTON,
Bompay, 1s¢ June, 1893.

PROCEEDINGS

OF THE MEETING HELD ON 23rd FEBRUARY, 1893.

The usual monthly meeting of the members of this Society took place on Thursd wy
the 23rd February, 1893, Dr. D. MacDonald presiding.

NEW MEMBERS.

The following new members were elected :—

His Imperial and Royal Highness Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria d'Esté
(Vienna), the Hon’ble Mr. A. C. Trevor (Bombay), Major C. B. Wilkieson (Bangalore),
Mr. A. W. Turner (Devacolum), Mr. John A. Douglas (Bombay), Mr. H. 8. Jacob
(Shohagpur), Mr. B. Bruce Foote (Baroda), Mr. A. Corrodi (Bombay), Mr. HE. H.
Hankin (Agra), Mr. Henry Rodgers, M.R.C.V.S. (Bombay), Mr. R. St. J. Walley,
M.R.C.V.S. (Bombay), Lieutenant-Colonel J. M. Hunter (Kathiawar), Mr. A. Conley
(Bombay), Lientenant H. H. Nurse (Ahmedabad), Mr. T. R. Lawrence (Bombay), Dr.
KE. H. Cooke, M.A., M.B. (Bhusawal), Surgeon-Major C. G. W. Lowdell (Poona, C. I.),
Lieutenant R. W. Burton (Raichore), Mr. G. Bildt (Bombay), Mr. G. Bower, B.C.S.
(Mirzapore), Mr. W. Fraser Biscoe (Secunderabad), Mr. W. D. Sheppard, C.S. (Kar-

war), His Highness the Maharajah of Kolhapore, and Lieutenant G. E. Bruce
(Rangoon).

LiFE MEMBERS, _ ;

The Honorary Secretary stated that the following members had availed themselves
of the new Rule and had compounded their subscriptions for life :—(1) H. H. the
Maharajah Scindia of Gwalior, (2) Mr. G. C. Whitworth, C.S., (3) Mr. K. R. Kama,
(4) Mr. D.J. Tata, (5) Mr. H. M. Phipson, (6) 4.1. H. the Archduke of Austria, (7)
Mr. Bomonjee D, Petit, (8) Major H. D. Olivier, R.E., (9) H. H. the Maharajah of
Kolhapore, (10) Major Gerald Martin, (11) Mr. J. M. Coode.

CONTRIBUTIONS DURING JANUARY,

The Honorary Secretary acknowledged having received the following contributions
since the last meeting :-—

a ae RRS ae ls ee

Contribution. Description, | Contributor.

Se eR ee at aa ae
1 Snake (alive) paotobe A seee»| Simotes russellii......,...ee. Mr. P. Benn.

1 Large Scorpion ..... Col. D. Robertson.

fe Sake onssecessceee eee Trimeresurusnamallensis ... Do

1 Short-nosed Fruit Bat ... Cynopterus marginatus......! Mr. W. George.
Snake) waccacseeece see Vipera russellit\ ...2) ssee..| Mir. Bee Elsworthy.
1 Red Spur Fowl

sssreeeeeeoe| Galloperdix spadiceus ......! Capt. P. L. Cox.
A number of Butterflies ...| From SiNGApoOre ...e02.+-++e.0e| Miss N. Prentice.
4 Golden Orioles ........... | Stuffed and mounted in

CASE cecvcese

Mr. C. Maries.

3 Eggs of the Ring-tailed

Fishing Kagle............| Haliactus leucoryphres......| Mr. M. D. Mackenzie.
2 Eggs of the Grey-backed

Sea Eagle s+-ssereeeeeeee] Haliactus leucogaster ...... Mr. E. A. Bulkley.
1 Indian Monitor (alive) ...} Varanus bengalensis ,........| Dr. D. A. d’Monte.

158 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VII.

Contribution. Description. Contributor.
4 Kegs of the Large tee
MOLANIE .cecescacesoeaeee ,.( Phalacrocorax carbo ......-..| Mr. H. Bulkley.

3. Hygs of the black-winged

JECINI® Gooancencngaadq9p6cHa906
TL SIMEIR® cosooqoonsodooadGus6ab06
1 Black-backed Goose
Curiously deformed feet of

IBIB YON, IBIIO Gaqdaeqaconododd g0
iL Ousae's Sim) ss s5oc60cd0080
AUB SIMAITE I dened cecovewe suaweceven

1 Trap-door Spider’s Nest ..
Skeleton of Lynx .........00.

Teratological Specimen ...
AGelirGleWessccsseteeses 65000000 20
UL JRSM cogssogacddee
1 Cobra
A large piece of crystal
iL (CON Socdnoonacn980d ca o.000
1 Skin of the Nilgiri Wild

(GHDENB | cogopoqoeonandacd600000¢
2 Snakes ssc.

© eeeecccccccce

ID IPIGANIEIS) codeoqcocesocea00000
Photographs cf Sambur......

e

.| From Zanzibar

Hvlanus cxeruleus coossreccce.
Vipera russellii ......-...0.00-
Sarcidornis melanonotus ...

Antilopa CerViCapTa ces...
Lutra vulgaris
Ly codon avlicus.......+....00
From Belgaum
Felis caracal

eeccr)essccectre

ecorccccoce ecovcree

Domestic £OWleccresccccsssccers
Trionyx leithii ...............
Platax teira
Naga tripudians .......0..+.

Deeccaccoveescccen

Naga tripudiads .occccscsee ga06

Hermitragus hylocrius
Tropidonotus piscator and

Oligodon subgriseus ......
From Lanowli
From Life

eco

eeocceararcvoevcercacee

.| Mr.

Do.
Capt. B. A. Cole.
Mr. HE. A. Bulkley.

Mrs, Gilbert.
Capt. Sutton Jones.
Mr. V. 8S. Simmonds.
Mr. R. C. Wroughton.
Surgeon-Captain B. Drake-
Brockman.
Do.
B. A. Gupta.
P. Messant.
C. H. Kane.
Isaac Benjamin.
P. J. Tonkin.

Mr.
Mr.

Mr.
Mr.
Mr. A. W. Turner.

Mrs. Grattan Geary.

Do.
Mr. J. D. Inverarity.

MINOR CONTRIBUTIONS

Were also received from Mr. H.H.G. Dunlop, Mr. John Wallace, Mr. J. HB. Whiting,
Mrs. D. Robertson, Mr. R. Bruce Foote, Mr. 8. Melling, and Miss BH. Caddick.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Life Histories of North American Birds (Bendire) ; in exchange.

List of the Batrachia in the Indian Museum (Sclater) ; presented by the Trustees

of the Indian Museum.

Proceedings of the Manchester Literary Society, Vol. II, No. 2; in exchange.

The Victorian Naturalist for November 1892 ; in exchange.

Scientific results of the second Yarkand Mission ; presented by the Government of

India.

The Canadian Entomologist, November, December, 1892, and January, 1893 ; in

exchange.

Le Monde des Plantes, No. 15 ; in exchange.

Proceedings of the Linnzan Society of New South Wales, Vol. VII, Part 25; in

exchange.

Actes de la Société Scientifique du Chili, Tome II ; in exchange.

Records of the Geological Survey of India, Vol. XXV, Part 4 ; in exchange.

PROCEEDINGS. 159

Journal of the Trinidad Field Naturalists’ Club, presented by Dr. Bevan Rakes,

Histoire Naturelle des Hymenopteres de Madagascar. Les Formicides, par Mons.
A. Forel ; presented by the Author,

The Indian Forester, Vol. XIX, No. 2 ; in exchange.
EXHIBITS.

Mr. C. G. Dodgson, C.S., exhibited some handsome skins of lions which he had
recently shot in Somali land.

JOURNAL No. 3, VOL. VII.

The Honorary Secretary stated that, owing to a mistake on the part of the pub-
lishers, a certain number of the Journals of No. 3, Vol. VII, had been sent out without
any plates. He hoped that members would examine their copies and return them to
him if they contained no illustrations.

ACCOUNTS FOR 1892.

Mr. Andrew Murray, the Honorary Treasurer, placed before the meeting the accounts
for the year ending 31st December, 1892, which showed a cash balance in favour of
the Society of Rs. 2,100-11-9. The accounts were duly passed, subject to the usual
audit, and a hearty vote of thanks was voted to Mr. Andrew Murray for the trouble
he had taken.

PAPERS READ.

The Honorary Secretary read extracts from the following papers:—(a@) The Plant
and its effects on Cattle, by Mr. Jaikrishna Indrajee; () Indian Breeds of Dogs, by
Mr, W. F. Sinclair, C.S.; (¢) Food of the Flying Fox, by Mr. W. F. Sinclair, C.S.; ()
Moonlight Shadows, by Mr. W. F. Sinelair, C.S. ; (¢) Note on Psilotum triquetrum,
by Dr. D. G. Dalgado; (/) Birds observed breeding in Kharaghora, by Mr. H.
Bulkley ; (gy) A Gazelle’s Food, by Lieutenant §. D. Vale, R.I.M.; (2) On the
Occurrence of the Spotted Grey Tree-Creeper at Ahmednugger, by Lieut. H. Ti,
Barnes, F.Z.5.; (/) Measurements of Black-bucks’ Horns, by Mr. B. W. Blood.; (/) A
Lynx attacking a Man, by Dr. H. HE. Drake-Brockman, F.Z.S.

PROCEEDINGS
OF THE MEETING HELD ON 19rH APRIL, 1893.

A meeting of the members of this Society took place on Wednesday, the 19th April,
1893, Dr. G, A. Maconachie presiding.

NEW MEMBERS.
The following gentlemen were elected members of the Society :—=
Mr. Richard Whately (Gcdra), Mr. C. W. Waddington (Rajkote), Lieutenant C. R.
M. Hutchinson (Bakloh), Mr. J. F, Snuggs (Hurdah), Mr. W. A. Wallinger (Surat),
Colonel H. Wylie, C.S.1. (Nepal), Dr. Popat Prabhulal Vaidya (Bombay), Surgeon-

Captain Baman Das Basu (Rajkote), Mr. Tribhovandas Kalliandas Gujjar (Baroda),
Dr. Eduljee Nusserwanjee (Bombay), and Mr. G. R. Lowndes (Bombay).

160 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

CONTRIBUTIONS.

Mr. H. M. Phipson, the Honorary Secretary, then acknowledged the following con-
tributions which had been received since the last meeting :—
CONTRIBUTIONS DURING MARCH.

Contribution.

A five-horned Sheep (alive).
Indian Monitor (alive)...
Lynx (alive) -secsersereeers
Bears (alive)
White-handed
(alive)
Large Kudu Skin sees...
Dik-dik Skin cccsocoeere. He
Gazelle Skin
Oryx Skin
Gazelle Skin
Snake
Shoveller
A Collection of Sea Fish ...
A Collection of 48 Birds’
Skins

Peete

eooresoe ececsce
@oeccotOorer vor
eocevovcacce
0 20cce cc 000 re. 000%

RSS ee

1 Hedgehog (alive) crerre..
A Collection of Precious
StOMES ceccecceecvcccere

1 Large Ant Nest esecosresse.
Bones of a Dodo
1 Booby ccecesceacee severeeerere
8 Panther Cubs «csrcccee.-. eve
2 Red Jungle Cocks’ Skins.

ecocksocoeee

5 Wild Cats’ SKinS cosse.
L Shieldrake ccccssccssccsceees
Various botanical specimens
1 Snake
1 Cobra
1 Hornbill’s Nest ....-.
1 Vampire Bat 336
1 Snake

pvocccoooreccss 000 ecooece

soo c0e

evcceccaotercoesoovecece®

NEAR RE WR ER Be eee

1 Tiger Cub....coscccccresceeeee
Geological Specimens
1 Indian Oriole (alive)-:-...
1 Snake (alive)
1 Grey Hornbill
1 Cobra...ccccccseocsccnesserorers

Geoveeccoece

.| Oryx beisa

.| Lycodon aulicus..

.| Lycodon travancoricus
| Ly codon avlicus..ccoscercercee
....| Oligodon subgriseus o-..++-.
| Coluber helena ..- co... e000.
.| Dendrophis pictus

Description.

From Arabia ....
Varanus bengalensis
Felis caracal
Melursus UFSINUS cvcrerecceee

escccceee a
scoccerce

ececccrececorancce

Hylobates lar ....sssssccecve..
Strepsiceros kudu .,
Neotragus saltianis

Gazella scemMe?Tringli ......

ene c0ewoeene COB ecacce

Gazella walleri .....c-ccccseve

Spatula dypeata ....
From Colombo

@voccoresccucce

HUErompNE © actaricseaskesiecsases

Erinaceus collaris

e@vcccecccecs

From Nasik ..ccoscocce.ssscveeee
From Rodriguez
Do.

Foetal specimens
Gallus ferrugineus corccerceee 6
Felis bengalensis ...

Felis OLMata.ccescccesescccers
Felis sp. (unidentified) ...
Tadorna COLPNUtA..cccccccrecce
FLOM GOdeccoecccesee

eceacce
eorrt-aoocce

evcccarcesce

Megaderma LyTa o...0-.-- eoe-n<
Silybura brevis .s-.ssecceewees

Silybura maculata ....-.eee-
Platyplectrurus sanguineus.

Trop. beddomii ...+.sceseee..-

| Trop. stolatus -osrsecccccoeeses
.| Trop. plumbicolor

Dipsas ceylonensis «..+0....+.
Dryophis mycterizans ......
Trim. anamallensis...c0 0...

Trim, MacLolePiS-cererceceeseee
Foetal specimen ...cccceeeeeees
From Australia ......scccsss0-
Oriolus KUNGOO ceerecevereoees
Trop. plumbicolor ........ce0.
Ocyceros DirOstTis .o0.+secere
Naga tripudians..........+-.

Contributor.

Mr. N. M. Patel.

Mr. P. J. Tomkins,

Capt. H. Parry.
Do.

Mr. H. P. Gallwey.
Mr. C. G. Dodgson, C. 8.

Do.
Mr. B. W. Blood.
Mr. EK. L. Barton.
Major W. G. Forbes.

'Mr. H.C. Stuart-Baker.
Mr. P. B. Foote.

Mr, F. Fischer.

Mr. H. M. Gibbs.

H. HE. Adml. Kennedy.
Do.

Mr. W. F. Sinclair, C.8.

Mr. F. 8, Bullock.

Capt. Thornhill.
Lt. G. Farquharson, R.H.

Mr. C. de Figueiredo.
Mr, 4. Francke.

...| Mr. EH, A. Cooke.
eee Cole We Scott:

Mr. W. B. Smith.
Mr. H. 8S. Ferguson
Travancore,
O.

of

Do.
Mr, W. A. Wallinger.
Capt. Mortleman.
Dr. Douglas Bennett.
Dr. A. K. Stewart.
Major Fenton.
Dr. K. R. Kirtikar,

PROCEEDINGS, 161

Minor ContRIBUTIONS.—From Mr. H. ¥. Hatch, Col. C. E. Hussey, Mr. C. Hud-
son, Mr. John Grifiths, and Mr. H. EH. M. James, C.S.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LIBRARY,

The Bombay Materia Medica (Khory), from Dr. M. D, Gama,

The Oriental Sporting Magazine from 1858 to 1879, from the Hon. Mr. A. F,
Beaufort.

Records of the Geological Survey of India, Vol. XX VI, Part I ; in exchange.

Memoires de la Socicté Zoologique de France pour 1892 ; in exchange.

DESIDERATA.,

The Honorary Secretary stated that he was anxious to obtain sketches or photo-
graphs of typical specimens of the different breeds of Indian dogs, such as the
Wanjari Hounds (Brinjaris), Thilari Hounds, Luts, Polygars, §c., for reproduction
in the Journal, and he hoped that members up-country would assist the Society in
this respect. He further stated that a series of coloured plates would appear in the
Journal, illustrative of the indigenous orchids of Western India. Good specimens in
flower were wanted, and should be sent by post, packed in cotton wool (up to Ist
June), to Mrs, Griffiths, Matheran, who had kindly offered to make the sketches.

PAPERS RHAD.

The following papers were then read, and a yote of thanks was passed to the
contributors :—(1) The Fauna and Flora of the Kachin Hills, by Capt. G. H. H.
Couchman; (2) The Poisonous Plants of Bombay, Part IV, by Surgeon-Major
K. R. Kirtikar ; (3) Miscellaneous Notes:—(@) A Bold Panther, by Captain
P. L. Cox; (0) Measurement of Sambur Horns, by Col. Kenneth Mackenzie ; (¢)
Ducks, by C. D. Lester; (@) The Giant Betel-nut Palm, by C. Hudson; (¢) The
Habits of the Coppersmith Barbet, by W. F. Sinclair, C.8S.; () The Breeding
Season of the Sarus Crane, by H. Bulkley; G) A Butterfly attracted by Tobacco
Smoke, by R. G. Oxenham.

Laan teats
RanlAd ©
Ar) $1

Ml Pc
WE Bae

sti peas

Journ. Bombay Nat.Hist Soc, Plate A.

est

ee

Mintern Bros. Chromo lith. London.

. STAPHIDIA CASTANEICEPS=:
The Chestnut-headed Staphidia

E.C.S Baker del.

JOURNAL

OF THE

Js) (GD) AB as as Oe
dlatural History Society,

Wo. 2.| BOMBAY. [Vol. VIII.

THE BIRDS OF NORTH CACHAR.

A CATALOGUE
OF THE PASSERIFORMES, CORACHFORMES, AND THE ORDER
PSITTACI OF THE SUB-CLASS CICONIIFORMES,

By E, ©. Stuart Baker,
(With Plate A.)

(Read before the Bombay Natural History Society
on 6th September, 1893.)

The three orders aboyenamed include all of what are popularly known
as “small birds.” To take up the remaining orders of the Crconiiformes
and the other two sub-classes, Galliformes and Struthioformes,1 should
require to expend at least two years in thoroughly working up the heavy
bheel land running along the foot of the hills, the whole of which swarms
with water-birds all the year round, and in the cold season is visited,
in addition, by numerous migrants. To do this I have neither time nor
opportunity, and I therefore make known the results of six years’
work amongst the sub-classes mentioned, ina country teeming with
bird-life, thinking it better to do this than wait until I can give a

163 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

complete list of all the birds obtainable—a thing to be desired no doubt,
but which I may never accomplish.

Before commencing the catalogue itself, it may be advisable to give
a brief description of the country in which I have worked. North
Cachar in a small space gives as great a variety of country as most
places of more than fifty times its area. -To the whole of the south the
country is covered with ranges of rugged hills, the principal of which
is the Barail range. The mountains of this part are in height from 2,000
feet up to some 4,000 feet, or rather more, and the only valleys of any
importance are those of the Jetinga River inthe West and of the Jiri
and Jennam in the Hast ; these two latter running parallel with one
another for about forty miles almost due south, and finally meeting in the
plains of Cachar. As the centre of the sub-division is approached, more
especially in the centre and west, the hills become less rugged, and do not
run, with the exception of a few isolated peaks, above 2,500 to 3,000
feet. In the central east the Hungroom and Léré range towers above
all others. Hungroom stockade is some 5,400 feet high, and all round are
peaks 600 to 800 feet higher, whilst a few miles distant across the Jiri and
in Manipur territory are hills yet higher than these. Leaving Gunjong,
which is just about the centre of the district, and working due north,
the hills grow lower and lower until at the extremity of the sub-division
one comes to a quantity of low-lying ground, in part covered, during the
rains, with swamps and marshes overgrown with dense ekra and sun
grass, but principally bearing evergreen forest, more or less broken up
by patches of dry sun grass land and bamboo jungle. To the west and
north-west is a lovely country of rolling hills and plateaux—a country
consisting almost entirely of sun grass land, bearing a scattered growth
of oak-forest, intermixed here and there with a few pines, whilst in the
pockets and hollows the very thickest of forest, with close undergrowth,
grows unrestrained. Here also are one or two upland valleys, of which
the Umrang plateau is the chief, a great open space of gently undulating
ground, covered with grass and merely dotted with single trees or small
clumps growing on the higher parts: during the rains and even to a
certain extent at other periods the hollows contain either stagnant
water or slowly-running springs, some of which are brackish and entice
every kind of wild animal into their neighbourhood. At the lowest

THE BIRDS OF NORTH CACHAR. 164

part of this runs the Kopili, a largish stream, but full of rapids and
water-falls, rendering even the transport of timber impossible. Thus,
then, there is a country to meet the needs of almost every kind of bird ;
on the bigger rivers the bolder king-fishers and bee-eaters, many fly-
catchers, thrushes, fork-tails, &e., breed, whilst the densely-shaded
nullahs, in gloomy evergreen forest, afford shelter to the Great Indian
King-fisher and other shy, water-loving birds; in the marsh lands
running along the south all kinds of babblers, reed warbles, &c., have a
haunt after their own hearts, and such as require open dry grass country
have only to visit Umrang, the hot springs, or similar places. Hungrum
and its lofty peaks afford a home for the tits, rarer thrushes, and
babblers, who will not descend below 400 feet. Even the tree-creeper,
wryneck, and many wrens find this part sufficiently lofty to tempt
them to stay and breed ; whilst nuthatches abound in the evergreen
forest in the valleys of the two small streams Laisung and Mahor.

As regards classification, all I need say is that I have adopted that of
Oates as given in the volumes of the Avifauna in the Blanford Series ;
for though there are certain details with which I do not agree in this
work, still there is no system which pleases every one, and I do not
know of any existing classification which is better or, indeed, as good ;
whilst as regards making one for myself, I am utterly incapable of
doing so, and fortunately have not yet developed sufficient self-conceit
to attempt the task. One word I must say, and that is, that it seems
to me as if Oates, good and thorough ornithologist as he is, has
thought fit to create a sub-family (Liotrichine) merely as a sort of waste
land with a placard up, “ All rubbish may be shot here,” and in the
waste land he has shot whatever he did not know how to dispose of
otherwise. No argument on the formation of their bones will make me
believe that Cutia, digithina, Chloropsis, Melanochlora, Psaroglossa, and
Chalcoparia (Eulables too Oates suggests) should be massed together
as they are.

The only references I have made are to Oates’ work and to Hume’s
catalogue, and this latter, of course, includes Jerdon.

The notes I have given are for the most part very brief, and I have
only launched out into lengthy details in regard to birds about whose
nidification or habits nothing has yet been recorded, or about which J

165 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, VIII

think I have something new to tell. In one or two cases I have also
given brief notes as to measurements and descriptions, The principal
fact that will be noticed is the very large number of Burmese forms
given, and how they and the Indian forms come together. Again, in a
few cases, such as Hemipus obscurus and Crsticola cursitans, forms re-
appear here with apparently an immense extent of country intervening
between North Cachar and the place where they next appear.

Sub-Clas PASSERIFORMES.
Order PASSERS,
Family CoRvIpAE.
Sub-family Corvine.
(1) Corvus macrornyncnus.—The Jungle Crow.

Oates, No. 4; Hume, No. 660.
Common everywhere. Breeds in these hills principally in the latter
part of March and April. Wing averages here about 13:4", Bill 2-45".

(2) CoRVUS SPLENDENS.—Indian House Crow.
Oates, No. 7; Hume, No. 663.
Only occurs in the hills as a very rare straggler, and that only very
close to the plains.

(3) Uroorssa occrprratis.—The Red-billed Blue Magpie.
Oates, No. 12; Hume, No. 671.
I have only met with one specimen of this bird—a female caught
on the nest. This was obtained at Hungrum ata height of about
5,200 feet.

(4) CIssaA CHINENSIS.—The Green Magpie.
Oates, No. 14 ; Hume, No. 673.

Common from the plains up to about 4,000 feet. Often feeds on
high trees, especially during the cold season. Is occasionally found in
small parties, probably consisting of the parent birds and their last
brood. It seems possible that this bird may sometimes have two
broods in the year, for, though the majority of eggs are to be found in
April and early May, I have found them again breeding in the end
of July and August. In May, 1890, a nest containing three young

THE BIRDS OF NORTH CACHAR. 166

ones was found ina well-wooded ravine, and in August the same year
another nest was taken from the same tree containing four eggs,
They lay from four to five eggs.

(5) DmenprocitTa RuFA.—The Indian Tree Magpie.
Oates, No. 16 ; Hume, No. 675.
Rare in this district, being replaced by the next.
(6) D. numaLAYensis.—The Himalyan Tree Magpie.

Oates, No. 18; Hume, No. 676.
The common type in North Cachar.

(7) D. FRontaLIs.—The Black-browed Tree Magpie.
Oates, No. 19 ; Hume, No. 667.

_ This bird is by no means rare on the higher peaks, but does not appear
ever to descend below 3,000 feet, and very seldom below 4,000. _ In its
habits there is little to note that is different from the better known
species of the genus, but it is on the whole a less noisy bird. The
flocks number from 4 to 7 or 8, and I am inclined to believe consist
merely of the old birds and their last brood of young ones. The nest
is in most cases a very flimsy construction, in general shape and size
much like that of D. himalayensis, but perhaps even more flimsy and
smaller. The materials consist of fine elastic twigs, and the coarse
tendrils of some climbing plant ; occasionally the latter article is alone
used. There is seldom any lining, though I have once or twice seen
hair used, and now and then a little stout grass or fern roots may be
placed at the bottom of the nest. In size the nests average about
5" in diameter, the hollow being from one to two inches in depth. They
are often placed very low down and generally below 6 feet. One nest
taken at Hungrum was on a strong weed, in a fork about two and half
feet from the ground.

The eggs resemble those of the D. himalayensis, but are, as a rule,
more densely and boldly marked. The most common ground-colour is a
greenish-grey, and the markings consist of blotches of dark olive-green.
I have taken no eggs with the pale salmon tint, so common amongst
the eggs of D. rufa. They average rather smaller than the eges
of the other species, and are also comparatively a somewhat broader
oval ; 28 eggs averaged 1:10" * 84",

167 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII

The bill is black, legs almost quite black, sometimes with a dull
brown tinge. ‘The irides are crimson or crimson-brown.

Sub-Family Parine.

(8) Parus atriceps.—The Indian Grey Tit.
Oates, No. 31; Hume, No, 645.

Very rare here.

(9) P. monticoLa.—The Green-backed Tit.
Oates, No. 34; Alume, No. 644.
I obtained a single specimen of this bird at Guilong—about 4,000
feet elevation—in 1888.

(10) ANGITHALISCUS MANIPURENSIS.—Hume’s Red-headed Tit.
Oates, No. 36.
Not very rare towards the eastern part of the district. Those ob-
served by me were all feeding on high trees keeping in small parties
and uttering a constant, rather loud, chirp.

(11) Syivrearus mopEestus.—The Yellow-browed Tit.
Oates, No. 40 ; Hume, No. 682.
Recorded by Godwin-Austen from the Barail range. I have never
met with this bird.

(12) MacHLoLopHus sprtonotus.—The Black-spotted Yellow Tit.
Oates, No. 41 ; Hume, No. 649.
I fee only seen this bird in the scattered oak forests towards the
north-west of North Cachar, and even there it is by no means common.

Sub-Family Paradoxornithine.

(13) PARADOXORNIS FLAVIROSTRIS.—The Yellow-billed Crow Tit.
Oates, No. 51; Hume, No. 378.

The female differs from the male in having the chin and throat
suffused with earthy-brown.

This bird is not uncommon ata good many places about 3,000 ft.,
generally keeping to the valleys, where there is lots of sun grass or ekra
jungle. It frequents, however, almost any sort of jungle other than
deep forest. I have most often met with it in mixed grass and bamboos.
Throughout the cold weather it is found in flocks, sometimes number-
ing as many as a dozen individuals, but more often only about 7 or 8.
It isa very shy bird and very chary of taking to flight, but is a great

THE BIRDS OF NORTH CACHAR. 168

adept at concealing itself, so that one may often be within a few yards
of a party, their movements shown by the waving of the grasses, yet
never obtain a sight of one of them. When they imagine themselves
free from observance, they often mount to the tops of the reeds and now
and then take short flights into the air, much in the manner of some of
the Prinzas. This bird is undoubtedly in part a fruit-eater, for in the
stomach of one I examined there were a few seeds, which proved to be
the seed of a small plum-like berry, the fruit of a climbing plant, which
was very abundant at the place where the bird was shot. The nest is a
deep cup, very strongly and compactly made. The diamater across the
top is from 3°83" to 4", and in depth it is rather more than 2-5" to nearly
3”. Internally it measures about 2°5" across by 2” in depth. Now
and then the nest is shallow in shape, but such are very rare.

The materials are composed of shreds of grass, a few narrow strips of
bamboo leaves, occasionally a dead leaf or two, and still more rarely a
few very fine elastic twigs. The lining is always the same and consists
invariably of very fine pieces torn from the inner bark of ekra stems,
which are in colour a bright yellow. There appears to be but little at-
tempt at concealment. Ifthe nest is placed on a tree, it is generally fixed
toa small upright fork, some 6 to 10 feet from the ground, which is
almost devoid of foliage and, if placed in a bamboo clump, it is always
near the outside and often in a most conspicuous situation.

The most common type of egg has the general colour a very pale
greenish-white, and the markings consist of scanty spots varying in size
from minute freckles to large blotches, and in colour a pale umber or
olive-brown with other markings underlying them of a still paler shade
of the same colour. Here and there are also a few very short-twisted
lines of dark umber. In other eggs the markings are the same, but the
ground-colour has a brownish or yellowish tinge, and in a few the ground
is very nearly white.

One clutch of two eges in my collection is quite white with a few
very faint pinky or purply-brown specks at the larger end. With the
exception of this clutch, in none of my eges do the markings tend to
form a ring or cap, though they are very irregularly distributed over
the surface of the eggs. The eggs vary in number from two to
four ; I have found the former number hard set on three occasions.
The texture is fairly close, though chalky and fragile, and the surface

169 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

is smooth, in one or two cases showing a faint gloss. In shape the
eggs are fairly regular ovals, though less so than those of Seworhynchus.
They measure from °86” to ‘92" in length and in breadth from °63" to
‘68! ; the average of 11 eggs is *88" & °66”.
(14) P. qurraticottis.—Austen’s Crow Tit.
Oates, No. 52; Hume No. 373.
I had a bird of this species brought to me at Laisung. It was said
to have been killed from the same party as were two birds of the last
species which were brought to me at the same time.

(15) SurHora RuFIcEPSs.—The smaller Red-headed Crow Tit.
Oates, No. 58 ; Hume, No. 377.
Recorded by Godwin-Austen from Cachar,

(16) S, ATRISUPERCILIARIS.—The Black-browed Crow Tit.
Oates, No. 59.

A distinct ring of white feathers round the eye ; the feathers of the
lores and chin with prolonged black shafts. Maxilla fleshy, the culmen
and base a little darker and becoming bluish close to the forehead,
mandible pale fleshy, the gonys almost white, irides light, rather
bright brown, legs pale, clear bluish plumbeus, claws paler still,
length 5°85", wing 2°3", tail 3:9": bill at front -41” and from the
gape 46", tarsus °88". The first bird of this species that I ever saw was
one shot by one of my collectors, who, with one discharge, killed three
of these birds (two being lost by him afterwards), and a Scworhynchus
ruficeps. The birds were shot in rather heavy bamboo jungle, and
were part of a flock of some 16 to 20 birds, the Suthora being in the
majority. The bird from which the above details of description were
taken wasa male in beautiful condition. Its stomach contained a
mass of grasshoppers and a few small beetles. The bird was shot on
the 11th November, 1892.

Afterwards, during the cold weather, I obtained four more specimens ;
all were clambering about in grass or bamboos when shot, and, strange
to say, twice I saw them in company with Scworhynchus ruficeps, so it
would seem that these two birds are in the habit of keeping together
sometimes as well as are S. Se and Paradoxonis EEE

* Since writing the above I have taken the nest and egg of this Gr ow-tit. The fotn mer is
much like that of Sceorhynchus, but smaller, the egg, however, being totally different in
colour, this being a uniform bright pale blue,

THE BIRDS OF NORTH CACHAR. 170

(17) Scmoruyncnus RuFICEPS.—The Red-headed Crow Tit.
Oates, No. 60 ; Hume, No. 375.

The legs of all my birds have been of a dark slaty-blue ; the soles
paler and duskier.

This bird is by no means rare here. On the Hemeo peak, where it
was obtained by Godwin-Austen, and the surrounding peaks, Hungrum,
the Ninglo range, and Laisung it may constantly be met with, and it is
found, though less often, down to 2,000 feet, and sometimes even in
the plains at the foot of the hills. The description of the nest given
by Gammie would serve for nine-tenths of those found by myself,
though they average somewhat smaller than his. The lining is either
of strips of bamboo or ekra or of fine grasses, but whatever the material
may be, in colour it seems invariably to be a bright yellow.

The eggs vary from two to four in number, and are very much like
those of the Paradowxornis, already described, but are more profusely
marked, and there are generally a good many secondary markings of
very pale purple-grey or neutral tint. In shape they are a regular oval,
and the surface is not as smooth as in the eggs of P. rujiceps.

The shell is also less fragile. The average of 15 eggs is -8" by °62".

They breed from May to the beginning of August. As so little is
known of this bird, I reproduce here the notes which I sent to the
“ Asian” some years ago :—“ Their favourite haunts are thin bamboo
jungle, which they frequent in pairs or small parties of from four to six,
and in such eases I believe the flocks consist merely of the parent birds
and their last brood. Jerdon states that it does not shun observation, but
this remark does not agree with the results of my own experience.
True, as long as the observer is perfectly motionless and silent, the birds
hop about, clambering about the shrubs and creeping amongst the bam-
boos in their search for food, taking but little notice of him, but should
he move hand or foot, or open his mouth to speak, in a minute every bird
has disappeared, not by flying away, but by scrambling from branch to
branch, or at once hiding in dense thicket or the undergrowth and fallen
rubbish. When on trees it is very tit-like in its motions and spends
much of its time in clambering about the smaller twigs and branches,
sometimes hanging head downwards, and in this fashion proceeding

along the lower side of some thin bough. I have also observed it
es

171 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII,

amongst reeds and in long grass, where it moves about like the babblers,
taking short flights from reed to reed, alighting on the ground and
then climbing again to the summit of a reed before once more taking
flight. Once when Iwas camping in a jhum or cultivated clearing
on a hill-side, in which the rice was almost ready for reaping, a pair
of these birds used to come daily to feed, one or the other of them
constantly flying off to a clump of bamboos at the edge of the jhum,
where, on investigation, I found a nest containing four young birds
fully fledged and quite ready to fly and, before I left the camp, they
used to come with their parents into the rice field, where they were
fed on the spot by them. They seemed quite unable to assist them-
selves, and from what I could observe the duties of dry nurse were
divided between the old birds, each of them taking care of two young
ones. This was in October and unusually late for the young birds to be
still nestlings.

The principal sound I haye heard them utter is a note sounding like
chir chirrup repeated two or three times quickly. I have heard them
use this note when feeding only. The young birds, when being fed,
fluttered their wings and gave a prolonged chir-r-r.

Another cry, and one which seems to be common to this genus and
Paradoxornis, is exactly like the bleat of a kid, so much so that, when I
first heard it, I mistook it for that sound.

Their flight is level but weak and never long sustained, their feet
being their favourite means of locomotion. If they have to fly across
an open space, they alternately flutter their wings and then spread them
out and sail for a yard or two. When flying, their wings make a soft
whirr unlike that of any other bird I know.

They are chiefly insectivorous, but sometimes eat grain as well,
though both the rice and berries which I have taken once or twice
from their stomachs may have been swallowed together with the
insects which were adhering to them.”

(18) S. euLAris.—The Hoary-headed Crow Tit.
Oates, No. 61; Hume, No. 374.

Tn nidification, habits, and distribution closely similiar to the last bird.

26 egos average °78" by °58",

THE BIRDS OF NORTH CACHAR. 172

Family CRATEROPODIDA.
Sub-family Crateropodine.
(19) Dryonastes RUFICOLLIS.—The Rufous-necked Laughing
Thrush.
Oates, No. 62 ; Humé, No. 410.
Common up to about 3,000 feet, above which it is seldom met with.
(20) D. caruLtatus.—The Grey-sided Laughing Thrush.
Oates, No. 65 ; Hume, No. 408.
Fairly common towards the north-west of the district. All my eggs
are very pale blue-green.

(21) D. sannio.—The White-browed Laughing Thrush.
Oates, No. 67 ; Hume, No. 409.

I have only found this bird on the higher peaks towards Manipur,
and on only one is it at all common.

The nests are very much like those of D. rujicollcs, but are, as a rule,
rather more massive, in some cases measuring as much as 7” across the top
and about 4" in external depth. Internally they measure much the same,
about 3°2" x 2”, The lining is almost invariably of coarse roots and fern
stems, and I have never known any other material used for this pur-
pose. ‘The nests are generally placed in small saplings or high bushes
between 5 and 10 feet from the ground, but one was found ina
sapling about 20 feet high. The eggs are either two or three in
number. I have not taken any nests with four eggs, and have often
seen two eggs much incubated. They area beautiful soft blue-green in
colour, about the same shade as in the eggs of D. cerulatus, yet easily
distinguishable by their satiny appearance. The texture can be best
described by the word already used, sateny, and the surface is very
fine and close, displaying a slight. gloss, always more than in the
eges of JD. cerulatus and never as much as in those of D.
rujicollis, The texture is the same as in the eggs of Trochalopterum
virgatum and T. lineatum and of Statoctchla merulina, but can be dis-
tinguished from the former by their greater size, and generally from
the latter by their shape, which isa long oval, somewhat drawn out
towards the smaller end, which is rather blunt.

A series of twenty-four eggs average in size 1:19” ¥ ‘79", and range
in length from 1:12" to 1:26” and in breadth from *76" to 83".

173 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VII1.

This bird is found, as far as I know, only in the thickly-wooded
ravines which run down the sides of bamboo-covered mountains or
evergreen forests. I have never seen the bird during the cold season, so
cannot say whether it collects in flocks or not. It has a fine, loud,
double whistle. I have not heard it chattering like the other laughing
thrushes.

(22) D. GatBanus.—Austen’s Laughing Thrush.
Oates, No. 68 ; Hume, No. 409, Quat.

I have had two nests of this bird brought to me, together with one
of the birds which had been trapped on the nest, and they are therefore
most likely authentic. The nests were deep, massive cups composed
of bamboo leaves, creepers, tendrils, fine twigs and grass and were
lined with coarse fern roots and fern stems. In size they were
about, externally, 8°5” across by some 6” deep, internally about 4” by 4”.
Another nest much the same, but less massive, was shown to me as
belonging to this bird ; but it was apparently deserted, for, though
I waited a long time to watch for the parents, neither of them turned
up. All three nests were placed in tangles of wild raspberries and
other creepers. The normal number of eggs seems to be three,
and in appearance they are hardly to be distinguished from the eggs
of Garrulax lencolophus, which they closely resemble in colour (pure
white), shape and texture, but they have their surface less pitted and
they also average larger, viz., 1:22" by °93".

(23) GARRULAX LENCOLOPHUS.—The Himalyan White-crested
Laughing Thrush.
Oates, No. 69 ; Hume, No. 407.

Common everywhere.

(24) G. pecroraLis.—The Black-gorgeted Laughing Thrush.
Oates, No. 73 ; Hume, No. 418.

My eggs, a series of 100, average longer than Hume’s measure-
ments and at the same time are not so broad, being 1:2” by -83” as
against 1:07" by °85" in “ Nests and Hggs” (vol. I, p. 81). I have
some eggs quite as pale blue as the eggs of Dryonastes rujicollis, but
they are devoid of any gloss.

(25) G. MontLigzR.—The Necklaced Laughing Thrush.

Oates, No. 74; Hume, No. 412.
Common everywhere.

THE BIRDS OF NORTH CACHAR. 174

(26) G. guLarts.—The Macelelland’s Laughing-Thrush.
Oates, No. 74 ; Hume, No. 409, Ter.

This bird has already been recorded from Luckipur in Cachar.
I have found it fairly common to the east of the district at heights
over 3,500 ft., very rare below this and never below 2,000 ft.,
whereas Luckipur is in the plains and well away from the Hills.
The nest is atypical laughing thrush’s, much like that of G. monziliger,
but the bird seems to have a strong predilection for tendrils, and I
have seen nests composed entirely of this material and lined with the
usual black fern and moss roots.

The nest is placed at all heights from the ground up to about 20
feet, generally from 4 to6 feet. The eggs are either two or three in
number, and are, strange to say, of two types, either pure white or very
pale blue ; the same colour as the eggs of D. rujicollis. In shape they
are rather long ovals, often rather drawn out and pointed ; the shell is
very stout with a fine close texture and has a decided gloss, almost as
much as in the eggs of the Dryonastes just mentioned.

Twenty-eight eggs average 1°15” by *80" or rather less ; they vary in
length from 1:04” to 1:21” and in breadth from 76” to 84”, My series
of eggs originally embraced eggs of every shade from pure white to
decided blue, and with many eggs, when placed by themselves, it was
difficult to say whether they had any tinge of blue or not, nor was it
until they were placed beside really white eggs that the blue tint
showed.

(27) GaRRULAX ALBIGULARIS.—The White-throated Laughing-Thrush,
Oates, No. 76 ; Hume, No. 411.

Very rare everywhere.

(28) TaNTHOCINELA CINERACEA.—The Ashy Laughing-Thrush.
Oates, No. 79 ; Hume No, 418, Ter.

I shot two of these birds, both males, in June, 1890. The birds were
two of a largish flock which were scrambling about some brushwood
by the side of the road running over the Hengmai Peak at an elevation
of about 6,000 feet. This party of birds were chattering and calling to
one another just like a party of Garrulax leucolophus.

(29) I. nurreuLaris.—The Rufous-chinned Laughing-Thrush.
Oates, No. 80 ; Hume, No. 421.

Common above 4,000 feet. Often lays two eggs only. Breeds here
from April to June, seldom later.

175 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

(30) I. ausreni.—The Cachar Laughing-Ihrush.
Oates, No. 81; Hume, No. 417, Bis.
I note this bird simply on the strength of its name. I have not
either volume III or volume XI of Stray Feathers with me to refer te,
and do not know in what part of Cachar Godwin-Austen obtained it.

(31) TRocHALOPTERUM CHRYSOPTERUM.—The LHastern Yellow-
winged Laughing-Thrush.
Oates, No. 84 ; Hume No. 415, Bis.
The habits, nidification, and eggs of this bird are just the same as
those of 7’. phaenicium. The eggs average 1:1" by -76".

_ (82) T. pHaxicrtum.—The Crimson-winged Laughing-Thrush.
Oates, No. 92; Hume, No. 420.
Common everywhere.

(33) T. sguamatum.—The Blue-winged Laughing-Thrush.
Oates, No. 92; Lume, No. 420.

I have seen no birds here of the 7. melanurum type, all having
bronze tails, not black. I believe that eventually T. melanurum will
prove distinct from 7. squamatum.

Oates is undoubtedly right in what he says regarding the colour
of the lores in relation to the sex of this species, two females taken by
me on their nests in May, 1891, both had grey lores; a male shot the
same month had lores which might have been described as fulvous-
grey.

(34) T. vircatum.—The Manipur Streaked Laughing-Thrush.
Oates, No. 98 ; Hume, No, 425, Bis.

Is not very rare on the high peaks to the east of the district where
it breeds.

The nest is much like that of Ianthocinela, but is more stoutly built
and much deeper. The tendrils also, of which it is to a great extent
composed, are always much mixed with grasses, roots and fine bents,
and sometimes also with a few bamboo leaves, the last more especially
when it is built close to the ground. The lining is always of fern roots
and fern stalks with a few moss roots intermixed. Asa rule I have
found the nests either in thick high bushes or in small trees standing
amongst the same and built between four and eight feet from the
ground, but on more than one occasion I have taken it from a mass of

THE BIRDS OF NORTH CACHAR. 176

vegetation where it rested, practically, on the ground itself. It appears
to be a more compact and smaller nest than that built by its nearest ally,
T. lineatum (Hume’s “ Nests and Eggs,” 2nd edition, Vol. I, p. 65).
The eggs are the same in colour as those of that bird, 2. ¢., of a pale blue
green, rather brighter than the average run of Laughing Thrush’s eggs,
and having the peculiar satiny texture already referred to in describing
the eggs of S. merulina.

Highteen eggs, average 1” x73", which is almost exactly the same as
the average of the fifty-eight eges of T. lineatuwm measured by Oates.

(35) GRAMNOPTILA AUSTENI.—Austen’s Striated Laughing-Thrush,
Oates, No. 102.

I got two of these birds in 1887 on the Hengmai Peak, and at that
time wrongly identified them asa local variety of G. striata. They
were undoubtedly, however, of this species. The following year I got
another bird which, like the former two, was caught on its nest, and
this time the nest contained three eggs,

This, the only one of the three nests I examined, was exatly like
that described by Gammie in the second edition of Hume’s *' Nests and
Eggs” (Vol. I, p. 67), but was just one inch broader—that is to say, it
was 8°5" across at the widest part and was rather less than 6" deep ;
internally it was 5" in diamater and 2°3" deep, There were a good
many scraps of bracken fronds used in its construction, besides masses of
green moss, grasses and few tendrils. The lining was of moss roots
only. This nest was in a bush, well hidden and less than 5 feet from the
ground.

The eggs, which, alas have since been broken, were, as far as I
remember, exactly like a pair of eggs 1 have in my collection of
G. striata which were given to me by Mr. H. Edwin Barnes. They
measured 1:3" +93", 1:3"%°92" and 1:26"%°87". The third egg
was very remarkably smaller than the other two. There were no signs
of marks on them.

(36) STACTOCICHLA MERULINA.—The Spotted-breasted Laughing-Thrush.
Oates, No. 103 ; Hume, No. 418, Bis.

I never came across this bird until April, 1891, and during that
month I obtained at least a dozen and about the same number of nests

1477 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, VIII,

with eggs, most of the birds being caught with hair nooses on their nests,
These are bulky, rather shallow cups made of moss and moss roots, grass,
bamboo leayes, and fern and bracken fronds, the lining being generally
of fern and moss roots, sometimes of very fine twigs or tendrils. The
materials are generally fairly well put together, and the nest, when new,
is strong and compact, but, owing to the situation in which it is placed,
soon becomes damp and rotten. It averages some 7! across by about 4"
externally, the hollow being about 3°5", or rather more in diameter, and
seldom over 2" deep. It is invariably placed near the ground and often
almost, if not quite, on it. All the nests I saw were taken from ever-
green forest with an undergrowth of fern, bracken and brambles.

The eggs, three innumber, closely resemble those of G. moniliger, but
are broader on the whole and the surface is far more satiny, often
showing a fair amount of gloss. Thirty eggs average 1:14” x 81".

All my eggs were taken in April and May.

Thave only met with this bird in one place, namely, the valley of
the Laisung, at an elevation of about three to four thousand feet. The
birds kept principally to the evergreen forests, but were also noticed in
bamboo jungle on several occasions. At this place it is very common,
but I have not met with a single specimen elsewhere. It is a very shy
bird and, as Hume says, a terrible skulk.

(387) ARGYA EARLII.—The Striated Babbler.
Oates, No. 104; Hume, No. 489.

Only occurs as a strageler from the plains in the low-lying grass
lands on the borders of Nowgong.

(88) A. cAUDATA.—The Common Babbler.
Oates, No. 105; Hume, No. 488.

I have been told by a friend that this bird had been killed by him at
the foot of the North Cachar Hills, but I very much doubt whether it
was correctly identified.

(39) A. LonarrostRis.—The Small Rufous Babbler.
Oates, No. 109 ; Hume, No. 386.
(40) CratEropus canorus.—The Jungle Babbler.
Oates, No. 110 ; Hume, No. 434,

THE BIRDS OF NORTH CACHAR, 178

(41) PomMAToRHINUS scHISTICEPSs.—The Slaty-headed Scimitar Babbler.
Oates, No. 116 ; Hume, No. 402.

The common type below 3,000 feet. Often lays only three egos,
and sometimes only two.

(42) P. ottvaceus.—The Tenasserim Scimitar Babbler,
Oates No. 118; Hume, No. 403, Bis.

In 1888 I had a female of this species brought to me which had
been trapped in the nest.

(43) P. reERRUGINOSUS.—The Coral-billed Scimitar Babbler.
Oates, No. 122; Hume, No. 401.

The nests I have taken of this bird have been of the usual rough and
loose manufacture typical of the species and were not at all well made
like the one mentioned by Gammie (Hume’s “ Nests and Eggs,” vol. I,
p- 86), Most of those I have found were placed at the foot of bamboo
clumps and more or less buried amongst the dead leaves and rubbish
collected round them. As with the other Pomatorhini, this species
frequently lays only two eggs.

(44) P. pHAyRu.—Phayre’s Scimitar Babbler.
Oates, No. 124; Hume, No, 401, Bis.

This species is very common about 3,000 feet, but below that height
I have very seldom met with it. I have taken numerous nests,
and the distinctive feature of its nesting is that it more often than
not places its nest in a thick bush at a considerable height from the
ground. Its nest does not differ from that of P. schisticeps, being
the same bulky, globular affair made of bamboo leaves, etc., though
from its situation it is of necessity somewhat more firmly put together.

The average of a dozen eggs is 1°16"%°71". I once took a nest of
this bird from the top of a big bush about seven feet high, and, amongst
the roots, I also found a nest of P. ferruginosus, both nests containing
three eggs. Inthe same valley, that day, I also took nests of P.,
erythrogenys and P. schisticeps and two others of P. phayrii. Scimitar
babblers of all the species mentioned were very plentiful at this place
(the Laisung valley), and P. macclelland: was also met with,

(45) P. eRyTHROGENYS.—The Rusty-checked Scimitar Babbler.
Oates, No. 129; Hume, No. 405.
Not very rare, but very locally distributed, being fairly common in

one valley and not to be seen in the very next,
8

179 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VITI.

(46) P. maccLELLANDI.—Macclelland’s Scimitar Babbler.
Oates, No. 180; Hume, No. 404, Quat.

Godwin-Austen found this bird in the Barail Range, and I have met
with it on all the ranges between this and Manipur and the Naga Hills.
It is one of the commonest forms to the east, but I have never met with
it on the grass-covered hills tothe north and north-west, where P.
schisticeps, P. rujicollis, and P. ferruginosus are all very common.

The eggs measure 1:09" °76".

The nest is like that of P. erythrogenys, and is usually placed amongst
bamboo roots or the roots of some thick shrub growing on a bank.

(47) P. HypoLEUcUs.—The Arrakan Scimitar Babbler.
Oates, No. 131; Hume, Nos. 405, Bis and Ter.

This babbler does not appear to be rare at the foot of the Hills, but
does not ascend to any height.

(48) XIMPHORAMPHUS SUPERCILIARIS.—The Slender-billed Scimitar
Babbler.

Oates, No. 1388; Hume, No. 406.

A very rate bird. I have met with it barely half a dozen times in
as many years. It seems to keep almost entirely to bamboo jungle, and
during the cold weather collects in small, but noisy, parties. These
birds have a very follow-my-leader style of going along; if one bird
mounts a bush and then hops down again and climbs another, all the
party are sure, one by one, to do just the same. I think these are the
noisiest of all the scimitar babblers, their cries being like the softer notes
of the laughing thrushes, but rather deeper in tone. It is found well
up to 5,000 feet, and the lowest I have observed it was at about 2,400 feet.
It is an early breeder like others of the sub-family, and by the end of
April I fancy they,have nearly finished laying. |

Sub-family Tmeldine.

(49) TiweLEa PrLEATA.—The Red-capped Babbler.
Oates, No. 184; Hume, No. 396.

By no means common anywhere and very local in its distribution.
(50) GAMSORHYNCHUS RUFULUS.—The White-headed Shrike Babbler.
-Oates, No. 187; Hume, No. 384.

‘Oates says that probably the young do not assume the adult plumage
until they are about a year old. Asa matter of fact I believe that they

THE BIRDS OF NORTH CACHAR. | -. 180

take two years before completing it. A young male which was killed in
August, 1890, and which was the father of four nearly fully-fledged nest~
lings, had but few signs of the adult plumage, and he must have been at
least 14 months old. The female had the adult plumage fully developed.
The nest of this bird was a large oval affair, much like that of the
Pomatorhinz, and was made of bamboo leaves lined with fern roots, narrow
strips of ekra bark and grass. It was placed about six feet high in a thick
clump of bamboos. I have never seen an egg of this bird, but the
natives assure me that it is very much like that of Trochalopterum
phenicium, but marked with a paler colour.

In its habits it is far more like the Crateropodine than the Timeline.
Tt collects in large flocks like most of the members of that family and
is also extremely noisy, uttering incessantly a variety of cries, all more
or less like the notes of Garrulax leucolophus, but less harsh, nor has it the
so-called laughing note of that bird ; though it has another equally fit
to be called a laugh. Nearly all the birds I have seen have been in
bamboo or thick grass jungle; indeed I can recall to mind no instance
of ever having seen them in any other. They are not shy birds, and
I have sometimes remained within easy shot of a party for nearly half
an hour, following them up as they made their way along the bamboo
tops, to all seeming causing them no anxiety or annoyance by my
proximity, though one would now and then mount a bamboo close to me
and loudly expostulate with me, not so much in fear as in contempt for
my curiosity. They are comparatively active on the wing also, far
more so than any other of the Zimelzne that I have closely observed,
and. altogether I am inclined to think that it will eventually have to be
placed with the Crateropdine rather than in its present position.

(51) Pyctoruts stneNsIs.—The Yellow-eyed Babbler.
Oates, No. 189; Hume, No. 385.
Common everywhere in suitable localities up to nearly 3,000 feet.
(52) PELLORANEUM MANDELLU.—Mandelli’s Spotted Babbler.
Oates, No. 142; Hume, No. 399, Bes.

The common form of Pelloraneum in these hills. Some time ago an
article appeared in the “ Asian”’ over my signature under the heading
P. ruficeps. The description and remarks, however, all applied to
this bird, and my notes must have got very much mixed up. So

181 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

little is known of these and the allied birds that I reproduce my
remarks here, as also those on the other members in their right place,
omitting only the descriptions of the birds themselves.

Nipirication.—lI think that I must take at least. two nests of this
bird to every one I find of all the other wren babblers collectively. Out
shooting I am constantly having my attention drawn by a little lark-
like bird gliding noiselessly out of some tuft of grass and almost
immediately after becoming invisible. Hven after the bird is seen
to quit, it often takes some time to find the nest, for it is generally
carefully concealed and more or less covered with fallen leaves, &c.
Occasionally, when I have not been able to mark the exact spot from
whence the bird has made off, I have been quite unable to find the
nest, and have had to await the return of the bird in order to obtain
the eggs. It is always placed on the ground, and amongst fully one
hundred nests taken in the last four years, I have never yet met with
‘the exception that proves the rule.’

“The situation most commonly chosen in which to place it is a a tuft
of coarse grass or a thick clump of rank weeds growing either in,
or close to, bamboo jungle. It is very remarkable how often
these birds select seemingly dangerous positions by the side of
some well-worn mithna, buffalo, or elephant track. On one occasion
(24th April, 1891) I was tracking up a wounded bull that I had
damaged the night before, and no less than four times did I disturb this
bird from one side or the other of the track. Each time I put them
up, a coolie, who was carrying my drinking water, looked for and found
the nest, and at the end of the tramp he gave me them with such eggs
as he had not managed to smash, All four nests were taken from
beside comparatively well-worn tracks. I have often taken nests from
amongst the masses of dead bamboo leaves collected at the foot of
bamboo clumps or even from the open ground, where it is fairly steep,
and dead vegetation and leaves lie thickly enough to afford protection.
Another favourite place is just at the edge of patches of sun grass, ekra,
or elephant grass. I do not think they ever build inside these patches
at any distance from the edge; personally I have never seen a nest
more than a foot or two inside. Low bushes in which the branches
come quite down to the ground, more especially such as are thorny,
sometimes conceal.a nest, but not one in ten will be taken from such

THE BIRDS OF NORTH CACHAR, — -. {82

positions. All nests are composed of the same materials, namely,
bamboo leaves alone, as far as the outer part is concerned, and, as
regards the inner part, fine grasses will be found to constitute the
greater portion, more or less mixed with slender moss roots, hair-like
fibres, and the extremely delicate tendrils of a wild flower that looks like
a yellow convolvulus. In shape the nest is generally a broad oval,
sometimes rather lengthened and egg-shaped ; it is placed either up-
right or slanting at an angle of nearly 45°. The entrance is about one-
third of the way down from the top, sometimes lower and rarely
almost level with the ground. It is often partially protected by the
loose leaves of the upper half of the nest hanging over and concealing
it, These cases appear, however, to be more the result of accident
than design, and the leaves are never artificially made to form a porch,
however rude.

“The nest is sometimes merely semi-domed, much like what I have
already described as being built by Stachyridopsis ruficeps. Very
rarely it is a deep cup, but even in these cases the depth of the interior
far exceeds the diameter. I once took a nest of this bird from a very
peculiar situation. I had killed a female bamboo rat which showed
signs of having young, and in looking for these, I commenced prodding
about in a pile of loose leaves and rubbish which had collected in the
open by the road-side. Pushing the stick through the centre of this,
I touched something which scuttled away on the ground. A closer
inspection showed me a nest buried nearly six inches deep amongst the
loose stuff, containing three eges which I easily recognized as belong-
ing to this bird. As usual it was very roughly and loosely built, not
being strong enough to stand removal. I have said above that I have
never seen a nest placed otherwise than on the ground, but I must
modify this statement, for as long ago as 1887 I took two nests which
were practically placed in the ground. Both nests were placed in
holes some eight imches deep in steep banks of nullahs running
through bamboo jungle ; both were semi-domed, and in both cases the
follows were completely filled up with loose bande leaves.

The full complement of eggs is three or four, either number being
about equally often laid. I have never seen five in a nest, nor have I
ever taken two only which showed any signs of incubation. The
ground-colour of the eggs is white, either pure or very faintly tinged

183 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

with greyish or greenish. Typically they are thickly stippled and
freckled with rufous-brown and purplish-brown, the latter marks being
sometimes almost black. They are most numerous towards the larger
end, where they occasionally form a ring or a cap.

“ Tn addition to these markings, there are in most eggs a few rather
larger underlying dots of pale lavender and pale dull purplish. In
the majority the first-mentioned marks strongly predominate, but in
a few these latter gave the prevailing tint to the eggs.

“In about one egg in five there are a very few large blotches of
one or two of the colours already mentioned. Ina few specimens the
prevailing colour of the markings is a ruddy brown or ruddy pink, and
these eggs are almost undistinguishable from those of some bulbuls.
On one occasion I had taken four bulbuls’ nests and one nest belong-
ing to this bird, and for some reason—I now forget what—had placed
all the eggs in the same box. On my return home it was with the
greatest difficulty I was able to distinguish between one clutch of
bulbuls’ eggs and the eggs of P. mandellii. I have about four clutches
in which the markings are more than usually dark and are very
minute. In three there isa very distinct broad ring round the top
of the larger end, within which are scattered a few brown and purple
spots ; in the fourth clutch the freckles form a small dark cap, many
of them coalescing, and all more or less indistinctly divided from one
another.

‘A solitary clutch in my possession has all four eggs marked with
rather light umber-brown, only here and there one of purple and
a few of raw sienna. Many eggs have the markings at the smaller
end rather lighter than those of the large end. In shape the eggs
are rather broad and very regular ovals, in many cases the difference
in size between the two ends being barely perceptible. Abnormal
specimens generally incline to the peg-top shape, a few being met
with rather longer and with the smaller end somewhat compressed.
The surface is very fine and close, and the greater number of eggs
have a slight but appreciable gloss ; in some this is absent, in others
rather highly developed. In proportion to the size of the egg the
shell is rather fragile. In the hundred and eighteen eggs which I
have measured the length only varies between °85" and :93”; the

THE BIRDS OF NORTH CACHAR. 184

difference in breadth is proportionately rather greater, the limits either
way being °63” and ‘71". The average of one hundred eggs is ‘90"
(almost) by °675",

“The earliest date on which I have obtained eggs was on the 4th
of April, 1891, on which date I took a nest with two fresh eggs.
The latest date noted is the 21st July 1888, when four hard-set egos
were taken. Of all my nests, one-half were taken between the 15th
April and the 25th May, one-third between the latter date and the
25th June, and the remaining one-sixth early in April or in the last
few days of June and the first few of July.

“This bird isso shy and unobstrusive that, in spite of its being so com-
mon, it is a most difficult matter to collect any materials for notes on
its habits. Its knack of getting out of sight in a moment is something
wonderful and has to be seen to be believed. When put up off its
nest, a bird is just seen to slope away for a foot or two, or perhaps a
yard or two, after which it is non est. I have used the word slope in-
tentionally, as 1 think it describes best the bird’s mode of progression ; it
cannot be said to be a hop, run, or flight, but seems to be a combination
of all three in which no one mode is visible. As regards its voice, the
only notes I have heard it utter have been the pleasant musical call
alluded to by Oates as being the common note of P. subochraceum,
and the chattering cries it constantly gives during the cold Season,
when the bird goes about in company with a few others. It also uses
this note when disturbed by an intruder,:such as a squirrel or another
bird, but it never, I believe, utters any cry when disturbed by a human
being or big animal, confining itself to performing the vanishing trick
with neatness and celerity. Jerdon mentions ‘a kind of crowing laugh’
as being amongst the sounds they make. This, like Rider Haggard’s
crabs, ‘they cannot do in my fiction,’ though, like the same crabs, it is
quite possible that they may ‘do’ so in reality, although I do not
happen to have heard them myself. It isa frequenter of low scrub
and brush jungle or of bamboo and grass jungle mixed, and does not
haunt the tops of high trees as so many wren babblers do in the cold
weather. It may often be seen feeding actually on the ground, and
this more especially when the birds are collected in flocks. At this
time they appear rather less shy, and the few observations I have been
able to make have nearly all been collected at this period of the year. I

185 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

have often been reminded by its actions of the common Bengal Babbler
(A, terricolor). One bird takes up the call started by another, and then
each bird repeats it until every member of the flock has notified his
exact whereabouts. They quarrel too occasionally, such an event be-
ing a matter of the most intense interest to each individual, who backs
his particular fancy much in the same way as other bipeds in England
back prize-fighters, that is, on the win, tie or wrangle system. They
often appear to be very undecided as to whether some article of food is
good enough to eat or not, and they contemplate it ina melancholy
way with their heads on one side, until another bird decides for them
by eating it himself, or else he seems to make up his mind to eat it and
risk the result. I have never examined the stomach of any birds and
can say nothing about their food. They are extremely active on their
legs, but their flight is feeble and they never seem to travel far on the
wing. They descend a long way into the plains, having been recorded
from the low lands of Sylhet, and I believe they remain there all the
year round. I have seen this bird and taken its nests up to 5,000 feet,
but it is most common about 2,500 feet. There is one place in parti-
cular in these hills, called The Hot Springs, where this bird is most nu-
merous. The country consists of open grass lands with sparse oak forest,
the pockets between the hills being filled with dense scrub jungle and
here and there patches of the small hill bamboo. As already mention-
ed, I once took four nests there in one day, and several times I found
two myself and had others brought to me.”

(53) P. miyus.—Sharp’s Spotted Babbler.
Oates, No. 148.

Sharp’s type bird was recorded from Cachar. I have never met
with it, ;
(54) P. ruricers.—The Spotted Babbler.

Oates, No. 144; Hume, No. 399.

This bird, hitherto supposed to be a purely southern form, re-appears
in North Cachar and is by no means uncommon. The first bird I obtained
was sent by me to Mr. Barnes, and was identified by him as being of
this species, and it was also, the same day I believe, identified by Mr.
Murray. Since then I have met with any number of birds, and Mr. H.
A. Hole has also obtained it in South Cachar, and has, I think, a specimen |

THE BIRDS OF NORTH CACHAR, 186

now in his collection. The remarks on nidification made on P. mandelli
would equally apply to this bird.
(55) P. patustreE.—The Marsh Spotted Babbler.
Oates, No. 146; Hume, No. 399 Quat.

A rare bird here, and, unlike the other members “of the genus, never
found to my knowledge outside grass land. I have never noticed it
near swamps or marshy land, as its name would seem to infer it should
be found.

The nests and eggs are undistinguishable from those of P. rujiceps or
P. mandelliz, but the latter are smaller, averaging about 87" by °64".

(56) P. 1anorum.—The Assam Babbler.
Oates, No. 148 ; Hume, No. 899 Ter A.

I reproduce in full my notes from the Aszan, which give all the infor-
mation I have collected concerning this little-known bird.

“ Nipirication.—The nests of this bird differ in one important re-
spect from those of the other members of the genus in that, as far as I
know, it is never found on the ground. It is of course of much the same
character, being either shaped like a very deep cup, one side being more
or less prolonged and sometimes bent over, or it is a perfectly globular-
shaped nest. The entrance is generally high up on one side about an inch
from the top, sometimes it is about the centre, and rarely quite low down-—
so low as to allow the eggs to be seen from some distance away when
the nest is not well concealed or when the covering branches have been
disturbed. The materials used may be of almost any kind of grass or
bamboo leaves, and it is lined only with grass. From its position it is
naturally rather more compactly built than the nest of those species
which build theirs on the ground, but it is also sometimes a good deal
neater than nests placed in a similiar position and of the same type. I
haye seen one or two which were made of very fine grasses which were
so neatly and strongly built that I at first sight mistook them for the
nests of the Himalayan Munia. The majority of the nests I have per-
sonally found were taken from the dense masses of twigs growing on
the lower parts of clumps of the small clump bamboo and were placed
at heights varying from two to four feet from the ground, rarely higher

than the last-mentioned height and, nearly equally as rarely, lower than
4 :

187 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VI11.

the first mentioned. A few nests were taken from tangles of creepers,
weeds, and brambles, and one or two from small thick patches of coarse
ekra, in these last cases bemg generally within a few inches of the
round. The earliest and latest dates I have recorded as having found
eggs are respectively the 29th of April, 1891 and 11th of July, 1890.

“ This bird, as far as I know, does not breed in these hills below
3,000 feet and is most common above 5,000 feet. I have never taken a
nest except towards the north and north-east of the sub-division, though
I have met with occasional birds elsewhere. In number the eggs are
generally three ; sometimes, though not often, four and, on one or two
occasions, I have taken two eggs only which showed signs of incuba-
tion to a greater or less extent. The most common type of egg has the
ground-colour rather a decided pale pink, the markings consisting
of freckles of a rather dark brownish-red, profusely scattered over the
whole surface of the shell, but even more numerous towards the larger
end, where they generally form either a ring or a badly-defined and
irregular cap. In some few cases the markings are equally numerous
everywhere, running into one another and occasionally forming small
blotches where two or more of the marks coalesce. A few clutches
that I have are much fainter in colour both as regards the markings
and ground-colour, and these eggs bear a striking resemblance
to the eggs of some of the bulbuls, such as Xanthivus or
Spizeaus. Again in others of my clutches the ground is a pure
white, so that the freckles appear to be more boldly and strongly
defined than in the pink eggs, although such is not really the case. In
a very few eggs, both of the white and pink types, the markings are
confined almost entirely to the larger end in the form of a ring or cap ;
such eggs are, however, so rare that they may be said to be abnormal.

“In shape the eggs vary but little, being of a rather regular oval,
very slightly, if at all, compressed towards the smaller end and always
blunt. Abnormal eggs only differ in being somewhat lengthened ovals,
and it is a «peculiar fact that the only two clutches I possess, in which
the markings are confined to the larger end, are also those which are the
most lengthened of all my eggs.

“ The shell is firm and close in texture and often shows a fair amount
of gloss, but for its size it is decidedly fragile. Eighty eggs that I have

THE BIRDS OF NORTH CACHAR. 188

measured varied in length between °72" and ‘90" and in breadth between
‘57 and *62", the average dimensions of the same number being ‘78!
by °60", From the above measurements it may be seen that the varia-
tions in length covered no less than *18" of an inch, whereas in breadth
they only covered ‘05 of aninch. Asa matter of fact very few egos
exceeded *82" in leneth, and only six eges exceeded 84, and again only
5 eggs are less than °75" in length, so that the variation in length, put-
ting on one side the eleven eggs, which were either abnormally long or
short, the remaining 69 eggs only ranged in length between 75" and °84".
I know of nothing practically of any interest to record concerning the
habits of this bird. Like all others of the genus, it is very shy and
retiring and gives but little chance of close observation ; it is a very
sient bird ; such notes as I have heard are very like the lower chuck-
ling notes of the genus Trochalopterum, but are very sweet and soft,
When disturbed it never makes any harsh noise, but evinces its distress
or fear in a low rippling note that conveys not the slightest sign of
anger, though perhaps to a certain extent it does show fear. I have
repeatedly had the bird leaye its nests when I was within a yard or so
and then
flutter about at a little distance in a palpable state of fear and
anxiety ; yet the only note it ever uttered was the one already
mentioned. It sometimes utters a clear low whistle, probably as a

of it—for, in spite of its shyness, itis a very close sitter

call for its mate ; this note is, however, very seldom made use of, for
T do not think I have heard it half-a-dozen times altogether in as
many years. ‘This species so far appears only to have been recorded
from the Naga Hills and from Dibrughur, but nothing is said as to
the elevation at which it has been obtained. Here I have neyer
noticed it below 2,400 feet even in the cold season, and it is most
common at Hungrum and the surrounding peaks at an elevation of
some five thousand feet upwards, where it is principally found
in thin brushwood and scrub jungle or in bamboo jungle whenever
there is such available. As the lower hills are reached and the
bamboo jungle becomes more plentiful, the bird seems to keep almost
entirely to it. It is found very plentifully towards the north and
north-east of these hills, and thence extends into Manipur and the
Naga Hills.”

189 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VILL.

(57) DryMocATAPHUS TICKELLI.—Tickel’s Babbler.
Oates, No. 151 ; Hume, No. 899 Tr.

Nipirrcation.—I have now taken fully a score of nests of this
bird, and I can therefore have no doubt as to the identity of the
owner, although, as will be seen, the eggs have not the slightest
resemblance to those which Bingham found and which he believed
to have belonged to this bird. On ten occasions 1 have trapped the
bird on the nest ; twice I have shot it as it flew out of it and once as
it rested on a branch of a bush above the nest. The nest is either
a globular concern or else a very deep cup with one side prolonged
and bent somewhat forward. Asarule it is made of bamboo leaves
and shreds of the softer parts of sun grass, but very often there are a
great many pieces of bracken and fern also interwoven with the
former materials. It is much like the usual type of nest of Pellor-
neum ruficeps, but is far more compact and therefore somewhat
smaller in external measurements, and also much neater, though
internally averaging about the same. Most nests are placed actually —
on the ground, either at the foot of a bamboo clump, a thick bush or a
mass of grass and weeds. Other nests are placed a foot or two above the
ground in tangles of creepers or wild raspberry bushes, the latter kind of
situation especially being a very favourite one. Most nests are very
well concealed, but such is not always the case, for on one occasion
I found a nest just by a pathway which led from my camp down toa
stream and which was used by some twenty people every day on their
way to and from the water. The nest was placed about eighteen
inches from the ground, in a mass of wild caladium plants and raspberry
creepers and, from one direction, was fully exposed to view. When I
first came to the camp the nest contained a single egg, and two days
afterwards, when another had been laid, the two were taken away, bul-
buls’ eggs being put in as substitutes in order that the bird should not
desert the nest. ‘Two more eggs were laid, and the bulbuls’ eggs were
taken out and thrown away. The bird was very shy at first and always
used to leave the nest before a sight could be got of it, but afterwards
she sat very close and would lie in ber nest and blink at me when I
stood barely three yards away. I regret to say that durmg my absence
for a short time from the camp some Naga boys trapped the bird and

THE BIRDS OF NORTH CACHAR. 190

stole the eggs, although I had ordered them not todoso. The eggs
seem to be either four or three in number, and I think I have taken as
many nests with the former as with the latter number. All my eggs are
alike in coloration and the character of the markings, the latter merely
differing slightly in amount. The ground-colour is a pale greenish-
grey, in some few eggs rather more decidedly green than in others, and
the markings consist of numerous freckles and irregular small blotches
of pale reddish-brown, numerous everywhere, but more so, as a
rule, towards the larger end, where in most eggs they form an ill-defined
cap or ring ; besides these brownish marks, there are other underlying
_ ones varying from the very palest bluish-grey to rather dark purplish-
grey. In general appearence the eggs are very like small, dull-
coloured specimens of the eggs of Copsychus saularis. In shape they
are broad, blunt ovals, very slightly smaller, as a rule, at one end than
at the other. ‘The shell is very fragile, but the texture is fine and close,
in one or two eggs showing the very faintest perceptible gloss, but in
most rather dull.

Twenty-four eggs average in size 81" & 51" and vary in length from
77" to 88", and in breadth from 58” to 66". The 29th of April, 1891, is
the earliest date I have recorded as having taken eggs, and the 27th of
June the previous year is the latest date.

Hitherto, with only two exceptions, I have only found it breeding
on the peaks round about Hungrum, all about 5,000 feet high and
some above 6,000. During the cold weather1 have noticed it now
and then very much lower down, occasionally as low as 2,500 feet.
It is a very timid bird, avoiding observation and interference, haunt-
ing low brushwood, bush jungle, bamboo and tree forest, or indeed
almost any kind of ground where there is plenty of undergrowth to
screen it, though the first-mentioned sort of place is that which it
chiefly frequents, and during the breeding season it is in such places
alone that there is any chance of finding it. I know but very little
of their habits ; all that one ever sees of the bird is a small brown
object squatting on the ground in front of one for a second or two
before it suddenly dives into the nearest patch of grass or other
shelter, when it at once becomes invisible. I have never seen the
bird fly aboye a few yards at atime; even those which I trapped

191 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCTETY, Vol. VIII,

and then released flew out of my hands on to the ground and began
to make off in long bounding hops, using every stone and turf on its
way to assist in its concealment. The only note I have heard it
utter is a soft rippling chir-chir, and this sound it seems to make use
of on all and every occasion—when calling to its mate, disturbed off
its nest, resisting being caught, or when quietly feeding.
(58) CoRyTHocIcHLA sTRIATA.—The Streaked Babbler,
Oates, No. 154.

Upper mandible dark brown, lower plumbeous, darkish at the base,
pale elsewhere, mouth creamy-slate colour. Irides dark red. During
the hot weather and rains this bird seems to keep to the higher peaks, .
descending lower during the cold season. It isa very rare bird, and
such a shy one also that it is impossible to find out much about its
habits. Like C. drevicauda, it never makes use of its wings unless
absolutely compelled, and itis so sharp and active on its legs that
these alone are generally sufficient to carry it out of sight before one
has even time to shoot at it. I have been very fortunate in obtaining
several of its nests and also in obtaining nests which had eggs in them.
All those 1 have taken (six) or had brought to me have been of the
same type, viz., very deep cups with one side prolonged and project-
ing over, making it almost a domed nest ; indeed in one or two cases
it might have been termed such. The materials consist principally
of dead leaves, a few fern fronds, or rarely a few scraps of grass.
These are bound together with fern roots and moss, and the lining is
composed merely of a few more dead leaves. All the materials used
are of a dark brown tint, and so far I do not think I have seen a single
light-coloured nest. The materials are fairly well put together, but
from their nature they stand but little handling and soon fall to

“pieces when once removed from the original position, They are
placed either at the root of a tree, below some log, or in a cluster of
plants ina hollow on some bank, and one was found at the foot of a
survey pillar wedged in between two of the stones which formed its
base. Wherever they are, I believe they are always placed actually
on the ground, not above it in bushes, &e.

The full complement of eggs seems to be four, but I have found a
nest containing three and another only two eggs showing signs of in-

THE BIRDS OF NORTH CACHAR. 192

cubation; also a nest in which I found two young ones only.
In shape my eggs are broad ovals, but little compressed at the
smaller end, which is very blunt. They are white, and the markings
consist of primary freckles and small spots varying in colour from pinky-
red to pinky-brown, none of a very deep shade ; besides which, there
are subordinate markings of pale pinkish-purple rather larger in size
than the primary specks. As arule the spots are very sparingly scat-
tered over the whole surface except at the larger end, where they are
fairly numerous. In none of my eggs is there any indication of a ring
at this end, but in some they form a very indistinct cap.

In length they vary between °78" and -83", and in breadth between
‘59" and 62"; the average of 14 eggs is ‘81" x -6!. They appear to
breed in May and June and the latter end of April.

(59) Turpinus ABBorTI.—A bbott’s Babbler.
Oates, No. 160 ; flume, No. 387.

Not rare in North Cachar, but, as far as I know, keeping entirely to
densely-wooded valleys at a low elevation. I have never observed it
over about 1,500 feet high.

ms (60) ALCIPPE NEPALENSIS.—The Nepal Babbler.
Oates, No. 163; Hume, No. 388.

Extremely common from 2,000 feet’up to the summit of the highest
peaks. The eggs of this bird vary most wonderfully, and I notice here
a few of the most marked varieties :-—

(1) Pure white, with most minute speckles of purply-pink, usually
forming a dense ring round the larger end ; sometimes practically con-
fined to this end, at other times fairly numerous all over.

(2) Much the same, but with a pinkish ground and the markings
somewhat larger, lighter, and even more numerous.

(3) The same, but with the markings of pale reddish-pink,

(4) Ground-colour pale to deep salmon and more or less covered with
blotches and clouds of pink and underlying marks of greyish, with here
and there a speck or short line of deep blood red. This type can be
almost matched by many egos of Pyctorhis sinensis.

(5) Ground-colour from pale pink to pure white with rather sparsely
scattered marks of deep purple, ranging from mere specks to largish dots

and lines. In this type the marks nearly always form a distinct ring or
Cap.

193 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

(6) In a few eggs the marks consist almost entirely of hair-like lines
intertwined with one another and forming a ring round the larger end,
some ‘15" broad. Fifty of my eggs average °69" x °54"; one hun-
dred of them vary in length between 61" * 78" and in breadth between
-4g!! x 61",

(61) ALCIPPE PHAYR (Vel PHACOCEPHALA).—The Burmese Babbler.

Oates, No. 165 ; Hume, No. 888 Bis.

I cannot with certainty assign the birds of this region either to the
Burmese or Southern Indian form. The typical bird of North Cachar
has either no sincipital stripe or only the very faintest indication of it ;
moreover the colour of the lower parts varies considerably in individuals
according to whether the plumage is abraded or not. As regards the
cap, there is seldom any trace of it in the birds of these parts.

Oates seems undecided ratheras to whether A. phayrii is a good
species, and personally I think the two forms, if they can even be called
such, should be combined under the name A. phacocephala.

(62) StTAcHYRIS NIGRICEPS,—The Black-throated Babbler.
Oates, No. 169 ; Hume, No. 391.

Very common from the level of the plains, where it remains to breed,
up to about 3,500 feet, above which it is less common, but is still met
with, even up to the highest peaks.

(63) 8. corvs#a.—The Golden Babbler.
Oates, No. 170 ; Hume, No. 394.

I have taken a great number of nests and eggs of this bird, which is
not uncommon in a few localities, though its distribution is very con-
fined. The majority of nests have been either completely domed or
else very nearly so, but on a few occasions I have also taken cup-shaped
nests, and the first year I obtained any, all I took were of this shape,
so that I began to think this species differed from the others of the
genus and did not build a domed nest. Since then, however, I have
found out my mistake. It is formed of bamboo leaves, either whole
or in strips, grasses, and, very rarely, a dried leaf or two, all loosely
wound together and lined with finer scraps of the same material or with

fine rootlets. On one occasion I found one lined partly with buffalo
hair.

THE BIRDS OF NORTH CACHAR, 194

Most of my nests were found actually on the ground and had become
very damp and dilapidated even before being taken. Some few were
in bushes or bamboo clumps, but never more than a foot or two from
the ground. The eggs are, of course, pure white. 40 egos average
62" & -46", whichis even smaller than Gammie’s clutch (lume : Nests
and Eggs, vol. I, p. 112), which surprised Oates so much by their
small size that he could hardly believe they belonged to the bird. My
smallest egg is 59" % -44". They do not vary yery much in size or
shape.

(64) S. assmmitis——The Allied Babbler.
Oates, No. 171 ; Hume, No. 394 Bis. .

Nipirication.—Precisely the same as with S. chrsyea. They lay,
as with that bird, from two to four eggs, three being the number most
often found. Fourteen eggs average 61" x -47". They have the
same glossy white surface with close hard texture as have the egos of
the last species.

(65) STACHYRIDOPSIS RUFICEPS.—The Red-headed Babbler,
Oates, No, 172 ; Hume, No. 393.

Fairly common everywhere, more especially to the north-west of
these hills, where I get many nests yearly. I have one very handsome
clutch of eggs of this species ; the ground is, of course, pearly white, as
are all others, and the markings consist of largish, boldly-defined
blotches of deep reddish-brow n, together with one or two of pale
purplish, forming a well-marked ring near the big end. A clutch
that contrasts very strongly with the last is one which is ver y feebly
marked with pale pinkish and greyish-pink. This last type, only
less feebly marked, is the one which is most common. Nearly all my
eggs are broad ovals, very little smaller at one end than at the other.
48 eggs average 63" X 52". They vary from 59" to -66” in length
and from *49” to °54" in breadth.

(66) S. RuFIFRoNS.—Hume’s Babbler.
Oates, No. 173 ; Hume, No. 393 Bis.

Drscriprion.—Differs from S. ruficeps in the following particulars :
The chestnut of the head only extends to the back of the crown, where
it merges into the olive-brown of the nape and back ; the lower parts

5

195 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

are more.a dull oily fulvous or fulvous-grey than oily yellow as in
SS. rujiceps, and the flanks and thighs are strongly tinged with brownish.

Immature birds have the chestnut crown duller, but in other respects
-are like the adult.

I cannot dascern the slightest difference between the sexes, but I
must own that I have seen very few specimens; indeed only five
females and six males in addition to one nest of fully-fledged young
which were able to fly.

Captain Bingham states (wde Oates) that the hen has the chestnut
of the head duller.

Bill slaty blue; irides reddish-brown ; legs yellowish-brown, very
pale. Length 4:4” to 4:5"; tail 1:9"; wing 2” or rather more ;
tarsus °7" ; bill at front ‘35", and from gape ‘55.!

The female is slightly smaller ; the three I have measured were 4:3!,
4:2", and 4:2" in length, tail 1:7", 1:8" ; wing 1:9" barely.

Nipirication.—I regret to say that I never noticed this bird till
1889, when I had a nest with a male brought tome. It was, as usual,
formed outwardly of grass and was lined with some light-coloured,
fibrous material mixed with the fine ends of grass. In shape it was
something like an egg placed on its large end, leaning slightly to one
side, and with the small end cut off. It was 5:7” in length and 4:2" in
breadth ; inside the diameter was 2'1".

In 1890 I took three nests ; of these, two were of the ordinary glo-
bular shape, and the third was as described above.

The nest taken in 1889 was built in amongst the roots of a bamboo
clump, two in between bamboos and the masses of twigs with which
they were covered, one at about 4 feet, the other at about 6 feet from
the ground. The fourth nest was taken from a bush, fairly thick and
well covered with leaves ; it was wedged in between several twigs, and
was quite screened from view until a careful search had been made. It
was rather less than two feet from the ground.

In shape, coloration and texture the eggs do not in any way differ
from those of S. rujiceps. In the ten eggs I have all are regular obtuse
ovals, there being no abnormal specimens. Strange to say, although the
bird itself is distinctly smaller than the last, the eggs on the contrary are
rather larger, those I have averaging 64” by -53!. They vary

THE BIRDS OF NORTH CACHAR,. 196

extremely little in size, in length between °62" and °66", and in breadth
from *50" to °55". I have nospecimens with bright reddish spots, all
being of the paler type.

The nests were taken on the following dates :—29th April, 1890,
female, three eggs quite fresh ; 19th May, 1890, female, four eggs
slightly incubated; 25th May, 1890, male, two eggs fresh. The
eggs of the second nest have not been included in the average given
above.

A nest with four fully-fledged young were brought to me on the 21st
of May, 1890. In habits I do not know of any trait that it exhibits
which is unlike S.rujiceps. It is much rarer and I think also more shy
in its habits. As I have only observed it during the breeding season,
it has always been in low scrub or bamboo jungle. At other times it is
sure to feed, like others of this genus, on trees,

(67) MixorNIs RUBRICAPILLUS.—The Yellow-breasted Babbler.
Oates, No. 176 ; Hume, No. 395.

This bird sometimes lays unspotted white eggs. Ihave once taken
a nest myself with such eggs, and on another occasion I took three
eggs,which were so faintly marked that it was difficult to make the specks
out at all. Another nest, with three white eggs, was also sent me in
1891 from Jellalpur by Mr. H. A. Hole. The hen-bird was also sent
with the eggs, and there could have been no mistake about their identity.
I have observed this bird feeding on the ground in the bamboo jungle,
and, though it is the only time I have seen it so feeding, it is sufficient
to prove that it does do so now and then. I have far more often noticed
it in bamboo jungle than in tree forest. It does not seem to ascend the
hills to any height, and I have not often met with it over two thousand
feet, it being most common quite at the foot of the mountains or on the
very low grass and bamboo-covered hills.

(68) ScH@NIPARUS MANDELLU.—Mandelli’s Tit Babbler.
Oates, No. 179 ; Hume, No. 622.

This handsome little bird is not uncommon in the east of the North
Cachar Hills, and what I have observed of its habits agrees with Hume’s
remarks on the subject. I have found about a dozen nests, all placed
on the ground, amongst the roots of herbaceous plants with the
exception of two, which were placed amongst ekra and were from

197 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

4 to 6 inches off the earth itself. The materials were principally
dead leaves, and the description I have already given of the nest
of Corythocichla striata would stand equally well for these ; but
they are on the whole, perhaps, rather more bulky. The full comple-
ment of eggs is, I think, four, but I have taken one or two nests with
only three eggs and one with only two, all of which showed signs of
- incubation. They are in appearance the same as the eggs of S. dubius
described by Davison (Hume’s Nest and Hggs, vol. I, p. 117). The
eround-colour is white with, in some eggs, a faint brownish or greenish
tinge, and they are marked much in the same manner as many eggs of
Pyctorhis sinensis, There are numerous clouds and smudges of pale
vandyke-brown, and a few coarse marks and irregular lines of a dark
shade of the same, beside which there are usually a good many secondary
marks of pale neutral tint confined chiefly to the larger end. The sur-
face is very fine and close, and the shell strong, often with a slight gloss.
In shape they differ from those described of S. dubzus, for they are very
regular ovals, the difference between the two ends being sometimes
hardly perceptible and seldom very distinct. Twenty eggs average
-83" x -61!. They breed in the latter end of April, May, and June.

(69) S. RUFIGULARIS.—The Red-throated Tit Babbler.
Oates, No. 180; Hume, No. 618 Bis.

I shot a male of this species in May, 1891, just on the borders of
Manipur.

(70) Srrriparus crixeREUS.—The Dusky-green Tit Babbler.
Oates, No. 181 ; Hume, No. 620.

Legs fleshy brown or reddish ; irides reddish-brown. A rare little
bird, which I have only found in the Laisung Valley and at Hungrum,
generally feeding in scrub jungle. Mr. Hole has also two or three
specimens in his collection which he obtained at the foot of the hills in
low brushwood. They go about in small parties and are very active ~
and quick, but are very shy, moving away at once at the sound of any-
body approaching them.

T have taken two nests, which were simply miniatures of those of
Scheniparus ; both were placed amongst the roots of thick plants, but not
actually on the ground itself. In one nest the three eggs were ready to
hatch ; in the other there were also three, butso hard set that it was with

THE BIRDS OF NORTH CACHAR. 198

difficulty I managed to save two out of them. The eggs bear no
resemblance in any one detail to those of S. dubsus ; they are white,
tinged with the palest dusky green, and are marked with tiny dots and
specks of brown and neutral tint, which form a very distinct ring at the
larger end, being very sparsely scattered over the rest of the surface.
Some of the marks are so dark as to appear almost black. In shape the
eges are rather long ovals, decidedly compressed towards the smaller
end, which is blunt. The surface is fine and close, and in one egg has
a faint gloss.

The two eggs measure ‘69” X °5” and:71" x °49”. The nests were
taken on the 29th April and the 5th May, 1891.

(71) Srrrrparus casTaNnctcers.—The Chestnut-headed Tit Babbler.
Oates, No. 182; Hume, No. 619.
Very rare. I have only met with it twice in six years.

(72) Lioparvus cHrys£uUs.—The Golden-breasted Tit Babbler.
I shot a typical hen of this species on the Jennam River in 1888,

(73) TURDINULUS ROBERTI.—Robert’s Babbler.
Oates, No. 186 ; Hume, No. 332 Bis.

A rather rare bird everywhere. I have seen a specimen shot in the
cold weather in the plains and have taken a good many specimens
myself in these hills.

(74) MyIoPHONEUS TEMMINCKI.—The Himalayan Whistling Thrush,
Oates, No. 187 ; Hume, No. 343.

Common everywhere near water. I have one clutch of eggs of
this bird marked «just like many of Geocichla citrina. The site
selected for the nest varies far more than would be thought from
Oates’ remarks on the subject. It is, however, always built near water,
most of them actually on the bank, but sometimes, where the ever-
green wood is moist, cool, and shady, it may be placed some hundred
yards away from the stream. A very favourite place isa hole in the
bank of some deep nullah running through evergreen forest, and it
was in such a position I took my first nest. It was placed in a
natural hollow formed by the massive and twisted roots of a large
tree, being perfectly concealed from view except from the bottom of
the nullah, and even thence visible only from exactly opposite. The

199 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIIT,

internal cup was large and deep, but externally there was no exact
shape, the nest being so formed as to fill up the whole lower portion
of the cavity, and the outer side was alone neatly finished off ; in this
the breadth was all but two inches, whilst the back wall must have
been fully five and the two sides nearly as much. The cup was
4:8" in diameter and 4:1” in depth. An immense amount of material
had been used, and as the moss was all wet and mixed with a great
deal of earth, the weight also was very great. The base, back, sides
and outer wall were composed outwardly entirely of moss with the
roots attached ; the root ends with the wet earth were placed down-
wards and inwards ; thus the visible portion of the nest was all bright
green moss ; inside this outer layer was another, about an inch thick,
of muddy fern and moss roots, and inside this again the true lining of
clean dead moss alone. Other nests I have taken from the banks
of rocky streams; they may be either placed in depressions in mossy
banks and be quite concealed from view by the waving bracken and
luxuriant moss ferns, or they may be in bare patches and resting on
ledges of rock visible to, though almost unobtainable by, every passer-
by ; sometimes, again, they are built in holes and hollows over a foot
deep. Once I took a nest from undera large slab of rock in a gloomy
ravine, over which the water was constantly running, falling with
a splash into a little pool some four feet below it, sprinkling the nest
and the young birds with the spray. . The damp, however, did not seen
to effect their spirits, for I found them out by the great chirping that
was being carried on between them, and it is evident that thrushes
do not suffer from rheumatism and colds. ‘

One nest I took in 1889 was built on a dead stump, up which was
growing a mass of creeping plants. The nest was completely hidden
by the overhanging leaves, and I should never have found it but for
the parent-bird flying off just as I passed. It was about 34 feet from
the ground and rested partly on the tangle of creeper stems and partly
on the stump. In shape it was a deep cup, broader at the base than
at the top ; this nest was lined with grass and had also a few leaves,
both in the inside and woven into the outer part as well. There was
also less earth than usual, and altogether it was a lighter-built nest than

are 19 out of 20. The walls at the top were about 1°3" thick and the
base about 3”,

THE BIRDS OF NORTH CACHAR, 200

Another nest which I found in March, 1890, was built under the
“chung” (raised bamboo floor) of a rest-house and was placed in
between three of the piles. The birds had only just commenced work,
and during the ten days that I occupied the house they kept on their
building operations, though making the very smallest modicum of exer-
tion to get it finished, for when I left it was still hardly half completed.

(75) M. nucEnt.—The Burmese Whistling Thrush.
Oates, No. 187; Hume, No. 343 Bis.

Only very rarely met with towards the extreme south-east. A bird
sent me by Mr. H. A Hole appears to a hybrid between WM. temminchi
and M. eugenit. There are but two spots on the wing coverts on one
side and none on the other, the bill is unusually large for MZ. temminch,
but has the black colour normally developed.

(76) M. Horsrrztpu.—The Malabar Whistling Thrush.
Oates, No. 187 ; Hume, No. 842.

Specimens of this bird are found only in the Jatinga Valley and are,
I believe (from information received a year ago), merely the descendants
of two pairs of Whistling Thrushes, which were brought up from
Travancore by a lady and released from captivity on her leaving the
district. I have seen none during the last two years, and they have,
I fear, died out.

(77) LaRVIvoRA BRUNNEA.—The Indian Blue Chat.
Oates, No. 191; Hume, No. 507.

Rare everywhere, but a permanent resident wherever found, except

in the lowest valleys. |
(78) DryMoicHaREs CRURALIS.—The White-browed Shortwing.
Oates, No. 197 ; Hume, No. 388.

Occurs from the level of the plains up to the -highest peaks, but does
not breed below 2,500 feet. My eggs all agree in description with
those of Hodgson and Mandelli, but the only three nests I have seen
were very deep cups made of moss, bound together with roots and a
few fine grasses and thickly lined with black fern roots, over which
were placed a layer or two of dead leaves.

(79) D. NEPALENSIS.—The Nepal Shortwing.
Oates, No. 198; Hume, No. 336.

By no means rare to the north-east on the higher peaks. My egos
vary a good deal in colour between rather bright olive-green and olive-

201 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

brown, some being more or less stippled and clouded with darker
shades of the same, the stipplings being so fine that the eggs appear
to be of one uniform colour.
(80) Testa CYANOVENTRIS.—The Slaty-bellied Short-wing.
Oates, No. 201 ; Hume, No. 328.

Fairly common at Hungrum and the higher peaks surrounding
that place, descending to the plains in the cold season. Ihave taken
some half dozen nests of this bird, and they agreed well with the de-
scription given by Hodgson (Hume’s Nests and Eggs, vol. I, p. 131),
but were much smaller, measuring only about 5" in diameter. My
eggs too are all of a long oval, often considerably pointed at the smaller
end. The markings, which are everywhere very numerous, vary
between light pinky-red to dark clear red, always very bright, what-
ever the tint; 16 eggs average °70" x -59".

Sub-family Sibune.
(81) LiopTILa ANNECTENS.-—Blyth’s Sibia.
Oates, No. 208 ; Hume, No. 613.

This is the form of sibéa most often met with in North Cachar, but
at the same time is far from common. Hitherto I have only met
with it to the east of the Guilong stockade down as far south as the
range of hills dividing the Jenam and Jiri Rivers. ‘

It breeds at Hungrum and the surrounding peaks above 5,000 feet,
seldom lower. ‘The nests I have seen have all been rather bulky deep
cups composed outwardly of moss and moss roots with perhaps one or
two scraps of grass or a leaf or two. The lining seems invariably to be in
two parts—the imnermost of fine fern and moss roots alone, the inter-
mediate portion between the true lining and the nest being of shreds of
grass more or less mixed with roots and herbaceous stems, the latter not
always present. Unlike its near allies, S. capistrata, L. pulchella, etc.,
this bird does not select very lofty situations for its nest.. Asa rule I have
taken them from the upper portions of saplings, the branch on which
they are placed being usually a slender one towards the outside of the
tree and therefore difficult of access. Little, if any, trouble is taken to
conceal them, and, even if not noticed at once, the excited movements of
the parent-birds are sure to attract attention. The tree selected is one:

THE BIRDS OF NORTH CACHAR, 202

in fairly thick or evergreen forest; never I think, one in open country,
The full complement of eggs is three, and less than this number I have
never taken showing signs of incubation.

In general appearance the eggs are hardly distinguishable from the
paler type of egg of Acténodura egertoni. The ground-colour is a bright,
pale green-blue, and the marks consist of pale reddish-brown lines and a
few blots, blotches and specks of the same. ‘The lmes are of consider-
able length, sometimes nearly $", or even more, and are very irregular
in shape. In most eggs there are also a few marks of purply-red,
consisting principally of well-defined dots and also a few blurred, half-
washed-out-looking blotches. In a few eggs there are less numerous
lines than there are spots and blotches, but the former are never alto-
gether absent and are usually the most numerous kind of marking.

Twelve eggs average ‘87" X °59", and they vary between °85" and
*89" in length, and between ‘58" and -61" in breadth. Some eggs are
not unlike weakly-marked specimens of the eggs of Mesia argentauris.
I know absolutely nothing concerning the habits of this bird beyond
the fact that it is not found much below 3,500 feet, and frequents fairly
thick evergreen forest.

(82) L. putcHELLA.—The Beautiful Sibia.
Oates, No. 210 ; Hume, No. 429 Ter.
Recorded from North Cachar by Godwin-Austen.

(83) AcTINODURA EGERTONI.—The Rufous Barwing.
Oates, No. 211 ; Hume, No. 427.

The middle tail feathers very distinctly barred ; fairly common.
between 4,000 and 5,000 feet and upwards ; rare below this height. It
is very local in its distribution. My eggs are of two types—one like those
obtained by Gammie and Mandelli and the other more like those of
Trochalopterum phenicium, the markings being far darker than in
those obtamed by the above collectors, mostly of a deep purply-
brown or blackish as regards the coarser lines and blotches, the
numerous hair-like lines being of a brighter shade, This latter type
is much less smudgy also than the other. Highteen eggs average
86" by 78". They vary very considerably in size, the largest measuring
93" & 74", and the smallest -82" x -64". Most of my eggs are broad

ovals.
6

203 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

(84) Ixops parLAENsis.—Austen Barwing.
Oates, No. 214; Hume, No. 428 Bis.

I got a single specimen of this bird at Shemkher on the borders of
the Naga Hills.

(85) STAPHIDIA CASTANEICEPS.—The Chestnut-headed.Staphidia.
Oates, No. 216 ; Hume, No. 624 Bis.

Forehead grey ; the feathers centred dark brown ; anterior crown
dark rufescent-brown ; remainder brighter rufescent, almost chestnut ;
nape grey ; upper back, scapulars, and upper tail-coverts greenish-grey
with pale shafts ; lower back and rump grey, obsoletely tipped greenish-
grey ; tail brown ; the third pair of feathers obsoletely tipped white, this
white gradually increasing in extent until on the outermost pair it is
about 5” deep; lores and a short supercilium white; ear-coverts
chestnut with white shafts ; chin, cheeks and lower plumage white,
more or less suffused with grey and toa less extent with fulvous ;
under tail-coverts brown, broadly tipped with white ; lesser and median
wing-coverts like the scapularies ; greater coverts and inner secondaries
a more decided brown and with white shafts ; other quills brown, very
narrowly edged with grey.

Bill rather light reddish ‘horny, gape and base of both mandibles
slightly purplish ; after death the whole bill becomes brownish horny ;
legs dull reddish or flesh-colour; claws dusky flesh-colour ; irides pale
hazel.

Male.—Length: 5°83"; wing 2°5" ; tail 2:3"; bill at front °31"; and
from gape ‘d1"; tarsus °55".

The females seem to be slightly smaller ; length barely over 5! ; wing
2:4"; tail 2°1"to 2:2"; bill at front ‘3" and from gape ‘5"; tarsus +63",

Nipirication.— Until 1891 I had only taken one nest of this bird
which contained eggs. It was found on the 11th July, 1890, and was
taken from a high bank running parallel with, and only a short distance
from, the road, where it was placed against, and partly under, a large
clod of earth lying amongst the thick roots of a laurel-like shrub.
The greater portion of the nest was composed of the very softest
shreds of sun grass and a few scraps of equally soft bark. The outer
side of the nest, where not touching the clod or roots, was more

THE BIRDS OF NORTH CACHAR. 204

massive and was wound round with the dead brown stems of some
jungle plant, fern roots, a few very fine tendrils and one or two small
leaves, all further strengthened by a few cobwebs. The lining is of
the same grass as the rest of the nest, with the addition of half-a-dozen
tiny feathers. In shape the nest is a compact little cup; the internal
dimensions are about 2°2” in diameter by rather over one inch in
depth ; externally the nest is about 1:6" in depth and in breadth
across the narrower way 3°8”, or across it, so as to include the outer
side, 4°4". The jungle in which it was found was composed of mixed
clump bamboos and trees, with a scanty undergrowth of bracken and
shrubs. In 1891 on the 20th April I found another nest which was
placed in a low road-side bank. The place was absolutely devoid of
all vegetation, and the nest could be seen from some ten paces
distant in both directions. As it was empty, it was not disturbed or
measured. On the 28rd I took another nest containing a single ege.
Tn this case also it was placed in a hole about a foot deep or rather
less, just below the top of a perpendicular mud wall by a pathway ;
there was no attempt at concealment, and the nest could not have
been overlooked. Of these two nests, one was found at about
2,300 feet elevation and the other at about 4,000 feet. The nests are
both like that already described, but there are no feathers in the
lining of either. The nest taken in 1890 was found quite close to
where the one on the 20th April was obtained. A third nest, found
on the 25th, was placed in exactly the same position as the others,
namely, in a hole in a bare road-side bank, but differed in being made
solely of grass and in being slightly smaller. The dimensions are
internally 2" in diameter by -9” in depth or rather less. Since the
last date I have taken more than a dozen nests, all of which were got
whilst marching from one camp to another, being placed in holes by
the road-side, and in shape, materials, etc., agreeing with those
already described.

The first-mentioned nest contained three eggs, perfectly fresh, in
colour a pure white rather profusely spotted and speckled with different
shades of brown, principally ofa rather light sienna ; here and there
are also a few minute blotches of a greyish colour, and in one
egg there is also a dark hair-like mark, about °2” long, on the
larger end. In one ege the markings tend to form an_ indis-

205 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

tinct ring ; in the other two they are most numerous at the extreme
end of the larger half. In all three eggs they are very sparsely
scattered towards the smaller end. -There is a very slight but appreci-
able gloss on the eggs; the texture is close and smooth and the shell
extremely fragile. In shape they are broad ovals and very obtuse.
They measure °65"” & °52”, -66" x 52", and -67" x 51". The single
ege in the second nest found in 1891 differs slightly from those found
in the previous year in being somewhat more darkly marked ; the size
is 68" XX °56".

The last described nest contained three eggs ; the ground-colour is the
same—pearly white—but the markings are more of a vandyke shade than
sienna as in the others. They are also more numerous, and there are
many smudgy indistinct streaks as well as blotches and speckles. The
secondary marks are entirely absent in this clutch. They measure
67" x -5", 68" & °5", 66" x °51". In addition to these I have 42

other eggs which, as far as the markings go, agree with one or other of

°
the descriptions given above ; but the ground-colour in four clutches
is of a very faint yet decided greenish tinge, and in one other clutch
it is slightly greyish. In many of the eggs the markings are very
equally distributed throughout and show no tendency to form either
ring or cap. Amongst the 49 eggs there is no variation in form and
but little in size. The average of 30 eggs is 67" X *52" or slightly
less.

Their breeding time seems to extend over a considerable period, for,
as may be seen by the dates given above, I have taken their eggs as
early as the 25th April and as late as the 11th July. Ialso found a
nest with fully-fledged young on the 29th of April. This pretty little
bird is found all over these hills above 2,000 feet ; rarely, I believe, be-
low that height. It is nowhere common, but may be most often
observed between 2,500 and 3,000 feet. It keeps much to the tops of
the taller shrubs and young saplings, neither ascending to the tops of
bigger trees nor frequenting the very low scrub. Throughout the cold
weather, up to April or May, it collects in small flocks, the members of
which always keep very close together. It is an extremely active little
bird, assuming all sorts of postures when engaged in clambering up
and down the branches in its search for food, and is most tit-like in

THE BIRDS OF NORTH CACHAR, 206

its actions when so employed. On the wing it is not nearly so strong,
and it seldom indulges ina flight of any length. It is notat alla
shy bird and may be watched from a distance of some twenty paces
without any fear of driving it away. Should it at last become
frightened, it will descend lower amongst the jungle and hastily make
its way deeper into it by flitting and scrambling from twig to twig and
branch to branch. Its ordinary note is a rather loud chir-chit, chir-
chit, repeated two or three times ; besides this it has a musical double
note that can almost be called a whistle. Neither of these sounds are
often uttered, and sometimes for several minutes together not a bird in
the flock will utter a single note. There is a species of small tree to be
found here, which is nearly always much infested with green Aphide ;
and where there are many of these trees about, a flock of these
birds may generally be met with, specimens that I have shot in such
places always being full of the insects. Another favourite food is the
larvee of the common locust. I have also on two occasions taken some
very hard black seeds from their stomachs, which are in size and
appearance very similiar to mustard seed, but are much harder,
(86) StvA cYANUROPTERA.—The Blue-winged Siva.
Oates, No. 221 ; Hume, No. 617.

During the breeding season this bird is only found on the very
highest peaks, descending to about 4,000 feet in the cold weather ;
more rarely as low even as 2,000. It is a common bird here.

(87) YuHINA NicRIMENTUM.—The Black-chinned Yuhina.
Oates, No. 225 ; Hume, No. 628.

I obtained this bird at Guilang this year, 18938, and also took its
nest. This is a pendant cradle-like structure made almost entirely of
moss-roots and attached to the moss or lichen on the under part of a
bough.

The eggs are pale greenish marked with specks of pale brown, and
Oates was quite correct in thinking they would prove not to be plain
white.

(88) ZosTEROPs PALEBROSA.—The Indian White-eye.
Oates, No. 228 ; Hume, No. 681.

Common to the west and north, meeting and being equally
common with the next species in the centre and almost entirely
replaced by it to the east and south.

207 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

(89) Z. simpLEx.—Swinhoe’s White-eye.
Oates, No. 228 ; Hume, No. 681 B-
The common form to the south and south-east. The numerous
nests and eggs I have taken differ in no way from those of Z. palebrosa,
nor does its habits call for any remark.

(90) Ixunvs ocorprtaLis.—The Chestnut-headed Ixulus.
Oates, No. 231 ; Hume, No. 624.
Very rare. I have seen only two specimens.

(91) I. Fiavicoti1s.—The Yellow-naped Ixulus.
Oates, No. 232 ; Hume, No. 623.

All my nests, with two doubtful exceptions, have been taken from
the ground. The eggs are, as Oates says, just like rather densely-
marked eggs of Hirundo rustica, but I think they are more brightly
marked on the whole.

(92) HuRPoRNIs XANTHOLEUCA.—The White-bellied Herpornis.

A yery rare bird in North Cachar. I have only seen it about
half a dozen times, and on these occasions it was always in small flocks,
and engaged in the busy pursuit of insects on the higher branches
of lofty trees. I have only observed it on the outskirts of tree-forest.
I do not remember ever hearing their notes, and they seem very silent
birds.

Sub-family Liotrichine.
(93) Liorarix LutEA.—The Red-billed Liothrix.
Oates, No. 235 ; Hume, No. 614.

Fairly common on some of the higher peaks.

(94) CuTta NEPALENSIS.—The Nepal Cutia.
Oates, No. 236 ; Hume, No. 612.

I have seen this bird during the cold weather, on two or three occa-
sions, towards the north-west of the district, haunting the tops of the
oak trees which are the principal timber in that part. The elevation
of the highest peaks in this direction is under three thousand feet.

(95) PETRUTHIUS ERYTHOPTERUS.—The Red-winged Shrike-Tit.
Oates, No. 237 ; Hume, No. 609.

Not uncommon at about 8,500 feet upwards, but seldom appears to

come down below this height. These birds are very shrike-like in all

THE BIRDS OF NORTH CACHAR. 208

their ways and manners, even more so than in their general ap-
pearance.
(96) P. meLAnotis.—The Chestnut-throated Shrike-Tit.
Oates, No. 239 ; Hume, No. 611.

A very rare bird here, only fouhd in the loftiest peaks round about
Hunerum, ranging from 5,500 feet upwards.

(97) AderrHina TyPHIA.—The Common Tora.
Oates, No. 248; Hume, Nos. 467-8.

A very common bird indeed. I may mention that all the eggs I
have ever seen of this species have been marked with grey more or
less tinged with brown, and sometimes also, but not often, one or two
small marks of reddish. I have never yet seen an egg marked only
with brown and reddish-brown, as described by Oates.

(98) CHLoROpsIS AURIFRONS.—The Gold-fronted Chloropsis.
Oates, No. 247; Hume, No. 465.

I shall make no remarks on this genus here, as I included it
amongst the bulbuls of North Cachar, on which birds I have written
an article which has appeared in the Bombay Society’s Journal.

(99) C. HaRpIwicKi1.—The Orange-bellied Chloropsis.
Oates, No. 249; Hume, No. 460.

(100) C. cunorocepHata.—The Burmese Chloropsis.
Oates, No. 250; Hume, No. 463 Bis.
(101) C. serpoxt.—Jerdon’s Chloropsis.
Oates, No. 252; Hume, No. 463.
; (102) Inenz pusLLa.—The Fairy Blue Bird.
Oates, No. 254; Hume, No. 469.

This bird does not appear to ascend the hilis of the north-east above
2,000 feet, and is most often met with very low down or actually in the
plains themselves. I have never noticed it in parties, nor have I ever
seen a single bird ; they seem always to keep in pairs. It breeds only,
I believe, in evergreen forest, and generally near some small stream or
other piece of water.

(103) MenanocHtora sULTANEA.—The Sultan Tit.
Oates, No. 255 ; Hume, No. 650.

This is another genus which, I think, has been taken from its former

position (amongst the Paring) without good cause, and has been

209 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

chucked in amongst the Liotrichine, because Oates was ata loss where
else to put it.

On the 17th May, 1890, I was fortunate enough to take a nest of this
bird. I was out at the time after gaur and was going through thinly-
scattered oak forest with an undergrowth of young sun grass. Whilst
resting for a few minutes under a tree, I noticed a male of this species
on a tree opposite carrying something in his mouth ; presently he flew
to a tree about a dozen paces away, and promptly disappeared into a
Jong crevice which ran down one of the main boughs. Sending a man
up to investigate, both male and female flew away, and to my delight
the man announced that there was a nest with seven eggs.

Both nest and eggs were brought down for my examination. The
former was a thick pad of very fine scraps of moss, compressed down
until it formed an almost solid mass, in depth about 4” and about the
same in diameter at the top, whence it gradually narrowed to a point
in shape the same as the hollow in which it was placed. The depression
in which the eggs were laid was about 3” in diameter by hardly #" deep,
and this was almost filled with soft cotton down.

The eggs are exactly like those of Maclolophus spilonotus, differing
only in size. The ground-colour is a chalky-white, and the whole sur-
face is thickly scattered with brownish-red spots of a bold character,
others underlying of a pinkish-grey and light neutral tint. The mark-
ings are more numerous towards the larger end, but do not form a cap
orring. Ihave eggs of Sitta frontalis very closely resembling these
eggs, but of course much smaller. Of the seven eggs, I only managed
to blow five as they were very hard set. From two eggs the young
were already emerging, and these I broke im trying to clean. Three
others were cleaned with a good deal of trouble, and two, which were
much less hard set than the others, were blown fairly easily. In shape
they are a broad regular oval, very little compressed towards the
smaller end. In size the five eggs average °76" > °6".

Another clutch of eggs was brought to me, which were said to belong
to this bird and were exactly like those already described, but were
much larger, measuring about °83" % ‘65". They were, however, so
damaged in addition to being hard set that it was impossible to pre-
serve them and difficult even to measure very correctly.

THE BIRDS OF NORTH CACHAR, 210

I have found this bird both in the evergreen forest of some of the
lower, warmer valleys, and also in the open oak forest to the north-
east of the district. In its habits and actions it is essentially tit-like,
but perhaps less active than the majority of these birds.

(104) Masta ARGENTAURIS.—The Silver-eared Mesia.

Oates, No. 257; Hume, No. 615.
Very common everywhere over 3,000 feet.

(105) Mita rerrmsetTa.—The Red-tailed Minla.
Oates, No. 258 ; Hume, No. 618.

I once met with a large flock of these birds hunting for insects on
the high bushes and small saplings beside a road at an elevation of some
4,000 feet. They did not seem to visit the higher trees at all, but kept
low down below 20 feet or so. They were not at all shy, and several
of them came again and again within a few feet of me, so that, though
T had no gun with which to obtain a specimen, I had not the slightest
difficulty in identifying them. They continued to flit along the sides
of the bushes in front of me for some two or three hundred yards,
uttering a continuous twittering chirp.

(106) PsaRoGLossA SPILOPTERA.—The Spotted-wing.
Oates, No. 261; Hume, No. 691.

This bird is common everywhere during the cold season, but appears
to retire to the hills from 3,000 feet upwards during the breeding
season.

Oates says that neither its structure, its habits, nor the colour of its
eggs show any affinities with the Sturnide. I should have described
its habits as being exactly the same as Sturnza malabarica, and its nest
as being undistinguishable from that of that bird—that is to say, it makes
a rough pad of straw, grasses and a few feathers in a natural hole in a
tree, Its egos are nearer to Oates’ Hulabetide than to the Sturnide.

It is curious that none of the modern ornithologists seem to have
mentioned one of the most distinctive characteristics of the male bird’s
plumage, wz., the remarkably lengthened plumes at the base of the
outer secondary quill feathers of the wing. For a distance of about °75"
to *90" from the base the plumes of the feathers are much lengthened
on the outer webs, forming a most distinct fluffy patch on this part of

the wing. ‘This feature is not present in the wing of the female,
7 3 }

911 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

Some of the notes of this bird are peculiarly like the conversational
notes of Molpastes burmanicus, the Burmese Red-vented Bulbul. It
also has a loud clear whistle of the same style as, but softer and much
less loud than, the usual call of Hulabes intermedia, the Indian Grackle.

The females I have shot measure much smaller than the males.
The average of 8 females is as follows :—Length, 7” barely ; wing,
3:8" to 3:9" ; tail, 2:2" to 2:3".

Sub-Family Brachypodine.
(107) CrINigeR FLAVEOLUS.—The White-throated Bulbul.
Oates, No. 263 ; Hume, No. 451.
(108) Hypstperes psARoipEs.—The Himalayan Black Bulbul.
Oates, No. 269 ; Hume, No. 444.
(109) H. concotor.—The Burmese Black Bulbul.
Oates, No. 270 ; Hume, No. 448.
(110) Hemrxus riravaLa.—The Brown-eared Bulbul.
Oates, No. 272 ; Hume, No. 448.
(111) H. maccnetnanpi.—The Rufous-bellied Bulbul.
Oates, No. 275 ; Hume, No. 447.
(112) Atucurus srriatus.—The Striated Green Bulbul.
Oates, No. 277 ; Hume, No. 449.
(113) Motpastes BuRMANICUS.—The Burmese Red-vented Bulbul.
Oates, No. 279.
(114) M. pencaensis.—The Bengal Red-vented Bulbul.
Oates, No. 282 ; Hume, No. 461.
(115) Xanrarxus FLAVESCENS.—Blyth’s Bulbul.
Oates, No. 287 ; Hume, No. 452 Bis.
(116) Orocompsa EMERIA.—The Bengal Red-whiskered Bulbul.
Oates, No. 288 ; Hume, No. 460.
(117) O. ruaviventRis.—The Black-crested Yellow Bulbul.
Oates, No. 290 ; Hume, No. 456.
(118) Spizixus cantrrons.—The Finch-billed Bulbul.
Oates, No. 292 ; Hume, No. 453 Bis.
(119) loze virescens.—The Olive Bulbul.
Oates, No. 296 ; Hume, No. 452 Des.
(120) Microrus mELANocerHALUSs.—The Black-headed Bulbul.
Oates, No. 310 ; Hume, No. 457 Bis.
(121) M. crvzReiventris.—The Grey-bellied Bulbul.
Oates, No. 311 ; Hume, No. 457 Quat.

212

THE COMMON MARINE SHELLS OF THE BOMBAY
SHORE.

By A. ABERCROMBIE.
PART I,

(Read before the Bombay Natural History Society on 6th Sept., 1893.)

In an article which appeared in the 7th Vol. of the 4th Series of
“Memoirs and Proceedings of the Manchester Literary and Philoso-
phical Society,” a catalogue of about 320 species of the Marine
Mollusca of Bombay is given; but local collectors not having all the
advantages of museums and good books of reference cannot make much
use of this article which is not descriptive, and the object of the present
paper will be to give some little account of the families and species
most common on our shore.

The descriptions attempted must necessarily be short, and they have
been made from as perfect and full-sized specimens as I have been able
to obtain. Collectors must be warned against attempting the identifi-
cation of worn and bleached specimens, and there is also often great
variation in the colour, shape, and size of different shells of the same
species, so that too much exactness of description must not be looked
for. Classification proper, of course, rests upon the animal and not
upon his shell ; but this part of the science is so intricate and so bristling
with hard scientific terms that I leave it and content myself with an
endeavour to deal with the shell alone. There are many shells all duly
named and classified, the animal of which has never been seen, so that
at least there is some excuse for the course Iam taking, and if it
simplifies the study to beginners, it may find some favour. But if we
set aside the question of anatomy, there is at least the live animal to
interest us ; but here again, I am afraid, I must fail you. When obser-
vation is possible, that is at low tides, the animal is always at rest, and
in confinement he does not thrive, at least not under the conditions that
I have been able to offer him. He seems also to be impressed with the
fact that his shell has been given him by nature for protection and to
screen him from observation, and he takes care to act up to this belief.
I kept various specimens alive for three to four months in a small tank ;
but what impressed me most about them was the surprising power they

213 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

exhibited of keeping on doing nothing ; for instance Planazis sulcatus
is a common little black shell, living on rocks at about 2 tide mark,
and he ought to be pretty hardy, considering the amount of heating he
can stand at one time of the year and drenching with fresh water at
another ; but in confinement I could make nothing of him. He would
not condescend to stop in my tank, notwithstanding daily supplies of
fresh salt water, syringings to aérate it, and surroundings in the shape
of slimy stones, such as must have been familiar to him. He pre-
ferred, however, an adjoining deal box, on which he had climbed, and
there he sat and brooded over his misfortunes till I returned him to
his element as hopeless.

The univalves are both vegetable feeders and carnivorous, and they
are armed witha long rasping tongue, composed of microscopically
minute calcareous teeth. This tongue, in the case of the carnivori, and,
as is thought by some authorities, with the aid of an acid they have the
power of secreting, enables them to bore holes in the shells of bivalves
and other members of their own species. An actual case of this boring
happened under my own observation—a specimen of Urosalpinz
contracta perforating the shell of Semele cordzformis (a bivalve) in about
twenty-four hours.

The Semeée had, as is the custom of most bivalves, embedded itself in
some sand provided in my tank for that purpose, and how Urosalpinex
got him on to the top of the sand I can only surmise ; but it was there
that the boring operation took place.

This custom of retreating into the sand is no absolute protection
to the bivalves from their enemies the univalves, as many of the latter
regularly burrow in search of them, which is attested by the large
quantity of bivalve shells found with a circular hole drilled through
them. The animals of the Natica family, four to five of which are very
common here, are specially adapted for this burrowing. They have a
large and powerful foot or gliding surface ; they are blind or nearly so,
and are provided in front of the head region with a sort of shield,
Their shell is light, very smooth and round, and so offers little or no
resistance to the pushings through the sand ; but Urosalpinex belongs to
a family differing widely from this description. Most members of it are
heavy shell-bearers, and their shells are rough and ridged, often with
varices or fringes, and they frequent, as a rule, rocks or:muddy stones,

THE COMMON MARINE SHELLS OF THE BOMBAY SHORE, 214

but apparently they are not above attacking the bivalves when they
come across their path. Now Semele cordiformis, as far as my obser-
vations go, is not one of the bivalves that burrow deeply into the sand,
and if, as I suspect, the shell was barely immersed, the univalve on
touching it whilst gliding along would easily prevent any further
burrowing. |

Any one who has attempted to remove or push aside the common
limpet knows what adhesive or suctional power the animal has in his
foot, and it must be this power that renders the bivalve helpless when
once caught. Jam unfortunately unable to give any account of the
actual process of the boring, as Urosalpins sat on the top of his prey and
performed all his offensive actions under cover of his shell ; but the
Semele was bored as stated and devoured, and those little scavengers—
the hermit crabs, of which I had several in my tank—soon scented what
was up and assisted at the feast.

Conchological books inform us that certain members of the snail
tribe are provided, like spiders, with a viscous thread, by which they can
let themselves down from the branches of trees, and it appears that some
marine shells can draw themselves up by a similar means. I was fortu-
nate enough to find a live specimen of, I believe, Scalaria consors, to which
was attached by a thread a small sort of anchor consisting of several
bits of shell agglutinated together. The shell is extremely light, and it
seems reasonable to suppose that the animal having secured its
anchorage would, or at any rate could, float in mid-ocean, and the shell
being a dull white would not be readily seen in such a position.

As Mr. Phipson is reprinting, with the accompanying illustration, the
descriptions by Mr. Melvill of twenty-five new species found here, I
have not considered it necessary to refer to any of them in this article,

THE UNIVALVES OR GASTEROPODA.

The order I follow is that given in the article on the Mollusca in the
Encyclopeedia Britannica.

Diviston I..—Shield shape or conical hollow shells with an oval base.

Divisrton II,.—Shells, the mouth of which is generally circular or
semi-circular and noé produced into a canal at the base.

Diviston I1I.—Shells, the mouth of which is produced into a canal
at the base. The mouth is sometimes a sort of canal in itself. When

915 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

the canal is not very obvious, there is a deep sinus or cut into the base
of the shell.

Division I.

In Division I. we have really only one common shell, the limpet
(Patella aster, Reeve), but a so-called key-hole limpet, with a small
hole at the apex of the shell (Fissurella lima, Sow.), is also to be found,
and under muddy stones there lives a little animal with a shield-shaped
shell (Scutum unguzs, Linn.)

Division II.
TROCHIDA.

There are a great many members of this family, several very common,
and they are best known by the nacreous (M. O. P.) construction of
their shells, which may generally be seen by an examination of the
mouth or by removing the outer or coloured layer of the shell.

Turbo elegans (Phil.).—A_ large shell having four to five whorls ;
whorls rounded and ridged spirally ; brown with green and yellow
shadings and mottlings ; mouth circular ; length, which I shall always
take as from apex to base, about 2 inches ; breadth at the widest part
of the last whorl, 14 inches.

The next three are all pyramidal in shape, the whorls being out-
wardly flattish.

Trochus radiatus (Gmelin) and Clanculus depictus (A. Ad.).—Both
very common, especially the former ; both are beaded, the beadings
forming spiral bands running round the shell. TZ. radzatus is much the
larger and easily recognised by the broad, red or maroon, irregular
stripes running down the shell. Between the stripes the colour is
greenish when alive, turning to yellow or whitish when dead. C.
depictus is yellow or grey, with similar but black stripes. I have found
some specimens a light yellow-grey colour, with no stripes. Others
uniformly dark grey, but black stripes are the rule.

Astralium stellatum (Gmelin).— Whorls sharply noduled at intervals
at the lower margin and diagonally striated ; colour, a dull yellow.

Huchelus indicus (A, Ad.).—A dull brown, smallish shell, very com-
mon ; whorls rounded with minute beadings, forming fine spiral lines ;
mouth circular.

THE COMMON MARINE SHELLS OF THE BOMBAY SHORE. 216

Rotella vestiaria (Lam.).—Is the little highly coloured shining shell,
so common on the sandy beach. It is often pink. The spire is depres-
sed, and in size it is smaller than a two-anna piece.

NERITIDA.

Smallish, thick, semi-oval shells ; mouth large, flat, and in shape
like a capital D ; columella or central pillar of shell broad, flat, and
sloping inwards.

Nerita oryzarum (Recluz).—Very common on half-tide rocks or under
stones ; colour white and black mottled and streaked, sometimes with
a tinge of rust; last whorl envelops nearly the whole shell and is
ridged ; shell polished.

Neritina crepiduiaria (Lam.).—Apex bent down towards mouth of
shell; colour white, with purple transverse bandings ; shell quite
smooth ; frequents muddy places on the harbour side of the shore.

IANTHINIDA,

Lanthina communis (Lam.).—Is a very fragile and beautiful shell,
The upper half of the whorls a delicate white purple; the under or
aperture side a deep purple. It is a floating shell, and only found
when washed up after stormy weather. It also, I am told, has been
procured in a very perfect state from fishermen’s nets.

CERITHIIDA.

Cerithium morus (Lam.) and Potamides (Tympanotonos) fluviatilis
(P. M.).—These two little shells live along with Planawis at three-
quarter tide mark, especially where there are muddy stones. The latter
seems to belie its name, at any rate as far as Bombay is concerned.
C. morus is a blackish, small and spiral shell, with sometimes a white
band ; spirally striated and heavily beaded, and regularity of shape
interrupted by varices or thickened ridges ; mouth—outer lip rounded
and thickened, causing the varix as the growth of the shell is continued
leaving the thickened part standing out; about }” to #" long,
P, fluviatilis is a slender pyramidal shell, about 3" to 1” long. Each
whorl has three rows of spiral beadings ; mouth produced and flattish
at the base ; last whorl often shows marked white and black spiral
bandings and is smooth.

TURRITELLIDA.

Turritella duplicata (am.) is a massive tapering shell, having ten

to fifteen or more whorls; easily known by two parallel ridges

217 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VILL.

running spirally round the centre of each whorl ; colour, rusty yellow.
A good specimen would be 5” to 6” long.

NATICID AL.

Shining, globular, thinnish shells, many of them of great beauty ;
last whorl envelops greater part of shell ; mouth large and somewhat
semi-circular or auriform. Shells are umbilicated, z.¢., the axis or
columella round which the whorls are formed is more or less hollow.

Natica didyma (Bolten) attains a good size, yellow or fawn-
coloured young shells and apex often with a leaden hue; easily known
by a chocolate-coloured callosity nearly covering in the umbilicus,
this callosity having a central groove running across it. I am indebted
to Mr. E. A. Smith, of the British Museum, for the information that
this shell is figured in Reeve’s Conchologia as Chemnitzi lamare-
kiana, petiveriana, and problematica.

Natica lineata (Lam.).—White, with irregular, slanting, closely set
stripes of reddish-brown colour running across the whorls of the
shell ; umbilical area pure white.

Natica maculosa (Liam.).—A smaller and very common shell, with
brown or purple spottings or streaks. When the shell is bleached these
spots become reddish.

Natica rufa (Born.).—A plain, yellow-brown shell with a distinct
band: of white running spirally round centre of whorl ; base very
white.

Mammilla zanzibarica (Recluz.).— A white, oblong, very thin shell,
with a faint central band of colour on last whorl ; mouth very large
and auriform ; umbilicus nearly covered in by a long purple or brown
recurvement of shell.

CAPULIDZ.

There is one specimen of this curious family which should be men-
tioned. It [Lrgea walshi (Herm.)] lives inside dead shells and adapts
itself in shape to its situation like the oysters. It is most often a flat,
white, oval shell, looking like a bivalve, but the inner side is porcella-
neous, and has a protruding lip, which forms a cavity and, no doubt,
serves to protect the vital parts of the animal.

PLANAXID anp LITTORINIDA.
The authority I am following does not seem to give the former

THE COMMON MARINE SHELLS OF THE BOMBAY SHORE, 218

family a place by itself, and as the only member of it lives alongside
the Littorinide I take them together.

Planazis sulcatus (Born.) has been already spoken of. The shell is
small, thick, dark, and smooth with light streakings, and is strongly
spirally grooved ; whorls 4 to 5; columella flattened, and outer lip of
mouth ridged inside.

Littorina ventricosa (Phil.) and L.malaccana (Phil.).—These are two
minute shells to be found living on the boulders of our shore, even
above the reach of all tides. L. ventricosa is Natica shaped, dull yellow
or grey, with incised lines running spirally round the shell.

L. malaccana is black or dark grey, and easily known by the double
row of white nodules round the centre of the whorls.

Division III,
STROMBIDA.

There is only one member of this family at all common, the Rostel-
laria curta (Sow). It is a long tapering shell of 5” to 6”, smooth and
shining ; colour yellow to brown ; outer lip of mouth flattened and
toothed, and a long pointed canal at the base.

DOLIDA.

Dolium maculatum (Lam.).—The largest and perhaps handsomest
shell we have, and sometimes bigger than a cricket ball. Last whorl
nearly envelops the whole shell, and mouth very large; colour white
with a touch of purple-grey ; raised bands encircling the shell with
brown interrupted blotches ; shell thin, polished, and somewhat trans-
parent,

TRITONIDA,

Ranella tuberculata (Brod.),—Common and easily known by the two
opposite varices or ridges running from apex to base, and giving the
shell a flattened appearance; whorls 7 to 8, spirally, tubercularly,
ridged ; mouth rounded and canal distinct; colour dull brown ;
when dead reddish-yellow and shining.

CYPRAID A.—Tuer Cowrexs,

The shape of these shells is so well known as to need no description.
All highly polished and rarely obtained as dead shells in a sufficiently

perfect state for identification,
8

219 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

Cyprea arabica (Lam.).—About the size of a hen’s egg 5 easily
known by a sort of hieroglyphic writing over the back, interspersed
with white roundish blotchings.

Cyprea pallida (Gray).—Size of a sparrow’s egg ; light grey-green
ground, and finely speckled with brown dots, culminating frequently in
a dark blotch on the back.

Cyprea ocellata (Lam.) and Cyprwa lamarckti (Gray}.—The size
of a pigeon’s egg. Former rich yellow ground, and covered with
white spots, which are frequently pupilled like eyes. Latter greenish-
yellow ground with larger white spots without pupils, An offshoot
of this family, Ovula spelta (Linn.) is not very uncommon ; shell
smooth, white, shining, and somewhat bow-shaped ; aperture long,
narrow, and produced into a canal at both ends; length 1}" to 13”.

CONIDA\.—Tue Conzs.

Three varieties of this very large family are common here, and the
name describes their shape. The spire is very short or almost
immersed ; shell tapering with a long narrow mouth widest at the base,
The same species may vary much in colour and marking,

Conus monachus (L.)—The largest of the three ; ground-colour
brownish, frequently much clouded, especially towards the centre, with
gray-white streakings and blotches ; encircled with dark lines inter-
rupted in the clouded parts,

Conus mutabilis (Chem.) isa uniform yellow, dark or light, and
sometimes with encircling lines.

Conus lentiginosus (Reeve).—The smallest, sharp-pomted ; raised
spire ; white with burnt yellow zigzag streakings.

PLEUROTOMIDA.

These are shells with a tall spire and a fusiform (tapering at both
ends) shape. ‘They have also—which is peculiar to the family—a
notch in the outer lip of the mouth, near the body of the shell. There
are several varieties, but only four are common.

Pleurotoma javana (L.) or nodifera (am.),—A dark fawn-coloured
shell ; whorls angular and noduled at the angle, with whitish knobs ;
below the angle strongly spirally striated ; length, 2” to 3”.

Pleurotoma fulminata (Kiener).—Smooth, polished, white with rich
yellow markings. A sort of spiral band formed by the upper part of each
whorl overlapping its predecessor is a noticeable feature in the shell.

THE COMMON MARINE SHELLS OF THE BOMBAY SHORE, 220

Plewrotoma athinsonei (Smith), crenularis (am.).—Very common ;
whitish, rough, with strong tubercles in the centre of each whorl,
almost forming longitudinal ridges ; spirally striated. Young shells
often have a brown or grey tinge. Length, 14” to 2".

Pleurotoma amicta (Smith,) eincta (Lam.).—A white or dirty white
chalky-looking shell with an even spire and regular spiral ridges ;
length, 12” to 2”,

MURICIDA.

Murex adustus (Lam.).—A black, rather large shell, with large frill-
like varices, which get quickly worn down in the dead shell. Each
whorl has three of these varices running down the shell and raised
humps between them ; mouth, small, oval ; canal produced and almost
covered over ; general shape fusiform.

BUCCINID A.

This family and the last are very closely connected, and there are
many sub-divisions, which are not always placed under the same head
by Conchological authorities. Any general or leading description of
these shells is impossible.

The following are common shells on our sandy shores :—

Dipsaccus or Eburna spirata (uam.) (the ivory shell).—It has a
thick rough epidermis, beneath which the shell is quite smooth ; colour,
yellow with large blotches, and zigzag streaks of white or vice versa ;
whorls 7 to 8; upper edge sharp and sloping inwards, forming a sort
of spiral gutter; mouth porcellanous ; shape ovate ; spire rapidly
diminishing.

Nassa nodifera (Powis) and Nassa ornata (Kiener).—Both these
shells are polished and somewhat similar in shape, but the former is
much larger. It is of a grey-green or yellowish hue, with an indistinct
white band running round the last whorl ; whorls about 8, longitudi-
nally ridged and slightly noduled at the upper part; mouth rather
broad at the base and sinus large; length, 14”; breadth, 2",
NV. ornata is purple-brown with a very distinct white band round the
last whorl ; base also whitish ; longitudinal ridges stronger and shell
shorter and stouter ; length, 2” ; breadth, 4",

Cyllene fuscata (A. Ad.).—A beautiful little shell about 3" long, thick,
spire sharply pointed and beaded ; last whorl enveloping greater

221 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII,

part of shell ; smooth or slightly ridged longitudinally ; mouth nar-
row, oval, dark, and ridged inside ; outer lip thickened ; sinus deeply
cut back ; colour variable—whitish, grey tinged with yellow markings.
Bullia lineolata (Wood): -—A smooth, shining, thin tapering shell ;

whorls. 7 to 8, grooved towards.the base; colour yellow with grey
tinge, and more or less streaked with longitudinal brown lines ; mouth
- widest at the base, and sinus broad ; length, about #”, breadth, 2”.

We now come to the Purpuras, which live chiefly amongst the
boulders of our shore-at low tide,mark.

Purpura bufo (Lam.)—A thick, massive, large shell, generally en-
erusted with limey matter hiding marking and colour ; spire depressed,
last whorl enveloping the whole shell nearly, and generally with swollen
tubercles towards its centre ; mouth large and oval, with a narrow
but deep sinus at the base; shell coloured by encircling lines of
brown. In young shells the colour is a dull yellow with fine encir-
cling striations.

Purpura rudolfi (Lam.), persica (Linn.).—Also a large shell ;
colour light to dark brown with encircling striations and darker raised
bands, the upper ones being slightly noduled. The bands are blackish,
interrupted with white oblong spots; mouth very large; outer lip
serrate ; columella flattish and grooved towards the base. A good
specimen would be three inches long.

Purpura carinifera (Lam.).—Smaller than the last ; very common ;
colour light yellow to grey ; chiefly distinguishable by a double row of
sharp, upward-pointed tubercles round the upper and middle part of the
last whorl; fine cancellated striations ; mouth orange-coloured in-
side ; length, 12”; breadth, 12".

Purpura sacellum (Lam.)—Shell slightly fusiform. The upper
part of the last whorl and the spire bear a resemblance in outline to a
pagoda, This last whorl has rows of sharp scaly ridges. Colour yellow
to brown ; mouth, white ; length, 12".

Purpura tissot: (Petit).—A small shell }” to 2" long, with a tallish
spire, 4" to 5” broad encircling ridges on is el whorl with an inter-
mediate narrow ridge ; ridges slightly tubercled and sometimes dark
coloured,

(See Mr. Melvill’s description and figuring of Purpura blanford?.)

THE COMMON MARINE SHELLS OF THE BOMBAY SHORE, 222

Lritonidea (Cantharus) spiralis (Gray).—Shell has a rough epi-
dermis, beneath which it is smooth, white and with burnt markings ;
whorls about 7, strongly ribbed, 8 to 9 ribs on last whorl, 3 on upper
ones ; last whorl undulating, and looking-down on to the apex ; the
shell is hexagonal in outline ; mouth white and porcellanous.

Urosalpina contracta (Reeve).—Fusiform, thick, about 14” long and
" broad ; spire tall and spirally, closely striated ; old shell, often chalk-.
white ; young brown with dark bandings ; upper whorls prominently
tubercled, formed in the last into longitudinal ridges ; mouth oval and
canal distinct. .

Recinula (Sistrum) tuberculata (De-Blain).—A small but remarkably
massive shell ; easily known by the strong, dark, rounded tubercles
standing out of a greyish ground; mouth purple-tinged, strongly
toothed inside in the mature shell ; length, 2” ; breadth, ¥",

Columbella terpsichore (Iueathes).—A small shining slightly fusiform
shell ; white or light yellow ; longitudinally fluted ; ridges brown
coloured and shell figured with yellow markings ; mouth narrow ;
spire sharp ; length, }! to 8"; breadth, 4’,

OLIVIDA.

Oliva nebulosa (Lam.).—One of the commonest shells on our
sandy shore ; cylindrical ; sharp-pointed, shining, thick ; mouth, long
and narrow and widest at the base ; colour, whitish-yellow with
fading grey zigzag cloudings and a broad yellow encircling band
near the base of the shell ; length, 1" to 12”, When bleached, the
markings become reddish.

There are two other shells fairly common here, which, though belong-
ing to none of the families or divisions given, should be mentioned,

BULLIDA.

Haminea galba (Pease)—An extremely delicate little oval shell
transparent white or yellow ; aperture the full length of the last whorl,
and broadening into an oval at the base ; apex instead of being pointed
is indented,

SCAPHOPODA.

Dentalium longitrorsum (Reeve).—A long slightly curved cylinder
open at either end; shell white and shining ; length, generally
1" to 2" ; resembles in miniature an elephant’s tusk,

223 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

THE POISONOUS PLANTS OF BOMBAY.
By SurcEon-Masor K,. R. Kirtikar, LM.S., F.L.S.
PART VI.

(With Plate #1.)

(Continued from page 106.)
TERMINALIA BELLERICA.—(Roatd.)
(Natural Order—ComBrETacE.)

MaratHI—BEHEDA ¥eagt,

A very large tree with rusty pubescence on young branchlets and
calyx ; attains a height of 60—100 feet; trunk tall, erect, regularly
shaped; branches spreading, forming a coppery-tinted bright, broad,
massive crown when young; bright green when old. Youngest
offshoots beautifully crimson.

Srmm.—‘ Bark 4 inch thick, dark grey, uneven, and tessellated by
broad longitudinal furrows crossed by short narrow transverse wrinkles,
the old bark exfoliating in dry corky scales. Wood lightly grey, or
yellowish, open and coarse grained, easily worked but not durable ; no
distinct heartwood.” —(Brandis.) The girth of the stem is 6—~10 feet,
at times 10—20 feet.

LeAves.—Uxstipulate, alternate, crowded about the extremities of
branches ; crenulate, pubescent ; when quite young, of a bright reddish
or copper colour, tinged with bright crimson ; older leaves bright green,
pale beneath ; broad elliptic or ovate elliptic, 3—8 inches long, 2—3
inches broad ; base often unequal ; the lower margin of the leaf tapering
as it approaches the petiole, and finally merges into the upper margin of
the petiole, leaving the petiole slightly grooved on the ventral aspect.
Apex of the leaf obtuse, retuse usually ; sometimes acuminate, especially
in the larger leaves ; margin of the leaf entire ; main lateral nerves
arcuate, prominent, 58 on either side of the midrib ; often reddish,

Prriote.—Roundish, longer than 4 length of the leaf. The tree
sheds its leaves from January to March.

FLowers.—Small ; male and hermaphrodite mixed on solitary
simple spikes which are sometimes erect, sometimes bent, sometimes
drooping ; spikes 3—6 inches long, arising from the axils of fresh
leaves just before or about the same time as the year’s tender leaves
shoot out. Sometimes the spikes shoot out from below the insertion

Journ. Bomb. Nat.Hist.Soc :

al

late

ae
i
oF

Isaac Benjamin del, Mintern Bros, Chromo lith. London.

THE POISONOUS PLANTS OF BOMBAY.
Terminal belerica Nat.Ord. Combretacese.

a

THE POISONOUS PLANTS OF BOMBAY, 224.

of the fresh leaf ; not unfrequently from either above or below the
cicatrix at the insertion of the previous year’s leaf. The flowers and
foliage appear about the commencement of the hot weather. They can
be seen in their full beauty in April and May. Roxburgh and Brandis
condemn the flowers as of a dirty grey or greenish-yellow colour, but
although they may be unattractive from a distance on account of their
diminutive size or entire absence of petals, and positively repulsive on
account of the offensive odour as they open, their bright yellow anthers
and the crimson streaks on the calyx, variegated with the soft down
inside and outside the calyx, as clearly seen even under an ordinary
magnifying glass, are by no means unattractive ; at any rate they are
not suggestive of any dirtiness in appearance. The offensive smell
resembles that of Sterculia fatida or of Sterculia guttata. Male
flowers are usually to be seen on the upper part of the spikes ; they
are sessile. The hermaphrodite flowers are chiefly confined to the
lower part of the spike. They have short pedicels. Bracts linear ;
very early caducous ; of a brownish colour ; not seen at the base of the
topmost flowers of the spikes. Sometimes two or three flowers arise
from the same point or base on the spike.

Catyx.—Deciduous ; free part of the calyx cup-shaped, cleft half
way into five triangular segments, woolly inside with long whitish-
crimson. hair ; the hair outside is short.

AdstivatioN—Valvate. Calyx-tube of the hermaphrodite flowers
above the ovary, with a campanulate mouth; segments of calyx
pointed slightly backwards, z.e., towards the dorsal surface.

JOROLLA.—Absent.

Stamens.—10,

FILAMENTS :—5 short, 5 long, arranged alternately, inserted
below the calyx-segments ; the larger ones twice the length
of the calyx. In the hermaphrodite flowers there is an
epigynous brownish disc between the stamens and pistil, densely
hairy. The upper part of the filaments curves over the top
part of the anther as it thins out into the connective,

AnTHERS.—Bright yellow, bold, slightly reniform with convexity
on its ventral surface ; consisting of two distinet loculi sepa-
rated. below, uniting at the connective ; bursting longitudinally,

The loculi are joined to the connective at their topmost part
on their dorsal surface,

225 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

PisTIL :—

Sryiu.—Slender, filiform, tapering atithe apex to half the size it
has near the ovary, projecting slightly beyond the filaments.

Strema.—Simple, a mere depression at the apex, turning brown
about the time the anthers burst and throw out their ample,
impalpable offensive-smelling pollen.

Ovary.—Inferior, coherent with the tube of the calyx, 1-celled,
always tomentose.

Ovu.E.—Pendulous from the apex of the cavity.

Frurr.—DeCandolle, Roxburgh, Wight and Arnott, Dymock, Lyon,
&e., all agree in calling the fruit a “ Drupe.” Clarke in Hooker’s
Flora of British India discards this name. A drupe, according to the
signification assigned to the term by modern Botanists, is morphologi-
cally a different fruit; and accustomed as I am to the arrangement
and terminology of Bentley as regards Fruits, I think that the fruit
of Terminalia bellerica being inferios cannot strictly be called a drupe,
which is a superior mono-carpellary fruit, that is to say, formed of a
single flower, the ovary of which is made up of a single carpel. Clarke
calls it drupaceous, and. that is a more accurate term for it, The fruit
is fleshy, indehiscent, 4+-—# inch in diameter, ovoid, grey or tan-
coloured, velvety when young, turning into reddish or deep buff-
colour as it matures, with five more or less distinct furrows # to 1
inch long. The skin becomes coriaceous as the fruit grows older ;
epicarp and mesocarp shrivel as the fruit dries up after it is detached
from the parent tree. The fruit ripens during the cold season, It is
so persistent that the fruit which ripened last cold weather can even
now be seen in the jungles in the middle of May on the trees just as
they are throwing out the fresh foliage and flower-stalks of the current
season.

Nout.—Thick and hard, rough, irregularly coarse-grained, varying
from $—# inch in length ; }—4 inch at its broadest part, which is
about the middle.

SrErpD.—One, which constitutes the kernel in the nut, The nut
yields a bland oil and is sweet to taste.

ALBUMEN.—None, says Clarke, as also Roxburgh.

CoryLEpons.—Conyolute ; creamy white colour.

Empryo.—Inyerse, spiral.

THE POISONOUS PLANTS OF BOMBAY. 226

REMARKS,

By far the most accurate description I have seen of this plant is
that given by Brandis (p. 222, Forest Flora of North-West and
Central India). I have therefore tried to follow him and Wight and
Arnott as much as possible in the description given above, and the
remarks that are to follow.

There is one thing striking about the venation of the leaves of the
tree. Half-way between the midrib and the margin of the leaf, the
main lateral nerves on either side of the midrib suddenly swell out
into longish irregular nodules, assume a deeper crimson tint and
develop more abundant hair. This is more marked on the older
green leaves than on the earliest tender crimson ones, So far as I
am aware this peculiarity has not been specially noted by any observer
before.

The observation of Roxburgh, that there are two opposite glands on
the upper side of the apex of the petiole and sometimes near the base,
is not borne out by the experience of Wight and Arnott and Brandis.
I have myself failed to find the glands Roxburgh speaks of, although
I have examined several specimens in the plains and hills of Thana,
and at Matheran, Clarke, in Hooker’s Flora of British India, in
referring to the supposed occurrence of glands on the leaves of
Terminalia bellerica, says that they are often on the petiole, or near
the base of the midizb beneath. (The italics are mine.—K. R, K.)
When Clarke speaks of glands on midrib, and on the under-surface
of the leaf, just near the apex of the petiole, he was evidently thinking
of or had before him the leaf of An (Terminalia tomentosa) instead of
the leaf of Behedé (Terminalia bellerica). I have a specimen of each
of these plants before me as I am writing this paper.

DeCandolle says that the petioles are glabrous. Roxburgh also says
the leaves are glabrous. It is not so. The whole organ is essentially
tomentose ; so is the flewer ; so is the fruit. An ordinary magni-
fying glass is enough ,to show the fine, white or buff coloured hairs or
down on the petiole, midrib, nerves and their minuter ramifications ;
on the upper and under-surfaces of the leaf, several weeks after the
foliage appears. As the leaf gets. older and assumes a brighter green,
the down on the leaf shrivels. It may then disappear and perhaps the

oldest and most mature leaves may appear glabrous. That is the only
5 .

227 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

way I can account for the statements of DeCandolle and Roxburgh. |
The down on the petioles is distinctly of a crimson or coppery tint.

Roxburgh further observes that “ the Natives do not use any part
of the fruit of Terminalia bellerica in medicine.” This remark
appears to be based on scanty information. As a matter of fact,
Beheda is one of the commonest articles used not only by learned
Himdu Vaidyas and native practitioners of all sorts, but also as an
ordinary domestic remedy. It is well known to the natives that
Triphala is a panacea for all kinds of ailments,

_ Lriphalé is a combination of three fruits, wz. :—
firdé—Terminalia chebula,
Beheda— Terminalia bellerica,
Awalé—Phyllanthus emblica,
vide p. 44, Ark-Prakash, vol. 3, Nighanta Ratnakar.

These are pounded together, and used in the shape of a powder,
decoction, or cold infusion, They are valuable for the large quantity
of tannin they contain. They are valuable as astringents when given
in combination, The mixture, however, acts as a laxative in children,
It is generally known to give tone to the intestinal canal. It must be
remembered that the part of the fruits used medicinally is the rind, not
the pulp, as is wrongly said, for there is no pulp strictly so-called on any
of these nuts covering the hard kernel. The kernel of the nut is never
used medicinally. It is eaten for its sweet taste, sometimes in large
quantities, as many as twenty-five being swallowed at a time without
harm. I have heard from several reliable sources that the kernel is
harmless. From other sources equally reliable I hear that if the
kernel is eaten in large quantities it acts as an intoxicant. But of
this more hereafter. Brandis says that the fruit of Behedd is a
favourite food of monkeys, deer, sheep, goats and cattle. The taste of
the rind of the fruit is astringent. The taste of the kernel is like that
of its congener Baddm (Terminalia catappa). There is no evidence
of the kernel of TT. catappa ever having produced intoxi-
cation, eat what quantity of it you like. It is the tannin in the
rind of the fruit that gives Behedd its commercial value in common
with its congener the Hirdd, as an important ingredient, largely used
in and out of India for dyeing cloth and leather and for tanning.
Beheda is also known in the Konkan by the name of Yelyé.

THE POISONOUS PLANTS OF BOMBAY. 228

An insipid gum of brown colour exudes from wounds in the bark of
fT. belleriea, in vermicular pieces, about the thickness of the
finger. “ It is hardly at all soluble,” says Dr. Dymock, “ in water,
in which it swells up and forms a bulky gelatinous mass.” Rox-
burgh’s statement, that the gum is soluble in water, is nearer the truth.
I have verified it myself and have just at this minute a specimen of
the gum in water, and I find it is as easily soluble as the ordinary gum
arabic, Dr. Dymock was not able to verify from personal observa-
tion the statement of Drury that the gum burns like a candle. From
my own experience I can say that it does burn and continues to burn
with a pale reddish flame, and with a spurt and a flash now and then,
swelling the whole mass out and leaving a charred residue. I have
tried the experiment just this minute on a fresh’ bit of gum obtained
from a bark wounded only yesterday, Perhaps Dr. Dymock’s speci-
men of gum was old and dry, and had got rid of its inflammable
material in the process of drying, as is but natural to suppose.

Wight and Arnott observe in their Prodromus that “the tree
known as Terminalia moluccana of Roxburgh and probably of Blume
(but not of Lamarck) is allied to T. bellerica. It has precisely the
same kind of fruit and male flowers, but the petioles are short, giving
quite a different aspect to the plant.” |

The flowers of 7. bellerica are of offensive odour as I have
already stated above. I have alluded to an incident at Thana regard-
ing this offensive odour in a Lecture on Indian Flowers I delivered
last year before the Sassoon Mechanics Institute of Bombay. Extracts
from this Lecture have already appeared in the last number of the
Society’s Journal wherein the incident is mentioned. I need not
therefore repeat it here.

THE POISONOUS PROPERTIES.

The kernel of the seed of Behedd is narcotic in its action. Dr,
Lyon refers in his Medical Jurisprudence (p. 222) to two sets of cases
of accidental poisoning by it. One set of cases he quotes from Dr.
Norman Chevers’ Medical Jurisprudence as recorded by Mr. C, EF.
Raddock, Sub-Assistant Surgeon of the Malwa Bheel Corps, wherein
three boys are mentioned as having suffered from poisonous symptoms
after eating some of the dry nuts. They all recovered however.
The symptoms in two of the boys were drowsiness, headache, sickness

229 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, VIII.

at stomach and free vomiting of a thick white frothy mucus. With
regard to the third boy, who was weakly and seven years old, the
symptoms were more severe. Briefly stated, they were as follows :—
Total insensibility ; heart’s action frequent and weak; legs cold, eyes
rather glistening, and pupils normal but fixed; jaw firmly closed.
This boy had eaten the largest quantity, it is said between 20 to 30
kernels, He is said to have played all day and night before going
to bed. He showed no symptoms of poisoning till the following
morning, when he was found insensible. Notice in these cases the
long time that it took for the poisonous symptoms to show themselves.
In the first two boys they did not appear till about eight hours after,
and in the third boy not even in twelve hours.

The other set of cases referred to by Dr. Lyon are from the
Bombay Chemical Analyser’s Report (1878-79, p. 14), in which a
woman and two children, one of whom was a weakly girl of eight or
nine years, were poisoned. Of these, the girl died and the two others
recovered. The symptoms were nausea and yomiting followed by
narcotism, Dr, Lyon observes that it is not known to what these
narcotic properties are due. In a collection of old Sanskrit obser-
vations on Indian drugs recently edited by Mr. R. 8. Lale under the
name of Guna Dosha-Prakdsh (1892, p. 185) the kernel of Behedd
is referred to as intoxicating. O’Shaughnessy seems to have heard of
this property.

From all accounts I have hitherto received, it appears probabie that
the eating of the kernel affects different individuals differently. In
some it produces intoxication ; in others it is harmless even in large
quantities. This reminds one of the effect of a variety of Arecha
catechu or Supdér2 nut, known as Méjri Supéri has on different
individuals, d/djr2 means “ intoxicating.” True to its name in some,
Majri Supéri unmistakably produces giddiness, nausea, hiccup ; where-
as in others it is perfectly harmless.

In the printed Proceedings of the Grant Medical College Society for
the year 1880 (ude Part No. 8, p. 71) there is an abstract of an
interesting paper recording a case of poisoning by the kernel of
Behedé seed, which occurred in the practice of Dr. Tribhuvandas
M. Shah, L.M., then Assistant Surgeon at Ahmedabad, now Chief
Medical Officer of Junagadh State. Dr, Tribhuyandas is one of the

THE POISONOUS PLANTS OF BOMBAY. 230

most accomplished Medical Graduates of the Bombay University.
He is as careful a clinical observer as he is a skilful and facile
operator. I cannot, therefore, do better than give in full, with his
kind permission, the abstract of his notes as published by the Grant
College Medical Society :--“ A child, about five years of age, was
brought one morning into the Hospital in an insensible condition, the
parents stating that the child had eaten some of the kernels of the
nut the previous evening. The parents were dyers and used the nuts
for dyeing clothes black ; the pericarp was used by them while the
kernels were thrown away. The Natives are well aware of the
effects produced by the eating of the kernels, About half a pound
of the nuts will be eaten before they produce narcotic effect in an
adult ; the effect is not rapid but takes several hours before it is
exhibited. The child had apparently gone to bed all right and in the
morning was found quite insensible. When seen she was totally
unconscious, the pupils were of natural size, the cornea was insensible
to touch, breathing was stertorous, body of natural temperature, pulse
somewhat frequent, jaws partially locked.’’ Hmetics, stimulants and
other remedies were administered. The child, however, died of
convulsions within half an hour from the time they set in. A post
mortem examination was made two hours after death. Herein lies
the value of this paper. The stomach was found somewhat congested
and contained some greenish black grumous fluid ; the intestines and
all the other organs were found natural.

The question that strikes me is :—Is it that the symptoms of intoxi-
cation or narcotism may be due to small quantities of Hydrocyanic
acid developed in the kernel of some of the fruits of Behedd? I
leave the question to be solved by practical Pharmacologists and
Chemical Analysers.

Descriprion oF Puate H,

1. The tender branchlet of T. bellerica with flower-spikes in bud
and blossom.

2. The fruit of 7. bellerica on the previous year’s apical branchlet

3, A transverse section through the middle of the fruit. The
outermost brown line showing the downy epicarp ; the green layer
indicating the mesocarp which contains tannin, and which alone is
used medicinally ; the next yellowish layer represents the irregular
hard nut. The central white mass represents the kernel.

231 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIIT.

LIST OF BIRDS NOTED AT ADEN AND ITS VICINITY.

By Ligut. H. HE. Barnes, M.3.0.U., F.Z.8,

1, Gyps fulvus, Gm. ... Griffon Vulture.

2. Neophron percnopterus, Linn. ... Egyptian Vulture.

3. Falco peregrinus, Tunst. ... Peregrine Falcon.

4, Falco barbarus, Linn. .-» Barbary Falcon.

5. Tinnunculus alaudarius, Gm, ... Kestrel.

6. Accipiter nisus, Linn. .-. Huropean Sparrow Hawk.
7. Aquila chrysaétos, Linn. ... Golden Eagle.

8. Aquila imperialis, Bechst. .-. Imperial Eagle.

9. Pandion haliaétus, Linn. ... Osprey.

10. Haliaétus leucogaster, Gm. _... White-bellied Sea Hagle,
11. Melierax polyzonus, Rupp. _ ...

12. Milvus egyptius, Gm. ... Hgyptian Kite.

13, Hlanus coeruleus, Desf. ... Black-winged Kite,
14. Strix flammea, Linn. .. Barn Owl.

15. Carine, sp. ine. --. Owlet, sp.

16. Scops giu, Scop. ... European Scops Owl.
17. Hirundo rustica, Linn. ... Chimney Swallow.
18. Cotyle obsoleta, Cab. ... Pale Crag Martin.
19. Cypselus, sp. ine. ... Swift, Sp.

20. Caprimulgus, sp. ine. ... Goatsucker, sp.

21. Merops cyanophrys,Cab, et Heine Bee-eater, sp.

22. Merops persicus, Pall. ... Hgyptian Bee-eater,
23. Merops, sp. inc. ... Bee-eater, sp.

24, Coracias garrulus, Linn. . ... European Roller.
25. Coracias abyssinicus, Bodd. _... Long-tailed Roller.
26. Halcyon semi-cceruleus, Fors, ... Arabian King-fisher.
27. Cuculus canorus, Linn. .-» Cuckoo,

28. Coccystes, sp. inc. ... Crested Cuckoo,
29. Centropus, sp. inc. ... Coucal.

30, Nectarinia metallica, Licht. ... Arabian Sunbird,
31, Upupa epops, Linn. .». Hoopoe.

32. Lanius lahtora, Sykes. ... Grey Shrike.

35, Lanius nubicus, Licht. ... Nubian Shrike.

34, Lanius, sp. ine. ... Shrike, sp.

35, Hypocolius ampelinus, Bp. ... Grey Hypocolius.
36. Terpsiphone paradisi, Linn. ... Paradise Fly-catcher.
3%, Muscicapa grisola, Linn, ... Spotted Grey Fly-catcher,
38. Monticola cyanus, Linn. ... Blue Rockthrush,
39. Cercotrichas melanoptera, Hemp
and Ehr. ... Blue-winged Chat-thrush,

Turtur risorius, Linn.

BIRDS OF ADEN AND ITS VICINITY.

Argya, sp. ine.

Pycnonotus arsinoe, Hemp and

Ehr,

Pyenonotus xanthopygus, Hemp
.. Yellow-vented Bulbul.
..- Golden Oriole.
... Wheatear.
.. Chat.
.. Siberian Chat.

and Ehr.
Oriolus galbula, Linn.
Saxicola “cenanthe, Linn.
Saxicola stapazina, Vieill
Saxicola pleschanka, Lep.
Myrmecocichla melanura, Tem..
Ruticilla, sp. inc.
Prinia, sp. ine.
Phylloscopus, sp. inc.
Motacilla alba, Linn.
Motacilla feldegoi, Michah
Corvus culminatus, Sykes
Corvus corax, Linn.
Dilophus carunculatus, Gm.

Hstrelda rufibarba, Cab.
Nuroloncha, sp. inc.
Passer, sp. inc.
Pyrrhulauda melanauchan, C ab.
Alauda cristata, Linn.
Alcemon desertorum, Stan.
Mirafra, sp. inc.

Treron, sp. inc.

Columba livia, Bonn.
Turtur senegalensis, Linn.

fina capensis, Linn.
Pterocles exustus, Tem.
Pterocles lichtenstemi, Tem.

Caccabis chukar, J. E. Gray.

Coturnix communis, Bon.
Coturnix delegorguei, Deleg.
Turnix lepurana, Smith
Kupodotis arabs, Linn.
Houbara macqueeni, J. H. Gr..
Cursorius, sp. inc,

Squatarola helvetica, Linn.
Charadrius pluvialis, Linn.

232

. Babbler, sp.
. Hemprich’s Bulbul.

Black-tailed Rock-Chat.

... Redstart, sp.
.-, Warbler, sp.
..» Willow Warbler, sp.
... White Wagtail.
... Black-headed Wagtail.
.. Jungle Crow.
... Raven,
.. Wattled Starling, sp.
Hyphantornis galbula, Riipp. ...

Golden Weaver-Bird.

.. Red-shafted Wax-bill.
e Munia, sp.

.. Sparrow, sp.

Black-crowned Finch-Lark.

... Crested Lark.

.. Desert Lark,

..- Bush Lark, sp.

... Green Pigeon, sp.

... stock Dove.

.. Little Brown Dove.

... Ring Dove.

.-. Long-tailed Dove.

... Common Sand-Grouse.

.. Lichtenstein’s Sand-Grouse.
Caccabis melanocephala, Riipp...

Large Black-headed Chukor.

... Chukor Partridge.
Ammoperdix bonhami, Fraser...

Seesee Partridge.

... Common Quail.

.-- Quail, sp.

.. Button Quail, sp.
.. Arabian Bustard.

. Houbara Bustard.

... Courser, sp.
.». Grey Plover.
-» Golden Plover.

CEdicnemus scolopax, 8. G. Gm. Stone Curlew.

AXgialitis mongolica, Pall.
AXgialitis cantiana, Lath,

.. Pallas’ Shore Plover.

.» Kentish Plover.

238 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, vii,

83, 4

86,
ST *
88
89,
90,
91,
92,

. *

Strepsilas interpres, Linn,
Dromas ardeola, Payk.
Hoomatopus ostralogus, Linn,
Gallinago ovlestis, Preis)
‘Terekia cinerea, Guild,
Numenius arquata, Linn,
Numenius pheopus, Linn.
Tringa alpina, Lina,

Tringa minutia, Leisl.
Calidris arenaria, Linn,
Tringoides hypeleucas, Linn,
Helodromas oohropus, Linn,
Totanus catidris, bane.
Crex pratensis, Beohst,
Ardea cinerea, Linn,

Ardea alba, Linn,

Ardea, sp. inc,

Awtea asha, Sykes

Anteola podiceps, Bp.
Platalea loucoredia, Bico.
This, sp. ine,

Pheonicopterus resens, Linn,
Anas bosehas, Linn,
Querquedula erecea, Linn,
Querquedula cireia, Linn,
Podiceps nigricallis, Boehm,
Padiinus persicus, Hume.
Larus, sp, ine,

Taras ichthyadtus, Pall,
Lares branneicephalus, Jerd,
Lares ridibundus, Lina,
Larus hemprichi, Bp.
Sterna albigena, Reich.
Sterna minutia, Linn,
Sterna bergi, Ticht.

Sterna media, Horst

Sterna anastheta, Seap.
Sterna fuliginasa, Gn,
Phadton indicus, Hume.
Sula fiber, Tin.

Pelecanns onocrotalus, Linn,
Phalacrocorax, sp. Ine,

vv Curnstone,

wa Crab Plover.

ws Oyster-Cateher,

... Common Snipe.

. Avocet Sandpiper,
vos Carlow,

ves Whimbrel,

vv, Dulin,

.. Little Sting,

wa Sanderling.

.. Common Sandpiper,
.. Green Sandpiper.
wa Redshank,

.. Land Rail.

_.. Cemmorn Heron.

.. Large White Heron,
wv. Egret, sp.

ww Ashy Egret.

es

s+ Spoonbill,

va Tis, sp.

wa. Flamingo,

. Mallard.

.. Common Teal.

.. Blue-winged Teal.

ws. Black-necked Grebe,
.» Persian Shearwater,
... Black-baeked Gull, sp.
... Great Black-headed Gull.
.. Brown-headed Gull.
.. Laughing Gull.

.« Hemprich’s Gull,

a» White-cheeked Tern.
.. Little Tern,

ss Large Sea Tern.

ws Lesser Sea Tern.

.. Panayan Tern.

x. Sooty Tern.

.«. Indian Tropic Bird,
=. Booby. 4.

.. Ruropean Pelican.

... Brown Cormorant, sp.

JOURN: BOMBAY

NEW SPECIES OF MARINE SHELLS FROM BOMBAY ;

Drawn ¢ Litho: Govt Phototincs: Office Poona (693, ‘ a

234

DESCRIPTION OF TWENTY-FIVE NEW SPECIES OF
MARINE SHELLS FROM BOMBAY, COLLECTED BY
MR. ALEXANDER ABERCROMBIE.*

By James Cosmo MELVILL, M.A., F.L.S.

Mornrx (OcINEBRA) BOMBAYANUS, sp. nov. (PI. 1, f. 1.)

M. testa fusiformi, ochraceo-cinered, syvamata, apice acto, anfractibus
septem vel oclo, angulato-cestatis, ultimo anfractu varicibus octo, in
medio trinis angulorum ordinibus lrasversim succincto, apertura ovato-
oblonga, pallescente, labro intus denticulato, canali brevi.

Long. spec. typ. 31 mill.

Lat. 16 mill.

Hab. Bombay, common along the coast (A. Abercrombie, Herford,
W. T. Blanford) (in Mus. Brit.). Ratnagiri (A. Abercrombie),

Hyvidently a very abundant species, and in all probability extending
some way both North and South of Bombay. The largest of the many
specimens I have seen measures 35 millimetres longitudinally. It isa
very uniform species in all stages of its growth, and would appear to
have been confounded with M. luculentus (Reeve). Its nearest ally,
however, would seem to be WV. cristatus (Brocchi) from the Mediter-
ranean, from which, however, it is quite distinct. Some specimens are
pale yellow, with faint brown transverse fascia.

PLEUROTOMA (CLAVUS) PRAICLARA, sp. nov. (Pl. 1, f. 2.)

P. testé pyramidato-fusiform, percrassd, pallidé ochraced, anfracti-
bus septem vel octo, ad suturas valide impressis, longitudinaliter obliqué
pluricostatis, transversim regulariter lirates, apertura oblonga simplice,
labro exteriore in medio crassiusculo, canal brevissimd, margine colux
mellart obliqui-planato.

Long. 44 mill.

Ibe 1G

Hab. Bombay, up the coast (Abercrombie),

A large, conspicuous species, of which all the specimens before us are
somewhat worn : not sufficiently so, however, as to eftace the sculpture,

From P. atkinsoni (Smith), crenularis (am.), flavidula (Lam.) it is
quite distinct, beg more allied to the smaller sacra (Reeve) in my
opinion, and a member of the sub-genus Cluvus rather than Drillia,

* Reprinted from the Memoirs and Erocerdings of the Manchester inet and
Philosophical Society.

10

235 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

As Tryon, however, rightly observes, the subgenera allotted to the
larger Plewrotome are not always very well defined.
Purpura (STRAMONITA) BLANFORDI, sp, nov. (PI. 1, f. 8.)

P. test ovato-fusiformi, crassd, cinereo-curned, anfraciibus quinque,
longitudinaliter tubereulato-costatis, undique transversim regulariter et
arclé liratosulcatis, costis in medio conspicud unangulatis, ultimo anfractu
bind serie tuberculato, apertura ovatd, carned, lubro eatus biunguluto
intus denticuluto, margine columellari recto, semplice.

Long. 27 mill.

eta LS 25

Hab. Pombay and Ratnagiri (A. Abercrombie, Herford, and also
W. T. Blanford) (in Brit. Mus.), Kurrachee (Brit. Mus.), (Bl-njord).

This species would appear common upon the rocks of the West Coast
of India. We have seen specimens from Kurrachee, and believe the
small shell occurs in Ceylon.

‘he two specimens collected by Mr. Abercrombie, one of which is
figured, are the only ones I have seen quite perfect as regards comple-
tion of growth. In size it assimilates P. tdssot: (Pet.), with which, also
abundant on these shores, it has been confounded. It is easily to be
differentiated, since it does not possess the deep bisulcate transverse
grooving of P. tissoti, nor the revolving raised ridges with small
nodules equi-distant thereupon.

RictnuLa (SisTRUM) SUBNODULOSA, sp. nov. (Pl. 1, f. 6.)

R, testd turritd, fusiformi, solidd, apice acuto, anfractibus octo vel
novem, in medio angulatis, transversim syuamato-corrugatis ultimo an-
fractw bino ordine nodulogso, et infra, duobus minoribus ordinibus nodulo=
rum succincto, uperturd oblonga livida, labro extus anguluto, intus livido
denticuluto, margine columellari recto,

Hab. Bombay. (Abercrombie, Herford.)

Long. spec. typ. 20 mill.

Lat. 9°20 mill. .

Bearing a little resemblance to the West Indian &. nodulosa (C. B.
Adams), but the black rows of nodules stand out more prominently
upon a lighter ground, the interstices between which on the last whorl
-give a semblance of a fascia. The shell is also more elongate than R.
nodulosa, One of Mr. Herford’s specimens is larger than usual (23
mil].), the smallest with lip perfect, only 11 mill., but the essential
characters are preserved in each,

NEW SPECIES OF MARINE SHELLS, 236

RicinuLA (SISTRUM) KONKANENSIS, sp. nov. (Pl. 1, f. 5.)

R, testa pyramidato-fusiformi, solidd, livido cinered, apice attenuato,
acuto, anfractibus quingue-sex, longitudinaliter plicato-costatis, trans-
versim nigro-hodulosis, interstitis transversim squamulosis, apertura
ovata cinered, labro extus muriculato, intus denticulato, margine colu-
mellari recto.

Long. 29 mill.

Tata Loe

Hab. Bombay (Blanford, Abercrombie, Sc. ).

Not unfrequent, Has been hitherto confounded, judging from the
specimens in the National collection, with R. affinis and R. (Sistrum)
concatenata (Reeve).

RICINULA (SIsTRUM) XUTHEDRA, sp. nov. (Pl. 1, f. 4.)

R. testa fusiformi, solidd, leté flavida, anfractibus sex, longitudinaliter
costatis, costis ulbonodulosis, transversim inter costas t:nuiliratis,
aperturd albé, ovatd, labro intus denticulato, apud marginem columel-
larem trinoduloso.

Long. 15 mill.

cite Oke

Hub, Ratnagiri (A. Abercrombie).

A beautiful yellow-ochraceous species, with longitudinal white no-
duled ribs, mouth ovate, white, outer lip denticulated within, and two
or three nodules on the columellar margin. A form on the border-
land between Sistrum and Lingina. Four specimens,

ENGINA ZEA, sp. nov. (Pl. J, f. 7.)

EE. testa conico-pyramidal:, solidiuscula, apice acuto, anfractibus oct,
transversim nodulis nitidis variegatis arcte accinctis, interstitiis duplict
vel-triplict striatosulcatis, ultimo anfractu longitudinaliter costiplicato
in medio transversim albizonato, aperturé ovato-trigonali, ad basin an-
gusta, labro externo incrassato, variegato, intus liratv, et upud marginem
columellurem crassi-striato.

Long. 18 mill.

Watt: G- a0

Hab. Bombay (A, Abercrombie). There are also specimens in Mus,
Brit., collected by Mr, W. T. Blanford, ¥.n.s., from the same locality,

This species has apparently been confounded with Z. armillata
(Reeve), from which it differs both in form and marking. I have had

_ 237 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII,

specimens for more than twenty years lying unnamed in my collection
and there are others, likewise unnamed, in the British Museum.

_ It is a conical, sharp-pointed little shell, acutely broad in the middle
giving a quadrate appearance to its contour, becoming rapidly attenuate
at both ends. Round the centre of the last whorl runs a conspicuous
white median band, formed of white transverse nodules, the rest of the
surface of the shell being nodulous, and variegated brown and white.

The mouth is triangular-ovate, outer lip exteriorly variegated, inner
with small white ridges, and on the columellar margin are several raised
short white ridges.

The similarity to grains of maize (Zi#) suggested the trivial name.

CoLuMBELLA (MIrRELLA) FLAVILINEA, sp. nov. (PI. 1, f. 8.)

C. testa tenut, levi, anfractibus sex vel septem, ad suturas subcom-
pressis, transversim lineis angustis flavidis, hic tlic speciminibus quibus-
dam interruptis, in aliis continuts, conspicué decoratis ; apertura oblonga,
labro exteriore paullum angulato, intus stmplice, levi.

Long. 5 mill.

Lat, 2°50 ,,

Hab. Bombay (Abercrombie).

Not uncommon ; allied to C. marquesa (Gaskoin), of which one good
specimen was also found in shell sand from the same locality. The
shell is small, smooth, ornamented with painting of narrow, usually
continuous, but in some specimens interrupted, yellow lines. Several
examples. .

CoLUMBELLA (MITRELLA) EUTERPE, sp.nov. (PI. 1, f. 9.)

C. testa attenuata, fusiform, tenu, subpellucidd, levi, anfractibus
septem, infrd suturas ochraceoflammulates et albomaculatis, ultimo
anfractu in medio angusté albo-lineato infra arcté brevibus flammis
ochraceis decorato, apertura angusté oblonga, labro simplice.

Long. 6 mill.

Lat. 2°50 ,,

Hab. Bombay (Abercrombie).

A very few specimens, and those mostly imperfect, have occurred of
this little Mctrella. Its whorls, seven in number, and quite smooth,
are ornamented with flame-like zigzag markings at the sutures, and
extending over the whorls, also ornamented with opaque white marks
and blotches. In the last whorl there is a pale median transverse line

NEW SPECIES OF MARINE SHELLS. 238

caused by the cessation of the above-mentioned flammulate markings,
which recommence, however, below, towards the base, in many thin,
almost straight, yellow lines. Mouth simple, narrowly oblong,

MARGINELLA (GIBBERULA) MAZAGONICA, sp. nov. (PI. 1, f. 10.)

M., testa ovato-conicd, parva, subpellucida, levi, anfractibus quatuor,
apice obtuso, ultimo anfractu rapidé accrescente, apertura angustd, ob-
longa, labro exteriore intus denticulato, columelld, quadriplicata.

Long. 3 mill.

Tateiecaietes

Hab. Bombay. (A. Abercrombie). Very abundant.

A short stout conical little species, of ivory whiteness, and quite
smooth, lip denticulate within, and columellar four-plaited. Allied to
M. minuta (Pfr.) and M. lavalleana (D’Orb.), with neither of which
it seems exactly to correspond.

SoLARIuM (TORINIA) DELECTABILE, sp. nov. (PI. 1, f. 11.)

S. testa parva, profundé umbilicata, depresso conicd albescente, deli-
catuld, subpellucidd, anfractebus quatuor, gradatulis, ultimo rapidé acere-
scente, undique transversim arcté albo-gemmulatis, imterstitiis sub lente
obliquostriatis, circa umbilicum bino gemmularum ordine majorum, niten-
téum, diposito apertura tenut, labro simplice, fimbriato, subrotundo, apud
marginem columellarem reflexo.

Long. 2°50 mill.

Lat. 3 mill.

Hab, Bombay (Abercrombie).

Two or three specimens of an unusually lovely little semi-transparent
white species, occurring in shingle and shell sand from Bombay. The
form is depresso-conical, white beaded, wonderfully closely obliquely
striated at the interstices between the beading ; this is not distinguish-
able without a lens, ‘The umbilicus has two rows of beads around it,
one large with coarser gemmulz, very shining ; the other with smaller
and more delicate granulation. Mouth thin, round, fimbriate, reflexed
at the columellar margin.

[N.B.—Another species of Solarium (Torinia), probably new, oc-
curred with the above, allied to S. wrgatum (Hinds). This species is
white, very depressed, quadrate, with similar transverse raised beading ;
at the periphery the gemmule are larger and coarser, as also in the
last row nearest the umbilicus at the base. Mouth simple, quadrate,

239 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII

Apparently quite a young shell. I have provisionally named it
S. homalawis, but await further specimens before atitempting a full
description.

Long. 1 mill.

Lat. 2°50. ,,

Hab, Bombay |.

AMATHIS FILIA, sp, nov. (Pl. 1, f. 14.)

A, testé aciculato-fusiformi, albidd, turritd, semi-pellucente, nucleo apicis
vitreo, anfractibus septem, levibus, ad suturas gradatulis, impressis, infra
suturas interna lined plicarid circumambiente, apertura oblonga, labro
simplice, columella spiraliter uniplicata,

Long. 4 mill.

That, 1°20 ,,

Hab. Bombay (Abercrombie).

An attenuate shining white fusiform little species, allied to A. virgo
(Adams) from Japan ; the mouth is oblong, columella strong, spirally
plaited. The whorls are turreted, smooth, semi-pellucid, with the
internal plica showing through as a transverse clouded line just below
the sutures, Two or three specimens only.

OscILLA TORNATA, sp, nov. (Pl. 1, f. 12.)

[ Oscilla tornata, Arthur Adams MSS. inedit. ]

O. testd fusiform, albidd, anfractibus septem, apud suturas profundeé
canaliculatis, transversim tricostatis, costis binis infra suturas, parvo sul-
culo intercepto, tertid costa ab his a canalt profundd divisd, sicut apud
suturas, aperturd ovata, albida, subpellucente, labro eaterno sulculoso ,
extus et intus, columellari conspicué et recté uniplicato.

Long, 3°10 mill. (sp. majoris).

liataeelcd Oe we

Hab. Bombay (Abercrombie).

This wonderful little transversely sulcate and grooved species has
some external resemblance to Irawadia trochlearis (W. T. Blanford),
but can be at once distinguished by the plicate columella. There are
four or five described species of this genus, mostly of Mr. Arthur
Adams’ naming, from Japan. In the Pritish Museum is a specimen,
also from Japanese seas, with the name as above, entirely comparable
with our shell. He does not seem to have ever described it, as was,

NEW SPECIES OF MARINE SHELLS 240

unfortunately, often his practice in his later years, especially amongst
these smaller and critical genera. The consequence has been to still
further render unsolved and difficult the nomenclature of these extremely
beautiful but very microscopic genera and species.

In O. tornata the transverse ribs are three in number, two below the
deeply-channelled sutures, followed by a similar deep groove, and
then a third transverse costa, just above the suture of the next whorl.

Three specimens obtained in shell sand. Very rare.

PYRGULINA CALLISTA. sp. nov. (PI. 1, f. 18.)

P. testa delicatuld, subpellucidd, attenuato-fusiformi, anfractibus sep-
tem, ad suturas profundé angulato-canaliculatis, lonyitudinaliter-costis
regularibus subobligué decoratis, interstitizs Levibus, ultimo anfractu infrd
suturas transversim fortiter unilirato, ad dorsum bino lirarum ordine,
apertura ovato-oblongd, labro quadratulo, ad marginem columellarem —
uniplicato.

Long. 4 mill.

Lat, 1°10 ,,

Hab. Bombay (Abercrombie).

One of the most exquisite little shells, so far as sculpture is concern-
ed, that it is possible to imagine. ‘Ihe shell is seven-whorled, deeply
angularly channelled at the sutures, with raised transverse bordor at
either end of the whorl, the borders joined by slightly oblique lirz,
smooth at the interstices, the last whorl having a conspicuous angular
transverse border line, and at the back of the shell another parallel to
this, the lip is subquadrate, and the columellar margin with a very
conspicuous plait. ;

Two or three specimens in shell sand. Very rare.

RissoINA (ZEBINA) APPLANATA. sp. nov. (PI. 1, f. 16.)

R. testa albé, nitidd, sublevi, fusiformi, apice obtuso, anfractibus sea,
convexiusculis, longitudinaliter obscurissimé costulatis, aperturd ovatd,
abro paullum incrassato, stmplice.

Long. 5 mill.

Recrte, Ive

Hab, Bombay (Abercrombie).

A small smooth white species, allied, no doubt, to R, (Zebina) sublevi-
gata of Neyill from the Andaman Islands, but apparently differing in

241 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

being indistinctly longitudinally costulate, whilst the R. sublevigata is
virtually smooth.

Rie RIssoA .VERSOVERANA, sp. nov. (PI. 1, f. 15.)

R. testé parva, delicatuld, ovato-oblongd, semipellucente, anfractibus
sex, ventricosis, ad suturas impressis, longitudinaliter subobliqué costatis,
ad basem anfractis ultimi feré obliteratis, transversim tenualiratis, aper-
turd rotunda, labro tenut, simplice.

Long. 2 mill.

Lat. 1°20 ,,

Hab. Bombay (Abercrombie).
A small, very abundant species in shell sand that we cannot find has
‘been characterized or described. The longitudinal costee at the base of
the last whorl are in most specimens only faint or entirely obliterated.
ALVANIA MAHIMENSIS, sp. nov. (Pl. 1, f. 17.)

A, testa oblonga, solidd, corrugatd, apice obtuso, anfractibus quinque vel
sex, longitudinaliter costulatis, costes transversim cancellatis, infra suturas
et ad basin ultimi anfractis rubrocoloratis, aperturd ovali, labro planu-
lato, incrassato.

_ Long, 2°75 mill,
pate 1502).

_ Hab. Bombay Mina.
ook pretty species of Alvania, being lightly longitudinally ribbed, with
transverse cancellations. Below the sutures there is a red transverse
band, which also. shows near the base of the last whorl ; the lip is
roundish-oval, solid, somewhat incrassate and flattened. Several speci-
mens.

NATICINA POMATIELLA, sp. nov. (PI. 1, f. 18.)

N. testa angusté sed profundé umbilicatéd, elevato-conica, subpellucida,
albidé, feré levt, anfractibus quinque, ad suturas canaliculatés, obscure
transversim liratulis, apertura ovata, labro simplice, apud umbilicum
paullum reflexo.

Long. 17 mill.

ate eens,

Hab. Bombay (Abercrombie).

A curious species, and with the form of Amauropsis canaliculata
(Gould). It is narrowly but deeply umbilicated, and apparently
smooth and white, but undera lens the surface is seen to be very

NEW SPECIES OF MARINE SHELLS. 242

delicately transversely grooved. This may be more apparent in a fresh
specimen, ours being rather worn shells. At the sutures there is a deep
channel ; the mouth is simple, white within.

One or two specimens ; rare.

CERITHIOPSIS (SEILA) BANDORENSIS, sp. nov. (PI. 1, f. 19.)

C. test attenuata, brunned, solidd, anfracttbus duodecim, ad apicem
pallidis, transversim quadriliratis, liris rotundis paullum diversis, majori-
bus minoribus alternantibus, vel binis cequalibus, tertid minore, aperturd
rotunda, labro simplice, margine columellari recto.

Long. 7 mill. (sp. maj.).

Matin:

Hab. Bombay (Abercrombie).

A plain brown transversely round-ribbed species, a little like Tele-
scopium fuscum in miniature as regards sculpture, but not so broad
proportionately as that species, being uniformly attenuate. The apex
is whitish, whorls about 12, transverse ribs somewhat varying in size
about four in a whorl,

Rare. ‘Two specimens only.

CYCLOSSTREMA SOLARIFLLUM, sp. nov. (PI. 1, f. 20.)

C. testa minutd, albescente, tenui, depressd, profundé umbilicatd, an-
fractibus quatuor, ultimo rapide accrescente, undique transversim tenui-
livatis, infra suturas binis gemmularum ordinibus decoratis, et ad basin
circé umbilicum similt modo bigemmulatis, apertura rotundo-ovatd, labro
sémplice.

Long. 0°50 mill.

ltatear Ww oOR

Hab. Bombay (Abercrombie).

A very small shell, with some of the aspect of a small Torinia ; it
also, to some extent, resembles C. tate: (Angas), from 8, Australia,
but the double row of gemmules on the lirze below the sutures, and at
the base, around the umbilicus, distinguish it from that species.

Not uncommon in shell sand.

Surely Cyclosstrema is neuter, being instituted by the late Captain
Marryat, R.N., the famous novelist (who added the study of the
Mollusca to his many other accomplishments), in 1817, as derived from
xixdos aNd renux, It has been considered feminine by most writers

and authors, including Captain Marryat himself.
1

243 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, VIII.

SIPHONARIA BASSEINENSIS, sp. nov. (PI. 1, f. 21).

S. testé subconicd, oblonga, tenut, levi, nigrobrunned, biradiatd, intus
brunned, ad marginem radiata.

Long. 9 mill. (sp. majoris).

Tats Gay oe

Hab. Bombay (Abercrombie).

A small subconical plain smoothish brown species, with biradiate
flames round the margin. I had thought this, of which very
numerous examples occur in Mr. Abercrombie’s collections, must be a
young form of some perhaps well-known species, but I am assured this
is not the case, Mr. Abercrombie having had unusual facilities for
studying the growth of the species, so very abundant all round the
Bassein and Mahim coasts. Mr, Edgar Smith also concurs in this
view, that it is a mature species, and different from the many already
described, though it presents no very important salient features.

RATA ABERCROMBIEI, sp. nov. (Pl. 1, f. 25).

A. testé pertenut, hyalind, lacted, oblongo-ovatd, postice rostrata,
antice ovata, gibbosuld, concentrice confertim undatoplicatd, tumescente,
cordatad, wmbonibus parvis.

Long. 23 mill.

fiat. 30. ,, ‘)

Hab. Bombay (Abercrombie).

A most beautiful, delicate, white papyraceous shell, concentrically
closely wave-ribbed, belonging to a small genus which I do not find
has hitherto been recorded from the shores of Hindostan, though a
nearly allied species, &. graye (A. Adams), is reported from Borneo.
From this shell A. abercrombie: differs in its more close and regular
transverse plications, and the greater delicacy of the shell. It would
be interesting if, in years to come, an intermediate form between the
two were discovered on either the Eastern coast of India, or in the
Malay Peninsula ; it is more than likely other species of this genus,
hitherto so restricted, will reward the collector. The type, &. canali-
culata (Gray), is extremely common on the sandy sea coasts of South
Carolina, and another larger and coarser species, 2. californica (Sowb.),
is an inhabitant of the Western coasts of the United States. A. pul-
chella (Ad. and Reeve), a very small and delicate form, occurs in the

NEW SPECIES OF MARINE SHELLS, 244,

Eastern Islands, and a few other species have been described, but are
hardly known.
TELLINA KOLABANA, sp. nov. (Pl. 1, f. 28).

T. testd ovata, albescente, solidiusculd, convexd, latere postico valde
bicarinato, antico oblongo, transversim concentrice liratd, apud umbones
Sere lav, flavo tinctd, postice aspera, usque ad marginem ventralem.

Lat. 27 mill.

one. hae.

Hab. Bombay (Abererombie).

A somewhat thickened shell, as 7. balthica (L.) ; white, yellow, or
orange-tinted at the umboes, convex, distinctly posteriorly bicarinated,
the concentric lire becoming very rough and distinct at the posterior
angle.

Rare ; only one or two specimens.

TELLINA (MRA) LECHRIOGRAMMA, sp, nov. (Pl. 1, f. 22).

T. testa albidd solidrusculd, donaciforme, postice abbreviatd, subobliqua,
anticé elongata, undique concentricé tenui-lirata, nitida.

Long. 14 mill.

Neate vor Genres

Hab. Bombay (Abercrombie).

Apparently not uncommon, but mostly in imperfect condition, half
valves only. It is like 7. pygmea (Phil.) in shape, but of thicker
consistency, pure shining white, very finely concentrically lirate,
posteriorly abbreviate, anteriorly elongate, with some of the appearance
of a Mesodesma or Donacilla.

THRACIA SALSETTENSIS, sp. nov. (PI, 1, f. 24).

T. testa pertenuz, oblonga, alba, postice flexuoso-quadrata et subrostrata,

antice ovato-oblongd, valvd sinistrd subplanatd, dextrd convexa, valvis

ambabus, presertim sinistra, plicis concentmicis undanter suceinctis posticé
fere applanatés,

Long. 36 mill.

Piatti S20 es

Hab. Bombay (Abercrombie).

A remarkably delicate semi-trapezoid species, of which numerous
single valves were found, but no quite perfect specimen. The left
valve is almost flattened, with a broad longitudinal depression, inclining,
posteriorly, almost down the centre of the left valve from the umbo,

@

245 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

the right being convex. Posteriorly in both valves, the shell is
quadratorostrate, anteriorly oblong, the transverse wavy plicee running
concentrically show this species to belong to that section of the genus
of which at present there are only, including this new species, four
representatives known to me, wiz.: ZT. magnifica (Jonas), ZT. plicata
(Desh.), and T. granulosa (Ad. and Reeve), the former of them being
Californian, the latter Eastern species.

NV.B.—The types of all the abovementioned new species have been
deposited in the Mus. Brit., South Kensington.

REFERENCES TO PLATE.

. Murex (Ocinebra) bombayanus (Melv.).

. Pleurotoma (Clavus) preclara (Melv.).

. Purpura (Stramonita) blanfordi (Melv.).
. Ricinula (Sistrum) xuthedra (Melv.).

» ( x ) konkanensts (Melv.).
» ( 5 ) subnodulosa (Melv.).
. Engina zea (Melv.).

. Columbella (Mitrella) flavilinea (Melv.).
s ( 4, ) euterpe (Melv.).

. Marginella (Gibberula) mazagonica (Melv.).
. Solarium (Torinia) delectabile {(Melv.).

. Oscilla tornata (A. Adams. sp. inedit) (Melv.).
» Pyrgulina callista {Melv.).

. Amathis filia (Melv.).

. Rissoa versoverana (Melv.).

. Rissoina (Zebina) applanata (Melv.).

. Alvania mahimensis (Melv.)

. Naticina pomatiella (Mely.).

19, Cerithiopsis (Seila) bandorensis (Melv.).
20. Cyclosstrema solariellum (Melv.).

21. Siphonaria basseinensis (Melv.),

22. Tellina (Mera) lechriogramma (Melv.).
23. » kolabana (Mely.).

24, Thracia salsettensis (Melv.).

25, Reia abercrombie: (Mely).

BOOM ND NP & WHE

—
LS)

SS =
oO ON FE

He
a

246

REVIEW.
* Tar TRAVELS OF PIETRO DELLA VALLE IN Inpra.

Pietro DELLA VALLE, a noble Roman, travelled much in Asia in
the early sixteen hundreds and wrote log-letters to his friend Dr,
Mario Schipano, of which he published those relating to the Ottoman
Empire himself and his sons those about Persia and India,

The present volumes contain only the eight letters about India, and
induce one to hope that the Hakluyt Society will some day give
us the others; for these before us fully justify the high praise
bestowed on the author by no less authorities than Gibbon, Southey,
and (a more competent judge than either) Sir Henry Yule.

Tn this place we can only deal with his remarks upon Natural His-
tory, chiefly botany.

Della Valle sailed from Gombroon, near what we now call Bandar
Abbas, on the 19th January, 1628, aboard “ the ship called The Whale,”
commanded by Captain Nicholas Woodcock, whose consort, as be-
fitted, was called The Dolphin, Master Matthew Willis. Of these ships
and their commanders it may be noted that they were cheerful and
hospitable. Captain Woodcock had a pair of Persian greyhounds on
board, and sometimes, when becalmed near land, took them ashore
for sport.

He had ranged as wide as his totem-bird, having sailed to Green-
land, and Della Valle greatly praises him as a navigator. Woodcock
showed him a “ chart or draught of the whole straight of Ormuz made
by himself with the highest exactness,” including shoal soundings,
And he held every day at noon a navigation class of “ twenty or thirty
mariners ; masters, boys (? masters’ boys, which seems more likely),
young men, and of all sorts.” The italics are the Reviewer’s. Some of
our sea-faring members may perhaps add a manuscript note of deserved
admiration. Della Valle does not spare his, and contrasts the English
practice strongly with the childish selfishness of the Portuguese pilots who
made their art a mysterious monopoly. “ This,” says he, “is the reason

that their ships frequently miscarry,” and goes on to say worse of the
i aE a

* The Travels of Pietro Della Valle in India from the old English translation
of 1664, by G. Havers; in two volumes. Edited, witha life of the author, an intro-
duction and notes, by Edward Grey, late B.C.8., London, Hakluyt Society, 1892.

247 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

degenerate countrymen of Henry the Navigator. But he has already
taken us too far out of our own province.

On board The Whale, however, he saw one thing there and here
appropriate—a bit of a narwhal’s tusk—which the wandering Wood-
vock had dug up in Greenland ; and we learn, casually, that Wood-
cock’s employers stood out for over £2,000 sterling for the whole tusk ;
but were disappointed, and only got, in the end, about £1,200—
a good price, one would say now, for 100 such tusks.

On the 24th of January “ began to be seen in the sea abundance of
things which I (Della Valle) took to be snakes,” and which probably
were sea-snakes, although his shipmates and his Hditor would not
have it.

On the 4th February they sighted land “which the English call
Terra di San Giovanni,’’ that is, they called it then, as now, the High-
land of St. John. The Editor calls it a promontory, but it is a
mountain six miles inland. The forest on the top is still very jealously
preserved, lest the appearance of this important landmark be altered,

On the 10th February, they cast anchor “in sight of the port of
Surat,” that is, as the subsequent text clearly shows, in “Swally
Roads”’ off the mouth of the Tapti.

As in many other cases, so in that of Surat, travellers and navi-
gators used the name of marts far up shallow rivers or estuaries as
if they were at the mouths ; and hence has arisen much of the lament-
ation about the shoaling of Indian ports, which do not now, and
never did, float a large vessel fairly laden.

When our traveller got ashore, he and his friends in vain required
“coaches” to carry them to Surat, and he observes that “the oxen
which draw the same are fair, large, white, with two bunches like
those of some camels.” The Hditor says that “ two-humped oxen are
occasionally found.” But a better explanation is in Della Valle’s own
next sentence, where he says, ‘“‘'To the seaside came no coach.” The
sentence is a diary-entry made from hearsay before he had seen a —
Gujarat bullock.

After a day or two, he got “coaches” and went to Surat, where
every one made a welcome guest of him, What he did for them if
they called upon him at Rome on his return, some of us can conjecture
from experience.

REVIEW. 248

The first thing in our way that he saw there was “ a great and fair
tree, of that kind which 1 (Della Valle) saw in the sea coasts of
Persia, called there Lul, but here Ber.” Then follows a description of
a Banyan tree, and of a little temple of “ Parvete’” (Parwati) under-
neath it, Mr. Grey thinks that this was the famous “ Kabir Bar,”
but that is not near Surat but near Broach.

The tree Pietro had seen in Persia was probably the great Banyan
of Gombroon, but without his earlier letters we can only guess at
this, “Lul” or “Luli” is a Kolaba name for an imported Ficus
resembling /. bengalens?s in habit, but with paler and more acuminate
leaves and bright orange fruit. There are one or two fine specimens
on the Esplanade at Tanna, where the ways part for Calcutta and
Madras.

Our author’s next botanism is as good a description of ** Pan-
supari’ as any of us could give to-day, and a page or two further on
he describes ‘‘ Trees of this climate, namely, Ambe, or, as others speak,
Manghe, before described by me in my last letters from Persia, in
the maritime parts whereof I saw some trees of this kind.” Are
there Banyans and Mangoes in the hot coast-belt of Persia now ?

Again, he notes that there is no flax in India, and is taken up by his
Editor, because Linum usitatissinum is common, But the traveller
was right, for he was talking only of the fibre, which is not yet
used in India in spite of repeated experiments (quorum pars ego
magna fui), From Surat Della Valle went to Broach and did not see
the great Banyan tree, but did drink “ Tari, which is a liquor drawn
from the nut-trees of India ; whitish and a little troubled ; of taste
somewhat sourish and sweet too, not unpleasing to the palate * *
yet it Inebriates as wine doth if drunk immoderately.” If you do not
believe our traveller, ask the Commissioner of Customs or his
dear friend Mr, Dantra. He noted (not Mr. Dantra, but Pietro)
that in the neighbourhood was a mine of “ calcidoines and agates,”
of which most went to “ Cambaia,” as they do to-day.

Tken he marched North ‘“ to an arm of the sea, or, to speak better,
to the inmost part of the Gulph of Cambaia, directly where the River
Mahi falls into the sea, in which place the flux and reflux of the sea
is more impetuous and violent,” &., &e. ; and then follows as good
an account of the Bore of the Mahi and its fords as is in any modern

249 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIL,

work, and a correction of the contemporary geographers who would
empty the Indus into the Gulf of Cambay.

Passing the Mahi, Pietro got to Cambay, where his observations,
though accurate and interesting, were outside of our province.

Then he marched to Ahmedabad, and saw on the way, as he
would to-day, “ abundance of monkies ’’ and “high hedges of a plant
always green and unfruitful, not known in Europe, and having no
leaves (this was in March), but instead thereof covered with certain
long and slender branches, almost like ovr sparagus, but bigger,
harder and thicker, of a very lively green ; being broken they send
forth milk like that of immature figgs, which is very pernicious
to the flesh wherever it touches. The Editor very modestly says, “ Pro-
bably a species of Huphorbia.” Had he ridden in the Charotar, the
“Garden of Gujarat,’ where Della Valle saw the hedges, he would
have had no doubt about HKuphorbium veriifoléum, the “ prickly
milk-bush,” cultivated in those parts to a perfection that has twice
called for British Artillery to batter down the living walls of predatory
villages.

Our traveller saw many things worth note in Ahmedabad, but
chiefly in respect of “ Homo sapiens ” and without our present scope.

On his return he marched to Cambay by Barejri and Sojitra,
where he saw “ Batts as large as crows.’ It seems a little odd that
he had not noticed the “ Flying Foxes” before. The Editor on this
subject tells us that bat is derived from a (presumably Saxon or
Danish) verb “ blaka” =to flutter. At Cambay Della Valle again
observed the “bore” of the Gulf, and preserved a specimen of a
flower, “‘ very odoriferous, which they call Ciompd.” There is nothing
else to show which of all our “ Champas ” this was, but one would
suppose that it was the “ Hirwa Champa,” an Uvaria, because it
alone of them has no other merit than its scent. On the 7th of March
the Kafila again passed the Mahi with some danger from the bore,
which did not prevent Pietro from noticing many flamingoes ; “ and”
(says he) “I think they are those of whose beaks Mir Muhammad in
Spahan (Ispahan) makes bowrings for the kings.” The Editor has
missed the point of this observation by supposing the “ bowring ” to be
a part of the bow. It is, or rather was, a guard for the left thumb of the
archer against the stroke of the bowstring, and could very well be

REVIEW. 250

made of a flamingo’s “ upper jaw.” The Kafila got safe to Broach and
Surat without further adventure or observation in our way of
business.

On the 26th of March, Della Valle was at Daman ; and beginning
to be puzzled by the creeks of the Konkan, but “ Time and better

observations ”

enabled him afterwards to interpolate in his log-letter
avery good account of them. At Daman he “first tasted at the
(Jesuit) father rector’s table many strange Indian fruits * * and
mee * * brought into Hast India from
Brazil or New Spain, namely, Papaia, Casa or Cagiu, Giambo, Manga
or Amba and Ananas. This list apparently refers to both the Indian ~
and imported fruit, and the Editor rather unnecessarily remarks that
the mango is a native of India, and identifies the Giambo with
Eugenia jambolana, the common jambul tree of our forests and
roadsides.

others which * were

Della Valle’s previous remarks about the mango show that he
needed no correction about it, but his first tasting it in a Portuguese
convent at Daman on the 26th of March is very natural. Nowhere
north of that was he likely to get an eatable mango so early, if, indeed,
there was at that time a tolerable mango in all Gujarat, which may be
doubted. There are but few gardens there now that produce such.

The Giambo was probably a rose-apple (Z. jambos), for Della Valle
could not be expected to find the harsh sloes of &. jambolana even
“passably good.” The other three are all imported trees.

Touching at almost every port on the coast, including the modern
Bombay-Mahim, but not Bombay proper, our traveller got to Goa
on the 8th of April, having made no observation on the way that
can be noticed here, but a great many that would be very interesting
matter for a more general review.

Pietro Della Valle sailed from Goa on the 14th October, 1623, and
got out of the river the next evening, sailing south coastwise. At
“ Onor” he saw a spring which he calls “Ram tirt,’ and which is
probably to be seen there still. ‘‘ The water was hot, to wit not cold,”
and. “ within it are small fishes which use to bite such as come to swim
there, yet without doing hurt because they are small.” Little fishes in
many Indian waters do the like, to the great discomfort of an occa-
sional “ Griffin.”

12

251 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII

On the 31st October our traveller left “ Onor” (Honawar) and got
to “ Garsopa’”’ (Gersappa) along with a Portuguese Envoy bound for
the Court of “ Venktapa Naieka,” a chief then important thereabouts.
The country was, as usual at that season, looking its best, and “ this
journey was one of the most delightful passages that ever I (Della Valle)
made in my life.” Thenext day they “began to climb up a mountain
which the country people call Gat, and which divides the whole
length of this part of India.” They halted at a fort “sometimes
called Garicota, but now Govarada Naghar,” where the schoolmaster got
Della Valle to examine the school ; just what would probably happen
to him there to-day.

On the 4th they were ferried over the “river called Barenghi,”
which “they say is one of those which goes to Garsopa.” It is very
odd that no one seems to have told Della Valle anything about the
falls of Gersappa when he was so near them ; but his comrade, the
Portuguese Envoy, does not seem to have been a very welcome guest ;
and probably every one concerned wanted to keep the whole party as
much to the shortest way as possible. Under this day’s date our
traveller records “many trees of myrobalanes ;” and gives an unmis-
takable description of the emblic myrobalan. At least one would
have thought it unmistakable if the Editor had not suggested an-
other identification, The myrobalans, says Della Valle, were “such
as are brought into Italy, preserved in sugar. It hath leaves much like
that plant which produces gum Arabick, by me formerly described ”
(an African Acacia), “ different only in this, that in that of gum
Ayabick the branch, consisting of many leaves, is much less round or
oval, and seems one leaf made up of many long and narrow ones ; but
in this myrobalane tree the branch” (leaf) “is sufficiently long, and the
small leaves composing it in two rows on each side are somewhat
larger. Nor is the myrobalane tree prickly like that of gum Arabick.
The fruit is round, hard, of a yellowish green, smooth, shining, of
little pulp, and furrowed with six circular lines.”

On the 6th they got to Ikkeri, but Della Valle’s observations here
are chiefly outside our province. He mentions that ““Giacche” (Jack-
fruit) were presented to the envoy as “ a fruit very rare at this time”
(November) and brought from far distant places. In Western India

REVIEW. 252

the height of the Jack-fruit season is in May and June, but this
year the crop was late (1628).

Our traveller made two observations for the latitude and found it
at the second and best to be 18° 54’ 20”. The Editor gives it (from
the Gazetteer) as 14° 7 20". So Della Valle’s observation was not a
bad one for an amateur of the 17th century. He got tired of the
place before the Hnvoy’s business was completed, and left it on the
23rd November. He had procured by order “ a little book written in
the Canara language, * * * not of paper, which they seldom use, but
of palm leaves, (to wit) of that palm which the Portugals call Palmum
brama, 7, €., wild palm, and is of that sort which produces the Indian
nut, for such are those commonly found in India, where palms that
produce dates are very rare.” The whole passage is very true, but has
somewhat puzzled the Hditor, not accustomed, as some of us are, to
talk of “ brab trees.’ The Portuguese term “ Palmeira Brava” has
got slightly corrupted in text and note, but the plant meant is cer-
tainly Borassus flabelliformis, which does bear an edible Indian nut,
though not so large or good as a cocoa-nut.

On the 26th, Della Valle arrived at ‘“ Lower Barselor of the
Portugals,” and on the 27th he “ imbarqu’d” for Mangalor.

On the way they landed a‘ party on St. Mary’s Isles, still so
ealled, to take wild pigeons, “ wherewith we made a good supper.”
The Editor identifies these with the Primeira Rocks, but there seems
to be no reason for doubting the correctness of the traveller’s nomen-
clature, nor the persistence of so simple a name which is on
our Admiralty charts and sailing directions. CMieehs Coast of Hindus-
tan Pilot, 1891 ; page 163.)

Pietro Della Valle’s great object at Mangalor was to visit Banghel
and Olala, places now of no resort to globe-trotters, but important
in the Portuguese local politics of the day. The latter was famous,
indeed, for the spirit and wisdom of its ruler ; a lady whom he saw
in a very informal way, and by no means in full dress. “ In brief, her
aspect and habit represented rather a dirty kitchen wench or
laundress than a delicate and noble queen, whereupon I (Della Valle)
said within myself ‘ Behold, by whom are routed in India the armies
of the King of Spain, which in Europe is so great a matter.” He
“imagined,” however, that she had been handsome in her youth, and

2538 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII,

she was certainly very frank and civil to him. Her son, whom she
kept in tutelage, asked Pietro to pot-luck, which (as the dynasty was
Hindu) he had to take alone, and gives the menu :—“ Rice served on
a plantain-leaf, ‘very good butter melted’ (ghi), ‘and a quantity |
of a certain red herb called by the Portuguese Bredo (which yet is
the general appellation of all-sorts of herbs).”

The Editor. supposes this to have been the tomato, but it was more
probably a red amaranth, Several plants of this order are “ lal baji”
in Hindustani and “bredo ” to the Goanese at this day. There were
also pickled bamboo shoots and “several fruits ” undescribed. There
was not time to get up a good curry, but the traveller takes this oppor-
tunity to describe it very well. On the 19th he sailed from Mangalor
for Calicut and Cannanore and thence returned to Goa, without
adventure in our line, except that they had to anchor amongst
St. Mary’s Isles, “ whence some men that went ashore brought me
some jasmen of a very goodly scarlet colour, but for smell it had
little or none at all.”” The Editor supposes this to have been Bigno-
nia venusta ; and quotes the remark “ attributed to a late Financial
Member of Council,” that “ India is a place where everything
smells except the flowers!!” As for the flower, it was Izvora
bandhuka,* and as for the joke, its better known attribution is Ali
Baba’s, viz. to “some jack-ass.”’

After his return to Goa our traveller noted a Cannella
tree as any” and eXotic (pellegrino), which the Hditor identifies with
Canella Alba of the West Indies. It had a yellow flower “ used by the
country people instead of saffron” and the leaves had “a taste of
cinnamon and (were) pleasant to masticate.” He preserved some ;
“as also of the Arbor Tristo, with its odoriferous flowers ; which
blow every day and night and fall off at the approach of day,”—
our well-known Parijataka (Nyctanthes arbor-tristis), “ Moreover,
IT saw and observed in the Lake,” says he, “ two sorts of flowers, one

“as big a

® Now usually entered as 2. coccinea. The synonym dandhuka is used here as
more intelligible to many native members, The gardeners’ trivial name is
“ Bakawli,” but is shared with other plants, A bush with handsome bunches of
bright red flowers, not a true jasmine, though the flowers are sufficiently like
jasmine blossoms in shape to justify Pietro, Brandis, and Watt following him, call
this bush “ Flame of the Wood ;” but it is not a plant of the woods, rather of waste
places and hedges, Our “ Flame of the Forest” is Butea frondosa.

REVIEW. 254.

great, the other very small, both white with something of yellow
in the midst ; the lesser hath no green leaves on the stalk to be seen,
and the inner part of the white leaves’ (petals) “is full of thick and
long down. ‘The greater flower hath smooth, long and strait petals ;
and grows on a plant whose leaves are large and almost perfectly
round, floating on the surface of the water. Both these flowers have
a strange property ; in the night they are always closed,” &c., &e.

“ Hvidently two kinds of Lotus,” says the Hditor ; and both plants
are called lotus. He is less happy in identifying them as of genus
Nelumbium, for the round floating leaves are evidence that the larger
was Nymphea lotus, those of Nelumbium stand. above the water ; on
strong stalks well able to bear their weight.

The little flower is the “ Cotton-lotus,” Lmnanthemum indicum,
which is not a lily or lotus at all, but a gentian. Della Valle, we
think, was wrong in supposing that it closed at night ; probably
misinformed. However, he has in this, as in other cases, left to us
from the early sixteen hundreds a specific description recognizable
to-day. This is his last, as soon after writing it he sailed for Europe,
where, though he did not exactly “ live happily ever afterwards,” he
lived long enough to marry (being already a widower) and beget no
less than fourteen sons. One would be very glad indeed of a little
more of his correspondence.

THE MANAGEMENT OF ANIMALS IN THE CALCUTTA
ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.*

The project of establishing a Zoological Garden in Calcutta was mooted as
far back as 1842 by Dr. McClelland, the Curator of the Bengal Asiatic
Society's Museum, who formulated a plea for its foundation in the pages of
the “Calcutta Journal of Natural History” for that year. But this scheme,
as set forth in his article, did not attract any notice at the time. The subject
was again taken up by an anonymous writer, and discussed in the pages of the
* Calcutta Review ” for 1866 in an article entitled “The Indian Museum and
the Asiatic Society of Bengal.” In this article the writer advocated the estab-
lishment of a State-aided zoological collection in Calcutta, which would not only
serve the purposes of a place of recreation to the public, but also be a scienti-
fic institution where the habits and instincts of the brute creation might be

* A hand-book of the Management of Animals in Captivity in Lower Bengal by Ram Brama
caval, Super tend ent of the Zoological Gardens, Caleutta, Published at the Bengal Secretariat
ress, Price Rs, 5,

255 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

observed and recorded, and exotic animals acclimatised. No notice, appears
to have been taken, at the time, of this admirable proposal. In 1867

however, Dr. (now Sir) Joseph Fayrer, then President of the Asiatic Society
of Bengal, formulated a scheme: for the foundation of a Zoological Garden
in the British Indian metropolis, and his proposal seems to have met with a
favorable response from the Calcutta public, who promptly came forward
and raised a large amount of money by subscription ; but, as no suitable site
for the location of the institution could be found at that time, the scheme
was temporarily shelved. In 1873 Mr. Carl Louis Schwendler, electrician to
the Government of India, and a gentleman well-known for his ardent love of
natural history pursuits, again brought the subject forward and submitted a
scheme for establishing a public vivarium, and for acclimatising foreign
vertebrates in Calcutta, to the Bengal Government and the Council of the
Bengal Asiatic Society. A sub-committee, composed of the members of the
Asiatic Society of Bengal and of the Agricultural and Horticultural Society
of India, was formed to consider Mr, Schwendler’s proposal ; but, as in 1867,
the scheme was once again placed in abeyance, as no suitable site could be
found, Mr. Schwendler’s suggestions were again taken up for consideration
during the régime of Lord Northbrook; and Sir Richard Temple, then
Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal, not only highly approved of the scheme, but
adopted it.

It was mainly through Sir Richard Temple’s liberal assistance and Mr.
Schwendler’s warm advocacy, indomitable perseverance and determination,
that the Calcutta Zoological Gardens became a fart accompli in 1875, The
Government of Bengal liberally granted two tracts of land, situated on the
sides of the Belvedere Road, south of the Zeerut Bridge, at Alipore, for the
location of the institution, and sanctioned an annual grant of Rs. 20,000 for
the purchase of animals and the maintenance of the gardens in a state of
efficiency, and also appointed an Honorary Committee of Management to admin-
ister the affairs of the institution. To the menagerie, then in a state of infancy,
Mr. Schwendler presented his private collection of animals, birds and reptiles,
and these formed the nucleus of the splendid display of indigenous and exotic
vertebrates which now adorns the Calcutta Zoological Gardens. It was on
the 1st January, 1876, that the first sod was turned by H. R. H. the Prince of
Wales, who was then in Calcutta ; and the Calcutta Zoological Gardens were
formally opened to the public on the 1st of May of the same year. Thus this
institution, which was established, as is stated in the original prospectus issued
in 1875, under the sanction of Government, for the purpose of developing and
displaying the zoological wealth of the country, and facilitating the acclima-
tisation, domestication, and breeding of animals, and improving the indi-
genous breed of cattle and farm-stock, has now been in existence for seventeen
years.

In the eyes of both God and civilised man, we owe a responsibility to the
dumb creatures whom we bring from their native wilds and place in durance

pla ©

REVIEW. 256

vile, in order to minister to our curiosity and instruction. It is our bounden
duty not only to supply them with food and shelter, but also to see that they
are provided with proper accommodation for comfort ; that they get the diet
which Nature has appointed for them, or, where that is difficult to procure,
the nearest approach to it possible, and that they have ample space for exer-
cise, and abundant air. The more complete the arrangements for their
comfort, the roomier and airier the place in which they are confined, the more
they are placed amidst surroundings resembling those of their native wilder-
nesses, the happier and healthier they will be, the longer they will live, and
the greater will be the amount of the amusement and instruction to be derived
from inspecting them and observing their habits and instincts,

Since the gardens were established, the Managing Committee of the institu-
tion have not only tried, as far as lay in their power and their financial
resources allowed, to discharge the duties above mentioned, but have also
attempted to carry out the objects set forth in the original prospectus with
more or less success. They have adopted and introduced the latest improve-
ments in menagerie-architecture, in order that the animals under their charge
may have commodious quarters, have called in the aid of medical science to
cure them of the ills that brute-flesh is heir to, and, as far as practicable,
have placed them amidst surroundings resembling those of their native haunts,

During the period of seventeen years during which the Calcutta Zoological
Gardens have been in existence, the Committee of Management has acquired
a great deal of experience in managing, in health and sickness, the various
animals, both indigenous and exotic, that have, from time to time, been exhi-
bited. The work under review embodies this experience, and sets forth the
methods by which dumb creatures in captivity should be treated in health and
sickness, and the best ways of providing them with comfortable accommoda-

tion and with the most suitable diet. The idea of writing the present work

was suggested by His Honor the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal, in his Reso-
jution on the Report of the Honorary Committee for the Management of the
Calcutta Zoological Gardens for the year 1888-89, published in the Calcutta
Gazeite of the 9th October, 1889, wherein he gave expression to the following
opinion : “As the Zoological Gardens have now been in existence for 13 years
(since 1875-76), it is presumable that many events have taken place among
the large number of animals, birds, etc., exhibited from time to time, which
would be of interest to the scientific world and to persons interested in
zoology ; also, that considerable experience must have been gained in the
management of animals, birds, etc., in confinement, and their treatment in
sickness which would be of practical use to the managing bodies of other
zoological gardens and to individuals who have private collections, Sir
Steuart Bayley is strongly of opinion that it is incumbent on all persons who
keep animals in captivity to avoid, as far as possible, anything like cruelty
(such as want of space or air, proper food, or cleanliness) in their treatment,

257 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

and he recognises that the Zoological Gardens’ Managing Committee set an
excellent example in this respect, He would venture to suggest that from the
records of the Committee and the recollections of their able Superintendent
it would be possible for them to produce a hand-book, which might be of
great use to the numerous nobles and other persons who, ona smaller scale,
keep collections of animals or birds in captivity.”

A meeting of the Committee of Management was convened on the 2nd April,
1890, for the purpose of considering the suggestion embodied in the Lieutenant-
Governor’s Resolution ; and, as the result of its deliberations, it recommended
the appointment of a Sub-Committee for the purpose of giving effect to it.
A Sub-Committee was accordingly formed ; and, after mature consideration,
it drew up a plan for writing the suggested work. It is on the lines adopted
by the Sub-Committee that the present hand-book has accordingly been
prepared by Babu Ram Bramha Sanydl, the Superintendent of the Gardens,
under the supervision of Mr. C, E. Buckland, ¢.s., one of the members of the
Committee. For the purpose of writing this work, the author, as he informs us
in the preface, has had to prosecute a good deal of original research in the
shape of examining the collection of the vertebrata in the Indian Museum,
Calcutta, for the purpose of identifying the little-known forms.

The work consists of two parts, preceded by an admirably drawn up table
of contents, containing a list of all the species of animals that have been
exhibited in the Gardens up to the present time, classified under their re-
spective orders, families, genera, and species. The first part treats of the
mammalia, and the second of the aves, or birds, The reptilia, which would
have formed the third part of the present work, could not be included in it ;
for the author informs us that, “asa considerable portion of it was already
in type when we commenced the New Reptile House, we did not, after all,
think it worth while waiting longer to incorporate the reptiles in the present
edition.”

The work has been drawn up on an admirable and exhaustive plan, for
under the heading of each species of animal, its nomenclature, both scientific
and vernacular, and habitat are first given ; in the next place the length of its
life in captivity in the Gardens; then its treatment in health ; then its
treatment in sickness ; and, last of all, the observations made in the Gardens
on its habits and instincts, supplemented, in some cases, by a list of the
authorities who may be consulted for further information regarding it.

Under the heading of treatment in health, suggestions, based upon ex-
periences gained im the Gardens, as to the best way of housing, feeding, and
transporting animals in captivity, as well as remarks regarding their breeding in
the Calcutta Zoo, are given. With reference to housing animals in captivity, it
may be observed that the old idea of keeping captive wild animals in small
cramped cages and dens still prevails in this country among Indian chiefs and
nobles who maintain menageries on a miniature scale. Even in England, this

REVIEW, 258

idea, inherited from the Tower Menagerie and the various itinerant wild-beast
shows, prevailed, even in such an excellent and well managed institution as the
Zoological Society of London during its earlier years,

This practice of keeping animals in dark, narrow and ill-ventilated cages
remained in vogue in this country till May, 1876, when the Calcutta Zoological
Gardens were opened to the general public. Since then, the Indian public
have had ample opportunities for realising the inhumane character and the
unhealthy effects of the practice, by comparing the emaciated and sickly looks
of animals in private menageries with the sleek appearance and improved
health of the inmates of the Calcutta Gardens, due no doubt to the improved
method adopted by the Managing Committee of providing them with com-
modious, airy, and substantial buildings, suited to the habits of particular
groups of them. Among these may be mentioned the Gubboy House, with its
arched Leslie patent roof, plate-glass doors and fan-lights, for excluding
draught and cold and regulating the atmosphere, which has been found admi-
rably suited to the gibbons (Hylobates), other varieties of monkeys (Semno-
pithect and Cercopithect) and small and rare mammals of a delicate nature. The
Dumraon House is adapted to the requirements of hoolocks (Hylobates hoolock)
and monkeys peculiar to the Indo-Malayan fauna (Macaques). The Hzra
House, with its lofty roof and minarets and enclosed airing-grounds on the
east and the west sides, furnishes very comfortable accommodation to giraffes
(Camelopardalis giraffa), zebras (Zebra burchelli), and other equine animals.
Ii is needless to multiply examples ; suffice it to say that ali of them are built
on the latest approved principles, and are furnished in such a way as to
present their inmates, as far as practicable, with the surroundings of their
native wilds,

As regards food, the experience gained im the Calcutta Zoo shows that
wild animals in captivity thrive best if fed with articles of diet which Nature
usually supplies to them while living in a wild state. In cases where these are
difficult to procure, articles of similar character should be given them. A
monotonous round of the same articles of diet, it has been found, brings on
disease in menagerie animals. Changes from one sort of food to another
should be frequently resorted to, and the animals are found to preserve health
better when fed on varied diet each day than when fed with the same food
all the year round, Animals which prey upon small mammals and birds
should, in a state of captivity, be given small living birds, such as sparrows,
live fowls, pigeons, or mice, guinea pigs or rabbits, for them to kill and eat:
and this expedient has been found in the Zoological Gardens to be very
effective in sharpening their appetites and reviving their drooping spirits.

The larger carnivora often display an aversion to their ordinary diet; and
in such cases live kid, or fowls, and mutton are given. A sufficient quantity

of food and clear water should always be provided, as the carnivora possess
13

259 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol VIII.

the habits of drinking water after their meals. In the Alipore menagerie the
larger Felide are fed only once a day; and once a week they are either
starved or kept on half rations, and it has been uniformly found that this
system proves beneficial to their health. Small quantities of doob grass ought
to be given them almost daily, as it acts as an emetic, as also flower of sulphur
which acts as a tonic to almost all animals in captivity—the latter to be given
either in their food or in their drinking water. All the bears in the collec-
tion (with the exception of the Ursus maritimus) like sweets more or less,
sugarcane and biscuits being a favourite food with them. They are usually
fed on boiled rice, sugar, vegetables, fruits, eggs, bread, biscuits, and milk,
The Polar bear (U. maritimus) was given only 3 Ibs. of fat mutton in the
evening, with a change of fish and live pigeons occasionally. All the four
species of Asiatic rhinoceri in the Gardens, Rhinoceros unicornis, R. sondaicus,
R. lasiotis,* and R. sumatrensis, are fond of the leaves of the jack-fruit tree,
but these being costly and not always procurable, they are fed on leaves of
the gulher or doomoor (Ficus glomerata) and other species of figs; but the
experience gained in the Gardens is that it is better to restrict them to jack
and gulheras much as possible, supplemented by allowances of soaked gram
and bran, together with salt and small quantities of goor, or country treacle
occasionally. Both the species of tapirsf hitherto represented at Alipore,
Tapirus malayanus and T. roulini, feed on vegetable substances, such as leaves,
shoots, and roots, sweet potatoes, yams, bran, and boiled rice being occasionally
given to them, The Hquus burchelli and EL. onager thrive best on crushed food
consisting of grain, &c., hay, paddy, straw, and salt. The Bovide, especially
Bos frontalis, B. sondaicus and B. gaurus, are very fond of bamboo leaves ; but,
as they become reconciled to their captivity, they imbibe a taste for such
things as gram, bran, hay, &c., together with a few onions. Salt is very neces-
sary to them, and should be given daily, either mixed with gram or in small
lumps for licking, together with a large troughful of clear water. Other
members of the same family have been found to thrive best on grass and
grain, only the Wild Buffalo of the Celebes (Anoa depressicornis) being fond
of the green stalks of paddy plants. Of the antelopes, the Eland (Oreas
canna), the Nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus), the Beisas (Oryx beisa and

* It is doubtful whether Rhinoceros lasiotis can be called a distinct species. Mr. W, T.
Blanford is of opinion that the several points of distinction in the external appearance of the
rhinoceri from Chittagong and Majlacea, which led Mr. P. L. Sclater to create a distinct
species, /astotis, for the reception of the Chittagong form, are scarcely of any specific value.
He regards the two forms—one from Malacca (A. swmatrensis) and the other from Chittagong
(R. lasiotis)—as varieties only. He says that, though the most remarkable difference between
them is in the shape of the head, yet it is a variable one, as has been shown by Blyth. (Vide
The Fauna of India : Mammalia, p. 477.) The author of the work under review has, how-
ever, after a careful examination of both the Chittagong and Malayan species now living in
the Calcutta Zoo, noted the principal points of difference between the two, most of which are

found iy tally exactly with those observed by Sclater. (Vide page 182 of the work under
review.

+ A pair of American tapirs (Tapirus americanus, Gmal.) have been recently added to the
Calcutta Zoological Gardens. See Englishman of 6th June, 1892.

REVIEW. 260

O, leucoryx) thrive well on mixed food, consisting of gram, bran, Indian corn,
wheat, paddy, &c., supplemented by hay and green grass—the last to be given
sparingly. The gazelles (Gazella arabica, G. bennettir, and G'. grant), the other
Indian antelopes (Antelope cervicapra and Tetraceros quadricornis), and the
North African form (Alcephalus bubalis) are fed on gram, bran, grass in small
quantities, maize, paddy, wheat, &c., hay, onions and salt, the gazelles being
very fond ‘of babul leaves (Acacia arabica). The Persian Ibex (Capra
egagrus) and the Uryal (Ovis cycloceros) thrive better on various kind of leaves
and hay than on grain, and are extremely fond of rose-leavyes, Two to
three seers of grain (maize, gram, wheat, &c., with a pinch of salt twice daily,
supplemented by a few bundles of hay, constitute capital food for the giraffes
in the Calcutta Gardens. It has been found that here they much relish the
leaves of the Acacia arabica and the Zizyphus jujuba. Of the Cervide, the
Chevrotains (Cervulus muntjac and C. reevesi) and the various members of the
genera Cervus and Rangifer (Cervus canadensis, C, tevanus, C. duvaucelli,
C. aristotelis, C. equinus, C. porcinus, C. hippelaphus, C. moluccensis, C. axis, and
the reindeer (Rangifer tarandus), have been found to thrive best on grains, with
salt, and onions, taking care, at the same time, that the former be not newly-
harvested, but at least three months old. Both the living species of camels
which have been represented at Alipore were found to be fond of the leaves
of the various species of neem (Melia) and babul (Mimosa) and hay, a change
of crushed food being occasionaly given. The Suide in the gardens have
thriven well on grain, vegetables, and kitchen refuse, such as boiled meat, eggs,
&e. Finely minced raw meat and eggs with milk constitute a capital diet for
the Great Ant-eater (Myrmecophaga jubata). The two species of the genus
Phascolomys hitherto exhibited, namely, P. wombat and P. latifrons, feed on
grass and leaves—a small quantity of grain and sometimes biscuits being
given every morning, The kangaroos* (Macropus giganteus and M, rufus) and
the Wallabies (Halmaturus ualabatus and H, bennetti) are strictly vegetarian
feeders and forage for themselves, a small quantity of maize, wheat, and other
grains being generally allowed to them.

The orang-outang (Simia satyrus) has been found to thrive well on any one
of the following three different courses of diet, véz., (1) plantains, boiled rice,
biscuits, vegetables ; (2) soaked gram, milk, bread, fruits ; (3) plantains, raw
eggs, sugarcane, &c., fruit of the sweet potato. The other anthropoid apes in the
Gardens, viz., the hoolock and the gibbons (Hylobates hoolock, H. leucogenys,
H. lar, H. agilis, H. leuciseus, and H. syndactylus), have maintained very
good health when fed on boiled rice, soaked gram, various kinds of fruit, and

* Among the Marsupials, the unadorned-footed rock-kangaroo (Petrogale inornata) has
not been noticed in this work, though it was at one time exhibited in the Gardens. I remem-
ber having seen pretty specimens of this species in the Sonebursa House, some time in June
or July, 1892, Among the other omissions is the European badger (Males taxus, Bodd.),
which is also included in the collection at Alipore, and was, I believe, purchased at the sale
of the King of Oudh’s menagerie,

261 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, VITI.

roots, bread, biscuits, eggs, and occasionally live sparrows and a few grass-
hoppers, making allowances for individual tastes. Excluding animal food of
all kinds whatever, the diet prescribed for the various species of Hylobates
and for the orang will do well for the Semmnopithecus entellus, with the addition
of a sufficient quantity of leaves, ‘The crested semnote (S. cristatus) and
Phayre’s leaf-monkey (S. phayri) live best on the diet prescribed for the
orang. The Assam langur (S. pileatus) is less fond of leaves than the other
Semnopithect. Several of them have exhibited a slight partiality for the leaves
of a species of Amaranthus (xatya sag), The proboscis (S. larvatus) and the
red-haired monkeys (S. rubicundus) like the green stalks of paddy and wheat
and young shoots of kalmi (Convolvulus reptens). Experience gained in the
Gardens has shown that the Cercopitheci—forms peculiar to the fauna of the
Ethiopian region—hitherto exhibited there, viz., Cercopithecus diana, C. cyno-
surus, C. callitricus, C. talapoin, C, nictitans, C. pluto, C. petaurista, C.
cephus, C. patas, C. mona, thrive well on the same kind of food as is ordinarily
given to the hoolocks, hanumans and other semnotes. The monkeys of the genus
Macacus are almost omnivorous : boiled rice, soaked gram, biscuits, pumpkins,
cucumber, brinjals, and other vegetables constitute their ordinary food. Eggs
are occasionally given to them as substitutes for the insects and spiders which,
in their wild state, they are accustomed to eat, besides fruits and vegetables,
minced meat being sometimes, but rarely, given. The Cynocephali,* or the
baboons (Cynocephalus hamadryas and C. porcarius),do well when fed on a
vegetable diet consisting of fruits, roots, grain, boiled rice, with a change of
egos and grasshoppers. The same diet as that on which the hoolock is fed has
been found to constitute capital food for the mandrill (C. mormon). The
lemurs (Lemur mongoz, L. varius, and L. flavifrons) feed on fruit, eggs,
bread, and milk.

The feeding of the birds, however, is not so expensive as that of the mam-
mals, for most of the articles of diet of which they are fond, such as maggots,
berries, &c., are to be had in abundance in the Gardens themselves. The prin-
cipal food of the majority of the birds are seeds, soft fleshed fruits, berries,
maggots, satoo, and, occasionally, minced meat made into pellets. Some of the
aquatic birds, ‘however, find their own food, such as fish, crustaceans, &c.,
from the tanks and jhils in the Gardens. Experience has shown that an early
meal, consisting of maize, barley, wheat, or other grain, pounded together with
a small quantity of egg-shell, green food later on, and grains and seeds anda
few grasshoppers or meal worms in the evening, forms a capital diet for the

* Another species of this genus, viz., the Guinea baboon (Cynocephalus sphinx, Linn.) has
been represented in the Gardens ; and I distinctly remember haying seen, in 1885,a speci-
men of it inthe Gubboy House, which was on deposit there. But I regret to find that this
animal has not been noticed in the present work. There are many other omissions, which
will be noticed in their respective places. A magnificent specimen of the drill (Cynocephalus
leucopheus, F, Cuy.) has also heen recently added to the collection—haying been acquired in
December last.

REVIEW. 262

Monauls (Lophophorus impeyanus and L. sclateri), the Gold and Amherst’s
pheasants (Thawmalea picta and Th. amherstiw), six species of the genus -
Phasianus, twelve species of the genus Huplocamus, and other members of the
order Galline, hitherto represented in the Gardens. The Tragopans (Cerior-
nis satyra, C.melanocephala, C.temminchi, C. caboti, and C. blythi) and both
the Indian and the Malayan species of the Polyplectrons, or the Peacock
pheasants, require the same treatment as regards food as the other pheasants,
except that the former are fonder of berries and fruits than of grain,

Of the order Caswarii, the three species of Cassowaries in the Gardens have
been found to thrive best on vegetables, fruits, and roots. In captivity the
Emu is fed on biscuits, bread, crushed food, and vegetables. The Ostrich
(Struthio camelus) and the Common Rhea (Rhea americana), belonging to the
order Struthiones, are both treated in the same: way as the Emu, only with the
difference that the former is given a pound of beef or mutton once a week
during the cold and the rainy seasons. Of the order Giralie, family Gruide,
seven species of Cranes (Grus) and the two species of Crowned Cranes (Bela-
rica pavonina and B. chrysopelargus) have been found to maintain very good
health when fed on grain of various kinds, soaked or dry, according to indi-
vidual taste, and vegetables, but some of them find a great deal of their own
food, such as frogs, lizards, shells, worms, &c., only the snow-wreath (Grus
leucogeranus) and the Crowned Cranes not being partial to this latter kind of
diet. Birds of the order Steganopodes (Cormorants, Snake-birds and Pelicans)
live well on fish, but, in captivity, they readily take to meat-diet, being fed at
Alipore on 3 to 1 seer of beef and fish. The various members of the orders
Anseres (Geese and Ducks), Gavide (Gulls) and Limicole (Snipes and Jacanas)
thrive best on grain, vegetables, and grass, supplemented a good deal by
aquatic insects, worms, larve, &c., and are also very fond of the tender shoots
of the kalmi (Convolvulus reptens) and tokapana (Pistia stratiotes), which are
given to them in large quantities. Of the birds of the order Platalea, the
Spoonbill (Platalea lewcorodia) is fed on prawns, small fish, and occasionally
minced meat. This food, it has been found, also forms excellent diet for the
Black-headed (Ibis melanocephalus), Glossy (Plegadis falcinellus), and Scarlet
Ibises (Hudocimus ruber). The Pelican Ibis (Tantalus leucocephalus) picks out
a great deal of its own food, such as crabs, frogs, and fish, by loosening, with
its right foot, the mud near the edges of the tanks. This latter habit is also
possessed by the Flamingo (Phenicopterus antiquorum), belonging to the order
Odontoglosse, which, ina state of captivity, feeds on bran and barley with
water. Birds of the order Herodiones (Herons, Storks, and Adjutants) thrive
well on fish and meat, but the Adjutants and the Black-necked Stork
(Xenorhynchus asiaticus) mainly live on the latter article.

The birds of prey, such as the Owls, Hagles, Falcons and Vultures (belong-
ing to the orders Striges and Accipitres), are all of them carnivorous, and, as a

263 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

rule, are fed on beef, frogs, fish, and live rats. Of the order Psittuci (Cocka-
toos, Parrots, Parrakeets, Lories, &c.), nine species of the genus Cacatua and
other birds of the allied genera, Liemetis, Microglossa, and Calopsitta, have been
found to maintain good health when fed on paddy, maize, gram, barley, hemp
seed, chillies, and vegetables, all of them being extremly fond of sugarcane ;
and this diet has also been found to answer well in the cases of the birds of
the genus Palgornis, only the red-headed (P. cynocephalus) and the red-
cheeked species (P. eryihrogenys) being fond of fruits, especially papaya
(Carica papaya). Wories of the genera Lorius, Hos, and Trichoglossus thrive
well on amixed diet of bread and milk, seeds, fruits and vegetables, with a
change of boiled eggs for birds of the last-mentioned genus only. Grain seeds
and vegetables, with crumbs of bread given occasionally, rock salt, and clean
water, constitute a capital diet for five species of the Broadtail Parrots
(Platycercus) and the New Zealand Parrakeet (Cyanoramphus nove-zealande).
Experience has shown that the same diet, only with the addition of fruits
and biscuits, is admirably suited to the physical requirements of the Macaws
(genus Ara), the Yellow-headed Conure (Conuwrus jendaya),and the three species
of Amazon Parrots (genus Chrysotis), all peculiar to the Neotropical region.
The truly African psittacine forms, viz., the Vasa parrots (Coracopsis vasa and
C. nigra) and the Grey Parrot (Psittacus erythacus) are fed like the Cockatoos.
Of the order Bucerotes, hornbills of the various genera Buceros, Dichoceros,
Anthracoceros, Ocyceros, Aceros, Rhytidoceros and Cranorrhinus, have been found
to thrive on a diet comprising boiled rice, minced meat, figs, berries, and other
fruits, with an occasional allowance of small birds and insects to sharpen their
appetites. Of the sub-order Zygodactyle, the Ariel (Ramphastos ariel) and
the Sulphur-breasted Toucans (R. carinatus) peculiar to the Neotropical
avifauna, hitherto exhibited in the Gardens, have been fed on fruits, crumbs of
bread, minced meat, and eggs.

Pigeons and doves of various genera and species are fed on various sorts of
grain, though, in captivity, they acquire an artificial taste for bread, biscuits,
and boiled rice.

Maize mixed with other grains, such as wheat, barley, and hemp-seed,
constitutes a capital diet for the larger pigeons, only the blood-breasted
(Phlogenas cruentata) and the Australian crested species (Ocyphaps lophotes)
being very fond of the moong pulse (Phaseolus mungo), other grains and fruits,
The soft-billed pigeons evince a partiality for satoo mixed with macerated
plantain. Other species, among them being the Wonga Wonga (Lencosarcia
picta), like hard stones of fruits, while the fruit-eating ones thrive well on
various figs and berries, such as those of the Peepul and the Banyan trees.
To promote their health, they should also be allowed greens, such as cabbage,
spinach, &c. Of the order Scansores, family Capitonide, Barbets of the
genera Megalema, Cyanops, and Xantholema, while in captivity, feed on

REVIEW. 264

satoo, plantains and other fruits and minced meat. Of the order Passeres,
family Alaudide, both the skylarks (Alauda arvensis and A. arborea) in the
Calcutta Zoo thrive excellently on seeds of various kinds, fruits, berries and
maggots, only the bush-larks (Mrafra assamica and M, caniéiilans) liking satoo,
fruits, insects and maggots. Of the family Sturnide (same order), Mynas of
various genera and species, generally speaking, do well when fed on satoo,
maggots, insects, fruits and grain of various kinds, making allowance for the
tastes of particular species. Of the family Hulabetide, the Grackles or Hiil-
Mynas (Hulabes religiosa and E. intermedia) require satoo, boiled rice, fruits,
bread and milk. Of the family Oriolide, the four species of Orioles in
the collection thrive excellently on satoo, insects, fruits, berries of the Ficus
religiosa, F. comosa and sweet Inga. Of the family Crateropodide, sub-family
Brachypodine, three species of Buibuls of the genus Molpastes, two of Oto-
composa, one each of Hypsipetes and Prcnonotus, do well on satoo paste,
prepared with ghi, fruits, insects and maggots, Laughing Thrushes of the
genera Dryonastes, Garrulax, Lanthocincla and Grammatoptila thrive when fed
On satoo, fruits, insects and worms, only the Dryonastes chinensis requiring
minced meat. Of the family Corvide, sub-family Corvine, order Passeres,
the various Magpies of the genera Pica, Urocissa and Cissa, and the Indian
tree-pies (Dendrocitta rufa, D. himalayensis, and D. frontalis) have been
found to thrive excellently on minced ‘eat, fruit, boiled rice, boiled eggs,
satoo and various kinds of insects, only the Green Magpie (Cissa chinensis) is
occasionally given live sparrows and other small birds, and the Tree-pies
various kinds of insects'to sharpen their appetites. Another useful feature
of these remarks is, that the approximate daily cost of feeding the large
animals and birds is given.

The breeding of animals is set forth in the original prospectus as one of the
objects for which the Calcutta Zoological Gardens were established. But the
Committee’s efforts to carry it out have been attended with but scant success,
though hopes were at one time entertained that all the denizens of the
Gardens would breed freely and multiply fast,so as to render it possible that
additional examples of each species might be available for exchange with
institutions of a similar kind, both in this country and elsewhere. The condi-
tions which are most favorable to the breeding of animals in captivity are
that they should be provided with (1) commodious quarters for their housing,
grazing and open-air exercise ; (2) the diet which they are accustomed to feed
upon in their wild state ; (3) that their quarters should be such as to suit their
respective habits and should represent the surroundings of their native wilds ;
(4) that, in the case of gregarious animals, a large number of both sexes, and,
in that of the Carnivora and other species, a pair, each consisting of a male
and a female, should be lodged together, so as to afford them opportunities for
seeking each other’s company. Experience has shown that the females of the

265 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

larger carnivorous animals naturally seek seclusion and retirement when enceinte
so that they may enjoy freedom from disturbance by others ; and the want of
proper accommodation to meet such emergencies has on several occasions been
keenly felt in the Gardens, In the same menagerie, it has been found that
some species of birds every year make attempts at constructing nests, but are
prevented from doing so by others which annoy them at this time. In some
cases they have even laid eggs, but could not incubate them, owing to the pre-
sence of other birds, which (not unfrequently) destroy them by breaking them.
Some species of mammals and birds are sure to breed in captivity, if left by
themselves in separate cages, and undisturbed by other species, Hence seclu-
sion is also very necessary to their successfully breeding in a state of captivity.
Though, in comparison with the existing private and other public menageries
throughout the country, the comforts and conveniences of wild animals in
captivity are studied and attended to with far more care and greater regularity
in the Calcutta Zoological Gardens, yet all the aforesaid conditions are not
fulfilled there to the same extent as they ought to be. No doubt some animals
breed and rear young ones successfully every year at Alipore, as will appear
from the tabular statements of such births published annually in the Manag-
ing Committee’s Reports ; but their number sinks into insignificance when
compared with the long lists of animals bred every year, which are appended
to the Annual Reports of the London Zoological Society and the. New
York Central Park Menagerie. The reason why so much success im this
direction has been achieved in the last two institutions is simply that the
inmates thereof enjoy far greater comfort and convenience than at Alipore,
for in London and New York far airier and roomier quarters, with extensive
enclosures affording opportunities for exercise in the open air and the display
of their natural habits, are allowed them than here.

Experience gained in the Calcutta Zoological Gardens has clearly shown
that only some of the mammals have every year successfully bred and reared
young ones there. Of the birds, all, except a few species, have failed to
propagate, Among the monkeys, the Hanuman (Semmnopitheus entellus), several
species of Macaques (Macacus rhesus, M. cynomolgus, and M., sinicus) of the
Indian and Malayan faunas, and the Malbrouck (Cercopithecus cynoswrus),
peculiar to the Hthiopic region, have successfully bred and cross-bred. The
Mongoose Lemurs (Lemur mongoz) have also bred here, the female producing
only one young ata birth. Of the Felide, the lions in the collection have
not been blessed with any offspring as yet, although the Committee have
provided suitable accommodation, likely to favour the happening of the
longed-for-event, by building a smaller and secluded den, as an annexe to their
cages in the Burdwan House, and hopes are entertained that their efforts in
this direction will ultimately be crowned with success. Tigers have thrice
bred, viz., in May, 1880, May, 1886, and April, 1889, The Leopard and the
Fishing-Cat (Ff. viverrina) are the only two other cats which have bred at

REVIEW. 266

Alipore, and the males of both species sometimes devour their young ones,
Of the Urside, the Himalayan bear (Ursus torquatus) has bred only once, when
the cub unfortunately proved a still-born one, Of the order Chiroptera, the
Indian Fruit Bats (Pteropus medius) have several times produced young
having only one ata birth. Of the Hystricide, only the Short-spined Porcu-
pines (Hystrix longicauda) have several times bred in the Gardens and reared
young ones successfully, though sometimes the young are eaten by their
male parents, Of the Dasyproctide, the Agoutis* Dasyprocta isthmica and D.
prymnolopha) and the Guinea-pig (Cavia porcellus) are very prolific and give
birth to several broods in a year, the former, however, sometimes eating their
young. Of the Rhinocerotide, a hybrid rhino calf was born at Alipore, of the
Rhinoceros lasiotis and R. sumatrensis, on the 30th January, 1889. Of the
Lapiride, female Malayan Tapirs ( Zapirus malayanus) have twice bred, viz,
in May, 1877 and October, 1883. Of the Bovide, the Gyals (Bos frontalis)
have cross-bred with the domestic cattle and produced fine hybrids, and the
Bantengs (B. sondaicus) have also bred. he Beisa antelopes (Oryxbeisa) have
twice reared young ones in the gardens. The gazelles, blackbucks (Antelope
cervicapra) and four-horned antelopes have also successfully bred at Alipore,
as also various species of deer belonging to the family Cervide. Of the
Lragulide, only the Indian Chevrotain (Tragulus memména) often produce
young ones in the gardens, the female generally producing two ata birth, Of
the order Marsupialia, only the Black Wallaby (Halmaturus ualabatus) have
on several occasions bred,

Among the birds, the Common Myna or Salik (Acridotheres irestis) breeds
freely in the gardens both in captivity and in a wild state, often utilising the
feathers cast by other birds in the construction of its nests. Of the order
Columbe, the Indian Blue-rock Pigeon (Columba intermedia) is a regular
breeder in the Alipore menagerie. One of the females of the Common Crown
Pigeon (Goura coronota) twice laid eggs, but could not incubate them,

The Nicobar Ground Pigeons (Calenas nicobarica) have twice bred in the
Gardens, laying a single egg on each occasion, The Emerald Doves (Chaleo-
phaps indica) have also succeeded in rearing broods. Of the order Psitiaci,
the great White-crested (Cacatua cristata), the Sulphur-crested (C. galerita and
C. sulphurea), and the long-billed cockatoos (Licmetis tenuérostris) have some-
times laid in the gardens, but none could be induced to hatch their eggs,
although on such occasions they were removed to secluded spots. The
Crested Ground (Calopsitta nove-hollande) and the Ring-necked Parrakeets
(Paleornis torquatus), a8 also a solitary female of a Purple-capped Lory (Lorius
domicella), have occasionally laid eggs, but never succeeded in hatching out

* Two additional species of this genus, v2z,, a pair each of the Golden Agouti (Dasyprocte
aguti, Linn.) and of the West Indian Agouti (L. cristata, Desm.) have been lately_added to
the collection, A pair of the Patagonian Cavi (Dolichotis patachonica, Shaw) have also been
acquired, Vide Englishman of Monday, the 6th June, 1892,

14:

267 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. WIE le

broods. The Undulated Grass Parrakeets (Melopsittacus undulatus) have only
once bred, when they succeeded in hatching two nestlings, Of the order
Anseres a pair of Spotted bill Ducks (Anas pecilorhyncha) bred during the
latter part of 1885. Of the order Fulicariw, the Purple Coots (Porphyrio
poliocephalus) have thrice bred at Alipore. Of the order Galline, the Black
(Rollulus niger) and the Grey Partridges (Caccabis chakar) in the collection
have frequently laid eggs, but would not hatch them. Some of the pheasants,
however, such as the Silver (Euplocamus nycthemerus), the Lineated (EZ. lineatus)
and Cuvier’s (EZ. cwviert), have bred and reared their young at Alipore. Both
the species of peafowls in the collection (Pavo cristatus and P. muticus) begin
laying in spring and continue doing so till the end of the raims. Of the order
Casuarii, the Emu (Dromeus nove-holland@) bred and reared young ones in
1885-86, Of the order Struthiones, only the Ustriches (Struthio camelus) have
repeatedly laid, but have not yet succeeded in hatching out young,

Animals are frequently imported from foreign countries to the Calcutta
Zoological Gardens, and it has been found that, owing to the narrowness
and dinginess of the cages in which they are confined during the voyage, to the
want of precautions in the matter of providing them with the food and drink
most suitable for them, and tothe absence of arrangements for protecting
them from draughts and cold during inclement weather, much injury is
done to their health during transit. When they arrive in the Gardens, they
are found to be either in a miserable condition or otherwise disabled. From
these injuries they never recover in spite of the most careful nurture, and
after pining for a few months, they die away. A notable instance of this
happened in the case of three Tapirs which were purchased at Singapore in
July, 1883, and shipped thence in battened cages with open tops; “two of
these animals arrived wounded and lame; during the voyage they made
frequent attempts to escape, by climbing over the sides and biting through
the wood-work of the cage. All Tapirs do not, of course, behave in the same
manner ; but the above facts indicate the kind of precaution necessary for
their transport.’ ‘Four specimens of the Blue-bearded Jay of Brazil (Cyano-
corax cyanopogon) were received in the Calcutta Gardens in November, 1888,
in the most miserable condition, and they never recovered from its ill-effects,
and finally died in a month or two after their arrival.

The Committee of the Calcutta Gardens have also instituted a system of
exchange with similar institutions both here and abroad, under which they
send away Indian animals to foreign gardens or societies, and obtain in return
others not exhibited before at Alipore. In “ packing’’ these animals for trans-
mission to foreign countries, the Committee have gained a good deal of
experience as to the best methods of doing so—as to what sort of cages
minister to the comfort of particular kinds of animals during the, journey. or
yoyage, what arrangements should be made for protecting their inmates. from

REVIEW. 268

extremes of heat and cold during transit, and so forth. Instruetiong based
on this experience are given in this work under the sub-heading ‘ Transport,”
for the guidance of the managers of other menageries, and of those who deal
in fer nature, and have often to export and import them. It is advised that
animals from the higher altitudes of the Himalayas should not he
brought down to the plains except during the cold season, even for the purpose
of sending them away to some other congenial climate. During a sea voyage,
animals peculiar to cold climates should, when passing warmer latitudes, be
placed near the ice-house of the Steamer, and the cages containing tropical
animals should, on approaching cold latitudes or during rough weather, be
kept near the engine-house, as severe cold kills them. Further, most elaborate
directions for the constructing and furnishing of transport-cages and selection
of animals to be exported are given,

Under the heading of “ Treatment in Sickness,” detailed information is given
in the work, regarding the various ailments from which animals in the Gardens
have been found to suffer, the treatment adopted, and the remedies adminis-
tered in each case, together with a short account of the results obtained,

The diseases from which lions in the Calcutta Gardens have been observed
to suffer are paralysis, congestion of the lungs, dysentery and diarrhea, In
cases of paralysis, anodines in the shape of camphor and Soap liniment are
freely rubbed over their limbs with a short mop, in order to alleviate their
sufferings, When the disease assumed serious proportions, strychnia in doses
of } grain was given morning and evening, but without effect, In a case of
pulmonary congestion, the chest was alternately poulticed and fomented, while
carbonate of ammonia and chloric ether, mixed with vinegar, were administer-
ed internally every two hours, but to no purpose, as the animal succumbed to
the disease. Festering wounds and injuries received accidentally or in
fighting have been observed to heal up on constantly injecting into the sore
parts a weak solution of corrosive sublimate with a garden syringe, Rheuma-
tism, adiposity, intestinal worms, ingrowing nails, epilepsy are some among the
various ailments that afflict tigers and leopards in the Gardens, Their liability
to rheumatism has been minimised by giving each of them a wooden platform
to sleep upon, Ingrown nails are removed by surgical operations, and a dose
or two of santonine has been found efficacious as a vermifuge. Dysentery
and diarrhoea have been found to afflict the other members of the Felide at
Alipore, as also the Hunting leopard (Cynelurus Jjubatus); only the Ocelot
(Felis pardalis) suffered from severe cold and pulmonary inflammation, Some
species of the Canide in the Gardens have been liable to attacks of paralysis,
diarrheea, fits or convulsions, and skin-disease, the later yielding to constant
washing of the body with carbolic Soap and tepid water and afterwards
painting it with a solution of phenyle. Bearsin the collection have been
found to suffer from diarrhcea, dysentery, hepatic disorders, convulsions,
ulcers, teething, and pulmonary inflammation, Ulcers yielded to the

269 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, VIII.

application, to the affected parts, of a solution of corrosive sublimate,
diarrhea and dysentery are got under by giving them various prepara-
tions of the bael fruit (.<2gle marmelos), Dover's powder and aromatic
powder of chalk. The Rhixoceri have been observed to suffer from tetanus,
pulmonary inflammation and tuberculosis of the lungs and liver. Obstruction
of the bowels and galloping consumption, respectively, were the causes of the
deaths of two Tapirs (Tepirus malayanus), The Scindian Wild Ass (Equus
onager) and Burchell’s Zebra (E. burchell’) have been observed to sutfer from
rhoumatism, brought on by the dampness of the floor of their habitation ; but
liability to it has been much diminished by providing them with wooden
platforms 18 inches high to stand upon. The former is also very much
troubled by sores and wounds, whichare got under by applying to them a
dressing composed of tar, soap, sulphur and carbolic acid. The Bovide
and three species of African antelopes (Orix bestia, O. leucoryx, and O, rea-
canna) are very liable to attacks of rinderpest, parasites and diarrhea, the
latter being cured by restricting the patients to a diet of bamboo leaves,
Inflammation of the lungs isa common ailment among gazelles during the
the rains and winter. They as well as the sheep and the goats in the Gardens
also frequently suffer from diarrhea, <A giraffe in the collection died, it was
surmised, of colic, or pulmonary inflammation. Experience has shown that
the various species of deer are liable to all the ailments which afflict other
members of the Ruminantia. The camels are subject to various kinds of
cutaneous affection abscess of the liver, paralysis, hernia, prolapsus ani, and
superficial ulcers ; the last can be got under only by the application of sulphur
dust to the skin, as it prevents insects from lodging within the hair. The
Marsupials in the Gardens have been found to suffer from paralysis of the
lower limbs, pulmonary inflammation, diarrhea and scrofula. Orang-outangs
(Siméa satyrus) in the collection are very liable to diarrhea, dysentery, bron-
chitis, pulmonary inflammation and paralysis. Various preparations of dael
and ipscacuanha have been found efficacious in checking diarrhoea and dysentery.
Bronchitis yields to the administration of 5 drops of ipecacuanha wine mixed
with honey or liquorice, the chest and the throat being alternately fomented
and rubbed over with ammonia liniment. The hoolocks and gibbons (Aylo-
bates), the semnotes (Semnopitheeus), and the macaques (Jacacus) suffer from
diarrhea, bronchitis and consumption. Bael overcomes diarrhoea, while in
bronchitis cases 10 grains of chlorate of potash in an ounce of simple syrup,
with fomentation and chicken soup, afford great relief to the patient. If
symptoms of consumption are discovered, the animal, if tame, should either
be allowed to run about during the day, especially when the weather is fine, or
otherwise should be removed from the monkey-house and confined in a spacious
and airy cage; and it should be given a teaspoonful of syrup of hypophosphate
of lime twice or thrice a day and a tea spoonful of glycerine with milk twice
daily. The African :monkeys® of the genus Cercopithecus are very liable to

REVIEW, 270

tuberculosis of the liver, flatulent colic, paralysis, and, occasionally, diarrhosa,
Flatulont colic has been found to yiold to the administration of a teaspoonful
of castor-oil with an equal quantity of honey, In cases of paralysis, the
animal is removed toa place free from draughts and cold and provided with
a blanket, while the affected parts are rubbed over with belladonna liniment
morning and evening,

Among the birds, the Cassowaries and the Emus have been observed to
suffer from pulmonary inflammation, bronchial catarrh, inflammation of the
entire mucous lining of the mouth, and diarrhoea, Ostriches suffer from
obscure diseases, of which the true natures have not yet been determined,
They have, however, been known to catch colds of winter nights, Birds of
the genera Lophophorus, Phasianus, Thaumalea, Kuploeamus, Gallus, Ceriornis,
Pavo, Polyplectronan argus, as well as the partridges in the collection, are
most subject to attacks of cold, catarrh, rheumatism, gape, opthalmic inflam -
mation, diarrhoea, tuberculosis of the lungs and liver, and leprosy tubercles,
Birds suffering from cold recover from it on being given a small quantity of
raw ginger with treacle, Cases of gape are treated either by the application,
with a feather, of spirits of turpentine to the wind-pipes of the affected birds,
which, in this state, teem with the offending parasites, or by fumigating them
with carbolic acid vapour, Opthalmic inflammation has been found to yield
to ablution of the eyes with alum water and subsequent painting of them with
caustic solution, Birds suffering from diarrhoea are given, by way of medicine,
afew drops of the tincture of opium with milk and egg food, and also a
little rum in their drinking water, The partrdiges also suffer from abnormal
and misshapen growths of beaks and nails. Almost. all the Pallases (Syr-
rhaptes paradoxus) and Thibetan Sand-grouses (S, tibetanus) in the gardens
died of hepatic or pulmonary affections. Birds of the orders Steganopodes,
Anseres, Gavide, and Limicole are subject to thread worms. induced by a
purely fish diet, invagination of the intestines, fungoid growths in the gullets,
tuberculosis of the lungs and liver, hepatic leprosy, and disease of the oil-
glands —the latter being removed by washing the affected glands with tepid
water, so as to cleanse them from the sticking dirt, and by keeping the sick
birds in a dry place, Cockatoos of the genera Cacatua, Liemetis, and Miero-
glossa are liable to attacks of diarrhoea, cold, and apoplexy brought on by
adiposity. In cases of cold, the birds are treated by giving them chlorate of
potash with liquorice and honey. Cold and pulmonary inflammation are com-
monly met with in parrakeets of the genus Palwornis, Birds belonging to the
Sub-family Lorune are most subject to fits, inflammation of the chest, and
diarrhea, The Trichoglossi, or Broadtails, often suffer from diarrhoea
and cold, Pulmonary inflammation, rheumatism, severe cold, worms and
diarrhoea are some of the ailments which are commonly met with among the
Hornbills, Diarrhoea and cold are treated by giving the suffering birds one

271 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

drachm of rum with 10 drops of the syrup of lactate ofiron. If difficulty
of breathing supervenes, 5 to 8 grs. of chlorate of potash in water internally
given relieves them instantly. The diseases from which birds of the order
Columbe suffer are cold, catarrh, diarrhoea, vertigo, rheumatism and other
obscure ailments, which frequently break out amongthem in an epidemic
form. The Shamas (Cittocincla macroura) are most liable to debility and
emaciation, bad moulting, and warty growths in the legs and feet, the latter
being removed by painting them with tincture of iodine. The Saliks (Acrido-
theres tristis), while young, suffer much from glandular swellings round the
aperture of the cloaca, The Picarine birds have been known to die suddenly
of apoplexy or rupture of some blood-vessel in all probabilty. Diarrhcea
also sometimes troubles them, but is got under by administering 15 drops of
ceastor-oil with 2 of the tincture of opium. The Laughing Thrushes of the
genera Dryonastes and Garrulax have been observed to suffer from diarrhea
and recover therefrom on being treated in the same way as the Picarine birds.
Chronic cold and overgrown beaks are also met with among them. The Gold-
fronted Chloropsis (Chloropsis aurifrons) is subject to a kind of horny fila-
mentous growth at the tip of the tongue. The Bhimraj (Dissemurus para-
diseus) suffers from bad moult. The Grackles (Eulabes) are subject to an
obscure form of eye disease, which is treated by washing the eyes with
sulphate of zine lotion twice daily and by keeping the birds in a warm place.
The young of these species also suffer from tumours or abscesses, which
appear to have a close connection with the growth of their watiles and lappets,
and generally show themselves during the period when these processes are in
course of development, They yield to an application of poultices composed of
burnt turmeric.

No portion of a work on zoology affords greater delight to the ordinary
lover of natural history than that which treats of the habits and instincts of
wild animals. As they are difficult of access in their wild state these habits
and instincts cannot be observed in their native haunts with the same degree
of facility as in vivaria. One of the main objects for which the Calcutia
Zoological Gardens were established is, the observation and recording of such
habits and instincts ; and it would appear from the present work that the Com-
mittee of Management have been in no way negligent in giving effect to this
portion of the prospectus of the institution. Most careful observations have
been made, and voluminous notes recorded, of the temper, propensities,
amusements and other occupations, moods,calls and other habits of the various
mammals and birds that have from time to time, been kept in the Gardens.
These notes have been utilised in the preparation of the work under review,
and it is upon the materials furnished by them that the exhaustive and
interesting remarks under the heading of “Observations on the habits of Animals”
have been based,

REVIEW. 272

The success of an institution like the Calcutta Zoological Gardens can be
judged of only by the number of species exhibited in it, the services it renders
to the advancement of zoological knowledge, and the measure of patronage
extended to it by the public. We can most confidently assert that the Com-
mittee’s efforts to develop the Gardens agreeably to the terms of the original
prospectus and their management of the animals in it have been eminently
successful. We are agreeably surprised to find that the work under review
contains notices of 10 orders, 46 families, 106 genera and 241 species of
mammals, and 24 orders, 52 families, 242 genera and 402 species of birds, +
that had been exhibited in the Gardens up to 1891. Considering that the
Gardens are only in the sixteenth year of their existence, they rival in
respect of the number of species many European and American institutions of
a similar kind, among which may be mentioned .the older establishment in
the London Regent’s Park, which, according to the first edition, published
in 1862, of the “ List of Vertebrates in the London Zoological Gardens,’ had
up to that year exhibited in them only 188 species of mammals and 409 of
birds,

The work has been admirably got up, printed and bound in the usually
excellent style of the Bengal Secretariat Press, and contains 351 large octavo
pages of closely printed matter. Its value has further been enhanced by the
addition of three excellent full-page photo-etchings, executed in the Survey of
India Offices, respectively delineating views of the Carnivora-house, the Deer-
sheds and the Water-fowl enclosure,

We are convinced from a perusal of the work that it would not only make
a capital hand-book, which would “be of great use to the numerous nobles
and other persons who on a smaller scale keep collections of animals or birds
in captivity,” but would also form an admirable text-book of zoology for those
of our schools and colleges in which natural history is taught,

SARAT CHANDRA MITRA, M.A, BL,

Es

* Besides the omissions noted above, the following mammals, which have already been
exhibited in the Gardens, have not been included in the present work: the Black-crested
Ape of Celebes (Cynopithecus niger, Desm.) Egyptian Fox (Canis cerdo, Gmel.); the Markhor
(Capra falconeri, Hiigel), and a flying-squirrel from Burma, named Sciuropterus phayrei,
Blyth, which Dr, Blandford, in his work on Mammalia, in the Fauna of British India series,
page 367, has identified with Sciwropterus sargitta.

+ The undermentioned birds, though at one time exhibited in the collection, have been,
most probably through oversight, omitted from this work: Yellow Troupial (Xanthosomus
Aavus, Gmel,); the Himalayan Jay (Garrulus bispecularis) ; the Neck-lace throated Laughing-
thrush (Garrulaz moniliger) ; Pelecanus onocrotalus, Linn ; the Bahama Duck (Dajila baha-
mensis, Linn,) ; the Prionitwrus setarius of Celebes ; the Greater Bird of Paradise (Paradisea
apoda, Linn.); the Long-tailed Glossy Starling of West Africa (Lamprotornis aéneus, Linn.);
the Variegated Sheldrake of New Zealand (Tadorna variegata); the Little Brown Owl of Java
(Scops lemipiji), and the Carpophaga chalybura, Bp, of the Phillipine Islands,

973 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

NOTES ON INDIAN APHIDKS.*

By G. B. BUCKTON, F.R.S.

Bur little attention hitherto has been given to the tropical Aphides
of the old world. Any addition to our knowledge of the species which in-
habit British India doubtless will prove of interest, both as being connected
with scientific entomology and with agricultural economy.

Hitherto these Homoptera have been regarded as chiefly inhabiting the
temperate regions of the world, but there are reasons for believing that observ-
ation only is needed to prove the existence of diverse species which control
the vegetation which flourishes under the equator.

The Aplus which attacks the bamboo (Bambusa arundinacea) of Dehra Dun
hardly accords with any described European species or even genus, Amongst
many hundred specimens sent to me by Mr. Cotes, I was unable to find a single
winged individual—a circumstance which, for the present, prevents a complete
diagnosis of the species, since the wing venation is of high importance for
classical grouping. The characters of the bamboo Aphis, however, are
sufficiently distinct to justify,in my opinion, the erection of a new genus,
notwithstanding that the diagnosis at present can refer only to the apterous
viviparous female.

Genus Oregma (from ’opéyeiv to protrude), Buckton, Body globose. Vertex
conspicuous from the projection of two straight horn-like processes. Corni-
cles small and conical. Cauda inconspicuous, often tufted with numerous
sete. Rostrum exceedingly short and rising from between the first coxe.

Oregama bambuse, Buckton. Body globose, less soin the immature forms.
Corrugated and constricted into segments. Vertex with two cornua. Eyes
very small. Notum narrow. Rostrum very difficult to see, rising from the
underside of the thorax, much asin Coccus. Antenne about half the length
of the body, obscurely five-jointed and ending with a nail-like process as in
Lachnus. Legs short. Tarsi with two articulations. Colour greenish-brown,
more or less mottled with black. Many of the specimens preserved in weak
spirit were quite black.

Size 0°070 x 0-050 inch.

Clusters on the upper surfaces of the bamboo at Dehra covering the foliage
of the plants with its sooty-black excretion, thereby doing some injury.

The winged female and the (apterous ?) male are undescribed.

The general appearance of this insect may suggest some affinities both with
the genus Lachnus and the genus Chaztophorus ; but the small size of the
insect, the short legs, the peculiar front, and the position of the very short
rostrum will eliminate it from the first genus, whilst the non-tuberculose and
slightly hirsute characters of the abdomen, &c,, will separate it from the
latter.

* Reprinted from Indian Museum Notes with the permission of the Trustees.

THE LOCUST INVASION OF 1889—992.*
By E, ©. Cores.

In the early part of 1891 a report was issued on the subject of the migratory
locust, Acridium peregrinum, Oliv., which has recently
invaded India.t This report gave a Summary of the
information obtained up to the beginning of December, 1890. The notessince
collected on the subject of the invasion of Northern Africa, Persia, and
Turkish Arabia by the same insect appeared in Vol. III., No. 1, of these Notes,
where details are also given of what has been ascertained on the subject of
the parasites and natural enemies which attack it in India, In the present
report it is proposed to give a short sketch of the general features of the
invasion in India, together with such fresh information as has been obtained
on the subject of the habits of the insect and the methods adopted for deal-
ing with it,
The locusts were first noticed in June, 1889, when flights were reported
from Sind and Western Rajputana. These flights,
ae ofthe invasion no doubt, originated in the sand-hills of the desert,
where the insect is said to breed each year in larger
or smaller numbers. They began laying their eggs as usual in J une, when
the rains of the south-west monsoon broke. During the remainder of the
rainy season of 1889 the flights gradually spread throughout Eastern Rajpu-
tana, the Punjab, and Sind, egg-laying going on at intervals in various parts
of Rajputana and the Punjab. The young locusts, which were born from the
eggs laid in the beginning of the rains, acquired wings towards the latter part
of August. In the beginning of the cold weather, owing to the extensive
breeding which had taken place, the locusts seem to have become very numer-
ous in Rajputana and the Punjab, and in November and December flights
from these areas found their way throughout the North-West Provinces and
Central India, and penetrated even as far as the Vizagapatam, Kistna, and
Godavari Districts in the Madras Presidency. They were also reported from
British Baluchistan. During January and February, 1890, stray flights were
reported from various parts of India, but the cold seems to have told upon
them, and they were not very active. As the hot weather of 1890 approached,
however, and the soil, moistened by the winter rain, began to grow warm, the
locusts again became active and commenced egg-laying. Eggs were laid
throughout the north-western districts of the Punjab in March ; also in the
Shikarpur District of Sind in April. By June the young locusts hatched from
these eggs had acquired wings, and the flights spread in all directions, They
penetrated throughout the whole of the North-West Provinces, besides over-
* Reprinted from Indian Musewm Notes with the permission of the Trustees.
+ See Journal, Bombay Natural History Society, Vol. VI. » page 242,
15

Contents,

275 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

running Sind and Rajputana, and making their way into Kathiawar. Eggs
were laid towards the latter part of June, 1890, when the rains had well started,
throughout the whole of Western Rajputana and in the Gurgaon District of
the Punjab. The young locusts hatched out in countless numbers in July,
and in the case of Western Rajputana they were reported as doing much
damage in August. During August and September the flights that were still
wandering about laid more eggs in parts of the Punjab, About September
the young locusts that had been born in the beginning of the rains seem to
have acquired wings, and from September on through the cold weather of
1890-91 the flights spread in all directions in the most remarkable manner.
They made their way throughout Sind, the Punjab, and the North-West Pro-
vinces. ‘Vast flights also moved through Central India into the Central Pro-
vinces, and thence eastwards into Bengal and Assam, southwards through Berar
and Hyderabad into the Madras Presidency, and westwards into the Bombay
Deccan. The flights did a good deal of injury in the restricted areas where
they settled, but the people were so industrious in driving them off their crops
and the birds destroyed such large numbers that the damage inflicted was
small considering the vastness of the invasion. Through December, January,
and February flights were still reported from all parts of India, but the cold
and damp, combined with the relentless persecution of the birds and the people,
had thinned their numbers and reduced them to so miserable a state that they
were able to do little or no damage.

In March, 1891, some of the locusts obtained from the flight which passed
over Calcutta in November, 1890, began to lay eggs in their cages in the Indian
Museum, About the same time, owing, no doubt, to the increasing warmth
at the close of the winter rains, the flights in the Punjab became more’ active,
and egg-laying took place at first in the north-west of the Punjab and Sind
and afterwards in Baluchistan. In May the young locusts hatched from these
eggs became extremely numerous in the Punjab.

The rabi crops were generally too far advanced in growth to be much
damaged by them, but the extra rabi and the early sown kharif crops—especi-
ally cotton—suffered severely. The grass in some tracts was completely eaten
down, and almost every bush and tree was stripped of its leaves. Some idea
may be formed of the numbers in which the insects appeared from the fact
that railway trains were said to have often found it difficult to proceed, owing
to the rails being made slippery by the crushed bodies of the young locusts.
A regular warfare was waged against the insects, under the leadership of the
district officials, who organized the people for the purpose of collecting the eggs
and destroying the young locusts systematically. The military also rendered
useful service in destroying the swarms that invaded cantonments.

The method that was most generally adopted was that of driving the young
locusts into trenches, but the Cyprus screens described in the previous report

. the insects.

LOCUSTS. 276

were also used to a small extent, and useful work was done by driving the
young into heaps of straw and bushes which were then set on fire, In this
way many thousands of maunds of young locusts were destroyed, and the
actual crops were in many places protected. The numbers of the locusts,
however, that bred in waste places in the Punjab was so enormous that success
was only partial, and vast hordes became full grown and acquired wings,
Towards the latter part of May large flights of these young locusts began to
pass over Central India and the North-West Provinces into the Central Pro-
vinces and Bengal, at the same time penetrating into Kathiawar, During the
months of June, July,and August these flights seem to have flown about from
district to district, descending at intervals to devour the young kharif crops
and doing a good deal of damage over restricted areas, especially in Bengal.
They did not lay any eggs, however, and little was heard of them after
August, the supposition being that by this time they had been pretty com-
pletely destroyed by the birds and unfavourable climatic condition of the
damp regions into which they had penetrated.

The immediate result of the departure of these flights seems to have been
to clear the Punjab of locusts, but the insect was still prevalent in Sind and
Rajputana, and soon after the commencement of the rains of the south-west
monsoon flights began to be again reported from the Punjab. During the
rainy season of 1891 egg-laying went on as usual in Sind and Rajputana, while
in the Punjab eggs were reported in comparatively small numbers, at first from
the south-eastern districts and afterwards throughout the whole area, thus
pointing to the supposition that the eggs were laid by flights from Rajputana.
Breeding seems to have gone on at intervals throughout the rainy season of
1891, young locusts being still reported in the Punjab Salt Range in November,
But they were very much fewer than before, and the birds—especially the
Rosy-pastor (Pastor roseus)—destroyed them in vast numbers, The locusts
themselves also were so much parasitised and diseased that the work of the
people in destroying them was very much lightened, and by the close of the
year the pest seems to have been pretty completely wiped out.

In March, 1892, a fewlocustsagain appeared in Sind and the western frontier
of the Punjab and laid eggs in Dera Ismail Khan, while in May some stray
flights penetrated into the North-West Provinces and Bengal. Little damage,
however, has been reported, and the insects seem to have been too few to
cause any anxiety.

Tt will be remembered that the only important points in the life history
of the insect on which any serious doubts were indi-
cated in the previous report were upon the subject of
the number of generation in the year and the relation-
ship borne by the young locusts which hatch out in the spring to those which
hatch out in the autumn, An attempt bas since been made to setile these

Notes on the life history of

277 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

points by rearing the insect upon a considerable scale in large cages which
were specially constructed for the purpose in the Indian Museum, The cages
were placed under somewhat different conditions of sunlight and moisture, but
in each case the insects, though reared from the egg to the imago stage without
difficulty, died off before any ovipositing took place.

Considerable quantities of eggs were received from Rawalpindi and Pesha-
war in the spring of 1891. The first sets dried up without hatching in spite
of the attempts that were made to keep them moist by watering the earth in
which they were placed (1). Eggs received in the end of March, however,
hatched out freely, though a large proportion are believed to have been
destroyed by the parasitic flies that also emerged in large numbers (*). These
young locusts were reared through all their stages without difficulty, though
there was considerably greater mortality amongst them than had been the case
with the ones that were reared in the Museum the previous year, and this in
spite of the fact that the rearing cages were larger than before, and were kept
some in the Museum and others in the open air, with a view to testing the
conditions most favourable to the development of the insect. The young
locusts acquired wings by the middle of May, but died off so rapidly that there
was hardly any of them left by the end of the month. It was not possible,
therefore, to make any observations as to the time at which they would lay
their eggs. .

On the 19th June, 1891, Captain C.G. Parsons wrote from Kohat that up to
a few days previously locusts had been obtainable in the western portion of
the district in every phase of development from eggs to fully-winged insects.
He concluded that the process of egg-hatching had continued from the beginning
of April until the beginning of June in tracts of country where the difference in
elevation caused only a slight change of climate. We have seen that the locusts
that were hatched from the earlier batches of eggs acquired wings in May,
but there is evidence to show that these young locusts were not the parents
of the eggs found by Captain Parsons in the middle of June,and probably not
of any of the eggs laid during the rains. The flights which overran the North-
West Provinces and other parts of India during the rains of 1891 were com-
posed, as we have seen, of the young locusts in question. Large numbers of speci-
mens from these flights were sent to the Museum from various places, but the
numerous females that were dissected invariably had their ovaries far too un-
developed for egg-laying, It is clear, therefore, that these young locusts could
not have been the parents of the later broods of eggs. The case of the locusts
sent to the Museum from flights which visited Singbhoom in the end of June

(:) This would seem to indicate that breaking up the land to expose the eggs to the air
would be useful, provided it were done soon after the eggs were laid. Later on ploughing up
the land becomes almost useless as the eggs hatch out whether exposed to the air or not.

(?) Noticed more fully in No. I. of this volume, pages 84 and 35.

LOCUSTS. 278

and beginning of July has been recorded as a typical one. The first specimens
from this district were received in the Museum on the 30th June. The
females were found on dissection to have their ovaries in an altogether rudi-
mentary condition. On 7th July a number of living specimens were forwarded
from the same locality. These were carefully fed ina cage in the Museum,
and from time to time a specimen was dissected ; but up to the 7th of August,
when the last specimen died and was dissected, though the growth which had
taken place in the ova was very distinctly perceptible, yet there did not appear
to be the slightest probability of the insects being ready :to oviposit for a
long time to come, The impossibility of keeping the locusts in a healthy con-
dition in confinement renders the deductions drawn from caged specimens
necessarily unreliable. So far, however, as the evidence can be depended
upon, it goes to show that the later broods are not the offspring of the young
locusts hatched in the early part of the year. The question would be an easy
one to solve for any one who lived on the borders of the deserts of Western
Rajputana, where the insect is constantly to be found. All that would be
necessary would be to dissect the insects present from day to day, and to trace
the growth of the ovaries throughout the year. It may be suggested that the
matter is one that might reasonably be taken up by some of the medical
officers who are resident in the areas concerned.

With regard to the parentage of the eggs which are so often laid in the
Punjab towards the close of the winter rains, it has been ascertained that eggs
can be laid at this time by locusts which were themselves hatched in the pre-
ceding rains. Winged locusts from a flight which passed over Calcutta in
November, 1890, and which had almost certainly originated in eggs laid in
Rajputana in the previous rains, were kept in a cage in the Museum and
regularly fed. In the latter part of March, 1891, they began copulating, and
on the 26th March a number of eggs were laid. The earth in the cage had
been previously saturated with water, in imitation of the conditions that have
been shown to be favourable to egg-laying ; but the insects seemed to be too
sickly to dig holes in the ground and simply deposited them on the surface.
Some of the locusts lived on after laying their eggs through a great part of
April ; but by the 4th of May they were all found to have died, while the eggs
they had laid dried up and came to nothing. Very much the same experience
is detailed by Colonel Powlett, Resident, Western Rajputana States, who
writes in a report, dated 24th April, 1891, received from the Agent to the Goy-
ernor-General, Rajputana, through the Government of India :—

“* At and about Jodhpore most of the young brood of locusts appeared early in August,
When this brood got wings in September, I caught some hundreds and put them in cages
and had them regularly fed ; they died off, and by February there were less than twenty
left, but two pairs of these were observed to copulate. On the 24th and 25th February two
females laid eggs. They were not healthy masses of eggs, and the females did not succeed
in depositing them under the soil placed in the cages, nor have they hatched. But it is

279 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

evidently difficult to keep locusts healthy in cages, and the oviposits being poor is not
wondered at. It would appear, however, to be proved that the common locusts of Northern
India can copulate and lay eggs six or seven months after birth, and that in all probability
the eggs lately laid in the Punjab were those of insects hatched last August. The locusts
which copulated round Jodhpore last July were of a bright yellow ; the survivors of their
offspring, which were pink when put into the cages in September, were in February a dirty
purple colour, and to the best of my recollection that was the colour of the locusts the eggs
of which many years ago I helped to destroy during the month of March in the Punjab.”

The habitual disappearance of locusts throughout the greater portion of the
winter months in North-Western India is explained by the fact that they
require little or no food during this period, and probably hybernate in a dor-
mant condition. On 28th February, 1891, Mr. J. Cleghorn wrote that locusts
had been hybernating without food in a cage kept in his house in Peshin,
Baluchistan, since the 15th September, 1890, though he had found that similar
insects in the summer required to be fed constantly to keep them alive.

There is little to add to what has already been recorded upon the subject
of the methods adopted in fighting the locusts, but it
may be useful to notice what was actually done during
the year 1891 in carrying on the campaign in
different districts. The reports which have been received upon this subject

Measures adopted against
the locusts.

are very fragmentary, but the measures they describe are probably typical of
what went on over the greater portion of the areas invaded. (*)

Tn the cold weather of 1890-91 numbers of the winged locusts which swarmed
into the Rawalpindi District were killed in the early mornings, when they
were numb with cold, by the people; and as the spring of 1891 advanced, a
regular campaign was organized thfoughout the Punjab by the district officials
for the destruction of the young locusts,

In Dera Ismail Khan, a naib-tahsildar and kanungo, with six or seven chapra-
sis under them, were put in charge of each tappa, and lambardars and zilladars
were warned to render every assistance in their power. Five hundred rupees
were spent in rewards. The wells and water-courses were kept clean to avert
epidemic disease, but the people were very apathetic, and little impression
was made on the vast swarms which crowded into the district,

In Rawalpindi the district was divided into circles with an officer in charge
of each, whose main duty it was to look after the destruction of the locusts and
their eggs. All tahsil officials were employed in the work of destruction, and a
thousand rupees were spent from district funds. Millions of eggs and young
locusts were destroyed, but the impression made was small, as the insects laid
their eggs largely in the extensive and sparsely peopled Kala Chitta Range,
where it was most difficult to get at them,

(*) The following notices are mostly taken from a report by the Director of Land Records
and Agriculture, Punjab, supplemented by the information collected from crop and other
reports sent to the Museum.

LOCUSTS. 280

In Hazara some four hundred maunds of young locusts were destroyed in
April in the Mansahra Tahsil under the direction of the tahsildar,

In Peshawar the villagers were turned out at once whenever young locusts
showed themselves, and by the 20th April some ten thousand people were at
work. When the rabi harvest began the villagers were dismissed, and five
thousand hired labourers were employed until about the 3rd of May, when the
barley was half reaped and the ears of wheat were too hard to be attacked by
the young locusts. At a low estimate, over eighty millions of young locusts
were destroyed, the cost being about eight thousand rupees, The myriads of
locusts, however, which poured into the district from independent territory
made it impossible to deal at all completely with the invasion.

In Kohat orders were issued to turn out the people when the locusts
hatched, and the greatest exertions were made to deal with the pest. In the
Kohat station itself, Captain Parsons wrote that the chief invasion lasted
about ten days. During this time vast numbers of locusts were destroyed
each day, the quantity amounting on one occasion to six hundred maunds,
One rupee was paid for each maund weighed. Nearly all the undetained
inhabitants of the city laboured, and the troops and the boys of the large High
School assisted. The collection of the insects was very simple, as they could
be shaken off the trees by thousands into sheets held below. Four men could
collect a maund ina very short time. There were ten weighing stations
established, and the district funds were freely drawn upon. According toa
crop report published in June, 1891, numbers of young locusts in the Hangu
Tahsil of Kohat were also destroyed by firing the dwarf palms through which
they were crawling, while in the Barak ilaqua the destruction is noticed in the
same report of some three thousand maunds of young locusts,

In Jhelum the destruction of eggs began early in March. From five
hundred to six hundred maunds of eggs were destroyed in one tahsil. At first
one anna, and later half-an-anna,a seer was paid for the egos, while gur and
atta were distributed to the people engaged in destroying the young locusts,
Some Rs. 3,000 was noticed as spent from district funds in the early part of
the spring upon the.destruction of eggs and young locusts. But the Deputy
Commissioner states that the people were inclined to be apathetic, as, from the
dimensions of the plague, it seemed hopeless to cope with it,

In Shahpur the naib-tahsildar of Khushab was put in special charge, and
large numbers of young locusts were destroyed, though little real impression
was made upon the pest.

In Gujranwalla in March many of the winged locusts were killed in the
mornings and evenings when they were inactive, Every patwari, lambardar,
and policeman was made responsible for reporting at the tahsil whenever egos
were laid or young appeared. Land in which egos had been deposited, if not
under crop, was ploughed three or four times so as to expose them, Hggs

281 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Voi. VIT1.

also were collected in great numbers, the usual plan being to make each house
in a village furnish daily a “ tind” or well-pot full of eggs.

In Sialkot bands of villagers were organised to kill the young locusts. The
methods adopted were, driving them into trenches and burying them, and
surrounding them with a circle of men armed with branches, who gradually
drove them into straw which was then burnt.

An interesting account is given by Colonel Lance, the Officer Commanding
at Ferozepur, of the methods adopted in fighting the young locusts which in-
vaded that cantonment in May, 1891. Both British and native troops were
employed in the work, and Colonel Lance writes :—

‘“‘ Hach corps and detachment was given certain limits within which it was to work and to
do its best to destroy any swarms that came within them; corps, however, were employed
at other places that were heavily threatened, as required.

“ With the exception of one heavy swarm that came on the 17th Bengal Cavalry lines, the
swarms came on the south-west corner of the station, and on the south-east and north-east
as far as the cemetery, near the Sudder Bazar. Inthe Commissariat Transport lines they
were in countless numbers, and for days it seemed as if they would succeed in getting into
the station from that direction.

“The method principally adopted to destroy the locusts was by burning them with
dry grass. When swarming in trees or bushes this seems to be the only effective method.
When in open ground it is easy to drive them to lines or clumps of dry grass in which they
swarm, and which is lighted when the whole swarm has collected. The objection to this
method, however, is the enormous expenditure of grass, even when used economically
as was done when the men became experienced in the work. Large quantities of grass were
bought, but the Executive Engineer placed at my disposal a large quantity of old thatch
without which it would have been impossible to have,provided the quantity of grass required.
Kerosine was tried with the grass. It was used chiefly to burn the locusts out of trees
and bushes, but it was found after trial that in most cases the grass was nearly as effective
without kerosine, a great deal of which was required to produce any result,

“Tt was found that grass could be much economised by digging a small trench about
a foot deep and a foot wide, filling the bottom with a little grass and laying the same lightly
on the earth thrown upon the side opposite to that towards which the locusts were being
driven. A little more grass sprinkled round the trench after the swarm had been driven
into it, and set fire to, effectively secured the destruction of the swarm with but little
expenditure of grass.

“Pits were also dug into which the locusts were driven and then buried. This plan
is said to answer well when the insects are small, but when, as in the present case, they
are large and active, it is found that they could not be kept in the pits unless they were
dug very deep, and even then many succeeded in getting away.

“Thad the opportunity of trying the method said to have been used with great success
in Cyprus. Low canvas screens were made from condemned tents supplied from the arsenal ;
and strips of American cloth, over which the locusts cannot crawl, were sewn to their upper
edge. In front of these screens, which were set up in the path of the locusts, pits were dug,
round which an edging of tin was placed, up which the locusts could not crawl. Driven
against these screens the locusts either hopped into the pit themselves or were driven
in by men, who eventually surrounded them. 'The advantages of this plan are the extent
of ground that is covered, the comparatively few men that are required, and the completeness

IRIDESCENT COLOURS. 282

of the operation, as if the screens are sound and the drive conducted with skill and patience
scarcely any locusts can escape being driven into the pits, The tin rim obviates the necessity
of the pits being dug deep, 2 or at more 3 feet being sufficient. The rims used were 4 feet by
2 feet, an edging of 24 inches of tin on the ground surface round the pit, and the same width
on the inside edge of it.

“T recret that [knew of this plan too late to provide sufficient screens for general use}
I believe that this system will be found most efficacious, and feel confident that had we been
prepared with this apparatus, the work of destruction would have been carried on with less
trouble and with better results.”

In Jhang, according to a crop report issued in June, 1891, twenty thousand
maunds of locusts had up to that time been destroyed.

The above comprises all detailed information which has reached the Museum
on the subject of what was done in the Punjab in the Spring of 1891, but
numerous incidental notices have been received of the work of destruction
which seems to have gone on systematically in all districts where young
locusts hatched out.

With regard to what was done in Sind and Rajputana, where egg-laying
also went on, little fresh information has been obtained, but the people seem,
as usual, to have done what they could in the way of destroying the young
locusts by driving them into trenches.

In the case of the measures taken in districts that were only visited by
flights, no fresh information has been received, but the system which has proved
so successful of driving the insects off the crops is believed to have been
universally adopted by the cultivators.

Ki. C. Cores,
Deputy Superintendent,
Indian Museum, Calcutta.
Sth June, 1892.

ON IRIDESCENT COLOURS AND A METHOD OF EXAMINING
IRIDESCENT OBJECTS, BIRDS, INSECTS, MINERALS, &c., SO
AS TO ENSURE UNIFORMITY IN THEIR DESCRIPTION.

By ALEx. HODGKINSON, M.B., B.SC.”

ON taking a general survey of coloured objects, whether natural or artificial,
we become aware of the fact that whilst the colours of some remain unchanged
as regards tint, whatever their position in relation to the incident light, the
tint of others varies with every alteration in their relationship to such light
source. We thus see that, so far as their colours are concerned, all bodies may
be arranged in two groups according as their colours change or do not change
in tint as their angular relationship to the light varies, Nor is this classifica-
tion entirely an artificial one, since, as will shortly be seen, though this change

* This Paper appeared originally in the Memoirs and Proceedings of the’ Manchester
Literary and Philosophical Society, Vol. V, Part IT, ;

16

283 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, VIII.

in tint with variation in the light source is an essential difference, it is not the
only difference, even in the colour manifestations of the two groups, for it is
also characteristic of the nature of the colour-producing structure. It is to
the above-mentioned varying colours that we apply the term “ iridescent,” from
the resemblance they have in the sequence or play of colours to the tints of
the rainbow. The unvarying group of colours, having no equivalent term to
“ iridescence” to express the nature of their colour production, are spoken of
as “pigmentary,” or absorption colours. In naming examples of objects,
natural and artificial, grouped as above in accordance with the nature of their
colours, it is difficult to make a selection where all are so varied and charac-
teristic. I have preferred, therefore, to cite only such instances as I myself
possess, and am, therefore, able to show you. As examples of pigmentary
colours, I need only name one or two for the sake of comparison, since the
eolours of most objects ordinarily met with are pigmentary. Leaves, flowers,
dyes, birds, fish, insects, minerals, &c., exhibit these colours, some almost
entirely, and all, excepting fish, in far the majority of instances. Of objects
displaying iridescent colours we have also examples in the various divisions of
the animal, vegetable, and mineral kingdoms. Amongst birds the most striking
examples are found amongst the Humming Birds, Sun Birds, Birds of Para-
dise, &c. Insects, again, furnish numerous examples, more especially
amongst tropical species, though not, perhaps, proportionally in greater
numbers than amongst those belonging to our own more temperate regions.
The colours of fish are almost entirely iridescent, since their very whiteness, or
silvery sheen, is due to the admixture of the iridescent colours of innumerable
minute thin lamelle, too small to be seen individually with the naked eye, but
plainly perceptible under the microscope. In the vegetable kingdom irides-
cent colours are far more numerous than is ordinarily recognized, since the
surfaces of the cell-walls produce interference colours which are more or less
obscured by the pigmentary colours of leaves and coloured flowers, but may
be readily seen in the case of white flowers by the aid of a lens and sunlight.
Under these conditions each cell may be seen to sparkle with its own iridescent
colour, forming, by admixture of the interference tints of neighbouring cells,
the varying shades of white seen in numerous flowers which are devoid of
pigmentary colour, Mineral bodies displaying iridescent colours are also
numerous ; opals, sunstone, fire-marble, felspar, mica films, tarnish on various
metallic crystals, certain crystals of chlorate of potash, &c., are examples.

In describing the various natural objects for purposes of identification, or
mere description, no account can be considered complete which omits all re-
ference to their colours, and more especially is this the case where the colours
constitute such a striking feature, asin the case of iridescent bodies. In in-
numerable instances, more especially amongst birds and insects, their specific
names are taken from some conspicuous colour they possess. It thus becomes
evident that a correct description of the colours of bodies is of importance,

IRIDESCENT COLOURS. 284

and where these colours are of the pigmentary or unchanging kind, this is a
matter of no difficulty. How different, however, in the case of objects, the
colours of which not only vary with every change of position, but disappear
altogether, unless viewed with special relation to the light source, Nor can
it be wondered at that descriptions of these objects, even by observers of
undoubted repute, vary according to the different angles from which they
have been viewed, or are vague and profuse, owing to fruitless attempts to
describe their changing tints produced by every movement, The fact is, no
words can convey an adequate impression of the gorgeous effects produced by
most of such objects, whether birds, insects, or fish, when in motion in bril-
liant sunshine. Some notion of the difficulties to contend with in describing
the colours of humming birds, for example, may be gathered from the
remarks of Wallace in his work on “ Tropical Nature,” when speaking of
humming birds :—“ In some species they must be looked at from above, in
others from below ; in some from the front, in others from behind, in order to
catch the full glow of the metallic lustre ; hence, when the birds are seen in
their native haunts, the colours come and go and change with their motion, so
as to produce a startling and beautiful effect.” Most observers, in describing
the colours of iridescent bodies, do so by attempting to depict the varied
effects produced by casually changing the position of the object in relation to
the light, omitting to mention the exact sequence of the play of colours, or the
relation of these colours to the direction of the iridescent light, i.e., whethe

produced by perpendicular or oblique illumination, Here is a description of
the tufted neck humming bird, Zrochilus ornatus, taken haphazard from a
well-known work :—‘‘ The throat is of a fine green colour, variable in differ-
ent lights to a golden hue with a yellow or brown metallic lustre, and below
that the whole of the belly is a rich brown, glossed with green, and golden.”
Such descriptions as the above, which happen to be the first I met with in
seeking for an instance, are vague, and fail to give a definite idea of the
appearance of the object. But vagueness in the description of these objects
is not the only result of the changing character of their colours, As might be
expected, where such variation in appearance exists, the descriptions of differ-
ent authors are almost as variable as the colours, Few attempt descriptions
without acknowledging the hopelessness of the task, Thus J ardine, after
describing this humming bird, Chryslampis mosquitus, remarks : “It ig impos-
sible to convey by words the idea of these tints, and having mentioned those
substances to which they approach nearest, imagination must be left to con-
ceive the rest,” And I adduce this quotation as fairly expressing the feeling
of naturalists in reference to the description of iridescent objects general-
ly. Recognizing the admitted inability of observers to convey by description
an idea of the appearance of these iridescent objects, and having myself, for
many years, constantly experienced the same difficulty, I have been led to
adopt a method for the examination of such objects, which, whilst extremely

285 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIit.

simple and available in its application, yields unvarying results with different
observers—results, moreover, which admit of the simplest description.

Before describing this method, I may say that long experience in the
examination of iridescent objects has proved to me that, almost without
exception, the colours of natural iridescent objects are due to interference
produced by thin plates. In order, therefore, to render clear the principles
on which the method I propose is founded, I will briefly refer to certain
fundamental facts in connection with colour production by thin plates, and
for this purpose will select a thin film of mica, which, with light at
perpendicular incidence, appears red, iridescent red. If, now, this plate be
inclined so that the light falls on it at a more oblique angle, it is, of course,
reflected atthe same angle, and now appears orange, and if the plate be still
further inclined, the reflected light appears yellow, then yellowish-green,
green, and bluish-green ; and if the light were not too copiously reflected from
the first surface to allow of perceptible interference by further inclination of
the plate, all the colours of the spectrum in their proper sequence might be
observed. The same results, but much more vividly, may be seen in these
erystals of chlorate of potash. Thus we see that by rendering the incident
light more and more oblique, the reflected light changes from a lower toa
higher tint, that is, from the red towards the violet end of the spectrum, And
this is what occurs in the case of all iridescent bodies ; as the incident light
becomes more oblique, the colour changes to the tint above it in the spectral
order, so that, if we know what colour any such object appears when seen ata
certain angle, we can infer what colour it will change to on varying the
incidence. This beetle (Sagra purpurea), for instance, is red at perpendicular
incidence ; it will, therefore, appear orange-yellow and green when examined
by successively increased obliquity of light. And the same is true of all other
iridescent red objects. If the object at perpendicular incidence be green, as
in the case of this beetle (Buprestis), it will become blue and then violet as the
incidence is increased. We thus see that an iridescent object varies in colour
simply because it is examined by light incident, and therefore reflected, at
different angles. Thus, different observers see the same iridescent object of a
different colour, when they view it illuminated by light at a different angle of
incidence. If, however, the object is seen by all at the same angle of the
incident light, it will present the same colour ; and this is, in fact, what the
method I propose ensures, #.¢., that iridescent objects shall always be seen by
light at one and the same angle of incidence. The angle I select is one of 90°,
so that the incidence and reflection are normal or perpendicular to the reflect-
ing surface. By selecting this angle, all trouble of measuring angles is
avoided, since we know that the incidence is perpendicular when it coincides
with reflection. Now the reflected light may be made to coincide with the
incident light by reflecting it on to the object by means of a mirror, and so
adjusting the object that the light reflected from it passes to the eye through

IRIDESCENT COLOURS. 286

a perforation in the mirror. When examined in this way, iridescent objects
are marvellously altered in appearance, their changing colours are replaced by
one fixed tint, visible only in one position—a fact which serves at once to dis-
tinguish them from bodies coloured by absorption, which remain coloured,
whatever the relation to the incident light. Such methods of examining bodies
scarcely takes more time than by the eye alone. The mirror may be attached
to a spectacle frame so as to leave both hands free, such as the one I show, or
may be a simple hand mirror, For objects too small to be seen by the un-
aided eye, I have so arranged the microscope that light is made to pass down
the tube of the instrument, through the object glass on to the objects, and by
a Special arrangement, so adjusted the position of the object that the light is
reflected back again through the instrument to the eye. The method is thus
available for macroscopic as well as microscopic objects.

To illustrate the practical value of this plan of examination, I have here
a few objects exhibiting iridescent colours, which, by trial, will be found to
give the following results :—

The crest of this humming bird, Chrysolampis mosquitus, which, to the
unaided eye, appears resplendent with all shades of red, orange, yellow, or
green, according to the angle of the incidence light, appears, when examined by
the mirror, of one unvarying red tint, disappearing when the object is moved,
but absolutely unchanging in tint. Such an object, therefore, I should
describe as “iridescent red,” all else regarding its colour may be inferred.
Again, the breast, or gorget, of the same bird reflects all shades of orange,
yellow, or green to the eye alone ; with the mirror it is seen of a deep orange,
which, as before, is unchanged in tints by any variation in position. Such an
object I would describe as “ iridescent orange.’ The gorget of another
humming bird, Calliphlox amethystina, to the eye alone, appears crimson, orange,
yellow, or green ; with the mirror it is iridescent crimson only, spectroscopically
a red of the 2nd order. Amongst insects, instances of iridescent species are
numberless, the results of examination are just the same as in other iridescent
bodies. ‘This butterfly, Morpho, to the eye alone appears either greenish-blue,
blue, or violet, as its inclination to the light varies ; examined with the
mirror it appears green, and should be described as iridescent green, or iride-
scent bluish-green. This beetle, Poropleura bacca, appears any shade of red,
yellow, or green to the eye alone ; with the mirror only iridescent red, In
this extraordinary beetle, Chrysochroa fulminans, we have all the colours of
the spectrum in their natural sequence, beginning with red at the tip of the
wing case, and ending with violet higher up the elytron, These colours
vary in an indescribable manner when attentively examined at different angles
of incident light with the eye alone ; with the mirror the wing cases are seen
to be coloured successively from base to tip iridescent green, yellow, orange,
and red, and these tints remain unaltered by change of position of the object.
This piece of Haliotis shell exhibits indescribable changes of colour with every

287 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

movement, but the difficulty of description, though by no means removed, is
immeasurably lessened by the use of the mirror. And the same with this
specimen of iridescent iron ore ; its colours, which vary to the unaided eye,
remain unchanged when examined by the mirror, To simplify the description
of iridescent objects, therefore, I would advocate the above method, and
would describe the result of such examination by recording the colour
observed by aid of the mirror, and prefixing the term “ iridescent” to express
the changing properties of the colour. Bearing in mind the unvarying nature
of these changes, a far clearer idea may be formed of the appearance of these
objects than from any attempted description of what is admittedly mdescrib-
able, Time and space are also economised by the omission of lengthy
descriptions. The accuracy, and therefore the value, of any description of
colour, is always enhanced by mapping its spectrum ; more especially is this
true in the case of iridescent colours. This is easily done, and by applying
such map to a spectral chart, the order of the colour, and therefore its tint, is
apparent. In examining many objects, chiefly birds or insects, by means of
the mirror as above described, apparent exceptions are repeatedly met with
to the fact stated above that the colour is invariable in tint and disappears by
inclination of the body. Such instances are no real exceptions, but are due to
the reflecting plates being curved, or having pigmentary matter beneath them,
or an opalescent medium above them. In this way some of the most extra-
ordinary and beautiful colour effects, it seems possible to conceive, are produced.
Some of them I hope to bring before your notice on a future occasion.

In examining objects with the perforated mirror a single light is necessary.
The sun is of course the best, and the electric light probably almost as good.
I frequently employ the lime-light, but a good paraffin lamp may be used as a
substitute. Ordinary gas is unsuitable. The light should be placed in front
of the observer, its direct rays being prevented from falling on the objects by
means of a book or partition of some kind resting on the table, and of such a
height that the light can be seen above it. On placing the mirror to the eye
the light may be reflected from the mirror on to the object, and the latter
manipulated so as to reflect the ray back through the perforation in the mirror
to the eye, The incidence is thus known to be normal, and the colour
observed is the one to be recorded.

NOTES ON THE HABITS OF SOME LIVING SCORPIONS.

By R. I. Pocock,

THE literature which treats of the habits of living scorpions is not volu-
minous, but it labours under the disadvantages of being based largely upon
undetermined species, and of being often of questionable trustworthiness
with regard to the statements that are made, Even accounts that have been
given of late years of the same species of scorpion differ widely as to facts

SCORPIONS, 288

of no small importance. Mons, L. Becker, for instance, asserts that the senses
of hearing and seeing are highly developed in Prionurus australis, the
thick-tailed yellow scorpion of Algeria and Egypt ; Prof, Lankester, on the
contrary, declares exactly the opposite to be the case. Discrepancies such as
these and the deficiencies above mentioned show the need for fresh obser-
vations upon the subject, and no further excuse need be offered for publishing
the following notes upon the habits of some specimens of two Species of scor-
pions, Parabuthus capensis and Euscorpius carpathicus, which I was fortunate
enough to keep for some months in captivity.

For the specimens of Parabuthus I gladly take this opportunity of express-
ing my thanks to my friend, Mr. H. A. Spencer, of Cape Town, who kindly
collected them for me at Port Elizabeth while acting as medical officer on
board the Union Steam Ship Company’s S.S. “Mexican;” while for the Eyscor-
pius Iam indebted to the kindness of Dr, Gestro, of the Natural History
Museum at Genoa, This last genus of scorpion Prof, Lankester has also
written about ; many of my observations, therefore, merely confirm those of
this author. No description, however, has to my knowledge ever been
published upon the habits of any species of Parabuthus. This genus, how-
ever, belongs to the same family as Prionurus, and the behaviour of the two
in captivity seems to be very similar.

There is an abundance of evidence that scorpions are nocturnal, and mine
were no exception tothe rule. They would spend the daytime huddled
together in corners of their box or under pieces of wood ; at night they
would wander about, presumably in search of food. It was easy, however,
at any time during the day to rouse them from their sluggishness by applying
a little artificial warmth to the box. One end of the box containing the
Parabuthus was closed with a plate of perforated zinc. If this box was
placed in the fender at a distance of about a couple of feet from a moderate
fire, with the zinc end turned towards the grate, the scorpions would climh
upon the metal plate and baskin the warmth. But immediately the box
was brought near the bars of the grate they would all clamber or tumble from
their position with ludicrous haste. It must not be supposed, however, that
the amount of heat required to make them retreat was at all great. Asa
matter of fact warmth that I could without inconvenience bear for several
minutes upon my hand would throw these animals at once into a state of
the greatest consternation,

When walking both Parabuthus and Euscorpius carry the large pincers or
chelz well in advance of the head; these appendages thus fulfil the office of
antennz or feelers. In Parabuthus the body, however distended and heavy
with food, is raised high upon the legs exactly as Prof, Lankester has de-
seribed in Prionurus, and the tail is usually carried, curled in a vertical plane,
over the hinder part of the back. In Euscorpius, on the contrary, as has also
been pointed out by Prof, Lankester, the ventral surface of the body is

289 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIIT.

scarcely raised from the ground during progression, and the tail, which is
very slender and relatively much lighter than in Prionurus or Parabuthus
is dragged along, extended, and with aslight curl only at its hinder end.
This difference in the carriage of the tail depends possibly upon the differ-
ence in its size and weight. For it seems reasonable to suppose that the
heavy, robust tail of a Pwrabuthus or Prionurus is carried with less muscular
effort when curled over the back than when stretched out behind as is
Euscorpius.

When attempting to climb up the smooth sides of their box the Parabuthus
would raise themselves upon the extremity of the fifth segment of the tail, and
by keeping this organ perfectly rigid and in the same straight line as the body
they could maintain themselves ina nearly vertical position, thus reaching
considerably higher than if supported upon the hind legs alone.

The method of digging shallow pits or holes in sand, which Mons, Becker
and Prof. Lankester have described in the case of Prionurus, is also practised
by Parabuthus. Standing upon the first and fourth pairs of legs, and using
the tips of the chele and the end of the tail as additional props, with the
disengaged legs, a scorpion rapidly kicks the sand backwards between the
legs of the Jast pair, very muchasa rabbit or rat does when burrowing.
Then with the apparent intention of removing what would prove an obstacle
to its vision when crouching in the hole, it sweeps aside with its tail the heap
of sand that has been thrown up, until the area surrounding its lurking place
is tolerably level.

I never saw a Euscorpius digging in the sand. They were usually to be
found during the daytime under pieces of wood, to which they were nearly
always clinging belly uppermost. It is difficult to explain why this attitude
should be assumed. Many terricolous arthropods, however, have the same
habit, and I see no reason for thinking that in the case of Huscorpius it has
any connection with the copulation of these animals as Prof, Lankester
suggests.

All scorpions appear to be carnivorous, and there seems to be little doubt
that they live principally upon insects or other articulated animals. My
specimens of Euscorpius would eat blue-bottles and small flies, small cock-
roaches (E. germanicus), wood-lice, small spiders, and centipedes (Lithobius
and Geophilus). The Parabuthus were fed principally upon the common
house-cockroach and upon blue-bottles. Itis interesting to note in connec-
tion with this last fact that Prof. Lankester’s examples of Prionurus would
not eat this common cockroach, nor did they seem to care for blue-bottle
flies. This difference of instinct in the choice of food is remarkable, seeing
how similar these two scorpions are in other particulars, both of habit and
structure.

No one acquainted with the agility of a cockroach and the usual sluggish-
ness of a scorpion would think that the latter would often succeed in cap-

SCORPIONS. 290

turing the former. Yet in truth, when placed in the same box, the insect
seldom has a long lease of life, Its ultimate fate is always due to its ignorance
of the scorpion’s nature, and to the latter’s adroitness in seizing anything
that comes within reach. Wandering round the box, and exploring every
inch of its new quarters with its antennz, the cockroach soon discovers the
presence of the scorpion by touching it with the tips of these organs. The
scorpion’s sense of touch, however, is as delicate as the imsect’s, and the
latter’s antenne, or any part of it that happens to be near, is quickly seized
by the pincers of the scorpion, Should the latter be disinclined for food and
take no notice of the cockroachs first approach, the insect, continuing its
wanderings, will fearlessly creep over the scorpion, just as a rabbit will over
a python. Obviously this fearlessness must prove its destruction in the end,
if not immediately. By means of its agility and strength, a cockroach some-
times eludes the scorpion’s first clutch, and sometimes, but not often, breaks
away from the latter’s hold. Butit does not readily learn from its narrow
escape the advisability of giving its enemy a wide berth the next time they
meet.

Although usually trusting to their heels for escape, cockroaches occasion-
ally resort to a method of self-defence which is sufficiently curious to be
described. Advancing upon an adversary rear end foremost, and at the same
time wagging from side to side this region of the body, they deliver vigorous
backward kicks with their spinny hind-legs. ‘his novel and humiliating
mode of fighting, although not likely to prevail long against jaws and stings,
is sufficient, nevertheless, to gain sometimes for the insects a temporary
reprieve. I have indeed seen a fine female Madeira tarantula spider retreat
in discomfiture before a big cockroach of the same sex, which assaulted her
in the way described.

As soon as a cockroach is seized the use of thescorpion’s tail is seen; for
this organ is brought rapidly over the latter’s back, and the point of the
sting is thrust into the insect. The poison instilled into the wound thus
made, although not causing immediate death, has a paralysing effect upon
the muscles, and quickly deprives the insect of struggling powers, and con-
sequently of all chance of escape. If the insect, however, is a small one—one
in fact that can be easily held in the pincers and eaten without trouble while
alive—a scorpion does not always waste poison uponit. Thus I have seen a
Parabuthus seize a blue-bottle fly, transfer it straight to its mandibles, and
pick it to pieces with them when still kicking. Prof. Lankester only rarely
saw his scorpions feed. I was more fortunate and repeatedly watched the
operation, which is always performed exactly as this author has described.
An insect is literally picked to pieces by the small chelate mandibles, these
two jaws being thrust out and retracted alternately, first one and then the
other being used. The soft juices and tissues thus exposed are drawn into

17

291 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

the minute mouth by the sucking action of the stomach. It would seem,
however, that some hard chitinous pieces are also introduced into the alimen-
tary canal, for the entire exoskeleton of a cockroach is rarely, if ever, left
after the meal is finished.

Feeding is a slow process ; a good-sized cockroach will last a Parabuthus for
upwards of two hours or more. But although voracious eaters when the
chance presents itself, they are able to endure with impunity starvation of
several weeks’ duration. Unlike spiders, which are notoriously thirsty crea-
tures, scorpions never seem to need anything to drink. Atleast none of mine
were ever seen to touch water, although a supply of it was at first always kept
in their box.

With regard to the higher senses, the only one that seems to be highly deve-
loped is that of touch. Mons. lL. Becker declares that sight and hearing are
excessively developed ; but I cannot substantiate this statement in either
particular. With regard to hearing, my observations agree entirely with those
of Prof. Lankester, who could not detect the existence of any sense of this
nature. None of my scorpions ever gave the slightest response to any kind of
sound, although they were tried with tuning forks of varying tone and with
shouts of both high and low pitch. These animals, in fact, resemble the
hunting spiders in being apparently devoid of auditory organs. They further.
resemble them in the development of their visual powers, being able to see
a moving body, like a living cockroach, at a distance of only about three or
four inches, Even at a distance less than this they do not seem able to
distinguish form. Thus a specimen of Parabuthus, excited by the presence
of cockroaches in the box, was seen to rush at one of its fellows that crossed
its line of vision about two inches off, evidently not recognising by sight a
member of its own species, for directly the pincers came in contact with the
latter the mistake was discovered, the pugnacious attitude dropped, and no
further notice was taken. This last observation shows that more is learnt
from the sense of touch than from that of sight—an inference which is further
supported by the habit, above referred to, of carrying the pincers well in
front of the head as if to feel the way. There isno doubt that the external
organs of touch in scorpions are the hairs which thickly or sparingly cover
various parts of the body. The tail is often very thickly studded with sete,
and the poison vesicle always hassome uponit. Their use upon this latter

organ is very plainly seen during the act of stinging. For this act is not by
any means a random thrust delivered indiscriminately at any part of a cap-
tured insect, On the contrary, a scorpion generally feels carefully for a
soft spot, and then with an air of great deliberation delicately inserts its sting
into it. There can be little doubt that this care is taken that there may be
no risk of damaging the point of the sting against a substance too hard for it,
A reckless stab against the resisting chitinous exoskeleton of a beetle, for
instance, might easily chip this point, and thus deprive the scorpion of its

SCORPIONS. 292

most efficient weapon of attack and defence. The same care of this sting is
shown in the carriage of the tail, this organ being curled in sucha way that
the point cannot come into contact with any foreign bodies. Even when
teased with a piece of stick or irritated by being crawled upon by a cockcroach,
a scorpion is not often sufficiently provoked as to use the sting. The tail is
certainly used to knock aside the instrument or sweep off the insect, but the
sides or lower surface of the organ are employed, the vesicle being carefully
tucked down. Upon one occasion a Parabuthus was seen to killa cockroach
and retire to a corner to eat it in peace, beginning at the tail end. Presently
a smaller example of the same species coming along and finding the opposite
extremity of the insect disengaged, started feeding on its own account. So
quietly was the process carried on by the two, that not until nothing but a
few shreds remained did the larger discover the presence of its messmate.
Thereupon it quickly brought its tail into use, and by beating off its unwel-
come guest secured for itself the remains of the meal, But although the
provocation was great the defrauded one never attempted to use its sting to
punish the intruder.

In connection with the organs of touch, the pectine or ventral eons must
not be forgotten, Of the function of these appendages something is known,
though, no doubt, much remains to be learnt. Their situation near the gene-
rative aperture, their larger size in the males, and the modification of their
basal portion in the females of some species, e.g., Parabuthus, suggest that
they are tactile sexual organs of some importance, and Gaubert’s discovery
of the nervous terminations in the teeth is a satisfactory confirmation of this
supposition. But apart from sexual functions it is highly probable that they
are useful organs of touch in other relations of life, enabling their possessor
to learn the nature of the surface over which itis walking. In favour of
this view may be adduced the fact that these animals have been seen to touch
the ground with their combs. Moreover, it isa very noticeable circumstance
that scorpions which, like Huscorpius, creep along with their bellies close to
the ground, have very short combs ; while in others which, like Parabuthus,
stand high upon their legs, the combs are exceedingly long. I once noticed
a Parabuthus marching over a piece of a dead cockroach. When she had
half crossed it, instead of going straight ahead, as was expected, she halted
abruptly, backed a little, and, stooping down, started to devour the fragment.
From the height at which the body was being carried, Iam persuaded that
no portion of its lower surface, except the combs, could have come into
contact with the piece of food ; so there can be little doubt that its presence
was detected by means of the organs in question.

Creatures which, like snakes, are both carnivorous and venomous, and present
at the same time an appearance which is by no means reassuring, are always held
in bad repute by mankind in general, and suffer in accordance with the
principle laid down in the adage,“ Give adog a bad name and hang him,”

293 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

But amongst creatures of this description it is probable that scorpions qualify
for first place with respect to the number and enormity of the vices with
which they have been charged. Those that are most frequently alleged
against them are general ferocity, murder, cannibalism, infanticide, and
suicide, And yet, in spite of this serious charge-sheet, there isno doubt that
they are much-maligned animals. For in defence of the accusation of fero-
city I can say that I never saw a scorpion use its destructive weapons except
with the legitimate object of killing prey for purposes of nutrition, or asa
reasonable means of defence when molested. Naturally enough they will not
tolerate handling, but when allowed to crawl upon the hand they make no
attempt to sting it, and merely evince a desire to escape to surroundings more
natural and congenial than human skin. From the charges of cannibalism
and murder, however, these animals cannot be so easily cleared. For there is
an abundance of evidence that they do sometimes, when in captivity, both
kill and eat each other, Nevertheless, so far as my experience goes, members
of the same species do for the most part live together in perfect harmony.
Once only did I see a large Fuscorpius eating a small one. But since the
latter showed no signs of violence, there are no reasons for supposing that
it had died other than a natural death. Like many other animals, scorpions
may be made to fight by artificial means, and when roused to a high pitch of
excitement by too much heat, they will clutch and grab at each other with
the appearance of the greatest ferocity. But I never saw any evil result from
these tussels. The combatants always seemed to prefer to part company
without bloodshed.

As for the accusation of infanticide, it appears to be quite groundless. For
it is well known that a mother-scorpion protects her young by carrying them
about on her back until they are able to shift for themselves.

The question as to whether scorpions do or do not commit suicide by sting-
ing themselves to death, when placed in a circle of fire, or otherwise tortured
by that element, is one which has excited considerable amount of discussion.
The belief that they do do so, with the object of escaping from the pains of
burning, is of long standing, and probably has many adherents at the present
time. But the experiments of Mr. Bourne upon some Madras species have
shown (firstly) that the poison has no effect upon the scorpion that possesses
it, nor yet upona member of the same or of a closely allied species, and
(secondly) that these animals are easily and quickly killed by a moderately
warm temperature (50° C.). Moreover, when distressed by a too warm
atmosphere, or, according to Lankester, by chloroform vapour, these animals
have a habit of waving their tails in the air and of thrusting the sting for-
wards over the head, asif to punish some unseen enemy. And if the sun’s
rays be focussed with a lens upon the back of a scorpion, the animal imme-
diately brings its tail over,and attempts to remove with it the cause of

SCORPIONS. 294

irritation. So that the true account of at least some of the so-called cases of
suicide by scorpions seems to be this: the animals in reality have died from
the heat to which they were exposed, and the observers have erroneously
inferred that the thrusts of the tail were intended to putan end to the
animal’s sufferings. My own experiments are all in favour of this conclusion-
TL held a specimen of Ewscorpius in a corked test-tube over alow fire, As
soon as the air in the tube began to grow warm the animal, apparently in
great distress, struggled about the confined space for a few seconds, brandish-
ing its tail the while, then lapsed into insensibility. The glass of the tube
at this period was only slightly warm to my hand. Taken out of the tube and
placed near an open window, the animal quickly revived; hut it died the
third time the experiment was tried. On no occasion, however, did it attempt
to sting itself. I also experimented upon LEuscorpius and Parabuthus by
focussing the sun’s rays upon them, and by placing mustard upon the mem-
brane between the plates of the back. Both the species attempted to remove
the cause of irritation by scraping atthe burning spot with the sting of the
tail ; but they seemed particularly careful not to sting themselves,

There seems, however, to be sufficient evidence to prove that some scorpions
have been seen to sting themselves during the course of experiments of a
nature similar to those described above. One observer indeed mentions, in
the case of an Indian scorpion, that blood issued from the wound made by
the sting—a piece of corroborative detail which enhances the probability of
the accuracy of the observation. But itis @ priori improbable that the
scorpion has any intention of killing itself. It seems, however, not improbable
that a random blow meant for an unseen enemy might accidentally strike
and pierce the deliverer ; or that when the irritation is localised, asin the
cases of burning with a lens, acid, whisky,* or mustard, the scorpion, failing
to remove the substance by the ordinary means of scraping with the tail,
might thrust its sting into the spot affected, with the intention not of
killing itself, but of destroying the agent that is causing the pain, Or, indeed,
it is conceivable that the mental faculties are so deranged by torture and the
approach of death, that the scorpion does not recognise its own body by its
sense of touch, and stings it asit would sting any other object within reach
of its tail. Ifa blow inflicted in either of these ways were to pierce the brains
or were to seriously lacerate the great dorsal blood-vessel, it might, one can
Suppose, cause death of itself, independently of the burning,

So that if it be admitted that scorpions have sometimes killed themselves,
our verdict, it would seem, must be—accidental suicide, or suicide while of
unsound mind, (The above appeared in Nature, 1st June, 1893.)

* It is stated that in some parts of N. America scorpions sting themselves to death if a
drop or two of whisky be placed upon their backs; and that from this manifestation of their
dislike of alcohol, these animals are known to the natives as teetotallers,

295 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VII I

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.
No, 1—A DAY’S SPORT IN BERAR.

The following account of a day’s sport in Berar, some few years ago, when
game was more plentiful than it is now, may be of interest to some of the
readers of our Society’s Journal.

The writer’s duty, as a District Officer, led him one day to the neighbour-
hood of a deserted village—Dharur—situated on the banks of a mountain stream
which, coming down from the Satpurahs, sweeps the base of the hill on which
stands the fort of Naruallha, one of those forts taken in 1803 by Sir Arthur
Wellesley, subsequently Duke of Wellington, after he had defeated Scindiah
and the Bhansla at Assaye and Argaon and had captured Gawilghur. Dharur,
in fact, is only a few miles distant from the field of Argaon, and in the days I
am about to write of was just lovely in its solitude. Mixed jungle clothed
the small valley down which ran the stream on the banks of which the ruins
of the village stood, and for about 3 miles of its course both banks of this
stream were densely clothed with “Sendi,’ or the date palm, with here and
there small open patches of grass.

On the day of my arrival a “ kill” was reported by a herdsman who grazed
cattle in the vicinity. The marks on the ‘kill”—a large female buffalo—
indicated that one, if not two tigers had their home in the date palm. As it
was impossible for a single gun to command the jungle,a message sent in to
Ellichpur soon fetched out two friends— General (now Sir Harry) Lumsden
of Punjab Frontier fame, at the time commanding the Hyderabad Contin-
gent, and his Rrigade-Major, the late Colonel Hugh Watson. With them came
as escort officer Resaidar Beg Mahomed, a typical specimen of our splendid
irregular cavalry. After a careful reconnaissance, we selected a position on a
mound of earth at the foot of a big mohwa tree, which stood about the centre
of one of the larger aforesaid patches of grass in the centre of the Sendi-bund,
about two miles up stream. Here the General, Colonel Watson, Beg
Mahomed, and the writer stood shoulder to shoulder, with a servant behind
each carrying a spare rifle. Up the mohwa tree, in the shade of which we
gratefully stood, was posted a Shikari of Colonel Waitson’s as look-out. The
troopers of the escort were placed at intervals along either bank, outside the
denser jungle, as stops, falling in with the beat as it came along. The beat
itself, mainly composed of hill-men villagers, with a forest elephant in the
centre to give direction, formed line at the village, and, provided with tom-
toms, horns and rattles, started about noon. It was the 8th of March, and
the sun was tolerably hot. It seemed an age before anything showed up.
Presently, putting us on the qui vive, wellin advance of the approaching
beaters, came a hare or two; then some jungle cat; and finallv peafowl.
After all these had passed, there was another seemingly endless interval of
suspense—that interval during which, as all shikaris know, strung to the

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 296

highest pitch of expectancy and excitement, one hears and feels the beatings
of one’s own heart, just as a steamer quivers to the pulsations of its screw.
But the feeling passes away in a second, as the expected quarry comes into
view. In our case the view was five full-grown tigers “ mooning ” along close
together almost in line, unconscious that their way was barred by man.
“ Mooning ” is the only suitable expression, for they came along quite slowly,
heads down, with a bored expression of countenance, as if they felt the heat,
and thought the hustling of them by the beat behind most inconsiderate and
unkind,

When they first broke into view, about 30 to 35 yards separated us. It was
a beautiful and never-to-be-forgotten sight, but the position was in a way
critical, There was no time for counsel, but the General, without a moment’s
hesitation, whispered “ Take the big fellow,” expressing the necessity we each
had instinctively felt of concentrating, not scattering, our fire. “ Let them come
on” was Watson’s immediate reply. He probably felt that we required a
brief moment for selection. As a matter of fact, when the General spoke, the
tigers seemed much of a size, and it required some fineness of discrimination
to say on the spur of the moment which was the biggest. But the matter was
settled for us. Watson’s voice evidently reached foe as well as friend, for one
of the tigers stopped dead and looked up at us in a startled and surprised
fashion, Instinctively we all banged at her (her sex, of course, we only subse-
quently discovered), and then there was a sight for the gods. It is really
impossible accurately to describe, and it was all over in a second or two,
But as the sound of our rifles and the roar of the wounded tigress woke the
other four tigers up—so to speak—they just raised their heads, looked at us,
jumped on one side, and roared in concert. The untouched tigers were
evidently momentarily quite undecided what to do—whether to try and get
past us, or to face the din and row behind them, which had very appreciably
increased as the sound of our shots reached the beaters. While these tigers
were thus seemingly debating what to do, the female we had fired at made
a bound towards us as if to charge home ; but her heart failed her, and she
turned sharp to her left and to our right, making for the shelter of the jungle.
As she went across us, we gave her the contents of our second barrels, and she
fell out of sight into a small nallah. As she did so, the rest turned back in the
direction of the beaters. We reloaded rapidly, knowing they would soon be
headed and return, but this time prepared for us. Presently I saw a tiger
trying to sneak past to our left, and called out “ there goes one.” I raised my
rifle at the same time to indicate the direction to my companions, “ Fire if
you see him” shouted the General. Our voices had the effect of making this
tiger stop and take a good look at us; as she was doing so,I fired. She
instantly responded with a roar and charged straight down on tous, [I call
her “ she,” as subsequently we discovered that she too was a female, and a very
lively and determined female. I failed to stop her with my second barrel, and
it seemed to me that my three companions had emptied both theirs equally

297 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VILI.

ineffectively. At this critical moment, when she was within a few yards of
us—near enough for us to see her ears back, teeth showing, a savage gleam
in her eyes, and blood streaming down one fore shoulder,—when it
looked as if one of usin her next bound must be knocked over, our gun-
bearers from behind jumped up the mound on which we stood to hand
us our second rifles. In their excitement they shoved Resaidar Beg
Mahomed and the writer over the crest of the mound, and we, losing our
footing, slid down the mound in a sitting posture with our rifles in our hands.
For a moment it seemed as if one of us two must be seized, for the tigress
was now quite close to us; but in that moment Watson, who was a very
steady and cool shot, fired, hit her between the eyes, and in fact brained her.
Instead of continuing to come on, she spun round and round twice or thrice
and fell dead close in front of us, Had she come on, instead of spinning round,
some of us might, possibly would, have been clawed. While this little scene
was being enacted, the other three tigers had, it seems, come into view and again
turned back. But they could not face the row the beaters were making, and
again they turned towards us to force a passage through. One was passing to
our left, two to the right ; we fired at and wounded the former, and he dou-
bled back on the beaters. As he did so, the other two tigers faced the stop and
broke past us to the hills behind. We at once stopped and withdrew the
beaters and sent for the elephant to look the wounded tiger up. It would
have risked an accident to let the beaters come on with a wounded tiger in
their front, The elephant was a very unsteady one; if he saw a tiger, he
invariably charged it, and it was difficult to shoot off him. In such jungle, how-
ever, we had no choice but to mount him, and we went first to look up tiger
number one. As we approached the nallah, where the look-out indicated she
had fallen, we heard a growl, followed by a faint attempt ata charge; she
was put out of pain immediately. Number three gave us a lot of trouble.
He was a cowardly sneak, Nothing would draw him ; he kept retreating from
one thick and almost impenetrable patch of “ Sendi” to another, and dodged
about, till eventually he dodged us altogether ; and we had to return to camp
with two tigers only, which the General photographed. This ended for us a
very eventful day. As to excitement, the day has doubtless been often
matched in the annals of shikar of earlier times, but it is not readily to be
matched in these more prosaic days, which is my excuse for presenting an
account of it to the pages of the Society’s Journal. As to tiger number three,
subsequent information led me to believe that he died under a thick bush
while we were hustling him, As it was impossible to put in men on foot and
we had no dogs, and the elephant could not penetrate everywhere, we did not
nieoruunately know it in time.

- The place I speak of is no longer a home for tigers; the jungle has gives
place to fields with cover barely sufticient for a hare.

KENNETH MACKENZIE, CoLonet.
CHIKALDAH, BERAR, 28th April, 1893.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 298

No, II.—THE FLOWERING OF BAMBOOS,

Given an Indian witness wishing to tell the truth regarding what should be
within his knowledge, let him be without training in the ways of accurate
observation, failure is almost certain. In our law courts endless absurdities
arise from the initial question ‘‘ What is yourage?” Time has but little
value or meaning to the common villager. He has no fixed standard whereby
to measure it. He is quite as inaccurate in his estimate of distances, A
generation ago, in parts now almost within hearing of the railway whistle,
one might hear a cart journey described as of so many axles, meaning that
a prudent man, setting out on that adventure, would take so many spare axles
on his cart to provide against the ordinary contingencies of the way. To a
much later date a Bilaspur villager would naturally answer that his home lay
four chungis away, thereby indicating that, before beginning the march, he
ought to have rolled four cigarettes in the fresh leaf of the sal tree and have
fixed them in his pugree as provision for so long or so short a journey. If
pressed to be more definite, he would admit that his village was so many coss
away. “ But, my Peikoo, how long is youR coss?” “ Well, Sir, a coss is
everywhere the same; it always equals two dhabs,” “ Quite true, friend
Peikoo, but I am not quite sure that I am acquainted with the length of your
dhab ; how longisit?”’ ‘ A dhab, O Lord of Earth, isa dhab: the distance
at which a voice can be heard on a still night, that isa dhab.” ‘“ But, Peikoo,
suppose it be a mother-in-law’s voice.” ‘‘Then, O Personation of Virtue,
there will be a difference! The coss will be longer, ”

If Peikoo be so unsettled as to hear things of the visible world, how shall he
now give us assurance regarding his memories of years long gone by as to the
distant and silent foldings of the wings of time ?

Is there, then, any hope of determining, on native evidence, what is the life-
period of our mutual friend —the Katang bamboo? We may expect nothing
better than vague traditions of the last time when in any given locality the
Katang seeded. Such events are not recorded save by the pale-faced strangers
who are ever crazy after facts and figures, And they stay too short a time in
the country to see the seedling attain maturity and pass away in the course of
nature. Still these traditions are not without interest, ana they may corrobo-
rate or correct stray observations of those of our own people who have gone
before us,

The widest personal observation will convince no one, and trustworthy
evidence is not forthcoming. It isin the hope that others, while pardoning
my mistakes, will help towards solving this puzzle that I venture to accept a
kind invitation to put together the following rough notes on the flowering of
the Bambusa arundinacea, the most beautiful and one of the most useful of
the Bamboo family. At any rate I may hope to indicate directions in which
further enquiry promises success.

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299 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, VIII.

My first recollection of the Katang bamboo is derived from Jubbulpore
when Sleeman’s Park was still the pride of the station. And the pride of the
Park lay in the luxuriance of its bamboos. Next, at the Nagpur Exhibition
at Christmas time, 1865, the finest poles of the Balaghat district were shown.
I can well remember their extraordinary length, but am too cautious to
hazard figures. Any one curious on this point had better hunt up an old cata-
_ logue of the exhibition or apply to Colonel Bloomfield—an excellent authority
on bamboos—who was the first Deputy Commissioner of the Balaghat district.

The extreme length of those poles was accounted for in this way: the
bamboo clumps grew on deep soil, ina moist valley, very close to one another ;
haying no room for lateral expansion, they could live only by growing very
tall.

There were at that time, namely at the end of 1865, one or two enormous
clumps of Katang in the Maharaj Bagh, the public garden at Nagpur, and on
its outskirts a great number of young ones, all apparently of the same age,
not more than about ten years, possibly less.

The Jubbulpore Exhibition was held at Christmas, 1866. I believe there
were no Balagh4t bamboos exhibited there, and for this reason, that meanwhile
there had been a general flowering of the Katang bamboos in the Upper
Weinganga Valley, that is, m the Bhandara and Balaghdt districts.
But on this point I have no personal knowledge; I have, at best, a faint
recollection of what I heard long ago. It may be that the seeding in the
Weinganga Valley did not occur till 1870.

The rainfall of 1868 was a disastrous failure in the old Saugor and
Narbadda territories, and this followed on poor harvests in 1867 and the Spring
of 1868, severe famine ensued. In May of 1869 I was transferred from
Nagpur to Jubbulpore. Passing Seoni, two or three miles of projected bamboo
avenue were met. Small clusters of roots had been divided off from the parent
clumps, and these roots with four or five feet of stem had been planted,
fenced, and well watered.

In Jubbulpore the rains of 1869 commenced very late, but were not parti-
cularly short in quantity. In the Spring of 1870 about four-fifths of the
bamboos in Sleeman’s Park and throughout the station burst into flower,
seeded, and died, The seed would have been all used as food but for the care
of the District Officers. Seed nurseries were formed, and a vast number of
young plants were reared, and the surplus distributed far and wide.

Early in 1881 I was a second time Deputy Commissioner of Narsinghpur,
living in the house which had once been that of Sir William Sleeman, uncle
of Colonel Sleeman, the last owner of the Park at Jubbulpore. In my com-
pound stood two superb clumps of the Bambusa arundinacea. These burst
into ower, seeded, and died in the hot weather of 1882. From their seed was
raised a considerable supply of young trees, which were distributed in great
part along the Great Indian Peninsula Line of Railway. It was, to the best

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 300

of my belief, in the same year that the remaining portion of the old clumps.
in Sleeman’s Park at Jubbulpore and the old bamboos of the Maharaj Bagh
at Nagpur seeded and died.

Possibly I am wrong about the Nagpur Katangs. I remember that in or
before 1879 the Forest Department, under the immediate care of Colonel
Doveton, began to cultivate these bamboos at Telin Kerry, two miles west
of Nagpur, for profit. The supply of Nagpur and Kamptee was aimed at.
Possibly the seeds for this interesting experiment came from the old bamboos
of the Maharaj Bagh.

I learn that the general seeding of the Katang bamboos at Dehra, in the
Doon, occurred in the Spring of 1882.

In the hot weather of 18851 visited the upper valley of the (Cuttack)
Mahanadi river and the Jeypore Zamindari of Madras. Returning by way
of Dhamiari and of Rajim (where the Pairi river falls into the Mahanadi),
I found a large number of bamboo clumps coming into seed. The Zamindars
and Government oificials promised to save all the spare seed for me, and this
they kindly did. 'Two sacks of well-ripened seed reached me at Ghazipur, and
thence it was distributed throughout India ; some was sent to Australia, to
Oyprus, to China, and even to Cornwall. The Secretary to the Agricul-
tural and Horticultural Society of India took the rest for their corresponding
societies. He also kindly brought to my notice writings of Sir William
Sleeman in the printed proceedings of some society, possibly of the Asiatic
Society,in which was noticed a general seeding of the bamboos at Dehra
Doon in or about the year 1832,

In 1886 I revisited Rajim to find that all the clumps had died off. Here
and there was to be seen an exceptional stalk, and a few attenuated and al-
most abortive shoots had sprung up from moribund roots. These were striv-
ing to flower and seed, _

This season I visited the Mallkna hills, about thirty-five miles south-east
of Rajim. Here also were dead clumps; around them young seedlings
struggling for life—the outcome of the seeding of 1885.

From several sources reports were heard that all the Katang bamboos in
that mass of Vindhyan sandstone hills from amid which the Jouk river
begins its northward course had seeded in the previous year (1885). This
mass of hills lies about thirty miles south-east of the Malkna hills, south
of an imaginary village named as Tarnot on the Government maps cf the
Chhattisgarh Feudatory States.

It was in this year (1886) that, with a well-known member of this society,
I saw the waters of the Udanti, a branch of the Tel, which again is an eastern
affluent of the Mahanadi. The Udanti rises on the western side of the
same mass of hills whence the Jouk runs northwards. The Udanti first
runs southwards, then turns to the east. We had occasion to visit the
favourite mud-bath of an old solitary bull buffalo on the banks of the

301 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

Udanti, not a dozen miles from its source. This spring was in the centre of
alarge thicket of Katang bamboo, said to have all grown from the seed of an
isolated clump. I can only give a guess at the age of the young trees. My
own reconsidered impression is that the parent clump must have seeded after
1870, but before 1882. Ihope the friend who put an end to the bull's career
will be able to give a better estimate of the age of the young thicket.

In 1878 I saw the beautiful bamboos of the Indore Residency, I know
nothing of their history or pedigree, but imagine them to be of the same age
as the young clumps I saw at Nagpur in 1865.

In 1886 I saw a number of mature clumps at Gorukpur. These must now
be very near the end of their life-period.

In the Spring of the current year, 1893, we had bamboo clumps flowering
in the gardens of Queen’s College at Benares and in the Civil Lines at
Cawnpore. It is said (this is being verified) that the fine clumps at Dhariwal
in the valley of the Ravee near Gurdaspur in the Punjab seeded last year.

The building of Queen's College, Benares, dates from 1841—1843. It does
not follow that the gardens were laid out atthe same time. Indeed it is
believed that this was done by Mr. Griffiths, The present Principal,
Mr. Wright, believes, on parole evidence or tradition, that the bamboos now
seeding have been in the garden for forty-five years. But granting this,
it does not follow that they are only forty-five years old. They may be older.
They may have been transplanted forty-five years ago from a nursery, or they
may have been then raised from roots partitioned off from a clump of some
years’ growth.

Pass on to our native beliefs. First of all, to the Bambusa arundinacea
is attributed a life period of fifty to fifty-five years, Next, natives tell one that
its seeding is not gregarious ; on the contrary, that, however widely distri-
buted may be the progeny or the off-sets deriving from any one general
seeding, all the progeny and all the off-sets must flower, seed, and die simul-
taneously. Thirdly, they profess to believe that a general seeding coincides
with drought or with scarcity after drought.

It has been asserted that coincident with such scarcity will be found an
unusual abundance of the edible seeds of forest trees, such as of the Sal tree
(Shorea robusta), of the Nimar Anjan (Hardwickia binata), or the common
Shisham (Dalbergia latifolia), and the like, a provision of nature for such
a time of want. To this it has been objected that whereas coincidence attracts
attention, the opposite condition passes unnoticed. This is a theoretical objec-
tion of no great weight.

Beyond question the flowering of the common male bamboo is rightly
described as gregarious. Its life-period seems to be about fourteen years. On

the same hills I have seen large patches seeding in different years—in 1870 and
again in 1879,

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES, 302

In the year 1874 I passed through the Pandooah jungle between Maldah
and Dinagepore, in Lower Bengal, on so-called famine duty. Returning in
May, 1875, I found all the thick, thorny bamboos of that large tract—a variety
strongly resembling, but smaller than, the Katang—had lately seeded.

The general seeding at Jubbulpore in 1870 followed the Bundelkand famine.

T have heard mention of bamboos seeding at the time of the Madras famine,
but cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information.

I know of no noteworthy scarcity following on drought in or previous to
1882 or 1885 or 1893.

On the second topic of belief all the evidence I have to offer is this, In
Seoni strenuous efforts were made to raise an avenue by laying down off-sets
from old clumps taken from the nearest source of supply, the station of
Jubbulpore and Sleeman’s Park. I saw these full of promise in 1869. By
the following May they had prematurely budded from the stem and were
withering away with their abortive seeds.

Although there may be no more evidence available, it would be rash to
reject this native theory. Atany rate it is pretty and is not disproved,

I cannot now refer to Sir William Sleeman’s writings, but I cannot resist
a belief that some of the clumps in his park at Jubbulpore and those in his
garden at Narsinghpur came from the seeding in the Doon, about which he
wrote. That seeding was about 1832. Moreover, there was a general
seeding in the Doon in 1882. This gives an interval or life-period of fifty
years.

Some late enquiries in the Doon elicited the curious answer that between
two consecutive flowerings of this bamboo “a child will grow to be a man
and his son will reach manhood,’’ Nothing more definite could be learnt.

Were I an interviewer, no doubt the words of a conversation of about
1879 in the Bhandara or Balaghat district would be forthcoming. Though
they cannot be given, their substance is clearly remembered. Speaking of
another old man, my informant declared his friend to be old beyond com-
putation—a hundred years old or more, Well, if the sahib was not content
with that, surely it was enough to say that his friend had twice in his life-
time eaten the seed of the great bamboo. (ently pressed to try to fix the
earlier time, the old man at last gave a clear clue to it. He had often heard
his absent friend speak of having had to eat the seed of the Katang bamboo
in the year when the Raja, Appa Sahib Bhonsleh, lost his kingdom. “ All
the villages were burnt by the gods, who rose in rebellion for the king’s
sake, and but for the seeds and roots of the forest, people had died of
hunger,”

There is no valid reason for disbeliving this unpremeditated story. It
may then be concluded that there was a general seeding in the Upper Wein-

ganga Valley in 1818,and another between 1865 and 1870—an interval of
some fifty years.

303 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

Further information might be obtained from the Deputy Commissioner
of Balaghat ; from the Secretary to the Horticultural Society at Nagpur ;
from Colonel Doveton, Conservator of Forests, C. P., who knows most about
their cultivation for profit ; and from Sir William Sleeman’s writings.
Colonel Doveton could correct me on many points.

T see that Mr. Gamble, Conservator of Forests, North-Western Provinces,
advises propagation by division of roots rather than from seed. If the
native theory that off-sets partake in the appointed life-period of the parent
clump be correct, this plan might lead to great disappointment.

And it rarely happens that a private person is willing to afford the cost
of propagation in this way, even if he can finda source of supply. It cost
close on a hundred rupees to start a dozen clumps (from seedlings brought
from Narsinghpur, C. P.) in the Cawnpore Memorial Gardens, although
the roots were obtained gratis.

For any one trying that plan of propagation it is recommended that the
roots to be removed be dug up before sunrise and the stems cut off about
four feet above the roots. All but the tops of the stems should then be
immersed in water in a shady place for a whole day. Pack in damp black
cotton soil or in damp moss for transport. Plant in thoroughly wetted
holes. The bamboo loves a gentle slope on all sides with good drainage. It
abhors stagnant water.

I have often enquired about the seeding of the large bamboo, which is
carefully cultivated in the eastern districts of the North-Western Provinces
and throughout Bengal, Apparently natives have no traditions of its ever
seeding, They say that it pines away and dies —‘t Udas hokar mar jata hai "—
if the human habitations it has sheltered become abandoned.

We have it on the authority of an old song that ‘“ Cats don’t know when
it’s half-past eight.” Are bamboos more intelligent ? Can they tell when
time is up ? Do they respond to the wants of humanity in times of drought
and scarcity? Do they obeya special and individual law of nature by
which they must flower and die ata particular age? Oris their life-period
as variable as his whose days are three score years and ten ?

G. JASPER NICHOLLS, I.C.8.

Orr ADEN, 6th May, 1893.

No. III.—JUNGLE NOTES.

T am sending you by rail a single horn of a, bison (Bos gaurus), which I picked
up in this district in March while in camp in the forest.

The remarkable point about it is that it has been broken off the skull, core
and all; and since I have never heard of such an instance, I thought it might
be worth while sending you the horn for inspection.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. B04

Tt was found in a small glade in the forest, but, owing to the rain we have
been having throughout the season, no tracks were traceable. At first I
thought some bison must have died, but, on searching all round, not a trace of
bones could be found, although the jungle was open. Moreover, on second
thoughts it seemed to me that, even if the bison had died, no animal would have
any object, granted that it had the strength, to tear the horn and core from the
skull. The horn and bone of the fracture were in good condition, only some-
what dirty, and the horn was quite unattacked by insects, which fact testified
clearly that the horn had come there since the last rainy season. Hence the
only conclusion I can arrive at is that two bulls in fighting got their horns
locked and thus one got broken off. This seems most probable, as I do not
think it could have been broken off in a charge without some damaging marks
on the horn being visible. It is just possible that the bull got his horn caught
in a tree and thus broke it, the skin around the-base of the horn supporting it
for a short time. The horn may then have been dropped anywhere, No tree
was noticeable near where this would have been possible. Also, if the horn
was so caught in the tree that the bison could not get free without breaking
the horn, it is unlikely that after breaking it he would be able to disentangle
it, and then the horn would have been found near the tree. So, on the whole,
the conclusion to be arrived at seems to me to be that it was broken off in
fighting with another bull. The strength required to do this must have been
enormous, and I certainly do not believe any other animal in these forests,
except a bison, would have sufficient strength. Anyhow, if a tiger had done it
(and even he would have had no object except ina fight), he must have left
Some marks of his claws or teeth on the horn. The horn is not large, only
measuring 24” in length (round the outer curve) and 131” girth at the base in
the dry state, which would mean about 14” when alive.

I shall be very interested to hear whether horns so torn off have been found
before and as to what cause you attribute the tearing off. Also as to whether
you think the bison could possibly have lived after thus losing his horn, If so,
I will be on the look-out for him,

The only other case that I have heard of in which a horn was thus com-
pletely torn otf was in the Chanda district. The late Mr, G. H. Foster,
Deputy Conservator of Forests, having wounded a buffalo (Bubalus arni,
Jerdon) from his elephant and thinking it dead, approached it on the elephant,
whereupon it charged. The elephant, not knowing what to make of this beast,
which had made a huge wound in his foreleg with its horn, wound his trunk
around the horn and tore it clean off core and all, Both elephant and buffalo
then bolted off in opposite directions, the mahout having lost his head com-
pletely, The buffalo was tracked up by two Gonds, who found it dead two or
three days after, no doubt partly from the effect of the bullet-wound and
partly from the shock of losing its horn.

305 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

On or about the 5th of February, at a small tank in the village forest about
a mile from the village of Thoyapar, in the Nagpur district, a large boar was
killed by a tiger ; such, however, was my information, and so on the 15th
I inspected the spot. The tank was to a great extent dried up, but the bed
was just moist enough to show tracks in an ideal manner.

This is the story the tracks distinctly related :—

A huge boar was feeding in the tank by grubbing up the roots of the
various aquatic plants, when a tiger stalked him along the edge of the tank,
The boar becoming suspicious, the tiger bounded towards him and was met
by the former a few yards from where he had been grubbing. Then ensued
a tremendous scuffle, and the tiger was evidently having a bad time of it, as
several handfuls of tiger hair scattered about testified to the boar having two
or three times charged home. At this point of the combat two other tigers
joined in from different directions, and of course this triple combination was
too much for the boar, who succumbed. The latter tigers were a tigress and a
nearly full-grown cub, called here a “ pata.”

This must have happened when day was breaking, for some villagers, passing
along the cart-track early, saw one tiger in the open. They raised a shout, and
the tiger disappeared. They then found the boar which the tigers had not
commenced to eat, and, having called some comrades, carried it off to the village.
This was apparently a very large boar, but unluckily the tushes were carried
off by a jackal or dog after having been set aside for me.

Later on, about the end of April, another boar was killed not more than ten
or twenty miles from there; this time apparently by a single tiger, but its tushes
only measured 7”.

About the end of February, along the Pench River, on the borders of Seoni
and Chindwara, there was a fight between two huge tigers. One killed the
other and, after having half eaten him himself, went off lame and bleeding,
evidently badly wounded, as was shown by his track on the sand. The tiger
killed and partly eaten was discovered by some fire-guards, who had no doubt
as to the fight from the condition of the ground where the battle took place.
The victorious tiger succumbed also a few days afterwards, but the skin was
nearly rotten when discovered, It is curious to know that tigers will eat each
other in a full-grown state, although it is well known that tigers greedily
devour young cubs when they can get the chance in the mother’s absence.

On tour in camp I was joined by two companions, who, only just out from
England, had never killed anything in the shape of big game, and so, knowing
of a place where a panther’s presence had frequently been reported to me,
I tied up a goat and gota kill on May 21st. My two companions sat up at
about 3-30 P.M., and on the panther turning up at sunset, it was killed.

On skinning her we found her milk glands greatly developed, and hence
suspected she must have cubs near. So on the morrow, having sent out five

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 306

Gonds to investigate, I was rejoiced at about 4 P.M. to hear them come in and
say they had found the cubs, whereupon we at once started to get them.

Coming on a small nala, a few feet broad, not more than a mile away from
where the panther had been shot, we were at once able to see that this was the
place where the panther had fed and exercised her young, and on looking
about carefully (of course we had it pointed out to us by the Gonds), we saw
a, small hole, not more than 5” in diameter, in the side of a white-ant hill on
the bank of the nala. In this were the cubs. It was interesting to see how
the panther had evidently been in the habit of hiding her cubs in this hole in
safety while she went out to shikar her food. The hole inside was very
small and not nearly large enough for the old panther to get into, but just
large enough to hold the two cubs, which were probably nearly a month old.
Tt was difficult to tell whether the panther had discovered this hole or
made it herself, but possibly there was some sort of hole there and she
enlarged it as required. There were claw marks on the ant-hill inside the
hole, but this might have been made in the ordinary quarrels of the cubs. We
had to cut the ant-hill away to enlarge the hole before getting the cubs out.
They were taken to camp andare still alive and well. The panther had evidently
been hard pressed for a place to put her young, and she must have been driven
to think of making a hole for the cubs—a thing she would never have done,
I imagine, had there been any rocky hills near.

P, H. CLUTTERBUCK,
A. C. of Forests,
NaGeur, 6th June, 1893.

No. IV.—THE JACKAL OR LION-PROVIDER.

I believe it has not been clearly demonstrated how the jackal came to be
called the lion or tiger provider. Few but the most credulous would believe
that the jackal isin the habit of seeking game for the larger animals and
taking them to where it can be found, &c. ; stili there must be Some reason for
assigning the name “lion-provider,” which is not a modern term, as it is
found in some of the oldest books on wild animals. The following coin-
cidence, which happened before my eyes, may perhaps serve to throw some
light on the mystery. Some time ago I happened to be in camp alongside
a small rocky hill with many caves, which, I was informed, contained a small
colony of hyenas. Partly to passa dull hour and partly to try and obtain a
good specimen, I made up my mind to sit up with my gun one evening.
There was a creek close by, and on the banks a small hamlet of fishermen ;
and knowing the hyzna’s partiality to fish, especially when a little stale, I
obtained a basket full, which had been caught the day previous, and placed
them in what I thought a good spot and sat up at sunset ona high rock
about 12 yards from them. After a little time I heard a rustling amongst the

19

307 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

leaves and undergrowth, and presently a jackal appeared and went straight
to the fish, looked at them and smelt them, and then sat down beside them.
After a few moments I heard another slight rustling in the same direction,
and the jackal, who was sitting by the fish, must also have heard it, for he
looked up and gave one slight bark, not unlike the faint call of a cheetul, and
almost immediately afterwards a second jackal appeared and joined him. The
two now stood by the fish, not attempting to eat any, but looking about them
in anxious expectation. After five or ten minutes they suddenly ran away
on one side to a distance of about ten yards, stopped, turned round and
looked in the direction of the fish, In about a quarter of a minute an hyena
appeared from a direction at right angles with the line taken by the jackals ;
he was walking straight to the fish, and on coming in view of the jackals, he
turned his head and glanced at them and at once proceeded to inspect the
food laid out for him. The jackals now ran up to the hyena and, on approach-
ing him, wriggled their bodies with their bellies close to the ground, much like
the attitude that a puppy often assumes when making up toa big dog. They
seemed to express delight at the arrival of the hyena, and so close did they
come to him that I think they must have rubbed themselves against his sides,
and here they remained whilst their lord and master, without taking any
notice of them, was selecting the most dainty of the fish, The jackals made
no attempt to even put their noses near the food. Darkness coming on
prevented my seeing any longer, so I carried out the object for which I sat
up. The jackals in this case may be said to have provided food for the
hyena, inasmuch as they did not eat it themselves, and their presence was
sufficient to keep smaller animals away. In the absence of any other reliable
theory, it seems probable that the term “lion-provider” has been applied to
the jackal from experiences similar to what I have related, the only difference
being that the lion has taken the part played in this instance by the hyena.
F. J. A. HILL.
12th June, 1893.

No. V—AN AGGRESSIVE COBRA.

On the 28th June last a number of the convicts of the Kolhapore Jail were
employed in cleaning up the compound of the State Hospital, and the sepoy
in charge, Husain Bux, sat, watching the party, on the flight of nine broad
stone steps which leads from the corner of the hospital compound up to the
quarters of Mr. McGill, the Darbar Veterinary Officer. It was about mid-day
and the sepoy was sitting at the end of one of the steps, half way up the
fight, with the entrance to Mr. McGill’s little garden above and rather
behind him to the left, when he felt a sharp smack, as from a flat object,
on his back. just above his waist-belt, and, as he says, thought at the moment
that some one had thrown something at him. Luckily, indeed, he did not
put his hand behind to feel what the object was, for on looking round under

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 308

his arm, without shifting his seat, he was horrified—and no wonder—to see a
large cobra on the same steps just behind him, with hood expanded and
ready to strike again.

Sidling off on to the ground, he shouted to his convicts, who with others
ran up and pursued the snake, which now ascended the steps into the garden
and took refuge behind some flower pots in Mr. McGill’s compound.

Calming down from his fright, Husain Bux was for leaving it alone, saying
that as Allah had spared him, so he would spare the snake, and no doubt,
though a Musalman, he had something of the Hindu superstitious belief
in the divinity of the cobra, and thought that such a peculiar visitation from
the God would bring him luck. So, too, thought many natives, and when
T talked over the occurrence afterwards with an old jail warder, he shook
his head ominously and said, “ He ought not to have killed that snake.’
However, killed the cobra was, and the men took it to Dr. G. Sinclair, who
found it to measure 4 ft.7in. ‘The snake, I fancy, must have been coming
down from the garden above, when it saw the sepoy sitting on the steps, and
that it should not have retreated or passed behind him, as there was plenty
of room for it to do unnoticed, is curious, and such an instance of a cobra,
when unalarmed, going out of its way to attack a man is perhaps worthy of
record.

S. M. FRASER, I. C. §.
KOLHAPORE.

No. VL—NOTES ON INDIAN DOGS.

In No. 4, Vol. VII, Mr, Sinclair discourses pleasantly on various ‘‘ pies” and
traces them up to the frontier. It may be interesting to supply a few notes
of other “ pies” met with in my wanderings.

In the villages lying at the foot of the Nari and Bolan Passes the dogs are
decidedly bigger and more ferocious than the usual ‘‘ pie,” but it is not till the
passes are entered that the “ Afghan mastiff,” so called, is met with. It need
hardly be said that the dog is not a mastiff, and really only resembles one
approximately in size and slightly in colour, Head, general build, coat are all
different. This is only an instance of “‘ heimweh ” which leads us to bestow
old familiar names on whatever reminds us of our Western home, This
“ Afghan mastiff ” stands as high asa large greyhound and is built generally
like the ordinary “ pie,” except that he is much heavier and more massive in
every measurement and does not possess a wasp waist. His main peculiarity is
his ruff, or “mane” as it is generally called. This ruff consists of deep thick
soft fur, nearly three inches long, and covers and protects the neck, chest, and
shoulders, The colour varies very little, being generally rufous. Like the wasp
and red ant, he is invariably in a bad temper, and it is advisable to have some
lethal weapon with one, as a threatening gesture is at once resented by action,
which is apt to result in discomfiture, My first introduction to this dog was

309 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

in the Nari Pass, It was brought about by my bull-dog, who had a difference
of opinion with one. The result was speedy and to us very unsatisfactory.
With my aid the Afghan made off eventually with his ruff, somewhat dis-
arranged ; my dog was lacerated with long deep cuts, and his mouth was very
unsatisfactorily filled with fur. An English bull-dog was never intended by
Providence to bite through three inches of fur before getting to flesh. The
Afghan dog is, very like his master, truculent, ferocious, and untrustworthy.

Still further north a very large and heavy dog is found standing nearly as big,
if I remember right, as a St. Bernard. The only one I saw was snow-white
with an enormous jowl and an array of glistering white which I shuddered at.
This dog was tethered by a cable to a walking six-foot Pathan, whom he
dragged about with perfect ease, without even going through the formality of
ascertaining his wishes.

The next breed I have on my list is found among the nomad fishing popula-
tion of the Irrawaddy delta, This dog lives on fish, and, like his master, is
almost amphibious. It looks something like an Irish terrier run to seed.
There are two breeds, differing only in size. Their colour is much greyer than
the usual “pie” fawn. ‘The dog’s body is covered with ragged tufts of hair,
which form on his face a most imposing moustache. The smaller breed re-
minds me irresistibly of a very mongrel terrier at home.

It may be noted in passing that a very large number of “ pies” in Burma are
either black or white.

On the Chin frontier a breed like a large HEsquimaux terrier is met with.
T have seen several which looked exactly like collies, bushy manes and all, till
one noticed the lightly curled-up tail. The colour varies greatly—black, black
and white, lemon and white, white, and tawny. The fur is long, soft, and
silky and very thick, nose and ears very pointed, the latter sometimes almost
buried in the fur. They are very good-tempered as a rule, but dreadful cow-
ards, and generally flee precipitate at the sight of a white face. TheShan dog
is very like this breed, but is much larger and heavier. The manes are not so
bushy, nor is his tail quite so curly.

A very interesting paper could be compiled on Indian dogs, and it is to be
hoped that some member with zoological knowledge will give us an authorita-
tive description of the various indigenous breeds. The differences among
them are very great, but yet to the English eye all seem stamped with the same
hall-mark, generally called ‘‘pie.” This may possibly be due to the fact, as
noted by Phil Robinson, that their ‘ food is rubbish,”

F, E. DEMPSTER.
RANGOON, 21sé June, 1893.

No. VII.—A FRIENDLY BULBUL.
The common bulbul is notoriously bold and friendly. Residents of the
Western India Club in 1890 will perhaps remember a nest being built on a

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES, | 310

pair of iron bars supporting the weather-boards near the door leading out of
the bar lounge. It was within reach of every passer-by and not concealed by
any bush or creeper, The writer has a nest now near his front door and the
birds are even more confiding. It is built in a small croton within a couple of
feet of the door frame. Care was taken not to disturb the hen-bird while she
was sitting on her eggs, and the first advances were made when she had hatched
them out. A hand was brought close to her when she wag sitting in her nest
and bits of soaked gram offered. She did not seem to care for this food and
pecked viciously, but she would not leave her post, and there can be little
doubt she was bravely defending her chicks, Worms were offered to her and
she took them greedily, but still she seemed, by her pecking, to resent the intru-
sion into her home. Bread crumbs were then tried, and she took them without
hesitation. After she had been repeatedly fed in this way, she ceased all hos-
tile demontrations while she was on her nest, but if she happened to return
from an outing and found any one too near the nest, handling the protecting
croton leaves, she would charge boldly home. Once she even struck the
offending hand, and then made a rapid retreat and dodged into her nest from
the opposite side. She has hopped along the rim of the pot in which the
croton stands and taken food held out to her in the hand, She has so far only
shown such confidence in the immediate neighbourhood of her nest, but she
may be open to more general friendship. Some wretched vermin carried off
two of her chicks at night, but up to this evening there was still one gaping
mouth in the nest. The coch-bird has still his natural amount of shyness,
It was curious to watch the process of feeding the newly-hatched birds, The
hen rarely left the nest. The cock would come with a morsel in his bill and
she would clear out to let him administer it, but go no further away than a
rosebush which stands in a pot within 10 feet. The cock never stayed after
he had done this pretty domestic office, and directly he left, the hen would
return and take her family under her wings for another spell.

The exhibition is still on view, and a gentleman from Bombay went this
morning away hugely surprised and pleased with it.

H. T. OMMANNEY, I.C8.
PancH Manats, 10th July, 1893

No, VIII.—NOTES ON THE ECCENTRICITIES OF A DOG.

There are many still in Bombay who will remember “ Bodger,” for he had
a good many friends as well as enemies, the former chiefly bipeds, the latter
mostly quadrupeds, Bodger started in life, as many other dogs have done, born
of poor but honest parents (this is but Supposition, for I was never able +o
find out who or what his father or mother were and very little clue could be
gained by looking at Bodger),. I called him a bull-terrier, as that was the
nearest breed that he had any resemblance to, He was, however, a strong,
active, and fairly well-shaped dog, rather long in the legs and a tail go long

311 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII,

that when he was angry it would curl over until the point seemed to dig into
the centre of his back, His colour was white, or, to speak truly, a dirty white,
Bodger was about four years old when given to me by some friends on
Malabar Hill in 1878, Their reason for getting rid of him was that he raised
his voice too much during the night when tied up, and if allowed to be loose,
he used to retire to a neighbouring bungalow and pass the night on the sofas and
chairs. This led to remonstrances on the part of the tenants, who threatened
to shoot the dog if it is was found there again. Before accepting Bodger, I took
him out for a walk on trial. Very quickly he showed his fighting propensities by
attacking a dog half as large as himself and scoreda victory, He then met a cat,
which he killed in first-rate style. So Bodger became my property. When I say
“my property,” I mean I became his owner or master, at least as I understood
-it. But Bodger had quite a different opinion, and allowed no one to interfere
with his ways and doings. He certainly made my rooms in the Fort his home
when he was at home, and would at times take his meals there and allowed me to
have a little more influence over him than other people, but that was all.

Why he was named Bodger I could not find out, but it was a capital name, for
he looked it all over, so 1 let it remain, When Bodger came to reside with me
in the Fort, I contemplated keeping a dog-boy to look after him, but he soon
showed me that he could take care of himself without putting me to any extra
expense, and his habits at first were more or less methodical. In the early
morning he was generally missing ; during the day-time he would he under my
desk until the sun was off the street, when he would get up, shake himself, look
up at me, and then walk deliberately down to the Frere Fountain and wait
there for any strong dog that might turn up. In a short time there was a row,
and on looking out, Bodger was sure to be in the thick of it, After an hour or so
of this amusement he would come back (generally with marks about him showing
that he had not had it all his own way) to seeif Lor anybody else was going
for a ride, when he would accompany us, This went on for some time, until
one day he saw his old master going into the Bombay Club and followed him
only to be ejected. For several days he used to wait outside, watch his oppor-
tunity to sneak inside, and be driven out again at the run, Failing to get a
permanent footing in the Club, he took up with a gentleman, Mr, Arbuthnot,
the Collector of Bombay, in the Secretariat, and for nearly six weeks
went every afternoon about 4 o'clock and laid down under his desk and
remained about half an hour and then left. This gentleman never knew
until afterwards to whom the dog belonged, and told me that the dog
hardly ever took any notice of or attempted to follow him, simply stayed about
half an hour and then walked off. Bodger tried the same game at Wat-
son’s Hotel, but this did not last long, as the Volunteers took up his attention
and regularly every Saturday, when they turned out and Bodger heard the band
coming out of Church-gate Street, he went out and marched at their head until
it was all oyer. This led to some of the fellows in the office taking to painting

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 312

Bodger up, sometimes like a clown, or glueing a paper hat, with feathers, on his
head with B. V. R. printed on his ribs, for these special occasions, and many a
time Bodger was seen in all his glory, whilst the firing was going on, flying about
in front and having a good time. Later on the dog would go out to Colaba of
his own accord in the early morning to witness the rifle shooting and come back
again after it was over, He was very fond of the gun, and accompanied me on
several shooting trips, and would go the whole day if allowed. He was, however,
of not much use except to retrieving duck, and that he was very good at and sel-
dom lost one in rushes, He was, however, a little hard on them if they were only
wounded, but did not maul them when dead. One evening, coming back from
Thana, I put him loose in the guard’s van. He, however, got outat Bhandup
Station, and was not missed until I looked for him at Byculla. ‘The guard, not
seeing the dog in the van when he left Bhandup, thought I had taken him in the
carriage with me, I was living then at the Chummery, Mahaluxmi, and although
he had not been over the ground before, he turned up about 1 o'clock in the
morning. Bodger had a most retentive memory. He was always open to fight
any dog when set on, but when left to himself he took stock of his adversary and
seldom attacked unless he felt sure in his own mind that he would get the best
of it. At times his judgment was wrong and he accepted his punishment, but
he never forgot the dog or forgave the man to whom the dog belonged, and
whenever he met either, his whole attitude altered, the hair on his back stood
up, the point of his tail dug deeper into his spine, and he would growl and
walk past slowly, but never attempted t renew hostilities. Wehad many dogs
at the Chummery and he held his own until four of them attacked him at once,
and Bodger soon became the rope part in the tug-of-war, He, however, bided his
time, and when he got them later on separately he warmed them. Bodger also
had an aversion to being laughed at or made ridiculous. On one occasion,
when our tame black buck doe came in after dinner at the Chummery to have
a few scraps, | tied Bodger to the end of the rope attached to the buck and
told him to keep it in order, Two dogs commencing to quarrel frightened the
buck, who made for the door, capsized the boy coming in, and made off into the
compound, dragging poor old Bodger with him ; we gave chase and soon found
them brought to a standstill on either side of a tree, Bodger was released, but
for many days he would not come into the house or have anything to do with
any one in the Chummery. He was more hurt in mind than body, although
he turned more summersaults in that short time than any clown in a circus.
Bodger, or rather “Chevalier de Boze” as he was called for the occasion,
appeared once at the Gymkhana dog show—I forget in what class—but for
some time he was not recognised, asa mixture of burnt cork and beer had
been well rubbed into his skin, which had given him a beautiful iron grey
appearance, It is needless to say he did not take a prize, neither did he appear
to enter into the fun of the thing, as was shown by his sulking at the show
and not taking the slightest notice of those who had had a hand in changing his

313 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

colour, and he kept it up for days after he had assumed his dirty white ap-
pearance.

When I went home in 1880 Bodger saw me off, and remained for hours at
the Apollo Bunder after the steamer had left, and on my return, fourteen
months later, knew me at once, although I neither spoke nor took any
notice of him, and seemed very pleased to see me back. In August, 1882,
IT left for Ceylon. Up to this time Bodger had carried on his same old game
of going out and about just when and where the spirit moved him, He, how-
ever, completely altered his ways from the time he landed in Colombo. On board
he seemed very miserable at leaving Bombay, and although in good health, he
never seemed to recover his old spirits. He gave up all his quarrelsome ways,
and would never fight unless another dog commenced and would never leave
my side for a minute, night or day, up-country, where I was stationed. I had
several other dogs of sorts for hunting sambhur, muntjac, and hares, and he
would always join in, and seemed to like the sport, but even in the hottest
sun he would not remain long away from me, By this time I had got
to be very fond of the dog, and he was evidently very much attached to me,
and for hours would sit looking up in my face with such a beseeching expres-
sion, which seemed to say ‘“‘ take me back to Bombay,” and resembling so much
the dog in that picture called “Sympathy.” Bodger, except for the sad and weari-
some look, had nothing the matter with him, and although he had always
accompanied me shooting, I thought on one occasion I would leave him behind as
I expected it to be pretty hot in the low country. I patted him and said good-
bye, but he did not seem to understand my leaving him and tried hard to follow.
I, however, sent him back and he went to my bed-room and lay down. I was
only away a couple of days, and on arriving back at my bungalow, my friend,
who was living with me at the time, told me the sad news that Bodger, who had
hardly left my room whilst I was away, had died only two hours since. I was
very much cut up, and thoroughly believe, if it is possible for a dog to die of
a broken heart, that Bodger died in this way. Bodger was buried in my com-
pound at Haldamulla under a large mango tree, on which I carved in deep letters
—“ BopGER, obit 27th January, 1883.”

HE, L, BARTON,
BomBay, June, 1893.

No. IX.—DOWN A CHIN STREAM,

We had been on a frontier expedition in the Chin hills, and our souls were
sick of mule paths zig-zagging up and down uninteresting hills. One morning
therefore we decided to cut outa way for ourselves and plunge boldly from
our camp down to the little river 2,000 feet below and follow it up to our
next camp. The next day’s march by road was six miles ; we allowed twelve
by stream, and found that it was a good deal more. Climbing up the Chin
hills had been our hard lot from necessity ; this was our first trial at climbing

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 314

down, and there was not much to choose between them for difficulty. Facilis
descensus may apply to Avernus. I have not been there, but it ;is not true of
the Chin hills. Half past six one sunny morning in April found us all ready.
Guns, butterfly nets, and a few gut casts and flies were our impediments
which we made the pilgrim carry. . He deserves a word of description. Hadji
Mahomed Khan is one of those very tall solemn Pathans who seem veritable
descendants of the Wandering Jew in features and proclivities. He has per-
formed the Haj and is as good tempered and powerful as a St. Bernard pup.
He exacts homage from the Hindus by his size, and from the Mussulmans by
his piety.

Far below the waving sea of bamboos which clothe the hill side, we can
make out the belt of heavy timber marking the little hill stream we wish to
follow. The hill side is steep and covered with the dry slippery bamboo leaves.
Toboganning with wooden seats to our pants seems the best way of proceeding,
but it is too late to adopt that plan. After a few casts we decided to follow
down a small spur between two streams ; this decision was mainly arrived at by
our both sliding down the spur ina small avalanche of rubbish. On we went—
the slope getting steeper and steeper—till we had to hand ourselves down from
tree to tree and had finally to take to the little stream, which here consisted
of deep pools with miniature cafions and precipices, We sidled along their faces—
oh, how wet the water looked !—grasping ferns, roots, and bamboos. Here
and there we made impromptu bridges of nervously flexible bamboos, across
which we sidled with the want of grace of the amateur rope-dancer. Each
narrow shave was greeted with encouraging chuckles and inward disappoint-
ment. The nullah became more and more like a knife-gash in the hill side,
and at last we came to a narrow pass a hundred yards long with per-
pendicular sides, through which in two feet of water we splashed and
found ourselves at the foot of the hill in a little open glade.
The vegetation all round was so clean that, after going 50 yards on, we
could not distingush the path we had come down. We had been in deep
shade the whole way down, and the only butterflies we had seen were a few
Melanitis and one or two skippers. We disturbed one barking deer, and once
a loud whirring close by told us we had startled a pheasant. It was still early
when we started down the main stream. It was very beautiful, and a true
wild forest landscape, with the luxuriant profusion of growth which is so
hard to describe, but which tempts particularization. The charm of the early
morning was on everything. The sunlight danced on the pools and sent
emerald shafts of light through the little bosky dells. There were tall forest
trees clothed with moss and wearing buttonholes of brilliant orchids. Here
and there a fallen giant lay, partially propped up by his brethren and covered
‘with a hoary fringe of grey-beard moss. Hverywhere the bamboos rustled
and filled in the spaces left between the big trees with feathery fronds.
Gigantic creepers covered with blossoms tied the big trees together and spread

20 q

315 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

acres of net work, beneath which the tender ferns might grow. The little
stream wandered on in close touching curves round the cliffs and with
cheerful leaping over obstructions, and drinking in enjoyment at every grove
we followed. Here culling a tempting bunch of orchids, or casting a fly
over a ripple, there stopping to admire the exquisite effect of a bunch of maiden
hair ferns set off with caladiums and begonias. On we wandered, and as the
sun mounted higher, the butterflies came out and hurried past us in an endless
gorgeous procession. Charaues were there in half a dozen strong-bodied varieties.
Delicate Lycenid@ gleamed a moment in the hot sun, or formed a fairy ring
over some small pool, Ornithoptera pompeus, with his broad expanse and
yellow satin under-wings, sailed by proudly, and as a rule just out of reach.
Flitting in the shade a dusky Melanitis or an Yphthima would tempt us
to arm-reaching tripping rushes over the bamboo roots. Delias sailimg tempt-
ingly just over-head seemed to know our exact reach and keep beyond it.
While Enthalia, Lebadia and Lepidia Iomene outspread on the shining leaves
were missed over and over again. On we went, our cigarette box getting fuller
and fuller of paper envelopes and alas! also our gut-casts and flies disappear-
ing rapidly. The pilgrim followed us anxiously ; he objected to pilgrimages
whose route seemed so obscure, and during which he had to carry so much,
what he called, “cutchra.” However the sahibs are all mad, and there is but
one God, so he came on gloomy but mute. We then calculate that we allowed
for 12 miles, that it is now one o’clock, we have been travelling for over six
hours and must have covered 12 miles ; but there is no appearance of the next
camp. We are now showing signs of wear and tear ; we are both wet to the
waist as the only road is the bed of the stream. I have lost the sole off one of
my boots, and the pilgrim is rapidly losing his temper. We have a goodly stock
of butterflies, and the pilgrim is laden with orchids, but we have lost all our flies
and not one fish to show. We have seen nothing shootable and have nothing
eatable. Inward pangs remind us that it is a long time since ‘‘chota hazri;” and
the more remote our chance of satisfying the pangs become, the more we
remind each other that even “ bully” beef has its attractions, that under certain
conditions preserved potatoes can be eaten with relish and that whisky 1s no
despicable drink, and we are both Scots! As we go on, we begin to lose our
appreciation of the scenery; here and there we distinctly disparage hill and
stream ; we even mutter about this beastly country. As we get tired, tumbles
become frequent and are endured in gloomy silence and watched without
sympathy. The pilgrim disdains our companionship, and, though keeping
behind, declines to follow the route we affect. The stream has been getting
broader and deeper, and we have either to wade down it or scramble along
the rocky banks. Three o'clock comes and no signs of camp ; but instead a
heavy thunderstorm comes up suddenly and drenches us ; we huddle through
the worst of it in a small bat-lined cave, but are disturbed by the gloomy
pilgrim who tries to prove that the stream is rising. The pilgrim’s

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 316

spirits are now at so low an ebb that ours, out of sheer contrariety,
rise, and in chaffing him we try and forget we are tired, cold, hungry,
and wet. Thirsty we are not, but oh for something to take the edge off
the water! We ask the pilgrim when he thinks we shall get in—and what
ills are in store for us, and badger him till he takes refuge in a surly “‘ Khoda
Janta” and is thereafter unapproachable, We had before come up this stream
for about a mile from the camp, and we now tried hard to recognise the corner
which we had then reached. Again and again this rock or that tree seemed
familiar, but again and again we were disappointed. Four, five, six o’clock
still found us plodding on very tired, very wet, and excessively hungry. At
last we sighted the corner and, after a few minutes’ hesitating recognition, saw
high overhead the grass huts of the camp. We hurried on, and the pilgrim
smiled, Ten minutes later we were getting into dry clothes, and soon were
discussing our long-looked for bully beef, commissariat biscuits, and whisky,
and, needless to say, enjoyed them,
F, EK. DEMPSTER,
RANGOON, June 1893.

No, X.—A DOG KILLED BY A DABOTIA.

Mr. W. H. Traill, writing from Jhansi, Central India, states that on the 1st
July one of his dogs, a large terrier, was killed by a full-grown viper (Daboia
russelliz), Although bitten severely in four places, the dog appears to have
lived for about eight hours, when it died without convulsion, but with all the
symptoms of paralysis. The daboia was found to contain 40 fully-developed
young ones.

No, XI.—SOME SHOOTING NOTES.

In turning over the leaves of a shooting diary of recent date, I find some
odds and ends which I venture to transcribe, as I think that they may be of
interest to others,

Here is an extract from a letter from a friend in Somali Land, dated 25th
August, 1891 :—

“ T left Aden 10th Julyand went over to Zaila, where I found A. . . He
was not able to start fora week. Weset off 18th July ina boat 40 miles down
the coast, where we had sent on a tent, four camels,and guns, The main body
of our camp had gone up to the first wells at the foot of the hills some 60 miles
off. Our camp for the first two days was by some muddy wells in the sandy
maidan, and it was very hot. There were a lot of Wart Hogabout ; they used to
come to the water ;so we rodethem. A. . . was tooseedy todo much, but I
managed to stick three boars ; two of them had grand tushes quite twelve inches
or more ; they can go like blazes, and for pluck I never saw them equalled ;
every one charged false. Itouched them. . . It takesa fast beast to come up

317 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII,

to them ; they are so quick in getting to ground, We had a shocking long night
march after that, 40 miles, to our main camp. The want of water is the curse
of the country ; one has to march 20 to 40 miles often without water ; where
I am going to next week I shall have to send camels daily for water for the
camp ; my camp consists of three shikaris, eight camelmen, a syce, a cook, a
boy, a native policeman from Government, and a man to look after and drive
my donkeys for lion tie-ups. Ihave 16 camels, all of which I had to buy ; they
cost me between Rs. 600 and Rs.700. You see I have to carry rice and dates with
tins of ghee for all those men ; it is a very expensive trip ; I like what I have
seen of the natives very much ; they are a cheery sporting lot, but the greatest
liars I have ever met ; it is no use trying to get the truth out of them, We
hurried up to the hills as fast as we could. When we got on the first pass, we
got into quite a different climate—rain and two blankets at night. We were
very unfortunate in not getting any lions on our way up, but they are very
scarce there. We also just missed the main body of elephants as they passed up
to the Abyssinian hills, but we managed by good luck to shoot five ; three of
them were very fair bulls, but the last one we got was a grand beast and had
very good ivory for this country, 60 Ibs, the pair. I always took them behind
the shoulders ; they never go far with a big bullet behind the shoulders ; your
rifle (D.-B. 8-bore nominal by Greener, 12 to 14 dram E. F. B.) was just the
thing for them, butit is certainly a bit heavy to run with, and I had some cruel
runs after wounded ones; they are very hard to kill ; they will drop to the shot
but are up again in a twinkle. We killed every one we fired at except one .
T have seen them knocked over twice, and yet get up and go fora mile ; I gota
big koodoo on my way up, horns 36 inches. Lalso got two good Gazella walleri,
also some Oryx, and since A. . . left me I got three more elephants and a
fine lion. I have done nothing but march for the last fortnight across the foot
of the hills and must have come over 200 miles. Icould not go where I first
intended, as there was an intertribal row and the next hill tribe was in arms
because one of them had been shot by a policeman, and I have just heard that
the Sultan of the place, where I have been looking forward to getting some
sport, is also up in arms against the English,so Iam done all round
If I cannot get into Kansan, where I want to go, I have a bad chance of any
more lions . . . ‘The whole of the central part of the country has been so
shot over that there are no lions left . . . From what I see and hear they
are a great deal bolder than tigers, but not so quick, At every water you get
lots of guinea-fowl and partridge ; so I had some capital partridge shoots
round the camp of an evening—twenty brace in an hour, There are two
sorts. There are lots of florican and bustard, the latter smaller than the big
Indian ones. I could shoot any number of them.”

There is a popular delusion that a tiger once shot at from a machan is
frightened away and will never come back. Personally this has been my own
experience, but I will quote extracts from three letters, direct testimony

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 318

to the contrary. From these it will appear that if a tiger does not see or hear
the sportsman, he is not as alarmed as one would suppose,

Extract from letter from Lieut, Hardy, R.A. :—

“| )6. Isat up for him the next night, and my people coming back from
my machan first met a bear, which they drove off, and then the tiger himself,
At 8-30 out came a pack of wild dogs ; they stood for a long time under my
tree, so I had a good look at them. I was just debating about killing one,
when out came the tiger after them, and there was no end of arow. ‘The
moon was just going down, soI did not see him well enough to fire ; he
chased them all over the hill and then came back. I shot at him in the dark as
he was crossing some white sand, but he did not mind me ; he went for the kill,
and he and another tiger were round my iree all night, but I could not
see them.”

Extract from letter from Surg.-Major Wolseley, MS., dated 22nd February,
1890 :—

“ We got kubber that he had killed a fine wild hog and not eaten it, so off
we went. There sure enough was the pig ; his big head in a pulp, every bone
being broken, I did not think a tiger could have done it ; he had put big stones
over it to hide the body ; it was in a deep water course running down a gorge ;
some coolies had found it in the morning and pulled it from under the stones
As we could not pug him, I decided to situp .... Unfortunately I had
not come prepared for a sit up and had no white rag or anything except some
chalk .... He came about three-quarters of an hour after sunset, when
it was almost quite dark, TIexpected that he would be very coy when he
found the pig moved, but not a bit of it. He came bounding down to where
he had left it, and then he stopped for a minute, having a good look round to
see what had become of his pork. Then down he came and stood stock-still
within about five paces of the dead pig. I could only just make him out. I
put up my rifle two or three times, but could not get on him, The third time
I decided to chance it and fired in his direction. Where the bullet went I
never found out, except that it did not enter the tiger. Now for the most
extraordinary behaviour of this beast; he did not go off with a bound, but
walked up to where he had:at first stopped about sixty yards up the nullah
and stood still. I thought he must be wounded ; so, after a little while, I said
to my Shikari, “he is wounded.” No sooner were the words out of my mouth
than down he charged to within five yards of my tree, but I could not see him
properly; it was so dark and thick. He then quietly went off over the hill; it
was altogether bad luck, for had it been only the other side of the nullah, I
should have been able to see him and could have fired. Well, this tiger went up
to a tie-up of ours only two miles off and killed it and had his supper. I fired
two shots about ten minutes after he had left. These he must have heard,”

As regards the tiger concealing the pig like a dog burying a bone, this
seems a very peculiar proceeding, and certainly we have not known a similar

319 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, VIII:

case ; but if the tiger did not do so, who did? ‘The natives moreover, on
whose testimony it rests, could have no object in lying.

The last account I give is, I think, of the boldest tiger of all. My autho-
rity is Mr, Harriott, of the P, W. D.:—

“« .... Two nights after I had tied up, my men reported that a panther
had mauled one and had been close to my tents ; sol tied up a goat and made a
machan. About 7-30 I saw a hyena coming for my goat across a well-lighted
open piece of ground, As I did not intend to sacrifice my goat to a hyena, I
shot him and he dropped without a sound. I whistled to my boy at my tents,
which were near, and he and two other men started to come to me. (1 wanted
the hyzena removed, but I did not move myself or call out.) They had just
reached the edge of the nullah on the tent’s side (my machan was a little
distance on the other side) when I heard a rush, and the panther was on my
goat like a flash of lightning. He lay on his back for a few seconds with the
goat held up in the air by his mouth and paws till it was quite dead. Then
he stood up and I shot him. My men heard the report and the death growl
and fled back to the tents... . Two days after this occurred I was told
that another panther had molested one of my garas nearest to my tents,
goat and machan as before, except that this time it was about 150 yards
further off than the other one. I remained awake till 11 pm. and
then went to sleep. About midnight a rush woke me up, and I saw
a tiger sitting on his haunches with my goat in his mouth. I must
tell you that about 7-30 one of my kills got loose and came along the
cattle track to where the goat was tied up. Not understanding the
goat, he became frightened and began to move about in the ravine close by.
Thinking he would disturb my sport, I had him tied up among some bushes
to my left rear, To resume about the tiger. He evidently had not seen the
buffalo, I fired and missed. I could not see the foresight at all owing to the
sighting arrangement having come to grief, and as the tiger fled towards the
jungle, I fired a second shot and missed again. I loaded again, but had hardly
got the cartridges in when I saw him break cover again. He was bolting and
obviously making for the buffalo. I fired two more shots and missed both, He
bounded past between my machan and the buffalo to my rear, and I thought
he had gone. I sat perfectly still however. I could not make out how I had
missed, for it was a clear bright moonlight night and the tiger was within 30
paces of me every time I fired. However, I soon discovered that I had lost the
linen off the foresight and that I had doubtless been taking too much fore-
sight and firing over the beast. Fortunately I had a poultice on one of
my fingers, so I took it off and tied the rag on to the foresight, All this took
about five minutes, and then I again saw the tiger on the cattle track about
80 yards to my right looking at the goat and buffalo. He had gone right round
the back of my machan, and was evidently thinking the position over, and was
for a time undecided, for he advanced a few paces, then went back, and stood

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 320

behind a bush looking at the goat. At last he made up his mind and walked
straight along the cattle track towards the goat, at the same time keeping his
eye on the buffalo. He walked very slowly and deliberately, When he got
opposite my machan I dropped him with a bullet in his shoulder and gave him
a second as he lay. He did not make a sound, but lay perfectly still as if dead.
At first I thought of getting down and having him carried in, but fortunately
I changed my mind and decided to sleep where I was till morning. I had
just dozed off, when the tiger got up and went off before I could geta
shot in, Next morning I founda pool of blood where he lay ; he had laid down
frequently, but I never got him, and he died some eight days later in a cave.
My theory of the above incident is first that the tiger was very hungry, When
he had got back to ‘the jungle after the first two shots, which had doubtless
gone over him and not disturbed him except by the noise, he saw the buffalo,
put the noise down to it, and started to kill it, The second shots were high
too Lam sure,and no doubt put him quite off tackling the buffalo, and he
decided to keep well away from it and content himself with the goat,”

EB, F, BECHER,
Lonpon, 12th April, 1893.

No. XII.—NESTING OF THE CRAB-PLOVER.

I have posted to your address .a box containing an egg of the Crab-Plover
(Dromas ardeola) and an egg of the Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia);s0 I sup-
pose some account of the taking of these eggs, with a description of the nests,
&c., will be expected. I fear Iam not qualified to give a scientific description
or to offer any remarks of much value; still I trust they may be of
interest, and at any rate induce others as ignorant as myself of the technicali-
ties of the science of Natural History to follow my example and endeavour
to describe what they see without waiting for the knowledge that is only
obtained by study and experience.

On the 29th May, 1893, I landed on the Island of Sad-ad-din, a reef island
about five miles from the town of Zeila, on the Somali coast, and with my
friend, Captain E. R. Shopland, commenced to search the island for eggs, as we
had heard that great numbers of seagulls breed there every year. While
we were crossing the level and open plains, we saw atthe north-east end of
the island a sand-hill about half a mile long and raised above the level about
six or eight feet. This is one of the features of reef islands ; the wind and
sea throw up matted seaweed, which is covered with sand, then again more
seaweed and sand, till the coastline on the weather side is several feet higher
than the rest of the island. We saw on this hill a great number of white
birds and a number of seagulls with them, As we approached, we saw that
they were a species of plover, and from their consternation we knew they
must be breeding. The gulls all flew away and left the plovers to their

321 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

difficulties as we approached, When we reached the sand-hill, to our
disappointment we could find no trace of a nest. Yet the birds, some
hundreds of them, seemed greatly disturbed and kept flying round calling
loudly to their mates. While the flock was at some little distance, solitary
birds suddenly began to start up in the most unaccountable manner as the
little vegetation covering the sand-hill was far too low and scanty to have
hidden these white birds from view. We then found that they came from
holes in the ground. The mouths of these holes were, for the most part,
hidden under the overhanging and spreading vegetation, which looked like
heather, but was of course not heather. This part of the sand-hill presented the
appearance of a rabbit warren, and was tunnelled all over with holes about
seven or eight inches in diameter, which extended horizontally about six or
eight feet, The holes which were on the top of the sand-hill went down
vertically one or two feet, then turned at right angles in a horizontal direction.
The roof of these tunnels was formed by the matted seaweed covered with sand
and low-spreading vegetation. Underneath this matted seaweed the sand had
been scraped out by the birds. I think these holes must be used from year to
year, and only need a little cleaning out at the mouth or perhaps digging out
a few inches past the last year’s nest, for some were much longer than others.
Moreover, the holes were not large enough for the birds to stand up in, so that
the excavation must be a work of time, and I think it quite impossible that the
time occupied in one breeding season should suffice for this labour of love.
Although the sand under the matted seaweed is easily scooped out, we must,
I think, consider the absence of excavated sand outside the holes as seen ~
outside crab holes or even rabbit burrows. The birds have long straight
legs like waders, which must either be bent close up to the body while
the birds are at work tunnelling, or be stretched straight out behind
as they are during flight. The tunnelling in that case must be done with the
beak and wings alone, the legs being of no use whatever. This Ido not
think at all probable considering the horizontal length of the holes. We
did not open one less than four feet in length, and some went to six or
eight feet, and always in a straight line. Some of these tunnels entered the
hill from the sea-face side, but by far the larger number from the top or
from the landward side and at every conceivable angle. In many cases the
tunnels crossed each other, but they never curved except when the hole was on
the top of the hill,and then only close to the entrance from a vertical to a
horizontal direction. At the end of each tunnel one egg was found, which
appeared to me far too large for the size of the bird, and had it not been for
Captain Shopland’s knowledge of the habits of this bird and my having seen
the birds fly out from the hole, I should not have believed the egg could have
belonged to this bird. I should not have searched so far under the sand-hill
for a bird’s nest at all, more especially for that of a long-legged bird like the
érab-plover. Captain Shopland shot one of the birds tomake sure of its

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 322

identity. It had a strong black beak like a crow and feet like a plover. The
nesting season of this bird must be the middle and end of May, for out of
about three dozen eggs taken one-third were hard-set, one-third half-set, and
the rest quite fresh,

On the 30th May, 1893, we landed on Efat island, another reef island, about
seven miles from Zeila. Here I found two nests of the spoonbill (Platalea
leucorodia) with three eggs in each about half-set. The nests were close to-
gether and built of twigs and dry seaweed on the tops of the mangrove trees,
and were about five feet from the ground. There was nothing remarkable
about these nests. They were merely flat platforms of sticks on the top of
the mangrove trees and were only three or four feet apart. I found one of the
eggs of this bird laid on the sand on Sad-ad-din Island on the morning of 31st,
and it was quite fresh although far from any nest, but I suppose there is
nothing remarkable about this,

THOS. G. R. FINNY,
Commander, R. I. M.
ADEN, 4th June, 1893.

No. XII1.—THE “GLORIOSA SUPERBA,

In Dr, Kirtikar’s paper on poisonous plants in our April number he asks
for further observation of attacks of caterpillars on Gloriosa superba (p. 492).

The plant isa favourite of mine, and so characteristic of Tanna above
all other places where I have seen it that it might almost be taken asa
district badge.

I have often transplanted the bulbs in the rains, and always had the first
shoot after transplantation attacked by caterpillars of sizes and colours
assorted,

Tn the forests and hedges I never saw it so attacked. I suspect the reason
is that the gardeners cannot help giving it richer soil and more water than
it gets at home, producing a more succulent shoot,

W. F. SINCLAIR, 1.68,

TANNA, June, 1893.

XIV.—SIND AS A FIELD FOR THE NATURALIST,

Extracts from a lecture delivered at the Dayaram Jethmal College, Karachi,

on the 19th July, 1893, by H, FE, M. James, 1.0.8., Commissioner in Sind,

In the cold weather Sind is simply a paradise to the lover of birds, During
the winter of 1872-73, when I was a happy young Deputy Collector of Sehwan,
in a position of much greater freedom and more outdoor work than at present,
a great ornithologist, Mr. Allen Hume, visited Sind, and of all the valuable
series of papers which he published in his periodical “ Stray Feathers,” that on
the ornithology of Sind is the first in order and one of the first in value, By

21

323 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

merely marching through the country he discovered several new species and
added no less than 18 others to the avifauna of India. I had the honour of
giving him one of these, the European Golden Oriole, which I obtained in the
Liyari Gardens, the only specimen ever shot in India, No less than three rare
sand-grouse were procured: Lichtensteint (the pretty painted one which you
occasionally see in the hills) ; Coronatus, still rarer (of which Mr, Watson shot
the first pair right and left—I procured specimens on the Manchar Lake last
year); and Senegallus, the yellow-throated sand-grouse with the spotted female,
which is very common on the Manchar, and even extends into Gujerat. Later
on, other ornithologists like Mr, Scrope Doig in the Eastern Nara, Colonel
Butler of the 83rd Regiment, and Colonel LeMessurier, R.E., sent many con-
tributions from’ Sind. Mr. Doig rediscovered Blyth’s Passer pyrrhonotus, a
_small sparrow peculiar to Sind, which had been lost for about 50 years, since
Sir Alexander Burnes obtained a single specimen in his first journey through
Sind, and which the great naturalist Blyth recognised as a new and separate
species. But yet Gallinula burnesii, Sir Alexander Burnes’ water-hen, very
like the common one, but smaller and without the boss on the forehead, has
not yet been found, and I believe myself it is a doubtful species. Cercomela
melanura, the black-tailed wheat-ear (the wheat-ear of Sind has white feathers
at the base of its tail), has also not been found, though Sir Alexander Burnes
brought it from Sind, and asit occurs at Aden, it doubtless finds its way
into Mekran. Mr. Doig also discovered the nests and eggs of many birds
previously unknown to Indian ornithologists and some unknown to science,
Placed as Sind is, on a kind of dividing line between the peninsular of
Hindustan with its tropical forms and the temperate regions of Beluchistan
and Persia, it is a half-way house where vast numbers of rare birds meet. I
left Sind shortly after Mr, Hume, but I had the pleasure first of adding 10
more to his Sind list. Mr, Hume’s first list gave 280 birds. In 1877 the list
had grown to 334, which was converted into 335 in the same year by the addi-
tion of a wood-cock killed in the Liyari Gardens by Colonel Butler. General
Marston has, during a residence of 50 years, only known of 2 others, both of
which fell to his gun. In 1878 Mr. Doig and Colonel Butler added eight more,
and Mr, Murray added quite a long list, In 1879 the Sind list of birds stood
at 378 ascertained species and 13 doubtful ones. In 1881 Mr. Doig added
2 more, one of them being the famous Passer pyrrhonotus. Mr. Barnes added
another in 1882, thus making a grand total of 381 and 13 doubtful. Mr, Hume
prophesied that the number would reach 400, but unfortunately, just before
that goal was attained, he renounced ornithology.
Even about Karachi, I must tell you, most interesting birds are to be found,
I shot the second specimen ever killed in India, of a rare web-footed sandpiper
(Lobipes hyperboreus), in the harbour here, Colonel Butler, riding out to Clifton
one day, saw on the wet ground to the right a number of terns (those exquisite
french-grey-clad sea-swallows) wheeling about, and discovered the eggs of a

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 324

species which were (I believe) previously unknown, A very interesting and
rare bird frequents the sand-hills near Clifton, Alemon desertorum, or the
desert lark, usually only found in the wildest and most desolate tracts, a large
lark that most people would take for a plover, showing a white bar on its wing
when it rises, The very curious crab plover (Dromas ardeola) is found in the
harbour, In the cold weather many a treasure is lost by its being unrecog-
nised, or for want of some one to prepare the skins, A friend at Sukkur
last year shot the very rare Anser erythropus, the white-fronted goose, and—
ate it. Mr, Hume recorded three geese and fourteen ducks from Sind, but many
have been added since, Mr, Watson, the present Collector of Hyderabad, obtain-
ed three wild swans in 1878, the first adults of Cygnus olor killedin India, That
rare duck, the Smew, with pointed bill and rows of teeth, is more commonly
obtained in Sind than anywhere else in India. On the Manchar Lake you
obtain the great Sheldrake of Hurope. Mr. Hume was the first to note the
marbled teal as an Indian bird, It is common in Central Sind, I added the
larger whistling teal myself to the list, and my friend Mr, Hoare has recognised
the very rare scaup duck in the Delta, Sir Oliver St. John killed the stiff-
tailed duck in Kandahar, so it probably strays into Sind, Colonel Augustus
LeMessurier certainly killed one very rare duck, the lovely clucking teal, in
Sind, The common and jack snipe are common here, but the pin-tail snipe
is very rare, Isaw three and shot one specimen last year, and only one, I think,
had been shot in Sind before. Singularly enough, my shikari recognised it on
the wing as different from the common snipe, which, however, it too greatly
resembles for an ordinary sportsman to discriminate it, In Sind we find six
of the eight sand grouse met with in India, including the three rare ones
I mentioned and of which I have brought you specimens. And we are rich
in other game birds also, We have three bustards—the great bustard in the
desert, the ruffed bustard or talore, and the ‘leek’ or lesser floriken, which is
to be found at Gadap or even on the Moach plain. Colonel Wise and Mr.
Mulock once made a bag of 15 on the Hubb, We have the francolin or black
partridge in abundance, the common grey, the little secsee which gets up in
covies with a whirr, and the chukore is found on Daryaru. As for plovers,
curlews, and the like, their name is legion, The raptorial birds, which I should
have mentioned first, are very numerous, including the great lammergayer
and rare hawks, such as Falco babilonicus, Out at the Hubb you get the rare
Desert or Trumpeter bulfinch, and we have a bulbul, the white-eared, peculiar
to Sind and the Punjab, though it travels as far as Gujerat sometimes, The
greatest find ever made was, perhaps, by Mr. W. T. Blanford, who procured a
very rare African bird, Hypocolius ampelinus, on the Kirthar range,

In the highly important department of Mammals again there is work to be
done in Sind, The Mamh, an almost mythical animal when I was first in Sind,
has, it is true, been captured, and to our disappointment identified as a small
variety of the ordinary Himalayan black bear. But Mr, Murray, I believe,

325 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VILI.

discovered a new hare out at Malir, and to discover so large a mammal at the
end of the XIXth century is no small feat, Amongst the bats, rats, and mice
much remains to be done. I saw a rat not long ago that I feel certain is new,
for once on a time I had to study rats on account of the desolation caused in
Sind by a species of rodent, And in company with rats, Sind is rich in wild
cats. The tiger is nearly, if not quite, extinct in Sind, but the panther is
occasionally procured, These of course are well familiar to us all, but there
are also some magnificent varieties of wild cats in the forests, including the
lynx or shiagosh, General Marston and I once came upon a splendid specimen
in the hills that had been killed by a panther, Several smaller varieties of
Felis also exist which require identification. Of deer, the magnificent ‘“guin”
or swamp-deer, which Mr. Watson has seen in the north of the Rohri Division,
is almost, if not quite, extinct, but I believe that investigators might find the
rare Arabian Chikara or ravine deer, if they looked for it, out beyond the
Hubb. The hog deer is still common, but the black buck is absent except in
His Highness Mir Ali Murad’s preserves. The wild ass of Sind, of which we
have two fine specimens in the Zoological Gardens, is perhaps our best mammal,
Then we have the splendid Sind Ibex, peculiar to Sind and Mekran ; we have
the great Markhor on the hills to the north-west, and the Oorial or Gud.

No. XV.~SINGLE VALVE OF TRIDACNA SQUAMOSA, THE
GREAT SCALY CLAM, FROM TANNA CREEK,

This specimen was obtained by fishermen in the mouth of the Tanna Creek
during July, 1893, and exhibited on the 31st idem.

Tt is the first that I have got on this coast, and the species is unknown to
the fishermen ; but it is figured by Woodward as a Bombay Mollusc on the
authority of Chemnitz, In the Society’s interleaved copy of Woodward’s
Manual of the Mollusca, opposite the key tothe plate, there is a remark
of my own, suggesting that Chemnitz’s locality may have been the bazaar
rather than the harbour of Bombay. All the large clams have long been
imported in a casual way to Bombay, and used for ornamental or quasi orna-
mental purposes, This specimen, which is large, and much worn, may have
been lost from a boat on its way from Bombay to Tannu.

W. F. SINCLAIR, £.C.S.
TANNA, August, 1893.

No. XVI.—BIRDS OBSERVED BREEDING IN KHARAGHORA.

I write to record the finding of the Kentish Ringed Plover breeding here
in the Salt Works. I found two nests of this bird, each with three eggs, and
shot what I took to be the hen bird as it left its nest. I sent the skin to Lieut.
H. H. Barnes, at Ahmednagar, for identification, and he writes to me that it is

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 326

undoubtedly giaktis cantiana, I took these eggs on the 6th instant and
hope to find more nests later on.

T had previously taken, in the same place, numbers of clutches of the Stilt’s
egos, also of Saunder’s Little Tern. The latter, according to my experience,
invariably lay three eggs.

: H. BULKLEY.
KHARAGHORA, 12th August, 1893.

No, XVII—MOTHS ATTRACTED BY TOBACCO SMOKE.

I have read with interest Mr. Oxenham’s note on a butterfly attracted by to-
bacco smoke. I have noticed the same thing more than once. The smell of
tobacco itself is hateful, if not deadly, to most insects ; but the aroma of its
fumes has certainly an attraction for some naughty kinds of moths, The
smell of wine is much more generally attractive to both moths and butter-
flies, and I need not say that they do not always draw the line at smelling it,
When I have seen a moth perplexing itself to discover the source of the in-
toxicating fragrance, I have offered it a sip in a spoon, and the offer has been
most gratefully accepted. It is rather a curious thing that this taste, among
butterflies at least, is confined to certain genera, which we rarely or never
see at flowers, such as Huthalia, Kallima, Charaxes, and most of the Satyrine.
The Papilionine and Danaine, which are fond of flowers, will not be tempted
with liquor. Neither will the Nymphalid genera Hypolimnas and Junonia, nor
any of the Blues. But those butterflies which may be caught with sugar are
much attracted by the juice of certain trees exuding when the bark is cut, and
they often show a taste for grosser refreshment.

HK. H. AITKEN,

Karwar, 16th August, 1893.

No, XVIII—THE HABITS OF THE COPPERSMITH.

I have watched both the Common Coppersmith and other Barbets for many
years to settle to my own satisfaction the question which forms the subject of
a note from Mr, Sinclair in the last number of the Journal. Where doctors
differ those who occupy the room of the unlearned should speak with
diffidence, but if the real question at issue is the existence of some affinity in
habits between the Barbets and the Woodpeckers, I have no hesitation in
saying that I think Jerdon is right, Woodpeckers run up the trunks of trees,
tapping for the insects on which they feed. This the Coppersmith does not
- do, In fact it is scarcely an insect-feeder at all, I kept one in a cage for two
months and could not induce it to eat animal food in any form, It lived
entirely on fruit, chiefly plantains and dry dates, I recollect once seeing one
feeding on insects in a wild state, but it must have been an individual of
original mind, It was capturing flying Termites on the wing! The idea that

327 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

the Coppersmith does sometimes follow the avocation of a Woodpecker has
doubtless arisen from the fact that it nests in holes, which it excavates for
itself, When doing this, it works in precisely the same manner asa Wood-
pecker and with surprising vigour and perseverance, I remember a nest in my
garden at Matheran (not of the Coppersmith, but of the Green Barbet,
M. viridis) in which I heard the bird hammering fiercely long after dark, In
the pitchy darkness of its hole, which was several feet deep, I suppose it did
not know when evening came on. The entrance to the hole is commonly on
the underside of a branch, and of course when the bird is choosing a place, or
just beginning work, it will be found conducting itself quite after the fashion
of a Woodpecker. .

HE. H, AITKEN,
Karwar, 16th August, 1893,

No, XIX.—WHERE DO SWALLOWS SLEEP ?

Can any of the members of the Bombay Natural History Society tell me
where our Swallows sleep ? In the cold season most parts of India swarm with
Swallows, which perch in long rows on the telegraph wires, but not on trees, in
the day-time. They are not on the wires at night, and I very much doubt
their resorting to trees at that time. I think it likely that they sleep in com-
pany, like Bee-eaters ; but though Ihave often startled a company of Bee-
eaters from their roosting tree, I never startled a sleeping Swallow. At one
time I used to meet with large flights of Swallows circling over some flat-topped
rocky hills after dusk, very near the ground. They were not hawking insects,
but evidently wanting to alight, either on the ground or on the low Cajoo-nut
trees which grew on the hill. I watched them patiently several evenings, but
it was very dark, and if I went near enough to follow their movements, they
took fright at once and went off.

EK, H. AITKEN.
Karwar, 17th August, 1893.

No, XX.—ESCAPH OF BLACK SWANS.

Some years ago two Black Swans were imported from abroad by His High-
ness the Maharajah of Darbhungah, I saw the birds swimming near his palace,
and not very long afterwards several young black swans were also to be seen—
about nine of them if I remember right. As soon as the young birds were
able to fly, the swans rose from the water and flew away right across the
station in the direction of the Nepal Frontier, They have never returned, and
it would be interesting to know whether any sportsmen on the Nepal Frontier
have ever shot any of these birds.

A, GOODALL.,
SIMLA, August 20th, 1893.

328

PROCEEDINGS

OF THE MEETING HELD ON 2isr JUNE, 1893.

The usual monthly meeting of the members took place at the Society’s rooms on

Wednesday, the 21st June, 1893, Mr. M. C. Turner presiding.
NEW MEMBHRS.

The following gentlemen were duly elected members of the Society :—
Surgeon-Major J. Parker, M.D. (Bombay) ; Mr. R, A. Lamb, I.C.S, (Alibag) ;
Mr, Sambhu Nath Sukul (Benares) ; Mr, F. G. Brook-Fox, F.G.S. (Ganjam) ;
Mr, F, Kinsman (Mandalay) ; Mr. G. C. Minniken (Simla); Major J. Clibborn,
1.8.C, (Roorkee) ; Mr. Arthur Symthies (Dehra Dun) ; Mr. H. Charles Hill
(Naini Tal) ; Major-General C. F. Sharpe (Coonoor) ; Akbar Saheb Nizamud-
din Divakar (Kalyan) ; Mr. James B, W, Biddle (Karwar); Mr, C, H. Fawcett,
LC.S, (Satara); Mr, A, Kinloch (Rangoon); and Mr, ©, F., Gilbert, C.E.
(Burmah).

CONTRIBUTIONS DURING MAY.

Mr, H. M. Phipson then acknowledged receipt of the following contributions to the

Society’s collections since the last meeting :—
ae ee

Contribution,

8 Crocodiles’ Hggs......0. dod

1 Hartbeest’s head..... estas

3 Panther Cubs, foetal speci-
mens.

1 Cuck00.e....00 Goconaonnn0DCC00

A skull of a Dugong Recnail
on Coast of Cutch.

2 Panther Cubs (alive).....

BoarvLuskg crcesseseess Goacoo0ne

I Snakeeesess cess ooaosaccoooqead

Shells, Snakes and Scor-
pions.

1 Leopard’s Skin .......0....

5 Lizards (alive) ..

1 European Roller (alive).

Spur Fowl (alive) ......000.

1 Pair of Large Ku du u
Horns.

1 Pied Cuckoo (alive) ......
1 Scaly Ant Hater (alive)...
1 Black Ant’s Nest ...... tos

4 Painted Snipe (alive).. .
Eges of Crab Plover and
Spoon bill.

Hop Bind Sy Skis) eweaasdesersess
1 Pied Cuckoo (alive)......
1 Myna (alive)
2 Tortoises .

A number of Birds’ "ees ite

il [Deena Goceschaocoocecocccon
3) IBIS) aonocicooeadeacconsnonno66r

a eee—_u_o ee eeeeeee*"

Description.

Contributor.

Crocodilus palustris ».....0.
Bubalis SWAYDilccsccccessne ss,
Helis) PALAUS) cosesssesec0

.| Mr.

S. Tomlinson, ©.R.

Dr. H. F. Cleveland,

-..| Mr. C. W. Davies.

Cuculus canorus...............| Mr. H. Bulkley.
Halicore dugong .....0r0000- Dr. Ardeshir Dadabhai.
IG@INIS FORRUCIBIS GonocdoboHoSooKoSe Mr. H. E: Winter, C.S.
TQ xe BB ccno) ooncunonodoEONE Mr, F. A. Hill.
Liycodon aulicus ..........0. Capt. Churchward.
From Aden 2.00.00 S90008e0 000 Capt. EH, Shopland,

IG @lliis; TORERCIDIS) | SoansosocrHo00n00K
Sitana ponticeriana
Coracias carrularcryancesessesc
JMitoran VAIBPIG, Gdocoqeobaooconcoe
Strepsiceros kudw oes....06 soe

eeecce.ens

Coccystes jacobinus ...
Manis pentadactyla
From Matheran ......... O60
Rhyuchcea bengalensis......
From Somali Coast

Or0racene

Coccystes jacobinus doagepoo
From Africa

@eatveces = eesece

Ptyas mucogus
Megaderma lyta..........0000.

Major H. B. Thornhill.
Rev. F. Dreckmann, §.J.
Capt. Durant.

Mr. EH. R. Jardine.

Dr. H. F. Cleveland,

.| Mr. Wm. Mountain,

Mr. Daji A. Khare,

.| Dr. J. C. Lisboa.

Mrs. Pearson.
Capt T, G. Finny,

Capt A. Newnham.

-| Lord Colin Campbell.
Acridotheres tristis ....0c...

Mr. G. V. Evans.
Mr. J. H. Hale.
Vet.-Capt. Jas. Mills.

aiscdesis ceeooe| Hon. Mr. Justice Parsons,

Mr. W. George.

329 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

MINOR CONTRIBUTIONS.
From Mr. R. Thom, Miss Baird, Mr. N. 8. Symons, Mr, J. M. Coode, and Mr.
F, A, Little.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Indian Moths, Vol. 1. (Hampson) ...... secveereeeee rom Mr. W. F. Sincilair, C.S.
Transactions of the Entomological Society of

HHondonPnorMl G02 hecsveseedsseseccseserreencevse--v ll Exchange,
A Hunter’s Wanderings in Africa, 3rd Edition

(SelOUS) ..c..sseeresreserereceeeeseree “pg90hoBODeObBqbGO0N0 Purchased,
Proceedings of the Zoological Society of
London, Part IV., 1892 ...... Mucrcecesscetorscteiteecsis From Mr, W. F, Sinclair, C:8.

Actes de la Societe Scientifique du Chili, Tome II.In exchange.
Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New

South Wales. Vol. VII, Part IV. ............... In exchange.
Pharmacographica Indica (Dymock, Warden,

and Hooper), Part VI. wosssersocce:cecsesestereessse cranes

PAPERS READ.

The following papers were then placed before the meeting, and extracts
from them were read and discussed :—1. Notes on Sport in Somali Land, by
C, G. Dodgson, 1.0.8, 2. Small Game Shooting in the neighbourhood of
Bombay, Season 1892-93, by HE. L. Barton. 3. Habits of the Indian Robin,
by Capt, A. Newnham. 4. Note on Argynnis niphe, a nymphalid butterfly,
by Mrs. S. Robson. 5. Note on same, by L. de Nicéville. 6, On the
occurrence of the Hyena in South Travancore, by H.S. Ferguson. 7. The
flowering of Bamboos, by G. Jasper Nicholls, 1.C:S.

PROCEEDINGS

OF THE MEETING HELD ON THE 31st JULY, 1893.

The usual monthly meeting of the members took place at the Society’s rooms on
Monday the 81st July, 1893, Brigade-Surgeon-Liutenant-Colonel G. A. Maconachie
presiding.

NEW MEMBERS.

The following gentlemen were duly elected members of the Society :—
Mr. J. Rivett-Carnac (Cachar) ; Mr. A. Bagshaw (Assam) ; Mr. E.G. Gahagan,
C.E. (Sind); Mr. Alexander M. Tod (Bombay) ; Mr. R. Kennedy (Bombay) ;
Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel H. Cook (Kamptee); Hon. Sec., Mhow Military
Library; Captain Chas. J. Melliss (Pishin); Mr. G. D. Marston, C,H. (Sholapore);
Mr. F. Ede, C.B. (Cachar) ; Major D. de Hoghton (Bombay).

ELECTION CANCELLED,
It was resolved that the election of Mr. Sambhu Nath Sukul of Benares
be cancelled,

PROCEEDINGS.

330

The Honorary Secretary then acknowledged receipt of the following con-
tributions to the Society’s Museum since the last meeting :—-

CONTRIBUTIONS DURING JULY.
Sa

Contribution. Description. Contributor,
1 Pair of horns of Clarke’s} Ammodorcas Clarkei......... Lt. H. EH. Barnes.
gazelle.
1 Snake (alive) ....... peacie0od Tropidonotus stolatus ...... Miss. M. Smith.
1 Lion cub (alive)......0cc0-..| From Somali Land.........0 Mr. EH. L. Cappel, I.C.8.
1 Spotted Owlet (alive) ...| Carine brama ............-+0006 Mr, Alex. Tod.

Shell of

Monalketrecesserdescecsceseete
1 Krait (alive)
12 large sand Lizards (alive)
UME TSbaccumeseaceansscecesesc cts
1 Wild Cat’s skin
40 young Vipers.....c.0. crac oad
1 Sea Snake (alive) .........
7 Kges of the blue-breasted
banded Rail.
2 Chameleons (alive) ......
1 Black Cobra (alive)
A collection of Butterflies...
3 Eggs of the Stilt. .....2....
1 Wild Cat’s skin

Tridacna squamosa found in
Tanna Creek.

eo] Ly codon aulicus..cccsccccsesee

Bungarus arcuatus ....c0s..
Uromastix hardwickii ......
Eupodotis edwardsii ....... oc
From Somali Land............
Wipera russellit, iiccescssece.
Hydrophis curta.-......c000+0«
Hypotenidia striata .........
Chameleon calcaratus «+...
Naga tripudians........ccsces
ROMIPASSATIN deesenclveciesisereies
Himantopus candidus
From Africa

Mr. W. F. Sinclair, 1.0.8.

Mr, F. Fischer.
Surgeon-Capt. C. M. Moore.
Capt. C. W. F. Whyte,
Mrs. N. C. Pearson.

Capt. C. J. Melliss.

Mr. W. H. Traill.

Mr. J. A. Douglas.

Mr. W. F. Sinclair, I.C.S.

Capt. H. F. Jacob.
Mr. P. R. Mehta.

Mr. W. Litchfield.
Mrs. N. C. Pearson.
Mr. A. H. Saklatwala.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Perak Museum Notes, No. 1..... apoqoocdourcosondacondleen In Exchange,
The Hawks and Owls of the United States in their

relation to Agriculture

(iishen))ceecacdeseseeces we

Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London.
IPinrat IL @IE ES) eoocoonocaansabuadasccocoqounb oseode From Mr, W. F, Sinclair, I.C.8.
Transactions of the Zoological Society of London,

Vol, XIII., Part 6

© eereG @08007eereGeeesen090 Se090

Sind as a field for the Naturalist and Antiquarian

(H. HE. M, James

e eoeceneoesoeescceesessrcosseceeoe

Handbook of the Flora of Ceylon, Part I, with

Plates (Trimen)

Journal of the Marine Biological Association

Do.

Do.

From the Author,

Do.

In Exchange.

LAND AND FRESH-WATER SHELLS.
The Honorary Secretary made a special appeal on behalf of the Society’s

collection of Land and Fresh-water shells.

He stated that it was at this time

of the year that such shells were most easily procurable, and he trusted that
members in all parts of India would assist in increasing the Society’s

collection.

PAPERS READ,

The following papers were then read :—

Saute. he

A Day’s Sport in the Berars ; by Colonel Kenneth Mackenzie.

The Indian Snake-bird (Plotus melanogaster), his Works and Ways; by
W. F. Sinclair, I.C.8.

The Jackal, or Lion Provider ; F. J. A. Hill.

Nesting of the Crab-piover ; by Capt. T. G. R. Finny, R.I.M.

Jungle Notes; by P. H. Clutterbuck, A.C, Forests.

oy
3)
al
J,

abi agcinaebins

Miantern Br
THRE POISONOUS PLANTS OF BOMBAY.

Strychnos nux vomica.Nat Ord. Logamacece.

> Beryamun del

1. Transverse Section of Fruit. jz mat. size -

2. Flower, 3. See 4 Vertical Sectiow of Seed. Nok. svxe .

OL

Qo

Nat. Svze.

JOURNAL

OF THE

a ie ES TAL TY.
dlatural History Society,

No. 3.] BOMBAY. [Vol. VII

THE POISONOUS PLANTS OF BOMBAY.
By Surczon-Masor K. R. Kirtigar, 1.M.58., F.L.8.
PART VII.

(With Plate I.)

(Continued from page 230.)
STRYCHNOS NUX-VOMICA.—(Linz,)
(Natural Order—Logantace#, )
MARATHI—RACT 5 AIST.

A tree over 40 feet in height, with a straight thick trunk.
Root.—Thick and with a yellowish epidermis ; very bitter.
Stem.—Often 12 feet in circumference.

Brancuzs,—Dense, irregular, covered with a smooth ash-coloured
bark. Young shoots shining and deep green, often tinged with red ;
bark nodose, bitter, glabrous.

PEtioLE.—}—4 inch long ; deeply grooved.

STrPULES.—None, says Roxburgh in his “ Coromandel Plants.”
Between the opposite leaves there is a raised line, which is perhaps a
rudimentary interpetiolar stipule.

Leaves.—Glabrous on both sides, shining, opposite, entire, coria-
ceous, often decussate in an oblique manner, arising from stout nodes ;
ovate or rotundate, sometimes elliptically oblong ; 3—5 nerved ;
shortly acuminate or almost apiculate. 13 inches x 6 inches ; usually
3—5 inches long. Base obtuse, somewhat unequal.

PEDUNCLE.—}—2 inches.

1

332 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII

FiLowErs.—Many, small, greenish-white, appearing with young
leaves on short slender pedicels ; collected on small terminal pubescent
corymbose cymes 1—2 inches in diameter, at the end of the branch-
lets or on short axillary shoots ; pentamerous ; bisexual.

CaLyx.—5-parted ; persistent ; 4 or | the size of the corolla.

CoroLLa.—Valvate, hypogynous ; regular, tubular or funnel-shaped,
with a 5-lobed reflexed short limb. Tube } to 4 inch long, glabrous
at the throat, lobes valvate, about 2 inch long ; glabrous ; a few conical
hairs lower down the tube.

STAMENS.—95, epipetalous in the throat of the corolla tube, alternating
with the corolla segments.

FILAMENTS.—Scarcely any, or exceedingly short ; inserted over the
bottom of the division of the corolla.

ANTHERS.—Oblong, glabrous, half within the tube, half out.

StyLe.—Of the length of the corolla tube; glabrous; filiform.

Stiama.—Small or short ; undivided, capitate ; sometimes indis-
tinctly 2-lobed.

Ovary.—F ree ; 2-celled.

PLacentas.—Fleshy ; adnate to both sides of the dissepiment.

Fruir.—A berry, globose, smooth, indehiscent, with a fragile shell-
like rind, orange-sized and orange-coloured when mature ; filled with a
soft white jelly-like pulp, which is intensely bitter.

SEEDS,—immersed in the pulp,—2—5 in number ; 3 inch in diameter,
circular, discoid, shining, light grey, silky ; not reniform as Brandis
says, but having one surface convex, and the opposite correspondingly
concave, with a small foveola in the centre of each side.

ALBuUMEN,—white, horny or cartilaginous as Gaertener calls it.

Hupryo.—Very small, compared with the size of the seed; straight,
eccentric ; milk=white.

CotyLEpons.—Cordate, acuminate, tri-nerved, very thin.

RavicLE,—Clavate, very small, placed near the hilum.

REMARKS.

The wood is very hard and close-grained, white or grey, with
numerous medullary rays. One cubic foot weighs 52 pounds. It is
used for many purposes, such as ploughs, cart-wheels, cots, and fancy

THE POISONOUS PLANTS OF BOMBAY. 333

cabinet work. The tree appears to be a native of Ceylon. My de-
scription is mainly drawn from the specimens obtained from the two
handsome trees growing at Bassein in the Salsette Island in a garden
near the ruins of the old Portuguese Fort.

Every part of the plant is exceedingly bitter, particularly the root.
The pulp of the fruit, says Roxburgh, “ seems perfectly innocent, as it is
eaten greedily by many sorts of birds.” Colonel Drury quotes this obser-
vation in his “ Useful Plants of India.’’ The root has the reputation
of curing intermittent fevers. Rheede says that when boiled and drunk,
it is purgative. The bark is used as an antidote for snake-bite.
Brandis says that the pulp in the fruit is orange-coloured. It is not so;
it is white. It is difficult to understand how such a careful observer
as Brandis says so. It is evidently a misprint or slip of the pen.

The seeds contain 0°28 to 0°50 per cent. of an alkaloid called Strych-
nia, mixed with another alkaloid Bructa, closely related to it.
Igasuric acid, similar to malzc acid, is associated with these alkaloids.
It is these alkaloids which render the plant poisonous.

The late Professor Sir Robert Christison says that the bark might be
advantageously substituted for the seed in the preparation of strychnia.

The tree flowers in the cold season. Kurz in his “Forest Flora of
British Burma,” (vol. II. pp. 166—167), says it flowers in April
and May. It may beso in Burma. The trees in Bassein flower in
January. The fruit is ready in the early part of the cold season.
Kurz says that the tree sheds leaves in the hot season. It is not
known to do so in Salsette.

Brandis says the seeds are flat. If it be so, it is quite exceptional.
The general form of the seed is correctly described by Gaertener when
he calls it convexo-concave.

Roxburgh observes in his “‘ Coromandel Plants ” that the shell cover-
ing the fruit is somewhat hard. It is not so when mature and dry. It
has the appearance of being so when the fruit is but half developed and
the pulp has not yet become jelly-like, but is dense and comparatively
drier. When, however, the fruit matures and the pulp is well formed
and becomes almost isolated from the shell, the thinness is apparent.
It is still more so when the fruit becomes dry ; the seed and the pulp
then lie loose in the cavity, and the shell easily cracks with a resinous
fracture when pressed between the fingers.

334 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, VIII

Hooker adds a very imporant note in the description of this plant
(Vide “ Flora of British India,” Vol. IV, p. 90), which is as follows :—
“ Bentham also reduces to the present species Sérychnos ligustrina
(Blume, Rumphius I, 68, ¢. 25), which does not differ by any
tangible character, but has smaller somewhat different-looking leaves.”

PorIsonous PROPERTIES.

Nux-Vomica is so well-known for its poisonous properties that it is
hardly necessary to do more in these pages than state them briefly.

Strychnia, the chief active principle of this plant, is one of the most
powerful poisons acting on the nervous and muscular systems. It
causes tetanus—that is to say, tonic contractions of all voluntary
muscles. These contractions are generally sudden and last from a few
seconds to many minutes. They follow each other in rapid succession.
In severe forms there is hardly any intermission. The whole body in
such cases becomes “rigid, immoveable, and hard as a board”
(Schmiedeberg).

The convulsions excited by this alkaloid originate in the spinal cord
probably by acting directly upon the motor-cells. The reflex irrita-
bility of the spinal cord, of the medulla oblongata, and of the brain
is excessively increased. This causes tetanus. When the brain and
medulla oblongata are in this state, the spasms get excited by the
slightest, often imperceptible, stimuli, which may meet the eye, the ear,
and particularly the organs of touch, so that they apparently come on
without a cause (Schmiedeberg).

Strychnia has been found in blood. It has a marked effect on
circulation. The blood pressure rises; there is arterial tension
during the appearance of the convulsions; the frequency of
the pulse becomes simultaneously slowed. This Mayer believes to
be due to vaso-motor spasm from increased irritability of the origins
of the vascular nerves and the cardiac inhibitory fibres of the vagus.

It must be remembered that the mind is perfectly clear in strychnia-
poisoning. Strychnia isa cumulative poison. It also diminishes the
process of oxidation in blood—that is to say, the amount of oxygen ab-
sorbed and of carbonic acid given out by blood are diminished (Harley).

Brucia is another alkaloid found in Nux-Vomica, but in smaller
quantity than strychnia. It possesses properties similar to strychnia,
but as a poison brucia is less active than strychnia.

335

THE COMMON MARINE SHELLS OF THE BOMBAY
SHORE.
By A. ABERCROMBIE,
leveled QU
(Continued from page 222.)
THE BIVALVES.

These shells have received a great variety of scientific names based
upon the peculiarities of animal formation which the various authorities
have considered best adapted for their own mode of classification, but
all are agreed that it is difficult to divide them into well-defined sub-
classes.

The authority which we are following places at least three-fourths
of the Bombay Bivalves, which he calls

LAMELLIBRANCHIATA,

under the head of Veneracea, but we shall endeavour to subdivide them
according to some other writers on more or less marked differences in
the shells themselves.

The bivalves have the power of attracting currents of water into
their shells, which they filter of all nutrimental or shell-producing
matter it may contain, and then pass out again.

Some of them accomplish this simply by slightly opening the valves
of their shells ; others are provided with siphons or fleshy tubes (either
one with two divisions or two separate ones) which they can protrude
in varying lengths from the mouths of their shells.

The opening and shutting of the shells is performed by certain
muscles, and the number and arrangement of these muscles, as shown by
the scars left on the interior, is our first help to the classification we
adopt. Next, the presence or absence of the aforesaid siphons is also
denoted by scars on the valves, but it is not always easy to detect these
Scars, especially if specimens are old and worn ; further we have the
interlocking teeth of the hinge of the shell, which are very variable and
are a distinct feature in some families ; and, lastly, the ligament holding
the two valves together is sometimes external, sometimes internal.

336 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII,

The bivalves have very limited powers of locomotion. The oyster
family, when first they come into existence, can swim about, but they
soon attach themselves to rocks or stones, and then become permanently
fixed. Other families, notably the mussels, spin what is called a byssus,
a horny or fibrous material which passes through an aperture in the
valves of the shell, and enables them to attach themselves more or less
firmly to rocks or stones, but by far the greatest proportion are simple
burrowers in sand, mud, or even stone.
This burrowing in sand or mud is effected by means of a fleshy lobe
or foot (it is often the shape of a foot), and the process may easily be
watched if a live shell be placed ina tank or basin upon some sand,
‘When a sufficient time has elapsed to calm the fears and suspicions of
the animal, it will protrude its foot from between the valves of the shell,
thrust it down into the sand, and then with a jerky motion the shell is
drawn vertically downwards a little ; and the process is repeated till it
has disappeared. The whole proceeding occupies only a very few
minutes, but some are much more rapid in their actions than others.
The depth the animal will burrow seems to depend upon the length
of its siphons ; these, when it is down, are protruded until their fringed
mouths lie exactly on the surface of the sand, and in this position they
are quite invisible until the currents of water they attract and repel
point to their presence.
The only instance of activity I have seen amongst the bivalves was
some young specimens of the family Meroé, which, after driving their
foot into the sand, jerked it out, causing their shells to shoot a distance
of a few inches through the water.
We now come to our classification :
Division I.—Shells with two muscular impressions or scars on the
inside of the valves at opposite sides and nearly equal in size.
Division IJ.—Shells with two unequal impressions ; but this
division will not be further considered in this paper, as the only
representatives of it are some specimens belonging to the well-
known mussel family, and they are very uncommon.

Division I1i.—Shells with one impression, or two or three close
together and centrally placed.

Before going further, it is necessary to note that the umbo is the
name given to the beak or commencement of growth of the shell, and

THE COMMON MARINE SHELLS OF THE BOMBAY SHORE, 337

the ventral border is the edge of the shell opposite the umbo and which
- constitutes the length of the shell. The breadth is, of course, a measure-
ment from the umbo to the ventral border in a straight line, and this
measurement also determines whether a valve is equilateral or not, 2.e.,
whether the umbo is centrally placed with regard to the shape of the
valve. When dimensions are given, they are of what I believe to be
full-sized specimens.

Unfortunately nearly all the common bivalves belong to Division I,
but two large subdivisions are fairly easily determined—the Integri-
pallia and the Stnupallia. Still regarding the inside of the shell, there
will be found running parallel to the ventral border a line or scar
formed by the muscular attachment of what is termed the mantle
of the animal to the shell. In cases where this line (the pallial line)
simply follows the outline of the shell between the two muscular scars,
it indicates that the animal has no siphons and belongs to the class
Integripallia. Where this line is inflected and forms a sinus or bay,
the animal has siphons—the Srnupallia.

Division I.
INTEGRIPALLIA.—Licgament Externat.
ARCACHA.

There are many species of this family, and it is easily recognised
by the long straight row of similar and comb-like teeth of the hinge.
Shells generally white and covered more or less with a rough
or bristly epidermis, also radiately ribbed from the umbo.

Arca inequivalvis (Brug.) is a large thick swollen shell with about
34 broad smooth ribs. Umboes curled over the broad ligamental area,

Length 24—38", breadth 2—22", depth of double shell 2”.

Arca bistrigata (Dunker) lives attached to rocks or stones by a
horny byssus coming out of the centre of the ventral border, and can
only be removed by the use of a considerable amount of force. It is
generally a rough dirty-looking shell often covered with limy matter
and a bristly epidermis. The shell is oblong, and the hinge line is very
long and straight.

Ribs numerous, slightly noduled and in pairs at the sides.

Size 2—22" X12".

338 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VITT,

Arca granosa (Lam.)—Shell nearly equilateral and strongly ribbed
with about 20 noduled ribs.

Kpidermis brown, thin, and scaly. Shell pure white.

_Sizerdle x ae

Arca japonica (Reeve).—Shell oblong, very inequilateral, shining
white, with 32 to 33 broad flat ribs.

Size 13” & 1”.

Area tenebrica (Reeve) isa small oval flattish shell with the hinge
line slightly curved. The ribs are close set and very numerous.

Size $” X 4", but I have one specimen #” X 3”.

Arca ae (Linn.) is the smallest of the family and very common
amongst shell shingle. White or yellow tinged, hump-backed and
somewhat squarely shaped, with the umbo curling over the ligamental
area. Radiate ribs numerous and somewhat beaded.

Size 3” x },

LUCINACHA.

We have two specimens of this family which are so widely different
in every respect that it is hard to believe they are correctly classified.

Cardita antiquata (Lam.) is one of our commonest shells. Very
massive, white beneath, with a yellow-brown epidermis, and with irre- -
gular burnt blotches or streaks scattered over the radiate ribs, Ribs
broad, and about 23 in number. Hinge remarkable for long ridge,
which fits into a corresponding groove.

Size 24” x 2".

Diplodonta indica (Desh.) is a very delicate white globular little
shell, smooth and shining, or very finely concentrically striated,
About the size of a small marble.*

CYPRINACEA.,

Cardium asaticum (Brug.)=coronatum (Speng.)—This is our re«
presentative of the cockle family, and the double shell viewed side-
ways gives a perfect outline of a heart. The ventral border is semi-
circular. Shell light yellow and deeply ridged, with 33 to 34 radiate
ribs, which are notched or lamellated towards the ventral border.
Hinge, central teeth small, but two sharp pointed prominent ones on
either side, widely separated from the others.

* N.B.—Dr. Fischer puts this shell under the Ungulinide.)

THE COMMON MARINE SHELLS OF THE BOMBAY SHORE. 339

SINUPALLIA.—Ineament Exrernat.
VENERACEA.

Cypricardia, bellicata (Reeve).—This is a smallish, dull, chalk-white
shell, shaped something like a bean, very inequilateral ; in fact the
umbo is quite at one side. It is smooth, but irregularly roughly
ridged or striated with the lines of growth. Hinge teeth one small
one on each valve, Sinus slight.

Size 12” %& 2",

We now come to seven shells which are much mixed up in sub-
classes, but which I shall endeavour to take together under some lead-
ing features.

They are all polished shining shells, thickish, with 2" sharp closely
set prominent teeth in the hinge, and are generally smooth and —
coloured,

Meretrix morphina (Lam.) is about the largest, very shining, thick
and smooth, and ofall colours, from pale buff to deep rich brown. Shell
somewhat triangularly cut and ventral border rounded. Umboes
nearly straight, making valve not far off being equilateral. Sinus very
slight.

Size 24” x 2”.

The shells figured in Reeve as Cytherea castanea, C. petechialis, and
C. impudica appear also to be this species.

Chione pinguis (Hind’s) is also very shining and smooth, but the shell
is much thinner and more swollen, especially towards the umboes.
Colour generally light or dark slate with concentric bands or wavy lines.
Shape ovalish, umboes curling away from the ligament side of the
shell, which side is produced or elongated. Sinus broad, deep, and
oval.

Size 2" x 123",

Chione radiata (Chem.)—-Similar in shape to the last, but more
oval, flatter, not so shining, and with irregular concentric striations,
Umboes straightish and not very prominent, i.e. they do not much
distort the general oval shape of the valve. Sinus deep and oval.
In colouring, this shell, as is the case with many of the bivalves,
defies description. Young specimens have a reddish tinge which

turns to brown or grey when older, and many are marbled or clouded
2

340 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

with angular dark grey colourings on a light ground, also frequently
radiately dark banded. The variations in colour and shape no doubt
account for its having received three names and being figured
in Reeve’s Conchologia as Tapes marmorata and T. orientalis. The
name of C. radiata is that applied to the adult specimens in the
British Museum. :

Size 12” & 12".

Tapes textriz (Chem).—-One of our commonest shells, elongated, oval,
very smooth and shining (old shells sometimes irregularly, concentri-
cally striated), and with very pronounced blackish zigzag or net-
shaped markings on a yellowish ground. Sinus rather small, not
pointed.

Size 18" x 4".

Meroe solandri (Gray) and M. effossa (Hanley).—These are two oval,
flattish, thick, very shining shells remarkable for a deep linear cut
or depression in the shell behind the umboes and in which the
ligament lies. Beaded on the inner edge of ventral border.

M. solandri is quite smooth and of a uniform cream to buff. Young
specimens are often prettily flame marked with yellow to brownish
colourings.

Sinus broad, not very deep.

Size 13" x 14".

M. effossa is concentrically lined or grooved, most clearly so towards
the linear cut spoken of. Nearly covered with flame or sharp
pointed wavy bands of yellow or light brown, often tinged with
purple.

Sinus as last.

Size 12” x 14".

Pullastra malabarica (Chem.).—This shell differs from the others
in being strongly concentrically ridged or furrowed ; umboes a good
deal curled ; ventral border rounded, and large specimens look about
as broad as they are long.

Colour yellowish with fine grey frecklings and frequently four
dark radiate bands of colour.

Sinus pel and broad, extending to middle of shell.

Size 24" x 22",

THE COMMON MARINE SHELLS OF THE BOMBAY SHORE. 341

Venus imbricata (Sow.) is a very small shell found in great
quantity amongst shingle. White, sometimes yellow or purple-tinged
towardsthe umbo, Radiately ribbed. Ribs about 13—19 and noduled.

Length 2” and nearly the same breadth,

Circe divaricata (Chem.).—Shell oblong, oval, flattish, thick, radiately
ridged, ridges diverging from umbo and centre line of shell, also
partially concentrically ridged, giving a beaded appearance in places.
Colour fulvous-white, mostly streaked or blotched with red brown.
Sinus inflection hardly noticeable.

Size 1)" & 12"

Dosinia or Artemis——There: are four species of this genus, all
more or less circular in shape and closely concentrically striated.
The umboes are pointed and curled, and stand out of the circular contour
more or less. Immediately under the umboes is a small heart-shaped
impression indented in the shell. Sinus large and pointed, extending
to middle of valve.

D. prostrata (Linn.) is a large flat fawn-coloured, shining shell,
Ntriations at sides run into converging ridges,

Diameter about 2", :

D. pubescens (Phil.).—White, sometimes faintly pink tinged ; finely
silkily striated. Most frequently found about the size of a 4-anna
piece, but grows to 14” diameter. ;

D. rustica (itomer) is a rough chalky-looking shell about the
size of a rupee. Striations fine and becoming ridged at the sides,

D. gibba (Adams) is about the same size as the last, but the umbo
is much produced, destroying the circular form, The shell, too, is
thinner and more swollen towards the umbo. ‘he heart-shaped
impression is comparatively Jarge and faint; pure white and finely
evenly striated,

Donax or Wedge-shells——We have three members of this genus,
Ligament short, and side of shell on which it lies (the posterior side)
truncated. Sinus deep, Shell inequilateral.

D. scortum (Linn.).—Easily known by the polished purple interior
_ and the sharply truncated side ending in a point at the ventral border,
Outwardly the shell is brownish-grey concentrically striated, forming
ridges towards anterior side. Shell also radiately striated, especially
on anterior side,

Size 2" x 1)”,

342 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

D. abbreviatus (Lam.) is a small, thick, very inequilateral shell
finely concentrically striated, varying in colour from pure white to
purple-brown. When coloured there is generally a light ray from umbo
to ventral border. Hinge-teeth, one prominent in one valve fitting bet-
ween two smaller ones in the other.

Size 1"* 8".

D. incarnatus (Chem.)=.D. dyson (Desh). —A pretty little whitish
shell often delicately tinged with yellow, pink or purple. Smooth and
shining, truncated end concentrically furrowed. Apex pointed and
straight, giving the shell an angular shape.

Size 4" 2", but found much larger than this at Ratnagiri.

pln des airata (Desh.)\—This shell, being the only true purple
bivalve I have found, will not need much description. It is thin,
oblong, somewhat transparent, generally partially covered with a
greenish epidermis, and with 2 light rays running from umbo to
ventral border in a slanting direction.

Length 12” x 2".

The Tellinas form a very numerous family generally taken by itself
and even much subdivided.

The Bombay specimens are thin flattish mequilateral shells generally
white, and the posterior side (7. ¢., the side with the ligament) is
truncated or more frequently plicated. |

Hinge-teeth insignificant, sometimes obsolete,

Sinus in all cases very large.

The following are all white.

T. sinuata (Spengler).—Large, very flat, oval, very silky, and
finely concentrically striated ; posterior side produced and slightly
flexuous,

Size 23” x 18".

T. capsoides (Lam.).—Also flat, chalky-white, slightly rough, and
clearly concentrically striated ; posterior side short, plicated, and trun-
cated ; anterior rounded and faintly radiately striated,

Size 13” x 12".

T. edentula (Spen.).—Large, thin ; umbu pointed, rather swollen and
angular ; inequilateral ; posteriorly strongly flexuous, anteriorly pro-
duced and oval ; smooth, shining, and striated with lines of growth, i)

Size 23" x 14”.

THE COMMON MARINE SHELLS OF THE BOMBAY SHORE, 343

Z. ala (Hanley).—The chief feature is the pointed and plicated
posteriorend. Anterior end rounded ; umbo pointed, but not much pro-
duced ; silkily minutely concentrically striated ; sometimes rusty-tinged
by the epidermis,

Size 14” < 2,

T. truncata (Tonas) is a very thin, pure white, perfectly smooth,
oval shell, very inequilateral; umbo pointed and angular, Posterior side
slightly flexuous.

Size 13" x 1".

T’. emarginata (Sow.).—An oblong, very highly polished, smooth
shell with concentric agate-like veins frequently pinkish towards the
umbo, or pink-rayed; posterior side sharply flexuous, forming sometimes
a sort of dip in the shell.

Size 12" 2".

EXTERNAL LIGAMENT SLIGHT OR WANTING.

Semele cordiformis (Sow.) is the name of a whity-pink, some-
what circular and thickish shell often pink-rayed and banded, espe-
cially towards the umbo. Both radiately and concentrically striated,
the former being particularly permanent towards the ventral border,

Sinus deep and broad,

Central teeth obsolete, a long internal ligament taking their place.
Lateral teeth two. About the size of a rupee,

The Mactras are chiefly known by the pecularity of the hinge-teeth,
In the centre is a more or less hollowed-out triangular or spoon-
shaped projection or pit which holds the internal ligament. Beside
this are sharp interlocking teeth, beyond which the hinge area is
more or less grooved laterally.

M. luzonica (Desh.) only occurs here as a small nearly equila-
teral and triangular shell, very shining, and finely concentrically

striated. Colour variable, but generally a grey purple towards the
umbo.

‘Size about 2” & 8" or smaller,
Cecella transversalis (Desh).— An oblong equilateral shell gene-

rally covered, all but the umbo, with a yellow-brown epidermis, beneath
which it is quite white,
Size 12” > 2”,

344 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

Of the genus Standella there seem to be two species—S. capillacea
(Desh.) and S. pellucida (Chem.), but the hinge-teeth and ligament-
pit are so exactly alike in both cases that I am in some doubt,
from a recent examination of a number of specimens, as to
whether we have or have not two species. If we have, S. capillacea is
much the larger, rough, oval, and inequilateral, white or more often
tinged with rusty-yellow, rough, and irregularly concentrically
striated with lines of growth and fine wrinkled striations in a radiate
direction, especially towards the ventral border.

Size 33” x 23".

S. pellucida is much smaller, and the oval shape is more pointed.
Shell shining white and silkily, very finely, concentrically striated.
Radiate wrinklings not present,

Size 22" X 13".

MYACHA.

The Bombay specimens of this family are so widely different in
form that they must be taken separately,

Thracia salsettensis has been described and figured by Mr.
Melvill, and a copy of his diagram and pamphlet has been reproduced
in this journal.

Anatina labsata (Reeve) is an extremely fragile oblong some-
what swollen, pearly-looking shell ; semi-transparent; interior vitreous,
and with a single spoon-shaped projection to hold the internal ligament,
The shorter side of the shell is rostrated or slightly thrown back,
causing it to gape.

Solen truncatus (Sow.)—(The razor shell)—is very common ; the
double shell forms a long cylinder open at both ends, often covered
with a greenish epidermis. Shell tinged with rusty-pink often trans-
versely banded with this colour.

Length 3" to 7".

PHOLADACEA.

One species, Pholas baker: (Desh.), is certainly common, and I
believe these shells have been called angels’ wings, the imaginary
drawings of which they faintly resemble. A very elongated, pure
white, thin and brittle shell concentrically and radiately roughly ridged,
the ridges forming sharp points at the junction. At the umbo the shell
is curled over on itself, a very marked feature. Interior porcellanous.

Length about 3" x1".

THE COMMON MARINE SHELLS OF THE BOMBAY SHORE. 345
DIVISION III.

This comprises all the oysters, and I give the following extract from
the paper already mentioned :—

Ostrea crenulifera (Sow.)=plicata (Chem),

Ostrea bicolor (Hanley).

We give these names as most closely corresponding to the Bombay
specimens that have come under our notice, but this genus is so widely
distributed in all seas and the similarity of shell sculpture is so close,
whilst the shape is so varied, that it is impossible to speak with abso-
lute certainty.

O, lacerata (Hanley).—Found on stones at low tide, densely clustered
and arranged vertically.

Of the genus Anomia we have two species.

A. acheus (Gray).—A translucent, silky, copper-tinged (yellow to
red) shell with often a roughly wrinkled exterior and a very polished
metallic interior. The lower valve is flat and has a large circular or
oval hole extending to the middle of the valve through which the
byssus passes. The animal lives attached to rocks or stones, and, like
the oysters, adapts itself in the shape of its shell to its surroundings.

Muscular impressions central and so close together as often to make
one scar.

Hinge-teeth absent.

Size about 14" 14".

Placuna placenta (Linn.).—Circular, very flat and thin discs, often
as large as a saucer. Texture like mica or talc, smooth towards the
umbo, otherwise finely wrinkled with minute thread-like shining lines,
Young shells faintly pink-tinged ; old ones often blackened with mud,
otherwise they are white. In the interior at the umbo there are two
diverging ridges.

The Pectens.—These well known scallop (expanded fan-shaped) shells
are only represented here by one or at most two species. Umboeg
pointed and angular, and with wings or ears on either side; ventral
border semi-circular,

P. singaporinus (Sow.) has about 21 ribs, is whitish and generally
densely covered with transverse bandings or blotchings of dark brown
or rusty-red.

346

COLLECTING WAYS AND COLLECTING DAYS.
By Masor C. T. Bryenam, F.z.8., Morest Department, Burma.
(Read before the Bombay Natural History Society, 1éth Nov., 1893.)
Collecting on the Kawkareik aed Myawaddy Road, :

I know of no forests in all this forest-bearing country of Tenasserim
so interesting as those lying in the Hast Salween sub-division of
the Salween—Ataran Forest Division.

Apart from the fact that from a forest point of view the Hast
Salween contains perhaps the most valuable forests in the province, the
whole country, from the configuration of the land and from the char-
acter of the vegetation covering it, forms the very happiest of hunting
grounds for a natural history collector. From north-west to south-
east right along the whole length of the sub-division runs the range
of the Dawnat mountains, covered for the greater part by dense
evergreen forests, and possessing peaks running to 4,000 and 5,000
feet.

One of these, Mulayit, has been made famous by the collections
made thereon by Mr. Limborg, the late Mr. W. Davison, and Signor
Fea. The Dawnat range forms the water-shed between the Thaungyin
river on the east and the Hlamgbwé and Haungdraw rivers on the
west. For the most part it is covered by unbroken forests, and its
wilder portions are only known to the wandering Karens ; no white
man has penetrated to their depths. Here and there rough pathways,
leading over high and rugged passes, cross the range, and being often
the only breaks for: miles in the dense forests are, at most times,
thronged with birds and insects. In all Tenasserim I do not know any
collecting ground so good as the road leading from Kawkareik, a large
village in the Haungdraw valley across the Taungjah pass (1,500 ft.)
to Myawaddy, a village on the Siamese frontier in the Thaungyin
valley. For some reason or another, possibly attracted by the dense
evergreen vegetation, many Malayan species, both of birds and insects,
originally recorded from the Malay Archipelago, Malacca, or from the
extreme south of Tenasserim, creep up along the Dawnat range

COLLECTING WAYS AND COLLECTING DAYS. 347

and have been procured by H., myself, or others on the Taungjah
pass.

Witness to this fact among birds, the black-and-red broad-bill
(Cymborhynchus macrorhynchus), the tufted tree-swift (Macropteryx
comatus), the greater red-billed malkoha (Rhamphococcyx eryihrog-
nathus), and many others: among butterflies I have taken the
eminently Malayan forms of Papilio butleri and Sithon nedymond,
not to speak of scores of others: and in the Hymenoptera it is
sufficient to mention as common Sphea tyrannica, Smith, originally
recorded by Wallace from the Celebes ; Ctenoplectra chalybia, also
from Malacca and the Celebes, Megachile atrata, from the Philippine
Islands, etc.

Years ago I was stationed at Kawkareik and knew the Taungjah pass
and road well. My best collections of birds and insects were made
along it and in the Thaungyin and Haungdraw valleys. Of late years
however, only when professional work has taken me there, have I
been able to revisit my old hunting grounds and collect during such
leisure as the ever-increasing duties that press on one now-a-days have
allowed me. Here is an account of one trip made along this road.

Leaving Maulmain by launch one day early in February, H. and I
got up to Kyundo, a little village on the bank of the Haungdraw
river, on the same day, early enough to proceed on to Kawkareik,
which is fifteen miles further in towards the foot of the hills. Leaving
our servants to load and bring on our baggage on carts, we started on
foot with a light empty cart and a fast pair of bullocks following close
behind in case we found the sun hot and decided to ride. We both
carried nets, and H., who had lately taken again to bird-collecting,
had a man behind carrying a gun.

The road for some miles from Kyundo is uninteresting, passing
between low-lying marshy ground and paddy fields over which it is
built with high embanked sides, pierced by bridges so as to allow of
outlets for the water in the floods of the monsoon. At about the fifth
mile, however, the road gets up among low forest-clad laterite hills,
and here our collecting began, the first prize being a fine adult
Poliornis teesa, an exceedingly rare bird in Tenasserim. H. spied it a

little distance off the road, seated high upon a dead tree (Dipterocarpus
3

348 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

tuberculatus), and aftera careful stalk managed to bring it down.
While H. went off after the hawk, I wandered in among the bushes ©
and undergrowth, keeping a sharp look-out for any good butterfly
or Hymenoptera. Butterflies were plentiful enough, but all of
common species. Fitting up suddenly and after a short jerky flight,
dropping close to the roots of some thick bush and becoming perfectly
invisible until put up again, were dozens of Melanitis zsmene, M. aswa,
and M. zitenius ; I caught specimens of all three in a couple of minutes.
Here were two or three Mycalesis mineus going with steadier flight and
settling higher up on the leaves of the bushes, while Terias, Ypthima,
and the delicate weak-flighted Leptosia xiphia were all to the fore.
Suddenly I sawa flash of blue, and a little bright Arhopala went
with a thump on to the underside of a leaf of a Yendike bush
(Dalbergia cultrata). A careful sweep of the net, and it is caught and
proves to be Acesina aberrans, de Nicéville, an Arhopala pure and simple,
but with rather unusual markings on the underside of the wings. The
bushes grew thick, and tramping about among them I disturb insects of
all kinds, among them a rather lively solitary wasp (Eumenes arcuata),
which gives me a good deal of trouble to get into the cyanide bottle.
By the time H. has recovered his bird and returned to the road, I have
at least a dozen butterflies in papers and three or four Hymenoptera
in the killing-bottle; and so it goes on, H. helping me with my
insect-collecting, while keeping a look-out for birds for himself, until
we get within a mile or so of Kawkareik ; then we get into the cart
and rattle in in time for a bath, and get dinner later on when our
servants and bageage turn up.

We stopped a day at Kawkareik, and the next morning started for the
Thaungyin valley. Carts had here to be abandoned and elephants taken
on. The next day what with getting our baggage straight and loading
the elephants, we did not get off till after 8 o’clock. The march was going
to be a short one, only to a camp at the foot of the hills, some five or six
miles off ; so our late start did not matter. Passing through the village,
which is long and straggling, we did not get into any collecting ground
until we had got clear of the Shan hamlet of Tadanku, which joins on to —
the east end of Kawkareik village. The morning was bright and the
sun already beginning to feel hot, so that we were glad to get past all

COLLECTING WAYS AND COLLECTING DAYS. 349

cultivation and clearings into the cool evergreen forest. The road or
pathway, for it is really only a bullock-track, tollows the bed of the
Kawkareik chaung, a regular little mountain torrent, shallow but swift,
which or its feeders are crossed by the road some twenty-five to
thirty times within a distance of four miles. A considerable trade
in live cattle brought from Siam has been carried on for years,
and this pathway, rough and rugged as it is, is well marked,
and forms a broad winding break in the forest. The hills rise
on either side of the road steep and densely crowded with vegeta-
tion, evergreen bushes with sharp recurved thorns, creepers of all
sizes and lengths, huge clumps of bamboo and giant forest trees, Thin-
gan (Hopea odorata), Kaungmoo (Parashorea stellata), Pyinma (Lager-
stremia flos-regine), and numbers of others are all jumbled together in
one matted mass through which it is impossible to penetrate any dis-
tance without free use of axe and dah, All wooded scenery has a
sameness that becomes, after a time, rather monotonous. But on this
road the abrupt turns and the distant views obtained of bare hill and
rocks between the lower wooded vistas are most striking. You as-
cend a height and look over a waving sea of green broken by the
winding road crossed here and there by the stream. The contrast of
the vivid green of the trees, with the brown-black and gleaming white
boulders in the torrent’s bed, and afar off a bare mountain side of rock
and grass is remarkable. The whole lit up by the morning sun forms
a rich mass of colour which has often held me breathless and silent.
At the first crossing we stopped and let the elephants with our
baggage get ahead, telling our servants to pitch our camp at Taung-
cheyin (lit. “the foot of the hill’’) and get our breakfast ready against
our arrival. In the mean time we looked about. The near bank of
the stream showed a wide expanse of damp sand, and on this, as the
sun got higher and warmed it, came butterflies, bees, wasps, and
Diptera in scores, sucking up the moisture. On one or two spots,
where some wayfarers—Burman, Shan, or Karen—had sat down
and eaten their meal of rice and na-pi (fermented fish-paste), a
whole crowd of waving wings made a bright patch of colour on
the yellow sand. It is very difficult to say whether butterflies
are attracted more by smell or by sight. In the course of my
collecting I have found an oyer-ripe jack fruit or papaya split

350 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII,

open and laid out on bare rocks or sand—a fair bait for the Papzleonde
and Lycenide, among butterflies and for all the solitary fossorial
wasps, and the Apide among the Hymenoptera, But then to bait
of this kind insects may be attracted as much by sight as by scent,
while there is not the ghost of a doubt that for all Lepzdoptera,
Hymenoptera, Diptera, &c., there is nothing to beat liquid ammonia*
spilt over patches of sand where the sun is shining hot ; and to this
there can be no question that the insects are attracted purely by
scent. For certain foul feeders, the genus Charazes among butter-
flies pre-eminently, a sure find is the droppings, so common on jungle
roads, of tiger, wild cat or dog. Again Huthalia and skippers and
many large fossorial Hymenoptera, Pompilide, Sphegide, &e., are often
found in numbers sucking the juice of jungle fruits shed and lying on
the ground in rotting masses. On the sand for some time our nets went
swooping out busily, and then H. suddenly said, “ By Jove, what's
that,” and looking up, saw three green birds flying on to a high tree
on the other side of the stream. For a moment I thought they were
parrots, but a second good look showed the beautiful cherry-pink putfed-
out feathers of the throat, and I recognized them as Nyctiornis amicta,
the “ red-bearded bee-eater” to use Oates’ name. This is a much
rarer species than the “ blue-bearded bee-eater” (Nyctiornis athertonz)
and found only in the heaviest forests ; whereas the latter species is not
unfrequently seen near clearings, and I have even shot one on a soli-
tary tree in the middle of a paddy field. The call of Nyctiornis
amicta is quite different from that of its congener, much coarser and
rougher. The bird breeds on these hills, and on two occasions I found
nest holes on this very road. Unfortunately the first time I was too
early ; the birds had just begun digging, and on the second occasion
I found the young already hatched out and feathered. They flew out
as I dug down into the nest. Both NV. atherton: and N. amucta,
notwithstanding their popular name of bee-eaters, live quite as much on
beetles as on bees. From the nest mentioned above I took out quite
a hatful of the legs, heads, and wing-cases of beetles. The nest, like
that of all bee-eaters, is simply a large bulbous chamber at the end of |

* Wor the precise manner in which this ammonia is poured on the ground see |
Hogarth’s plate of the “ Enraged Musician,”

_COLLECTING WAYS AND COLLECTING DAYS. 351 |

a seven or eight foot tunnel dug obliquely into the bank of a
stream, the side of a road or other cutting. I have no doubt that
the eggs of NV. amicta, like those of NV. athertonz, are globular and
glossy white.

H. and I stalked the birds very carefully, but succeeded in only getting
one. After putting this up we slowly wandered on, adding rapidly
to our collections. The profusion of bird and insect life was simply
marvellous. Among birds, bulbuls of many kinds were conspicuous,
Chloropss, Tole, Pycnonotus, Criniger, twittering, flitting and fighting
among the tree-tops. The beautiful male of the fairy-blue-bird (Irena
puella) with its glistening cobalt-blue wings was uttering its sharp
“ be quick,” *‘ be quick”, while from the lower bushes by the road-side
came the plaintive monotonous call of Turdinus abbotiz, and further in
from the depths the hoarse “Hoot,” “ Hoot” of a Pomatorhinus.
Every now and then too a trogon (Harpactes oreskios) with its bril-
liant colouring, or a party of that rare hornbill (Anorrhinus tickell2) fol~
lowing each other at intervals in single file and uttering their curious
cackling shout, would cross the road. Above all sounds, however,
from the hill sides rose the melancholy howlings of the black
gibbon (Hylobates lar). Butterflies abounded at every crossing of
the stream. Among them Huplwas with their biue-shot wings, mi-
micking Papzilios, difficult to distinguish from Euplea and Danais,
delicate whites Huphina, Terias, Hebomoia, strong-winged Charazes,
brilliant Arhopalas, and jerky-flighted brown skippers all swarmed to-
gether on the bare hot sands. Mixed up among the butterflies were
swarms of hymenopterous insects; of Megachile (leaf-cutter bees)
alone I caught eleven species, of Humenes (solitary wasps) four species,
and numerous species of Anthophora, Nomia, Ceratina, Halictus, and
Trigona. I collected too various Coleoptera and Diptera, which were
almost, if not quite, as abundantly represented as the other orders
of insects with which I am better acquainted. The jungle on either
side of the road is, as I have already stated, covered with dense ever-
green vegetation, and hunting about among the undergrowth, I was
overjoyed to chance on the whisker plant (Tacca levis) growing in
great numbers. I had always considered this plant as somewhat rare,

but here it was to be found literally in hundreds. It is a most curious

852 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

vegetable, as the old botanists would have said, with a leaf not unlike
that of the wild cardamom, and a most peculiar, almost weird-looking
flower, deep purplish-black in colour, with filaments fully three inches
long, formed into two great bunches which hang down on either side of
the corolla.

It was one o’clock before we got into camp, which was pitched in a
lovely spot right at the foot of the ascent of the pass over the moun-
tains, The tents were placed under the shade of what in India would
have been called a tope, of magnificent Pyinma trees (Lagerstremia
flos-regine).

After changing our wet clothes and swallowing a hasty breakfast,
I sat down to skin the birds I had collected, and to look over, arrange,
and put away my insects. H. said he would just have a look round
before he commenced skinning the specimens he had got and wan-
dered off with a gun. Presently I heard a shot and then another, and
then a long pause followed by frantic shouts for his net. One of H.’s
servants ran off with the net, and in about half an hour H. returned
triumphant. He had secured a lovely specimen of that most beautiful
of birds, Calyptomena viridis, and another equally beautiful specimen of
Rhamphococeyx erythrognathus, besides one broken and one perfect
specimen of that rare butterfly, Thawmantis pseudalzris.

This ended our collecting for that day, and it was nearly dark before
we had finished preparing and putting away all the objects we had
collected.

Next morning we started somewhat earlier than we had done
the previous day and climbed on for an hour without stopping to
collect much, as we wanted to get well ahead of the elephants.
By the time we had got the worst of the ascent over, the sun came
over the hill-top and butterflies and birds became more lively.
The road wound for the most part along the ridge of a long spur,
and the hill-side was in many places fearfully steep, but all covered
with dense ever-green jungle. In one place where the road, owing to
the broadening of the spur, opened out somewhat, H. and I sat down
on a fallen log and took a rest. A dead and half-rotten tree was in
front of us a little off the road, and our attention was attracted
to this by seeing what we both took for a woodpecker hammering
away, but rather gently and with little noise, at the top. Every now

COLLECTING WAYS AND COLLECTING DAYS. 353

and then the up-and-down motion of the head would stop and the bird
would shift its position a little. Thus moving round the trunk, it
_ at last came full into sight. To our astonishment we saw then it was a
barbet and, as we thought, the common Cyanops asiatica. To make
certain, however, H. brought it down with a reduced charge of No. 10
shot, and our delight may be imagined when it proved to be, not
C. asiatica, but the much rarer C. zcognita of Hume. Subsequently
I found this bird not uncommon on this Taungjah pass. Its note is
altogether indistinguishable from that of its near allies, Cyanops
asiatica and C.davisoni, if indeed these two latter are not one and
the same bird. The curious woodpecker-like action in hammering
at the bark of a tree I have not observed in any other species of
barbet.

Having strung up C. ecognita on the bird-stick, we proceeded on our
way, collecting as we went. At one very steep spot on the hill-side I got
into a flock of that curious shrike-thrush, Gampsorhynchus torquatus ;
they were flitting about on all sides uttering their curious grating note
and threading their way with incredible rapidity through the stems of
a thick clump of bamboos. The ground down which I had to climb
was like the side of a house, and after innumerable shots I only managed
to secure one specimen, but that was a beauty, scarcely damaged at all
by the shot. Collecting on steep hill-sides, whether the quarry is birds
or insects, is very trying work for the temper. 1 know nothing so good
or so bad, as the case may be viewed, for bringing out an eloquent, if
not elegant, flow of language. After I had recovered my bird and got
up to the road again, H. said I had uttered frightful anathemas,
However, the year before, on this very spot, he acknowledged he had
been quite as bad. He was going to the Thaungyin in May and was
collecting butterflies and other insects for me. Now this road in the
end of April and the beginning of May that year simply swarmed with
numbers of that magnificent morphine butterfly, Stictophthalma louisa.
He had caught some half dozen, but just at this spot, where I had now
got G. torquatus, there were some twenty or thirty Stctophthalmas
_ floating about up and down the hill,and H. found himself as busy as
he could possibly be for a few minutes trundling up and down the steep
hill-side and making himself very hot and wet. He had just struck at
a Stictophthalma that had disappeared with a whop into the centre of a

354 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

thick and alas! thorny bush, when buz-z-z there came flying down the
road at an astonishing pace a huge sand-wasp which H. recognized as a
prize, having seen one in my collection. It was Scola procer, which by
the way is rare in Tenasserim. He struck at it wildly and got it in,
but the end of the net was hitched up in the thorny bush and the
efforts of the Scolia to escape were terrific. McH., another forest
officer who happened to be with H. at the time, told me afterwards
that the sight of H. struggling with that ferocious Scolza in the
hitched-up net and endeavourmg to get the beast into a two-inch
cyanide killing-bottle, while he tried at the same time to keep his
own footing on the fearfully steep slope, was a thing he would never
forget. McH. declares so remarkable was the language used that on
the road at that spot for hours afterwards the air had a most
sulphurous and brimstonic smell about it. However the Scolia was
secured, which was the chief thing after all, and by H.’s kindness now
adorns my cabinet. Gampsorhynchus torquatus was discovered by
Davison in Northern Tenasserim, and I subsequently procured it on
this very road. It extends down southwards to as far at any rate
as Ye, where I came across it in the dense ever-green forests on the
Minla stream.

So far as i have had opportunities of observing the bird, it occurs
only in the heavy ever-green hill forests, never descending to the
plains. It is always in flocks, and works noisily through the jungle
exactly like garrulaz.

By the time we got to Taungjah (lt. valley) itself, where the road
descends from one ridge and ascends another, thesun was well up,
and in the open valley here birds and insects were all abroad in
numbers. We shot several specimens of a beautiful broad-bill (Psar-
somus dalhousie), which was going about in small flocks of six or
seven. It is one of the stupidest of birds. A flock will allow its
individual members to be shot down one after another without moving
from the tree they are perched on. We got here also specimens
of the coral-billed hill bulbul (Aypsipetes concolor), and two or three
of that plain plumaged minivet, Pericrocotus cantonensis. The species of
butterflies and other insects were much the same as those procured
yesterday, but I got a fine Papilio and two or three Arhopalus that I
had not met with below. On the ascent of the opposite ridge to

-COLLECTING WAYS AND COLLECTING DAYS. 355

Taungjah also I found parading about among the dead leaves on the
ground, and managed to catch with some difficulty, two magnificent
specimens of Salins intermedius, Smith, one of the fossorial hyme-
noptera of the family of the Pompilide.. On the top of the ridge
we came across a lovely snake of a bright green colour coiled
round, or rather on, the root of a tree, about a foot off the ground.
On these steep hill-sides the washing away of the soil under the
drenching rains often leaves the roots of trees entirely bare, giving
a rather curious appearance to the trees, which seem to be raised
above the ground on their roots. H. pushed the snake off gingerly
with a stick and, holding its vicious-looking flat head down, seized it
with finger and thumb behind the jaws. As he held it up, the
brute opened its mouth angrily and showed its two recurved fangs
clearly, which, asin all the viper family, were rather long. Suddenly
it gave a twist and a wriggle and, distinctly protruding its fangs,
jt managed to shake a minute drop of clear poison on to H.’s thumb.
Inever saw H. in such a hurry to drop anything: he flung the
snake from him, wiped his thumb on his coat and then with his hand-
kerchief, and sucked at it violently for at least a minute. However
there was no abrasion of the skin and no harm done. I don’t think
the snake itself was a very poisonous one; it was one of the many
forms of Trimeressurus gramineus, Shaw. This particular individual
had the tail cinnamon-red.

Further along, the road narrowed somewhat, and at one bend H.,
who was ahead, suddenly stopped and beckoned to me. I hurried up,
and he pointed out a magnificent butterfly seated with closed wings
on the under-side of a bamboo by the edge of the road, Its wings on
the underside were grayish brown marked on the hind wing with
faint ocelli. As I approached cautiously, it half opened and closed its
wings once or twice and then, spreading them suddenly to their full
extent, it soared and went down the hill-side with a dash that seemed
to annihilate space. A broad blue bar on the upper side of its wings
flashed in the sun, and J recognized it as Amathusia portheus, one of the
most beautiful of the Morphine found in Tenasserim. It was hopeless
following the creature, so we went on, and by 2 p.m. reached the
village of Thinganyinaung inthe valley of the Thaungyin, where we

were to camp that night. That evening we had enough to do to
,

396 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL AISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

get all the specimens we had procured on the march prepared and
put away, and then a bird or two had to be left over to be skinned
the next day. f

The third day’s march brought us to Myawaddy on the bank of the
Thaungyin river. The country between our camp at Thinganyinaung
at the east foot of the Dawnat range and Myawaddy was quite
different in character from anything we had passed over yet. The road
wound over a series of low hillocks with gravelly sandy soil, parched
and dry and covered with what the Burmans call “Indaing’’ jungle,
in which the chief trees are In (Dipterocarpus tuberculatus), Engyin
(Pentacme stamensis), Theya (Shorea obtusa), Yindike (Dalbergia
culirata), Kone pyinma (Lagerstremia macrocarpa), Bamhué (Careya
arborea), and Khabaung (Strychnos nua-vomica), with here and there a
clump of Myinwa (Dendrocalamus strictus), and a sparse undergrowth
of coarse thekké grass.

Just after striking and leaving camp, passing over some paddy fields,
we manage to secure a magnificent specimen of Rutherford’s crested
serpent-eagle (Spilornis rutherfordi), and further on, on the bank of a
tiny stream, the last water we should meet till we got close to Myawaddy,
IT had a busy five minutes with my net procuring specimens of
Euripus halitherses with its queer indented wings and prominent yellow
eyes ; of Apatura parysatis, a little velvetty-black butterfly allied to the
European purple emperor ; of Cyaniris, Castalins, and Rapala ; and a
great prize, Thaduka multicandata, a remarkable form among the
Lycenide, possessing three tails on the hind wing, and having the under-
side of the wings curiously mottled. Among the bees and wasps I took
a fine specimen of Vespa magnijica, a species which is not often found at
such a low elevation, and a few Megachile momia and sylocapa,
While I was at work with my net, H. went on, and I heard him fire
twice ; when I came up I found him placing a pair of that beautiful
little faleonet (Poliohierax insignis) on the bird-stick. Soon after this
we got into a flock of the white-cheeked jay (Garrulus lencotis), and on
a dead yindike tree (Dalbergia cultrata) I shot a specimen of that
lovely wood-pecker (Gecinus erythropygius). The call of this last bird
is a strange one for a wood-pecker, a sort of garrulous “ quitch-quatch,
quitch-quatch,” quite unlike the shrill ringing ery of the other Gecini.
Poliohicrax insignis, Garrulus lencotis, and Gecinus erythropygius are

_ COLLECTING WAYS AND COLLECTING DAYS. 357

all rare birds, being very locally distributed and occurring only in
“ Indaing,” the kind of forest we were passing through.

The progress of our march to-day was much less interrupted by stop-
pages to collect. The dry hot jungle we were passing through yielded
few things beyond what are mentioned above, and these, though all good
and rare, were limited in numbers. It was still early in the forenoon
when we got into the belt of teak and bamboo close to Myawaddy, and
here we found wood-peckers plentiful; several species were associated
together, andin company with numbers of Garrulaw belangeri, G. mont
liger, and G. pectoralis, and a few green jays (Cissa sinenses) were work-
ing in regular mobs through the forest. Of wood-peckers, beside Gecenus
erythropygius which we had already obtained, we got the large T'hripo-
naz feddent, a handsome black and white species, with, in the male, a
bright scarlet crest ; Blyth’s three-toed green wood-pecker (Gecinulus
viridis), Chrysophlegma flavinucha, and C. chlorolophus, Chrysocolaptes
strictus and Tiga javanensis with their shining golden backs, the quaint,
familiarly-tame and compact-built Hemicercus canente, and the pretty
little rufous piculet (Sasa ochracea). It wasa perfect paradise of wood-
peckers, and Iam sure we could have, if we had liked, got over a hun-
dred specimens in the two days we stopped at Myawaddy afterwards,
Myawaddy must once have been a considerable town. The remains of
huge earthwork fortifications lying half a mile or more on the west
and south attest to its former extent and importance. At present
it contains about a couple of hundred houses—most of them mere huts,
the usual three or four pagodas, kyaungs (monasteries), woots (image-
houses), and zayats (rest-houses).
Inone of these last we put up, and as it was getting on in the after-
_ noon (our collecting just outside Myawaddy having delayed us consid-
erably), we changed our clothes, scrambled through breakfast, and set
to work to prepare and put away our collections.

This ended our three days’ collecting for the time on the
Kawkareik and Myawaddy road.

358 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

ON NEW AND LITTLE-KNOWN HYMENOPTERA FROM
INDIA, BURMA, AND CEYLON.
By Masor C. T. Bincuam, F.z.s. (Forest Department, Burma).

The fossorial Hymenoptera belonging to the family of the Pompilide,
Leach, are some of the most difficult of insects to classify and group
into well-defined genera. One of the latest arrangements of them is
that by Herr Kohl of Vienna as laid down in his paper “ Die Guttun-
gen der Pompiliden” in Verh. der k. k. Zool. Bot. Ges. Wien, 1884.

Herr Kohl divides the Pompilide into 15 genera. Species belonging
to the following occur in the Indian region; Macromeris, Pel.,
Pseudagenia, Kohl, Ceropales, nibs Salius, Fabr., sec. Kohl, and Pee
pilus, Fabr., sec. Kohl,

Saleus is further subdivided into 4, and Pompilus into 18 groups,
or subgenera. Under the Salius groups are included in part species
belonging to the genera Salius, Fabr.; Priocnemis, Schioedte ; Hemi-
pepsis, Dahlbom ; Homonotus, Dahlbom ; Entypus, Dahlbom; Pallosoma,
Pel.; and Mygnimia, Smith. And under the Pompilus groups, in part,
species belonging to Pompilus, Fabr.; Aporus, Spin.; Episyron,
Schioedte ; Anoplius, Pel.; Evagethes, Pel.; Salius, Dahlbom ;
Homonotus, Dahlbom ; and Ferreola, Smith.

I give a translation of Kohl’s description of the five genera meh=
tioned above.

“I. GEN. MACROMERIS (Tab. II, Fig. 1).

“ Macromeris, Pel. Guer. Mag. Zool., pl. 29, 1831.

“Type: Macromeris splendida, Pel. ; Ibid, pl. 29, 1831.

A wide space between the lower rim of the orbits and the base of
the mandibles. The mesosternum in front of the coxee of the inter-
mediate legs, cone-shaped. Wings large, overlapping the abdomen,
The radial* cell of the front wing rounded at the apex ; three cubital
cells, the 2nd cubital cell trapezium-shaped, a little smaller than the

* Throughout this paper I have adopted, with one exception, the English equivalents of the
~ Latin terms used by Dahlbom (Hym. Eur,, I, plate) for the wing nervures and cells. The one

exception is that for Dahlbom’s “1st and 2nd Venula-transverso discoidal”” I have used the

terms “Ist and 2nd recurrent neryures ” as more familiar to English and American Hymenop-
terists.

I give (Pl. Il, Figs. 2 & 8) a diagram of the front and hind wing (Hymenoptera) with the
hames of the cella and neryures according to Dahlbom.

ON NEW AND LITTLE-KNOWN HYMENOPTERA. 359

Ist or the 3rd; the third cubital cell also trapezium-shaped, widening
out a little towards the margin of the wing beyond the radial cell.
The first recurrent nervure terminates in the 2nd cubital cell before its
apex ; the 2nd recurrent nervure in the middle of the 3rd cubital cell.
The transverse-medial nervure is interstitial or strikes on the externo-
medial nervure before the apex of the 1st submedial (interno-medial,
Smith) cell. The Ist discoidal cell, as in the genera Pepsis, Notocyphus
and portions of Salus with a hyaline spot formed in the inner angle
through the upper concave discoidal line. The cubital nervure of the
hind wing coalesces with the transverse anal nervure (interstitial),

Legs, very long. Tibiee having neither spines nor hairs, Tibial
spur, short, The metatarsus of the posterior legs arched. Claws with
one stout tooth in the middle on their inferior edges. The 3rd
ventral segment without a transverse impressed line. In the male the
middle segment is short, shorter than the rest of the abdomen. Coxe,
trochanters and femora, especially of the anterior legs, thick, Femora
on the underside having a sharp denticulated edge.

“III, GEN. PSEUDAGENIA, nov. gen.

AcentA, Dhlb. (Non Schioedte), Hym. Hur., I, p. 454, 1845,
Pompilus, pt., Smith, Cat. Hym., P. HI, p. 118, 1855. Anoplius,
pt. Pel. Hym., HI, p. 440, 1845. Sphex, Evania, Ceropales, pt.;
Fabr., Pelpomus, Costa, Fauna del Regno di Napoli, 1859, p. 8. Pom=
prlidea.

Tyen: Agenia carbonaria, Scop. (punctum, Schioedte, Fabr.),

The characters of the maxillz resemble those of the genus Pogonius;
Dhlb, ‘The lower rim of the orbits reaches up to the base of the
mandibles. The antenne are at times, as in the genus Ceropales,
inserted ata distance from the clypeus, at times close to it. Mesono-
tum, transverse, short, Front wing with three cubital cells; the 3rd
cubital cell, trapezium-shaped or trapezoidal, much larger than the
2nd. The radial cell, long, lanceolate. The Ist discoidal cell termi-
nating in or a little after the middle of the 2nd cubital cell, the 2nd
discoidal cell in the middle of the 3rd cubital cell. The transverse
medial nervure unites with the Ist transverse-submedial nervure, or
| strikes on to the externo-medial nervure before the apex of the Ist
submedial cell. The cubital nervure of the hind wing is discharged at
or after the apex of the anal cell. Antenne and legs, long and slender;

360 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

The armature of the latter, in general, very weak or wanting. The
tibize of the posterior legs never serrated, bearing, at the most, short,
isolated spines. The tibial spur of the posterior legs not extending
beyond the middle of the metatarsus. Claws having a tooth in the
middle on their inferior edges. The species belonging to this genus
have a tendency to a lengthening of the 2nd segment of the abdomen.
The 8rd ventral segment bears a transverse impressed line, as in
Priocnemis, Pepsis, Agenia, &e. The middle segment convex, never
emarginate or bearing an impression. In the male, the clypeus is
evenly truncated, rounded, or neatly incised. In the female, the cly-
peus seldom has its anterior margin transversely truncated, more often
the centre is produced sharply.

XII. GEN. CEROPALES (Tab. II, Fig. 12).

CrRopaes, Latr., Prec, caract. Gen., MS., 1796, p. 123, 25, Gen,
Ceropales, pt., Fabr, Syst. Piez., p. 185, 31, Gen., 1804. Ceropales,
pt., Latr., Hist, Nat. Crust., et MS., t. XIII, p. 283, 1805. Evania,
pt., Fabr.

Ichneumon, pt., Oliv.; Pompilus, pt., Illig.

Typx : Ceropales maculata, Fabr., Syst. Piez., p. 185, Nr. 1, 1804.

Labrum produced below the clypeus. The eyes reaching up to or
approaching the base of the mandibles. The antennz in the female
only arched, their point of insertion lying, asa rule, at a moderate
distance from the clypeus. The posterior margin of the pronotum,
arched. The front wing with one lanceolate radial cell and three
cubital cells ; the 2nd cubital cell receives the 1st recurrent nervure
after the middle, the 2nd before or in the middle.* The transverse
medial nervure is interstitial. The cubital nervure of the hind wing
arises at some distance after the apex of the anal cell. Legs armed
only with minute spines, or altogether spineless.

The tarsal brush is absent from the anterior legs. Claws with one
bent tooth in the middle or at the apex on their inferior edges. The
middle segment is well proportioned, short and broad, never emargi-

nated. The drd ventral segment is without a transverse impressed line.
The sting-sheath in the female is produced.

* There is some error here inthe text. The following is, I believe, what was ins
tended—“ the 2nd cubital cell receives the Ist recurrent nervure after the middle; the 3rd
cubital cell, the 2nd recurrent nervure, before or in the middle.” Thisis borne out by the
diagram of the wing of ceropaled in the plate attached to Herr Kohl’s paper.

ON NEW AND LITTLE-KNOWN HYMENOPTERA, 361

IV. GEN. SALIUS (Tab. II, Fig. 9).

Sattus, pt., Fabr., Syst. Piez., p. 124, Nr. 16,1804. Proenemis,
pt., Schioedte, Mon. Pomp. Kréyev, Tidsskr., I, 1837. Hemipepsis,
pt., Dhlb., Hym. Eur., I, p, 462, 25, Gen. et Tab. Syn. Gen. Pomp.,
1845. Homonotus, pt., Dhlb., bid, p. 441 (non p. 351), 18, Gen.,
1845. Entypus, pt., Dhib., dbid, p. 442, 19, Gen., 1845. Pallosoma,
pt., Pel., Hist. Nat., MS., ITI, p. 492, 4, Gen., 1875. Mygnimia, pt.,
Smith, Cat. Hym. Br. M., Pt. III, p. 181, 12, Gen., 1855.

Tyrxs : S. bicolor and S. punctatus, Fabr. (Syst. Peiz., p. 124, Nr.
1, and p. 125, Nr. 3).

Hyes reaching up to the base of the maxille. Pronotum of very
varying form and length, its posterior margin evenly transverse or
arched or angular ; in many of the males it is of unusual length
(Salius, Fabr., 1804; Homonotus, Dhlb., 1845 ; Entypus, Dhlb., 1845),
On the metathorax, on close examination, are visible two processes ;
they are placed at some distance from the base of the wing.
They are often rubbed off, for one notices the pretty little pointed
hollows in which they arise. Front wing with one lengthened

radial cell, very frequently lanceolate in form, seldom having the
apex rounded, Three cubital cells. The 2nd cubital. cell. receives
the 1st recurrent nervure before its apex, the 3rd cubital cell, the
2nd recurrent nervure nearly in the middle. The 3rd cubital cell
is trapezium-shaped or trapezoidal and somewhat larger than
the 2nd. The transverse medial nervure (of the front wing) arises
before the apex of the 1st submedial cell. The cubital nervure
of the hind wing at its origin is received seldom in mostly after
the apex of the anal cell, nearer the apical margin of the wings.
Legs long, especially the tibize and tarsi, Claws either bearing one
obtuse bent appendix as in the genus Notocyphus, in two portions
(Cyphonony«, Dhlb.), or armed with one, two, or more teeth (Hemi-
pepsts, Dhlb.), The tibize of the posterior legs angular, with in the
female toothed and serrated spines. Middle segment of diverse
lengths never posteriorly emarginated, in the males, with a lengthened
thorax, it is likewise lengthened ; in several species of the divisions
Hemupepsis and Cyphononyx, as in the species of Pepsis, there is an
obtuse tubercle close to the stigmata. The 3rd ventral segment has,
on or before the middle, a transverse impressed line.

362 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VII.

The genus Salus will here, as is indicated by the sketch of the
synonym given above, be taken in a wider sense than even Dahl-
bom’s genus Priocnemis. I hold that the variation in the form of the
claws on which was founded, for example, Dahlbom’s genera Cyphononya
and Hemipepsis can only be considered useful for the establishment
of groups of species all under one natural genus. Under Salzus then
the following groups can be made :-—

Ist Group (Subgen. Cyphononyz).

Claws furnished with one obtuse arched appendix on their inferior
edges, the length of which makes them appear to be double. The
middle segment with an obtuse tubercle always placed before the
stigmata. In the inner angle of the Ist discoidal cell a wing spot is
indicated, but never clearly engraved (Cyphonony#, Dhlb.)

np Group (Subgen. Priocnemis).

Claws with one tooth on their inferior edges. No wing-spot in the
inner angle of the Ist discoidal cell or at most only an indication of
such (Priocnemis, pt. Schioedte, Dhlb,, Schenck, Taschenb ; Priocnemis,
Thoms.).

3rp Group (Subgen. Hemipepsis).

Claws with two teeth on their inferior edges, The basal tooth is in
many species, especially in the males, rudimentary and undetermined
(in this approaching the genus Priocnemis). The inner angle of the
Ist discoidal cell as in Pepsis, Macromeris, and Notocyphus engraved
with a very dark wing-spot formed through the upper concave discoi-
dal line. Middle segment mostly with an obtuse tubercle placed close
before the stigmata as in the species of Pepsis (Hemépepsis, Dhlb.;
Pallosoma, Pel.; Mygnimia, Smith). |

4TH GROUP.

Claws with many teeth ; on the inferior edges of the claws close to
the strong curved apex spring a number of closely arranged cilia
which have their apices going backwards to the claw ends. For the -
rest the characters as in Hemipepsis. (Type : Hemipepsis heros, Gué-
rin, Voy. Abyss., Lefeb., VI, p. 35, 4, T. 7, Fig. 9, 9.)

XI. GEN. POMPILUS (Tab. II, Fig. 6).

Pompilus, pt., Fabr., Ent. Syst. Suppl., p. 246, 1798. Sphea, pt.,
Linn., Syst., Nat., 1, 941, 1766, Azorus, pt., Spin., MS., Sig., I, p. 34,

ON NEW AND LITTLE-KNOWN HYMENOPTERA. 363

1806. Episyron, pt., Schioedte, Monog. Pomp. Kroyer, Tidsskr. 1,
p. 831, 1837. Anoplius, pt., Pel. Hist. Nat. MS. Hym., II, p. 440,
1845. Lvagethes, pt., Pel., Lbed, p. 390, 1845. Salius, pt., Dhilb.,
Hym. Hur., I, p. 34, 18, Gen., 1845. Homonotus, pt., Dhlb., Hym.
Hur., I, p. 35 (non p. 441), 1845. Ferreola, pt., Smith, Cat. Hym.,
P. III, p. 167, 1885. |

Typxs : Pompilus viaticus, wrsus, Fabr., cocctneus, Fabr., etc.

The eyes reach, as a rule, up to the base of the mandibles; only m
very few cases are the cheeks developed. Forms of the clypeus, of
the prothorax, and of the middle segment of extraordinary diversity.
The front wing with one radial cell, which often approaches a tri-
angular form, rarely is it lanceolate. Three cubital cells; the Ist
exceeding in size the following ones ; the 2nd is a little larger than the
3rd or equal in size to it ; the 3rd quadrangular, or triangular, some-
times also triangular and petiolated. The Ist recurrent nervure
. discharges itself in the middle of the 2nd cubital cell or nearer the 2nd
transverse cubital nervure ; the 2nd recurrent nervure in the middle
of the 3rd cubital cell, or not far therefrom. The transverse medial
nervure (of the front wing), with a few unimportant exceptions,
springs somewhere before the apex of the Ist submedial cell, intersti-
tial, The cubital nervure (of the hind wing), in by far the greater
number of cases, springs at or after the apex of the anal cell (Homonotus,
Dhib., p. 85), sometimes also before it (as in the species of Ferreola).
Legs spined. The tarsi of the anterior legs are in the female often
furnished with pectinated spines. The tibise of the posterior legs
are cylindrical, not, as in the female of Salzus, angular, the spines
on them scattered, not serrated. The claws are toothed in the
middle of their inner angles, or like as in Salius, Subgen. Cyphononya,
and Notocyphus in two parts by reason of an obtuse appendix. ‘The
claw-brush is either present or wanting. Middle segment posteriorly
rounded, or vertically truncated, or impressed, or more frequently
emarginated ; its sculpturing is very diverse. The 3rd ventral segment
with few exceptions (as in species of Homonotus and Ferreola) not
bearing a transverse impressed mark.

Pompilus will be treated of here in the comprehensive sense in
which the genus is usually taken. Iam constrained to do this by the

_ fact, that characters which haye been pointed out as separating certain
i

364 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

genera from Pompilus, have not only in the genus Pompilus, as I
hold it, but throughout the Pompilide generally, proved, at the best,
mutable. Under these mutable characters may be reckoned the form
of the prothorax and middle segment, of the relative positions of the
transverse medial nervure, and the 1st submedial cell in the fore wing,
and of the cubital nervure and anal cell in the hind wing, and the
general armature of the legs and claws. Also the Pompilide with
two cubital cells, which have hitherto been known as species of the
genus Aporus, can, according to my ideas, be classed under the genus
Pompilus, in spite of a peculiar modification of the wing nervures,
which, after all, is unessential. The following is my division of the
species into natural groups :-—
ist Group (Pompzlus, Thoms.).

The transverse medial nervure of the fore wing and the cubital
nervure of the hind wing interstitial. Inferior edge of the claws
toothed (one-toothed). Claw-brush generally developed. The tarsi
of the anterior legs (in the female) with or without pectinated spines.
Pesterior margin of the pronotum angular.

2nD GRouP (Aporus, pt., Tab. IL, Fig. 7).

By the loss of the 2nd transverse cubital nervure, diverging from
the forms of the Ist group. In other respects resembling them.

3RD GROUP.

The transverse medial nervure of the front wing and the cubital ner-
vure of the hind wing interstitial. Inferior edges of the claws toothed.
Claw-brush wanting. The tarsal-brush (in the female), large. Posterior
margin of the pronotum arched. Antennze short and remarkably thick.

47TH GROUP.

The transverse medial nervure of the front wing springs in or before
the apex of the 1st submedial cell, the cubital nervure of the hind wing
after the apex of the anal cell. Claw toothed ; claw-brush wanting.
Tarsal-brush (in the female), large. Posterior margin of the pronotum,
generally arched, very seldom angular. Antenne short and extra-
ordinarily thick,

OTH GRouP (Aporus, pt.).

By the loss of the 2nd transverse cubital nervure diverging from the

forms of the 4th group. 1n other respects resembling them.

ON NEW AND LITTLE-KNOWN HYMENOPTERA, 365

6TH GROUP.

The transverse medial nervure of the front wing interstitial. The
cubital nervure of the hind wing arising after the apex of the anal
cell. Claws toothed and possessing a claw-brush. The tarsal-brush (in
the female) developed. Also the labrum (in the female) of many of the
species is exerseted.

(tH GROUP.

The transverse medial nervure of the front wing interstitial, The
cubital nervure of the hind wing arising after the apex of the anal cell.
Claws toothed and possessing a claw-brush. Tarsal-brush (in the
female) wanting. The labrum (in the female) never much exerseted.

8TH GRouP (Aporus, pt.)

By the loss of the 2nd transverse cubital nervure diverging from
the forms of the 7th group. In other respects resembling them.

9TH GROUP.

The transverse medial nervure of the front wing and the cubital
nervure of the hind wing are interstitial. Claws furnished with a
curved obtuse appendix on their inferior edges, bifid. Claw-brush
present or wanting. Tarsal-brush (in the female) well developed.

10TH Group (Aporus, pt., Tab. II, Fig. 8.)

Fore wing with only two cubital cells. The transverse medial nervure
of the front wing interstitial, Cubital nervure of the hind wing
arising after the apex of the anal cell. Claws bifid. Claw-brush
wanting. Tarsal-brush developed. Antennz often incrassate. Posterior
margin of the pronotum angular. (This group, from the position of
the recurrent nervures and from the closing inwards of the 2nd
recurrent nervure, approaches the forms of Pompilus in which the 2nd
and 3rd transverse cubital nervures have by degrees become united to
form one single nervure. The facts can, I think, be accounted for as
follows. The cubital nervures originally began to come in contact on
approaching the radial cell, as, for example, in the individuals of
P. nigerrimus, and later little by little they anastomozed against the
cubital nervure in the direction of the radial nervure, until the enclosed
triangular 3rd cubital cell disappeared completely.) The pedigree of
this and of the following group may possibly he contained in the 12th
group.

366 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIL.

1lvH Grovp (Aporus, pt.)

Characters as in the 10th group ; only in the front wing by absorption
of the 2nd transverse cubital nervure one cubital cell is lost, and the
posterior margin of the pronotum is arched.

121TH Grou (Lpisyron, Schioedte).

The transverse medial nervure (of the front wing) interstitial.
The cubital nervure of the hind wing arising before the apex of the
anal cell. Claws in both sexes (in the male distinctly apparent) bifid,
without claw-brush. Tarsal-brush developed. Antennze in most of the
species thick (P. rujipes, Linn., albonotatus v. d. L.)

13TH GROUP
(Pomp. 6-maculatus, Spin ; venustus, Wesm ; fraterculus, Costa).

The transverse medial nervure of the front wing and the cubital
nervure of the hind wing interstitial. The 3rd cubital cell appendi-
culated. Claws toothed ; the claw joints furnished with a claw-brush.,
Tarsal-brush (in the female) developed. The middle segment prolonged
posteriorly into a conical tubercle on either side.

14TH Group (Aporus, pt.).

Differs from the Pompilus forms of the 13th group in that the
2nd and 3rd transverse cubital nervures anastomoze.

15TH GRouP
(Homonotus, Dhlb., p. 35 ; Salius sanguinolentus, Dhlb., p. 34).

The transverse medial nervure of the front wing interstitial. The
cubital nervure of the hind wing arising after the apex of the anal cell,
Head posteriorly more or less excavated. Prothorax and middle
segment lengthened ; the latter, as in the 13th and 14th groups, emar-
ginated, and produced on both sides into cone-shaped projections,
Claws with an obtuse appendix on their inner angles. Claw-brush
wanting. Tarsi of the anterior legs without ciliated spines. 3rd ventral
segment with or without a transverse impression.

16TH Group (Ferreola, pt., Smith).

The transverse medial nervure of the front wing and the cubital -
nervure ofthe hind wing interstitial. Claws toothed, seldom bifid ;
claw-brush developed or wanting. Tarsi of the anterior legs not
furnished with ciliated spines. Middle segment posteriorly vertically

ON NEW AND LITTLE-KNOWN HYMENOPTERA. 367

truncated, impressed, or emarginate, and the sides frequently provided
with an obtuse tooth or hook, 3rd ventral segment not bearing any
transverse impression, Abdomen towards the apex not compressed
laterally. |

17TH Group (Ferreola, pt., Smith).

The transverse medial nervure of the front wing interstitial. Cubital
nervure of the hind wing arising on the medial nervure before the
apex of the anal cell. Claws in two portions (bifid). Claw-brush
developed ; tarsi of the anterior legs with or without ciliated spines.
The eyes frequently not reaching the base of the mandibles. 3rd
ventral segment not bearing any transverse impression. The abdomen
compressed laterally. Middle segment as in the foregoing group.

18TH Group (Pedinaspés, Kohl.).

The transverse medial nervure (of the front wing) interstitial, or
arising well before the apex of the anal cell. Cubital nervure of the
hind wing frequently interstitial, in a few cases arising a little after the
apex of the anal cell. Claws toothed, very seldom bifid. The joints of
the tarsi of the anterior legs thick and without ciliated spines, 2nd, 3rd,
and 4th short. Head flat, clypeus generally vertically flat, seldom
forming a projecting plane. Pronotum of diverse forms not unfre-
quently of remarkable length (P. cubensis, Cr.), very commonly verti=
cally truncated in front. Middle segment rounded posteriorly, some-
times sloping at a sharp angle, or flatly impressed or even emarginate.
The abdomen, at least towards its apex, visibly compressed laterally
(Type: Pompilus operculatus, Klug.).

—— ee

The following is a list of some of the Pompilide, in my collection,
which I have been unable to identify or compare with already described
species, and I have come to the conclusion that they are as yet
undescribed.

1, MACROMERIS VIOLACHA, Pel.

Macromeris Vionacka, Pel., Hist, Nat. MS., Hym., ILI, p. 464.

Hasrrat : India, Burma, Tenasserim, and the Malay Archipelago.

The characters of the genus defined by Kohl are well marked in this
species, more especially the unarmed tibiz bearing neither spines nor
hairs, the cone-shaped posterior portion of the mesosternum, the
thickened coxze, trochanters, and femora, as also the sharp denticulated
inferior edge of the last.

368 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Voi. VIII,

This lovely species is fairly common in Tenasserim, and is one of the
few Pompilide I have noticed as occasionally coming into buildings
and houses in the jungle. Ina “ zayat” (rest-house) near the large
village of Kawkareick in the Haungdraw valley, I found its nest in the
latter end of May, and watched a female carrying a huge hairy spider
to it. The nest was in a crevice between one of the wooden posts and
the side walling of the rest-house. I was only passing by, and was
unfortunately pressed for time, and so Iam unable to record whether
the insect subsequently closed up the hole with earth.

2. PS9EUDAGENIA AEGINA, Smith.

PSEUDAGENIA GINA, Smith, Proc. Linn. Soc., IT, 94, 9.

Hasirat : Borneo (Sarawak), Tenasserim (Yunzalin valley, Ataran
valley).

I found this pretty and well-marked little species frequenting the
bushes and moving over the stones in a quick excited way in the dry
beds of streams in the hot weather,

The clypeus is oval, broader than long, and in the female produced
sharply to a point ; in the male it is transversely truncated anteriorly.
The face in front, the coxee of all the legs, and the abdomen are in
fresh specimens covered by a glistening sericeous pile in fine contrast
to the dull red of the thorax.

3. PSEUDAGHNIA ALARIS, Saussure.

AGENIA ALARIS, Sauss., Hym. d. Novara Reise, 52.

Hasirat: Ceylon, Tenasserim (Thaungyin valley).

Rare. I have only come across it on one occasion, when I caught some
five or six specimens in a deserted garden close to a village in the
Thaungyin valley. They were flying about and alightng every now
and then on the broad leaves of a species of cucumber.

4, PSEUDAGENIA BIPENNIS, Saussure.

AGENIA BIPENNIS, Sauss., Hym. d. Novara Reise, 52.

Hasirat : Ceylon, Tenasserim (Ataran valley).

Rare. I have one specimen, a male, which flew into my tent while
in camp one day in the Ataran valley.

5. PSEUDAGENIA TINCTA, Smith. PI. I, Fig. (nest).

Pompinus tinotus, Smith, Cat. Hym., MS., B. M., ITI, p. 146, 132.

Hasirat : India, Burma, Tenasserim.

This is the commonest of the genus Pseudagenia, and is generally dis-
tributed. I have specimens from all parts of Tenasserim, also from the
Pegu Yoma and from near Rangoon.

ON NEW AND LITTLE-KNOWN HYMENOPTERA. 369

Mr. Cameron (Hym. Orient., p. 441) says he has failed to notice in
his specimens any green tinge about the head and thorax. In all the
specimens I have taken the fine silky pile on the head and thorax is
quite markedly of a beautiful greenish silvery hue.

I have more than once found the nest of this species. One nest I
found in July was made in the hollow end of a bamboo projecting from
the thatch of a ruined zayat or rest-house in the Domdami valley. A
reference to the figure (Pl. I, Fig. 1) will show that the nest consists
of a series of oval, thin, convex shells of clay, not unlike those made by
the different species of Humenes, only shallower, not so high, These
shells were filled with spiders (Epezra). It was a remarkable fact that
at least a dozen of the Pseudagenia were flying to and from the nest,
In about a quarter of an hour I had caught nine of them. To a
certain extent therefore this species, unlike any other member of
the family Pompilide known to me, nests in societies. A still
more remarkable fact was that among my captures I found not
only females, but males (known at a glance by the much shorter
abdomen and heavier and longer thorax in proportion). Half
an hour’s careful watching of the individuals left uncaught, however,
showed me that it was only the females that were busy making
the cells and collecting the spiders to provision them with. The males
simply flew around settling occasionally on the thatch of the zayat close
by. I took the nest cutting off the end of the bamboo. In November
four of the cells hatched out, one insect each, all females, The rest of
the cells have remained intact, not even yielding any parasite, such as
Stelis, which attaches itself to the genus Megachile, or Chrysis, which I
have seen attending Rhynchium and Eumenes. From the circumstance
that I have found Pseudagenia tincta making its nests in February and
March and again in July, I presume it is double-brooded.,

6. PSHUDAGENIA BLANDA, Guérin.

PomMPILUS BLANDUS, Guér., Voy. Coq:, ool., II, pt. 2, p. 260.

Hasirat : India, Malacca, Borneo to Flores, Burma, Tenasserim.

This species is almost equally common as the last. It comes into
houses and nests in the chinks and crevices in the wood walls, storing
its nests invariably with the smaller Lycosa or jumping spiders, I saw
a female one morning in the verandah of my house in Moulmein in hot
combat with a spider rather larger than what this Pseudagenia generally

370 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

attacks, The two creatures rolled and struggled one over the other for a
good five minutes, the spider dodging and biting and the Pseudagenia
trying vigorously to sting, and so render its opponent insensible. At
length the wasp managed to succeed, the spider lay helpless and
quivering. Then Mrs. Pseudagenia (for it was a female) paraded
round in a sort of triumph, flirting her head and antenn, and finally
picking up the spider between her fore and intermediate legs flew off
to a crevice at the corner of the ceiling. This species, I believe, has
also two broods during the year. I have found nests in January and
again in June.

7. PSEUDAGENIA HYPSIPYLA, n. sp.

Hasirat : Tenasserim.

Frmate : Length 16 m.m. ; expanse 28 m.m.

Mate : Unknown.

DEscriPTION’: ¢. Head black, covered with a fine, but not dense,
grey pile ; mandibles black, their tips castaneous ; clypeus transversely
oval, convex, its anterior margin rounded ; antennz black, a small
blunt tubercle above their base of insertion ; eyes distinctly converging
above, a shallow sulcation from the anterior ocellus to the base of the
antennee ; back of the head slightly emarginate. Thorax black, covered
with a thin silvery pile most dense on the sides of the metathorax ;
prothorax anteriorly arched, posteriorly sub-angular ; mesothorax short,
its posterior margin transverse, scutellum and proscutellum raised,
gibbous ; metathorax very slightly sloping, its sides rounded and
bulging, the dorsal surface rugose with fine transverse striations, and
bearing an indistinct longitudinally impressed central line not reaching
its apex ; wings yellowish hyaline, a dark fuscous fascia covering the
base of the radial cell, and passing through the 2nd and 3rd cubital
cells to the 3rd discoidal cell, nervures and tegule dark brown, the
transverse medial nervure of the front wing arises almost 2 m.m. before
the apex of the 1st submedial cell, and the cubital nervure of the hind
wing the same distance after the apex of the anal cell; legs black,
covered with cinereous pile, the femora of the posterior legs bright red,
their apex black, tibize and tarsi of the intermediate and posterior legs
with minute spines, claws toothed on their inferior edges. Abdomen
black with a thin sericeous grey pile, which has a tendency to
form submarginal bands on the segments, like in Tachytes and

ON NEW AND LITTLE-KNOWN HYMENOPTERA ; 37

Larrada, posterior margins of the segments narrowly testaceous, the
1st segment petiolated, the 2nd lengthened, the anal segment with a
few fuscous hairs at the apex, the whole abdomen perceptibly verti-
cally compressed.

This species I believe has been hitherto undescribed. In general
appearance it resembles P. tincta, from which, however, it can
be distinguished at a glance by the considerably larger and more
level metathorax, and from its having a fascia across the wings. It i
not P. bipennis, Saussure, which is a much smaller insect and has “ ore
clypet marginibus genis ano pedebusque 1, 2 antice luteis.’ Pseuda-
genia hypsipyla is rare, and I have hitherto only found it in thick
bamboo jungles. Like the rest of the species of the family it seems.
a restless creature of quick flight, often walking rapidly among fallen
leaves and hunting them over and under diligently.

8. CEROPALES ORNATA, Smith,

CEROPALES oRNATA, Smith, Cat. Aym., MS., B. M., III, p. 179.

Hapirat : India, Burma, Tenasserim.

It is rather remarkable that this is the only species of Ceropales 1
have come across in Burma. It is generally distributed but rare.

9, SALIUS FLAVUS, Fabriceus.

SPHEX FLAVA, Fabr., Ent. Syst., II, p. 217, 80. Drury, Ill. Exot.,
MS., III, t. 42, £. 4, 9.

PomPiLus FLAVus, Fabr., Syst, Piez., p. 197, 51. Pel. Hist, Nat,
Hym., II1., p. 430, 21,

Hurpersis riava, Dhlb., Aym. Kur., I, p. 128 and p. 462,

Hasirat : India, Burma, Tenasserim.

I am somewhat puzzled as to what the true Sphea flava of Fabriccus
is. The insect I identify as it, agrees best with Dahlbom’s description
of Hemipepsis flava. It is one of the commonest of the Pompilide,
and very much affects the grassy sides of roads, hunting about among the
tufts of grass and herbage, In May I found one digging vigorously
into the bank of the drain along the side of the high road between
Moulmein and Amherst. It had not dug far, and being disturbed by
my approach flew away, and did not return again, though I waited and
watched for nearly an hour,

10. SALIUS SEVERUS, Drury.

SPHEX sEVERUS, Drury, Ill. Exot, Hist,, 10, t. 42, £. 4,

Hasrrat : India (Drury, Smith), Burma, Tenasserim,
6

2

372 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. V1i1

T have compared specimens of a very large species, which is found
not unfrequently in thick bamboo jungle on the Pegu Yoma and
throughout Tenasserim, with Drury’s figure,and they are identical.
I once got stung by one of these insects on my thumb, and my whole
hand and my arm to the elbow were quite numb for a couple of hours.

11. SALIUS INTERMEDIUS, Smith.

MYG@NIMIA INTERMEDIA, Smith, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist., Ser. IV,
Vol. XII (1873), p. 257.

Haprrat: N. India, Ceylon (Smith), Tenasserim.

A species which agrees well with Smith’s description of this insect
is not uncommon in April and May and again from September to
November on the Dawnat range in Tenasserim at from 1,000 feet to
5,000 feet elevation.

12. SALIUS AUDAX, Smith.

Myenmia AUDAX, Sm., Cat. Hym., MS., B. Mus., Pt, ITI, p. 182, 4.
Bingh., Jour. Bomb. Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. V, p. 239.

Hasirat : Sylhet (Smith), Kumaon (Bingham), Tenasserim.

I have once met with this handsome species in Tenasserim on the
Taungjah pass (1,000 feet) on the Kawkareik and Myawaddy road
crossing the Dawnat range.

18. SALIUS HERCULES, Cameron.

SALIUS HERCULES, Cam. Hym. Orient. Mem. and Proc. Manchester
Lit. and Phil. Soc. 4th Ser., Vol. IV, Pt. III, p. 447.

Hasitat: Naga Hills (Cameron), Thaungyin Valley, Tenasserim,
Pegu Yoma.

This species must be rare. I have only twice come across it, both
times in dense forest on low hilly country.

14, SALIUS ELIZABETH A, n. sp., Pl. I, fig. 9.

Hasitat: Hills of Tenasserim.

FremaLe : Length 43 to 46 m.m., expanse 83 m. m.

Mate: Length 38 m.m., expanse 80 m. m.

Description: 9. Head clothed with dark golden pubescence ;
mandibles ferruginous-red, their tips black : labrum slightly produced ;
clypeus convex, twice as broad as high, its superior margin bisinuate,
the anterior transversely truncate ; antenne convolute, ferruginous-
red, a shallow sulcation around the base at their insertion, this sulcation
coloured brown and covered with scattered punctures ; eyes arched

ON NEW AND LITTLE-KNOWN HYMENOPTERA. 373

distinctly approaching at the vertex, front slightly concave and
having a short deep impressed line leading from the anterior
ocellus to the base of the antenne, the space between the two
posterior ocelli equal to the space between either and the nearest
orbit, but greater than that between them and the anterior ocellus; -
head posteriorly slightly hollowed out. Thorax ferruginous-red, the
pubescence on the pro- and mesothorax, the tegule, the scutellum,
proscutellum, coxee, trochanters, and the outside of the tibice and tarsi
rich glistening golden-ferruginous, the mesothorax and femora red-
dish without pubescence ; the pronotum square in front, the shoulders
projecting, its posterior margin arched ; the mesonotum slightly convex,
bearing a longitudinally impressed line on either side ; the metanotum
transversely striated, rounded, gently sloping to the apex, its sides
bulging, the side tubercles and stigmata well marked and prominent ;
the wings deep reddish-yellow, paling towards the margins, which are
broadly but very lightly infuscated, the nervures ferruginous ; the
transverse medial nervure of the front wing and the cubital nervure of
the hind wing both arise respectively well before the apex of the Ist
sub-medial cell in the one case and the apex of the anal cell in
the other case, the Ist recurrent nervure unites with the 2nd trans-
verse cubital nervure (interstitial), the latter being angled just
above the apex of the 2nd cubital cell ; the 2nd recurrent nervure is
received in the 3rd cubital cell at a point about 4rd the length of the
base from its inner angle ; a clear hyaline spot at the inner angle of
the Ist discoidal cell ; legs long, the tibice and tarsi of the intermediate
and posterior legs strongly spined, the former grooved with a serrated
angular edge, the claws toothed, abdomen black obscurely puniose,
the 3rd segment having a transverse impressed mark, the anal seg-
ment studded with a few fuscous hairs,

The ¢ resemblesthe 9, but is slighter and smaller ; the antennez are
arched slightly, not convolute, and subfusiform ; the legs are less spinous,
and the abdomen somewhat compressed. vertically.

This insect, though closely resembling S. aureosericea, Guérin, cannot
be that species, of which Guérin says: “ L’abdomen est d’un noir
obscur avec les deux derniers segments garnis d’un duvet doré.”

It is not uncommon here in the dense forests on the higher ranges
at from 1,000 to 4,000 ft. elevation, In May I chanced on one, a 9 ,

374 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

carrying a huge grasshopper clasped tightly between its forelegs. It
passed me flying fairly fast and pitched on the trunk of a large tree,
up the bole of which it proceeded to laboriously climb with its burden.
Two or three times, owing to the tree having a smooth bark, it slipped
- back, but finally, having got up about 25 ft., it disappeared into a hole
(apparently the deserted nest-hole of a oudepeoten Iam sorry the
tree was much too large to fell easily, or I should like to have got the
nest.

The figure in the plate, though perfectly correct in drawing, being
that of a 2, ought to show the antenne convolute, not arched. The
hyaline spot in the inner angle of the Ist discoidal cell has also been
omitted.

15. SALIUS INDICUS, Cameron, PI. I, fig. 10.

SALIUS INnDICUs, Cam. Hym. Orient. Mem. and Proc, Manchester
Lit. and Phil. Soc., 4th series, Vol. IV, pt. IIT, p. 448.

Haprrat: Tavoy (Cameron), Tenasserim generally.

This very beautiful species is common throughout the hill jungles
in Tenasserim from May to October. At first sight it somewhat
resembles, and might be mistaken for, S. leita, Smith, but apart from
the fact that in S.leta the whole head and the thorax anteriorly are
reddish-yellow, while in S. zndicus only the antennz are yellow, the rest
of the head and the thorax being entirely black, the two insects differ
in structure, S. ¢ndecus being stouter built and larger than one (for there
are two, wide infra) variety of S. leta,and longer and less compact than
the other variety.

I have hunted high and low, and have watched a Q of this species
for hours, without having yet chanced on its nest or seen what it
provisions it with.

16, SALIUS LASTA, Smith.

. Myenimia tava, Sm., Ann. and Hing. Nat. Hist., Ser. IV, Vol. XII,
p- 257 (1878).

Hasirat: Burma (Smith), Tenasserim.

It is remarkable that there seem to be two varieties of this | species
absolutely indistinguishable except in size, and in the arrangement of
the nervures of the hind wing. The large variety is perhaps the more
common and measures 2 2 22 to 24 mm. ¢ ¢ 17 to 21 mm. in
length. It isa much stouter, more robust insect than the other. The

ON NEW AND LITTLE-KNOWN HYMENOPTERA. 375

cubital nervure of the hind wing arises 2 m.m. before the apex of
the anal cell, The smaller variety is a slight elegant little insect
measuring 2 9 16to 18mm., ¢ ¢ 14 to 17 mm, (in this agreeing
with Si lta (vera) as described by Smith). The cubital nervure ofthe
hind wing springs exactly at the apex of the anal cell. I do not think
the two forms can be separated. |

17. SALIUS SAVISSIMA, Smith.

Myentm1a smvissiva, Sm., Ann, and Mag. Nat. Hist., Ser. IV,
Vol. XII, p. 256 (1873).

Hasitat: India, Bombay Presidency (Smith), Tenasserim.

A species which for the present I identify as this occurs somewhat
unfrequently in May and June along the roads and in the open patches
of jungles on the Dawnat range. The Tenasserim insect differs from
the description and from a Bangalore specimen of this species in my
collection in having the coxe and trochanters yellow anteriorly,
instead of all black.

18. SALIUS CONVEXUS, Bingham.

PRIOCNEMIS coNVEXUS, Bingh., Jour. Bomb. Nat. Hist. Soc. V,
pe 237.

Hasitat: Ceylon, Tenasserim.

This species belongs to Kohl’s Hemipepsis, not Priocnemis group.
I described this species from Ceylon in 1890. Since I have found it
occur commonly in the more open and dry jungles in Tenasserim.

(Saliws—Priocnemis group.)

19. SALIUS MADRASPATANUS, Smith.

PomPILUS MADRASPATANUS, Sm., Cat. Hym. M. 8. B.M., Pt, 11T,
p. 144, 130.

Hapsitat : Madras, Nicobar Islands (Smith), Burma, Tenasserim.

This species is remarkably like Macromeris violacca ; it is common,
and I have found its nest in September, mere burrows in the wall of a
deserted dry well, which it had stored with small crickets.

20. SALIUS PEREGRINUS, Smith. |

PRIOCNEMIS PEREGRINUS, Sm., Tran, Ent. Soc., 1875, Part I, p. 37.

Hasrrat: India (Barrackpur), Sumatra, China (Hongkong), teste
(Smith), Burma, Tenasserim.

This isone ofthe very,commonest of the Pompilide in Tenasserim, and,
unlike S. madraspatanus, makes its nests in holes in trees, occasionally

376 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VITI.

in a bamboo, storing them with those soft-bodied spiders that live in the
rolled up margins of leaves. It is double-brooded ; I have found nests
in June and again in November.

21. SALIUS VERTICALIS, Smith, Pl. I, fig. 5.

PRIOCNEMIS VERTICALIS, Sm., Proce. Linn. Soe., II, 94, 6.

Hasrrat: Borneo, Malacca (Smith), Tenasserim.

This well-marked species is rare ; I have only twice met with
it, In September on a jungle road I found a Q carrying cock-
roaches to a hole in a tree. Subsequently in May I procured a @ on
the flowers of Acacia pennata. The ¢ has not previously been
described.

Length, @, 15 m.m., expanse 37 m.m.

Description: @, Head black, mandibles yellow, their tips black
clypeus and sides of the face as far as the vertex broadly yellow, the
back of the head, the vertex, and front, as far as the antenne, black,
with scattered black hairs, and in certain lights a thin golden pubes-
cence, a streak behind the eyes yellow, the latter arcuate, closer above
than below ; clypeus convex, transversely oval, its anterior margin
truncated ; antennz sub-fusiform, black, the scape with a spot of
yellow below. Thorax and abdomen black, the prothorax with a
broad band and the mesothorax with a square spot along their posterior
margins, and the scutellum and the proscutellum with a central spot
chrome-yellow ; the metathorax convex sloping abruptly towards the
apex, which latter is almost vertically truncated ; the scutellum and
post-scutellum gibbous cone-shaped, the dorsal surface of the meta-
thorax finely rugose, clothed with scanty fuscous pubescence, the false
stigmata and tubercles on the sides well-marked and prominent ; wings
golden yellow of a deeper tint than in the 9°, their tips and outer
margins broadly but lightly infuscated, the tegule and nervures dark
ferruginous-brown: in the fore wing the transverse medial nervure
springs well before the apex of the 1st submedial cell, the 1st recurrent
nervure is received in the 2nd cubital cell close to its apex, the 2nd
recurrent nervure in the 3rd cubital cell well before its middle: in the
hind wing the cubital nervure is interstitial, Legs long, slightly
spinose, the cox trochanters and femora black, the remainder of the
legs chrome-yellow, the claws black, abdomen somewhat vertically
compressed, the 2nd segment remarkably long.

ON NEW AND LITTLE-KNOWN HYMENOPTERA. 377

The nest mentioned above, when I caught the 9, was unfinished,
but some seven or eight unfortunate cockroaches were stuffed tightly
in, and were all semi-unconscious but still living.

The markings on the head and thorax and the colour of the legs of
the @ depicted in the plate are shown of a reddish-yellow instead of
a clear chrome-yellow.

22. POMPILUS BRACATUS, Bingham.

PoMPILUS BRACATUS, Bingh., Jour. Bom. Nat. Hist. Soc., V, 236.

Haspitat: Burma, Tenasserim.

Since describing this species in 1890, I have found it common in
the more open forest along the foot of the Dawnat range in Tenasserim.
Tn coloration it curiously resembles Salius (Priocnemis) peregrinus,
Smith.

23. POMPILUS ANALIS, Fabricius.

SPHEX ANALIS, Fabr. Ent. Syst. II, 209, 42.

Hasitat: India generally, Burma, Tenasserim, Malacca, &.

This widely distributed species is one of those which often come into
houses hunting for the smaller Zycosa or wolf-spiders, with which it
stores its nests.

24, POMPILUS UNIFASCIATUS, Smith.

PomPILUS UNIFASCIATUS, Sm. Cat. Hym., MS., B. M., Pt. III, p.
145, 133.

Hasirat: Hast India, Sumatra, North China (Smith), Burma,
Tenasserim.

This common species is rather variable in colouring. The form got
in Pegu has the head and thorax reddish-yellow ; the Tenasserim form
has the same parts more or less variegated with black. One specimen
I procured on the Dawnat range is a most lovely insect, having the
yellow and black on the pro- and mesothorax sharply defined, and the
metathorax on its dorsal surface covered with rather long glistening
golden pubescense.

25. POMPILUS HONESTUS, Smith:

Powprius HONEstUs, Sm., Cat. Hym. Ins, B. M., Pt. III, p. (144,
129;

Hazitat : India, Burma, Tenasserim.

This species is rare ; 1 haye myself only procured two specimens,

378 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

26. POMPILUS CAMERONIL, n. sp., Pl. I, fig. 6.

F'@RREOLA FENESTRATA, Bingh. (non Smith), Jour. Bomb. Nat. Hist.
Soc., Vol. V, 239, 10. Cameron, Hym. Orient. Mem. and Proc. Man-
chester Lit. and Phil. Soc., Ser. IV, Vol. IV, Pt. IL, p. 460.

Hasitat: Burma, Tenasserim.

In 1890 I identified this species with Smith’s msect. Mr. Cameron
(loc. cit.) from the description recognized it asnew. I have since pro-
cured specimens of the true P. fenestrata, both from India and Burma,
and find on comparison that the red mesothorax in P. cameroni is a
constant and well marked difference. I have ventured to name
the species after Mr. Cameron.

27. POMPILUS ILUS, Bingham, PI. I, fig. 7.

FErREOLA FASCIATA, Bingh., Jour. Bomb. Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. V,
p. 241,12.

Hasitat: Burma, Tenasserim.

T have ventured to re-name this species as I find the name /asczata
pre-occupied (Smith, Cat. Hym. Ins. B. M., Pt. IL, p. 169, 8).

This species seems always to occur in dense forests by streams,
In May I procured both ¢4 and 2 @ by the bank of a mountain
torrent on the Dawnat range at about 1,500 feet elevation.

The ¢ resembles the @ but is smaller (16 m.m., 2 23. m.m.); the
deep blue-black of the abdomen is duller, bemg only just visible in
certain lights, the wings are infuscated further towards the base, and
are longer in proportion than those of the 9.

The above 27 species are all the Pompilede from Tenasserim in my
tollection which I have been able to identify. I possess examples of
at least twice that number of species which I have not yet been able
to compare with descriptions and work out. .

Family SHHGID 4, Leach.

28. SPHEX REGALIS, Smith, Pl. I, fig. 11.

CHLORION REGALIS, Sm., Ann, Mag, Nat. Hist., Ser. [V, Vol. XII,
p. 291 (1878).

Hasitat: Afghanistan and Sind (Smith).

A beautiful specimen of this species was kindly sent tome by Mr,
Cumming of the Telegraph Department from Karachi. It is a
lovely insect, and I regret the plate does not give much idea of the gor-
geous purple tints of the wings, metathorax ahd abdomen, the rich

ON NEW AND LITTLE-KNOWN HYMENOPTERA. 379

colouring of which is in fine contrast with the dull brick red of the
head and anterior parts of the thorax.

29. SPHEX FULVO-HIRTA, Bingham. PI. I, fig. 8.

SPHEX FULVO-HIRTA, Bingh, Jour. Bomb, Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. V,
p. 242, 14,

Hasirat : Ceylon.

I take this opportunity to figure the above species described by me
(loc. cit.) in 1890.

30. SPHEX MATA, n. sp.

Hasirat : Tenasserim.,

FEMALE : Length 16 m.m., expanse 26. m.m.

Mate: Length 16 m.m.,, expanse 29 m.m.

Description. Belongs to Cameron’s section IV. “ Tarsal claws with
two teeth (Sphez, sensu str.).”

Head black, opaque, finely punctured, covered with soft scattered
grey hairs, the clypeus and cheeks with silvery pubescence ; the
elypeus sub-triangular, slightly convex, its anterior margin transverse ;
mandibles black ; antennz arched, the scape short, the 2nd and 38rd
joints sub-equal ; the ocelli very small and inconspicuous, placed in a
curve on the vertex. Thorax black, finely punctured, covered with
thin grey pubescence, that on the proscutellum short, dense,
and silvery ; the mesothorax indented anteriorly in the centre;
the metathorax evenly rounded, the scutellum and _ proscutellum
not raised and the latter not indented in the middle as
in so many species. The wings hyaline, the anterior wings with a
fuscous cloud beyond the radial and 3rd cubital cells not coming
lower than level with the base of the laiter, the nervures ferruginous,
the tegule black and shining. Legs black, the apex of the tibie of
the posterior legs clothed with rich golden pubescence on the inner
side, Abdomen black, very finely punctured, the 2nd segment dark
blood red, the rest narrowly margined with testaceous brown.

The ¢ resembles the Q, but has larger wings and a more lengthened
petiole.

This well marked little species is very common at the beginning
of the rains on the flowers of Acacta pennata.

Family BEMBECID 4, Westwood.

This family, so far as I know, is represented by several species in

Burma and Tenasserim. Of these three have not as yet been described.
7

380 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VILL.

31, BEMBEX TREPANDA, Dahlbom.

BEMBEX TREPANDA, Dahlb., Hym. Eur., I, p. 181.

Hasirat : India (Dahlb.), Burma, Tenasserim.

Fairly common in the plains during the hot weather. Like others
of the family it is very often found frequenting flowers.

32. BHMBEX FOSSONUS, Smith.

BEMBEX FOSsONUS, Sm., Jour. As. Soc. Beng., Vol. XLVII (1878),
Pt. II, p. 168, 7. Bingh., Jour. Bomb. Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol. V, p. 243.

Hasirat : Burma, Tenasserim.

This species as mentioned by me (loc. cit.) is also common.

33. BEMBEX WESTONII, n. sp. Pl. I, fig. 1.

Hasitat : Salween Valley, Tenasserim. |

FEMALE: Length 22 m.m,, expanse 39 m.m.

Mate : Unknown.

Description: 9. Head black, mandibles yellow, their tips black,
labrum clypeus, and front as high nearly as the vertex of the
head, the cheeks and the scape of the antennz in front pale
wax yellow; two large spots at the base of the clypeus,
a spot above them between the insertion of the antenne, a
spot at the apex of the scape and the flagellum of the antennz
black, the top of the head and occiput clothed with fuscous
hairs, which are rather dense and long behind, the clypeus
convex semicircular above, its anterior margin almost transverse.
Thorax black, minutely and densely punctured, pubescent posteriorly ;
the prothorax with a broad yellow posterior margin ; the meso-
thorax slightly convex; the metathorax short, square, and poste-
riorly vertically truncated; the sides of the thorax varie-
gated with dark brick red, the pectus black ; the wings hyaline and
iridescent, tegulee and nervures dark brown ; legs yellow, the under
side of the coxee, trochanters, femora, tibiee and tarsi of the anterior
legs and the same parts except the tarsi of the intermediate and
posterior legs streaked with black, the anterior tarsi armed on the
outside with ciliated spines, the claws yellow, their tips black.
Abdomen black, finely punctured, pubescent, in certain lights it is seen
to be covered with very short rather sparse stiff black recumbent hairs ;
the 1st and 2nd segments bear a large yellow irregular macula on
either side, the following segments except the anal, with biarcuate central

ON NEW AND LITTLE-KNOWN HYMENOPTERA. 381

yellow bands ; the band on the 3rd segment is interrupted in the
centre on the dorsal surface, and the anal segment is black with a few
stiff black hairs studding the apex ; the macula on the anterior seg-
ments and the bands on the others are indistinctly stained with red
anteriorly.

This species was first procured and given to me by Mr. A. Weston,
Deputy Conservator of Forests, who informed me that he had found
its nest also. As the nesting habits of all the Gembecide seem alike,
and I myself found the species next described nesting, I have given all
the information I am possessed of below.

This species seems excessively rare; beyond the specimen kindly
given me by Mr. Weston and one in his collection I have seen no
others.

34. BEMBEX HESIONE, n. sp.

Hasirat: Maulmain, Thaungyin Valley, Tenasserim.

FemaLe: Length 24 m.m., expanse 37 m.m.

Matz: Unknown.

Description : 9. Head black, labrum yellow, mandibles yellow,
their tips black, the clypeus, the cheeks behind the eyes, the lower half
of the front, a heart-shaped spot on the forehead, and a line, not
reaching the vertex, on the inside of the orbits, yellow ; two irregular
spots at the base of the clypeus, a spot above them on the short carina
between the antenne, and the flagellum black; the scape in front and
at the base above yellow ; the ocelli almost aborted, placed on a sort of
raised platform between two shallow sulcations which run down on
either side of the front almost to the base of the antennez ; the vertex
and back of the head fringed with soft dark brown and the cheeks and
chin below with silky white hairs. Thorax black, finely punctured,
indistinctly pubescent, the posterior face of the metathorax, which is
vertically truncated, covered with a short scanty white down, protho-
rax yellow, the centre anteriorly and two spots on the shoulders black ;
the posterior margin of the mesothorax transverse ; the scutellum
and postscutellum have curved submarginal yellow bands, and the
metathorax a yellow streak extending from the anterior angles,
which widens out inwardly and nearly meets in the middle,
where it is divided bya fine impressed line. Posterior shoulders
of the metathorax produced and sharply angular, yellow, which

4

382 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, VIII,

colour extends on to the posterior face of the metathorax ; the sides of
the thorax variegated black and yellow, the pectus obscurely brownish
with lateral black macula, the brownish portion transversely striated.
The wings hyaline and iridescent, the tegulee and nervures dark brown.
The legs yellow, streaked with black on the coxee, trochanters, femora and
tibize above and below, tarsi and claws yellow, the former with ciliated
ferruginous spines, the latter with their tips black. Abdomen black
with a purple gloss, minutely and finely pitted, and seen in certain
lights to be covered by short rather sparse recumbent black hairs ;
the Ist segment with an elongated triangular macula on either side,
the 2nd to the 5th segments with biarcuate submarginal bands of the
same colour, the bands on the 2nd, 8rd, and 4th segments
have in the middle on either side an oblong black macula,
the anal segment and the whole ventral surface of the abdomen black.
All the segments, both above and below, are narrowly edged piceous.

The first time I came across this species was in September on a road
near Maulmain. She, for it turned out to bea ©, was flying with a
large blue-bottle fly tightly clasped between her forelegs. Watching
her carefully I saw her enter a burrow in the side of the ditch by the
road. Examining it 1 found the soil was sandy and the burrow not
deep, so.in order to get a view of the interior of the nest I began
gently to enlarge the entrance. As I removed the soil the Bembew flew
out and, after buzzing around for a few seconds, went off. The nest
hole was sunk obliquely into the ground, and was about 11 inches long
by about } inch in diameter, slightly larger or bulbous at the end. A
heap of dead blue-bottle flies in various stages of decay lay piled on
the floor of the nest, and one yellowish fleshy grub about rd of an
inch long struggled in and out among them battening on the half
putrid mass.

The smell was most offensive. While I was examining the nest
the @ returned with another blue-bottle. She came straight for
what had been the entrance, but puzzled apparently by the
change in its size, kept hovering about buzzing loudly. Finally she
alighted, walked to the end of the nest and deposited the fresh fly and,
after parading around for a few seconds, flew off, I then caught her
as I noticed she was different from the ordinary Bembex fossorius
which is the common species here. Mr. Weston had told me that the

ON NEW AND LITTLE-KNOWN HYMENOPTERA. 283

Bembex, whose nest he had found, was, at the time he chanced on it,
feeding its grub in the same way as I now observed this Bembex
doing, but as the proceeding was so opposed to all the previously
observed habits of the Fossores I felt inclined to think he had been
mistaken. Here, however, was strong confirmation of the fact. And
a wonderful fact it is that the Bembecide of all the fossorial
Hymenoptera should be the sole insects which, like the social bees, con-
tinually tend and feed their grubs after they are hatched. I do not
know whether the Bembecide in other countries have the same habit,
Judging from the following statements by Kirby and Packard, I
should say not invariably. ‘* These insects form their burrows in the
sand, scratching a hole with their fore-feet like a dog, as observed by
Sir S. 8. Saunders, in the Jonian islands, and lay up a store of Diptera
or Hymenoptera which they sometimes capture on the wing and
sometimes fairly stalk down; then they deposit their eggs and close
up the hole.” (Kirby, Text-book of Entomology, p. 123.)

“The female Bembex burrows in sand to a considerable depth
burying various species of Diptera (Syrphide, Muscide, &c.) and
depositing her eggs at the same time in company with them, upon
which the larvee when hatched subsist. When a sufficient store has
been collected the parent closes the mouth of the cell with earth.”
(Packard: Guide to the study of Insects, p. 164.) On the other
hand confirmation of the facts noticed by Mr. Weston and myself is
given by Professor Duncan in “ Transformations of Insects,” p. 239,
from which I extract the following :—

“The examples we have offered showing the habits of the fossorial
Hymenoptera have a certain sameness, for in every instance the female
builds the nest, fills each cell with victims for the future larva, lays an
ege close by them and shuts up the habitation, and then dies without
ever seeing its progeny.”

“ But M. Fabre, of Avignon, has described the habits of Bembex
vidua, which are certainly most remarkable and suggestive, and
probably very rare, in the history of the Hymenoptera. In this
species the female does not close up the cell, but penetrates into it
every day, carrying a fresh victim for the larva ; and it always chooses
a fly. Here is a case of a female insect caring for its larva which
it sees, and which it notices to eat and care for food, so that

384 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

the daily visit becomes a pleasure and a duty according to the
usual laws of maternity. Of course the larvee of this species
run great risks, for their cell remains unclosed, and carnivorous insects
may enter in and destroy them. Moreover the mother may be taken
and killed herself, and then as no food would be forthcoming they
would die from starvation. There is no doubt that the habits of this
species cast a light upon those of the insects which only provide one
store of provisions and then close their nests ; for it is not difficult to
imagine that if the egg of a former Bembex vidua, the predecessor of
all these, should not happen to have hatched at the second visit of
the mother, she would have closed the hole and left it uncared for, not _
seeing the use of troubling herself to no purpose.” .

35. BEMBEX OVANS, n. sp.

Hasirat: Tenasserim.

Fumate: Length 22 m.m., expanse 34 m.m.

Mate: Length 21 m.m., expanse 36 m.m.

Description: 9. Head black, back of the head, vertex, upper por-
tion of the face, cheeks and chin pubescent; labrum, mandibles, clypeus,
a triangular mark above the clypeus, and the scape of the antennz
chrome-yellow ; the tips of the mandibles, a spot on the scape, and the
flagellum of the antennz above black, the under side of the flagellum
and a broad streak behind the eyes not reaching the vertex fulvous, the
clypeus convex, broader than long, the anterior border deeply emargi-
nate in the centre, the sides vertical, a vertical short though well
marked raised carina between the base of the antennze. Thorax black,
finely pitted but shining, slightly pubescent, the pubescence on
the metathorax long and soft ; the prothorax, the scutellum and_ post
scutellum posteriorly margined with chrome-yellow, the metathorax
posteriorly truncated, the sides produced into obtuse tubercles, these
latter with a band above them running from the anterior angles of the
metathorax and nearly meeting in the centre chrome-yellow ; sides
of the thorax yellow, pectus black: wings hyaline, tegule yellow,
nervures ferruginous-brown; legs and feet: yellow, the cox, trochanters
and femora outwardly, and all the tibize on the underside, streaked with.
black, apical joint of the tarsi and claws ferruginous-brown. Abdomen
black, with, in certain lights, obscure purple reflections, finely but
sparsely pitted and covered with minute recumbent black hairs; the Ist

ON NEW AND LITTLE-KNOWN HYMENOPTERA. 385

to the 5th segments with submarginal bands of a glancous-yellow,
these bands anteriorly bisinuate, and on the Ist, 2nd and 3rd segments
interrupted in the middle, the anal segment black with an obscure
yellow sub-terminal and ferruginous terminal spot, below the.
abdomen is smooth and shining, with the posterior margins of the
segments narrowly piceous.

This @ resembles the 2 exactly, only on the under side of the Ist
abdominal segment there is an obtuse tubercle.

This pretty and well marked species is not uncommon along the
jungle paths in April and May. In the beginning of June I found
them swarming on the side of a road over a low hill in the vicinity of
Maulmain, and digging into a soft sandy bank just as I had seen
Bembex fossorius doing in Pegu.

Tribe DILOPTERA, Latr.
Family VESPIDA4, Steph.

36. ISCHNOGASTER RUFO-MACULATA, n, sp.

Hasirat : Tenasserim (Salween Valley, Tavoy).

Femate: Length 22 m.m., expanse 32 mm.

Mate: Unknown. ‘

Description : @. Head black, coarsely pitted, the sides of the face
as high as the base of the antennz and the sides of the clypeus blood
red, the mandibles black, clypeus pear-shaped, its centre sharply pro-
duced and bearing a short verticle raised carina; a spot in the emargina-
tion of the eyes yellow. Thorax rather pear-shaped, not so globular
as in some of the species, the pro- and mesothorax rugose, the scutel-
lum, post scutellum, and metathorax smooth and shining, a line on the
posterior margin of the prothorax interrupted in the middle, a spot
under the base of the wings, with a crescentic mark below that, a spot
at the angles of the scutellum, a line on the post scutellum, and two
spots one above the other on the posterior angles of the metathorax
blood red ; the scutellum gibbous cone-shaped, the metathorax
sloping steeply but regularly to the apex: wings brownish hyaline
with bronze iridescent reflections in certain lights, the nervures and
tegulze dark brown ; legs black, the tegule and tarsi of the anterior
legs in front, and a spot on the tibize of the intermediate and of the
coxe of the posterior legs blood red, the tibie of the posterior iegs
also clothed on the inside with a dense soft golden pubescence ; the

386 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIIi.

tibial spur on the intermediate and posterior legs double, the claws
toothed. Abdomen black, the petiole smooth and shining, having a
fulvous-red streak below and two yellow spots at the apex above,
the rest of the abdomen finely pitted, the Ist segment with two spots
at the base followed by two larger submarginal spots, and the 2nd
segment with a sub-basal band interrupted in the middle bright chrome-
yellow, the remainder of the segments above unmarked; on the ventral
surface the Ist segment has two oblong basal spots, and the 2nd seg-
ment two small round submarginal spots chrome-yellow.

This species belongs to the section of the genus which live in pairs,
building a large globular nest such as figured in my former paper in
this Journal.

Like all the species of the section it is rare, The type specimen
was kindly given me by Mr. Weston, Deputy Conservator of Forests,
and was taken high up on the Salween river. Subsequently I procur-
ed two others on the flowers of a wild species of Lantana in the 'layoy
district.

37, ISCHNOGASTER HAUXWELLIL, n, sp., Pl. I, fig. 4.

Hasitat: Tenasserim (Ataran and Ye Valleys),

FremaLe: Length 21 m.m., expanse 31 m.m.

Mate: Length 18 m.m., expanse 33 m.m.

Description: @. Head black, densely punctured, mandibles black,
elypeus and front as high as the base of the antenne yellow
with a streak of black, not reaching the apex of the clypeus, down the
centre; antennz black, clypeus triangular, its anterior margin in the
middle sharply produced. Thorax black, globular, somewhat laterally
compressed, the pro- and mesothorax coarsely punctured, the scutellum,
post scutellum and metathorax smooth and shining, a line on the
posterior margin of the prothorax not meeting in the centre, a spot
under the base of the wings, a crescentic spot below that, a spot at
the anterior angles of the scutellum, a line on the post scutellum and
an irregular mark shaped somewhat like a chess pawn on the posterior
angles of the metathorax chrome-yellow ; the wings hyaline iridescent,
the tegulee aud nervures brown; the legs black, a streak on the
under side of the femora, the tibiae and tarsi of the anterior legs,
the apex of the femora below and of the tibiz above of the inter-
mediate legs, two streaks on the coxze posteriorly and the apex of

ON NEW AND LITTLE-KNOWN HYMENOPTERA. 387

the femora below on the posterior legs, yellow ; claws black toothed,
the tibial spur of the intermediate legs double. Abdomen black
pruniose, two spots at the apex of the petiole, a spot on either side
at the base of the 2nd segment, a larger spot following it, a band
interrupted in the middle at the base of the 3rd segment, and two
sub-marginal spots below on the ventral side of the 2nd and 3rd seg-
ments yellow, the underside of the petiole has a ferruginous stain, and
the posterior margins of the 3rd to the apical segment are narrowly
testaceous.

The & closely resembles the @ but has the wings darker, of a
brownish bronzy tint, the thorax is more compressed and the antennze
not so thick,

This species I found not uncommon in February and March fre-
quenting the dry beds of streams and clearings made in the forest for
cultivation. I have named it after Mr. T. A. Hauxwell, Deputy
Conservator of Forests, who has been good enough to collect for me
at various times, and to whom my collection is indebted for many
beautiful specimens of rare and new species of Hymenoptera.

This species also belongs to the division which construct a globular
nest and live in pairs.

Family HUMENID44, Westwood.

38. RHYNCHIUM CUPREIPENNIS, n. sp., Pl. 1, fig. 3.

Hasirat : South Tenasserim.

Frmaze : Length 14 m.m., expanse 34 m.m.

Matz : Unknown.

Description: 2. Head black, very coarsely and densely punctured ;
mandibles long, pointed, dark castaneous-brown, their inner margins
deeply striated ; clypeus long, pear-shaped, yellow, with a large black
diamond-shaped spot in the centre, the anterior margin of the clypeus
ending in two sharp short teeth ; antennze dark orange-fulvous, a cordate
spot on the front, a spot in the emargination of the eyes, and a broad
- streak behind them and not meeting on the back of the head, yellow ;
thorax black, very coarsely punctured, the punctures running into
longitudinal striz above ; the post scutellum gibbous ; the metathorax
very short, emarginate posteriorly, the sides produced and sharply
angular, a marked and slightly raised carina runs vertically down the

posterior face of the metathorax ; wings cupreous-brown with rich
8

388 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

iridescent tints in certain lights ; the nervures and tegule black ; legs
black, the apex of the femora, the tibiee and tarsi above of the anterior
legs, and the apex of the femora and last joint of the tarsi of the
intermediate and posterior legs orange-fulvous ; claws black toothed
below, the inside of the tibize and tarsi of the posterior legs clothed
with a rich golden pubescence ; abdomen black, with obscure blue
tints in certain lights, coarsely pitted, the posterior margins of all
the segments smooth and shining, the 1st segment truncated ante-
riorly, the 2nd segment remarkably long and broad, nearly twice as
long as the rest 6f the abdomen.

I procured this insect in the Tavoy forests in October on the
flowers of a species of vetch growing near a village. It seems
rare as I have not since come across it in any of the forests in South
Tenasserim.

Family APIDE, Auct.
39. XYLOCAPA RUFESCENS, Smith. Pl. I, fig. 2.

XYLOCAPA RUFESCENS, Sm., Trans. Ent. Soc., 1874, Pt. Il, p.
271, 48.

Hasitat: India, Java (Smith), Burma, Tenasserim.

This handsome species occurs all over lower Burma and Tenasserim
up to 4,000 feet elevation. It is remarkable as being purely crepuscular
in habits. I have never seen one out in the day time. Like the rest
of the genus it affects flowers, and at Pegu in May and at Amherst
in December I have caught numbers coming to the flowers of
the Quésqualis creeper in the brief dark twilight of these regions.
It not uncommonly flies during the night on moonlight
nights, making a loud humming. I have found the nest which
is similar to that made by other species of the genus, and consists of
a series of round cells hollowed out in the end of a decaying log. The
egos seem to be laid at long intervals, as some of the cells of a nest I exe
amined contained a mass of pollen with one egg deposited on it, others
larvee, and others again the bee in almost all stages of development.

40, BOMBUS MONTIVAGUS, Smith. PI. I, fig. 12.
Bomsus MonTIvAGuS, Sm., Dex. News Spec. Hym. B. M., p. 181, 2.

Hasirat : Moolai (8,000—6,000 feet), (Smith) ; throughout Tenas-
serim at elevations of over 3,000 feet.

Journ. Bomb. Nat.Hist.Soc. 1893.

MAJOR C.T. BINGHAM.

i

Bi.Dos, del. West Newman chr Tah.
BURMESE, HYMENOPTERA. i

ON NEW AND LITTLE-KNOWN HYMENOPTERA. 389

This, one of the brightest coloured of the humble bees, I have found
fairly common at elevations over 3,000 feet. The type specimen was
from Moolai, a well-known peak in the Dawnat range.

The females procured by me are somewhat larger than the one
described by Smith. My specimens measure length 23 to 28 mm
(103 to 13 lines), expanse 47 m.m.

The workers are much smaller ; length 13 m.m., expanse 29 m.m.
They closely resemble the 9, the colours being perhaps a little duller.

I have found the nest. It was placed in a hollow under the roots
of a bamboo bush on the Taoo Plateau (4,000 feet), and resembled
exactly the nests of the humble bees that I had so often, as a boy,
taken at home in the deserted nests of field mice.

DESCRIPTION OF PLATES.
Prats I,

Fig 1. Bembex westonii, n. sp., 2, p. 380.
» 2. Aylocapa rufescens, Smith, 9, p. 388.
3. Rhynchium cuprewennis, 0. sp., 9, p. 387.
4, Ischnogaster hauawellu, n. sp., 9, p. 386.
5. Salius verticalis, Smith, Q, p. 376.
» 6. Pompilus cameron, Bingham, 2, p. 378.
7, Pompilus ius, Bingham, Q, p. 378.
8. Sphex fulvo-lurta, Bingham, ¢, p. 379.
9. Salius elizabethe, n. sp., 9, p. 372.
», 10. Salius indicus, Cameron, Q, p. 374.
», 11, Sphex regalis, Smith, Q, p. 378.
», 12. Bombus montivagus, Smith, 9, p. 388,

390 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, VIII,

PLATE IT,

Fig. 1. Nest of Pseudagena tincta,

Smith.

» 2. Diagram Hymenoptera, Front

wing,

a, Anterior margin,
b, Apical margin,
c. Posterior margin,
a, Costal nervure.
d, Post costal nervure.
e. Externo-medial nervure.
f, Anal nervure.
g, Radial nervure.
h, Cubital nervure.
i, Discoidal nervure.
m. Ist transverse cubital
nervure.
n, 2nd transverse cubital
nervure.
o. 3rd transverse cubital
nervure,
p. 1st recurrent nervure.
q. 2nd recurrent nervure,
u, Transverse medial ner-
vure,
v. 1st transverse submedial
nervure,
w. 2nd transverse submedial
nervure,
1, Stigma. |
2. Radial cell.
5, 6,7 & 8. Cubital cells,
9,10 & 11, Discoidal cells.

14, Apical cell,

15. Costal cell.

16. Medial cell,

17 & 18, Submedial cells,
20, Anal cell,

Fig, 3, Hind Wing.

a,

NoukorwpPope me as Ff

Costal nervure and ante-
rior margin,

. Apex of wing.

Post costal nervure,
Medial nervure.

Anal nervure.

Radial nervure,

Cubital nervure.
Discoidal nervure,
Transverse anal nervure.
Transverse cubital nervure
Region stigma.

Costal cell,

Radial cell,

Medial cell,

Anal cell.

Cubital cell (incomplete),
Discoidal cell (incomplete)

Journ.Bomb Nat Hist.Soc.1893.

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391

NOTHS ON SAMBAR AND SAMBAR SHOOTING,
By J. D. INveErariry.
(Read before the Bombay Natural History Society on 13th Nov., 1893.)

Deer-stalking in India is really not stalking at all; there is no
spying a beast from a distance, and no long approach to the animal
for the shot. Instead of the open moor, there are ravines and nullahs
thickly clothed with trees, long grass, and underwood, in which one
seldom can see deer at a greater distance than 200 yards. Usually
the shot immediately follows the first view of the stag. In fact, sambar-
stalking consists of simply wandering through the jungle until you
blunder on to something to shoot. Sometimes, I believe, by having
men out on the hill-tops by daylight they are able to mark where
a sambar lies up for the day and can take you to the spot, but I have
never tried this myself. The young sportsman, when he starts to shoot,
is so eager that he walks through the jungle at a terrific pace ; his .
legs tear through the grass and bushes, the boughs of the trees scrape
along his hat and clothes, the measured tramp of his feet canbe heard
afar, and his progress is attended with so much noise that it isa
wonder if he ever sees anything. Now if there is one thing absolutely
essential to success in shooting in an Indian jungle, it is to move about
quietly ; one’s pace should be slow, and where, from leaves or stones,
the noise of footsteps cannot be helped, the steps should be irregular
so as to make a noise as little like the usual tread of the human biped
as possible.

More shots are obtained by carefully working the ground than by
racing over a large extent of country. If one has been out for several
hours without seeing anything, one naturally gets a little slack, and
many a chance is lost by carelessness. But after all the whole charm
of sport consists in the fears and hopes born of previous failure and
success. Who would care to shoot if one did not sometimes make
a mess of it? As you stroll through the jungle there is plenty to occupy
your attention. In addition to sambar you may see cheetul, the four-
horned antelope, or nielgai, all of which are found in some parts of the
country on the same ground. Tracks of tiger and panther are found

in the streams and nullahs, though they themselves are seldom seen
when stalking.

392 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

In some jungles there are a good many burrows dug out by por-
cupines. They have onlya single hole. I only once saw a porcupine
out in the day-time, and that was early inthe morning. You generally
make a start soon after dawn and walk about till lla.m. Long before
that hour the deer have all lain down, and as it is supposed that there
is not so good a chance of coming across them in the middle of the
day, you stop till about 2 p.m. My own opinion is that, in this kind of
shooting, the middle of the day is as good a time as any other, as they
are bound to rise and bolt if you pass near where they lie; and, as I
said before, in samber-stalking, nine times out of ten, you simply
blunder on to the deer, but as both your men and yourself require
breakfast and some rest, the middle of the day is a convenient time
for the purpose. If one’s camp is near a river, one makes for the
waterside in the early morning, on the chance of finding a stag
feeding on the berries of the Ber (Z:zzyphus jujuba), a thorny bush
that grows on the river banks, and the bright orange berry of which is
a favourite food of beast and bird. At this early hour a chill mist is
rising from the water, and as one appears on the top of the bank,
a loud noise in the bushes makes one clutch the rifle ; but it is only a
peacock that sails with outstretched wings across the river, Rising from
a low level, he has not sufficient way on to carry him across 200
yards and he touches the water, but a few strokes of the wing lifts him,
and he lands on the opposite shore and scuttles up the bank. F locks
of screaming parroquets are feeding on the Ber berries, and, as one
proceeds, the peculiar whish of the green pigeon’s flight attract one’s
attention to a score of these beautiful birds as they fly out from a tree
in which you would never have seen them if they had sat still.
Numerous nullahs stretch away from the river to the hills, and the
best plan is to walk along the top of a nullah a few yards from it,
occasionally going to the edge. Deer lying in the nullah then don’t
see you until they hear you about opposite them. As you move along
a loud bark and rush below you announce sambar, and you just catch
sight for a moment ofa hide, and as they cross an open patch see a hind
and calf. Even if it had been a stag the chances are you would not have
got a shot. Many chances at stags are lost by not being able in the thick
jungle to see his head until just as he disappears. If fortune is favour-
able, you may get an easy shot as the sambar bolts up the opposite side

NOTES ON SAMBAR AND SAMBAR SHOOTING. 393

of the nullah, as he often stops just as he gets to the top for a moment,
and in any case the running shot is an easy one. This is the usual
way of settling them by disturbing them from their seats in some
thicket in a nullah, or you may find one in his form in the long grass
under the shed of a tree on more open ground ; here again you won’t
see him till he rises to fly. Sometimes you are aware of a stag stand-
ing looking at you perhaps not 50 yards off. He has either just jumped
up, or suddenly come on you as he was walking through the jungle.
As you raise your rifle he sometimes whips round and flies, but as often
as not he will stand to be shot.

Early in the morning and late in the afternoon you may come across
sambar on the move and have a kind of short stalk to get in on them.
If there are deer in the jungle, there will be many trees with the outer
bark rubbed off. Sambar are very fond of rubbing their horns against
trees long after the horns are hard and all the velvet has disappeared ;
they get the tree between the brow antler and beamand rub up and down
leaving along blaze on the tree. They seem to prefer the smoother
light-coloured trees for the purpose, such as the “‘saler”; the dark red
of the inner bark shows very conspicuously where the stag has been
rubbing. At the foot of the tree will be found quite a heap of bark
in shreds. If you look at a samber’s horns you will find in many cases
the beam for some inches above the brow antler polished quite smooth
from this habit. You will also not fail to observe in their forms small
heaps of fruit stones. The fruit is swallowed whole. The sambar drops
the stones out when he chews the cud ; they are chiefly the stones of the
Ber. If you disturb a sambar from his form you will find a fresh
heap of stones quite wet, which have just before been in his interior.
An old stag generally slips away quietly, a hind and young stag often
give a loud bark as they start off. If you see either stag or hind and its
ears are flapping, it has not seen you. As soon as they see you, their
large ears are brought forward at right angles to the head and remain
fixed so as to catch every sound. If you remain motionless they will
stare a long time. Directly you move they are away. Sambar do
not go in large herds. I think the most I have seen together are
8 or 9.

The stags, both old and young, are often found alone and also in
company of the hinds, In the hot weather the stags are generally

394 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII,

alone, though I once shot one out of a herd of four in the middle of May.
I do not believe that all stags shed their horns yearly. Most, no
doubt, have shed their horns by April or May ; but I have seen them
with their horns in May and June. I once saw two stags together,
one with soft horns, half grown, the other had his horns unshed. I
shot a stag sambar on one occasion that was in company of half a
dozen hinds of the swamp deer, and I have more than once seen one
or two stags in close proximity to bison.

Wild dogs are great enemies of sambar. I have twice seen them
in chase. The first time they pulled down a calf about 150 yards
from where I was. I heard a squealing and the loud barks of the
mother, who stood close to the scene of the tragedy. Thinking a tiger
had killed, I stalked up to the noise, and when close to, saw a yellow
mass that I took to be a tiger, and was just going to fire when to my
astonishment it split up into a dozen pieces and disappeared. I found
the calf with its entrails torn out and eaten, part of the rump was
eaten, and the eyes picked out—all in afew seconds. I hid myself
behind a tree and in about 20 minutes the pack of dogs returned ; they
passed me within 15 yards, in single file, a dozen in number, ten
paces between each dog. I, with difficulty, refrained from firing.
I was between them and the sambar, and they made a circuit and
came up to the carcass from the opposite direction. As the leading dog
reached the body, I could not wait any more. I fired and missed it, but
luckily got one with the second barrel as they bolted. It was a female,
and had the exact smell of a domestic dog. The second time I was
sitting on the banks of the Taptee having breakfast, when a hind
and calf rushed down the opposite bank into the stream, which
here was shallow and running pretty strong. On reaching the
middle she stood in the water with her calf under her body, and I saw
two wild dogs in pursuit stop at the water’s edge. They uttered loud
wailing howls, but the old hind and young one seemed quite comfort-
able, the little one with its tail up frisking about under and around
its mother. In a short time the dogs went away, and in about ten
minutes afterwards the hind and calf went back to the same side they
had come from and walked slowly off. You would have thought they
would not have gone back to the same side as the dogs were. On
the same day a couple of hours afterwards, two dogs, which I believe

NOTES ON SAMBAR AND SAMBAR SHOOTING. 395

must have been the same ones, ran a bull neilgai into the river opposite
my tent. I did not see it myself, but my butler informed me that they
tore its stomach open just as it reached the river. The neilgai swam
across, and sank when half way over, the dogs not following into the
water. The photograph gives a better idea of the look of a sambar
than any verbal description. They have, as will be seen, a fine coat of
coarse hair, which is specially long and thick on the neck. In the hot
weather, however, they lose a lot of hair and have a somewhat mangy
appearance.

The horns of the sambar have normally only three points on
each horn. Sometimes they throw out an extra tine or two, usually
in the upper fork. In most heads one horn is an inch or two longer
than the other. Anything over 38 inches I consider exceptionally
good : the longest I have shot myself measured 44 inches on the out-
side curve. Ten inches round the burr is good, though there are heads
alittle over 11 inches round the burr. Sometimes the inside upper tine
is the longest, sometimes the outer one, -though in the majority of my
heads the greatest length is in the inner tine. Some are of equal
length. The longest brow antler I have measured was from the burr
to point (outside measurement) 2 feet, which isa very unusual length ;
the next longest was 19 inches.

The most curious instance of abnormal horns was a stag I shot
that had no brow antler at all to his left horn, but instead a third horn,
a mere knot, but growing on a separate bony pedicle of its own
three-fourths of an inch from the main horn. The length of this
left horn was some inches less than the right one, which measured
36 inches, A very singular sambar horn picked up by me is figured
at p. 223 of Vol. I of this Society’s Journal.

The horns of the sambar of other parts of India are much smaller
than the horns carried by stags in the neighbourhood of the Nerbudda
and 'Taptee Rivers, Sambar are said by Jerdon to produce only one
young at a birth ; they sometimes have two, The females of this genus

have canine teeth in the upper jaw as well as the males,
9

396 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII,

LES FORMICIDES DE LEMPIRE DES INDES ET DE
CEYLAN.

Par Avucuste Forst,
Professeur & l’Université de Zirich.

Part IV.

Adjonction aua Genres Camponotus, Mayr., ei Pouyruacuis, Shuck.

25. Camponotus confucet, nov. Sp.

% Major :—L: 7, 3a, 8,5 mill. Taille robuste. Longueur d’un
scape 2, 0, d’un tibia postérieur 2, 3 mill. Téte longue de 2, 6, large
de 2, 5 mill. Mandibules assez luisantes, ponctuées, finement réti-
culées entre les points, courtes, épaisses, armées de 6 dents. ‘Téte en
trapeze, faiblement échancrée derriére, plus large derriére que
devant. Hpistome aplati un peu subcaréné derriére; sa portion
médiane est plus étroite devant que derriére et forme devant, au milieu,
un petit lobe arrondi qui a une forte impression au milieu. Arétes
frontales trés simueuses et tres divergentes ; aire frontale trés petite.
Sutures du thorax profondes. Le thorax a exactement la forme de
celui du C. foreli, Hm. : le profil est interrompu entre le mésonotum et
le métanotum. Ce dernier a une face basale courte, assez convexe,
presque aussi large que longue (plus longue chez le C. forelz). La face
déclive est abrupte et plus longue que la face basale dont elle est
séparée par un angle arrondi ou par une courbe trés rapide. LHecaille
épaisse, presque carrée, convexe devant, avec un bord supérieur
transversal, épais. ‘Tibias subcylindriques, sans piquants 4 leur bord
interne. NScapes légérement déprimés.

Téte et thorax densément réticulés—ponctués et mats. eaille,
abdomen et pattes finement réticulés et subopaques. Les 2/5
antérieurs de la téte ont en outre de gros points enfoncés piligeres
profonds et allongés, réguli¢rement espacés, qui donnent un aspect
raboteux aux joues et 4 l’épistome,

Pilosité dressée d’un jaune un peu brundtre, abondante, courte et
obtuse sur le devant de la téte, assez éparse, plus longue et plus pointue
sur le reste du corps, nulle sur les tibias et les scapes. Une pubescence
jaunatre abondante sur tout le corps, surtout sur l’abdomen, forme

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LES FORMICIDES DES INDES ET DE CEYLAN, 397

partout, aussi sur les pattes et les scapes, un duvet d’un gris jaundtre
semblable a celui du C. rufoglaucus, mais moins fin et moins serré,

Entiérement noir, Une étroite lisiere jaunadtre aux segments abdo-
minaux. Hxtrémité des tarses, articulations et éperons d’un brun
roussdtre,

% Minor :—L:546 mill. Mandibules étroites, armées de 6 dents,
Epistome subcaréné, convexe, sublobé, sans impression médiane devant,
en forme de trapéze, beaucoup plus large devant que derriére. Téte
beaucoup plus large derriére que devant, non échancrée derriére, Les
scapes dépassent l’occiput de la moitié de leur longueur (ne le dépassent
pas chez la % major). Une profonde échancrure entre le mésonotum
et le métanotum ; ce dernier fort convexe, bien plus court que chez le
C. forelt. caille tres épaisse, aussi épaisse que sa hauteur antérieure
(avant la surface supérieure convexe-oblique).

Téte, thorax et pattes assez fortement reéticulés et subopaques.
Abdomen et écaille plus faiblement réticulés, luisants. Pas de gros
points espacés, ni de poils courts devant la téte.

Mandibules en partie d’un brun rougedtre. Pubescence plus diluée
que chez la 8 major. Du reste comme la 8 major.

Kanara (M. Wroughton).

Dans notre tableau analytique, cette espéce se place au chiffre 2,
comme groupe 4 part, entre les groupes 3 (varians et sericeus) et 4
(camelinus, etc.). Hlle se distingue du groupe 3 par ses mandibules de
6 articles et son métanotum arrondi, non-concave derriére, du groupe
4 par son corps trapu, ses mandibules, son épistome, ete.

21. Camponotus maculatus, r. taylort, Forel.

Var. albosparsus, noy. var. 8 major L. 7 47, 5 mill.; 8 min, 5,
546 mill. Thorax et pattes d’un brun roussitre. Abdomen noiratre
avec quatre taches d’un jaune blanchatre, une sur chacun des deux
premiers segments, et avec une grande tache de méme couleur au
milieu du dessousdes mémes segments. Les taches dorsales du premier
seoment confluent parfois.

Himalaya (M. Smythies), Une variété presque semblable, mais
plus claire, avec la téte roussdtre chez la 8 minor, les taches claires
de abdomen plus grandes, confluentes, a été récoltée sur le Pic
Victoria 4 Hong Kong par le Dr. Ris,

398 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

26. Camponotus binghamii, nov. sp.

% Minor :—L: 4, 7 mill. Mandibules subopaques, finement chagri-
nées, faiblement ponctuées, armées, de 5 dents seulement. Epistome
caréné, faiblement biéchancré, sans trace de lobe antérieur (bord
anterieur rectiligne), Arétes frontales assez longues, divergentes.
Téte subrectangulaire, 4 peine rétrécie derriére les yeux, A cdtés non
convexes, un peu comprimés, Yeux gros, situés au tiers postérieur.
Pronotum subdéprimé, distinctement bordé antérieurement et & ses
angles antérieurs, assez large. Métanotum comme chez le C. rufogluucus,
r. fee Him., mais la face basale n’est que trés faiblement concave.
Heaille épaisse, assez basse, obtuse en dessus. Tibias subcylindriques,
sans piquants. Scapes gréles et cylindriques.

Entiérement et dens¢ment réticulé-ponctué et subopaque on presque
mat, y-compris les pattes et les scapes.

Pilosité dress¢e, jaundtre, trés éparse, nulle sur les tibias et les scapes.
Pubescence jaundtre, assez longue et assez abondamment répandue
sur tout le corps, sur les pattes et sur les scapes, formant un léger duvet
grisdtre moins dense que chez le C. rufoglaucus, mais trés semblable,
sans cependant cacher la sculpture. Noir; pattes; funicules et
mandibules d’un brun rougedtre. Scapes d’un jaune roussitre vers la
base et bruns vers l’extrémité. Segments abdominaux étroitement
bordés de jaune roussatre.

Ataran Valley, Birmanie (M. le Major Bingham),

Au premier abord ou dirait un trés petit C. rufoglaucus. Mais en
réalité cette espéce est toute autre et se rattache au groupe C. retéculatus,
radiatus, niveosetosus, foraminosus, etc. Dans le tableau, elle se place
sous le chiffre 7, 4 cdté du C. reticulatus, dont elle se distingue par sa
pubescence, son pronotum bordé, sa face moins convexe, etc.

5. Camponotus auriventris (Emery).
Thaungyin Valley, Birmanie (Bingham).
58. Polyrhachis wroughtonii, nov. spec.
% :—Long: 4,044, 2 Mill. Larg.1,341,5 Mill.
Mandibules armées de 5 dents, Iuisantes, en partie lisses, avec une

fine ponctuation éparse. Epistome sans caréne, armé devant de
deux larges dents médianes divergentes, Téte, en trapéze, beaucoup

LES FORMICIDES DES INDES ET DE CEYLAN. 399

plus large derriére que devant, 4 bord postérieur assez droit. Yeux
situés vers les 2/5 postérieurs des cdtés de la téte. Arétes frontales trés
sinueuses, divergentes. Front peu convexe. Vertex fort convexe &
son passage a locciput. Deux arétes aigués au bord inférieur de la téte
qui est concave en dessous, entre deux. Thorax plus court que la téte
& peine plus long que la largeur antérieure du pronotum. Suture pro-
mésonotale située au milieu du thorax; suture méso-métanotale trés
peu distincte. Dos du thorax trés convexe. Les angles anterieurs du
pronotum forment deux épines ou dents extrémement larges, courtes et
trés obtuses, dont les cotés sont Ja continuation directe des bords
antérieur et latéraux du pronotum. Le bord antérieur du pronotum
est concave de l’extrémité d’un épine ou pointe 4 celle de Vautre.
Epines métanotales aussi longues que l’espace interspinal, trés distantes
trés divergentes, un peu courbées en arriére et en dehors. L/écaille,
est épaisse et biconvexe. lle a deux longues épines horizontales qui
embrassent la base de l’abdomen. Entre ces épines elle porte deux
petites dents obtuses, assez écartées. Abdomen trés court, trés large
faiblement subbordé devant. Scapes gréles, un peu épaissis 4 J’extré-
mité. Tibias atténuds 4 leur base.

Tout le corps, les pattes et les antennes entiérement et densément
réticulé-ponctué, mat ou peu s’en faut. La téte (sauf l’épistome) et le
thorax (sauf la face déclive du métanotum et une partie des cétés) sont
en outre grossiérement réticules.

Une fine pubescence jaunatre, trés courte et fort diluée est éparse
sur tout le corps, les pattés et les scapes. Pilosité dressée nulle, sauf
quelques poils épars vers la bouche et prés du cloaque.

Noire. Antennes, tarses et bord des mandibules d’un jaune
rougedtre. Tibias et cuisses d’un jaune testacé assez pile.

Hanches, genoux, base des métatarses, les deux extrémités des scapes
et la base du Ier article des funicules noiratres ou bruniatres.

Kanara (M. Wroughton),

Cette espéce est trés curieuse par sa forme écourtée et par sa couleur.
Hille se place dans le tableau sous le chiffre 33, & cdté des P. armata
et P. simplex, quoique tres différente de ces deux espéces.

59. Polyrhachis phipsoni, nov. spec.

%:—L.:4, 8 mill. Trés voisine de la P. furcata, Sm., dont ella
différe par les caractéres suivants :

400 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIT1,

Téte plus longue que large; scapes plus gréles. Hpistome sans
carene ; une aréte élevyée en lieu et place du sillon frontal. Thorax
moins convexe ; épines du métanotum plus courtes que chez la P. furcata
typique, mais plus longues que chez la race P. gracilior. Le noeud ou
pilier du pédicule est plus bas, beaucoup plus épais (presque aussi épais
que large), avec une surface supérieure inclinée d’avant en arriére et
terminée devant par une protubérance assez aigué. Les épines du
pilier sont presque horizontales, longues, embrassant un peu l’abdomen
(comme chez la P. gracilior), mais nullement recourbées a Vextrémité,
Un lobe longitudinal sous le pédicule (une dent chez la P. furcata),
Sculpture trés grossicrement réticulée, comme chez la P. furcata ; mais
cette sculpture s’étend aussi sur la moitié postérieure de la téte qui est
lisse, et luisante chez la P. furcata. Devant de la téte assez lisse,
éparsément ponctué. Abdomen lisse et Iuisant. Pilosité et pubescence
comme chez la P. furcata, mais abdomen est assez fortement pubescent
derriére, tandis que le thorax Vest 4 peine.

D’un rouge foncé. Scapes, abdomen et extrémité des épines noiratres;
tibias et tarses brunatres.

Yé Valley, Burmah (Major Bingham). Se place dans le tableau 4
edté de la P. furcata. ae
25. Polyrhachis levigata (Smith).

M. le major Bingham vient de découvrir cette espéce dans la Yé
Valley, en Birmanie. Llle correspond tout-a-fait & la description de
Smith. lle est noire luisante, avec l’abdomen, les hanches, et une
grande partie des cuisses d’un brun rougedatre. L/écaille est épaisse,
élevée, et a deux trés petites dents entre les deux épines. Corps tres
faiblement réticulé avec une ponctuation éparse trés effacée. Tibias
densément réticulés-ponctués et mats. Enti¢rement glabre. Prono-
tum avec deux angles dentiformes. Suture pro-mésonotale distincte ;
suture mésométanotale visible. Hpines métanotales longues, fortes,
assez peu divergentes.

Voisine dele P. heppomanes. Le tableau doit étre corrigé en ce sens
que le corps n’est pas absolument lisse, comme |’a prétendu Smith.

3™¢ Genre CicoPHyLLA (Smith).
i. smaragdina (Fab.)
Formica macra et zonata, Guérin.

Ce genre ne renferme en Inde qu’une espéce trés commune, lH,

smaragdina, Fab. (the red Ant) dont M. Aitken a si bien décrit les

LES FORMICIDES DES INDES ET DE CEYLAN. 401

moeurs dans ce journal. L’éspéce a les caractéres du genre. La Q,
grande et grosse, de couleur vert clair, a 13 & 16 mill. de long.
Le ¢@ est noir, gréle, beaucoup plus petit, long de 6 a6, 5 mill.
seulement. L/ouvriére est d’un rouge jaunatre et varie de 3,5 49,5
mill, M. André a décrit les plus petites ouvritres d’une forme
africaine trés voisine sous le nom de GY. brevinodis. Hlles ont toujours
le pédicule, les pattes et les antennes beaucoup plus courtes que les
grandes % relativement au corps. C’est le contraire des autres
fourmis. M. Wroughton m’a envoyé une fourmili¢re commencante
comprenant la mére fondatrice, 9 petites % de la plus petite sorte et
quelques nymphes. Le nid était filé dans Vinterstice d’une feuille,
comme celui d’une Polyrhachis, les nids de Gcophylla, tissés
d’une trame de soie blanche qui relie les feuilles des arbres, sont tres
considérables et bien connus dans les tropiques. L’ @cophylla
smaragdina est répandue dans toute l’Inde, de ’Himalaya 4 Ceylan
et de Bombay a Calcutta. Je l’ai méme recue de Dehra Dun, Nord-
ouest de l’ Himalaya, a 2300’ d’ élévation, par M. Wood-Mason.

4me Genre Myrmucocystus (Wesmael).
1, UM, wiaticus, Fab., xr. setepes, n. st.

La seule espéce de ce genre connue jusqu ici en Inde est une simple
race du MV. viaticus, Fab., de la faune méditerranéenne. lle vit sur-
tout dans les terrains secs, dans les steppes, court sur ses longues jambes
en relevant I’ abdomen et fait la chasse aux insectes. Hlle a la téte et le
thorax d’un rouge trés sombre, abdomen noir luisant et varie
de 7 418 millimetres de longueur. Les caractéres sont du reste ceux
du genre. J’ai recu cette espéce de Nusseerabad dans la Rajpootana
(M. Glardon), de Rai Bareli (M. Simpson) et de Pachmarhi, a 3558
pieds de hauteur, prés de Jubulpore, dans |’ Inde centrale (M. Schurr).
C’est un des représentants typiques de la faune paléarctique de
P Inde et je crois quil est limité au Nord-ouest et au centre de la
péninsule.

%. Différe du UV. waticus, i. sp., par sa taille un peu plus svelte, ses
pattes plus longues (les pattes postérieures sont de 14 3 millimétres
plus longues a grandeur égale du corps) et surtout par le caractere
suivant : les pattes sont couvertes sur toutes leurs faces de soies
couchées, épaisses, courtes, d’un noir brunatre ; la face interne des tibias

402 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

n’a que des piquants obliques et les soies de leurs autres faces sont
aussi longues et aussi épaisses que ces piquants. Chez tous les
M. viaticus, i. sp., de la faune méditerranéenne, de méme que chez les
M. altisquamis, M. niger et M. megalocola, les pattes n’ont qu'une
pubescence adjacente ordinaire, roussidtre, peu épaisse, non sétiforme,
tout & fait distincte des piquants roussdtres de la face interne des
tibias. Ces derniers sont dressés.

La couleur du JM, setzpes est la méme que celle des exemplaires du
M. viaticus i. sp. que jai récoltés dans les oasis 4 Gabés (Tunisie), et
que ceux qu’on regoit en général de la région du désert saharien. Un
exemplaire que j’ai recu d’Abyssinie (Harar) par M. Ilg est aussi le
viaticus, i. sp., etnon le M. setipes. Les exemplaires tout-d-fait typiques
d’Hspagne, de Hongrie, de Bulgarie, de Gréce, etc., sont d’un rouge
plus vif et ont le noeud souvent plus court et plus élevé. Leurs pattes
sont plus courtes que celles de la variété rouge trés foncé du désert
qu’on pourrait appeler M. desertorum, n. v. Ils sont par contre d’un
rouge bien moins vif que la race M. megalocola, sont bien plus grands
quelle et ont l’abdomen mat,

5me Genre Formica, L.

‘Toutes les especes de Hormica de ’Inde appartiennent 4 la faune paléarc-
tique de |’ Himalaya, du Nord-ouest eb du centre.

Tableau des ouvrieres des especes de la faune de V Hnynre des Indes.

1. Bord antérieur de I’épistome échancré au milieu. D’un rouge de sang,

un peu foncé. Front et vertex brundtres. Abdomen noiratre,

Pilosité trés éparse. Li: 6 49 Mill......... ‘eel, SANGUINEA (Lair).

Bord anteérieur de [épistome entier ........0.ccsceceseescarserconecs sonnce 2

9, Taille robuste; L. 44 9 mill, Aire frontale lisse et Iuisante. Tout

de corps, les patties et Jes scapes couverts d’une pilosité roussitre,

courte, abondante, obtuse et dressée. Couleur de la F’. sanguinea,

mais d’un rouge plus clair et plus Vif ..ccccccsscsceoees ee. H. RUFA, L.

r. TRUNCICOLA (Nyl).

Taille plus gréle ; L. 4, 5 & 7 Mill........c.seccecers--ceeseelk, FUSCA, L,

Aire frontale Inisante. Tout le corps d’un noir trés Inisant. Pattes,

antennes et mandibules d’un brun plus ou moins rougeatre ...--. ses

r, F. gagares (Latr).

Aire frontale mate. ‘Tout le corps beaucoup plus mat et finement

PUbescent »oc.ereseseaee cieatanebecnadasenasceceer Govecccccsenes seogecencscce O

LES FORMICIDES DES INDES ET DE CEYLAN, 403

3. Couleurde la /, gagutes, Pew de poils dressés ... R. F, FUSCA, 1, Sp., L.

10

D’un rouge jaunatre terne, ayec abdomen, le front, le vertex, l'extré-
mité des funicules et souvent le dos du thorax d’un brun plus ou
moins noiratre, Pilosité dressée un peu plus abondante............00

R. F. Rurmarers (Fab).

Variété intermédiaire entre les F. fusca eb F. rufibarbis ....... waco cements

V. FUSCO-RUFIBARBIS (Forel),
Liste des Formica de V Inde; synonymie et geographie,
| 1, F. sanguinea (Lair.)
Ff, dominula (Nyl.)

Lahoul, frontiére du Thibet (Major Sage). Identique aux individus
européens. Ravit les nymphes de la Formica fusca pour en faire des
esclaves,

2. F. rufa, L., st. truncicola (Nyl.)
=F simulata (Smith) ?

Lahoul, frontiére du Thibet (Major Sage). Identique aux individus
européens, Une @ de petite taille,

3. F. rusca, L.
Race , gagates (Latr.)
= F, picea (Nyl.)
= F, glabra (W. White).
= F. candida (Smith).

Lahoul, frontiére du Thibet (Major Sage). Thibet (par M.
Wroughton), Identique aux individus européens. § Yarkand
(Smith). La F. candida Smith est évidemment une F, gagates,

Race #7, fusca, i. sp., L.
= F, glebaria, Nyl.

Mussorie Hills (M. ‘Smythies), Pachmarhi pres de Jubulpore, Inde
centrale (M. Schurr), Indentique aux individus européens,

Race F. rufibarbis (Fab, )

= FP, cunicularia (Uatr.)

= F, obsoleta (Latr.)

—= Lf, stenoptera (Férst,)

= Ff fraterna et F, defensor (Smith ?)

Dharmsala (Major Sage). Lahoul, frontigre du Thibet (Major Sage),
Identique aux exemplaies européens. La F. fraterna (Smith) est
evidemment la #, rujibarbis. La F. defensor (Smith) est peut-étre la
Vari t suivante,

404 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

Var. cLARA, Forel. Lahoul, fronticre du Thibet (Major Sage), Se
distingue par sa couleur d’un rouge jaunatre plus clair et plus vif,
ainsi que par son thorax sans tache brune.

Var. Formica fusco-rufibarbis, Forel.

Himalaya (M. Smythies). Dehra Dun (M. Smythies). Masuri,
6,000’, N. O, Himalaya (M. Wood-Mason). Forme intermédiaire
entre les races /. fusca et F. rufibarbis.

6me Genre Lasius, Fab.
Méme remarque que pour le genre /ormica.
I, L. niaEr, L.
Pas de longs poils épais, couchés, jaunes sur abdomen.
Race L. alienus, Forst.

Himalaya, 9,000’ de hauteur (M. Smythies). Q L. 2,7 4 3, 2 mill.
Pas de sillon frontal distinct. Brunatre, avec le thorax les antennes
et les pattes plus clairs, Scapes et pattes sans poils dressés. Comme
les petits exemplaires clairs d’Hurope.

Race LZ. brunneus (Latr.), var. himalayanus, nov. var.
Formica timida (Yoerst).
Himalaya (Smythies), 6,000! & 9,000’,

% -—L: 3,644,2 mill, Sillon frontal tres distinct. Beaucoup plus
large et plus robuste que le précédent. Plus robuste et plus grand que la
forme typique d’Europe. Pubescence un peu plus grossiére, comme chez le
L. alenus. D’un brun assez foncé, avec les joues, les mandibules, les scapes, la
base des funicules, les tarses, une partie du dessous de la téte et les articulations
des pattes d’un jaunatre sale plus ou moins rougedtre on brunatre (chez le
L. brunneus, i, st., la couleur est d’un rouge brunatre avec l’abdomen brun).

Var, Lasius alieno-bruuneus (Forel).
Himalaya (Smythies) ; 6,000’ & 9,000/.

S$ :-—L.:34 3,5 mill, Sillon frontal distinct. Stature de le Z. alienus,
D’un brun jaunatre pale, y compris l’abdomen ; pattes et antennes d’un jaune
& peine brundtre, Dans son catalogue, Dalla Torre identifie cette variété au
L, lasioides Emery. Je ne puis guére admettre cette synonymie, car le type du
L. lasioides que je possede a un sillon frontal bien moins distinct, ane couleur
plus foncée et une pilosite plus forte.

LES FORMICIDES DES INDES ET DE CEYLAN, 405

2, L. crinitus (Smith),
Cachmir (d’aprés Smith).

Q :—dJaune docre. L. 84 9 Mill, Ailes un pen enfumées, Abdomen
couvert de longs poils jaunes, couchés, épais 4 leur base, pointus a l’éxtrémité,
Pattes et antennes sans poils dressés.

La @ seule est connue.

que Genre PSEUDOLASIUS (Emery),*
I. P. familiaris (Smith),
Birmanie (d’aprés Emery).

8 Minor :—L.: 2,6 Mill. (2 10 Mill). Jaunatre ; yeux plus petits et
pubescence plus abondante que chez le P. breviceps.

8me Genre PRENOLEPIS (Mayr),

Les espéces de ce genre difficile se distinguent surtout par les valvules géni-
tales des @. Nous devrons donc y avoir égard autant que possible. Les &
sont souvent impossibles 4 distinguer les unes des autres, ce qui m’oblige a
laisser indéterminées un assez grand nombre de % et de recues sans les ¢
correspondants.

* Pseudolasius risii n. sp. % L. 2,44 3,3 Mill, Mandibules finement et densément’
striées, armées seulement de 4 dents; bord terminal trés-oblique. Téte échancrée derrigre
presque carrée, a peine plus longue que large. Palpes labiaux de deux articles ; palpes maxil-
laires de deux articles tres courts, Yeux situés vers le tiers antérieur dela téte, tout» fait
plats, composés seulement de 8 a 10 facettes mal formées. Hpistome voiité, court, presque
subcaréné; son bord antérieur a une faible échancrure médiane et une petite dent latérale
de chaque cété, pres de Varticulation mandibulaire. Scapes dépassant un peu l’occiput;
funicules assez epais. Thorax médiocrement échancré derriére le mésonotum ; face basale du
métanotum courte, arrondie. Hcaille inclinée en avant, assez épaisse, 2 bord supérieur
tranchant. Pattes assez courtes. .

Assez luisante, en partie subopaque. Tres faiblement réticulée, en partie lisse. Une tres
fine ponctuation piligere, surtout sur Ja téte. Face déclive du métanotum trés lisse et tres
luisante.

Abondamment couverte d’une pilosité dressée, fine, pointue, d’un jaune pale, aussi sur les
tibias et les scapes. Pubescence adjacente, jaunatre, assez abondante sur la téte, plus éparse
ailleurs.

D’un jaune pale. Tarses et mandibules d’un jaune brunatre. Les grands individus sont
d’un jaune plus foncé et ont l'abdomen jaune brunatre.

Gésier 4 sépales courtes et évasées.

G :—Li: 5,6 mill, Comme Vonvritre. Lesmandibules ont aussi4dents, Téte plus large
que longue, presque aussi large que le thorax. Ponctuation beaucoup plus forte et plus
abondante que chez l’ouvritre, ainsi que la pubescence qui forme un duvet jaunatre. Les
poils couchés forment des séries par convergence des poils qui s’appliquent les uns aux
autres & leur extrémité. D’un jaune plus ou moins rougsatre on brunatre. Dessus de l’abdo-
men (sauf le bord des segments), vertex et quelques taches sur le thorax brunatres.

Victoria Pic, Hong Kong (Dr. Ris). Cette curieuse espéce, bien distinct du P. familiaris,
se trouvera probablement en Inde plus tard.

406 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII,

Tableau des ouvrieres,
1, Corps allongé. Mésothorax avec un rétrécissement médian presque
cylindrique, comme chez le genre Acantholepis......PR, EMM, n. sp,t
Corps étroit et allongé. Pattes et antennes trés longues, Mésothorax
sans rétrécissement au milieu, Noire. Pattes, antennes et mandibules
brunatres. L, 2, 5 4 3 mill ..coccseeseeeeeoee PR, LONGICORNIS (Latr.)
Corps plutot court. Profil du thorax échancré, Mésothorax sans rétré-
cissement cylindrique. D’un brun plus ou moins foncé. Corps,
patties eb scapes avec des soies dressées obtuses, plus ou moins
SURMSSEY goncadacsoconobyaoaonnaqdgoeoN Dod cHaOdadanS a9 OsnADOEoAGASAcoMoONA SCN
2. I. 2,543 mill. D’un brun foncé ou noiratre. Pubescence abondante...3
L. 1, 8 a 2, 4 mill, D’un brun plus clair. Pubescence clair-semée,
Pyligs MiISanbes eases ents ceseineecetincee scnnccae anvyacnice lGcok cence Gueseeemennel
3. Téte large, aussi large que longue, en carré a cotés arrondis, Face basale
du métanotum longue comme la moitié de la face déclive. Poils
dressés des pattes et des scapes assez fins, Les scapes n’en out
qu’une ou deux rangées devant. Corps trapu, d’un brun foncé,
Mésonotum, patties, mandibules et antennes d’un brun rougeiatre...
PR, YERBURYI, 0. sp.
Téte ovale, beaucoup plus longue que large. Face basale du métanotum 4
peine plus courte que la face déclive, oils dressés des pattes et des
scapes grossiers, obtus, d’un brun foncé. Les scapes en ont au
moins deux rangées, Corps moins trapu, dun brun noiratre,
Mandibules d’un brun rougeatre; patties et antennes d’un brun
foc ...ccescecceeeeeeesER, BOURBONICA (Forel) r. BENGALENSIS, n. st.

+ Pr. emmae, n. sp O. L.323,8 mill. Mandibules ¢troites, lisses, Inisantes, armées
de 8 dents, % peine ponctuées. Téte ovale, un peu plus longue que large. Epistome échancr
au milieu de son bord antérieur. Scaps dépassant, l’occiput de la moitié de leur longueur.
Trois ocelles extrémement petits. Le mésothorax est ¢troit, allongé, et a au milieu un
étranglement colliforme court, mais trés distinct, plus court et moins fort que chez
Y Acantholepis frauenfeldi, mais bien plus fort que chez lA. capensis. Les deux stigmates
post mésonotaux sont tout & fait dorgaux et trés rapprochés. Les cétésdu métasternum
atteignent le dos du thorax. Profil dorsal du mésonotum presque rectligne, sauf les
stigmates qui proéminent. Métanotum tres élevé en bosse de chameau courte et abrupte,
Heaille épaisse, obtuse et arrondie au sommet. Pattes assez longues.

Lisse et luisante. Epistome, pattes et scapes un peu subopaques, tres finement réticulés,
Meésothorax et cétés du front trés fnement striés en long; métanotum tres finement et cir-
culairement strié. Les parties stri¢es sont moins luisantes. Une pilosité dressée, jaunatre,

eu fine, peu pointue, médiocrement abondante sur le corps, les pattes et les scapes. Pubes-
cence tres éparse, plus abondante sur les tibias et les scapes.

D’un jaune rougeatre assez vif. Téte d’un jaune brunatre. Abdomen, antennes et pattes

"un jaune testacé. Une bande transversale brune, assez étroite, sur chaque segment
abdominal].

Victoria Pic, Hong Kong (Dr. Ris). Se trouvera peut-¢tre plus tard en Inde.

LES FORMICIDES DES INDES ET DE CEYLAN. 407

4 lL. 242, 4 mill, Face basale du métanotum seulement un peu plus
courte que la face déclive, Pubescence encore assez répandue sur la
téte et sur Pabdomen. ‘Tete ovale, rectangulaire...PR. INDICA, n. sp,

L, 1,842 mill, Face basale du mctanotum tres courte et peu convexe,
beaucoup plus courte que la face déclive (de moitié environ), Pubes-
cence diluée partoub ....cccecceeseeeeeeoess+seeeeseeeR, TAYLORI, 0, Sp,

Tableau des méles.

1, Valvules génitales extérieures arrondies, sans appendice particulier,
Prolongement externe des valvules moyennes plus court que l’interne,

PR. LONGICORNIS (Litr.)

Valvules génitales extérieures munies d’un appendice & leur extrémité
supérieure. Prolongement externe des valvules moyennes au moins

AUISSIE LOM ON Cet MMECENICN < duncalsectsisebenosianan ssescrecs/ontcesics va seseenerenee,

2, Valvules génitales extérieures (a Vexclusion de l’appendice et des écailles)
(US IETEEES, CS WOMEIES poogocopsabas scredocs coodchecoopmoonb so ceboee codecs
Valvules génitales extérieures (a Vexclusion de Pappendice et des écailles)
OHS IMOMEMES Glle TEMES) pot oooocoucéocqecacednocionocousoonobnccepEse abesoec!

3. Valvules génitales extérieures tres courtes, trés larges, tronquées, noires,
fortement chitinisées. Appendice en crochet court et épais, & peine

plus long que la largeur de sa base. Pas de protubérance marquée &

leur autre extrémité. Hcailles fort grandes (fig, 3), Valvuleg
moyennes tres larges, courtes, épaisses, obtuses, fortement chitinisées

et couvertes de fortes dents noiratres a leur extrémité (voir Forel,

Fourmis de Madagascar, dans Grandidier, Pl, 3, Fig. 2a) sesccosecees

Pr, BOURBONICA (Forel.) r, BENGALENSIS, 0, sb,

Valvules génitales extérieures bien plus étroites, jaunatres, bien plus faible-
ment chitinisces, terminces en haut par un appendice courbé, trés long

et tres étroit, pointu 4 l’extrémité, en bas par une longue protubé-

rance en triangle équilatéral, Entre ’appendice et Ja protubérance,

une encoche longue et profonde (fig. 2). Les deux prolongements

des grandes valvules moyennes assez étroits, assez pointus 4 l’extré-

mité, avec un bord terminal tres oblique, couvert de denticulations
noiratres assez fortes. L’externe plus long que l’interne (Fig, 2).....

PR, TAYLORI, 0. sp,

4, Valvules génitales extérieures tres longues, noires, fortement chitinisées
(presque deux fois plus longues que larges, sans l’appendice), termi-

néees en haut par un appendice trés long (aussi long que la valvule),

trés ¢troit, 4 peine courbé, eb arrondi 4 Vextrémité qui est plus large

408 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

que sa base. En bas elles sont terminées par une protubérance en
triangle équilatéral, Entre la protubérance et l’appendice, une encoche
un peu moins profonde que chez la Pr. taylori, Valvules moyennes
petites, d’un brun noiratre, droites, sans bords terminaux, dentelés,
avec de fines denticulations sur la moitié périférique de leurs bords
opposes. Prolongement interne rectangulaire, allongé, tronqué a
angle droit 4 l’extrémité, de méme longueur que interne qui se
termine en courbe aigué ou en pointe arrondie, Les deux prolonge-
ments sont étroits (Fig, 1 eb 1a) ....eesese02..-PR, YERBURYI, 0, Sp,

Valvules génitales extérieures (sans Pappendice) moins de deux fois plus
longues que larges, jaundtres ou d’un jaune brunatre, faiblement
chitinisées ..... Stiognotconbod cogaouonosoades saoeoup os abaaGge B00 Soonhocecans0!3)

5, Valvules génitales petites, pales, Les extérieures rétrécies 4 l'extrémité
qui se termine en hant par un appendice étroit, droit et assez long,
en bas par un angle a peine protubérant. Prolongements des
valvules moyennes tres longs et trés étroits, équilongs, pointus,
Vinterne assez fortement denticulé, Vexterne n’ayant que quelques
denticules prés de l’extrémité, Valvules intérieures triangulaires
(Ue, 5, ES BID) Gop cnetosecaboace Be Bcrcenidaste cts PR, SMYTHIESII, n, sp.

Valvules génitales grandes. Les extérieures comme chez la Pr. smy-
thiesii, mais encore plus rétrécies & Pextrémité qui n’a en bas qu’un
petit angle en dessous de l’appendice, Ce dernier a de petites verrues
microscopiques vers son extrémité, Valvules moyennes tres grandes ;
leur prolongement externe trés long et trés pointu, interne beaucoup
plus court et obliquement tronqué a Vextrémité. Tous deux ont
de fortes dents noires sur la moitié périférique de leurs bords
opposés eb sont droits et étroits (Fig. 4, 4a). Valvules intérieures
ovales (Fig. 4b), soss. seescceesseeeeoees Seceseovssscoont R, INDICA, 0, SP,

ListE des especes du Genre PRENOLEPIS.
1. Pr. longicornis (Latr).
= Formica vagans (Jerdon).
= Tapinoma gracilescens (Nylander).
= Paratrechina currens (Motschulsky).

Trés commune dans l’Inde entiére, de ’ Himalaya (Dehra Dun) 4 Bombay,
& Calcutta et 4 Ceylan d’ou on la recoit & chaque envoi, Hspece
cosmopolite, transportée par les vaisseaux.

2. Pr. bourbonica (Forel), r. bengalensis, n. st.

Calcutta (Rothney) ; Birmanie (Bingham) ; Myingyan, Birmanie supe-

rieure (Watson),

LES FORMICIDES DES INDES ET DE CEYLAN. 409

% Differe de la forme typique de Vile de la Réunion par sa téte ovale
rectangulaire, plus étroite eb plus allongée, tres distinctement plus
longue que large (presque aussi large que longue et & bord postérieur
large et plus net chez le type), L’épistome est plus fortement
échancré chez la Pr. bourbonica typique que chez la r. Pr, bengalensis,

&@ Les valvules génitales extérieures sont plus courtes et plus larges que
chez le type ; leur extrémité inférieure n’est pas avancée en triangle
(Fig. 3); elle est bien moins développée.

A part ces petites différences, la forme indienne est sissemblable & celle
de la Réunion que je ne puis en faire qu’une race,

3. Pr. yerburyt, DOV. spec,

Ceylan (Yerbury) ; Coonoor (Daly),

& Plus large, plus trapue que la précédente, Mésonotum aussi
large que long. Hchancrure méso-métanotale plus profonde et plus étroite,
- Pilosité d’un bron moins foncé, Les poils des pattes et des scapes sout surtout
beaucoup plus fins, le pronotum et le mésonotum sont aussi plus convexes.
Voir du reste au tableau, Malgré tout, il n’est pas facile de la distinguer de la
Pr, bourbonica.

Q L, 4,244, 4 mill) Caracteres de louvriere, en particulier la pilosité,
et de toutes les 9 de Prenolepis qui sont presque impossibles a distinguer les
unes des autres. Tout le corps d’un brun foncé, Ailes fortement enfumées de
brunatre,

L. 2, 5 mill, Noiratre, assez luisant. arses eb anneaux fémoraux
~ testacés, Funicules et hanches bruns, Pattes, scapeset mandibules d’un brun
foncé, ainsi que les cotes du thorax. Teéte large, bien plus large derriere que
devant, Face basale du métanotum confondue avec la face declive, Thorax
plus large que chez la Pr. bourbonica, Ailes enfumées, Voir du reste le
tableau. (Fig. 1, 1a, 1b).

4, Pr. indica, nov. spec,

Poona (Wroughton) ; South Konkan (Wroughton); Ceylan (Yerbury),

Q :—Téte au moins aussi large devant que derriére, Téte et abdomen Wun
brun marron assez clair, Thorax d’un brun roussatre, Pattes et antennes dun
brun jaunatre, Pubescence assez variable, Regsemble beaucoup 4 la, Pr,
vividula, mais moins luisante et un peu plus pubescente que cette espece dont
elle ne differe du reste par aucun caractére saillant, Voir du reste Je tableau,

Q:—L: 5, 5 Mill. D’un brun foncé, Mandibules, tarses, hanches, articula-
tions et funicules rougeatres, Ailes faiblement enfumées de brunatre, Plug
grande que la Pr, yerburys @ ; les tibias eb les scapes n’ont que quelques poils
fins eb obliques.

410 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

6: L,:2,2 a2, 3 mill, 'Téte carrée, aussi large devant que derriere, Face
basale du métanotum oblique, beaucoup plus longue que la face déclive,
Abdomen brunatre ; tete et dessus du mésonotum d’un brun jaunatre ; tout le
reste d’un jaune testacé un peu rougedtre, Ailes comme chez la 9. Voir du
reste le tableau (fig. 4, 4a, 4b),

Les valvules génitales extérieures rétrécies 4 Vextrémité, le prolongement
interne tout différent des valvules moyennes (voir Forel, dans Grandidiere
Fourmis de Madagascar, Pl. II, fig. 9 et 9a), distinguent cebte espéce de la Pr,
viidula, sa voisine. Chez la Pr, vividula, @, le métanotum a deux faces dis-
tinctes, la basale horizontale, plus courte que la déclive,

5. Pr, taylort, nov. spec.
Orissa (Taylor).

% :—-Un peu plus petite que le Pr. indica, mais du reste & peu pres identique.
Echancrure méso-metanotale tres faible, Scapes légerement plus longs,
Couleur identique ou un peu plus pale, Pas de caractére nettement distinctif,

Q@:—L.: 3,544 mill, D’un brun foncé. Mandibules, antennes, pattes eb
ecaille d’un jaune rougedtre. Poils despattes et des scapes brundtres, assez
dressés, Heaille épaisse, tres inclinée.

d :—-I1, 8 4 1, 9 mill, Téte ovale, un peu plus loneue que large.
Face basale du métanotum assez horizontale, un peu plus longue que la face
déclive, Couleur comme chez le Pr. indica, @. Ailes comme chez la Q.
Valvules génitales extérieures tout 4 fait différentes de celles de le ¢ndlica.
Voir tableau et Fig, 2, 2a et 2b,

Malgré la difference des valvules génitales, cette espéce est trés voisine de
le Pr, indica Valigne (enxso.)

6. Pr. smythiesi, nov. spec,
Dehra Dun (Smythies),

% inconnue.

Q:—L,:444, 3 mill, Assez allongée, Téte plus large derriére que devant,
avec un large bord postérieur droit. Thorax un peu plus large que la téte,
moins déprimé que chez les especes précédentes, Face basale du métanotum
extrémement courte, presque nulle, mais la face déclive est distinctement
séparée delle et tronquée en talus oblique, lisse eb Inisant (chez toutes les
especes préecedentes, la face basale a une Jougueur fort appréciable ; chez la
Pr. longiornis elle passe par une conyexité a la face déclive), Hcaille épaisse,
basse eb tres inclinée. Abdomen étroit et allongé,

Subopaque, Pubescence fine et assez abondante (comme chezla Pr, longicornis),
Quelques poils dressés fins et assez obliques aux scapes et aux tibias. Abdomen

LES FORMICIDES DES INDES ET DE CEYLAN. 411

d’un brun foncé, sauf le bord roux jaunétre de ses segments, Pronotum,
dessus du mésonotum et dessus de la téte brunatres, Scutellum, tout le reste
du corps, patties eb antennes d’un jaune testacé 4 peine un peu roussi ou bruni.
Ailes subhyalines ; nervures d’un brun jaunidire.

$ :—L,: 1, 8 mill. Téte rectangulaire arrondie, plus longue que large. Le
metanotum ne forme qu’un talus sur lequel ou peut & peine distinguer une
face basale de la face déclive. Couleur comme chez le Pr. indica et le Pr. taylore.
Ailes comme chez la 9. Le thorax est un peu plus large que la téte ( plutot
plus étroit chez le Pr. indica), Le corps est plus court et plus trapu que chez
le Pr, indica (au contraire dela 2). Voir tableau et fig, 5, 5a et 5b.

Les Prenolepis de VInde, sauf la Pr. longicornis qui est cosmopolite, se ratta-
chent toutes, ou Je voit, par leurs valvules génitales, au type a appendice de la
Pr, vividula, Ce fait est intéressant, car toutes les espéces connues de PAméri-
que, de Vile de Madagascar (excepté la Réunion !), ainsi que Pespéce australienne
Se rapportent au type Pr. obscura-longicornis (voir Forel: Fourmis de Mada-
gascar, dans Grandidier, Vol, XX, Part 2, p, 80 4 95),

Je suis obligé de laisser indéterminées plusieurs Prenolepis 9 et 8 de
Ceylan et de diverses parties de Inde, parce que le ¢ n’a pas été pris et que
je ne puis suffisamment juger de leur valeur spécifique,

La Formica assimilis de Jerdon parait étre une Prenolepis, mais il est alsolu-
ment impossible de savoir laquelle. Tl en est de méme de la Paratrechina
vagabunda de Motschulsky.

gme Genre ACANTHOLEPIS (Mayr).
Tableau des ouvriéres,

Le mésothorax est rétréci au milieu en forme de col cylindrique, allongé
et étroit, Le prothorax et le métathorax forment chacun un fort
renflement aux deux extrémités de ce col....00ee+..A, FRAUENFELDI

(Mayr 1,)

Le mésothorax est échancré et its ou moins rétréci au milieu, mais sans
former de col allongé ni cylindrique, Les scapes ne dépassent pas
le bord postérieur de la téte de la moitié de leur longueur .......e0+0.2

la, A. fravenfeldi ; varietés: a: Les scapes dépassent le bord postérieur de
la tete des 3/5 de leur longueur, Meétanotum avec deux dents ou épines,
Kcaille erme, ‘Tete plutot ovale. En partie Inisante, en partie
subopaque (réticulée), Noire, avec les mandibules, les tarses, une
partie des antennes eb des tibias d’un jaune plus ou moins brundtre,
LSet She Qe ce sceaneieseeaeemetendeeme.: Vale AG INTEGRA, 0, var,

11

412 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

Comme la précédente, mais l’écaille est bidentée ou biépineuse ; la téte et

b.

C,

2.

le thorax sont tantot rougedatres, tantot en tout ou en partie noirs.

Téte plutét comme chez la var. A. sericea, élargie en arriére et un peu

déprimée, L, 2,748, 3 mill............... var, A, BIPARTITA (Sm.)

Les scapes ne dépassent le bord postérieur de la téte que de la moitie
de leur longueur, LEcaille bidentée, comme le métanotum.......-..-.6

L, 2,542, 8 mill, Tres Iuisante, presque lisse, ‘Thorax en général
rouge jaunatre. Téte, antennes et pattes plus ou moins bruns ou

jaunatres, Abdomen d’un brun noir, ‘Teéte ovale-rectangulaire, a

peine Glargie derriére ......+2.-.-...V. A, FRAUENFELDI, 1, sp, (Mayr.)

L. 3 4 3,5 mill, Téte plus déprimée, plus large, élargie derriére, |

. Enticrement subopaque, tres densément et tres finement reticulée,
en partie ridée, avec un éclat soyeux, D’un brun foncé; thorax

ordinairement rougeatre ; patties et antennes d’un brun jaunatre ......

v. A. SERICEA (Forel),

Luisante, noire. Taille robuste, large. Téte ovale, large, élargie
derricre, Pronotum faiblement convexe. Métanotum subopaque,

sculpté, avec deux prolongements latéraux larges, triangulaires et

obtus. Hcaille assez mince, avec deux courtes épines, Pédicule

nullement prolongé derriere Pécaille. Abdomen grand, assez allongé ,

Pilosité dressée, blanchatre, abondante sur le corps, nulle sur les

tibias et les scapes. Mandibules rouges, Articulations des pattes,

scapes eb tarses testacés, L. 2,8 43,2 mill ...A. CAPENSIS (Mayr.)

Comme la A, capensis, maisplus gréle; mésonotum plus rétréci; métanotum

simplement élargi et anguleux derriere. Lcaille faiblement échan-
crée, sans dents, Tres Iuisante partout, presque lisse et presque
glabre COs POeceerem 429% FECL GOSRCeDEHT De Beeoce lh gulee AG. SIMPLEX (Forel.)

Comme la A. capensis, mais plus gréle ; mésonotum plus rétréci. Téte

étroite, ovale, bien plus longue que large, Yeux situés au milieu des
cotés, Métanotum avec deux fortes dents trés obtuses, eaille
épaisse, bispimeuse, avec deux angles latéraux en dessous des épines.
Pilosité du corps pluslongue, plus abondante, tres fine et trés pointue,
Thorax et écaille d'un rouge jaundtre avec des taches brunatres sur
Je dos, Peutetre une race de la A, capensis, L, 2, 3 mill ....cccseove

A, MODESTA, Noy, sp,

Hntierement mate, densément réticuléesponctuée, sauf Vabdomen qui est

luisant, D’un roux ferrugineux. Abdomen noir ou d’un roux brun,
Taille plus gréle que chez la précédente, Scapes dépassant a peine

LES FORMICIDES DES INDES ET DE CEYLAN, 413,

d’un tiers de leur longueur le bord postérieur de la téte, Téte pres-
que carrée, a cotés un peu convexes, ‘Yeux situés au milieu deg
cotés de la téte (en arriére chez presque toutes les autres espéces),
Mandibules étroites, Epistome trés convexe au milieu, subcaréné,
Ocelles fort petits, mais distincts ; sillon frontal faible, Dos du pro-
notum presque plat, subbordé et subépaulé 4 ses angles antérieurs,
Suture pro-mésonotale fortement imprimée, Inisante. Métanotum
court ; ses cotés entiers forment deux fortes protubérances latérales
allongées, en forme de grandes dents triangulaires, relevées, pointues,
avec la pointe un peu courbée en arriére, Mésonotum étroit, Ecaille
plus €paisse que chez IA. capensis, surmontée de deux longues
épines étroites, droites eb pointues, Pilosité dressée courte, éparse,
obtuse, jaunatre, nulle sur les pattes et les antennes. Pubescence
trés éparse, Pédicule avec un prolongement cylindrique assez long
derriére l écaille, Abdomen court, L, 2, 2 mill...A. opaca (Forel).
Forme et caractéres généraux de la race typique, mais le mésonotun
est un peu moins étranglé eb le pronotum moins élargi devant, sans
épaules distinctes, Téte un peu moins courte. Abdomen plus mou ;
portion postérieure du pedicule un peu moins allongée, La longueur
est la méme, abdomen étant un peu plus grand et le reste plus
petit. L’abdomen est subopaque, fortement réticulé, D’un brun
noiratre ; une grande tache médiane sur le ler segment de ’abdomen,
Pextrémité des dents ou protubérances métanotales, les targes et les
articulations des pattes d’un jaune pale ; antennes et mandibules
dium jaune testacé. Pilosité dressée, d’un jaune pale, plus
abondante que chez la race typique, surtout sur Vabdomen. ....-.see.
. A, OPACA, 1, PULCHELLA (Forel),
LISTE DES ESPECES DU GENRE ACANTHOLEPTS.
1. A, frauenfeldi (Mayr).
var. A, Frauenfeldi, i. sp. (Mayr),
Barrackpore (Rothney) ; Cotes de la Méditerranée et Afrique Orientale,
var, A. sericea (Forel),

Poona (Wroughton) ; Mussoorie (Rothney); Oudh (Simpson), etc, C’est
évidement, avec la A, bipartita, la forme la plus répandue, dans I’Inde
occidentale au moins,

var. A. imtegra, nov. var,

Dharmsala, Himalaya (Sage) ; Mussoorie (Rothney); Pachmarhi, Inde
centrale (Schurr). Voir du reste le tableau,

414 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VII.

var. A. bipartita (Sm).

Dharmsala, Himalaya (Fulton); Calcutta (Rothney) ; Mt. Abu, Rajpootana
(Gleadow) ; Himalaya (Smythies); Syrie et Afrique du nord.

Cette variété passe par diverses formes aux trois précédentes, Je l'avais
d’abord confondue en partie avec l’A. fravenfeld@i, i. sp. (Wroughton :- Our
Ants) qui parait rare en Inde.

Les variétés A. bipartita et A. integra ont les antennes et les patties plus
longues que TA. frauenfeldi typique, ce qui les rapproche un peu de TA,
gracilicornis, Forel, d’Aden,

2. A. capensis (Mayr).

Poona (Wroughton) ; Mussoorie (Rothney) ; Himalaya (Smythies) ; Pach-
marhi, Inde centrale (Schurr); Ceylan (Simon); Afrique orientale et méridionale,

Cette espéce varie surtout par sa pilosité qui est parfois plus raide, plus grossiére
et plus blanchatre, parfois plus fine, plus poimtue et plus jaunatre, Les dents du
métanotum s’elargissent aussi parfois, de facon a comprendre les cotés entiers de
Vorgane, comme chez lA, opaca ; dans ce cas, le métanotum est plus court,

3. A, simplex (Forel),
Orissa (Taylor). Identique aux types d’Afrique, des Somalis.
4, A, modesta, nov. spec.
Mussoorie (Rothney). Voir Tableau.
5, A. opaca (Forel).
r, A, opaca (i. sp).
Kanara, Goa (Aitken), Voir Tableau.
r, A. pulchella (Forel).
Poona (Wroughton), Voir tableau,

Les formes du genre Acantholepis paraissent la plupart étre communes a

Inde et 4 l’ Afrique orientale, fait assez intéressant,
10™e Genre PLAGIOLEPIS (Mayr).
Tableau des ouvrieres.
1, Thorax gréle et allongé. Pattes et antennes tres longues et gréles, Hcaille
élevée, verticale, plus épaisse que large. Couleur jaunatre, en partie

jaune brundtre, L, 3, 5a, 4 mill,....seseeeeee PL, LONGIPES (Jerdon),
Thorax robuste. Pattes et antennes assez courtes. LHecaille plus large
qu’ épaisse, assez basse, inclinge en AVANt ...sccssseeeccseesseveceeeeres 2

2, L. 2,444, 6 mill, Segment intermédiaire enfoncé, long comme a peine
le tiers du mésonotum. Thorax fortement étranglé au milieu, Meé-
tanotum presque aussi large que le pronotum, Noire........seoe-.-aee

PL, ROTHNEYI, nov. spec.
L, 1,14 1,6 mill, Segment intermédiaire fort développé, a peme plu
court que le mésonotum, Thorax a peine éiranglé au milieu.........3

LES FORMICIDES DES INDES ET DE CEYLAN, A15

3. Noire; trapue. Metanotum presque aussi large que le pronotum, L. 4,
JS ale G mills) Aire: frombalerGistimete © ......ceccesecsesesnneeed
Jaunatre ou d’un jaune un peu rougeatre, varié de brunatre sur la téte et
Pabdomen, Moins trapue. Métanofum beaucoup plus étroit que le

pronotum, L, 1,141, 3 mill...............PL. EXIGUA, nov. spec.
4, Lisse, Iuisante, presque sans sculpture. Ponctuation piligére & peine
marquee. Hpistome trés convexe, sans caréne. Le segment inter-
médiaire plus court pue le mésonotum. Pubescence presque nullee,
Pilosité dressée jaune pale, courte, pointue, assez abondante sur tout:
le corps, les pattes et les antennes ......... PL. JERDONII nov. spec,
Devant de latéte (surtout le front et le vertex) trés finement strié en
long et subopaque. Le reste du corps, les pattes et les scapes lisses,
Iuisants, avec une ponctuation piligére espacée assez fort et
iréguliére, Hpisteme peu conveze, mais asses distinctement caréné.
Segment intermédiaire aussi long que le mésonotum. Pilosite
dressée presque nulle; seulement quelques poils brunatres, surtout
sur l'abdomen. Pubescence espacée, mais assez longue et trés
distincte, surtout sur l’abdomen, la téte, les scapes et les pattes ......
PL, ROGERI nov. spec.

LISTE DES ESPECES DU GENRE PLAGIOLEPIS,

1, Pl. longipes (Jerdon).
= Formica gracilipes (Smith).
=Plagiolepis gracilipes (Mayr).
Formica trifasciata (Smith).
Trés commune dans |’Inde entiére, 4 Ceylan eb en Birmanie, & T’excep-
tion, semble-t-il, du Nord-est deTInde, d’ou je ne I’ai pas recue. C’est
une espece de la faune indo-malaise. .

2. Pl. lothneyi, nov. spec.

Barrackpore (Rothney) ; Belgaum (Wroughton) ; Orissa (Taylor),

Q Major (voir tableau). Mandibules lisses, Iuisantes, ponctuées armées de
5 dents. Hpistome sans caréne distincte, convexe. Aire frontale, siilon frontal
et ocelles distincts. Téte au moins aussi large que longue, a cotés convexes, assez
rétrécie devant. Les deux stigmates post-mésonotaux proéminent doralemsent
au fond dela large et profonde échancrure néso-métanotale. Métanotum
fortement élargi d’avant en arricre. Sa face basale, plutot plus longue que la
face déclive, passe & cette derniére par une ligne transversale droite ; c’est 14
que le métanotum est le plus large. D’avant en arriéré, les deux faces du
métanotum passent de lune a lantre par une courbe trés arrondie. _Ecaille

416 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

épaisse, amincie eb atténuée au sommebt. Les scapes dépassent sensiblement
Vocciput.

Téte et pronotum abondamment ponctués, médiocrement luisants, Mégono-
tum, métanotum et écaille lisses eb trés Inisants, surtout le métanotum. Abdo-
men faiblement chagriné, plus ou moins Iuisant.

Pilosité dressée brunatre, courte, assez grossiere, éparse sur le corps, un peu
plus abondante sur l’abdomen, nulle ou presque nulle sur les scapes et les tibias,
Pubescence jaunatre, assez abondante sur l’abdomen, les scapes et les tibias
‘ou elle forme un léger duvet qui cache en partie la sculpture, médiocre
sur la téte, éparse ailleurs, nulle au milieu du métanotum,

D’un noir un peu brunatre. Mandibules, scapes, base des funicules et
tarses rougeatres, Le reste des pattes et des funicules, les hanches, le métas-
ternum d’un brun plus ou moins rougeatre ou noiratre,

%& minor. ‘Tete ovale, un peu plus longue que large, presque aussi ¢troite
derriére que devant, celles, sillon frontal et aire frontale peu distincts.
Sculpture et pubescence beaucoup plus faibles que chez la 8 major; tres
Iuisante ; pubescence tres éparse ; tete 4 peime poncbuce, Les parties rouge-
dtres chez la 6 major sont jaunatres ou d’un jaune rougeatre chez la minor,
Du reste comme la % major, mais plus gréle.

r, Pl, watsonii (nov. st.),

Birmanie (Watson) ; Bangkok (Sige),

Je n’ai pas mis cette race sur le tableau, pour ne pas le compliquer inutile-
ment, Hille se distingue de l’espéce typique par sa pilosité abondante sur le
corps, les tibias et les scapes, par Vabsence d’ocelles et de sillon frontal, méme
chez la § major, par son épistome, en partie du moins, assez distinctement caréné
par son épistome, en partie du moins, assez distinctement caréné, par sa pubescence,
sa sculpture et son échancrure méso-métanotale qui sont plus faibles, Du
reste identique.

3. Pl. jerdonii, nov. spec.
Poona (Wroughton),

% (Voir tablean). Trés semblable & la Pl. wygmeea, mais les yeux sont plus
grands et la couleurest plus foncée. Téte & peu pres carrée, un peu plus étroite
devant que derriére. Funicules un peu plus gréles que chez la Pl. pygmea. Le
thorax est plus court et plus robuste que chez Vespéce suivante, plus fortement
étranglé que chez la Pl. pygmea, Le métanotum est rapidement élargi d’avant
en arriére ; il ne forme guére qu’une seule surface dorsale faiblement convexe,
dont le point le plus large est aux deux stigmates qui forment comme ses
angles supérieurs, latéraux eb postérieurs. A partir des stigmates, le métanotum
ne s’élargit plus et a une courte déclivité un peu plus forte qu’avant.

LES FORMICIDES DES INDES ET DE CEYLAN. AIT

D’un noir brundtre ou d’un brun noiratre. Scapes, premier article des
funicules, tarses, tibias, anneaux fémoraux et mandibules jaunitres ; le reste
des funicules et des pattes plus ou moins brunatre ou brun jaunatre, Leg
autres caracteres sont indiqués dans le tableau.

4, Pl, rogeri, nov. spec.

Kanara (Wroughton et Aitken), Confondue encore avec Ja Pl, jerdoni
dans le travail de M. Wroughton (Our Ants),

(Voir le, tableau), Un peu plus gréle que la précédente ; métanotum un
peu moins élargi, avec un peu plus de distinction entre une face basale et une
face déclive, du reste de méme forme, Téte un peu plus longue que large,
aussi large devant que derritre. “Yeux situés un peu plus en evant que chez la
Pl. jerdonw, au tiers antérieur des cotés de Ja téte. Front légérement
déprimé ou imprimé derrieré.

D’un noir plus foncé que la PI. jerdonit ; les parties jaunatres sont les mémes,
mais plus contrastantes. Funicules seulement un peu plus foncés vers l’extrémité,

La Plagiolepis madecassa, Forel, de Madagascar, ressemble beaucoup aux deux
précédentes, surtout ala Pl. roger’, mais son métanotum n’est pas élargi eb a
la forme de celui de la Pl. pygmca ; sa téte est luisante et nullement striée,

3. Pl, pissina (Roger).
Ceylan (d’apres Roger).

Ne connaissant pas cette espece insuffisamment décrite, je n’ai pu la mettre
dans la tableau. Est-ce une variété d’une des deux précédentes? Dans
ce cas, de laquelle? D’apres Roger, l’aire frontale est indistincte, abdomen
sans sculpture ni pubescence, |’épistome imprimé transversalement devant, Je
possede une % de Poona (M. Wroughton) qui correspondrait assez 4 la de-
scription de Roger, mais Vaire frontale est distincte, ’abdomen pubescent et
ponctué ; c’est une variété de la Pl. jerdonii avec la pubescence et la puosité
dela Pl. rogert. Dans le doute, je préfere donner deux noms nouveaux,

6, Pl. exigua, nov. spec.
Poona (Wroughton), Kanara (Aitken),

Cette espece, le liliputien du genre, se trouve aussi a Madagascar,

% (Voir tableau), Téte ovale, 4 cotés convexes, presque aussi large devant
que derriére ; yeux situés au tiers antérieur des cétés, Les Scapes atteignent
Vocciput sans le dépasser, tandis qu’ils le dépassent chez les especes précédentes,
Occiput faiblement et largement échancré. Thorax trés court. Une légere
échancrure entre le mésonotum et le ségment intermédiaire, Aucune
échancrure entre ce dernier et le métanotum, Le Segment intermédiaire est
aussi grand que le mésonotum, Métanotum conyexe ; 8a face basale courte;

418 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

sa face déclive bien plus longue. Le métanotum n’est pas ou est a peine élargi
d’avant en arriere, Abdomen grand. Epistome entier, convexe, sans caréne.
Articles 2 4 5 du funicule des antennes plus épais que longs. Pattes courtes,

Lisse et Iuisante, éparsément ponctuée, surtout sur la téte eb Vabdomen.
Pilosité dressée jaundtre, extrémement courte et tres éparse sur le corps, nulle
sur les scapes et les tibias. Pubescence jaundtre tres fine, réguli¢rement espacée,
surtout sur la téte, l’'abdomen, les scapes et les pattes, sans former aucun duvet.

Thorax, pattes, scapes, premier article des funicules, mandibules et pédicule
d’un jaune assez clair. Téte e reste des funicules d’un jaune brunatre, Abdomen
d’un brun jaunatre, avec une bande longitudinale, médiane, jaunatre, nuageuse,
plus ou moins distincte, qui interrompt au milieu le brun de chaque segment.

Q:—L.: 2,743 mill, Tres étroite. Abdomen tréslong. Caracteres de
Pouvricre, mais la pubescence est plus forte et plus abondante. La téte et le
thorax sont d’un jaune brunatre ou rougeatre. Abdomen enticrement brunatre
ou d’un bron jaunatre. Le thorax est fortement déprimé en dessus ; T’écaille
est tres basse et tres inclinee ; les ailes manquent.

11™¢ Genre Acropyea (Roger).
A. acutiventris (Roger).
= A. flava, Mayr.

Poona (Wroughton) ; Ceylan (Yerbury) ; Birmanie (Fea) ; Milu, Nicobares
(d’apres Mayr).

Tl m’est impossible de trouver une différence appréciable entre PA. flava,
Mayr et 1’A. acutiventris, Roger. I] ne s’agit évidemment que d’une synonymie.
Les ailes du ¢ et dela 2 sont légerement enfumées de brun noiratre,

Var. A. rubescens, nu. var. D’un jaune rougeatre, Tete et abdomen d’un
jaune brunatre chez Pouvriere ; tout le corps d’un jaune brunatre chez la 9.
Chez le @, la téte et le thorax sont d’un brun jaunatre, Pabdomen jaunatre. Les
ailes sont plus fortement enfumées de brun noiratre que chez le type dont le
corps est entierement jaune, La taille de lavar. A. rubescens est aussi un peu
plus grande ; son écaille est un peu plus élevée, plus mince et plus tranchante au
sommet ; la pilosité est encore un peu plus abondante.

Cette varieté a été récoltée a Beleaum par M. Wroughton, dans le Kanara
par M. Bell, et 4 Ceylan par M. Yerbury. Si Roger n’écrivait pas que la &
et la @ deson A. acutiventris sont jaunes, je croirais que cette variété est le
type de Roger, dont A, /lava, Mayr, serait alors une variété.

Genre Myrmoteras, nov. gen.
% Vessie a venin a coussineb, Aicuillon transformé. Orifice du cloaque
apical, fortement cilié, circulaire. alice du gésier trés raccourci. Les quatre

LES FORMICIDES DES INDES ET DE CEYLAN. 419

sépales divergent tres fortement et sont fortement chitinisées dés leur base, &
partir des valvules, Elles sont trés courtes et fortement recourbées 4 leur
extrémité, Ce gésier est différent de toutes les formes connues jusqu’ici et fait
probablement transition @ celui des Dolichoderides,

Antennes de 12 articles, Palpes maxillaires de 6, labiaux de 4 articles,
Mandibules insérées tres pres lune de Pautre, linéaires, droites, plus longues
que la téte, semblables a celles des Odontomachus ou plutot des Strumigenys du
groupes saliens et dentées de meme, Pas d’arétes frontales, Antennes insérées
trés en arriére du bord postérieur de l’épistome, dans une fossette articulaire
isolée, Aire frontale et sillon frontal distincts. Yeux énormes, allongés et
trés proéminents, comme ceux d’un @. ‘Trois gros ocelles, L’occiput a un
gros bourrelet en forme de v renversé qui le sépare de | articulation du prono-
tum, et dont le sommet est en haut. Ce bourrelet est séparé du reste de la téte
par une fente profonde, La téte est plus ou moins triangulaire (base du
triangle derriere, sommet devant). Le mésothorax a un fort étranglement
ceylindrique, colliforme, sur lequel les deux stigmates proéminent derriére comme
deux dents, Pédicule avec une écaille élevée et épaisse,

Q et @ inconnus,
M. binghami, nov. spec.

$ :—L.:4,7 mill. sans les mandibules, 6, 0 mill. avec les mandibules.
Toutes les & de meme grandeur. Caracteres du genre; entiérement lisse et
Ini sante ; thorax éparsement ponctué. Devant de la téte strié-ponctué en long.
D’un rouge brunatre ; abdemen d’un brun rougeatre, Pattes et antennes vréles,
d’un jaune rougeatre ; mandibules jaunatres, PPilosité dressée éparse, trés fine,
plus abondante sur les pattes et les antennes. Pubescence presque nulle.
Métanotum arrondi, T’éte presque aussi large que longue,

Les mandibules sont courbées 4 lextrémité qui est terminée par deux longues
dents qui ne renferment deux petites dans leur intervalle. Le bord interne
(confondu avec le bord terminal) a de plus 6 ou 7 dents étroites et pointues, de
plus en plus courtes, 4 mesure qu’ou s’approche de la base, et séparées les unes des
autres par de longs intervalles réguliers, Hpistome grand, arrondi, a peine plus
large que long, assez plat, avec une convexité médiane et le bord antérieur
concave. Portion articulaire des mandibules large et haute. Aire frontale
étroite, assez longue, pointue derriéere, Sillon frontal fortement imprimé,
prolongé jusqu’a l’ocelle antérieur, Articulation des antennes située tout pres
de l’ceil, presque aussi distante de lépistome que la longueur entiére de ce
dernier, articulation a en dedans un petit bord relevé, et derriére elle se trovve

une faible impression qui représente la fossette antennaire, Pas de fossette
12

420 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

clypéale. Les yeux occupent plus de la moitié des cétés de la téte. La téte est
élargie et tronquée derriére, A la base de Ja troncature, autour de l’articulation
avec le prothorax proémine le gros bourrelet qui est plus épais de cété qu’au
sommet et ne se prolonge pas sous la téte. Le pronotum a un assez long cou
devant, Sans le cou, il est plus large que long (subitement renflé derriére le
cou). Le mésothorax entier est colliforme, deux fois plus long que large.
Métanotum peu élevé, convexe ; face basale deux fois plus longue que la face
déclive. Pédicule allongé, surmonté au milieu d’une écaille haute, épaisse ver-
ticale, arrondie au sommet, tronquée devant, plus arrondie (subtronquée) derriere.
Antennes tres gréles; pattes longues; tibias plus épais que les cuisses,
Occiput, pronotum eb métanotum finement et éparsément ponctués. Devant de
la téte strié-ponctué, Quelques rides sur le mésonotum. J)u reste lisse et Iuisant.

Thaungyin valley, en Birmanie, récolté par M. le Major Bingham. et regu
par M. Wroughton.

Cette fourmi est une des formes les plus singuliéres de arbre myrmécologi-
que déja si riche en phénomenes morpho-biologiques. Au premier abord on
dirait un Anochetus tres aberrant. Mais un examen attentif eb l’anatomie
démontrent bientét qu’il s’agit d’un Camponotide tout-a-faib aberrant. Les
yeux énormes semblent indiquer une vie sur les arbres.

Le genre Myrmoteras wétant pas dans notre tableau des genres, il faut
Vintercaler au chiffre 1 comme suit :

Pas d’arétes frontales. Antennes inserées trés en arricre de I|’épistome,
Mandibules articulées tout prés une de l'autre, linéaires, paralleles
dentées, plus longues que la téte. Yeux énormes... .=:-..+0.+..GENRE

MYRMOTERAS, nov. gen.

EXPLICATION DES FIGURES.

Fig. 1 Prenolepis yerburyi, Forel, g valvules génitales extérieures.

9) ue 99 9? 99 29 99 moyennes,

Ae ee a DS a be < % intérieures,
sya ab taylore, HF 5. », extérieures,
39 28 2) 99 99 99 9? moyennes,

by) 2b 99 99 9) ; 99 99 intérieures.
se $5 bourbonica, Forel, v bengalensis, Forel, @ valvules

oénitales extérieures.

ny a a indica, ¥orel, g vatvules génitales extérieures.
” ae ” ” ”? ” ? moyennes,
as AP 5 Pe “ ¥ ,, intérieures.
pa it _ smythiesti, 4, os ss exterieures,
) 0? oie 29 ” oD) 99 moyennes.
OO 0» 5 . 2 » intérieures,

N. B.—Dans les figures 1a, 22,4 et 54,2 signifié “ prolongement interne,” et
e “ prolongement externe.”

421

NOTES ON SOME OF THE BUTTERFLIES OF
MATHERAN.

By J. A. Berna.
(Read before the Bombay Natural History Society on 138th Nov. 1893.)

The accompanying lists are published in the hope that others will add
to the number of butterflies mentioned therein. It would be desirable
if a complete list with the correct names of all the butterflies occurring
on Matheran could be got together for the help of future lepidopterists.
Many of the names given in Dr. J. Y. Smith’s book on “ Matheran Hill:
its People, Plants, and Animals,” have of necessity undergone change,
since further investigation of species has been made, and they now
stand, as far as is known, corrected up to date. Some of the names I
have been unable to trace with the limited means at my disposal.

I spent a month at Matheran during April and May, 1892.
This was of course about the worst time of the year for observing
Natural History, but I was able to collect 34 species of butterflies and
observe 10 more. I collected chiefly in the woods about Charlotte Lake,
and, being a new-comer to the Hill (although I used to be taken up as a
child some 30 odd years ago), I was not aware of the best spots for
collecting. I was told, justas I was leaving, that probably the best place
was in the depression between Hart and Panorama Points, but I was
unable to visit this place. There is, I think, a tank there, and a nala
which generally holds water. It is in places like this that one can
expect to make the best captures. Most of the specimens I caught were
worn, and though I captured several Kallima horsfieldiz, none were in fit
condition to keep, andso I let them go. The chief thing that struck me
about the butterflies in Matheran was the quantity of Hesnercide to be
found almost everywhere resting on the ground in shady spots or under
leaves. You kick them up individually in scores, but the number of
species was very few. I made an excursion to the ‘‘ Rambagh,” and
another tothe “ Mar-rai” or Palm grove, but was disappointed. The
only capture worth mentioning was a Bibasis sena in the “ Mar-rai.”
The two places just mentioned are belts of forest below the cap of the
Hill. Another noticeable fact was the predilection that Celenorrhinus
ambareesa had for coming into the verandas of the houses and settling

422 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. ViI1.

on the walls, especially if the walls were dark. I was not very suc-
cessful in getting any butterflies to come to baits ; but I did capture a
very fine male Charazes imna in that manner. The captures made by
me have added 18 species to those mentioned in Dr. Smith’s book.
Some more are probably mentioned in the article on Matheran Hill
in the Bombay Gazetteer ; but, not being able to lay my hands on
a copy of this work, I am unable to give their names. Some one
on the Bombay side may possibly be able to add this information
through the medium of our Society’s Journal. At present only 78
species are noted in these lists; but there must be numerous other
species obtainable on the Hill, and itis hoped that some of the “ ducks ”’
of Bombay will add to them.

List of Butterflies mentioned in Dr. J. Y. Smith’s “ Matheran Hill :
its People, Plants, and Animals,” 1881, pp. 118—125 & 176—180.

1. Danais aglea. 31. Castalius rosimon.
2. Danais limniace. 32. Castalius roxus.
3. Danais chrysippus. 33. Iraota mecenas.
4, Danais genutia. 34, Aphneus lohita.
5. Danais careta, (?) 35. Zeltus etolus.
6. Mycalesis mineus, 86. Catopsilia hilaria,
7. Ypthima singala. 37. Catopsilia phillipina.
8 Ypthima philomela, 88. Catophaga paulina,
9. Melanitis leda. 89. Eronia valeria.
10. Melanitis ismene. 40, Hebomia glaucippe.
1. Ergolis ariadne. 41. Huphina albina.
12. Byblia ilithyia. 42, Huphina phryne.
13, Atella phalanta. 43, Belenois mesentina.
14, Precis tphita. 44, Terias hecabe.
15. Junonia lemonias. 45, Papilio polymnestor.
16. Junonia enone. 46. Papilio pammon.
17. Junonia orithyia. 47, Papilio polytes.
18, Neptis varmona. 48. Papilio agamemnon.
19. Hypolimnas bolina. 49. Papilio epius.
20. Hypolimnas misippus. 50. Papilio sarpedon,
21. Athyma perius. 51. Papilio hector.
22. Pyrameis indica, 52. Papilio deiophobus.
23. Cyrestis. 53, Papilio panope.
24, Kallima horsefieldi, 54, Papilio iswara.
25. Charazxes athamas. 55. Papilio dissimilis,
26. Poritia ? 56. Matapa aria.
27, Lampides clianus, 57. Chapra agna.
28. Catochrysops cnejus. 58, Sarangesa purendra.
29. Tarucus theophrastus, 59. Udaspes folus.
80. Tarucus plinius. 60. Hesperia gaiba.

NOTES ON SOME OF THE BUTTERFLIES OF MATHERAN. 423

List of Butterflies caught at Matheran in April and May, 1892, by

J. A. Betham.

1. Danais melanoides.
2. Danais limniace,
8. Danais genutia.
4, Euplea core.
5. Mycalesis perseus.
6. Lethe nilgheriensis,
7. Ypthima philomela.
& Melanitis ismene.
9. LErgolis ariadne.
10. Atella phalantha,
Il, Junonia almana, v. asterie.
12. Neptis varmona, v. eurymene.
13. Neptis ophiana.
14. Neptis jumbah,
15. Athyma perwus.
16. Charaxes imna.
Li. Abisara suffusa.

34.

Catochrysops cnejus.
Cyaniris puspa.
Castalius rosimon,
Tarucus plinius.
Deudorix epijarbas.
Terias cesiope.

Huphina phryne.
Delias eucharis.
Catopsilia catilla,
Leptosia xiphia.
Papilio polymnestor,
Badamia exclamationis.
Bibasis sena.

Parata chromus,
Sarangesa purendra.
Isoteinon nilgheriensis.
Celenorrhinus ambareesa.

List of Butterflies seen at Matheran in April and May, 1892.

35. Danais chrysippus.
386. Junonia lemonias.
37, Junonia enone,

38 Junonia orithyia.

39, Hypolimnas bolina.

40.

Hypolimnas misippus.
Kallima horsfieldiz.
Papilio polytes,
Chapra mathias.
Udaspes folus.

424 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.

No. I—“O PAO DA COBRA” OR SERPENT’S WOOD OF
THE PORTUGUESE.

“O Pao da Cobra” or Serpent’s Wood was in great request among Europeans
in India in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Everybody in those days
seems to have provided himself with an antidote to snake-bites. The impres-
sion of the number and extent of poisonous snakes in India then created has
not yet died away. ._Many in Hurope even now believe that a European in
India is never safe from a cobra-bite. But, as a matter of fact, I do not think
there are among Huropeans more deaths due to snake-bites than to polo-playing
or to steeple-chases, The impression is no doubt kept up by the immense
number of deaths, upwards of 21,000 per year or 1 in about 10,166, of the
population, that take place, due to this cause, among the natives, owing to
their habit of going about barefooted and of sleeping on ground-floors, In
this paper I wish to describe chiefly the three kinds of Serpent’s Wood men-
tioned in the ‘ Colloquios da India” by Dr. Garcia d’Orta, a work first
published in Goa in 1563, and soon afterwards translated into Latin and
various European languages. To judge from the descriptions given by the
author, it is really astonishing to see the immense knowledge he had gained of
the drugs not only of India, but even those of Persia and China. The three
kinds of Serpent’s Wood described by him are as follows :—

(1). “ The first one known as Rannetul in Ceylon is a shrub growing to the
height of two or three feet; it throws out few branches, that is four or five,
which are very thin. The root, which is the useful part, is thin like the
thinnest twig of a vine, and it is knotted, and always some portion of the root
is exposed, and if it is eaten away or torn in any part, it throws out fresh
roots, The fruit of this shrub is like that of the elder tree, but is red and
harder ; it grows in round clusters like those of the woodbine ; sare
the flowers are very red, and they grow in a round terminal cluster ; the leaf
is like that of a peach-tree, buta little darker in colour, The colour of the
root is between white and grey, and it is smooth to the touch although not
soft, and it is very bitter. This plant is to be found in many parts, also in
the tableland of Goa.” From this description many writers have identified
the plant with Ophiorrhiza Mungas, Linn., N. 0. Rubiacee, but it has to be
noted that its flowers are not very red, nor is it to be found in Goa or in the
South Konkan. The description, although not exact in every particular,
appears to meto refer more to Ranwolfia serpentina, Benth., N. O. Apocy-
nacee,& species common both to Ceylon and to Goa, The pedicles and
calyces of the flowers of this plant are of a bright red colour, and the root is
very bitter, while that of the Ophiorrhiza is said to have a taste like gentian.
The properties of Ranwolfia serpentina have not yet been thoroughly

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 425

investigated, There is a strong popular belief in the South Konkan
regarding its value as an antidote in.cobra poison, and it is much used
in dyspepsia, colic, cholera and fevers. Its present popular uses agree
quite closely with those given 330 years ago by Garcia d’Orta, who says, “ this
root is bruised and given by the natives in snake-bite in water, and we give it
in wine or some cordial water and it soon produces its effects ; it is also beaten
up with sandalwood and applied to the bitten part. . . . . The people of
this country use it in intestinal worms, in small-pox and measles, and in
cholera. It is also said to be very useful in chronic fevers,” The native name
of this plant in the South Konkan is Atki,* It is very common in the South
Konkan ; it flowers at the commencement of the rains and produces fruit in
August and September.

(2) “‘ There is in Ceylon another plant, which, when it grows alone, attains
the height of a pomegranate tree, but when it grows near a tree or in the
forest it becomes a creeper like the gourd plant and climbs over the highest
trees. . . . Its leavesare yellowish, very beautiful ; the bark is covered with
blunt spines, and it is whiteand thick. , . . . Thistrecissaid to grow in the
Island of Goa, but I have not seen it,” There i is hardly any doubt that this
description refers to Strychnos colubrina,t Linn., N.O. Loganiacew, Tt grows in
this Presidency on. Chorla Ghats to the east of Goa, and it is also a native of
Ceylon, Garcia d’Orta says that the wood, the bark and the root are the
parts used in snake-bites, but that the root is preferable. He had also some
cups made of the wood, similar most likely to the quassia cups of the
present day, and they were given to patients who were supposed to suffer
from chronic poisoning ; no doubt it was one of the ways of administering
small doses of strychnine, The wood of this plant is generally identified with
the true Lignum colubrinum, Even now it is held in high esteem by the
Portuguese. Walking-sticks made of it are supposed to drive away all
serpents! That this serpent’s Wood or its alkaloid strychnine is a valuable
medicine in the bites of some poisonous snakes has been clearly proved by some
Australian doctors, and evidence is forthcoming that it may be useful, if
properly administered, in some cases of cobra-bites. Bombay obtains its
supply of this wood from the Malabar Coast.

Strychnos Beddomei, Clarke (S. cal., Wl.), resembles closely the previous
species except in its corolla tube, which is larger. Itis a native of Ceylon
and Travancore. This plant probably furnishes a portion of the true Lignum
colubrinum.

Van Rheede in his “ Hortus Indicus Malabaricus,” Vol. WEIN op, 47,4. 8,
describes under the name of Modira carinam “ Pao de Cobra” or “ Pao de
Solor” of the Portuguese, a species of strychnos which has been named

* Athi is the common native name, at Mahableshwar, of Mesa indica,—Ed.
¢ There isany amount of it on Matheran below the cliffs, near “ Birdwood Walk,’
leading from Chauk Plateau to Little Chank Point,—Ed, :

426 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

S. Rheedii (S. Colubrina, Blume) by Clarke, who says: “It is only known from
Rheede’s figure, which may be incorrect as to flowers.” The species was
figured in 1688, and as yet has not been verified by any subsequent
observer. Its distinctive characters are: peduncles of flowers lateral ;
buds subglobose ; corolla tubes very short. Its full description, as given
by Rheede, is as follows: “ Modira carinam Lusitanis Pao de Cobra vel
Pao de Solor cum carinam (Strychnos nux vomica) in prima parti descripta in
omnibus pene convenit, sed hee arbor illa herba (shrub) cujus fructus corticze
dura viridi fusco, et pulpa interiori albicante ad maturi spadiceo ingrescentes
cum illi carinam miniate rubescant. Modira (hooks or tentacles) dicitur ob
similitudinem mystacum, modira enim mystax est, Natale solum est circa
Mangotti, Paroe et alia loca, semper fere vel florens vel frugens.” And in the
“ Flora of British India” it is described thus: “ Tendrils present ; branches
stout ; leaves elliptic acute 3-nerved, 34 by 13 in., base obtuse or rounded ;
petiole 4-4 in ; peduncles $ in, axillary ; lax 3-4 flowered ; corolla short-tubed
5-merous ; pedicels 4 to } in.; berry 24 in. diam., globose ; seeds many, 2 in.
diam., circular discoid.” I may mention that Roxburgh, writing in the early
part of this century. and probibly having in view this plant, says: “I am
inclined to think there is a species different from the third or scandent species
called colubrina (S. colubrina, Roxb.) as well as from the nua vomica tree, which
yields the real, or at least another sort of the Lignum colubrinum. The wood
of the root of this sort is esteemed by the Telinga Physicians an infallible
remedy for the bite of the naya (cobra) as well as that of every other
venomous snake, It is applied externally as well as given internally,” It
is worthy of note that Rheede, although he names his plant ‘‘ Pao de Cobra,”
still does not mention that it is used in snake-bite, Probably he takes it for
pranted that it is used in this way.

Mr. C. B. Clarke thinks that the previous species may be really Strychnos
cinnamomifolia, Vhwaites, S. colubrina, Wight, Ic. ¢. 434, Koxb., Fl. Ind., J, 578.
This plant grows in Ceylon, but not, as far as it has been verified, on the
Malabar Coast. Its fruits resemble those of the previous species. Roxburgh
cites Modira carinam of Rheede as a synonym of his S, colubrina, but the
flowers of his species are terminal, while those of Rheede’s, as already noticed,
are lateral or axillary. It is said that this plant also may yield a kind of
Lignum colubrinum.

The authors of the ‘“‘ Pharmacographia Indica ” state that a portion of Ser-
pent’s Wood may also be probably derived from S. laurina, Wall., a native
of Cachar, Pegu and Tenasserim.

Strychnos Nua Vomica, Linn., has also been styled S. colubrina by Wallich
and Wight, but it is the general opinion that the wood of this tree, which is
extremely common in the South Konkan,is not the true Serpent’s Wood,
although often substituted for it. It has been found by analysis that the bark
and wood of this tree do not show any traces of strychnine, while those of

“MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 427

S. colubrina contain it in large quantities. It would be interesting to examine
chemically the woods of all the species of Strychnos, and to see which of them
do contain strychnine, and those which contain it may be styled the true
Lignum colubrinum, because the value of the wood depends entirely, as far
as it is known, upon the presence of this alkaloid. There are about 60
species of Strychnos in the tropics, out of which 4 are natives of Bombay,
namely S. Colubrina, Linn ; S. Dalzellit, Clarke ; S Nuxw Vomica, Linn, ; and
S. Potatorwm, Linn,

(3) ‘ When the Viceroy D. Constatino went to Jafnapatam, which is an
Island near Ceylon, they brought him a present of some bundles of a wood
with its roots as a much-valued antidote in poisons. This root is aromatic
and it is thin, hard, and dark in colour, These roots are said to be very
common in the plains of Goa.” his root is, no doubt, that of the Indian
Birthwort, Aristolochia Indica, Linn., N. O. Aristolochiucee, a plant very
common in Goa, but not in other parts of the South Konkan. This root was
known in the 15th century as the “ Raiz da _ obra” orsnake-root. It is curious
that the name snake-root or serpentary was given in about 1636 to the root
of another species of the same genus, namely, A, Serpentina, Linn., a native
of Virginia, It was highly praised as a remedy for the bite of the rattle-snake
and of rabid dogs, he reputed properties of this plant are now quite dis-
regarded, The properties of the Indian Birthwort (sapus, Konk ; sapsund,
Mar.) are described by Rheede as follows : ‘‘ Dococtum hujus plant cum oleo
pro linimento adhibitus venenatum serpentum sanat morsum.” ‘he root still
enjoys a reputation in snake-bite among the country-folks in the South Kon-
kan, but its chief use is in the bowel complaints of children,

Before concluding I would make a historical note which may be of some
interest to the inhabitants of Bombay. Garcia d’Orta,in describing the Areca
or Supari Palm, says: “ A melhor (areca) é a de Mombaim, terra e ilha de que
Hl-Rei nosso senhor me fez mercé, aforada em fatiota,’ or that “ the best
supari is that of Mombaim, land and island which H, M. the King granted to
me by emphyteusis.’ From this extract it is evident, first, that Bombay or
Bombaim was sometimes known as Mombaim (the first letter being M and
not B)in 1563; secondly, that Bombay was famous in those days for its
areca ; and thirdly, that the Island, with some of the adjoining land, was the
sole property of Dr, Garcia d’Orta long before it was given in dowry to the
Infanta Catharina.

D. G. DALGADO, M.D.

SAVANTVADI, 2nd August, 1893,

No, I1.—THE NEST OF STEWART’S WREN-WARBLER.
I send herewith two nests, made one after the other by the same identical
pair of birds (Prinia stewarti), The materials are the same in both, but the

construction is different, In No, 1 the birds, having chosen a small narrow-
13

428 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

leaved plant to build im, simply laid the nest loosely between the twigs, with-
out any attempt at sewing. In No, 2, having selected a thick-leaved plant,
they have made a regular tailor-bird’s nest, using cotton freely to stitch the
nest to its supports and to make one of the leaves serve as a covering for it,
The birds deserted the first nest after two eggs had been laid. In nest No. 2
three eggs were laid and hatched out. Note also in No. 2 how the thick leaf
has begun to sprout from the punctures made for the stitches,

G. W. VIDAL, I.CS.
Poona, 4th September, 1893.

No. III.—THE GENUS PSILOTUM, Sw., IN INDIA.

A note in this Journal (vol, VII, p. 544) by Dr. Dalgado records the occurrence
of this genus in Savantvadi, This is by no means the first record for India,
even if it be the first for Bombay. The earliest publication of Indian
localities is in the Cat. of Plants dist., by the Hon'ble the E. I. Coy. (1828),
where it is recorded from Nepal, 8. India, Ava and Penang. Specimens from
all these places were distributed from the Company's Herbarium in that
year,

There are two species of the genus, and as the note referred to may induce
members to look for the one there described, it seems worth while to state
wherein the two differ, as in the search for one it is not impossible that both
may be discovered.

Both Psilota are plants with short wiry root-stocks emitting stems that are
simple below but copiously dichotomously branched upwards and that have
minute leaves laxly disposed throughout their length. In the axils of rudi-
mentary leaves (bracts), rather smaller than the leaves proper, are placed. all
along the branches, single, free, top-shaped spore-cases slightly hollowed
(umbilicate) at the apex. These spore-cases (sporangia) are three-lobed and
three-celled ; they split vertically down the centre of each lobe to permit the
escape of the oblong, somewhat curved, one-ribbed spores,

Seventeen different forms of Psilotum have been named and described, but
these arrange themselves into two groups and, within each group, pass into
one another by all sorts of intermediate forms. One of these groups has
three-cornered, the other has two-edged, branchlets ; the branchlets in this
second group are flattened out and have a distinct rib down the middle. In
the first group the spore-cases and the leaves are in three rows corresponding
‘to the angles, in the second group they are in two rows corresponding to the
edges, of the branchlets,

Some members of the first group have the angles so indistinctly marked
that the branches are practically round ; some members of the second group
have the branches so narrow that their two edges with the strong midrib,

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES, 429

already mentioned, render them practically three-cornered, But no mistake is
possible in either case as to the species to which the plant belongs, since one
has three, the other only two, rows of leaves and Spore-cases. The following
brief diagnosis will enable their easy determination :-—

Plant erect or suberect: branches triquetrous, many times
strictly branched: leaves in 3 rows; ultimate branches Psilotum triquetrum, Sw.
thr e-cornered, sometimes almost round, about 3!’ in dia.

Plant pendulous: bra’ ches senom Cl less frequently ard

Ss tal ly oe som cont

across

The erect fastigiate habit of the first, the hanging spreading habit of the
second generally sufficiently distinguish the two. P. triquetrum is usually
7-8 in. high, but dwarf specimens occur (13-3 in, being the greatest height of
Specimens obtained by the writer on Barren Island) ; on the other hand, it is
often 2-22 feet high,

The general distribution of P. triquetrum is wider than Dr. Dalvado’s note
would indicate. It is found in South America, Central America, M>xico, West
Indies, Florida, Africa, Madagascar, Seychelles, India, Indo-China, Laccadive
Islands, Ceylon, Andamans, Malaya, North Australia, Polynesia, from Fiji
to Sandwich Islands. P, complanatum is equaly widely distributed ‘hough itis
the least common of the two except in Malaya and apparently the Seychelles,

The Indo-Malayan distribution, as_ testified by specimens in the Calcutta
Herbarium, is given in full below :—

1, PsiLotum TRIQUETRUM, Sw.
Inp1a: Bengal ; Dacca, Clarke ! Barisal, Clarke ! Central India ; Pachmari,
Mrs. Morris! Duthie! Ceylon; centre of island, Thwaites !
Walker! Thomson! Watson! Laccadives ; Minikoi, Alcoch !
HIMALAYA: Kumaon, Thomson ! Nepal, Wallich !
INDO-CHINA : Assam; Sibsagar, Masters! Khasia Hills, Simons! Burma :
Taong Doung Mis., Wallich! Barren Island, Prain! Siam,
Finlayson |
MALAYA : Peninsula ; Penang, Wallich ! Malacca, Griffith! Maingay ' Perak,
Kunstler! Wray! Archipelago ; Java, King! Forbes!
2. PsILOTUM COMPLANATUM, Sw.
Mazaya: Peninsula; Penang, Wallich! Perak, Kunstler! Archipelago ;
Borneo, Lobb !

The plant referred to by Dr. Dalgado is therefore not very rare, but as it
happens to be mentioned, the writer wishes to invite members who may be
interested in the matter to look not only for P. triquetrum, but for the other
species as well. Both are found in the Mascarene Islands to the west, and
both also occur in Malaya and Polynesia to the east of India ; there is there-
fore no good reason why both should not be found, if carefully looked for,
in the Indian Peninsula as well,

430 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII,

The following notes taken from tickets attached to specimens in the
Calcutta Herbarium will throw some light on the habitat of the plants :—

PSILOTUM TRIQUETRUM, Sw.—‘ Gateway of old Fort, Malacca,” Maingay ;
‘interior of crater, Barren Island,” Prain; ‘‘ growing on stone
near the crater of Gunong Boddas Preanger, Java,” H. O. Forbes;
“srowing on temples, Sibsagar, Assam,” Wasters ; ‘‘ growing in a
hollow tree where some soil had accumulated, Perak,” Kunséler ;
“ad saxa rupesque, Mauritius” (no collector’s name),

PsILOTUM COMPLANATUM, Sw.—“ Growing under a fern on a, tree, Chan-
deriang river, Perak,’ Kunstler; “growing from seams of rock,
Chil-hua-hua, Mexico,” Pringle.

The largest of the living plants of P. triquetrum in the Royal Botanic
Garden were brought about 15 years ago by Dr. King, F.RS., OLE. from
Java, where he found them growing among the adventitious roots of a coco-
nut tree—exactly the situation in which Dr, Dalgado found his. But this does
not necessarily imply, as Dr. Dalgado suggests, that the plant is ‘ parasitic’:
its habit of growing at the tops of volcanoes—where there certainly is
nothing living to which it could attach itself—-on ruined temples and
forts, and in seams of rock, shows not only that is it not ‘parasitic ,’
but that it is not even necessarily ‘saprophytic.’ That it prefers a
situation where it can get plenty of decaying vegetable matter in which to
bury its roots is no doubt true, for the specimens from rocks and ruins are
stunted and dwarf, as compared with those from hollow trees. But this is only
in accordance with the general rule that plants grown in a ‘humus’, rich in
decaying vegetable matter, thrive better than those grown in thin, bare
rocky soil.

The treatment of the plants in cultivation is simple ; they thrive well when
grown as maiden-hair ferns are grown,

3

D, PRAIN.
HERBARIUM, CaLcurtTa, 7th June, 1893.

No. IV.—THE ASIATIC WILD ASS.

In the Field of April 22, under the heading of “The Asiatic Wild
Ass,” was published an account of the onager, or wild donkey of Kutch,
This article contains some statements which have, since the publication of
Captain Nutt’s article in the “ Oriental Sporting Magazine,” entitled “ pens
Hunting on the Runn of Kutch,” been disproved,

Mr, Blanford,in his “Fauna of British India,” states that there is no
instance on record of wild asses being run down by a single horseman, and
Mr. Tegetmeier also remarks that it is doubtful whether any onager has ever
been ridden down except in cases of mares heavy in foal, and also states that
even the young have only been captured by employing relays of horses.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 431

The above has been conclusively disproved by H. H. the Thakor of Morvi,
whose State, which is in Kathiawar, is situated close to the Runn of Kutch,
as the anager has been ridden down and secured on several occasions during a
period of three years, when riding them down was one of His Highness’s
favourite amusements, undertaken chiefly to disprove the exaggerated opinion
commonly held as regards their speed and endurance.

On one occasion a band of eight wild donkeys were ridden down and secured
on the east side of the Runn by a party of five riders, or, to be more exact, by
a party of three, as the riding was really done by H. H. the Thakor Sahib and
two of his riding boys. The riders averaged about 9 stones in weight, rode
the same horses from start to finish, and, kept together throughout the whole
of the chase.

As the above may not be considered a case of running them down by a
single horseman, perhaps the following instance may sutlice, wiz., that on
another occasion the Thakor Sahib and hisgtwo riding boys separated ; the
former succeeded in riding an onager down single-handed, and without change
of mount, while the two boys secured another,

The horses used in these rides were Walers, Arabs and country-breds, and
in one ride where a wild donkey was secured, a 13:3 Arab pony was used. The
fact may perhaps interest people that. the country-breds used were ordinary
Kathiawar cobs about 14°1, and in the case of the Walers and Arabs used, no
special selection was made of mounts, neither were the animals in special con-
dition for the rides. The above-mentioned facts will somewhat tend to discount
the exaggerated ideas held concerning the speed and endurance of the onager.

The rides which ended in captures usually lasted about three hours ; speed
varied from a walk to a spurting gallop ; the going was execrably bad, being
chiefly ground covered at high tide by the sea, and consisted for the most part
of mud. in which the horses sank fetlock deep, necessitating the greater por-
tion of the chase being done at a walk. The distances covered in the different
runs varied from twenty to twenty-five miles ;no horse ever died during a
chase or from the after effects.

Although the onager’s speed is greater than that of a tame donkey, an ordi-
nary 14:2 Arab can gallop them to a standstill, and the fact of the runs being
so long was due more to the going than to any special endurance on the part
of the wild asses. Practically, as regards endurance, they are as enduring as a
horse in non-galloping condition, though the asses when caught, could hardly
be called in galloping condition either.

One of the most striking points in connection with these rides is the endu-
‘rance shown by the horses used in capturing the wild asses; in fact, more
wonderful than the endurance of the asses who were on the ground they live
on, whereas neither food not water could be obtained for the horses, riders

even having to carry their own drinking water. On one occasion horses were
out without food or water from 7 a.m. one morning to 4 a.m, the next,

432 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

Some twenty wild asses, big and small, were captured in these rides, When
captured, the wild asses were extremely vicious, bit and kicked, and it was
found necessary to rope them before they could be led: away. ‘The statement
that no varieties of the Asiatic wild ass have ever been domesticated would be
deprived of some of its effect, could your readers see the wild asses in the
paddocks at Morvi.

Though some of the captures remained excessively vicious, others became
quite tame, and were ridden and driven just like a tame donkey, The young
ones are as tame as dogs, and extremely fond of being fondled and played with.

Those in the paddock at Morvi were exceedingly inquisitive and had to be
kept back while a photograph was taken, as nothing would satisfy them until
they could sniff round the camera and see what the seemingly diabolical instru-
ment was.

A photograph, the only one of a batch of four taken, which turned out
passably (though the gentleman in the solah tope is meant to be a European),
is herewith sent in proof of what may be done with them and in it may be
observed the inquisitiveness of the animals,a youngster, in his eagerness to
find out what was going on, having come up behind and caused the syce on
the right to move his hand. The treatment undergone by the donkey, on
whose back a syce is seated, ought to be proof enough of her tameness, as her
tail was held, not to keep her quiet, but to show what could be done to her,
This particular donkey was ten months old when caught and frightfully wild;
she is now about two and a half years old.

The engraving in the Feld of April 22 is good with the exception of the
legs and feet which are made to look much too coarse, the legs and feet of the
wild ass being particularly clean, neat and well formed,

The same horses which were used to ride down the wild asses in the Runn
have been used to ride down wolves and black buck (Antelope bezoartica),
and if wished for, some particulars of these runs can be sent.

The information regarding the riding down of the wild asses on the Runn
of Kutch was given to the writer by a well-known Kathiawar sportsman, whose.
riding weight, however, prevented him from being with the leaders in the runs
when the onagers were captured.

J. L, HARRINGTON, Lisrvr.,
A. P. A., Kathiawar.

(The above appeared in the Field of 29th July, 1893.)

No. V.—SYMPTOMS OF SNAKE-BITE, THE RESULT OF FRIGHT.

Stories of recovery from apparently serious cases of snake-bite are reported
from time to time, which at first sight can only be explained by believing,
either that very little poison entered the wound, or that: an antidote has

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES, 433

really been discovered at last. Such a case occurred here a few weeks ago.
A boy, cutting grass close to my bungalow, was bitten on the instep by a snake
which was identified by myself and others as beyond doubt a krait, He con-
tinued his work for a time, but finding the pain increase, left the field and went
to the stables where his relations live. On hearing what had occurred, they held
a candle before his eyes and found that he saw five flames instead of one,
which natives take to be a sure sign of the giddiness which results from snake-
poison, Accordingly, they carried him off to a well-known“ Mantri,” or worker
of incantations, who lives close by, but before they arrived the boy was per-
fectly unconscious, and his teeth so firmly clenched that no medicine could be
poured down his throat. This was about an hour after the bite. Those present
thought the case hopeless, but after a time the ‘‘ Mantri” brought him round,
and he went away little the worse. ‘This was a curious instance, for there was
no doubt that the boy was bitten and his foot swollen, and further it was quite
certain that the snake which bit him was a deadly one, the krait, so that it was
natural to attribute the giddiness and collapse to the action of some portion
of venom, however minute.

Another case, however, which happened here a few days ago, suggest a
different explanation and mates it very probable that all the symptoms were
simply the result of fright, In this instance I was told that a boy of about 18,
while lying down, had been bitten on the head, and going at once to the spot I
found him vomiting and in a stupetied condition. A “ Mantri”’ had been sum-
moned, and after giving the patient some pounded root, was working away,
flitting him with his ‘ dhotar”’ and repeating the incantation.

I had sent for the dead snake, and seeing that it was fortunately of a harm-
less kind (Mr, Phipson, te whom it was forwarded, identified it as a young
“ Dhaman,” Zamenis mucosus), made the people assure the boy that he was in no
danger, but he was too dazed to understand, and soon, after vomiting again,
went off into a dead faint which lasted for more than twenty minutes. This
time he was perfectly unconscious, his hands and feet became cold, and had I
not known that the snake was a harmless one, I should certainly have thought
him in great danger. Of course, later on he recovered his senses, and was as
well as ever. Now, had it not happened fortunately that the snake was proved
to be of a non-venomous kind, this would have been a very pretty case of
apparent cure, and for an explanation we should have been kept to the choice,
according to our credulity, between believing in the powdered root, the incan-
tation, or that the amount of poison was very small, Such extreme effecis
from fright, so closely simulating genuine symptoms, are probably rare, but
the possibility of their occurrence puts a fresh ditticulty in the way of believ-
ing in the successful antidotes occasionally reported.

S. M. FRASER, LG.S.

KoLHarore, 9th September, 1893,

434 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

No. VI.—THE SNAKE-BIRD,
(Ploius melanogaster.)

This bird is what we in India calla “ Snake-bird,” because, when it swims
with the whole body under water, the long writhing neck and head remind one
of asnake, But another species in the warm regions of America has long
been called the “ Darter”; and this name is commonly used for the genus,
which is represented also in Africa and Australia. it was probably given on
account of the bird’s habit of sitting on trees over the water, and ‘‘ taking
a header’? when disturbed, or attracted by the sight of fish moving
below.

But there has long been an idea that the bird uses its long pointed beak asa —
“dari” or spear, and this is best illustrated by the following quotation from
Nature republished in the “Indian Annals and Magazine of Natural
Science” from which I have extracted it. I have not been able to compare it
with the original which seems to have been in the January number of Nature
for 1883,

_ “The Darter in its normal position sits erect upon a branch or stump over-

looking the water, When proceeding to ish, it dives head foremost into the
stream, and swimming entirely under water, transiixés its fnny prey with the
rapidity of lightning. HKmerging from the water with the fish speared upon
its long slender beak, the Darter chucks the tsh into the air, and catching it
head foremost with unerrmg aim, swallows it whole, This peculiar and
interesting mode of fish-catching may be witnessed every day when the Darters
in the Zoological Gardens are fed with their usual meal of small fishes,”

“The Darters usually exhibited in the Society's Gardens are of the South
American species (Plotus anhinga), which, it seems, is the most easily obtained
alive. But in 1878 an example of the African form, Le Vaillant’s Darter
(Plotus levaillant:), was received, and lived for some time in the Gardens,
where it exhibited the characteristic mode of feeding previously observed in
its American brother, In April last an example of a third species of this
genus—the Indian Darter (Ploius melanogaster, was obtained in exchange from
the Zoological Gardens of Calcutta, After living for many months in excel-
lent health this bird died suddenly on the 21st of December last, apparently
from a sudden shock produced by feeding too rapidly.”

Any one reading it as reprinted would think that the bird speared the fish on
its closed beak, as a regular thing. I have always doubted this; because the
beak is serrated inside on both jaws, like those of several other birds that seize
living fish, and I have observed that wild snake-birds seldom catch fish as big
even as herrings. The head and neck, indeed, are too small for the bird to
swallow large tish,though the gape is wider in life than it can be shown in this
dry and rigid specimen on our table, and the gullet is very elastic,so 1 watched
many wild birds, but never could see the spearing,

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 435

Ait last, when we had a snake-bird at the “ Zoo” in London, I consulted the
Superintendent, and took a wet day to watch the creature fed, The fish were
very small, minnows if I remember rightly. These were thrown into the tank
alive, and the bird “ darted ”’ after them from its perch on a “ duck’s ladder”
over the water, open-mouthed. In the same way it pursued them under water,
trying to seize them between its jaws and actually so seizing about 7 in 10, it
returned to the surface,with the fish held across the beak between the jaws, jerk-
ed it round in the usual way of fishing birds, and swallowed it head foremost.
But it sometimes happened that the bird, though failing to catch the fish
between its jaws, did actually impale it on one or other of them, about 2 in
10 on the upper jaw, and 1 in 10 on the lower. This was evidently almost a
failure, as, when a trapped pigeon is killed with the second barrel within the
line, it counts ; but the performance is not triumphant. The jerking round
of these transfixed fish into the proper position for swallowing was a longer
and more awkward job than with those properly seized, and was accompa-
nied by the most absurd expressive gestures of impatience and disgust. One
could feel that the bird wanted to swear.

It may be worth while to add that the tank was a good sized aquarium ad-
justed in the usual way, so that I, only a few feet from the bird, could see
him in an excellent light. There was no one present but one keeper and
myself ; so the observation was taken under most favourable circumstances.

There is much else to be said about the snake bird ; but the most of it
has been said by Jerdon (Birds of India, vol, II, p. 865) and others, and I
myself have written something about it in our journal,

One odd thing not yet said is that the wing bones sometimes contain what
looks and feels very like marrow—a rare thing in birds. It is to be wished
that some good authority could pronounce on this after dissection, and if we
could send home a few entire specimens in spirit it would be a good thing. I
have been trying to get one ; but the bird is not very common on the Tanna
rivers, though abundant in Kolaba and in Gujarat. It has probably been
more persecuted in the former district,

W. F. SINCLAIR, I.C.S.
TANNA,

No. VIIL—THE BREEDING OF THE GOURAMI,

Some ten years ago I undertook to superintend the operations for procuring
a supply of fish for the Ana Sagar Tank, a sheet of water covering about a
square mile, and situated in Rajputana. Previous to the operations the tank
contained only Chilwa, Singee, and a small species of Murrel ; I did not
mind the first two, but the existence of the Murrel, small though they were,

made it rather risky to introduce small fry.
14

436 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. Vil.

After reading up Mr. Thomas’ notes on stocking ponds, it was decided to
send down to him in Madras for a number of Gourami, and when these duly
arrived at the end of their long jouruey the first difficulty arose as to where to
put them,

An ornamental ime in the gardens was cleaned out and precautions taken
to keep out the Murrel, and the majority of the Gourami were put into this,
but as I was unwilling to lose sight of them altogether, I had an aquarium
made to hold about 15 gallons, and into this I put about a dozen fish,

Being new to aquarium management I made the usual mistakes, the result of
which was quickly apparent by the other small fish, which I had put in with
the Gourami, coming to the top and trying to prolong their lives by breathing
the uppermost layer of water.

I then noticed that the Gourami did not seem troubled much whether the
water was in good order or not; when it was all right they remained amongst
the weeds and never came to the top except in pursuit of a mosquito, and-
when it was foul they came up regularly at intervals for a mouthful of fresh
air, but never stayed there sucking at the upper layer. This discovery was a
great relief to my mind, asthe aquarium would practically be left to take
care of itself during my frequent absence in camp.

I must here note that the existence of the Murrel was not the sole reason
of my starting the aquarium; I had read in Mr. Thomas’ book that the
Gourami grows to 20lbs.,and that he is capable of “being cultivated in
earthen pots for the table.” Consequently I had Visions of half-a-dozen
chatties ranged round my office each containing a four or five-pound fish
destined to grace a future dinner party. Consequently again I anxiously
noted the growth of the fish and tried to see a decided increase in their bulk
after each absence in camp.

When they first arrived they were about au inch long, and had the large
head and eyes and thin body of all young fish. When I had had them about
two months they were perfectly formed and very handsome, but, alas, they
were only two inches long at the outside, and when [ had had them four
months it was disappointingly evident that they were not going to get beyond
this two inches. I had arranged a little ornamental rock-work at the bottom
of the aquarium and the centre-piece consisted of a curved stone resting on
two others and forming a kind of bridge.

One morning when I came as usual -to look at my fish I noticed that some
thing unusual had happened; all the fish but one had hidden themselves
amongst the weeds and the only visible fish was a truly terrifying spectacle,
He had turned a jet black and his red eyes, by contrast, shone like live
coals; his fins were all erect, and he was making furious charges at any of the
other fish which ventured to show their noses. Presently I espied another
black-looking fish quite motionless underneath the rock-work bridge, and
then I understood what was taking place. After chasing away all intruders
the male came down to the female under the bridge.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 437

Immediately after they separated the female emitted a stream of 15 or 20
eggs, and to my disgust the pair immediately set to work (apparently) to
gobble them up. One or two eggs which were caught in the eddies and carried
down amongst the rocks were immediately snapped up by the other fish which
were hanging around for this purpose. This took place several times and at
last I noticed that the pair paid frequent mysterious visits to the undersides of
the hollow stone, but there was nothing there that I could see.

The next morning these visits were explained and I then noticed the female
frequently rising to the surface and bringing down with her a mouthful of air
which she let go against the underside of the bridge until there was a large
silvery globule accumulated. The eggs had, it appeared, been plastered to the
underside of the rock and she was now supplying them with air.

Every now and then the globule would overflow and a large bubble would
rise to the top ; she however kept on bringing down more air with the idea,
I suppose, of keeping the supply fresh,

I have already mentioned that these fish seem capable of actually breathing
atmospheric air, but what the eggs should want with air, and compressed air
at that, I leave others better versed in fishlore to explain, The eggs could
hardly have been less safe had the parents put them on the top of a floating
leaf, as one or other had to remain constantly on guard to keep away the
other fish.

’ Another point struck me, which was the great self-denial exhibited by the
pair, and more especially by the male ; these eggs seemed to be regarded by the
other fish as great delicacies, and I could quite imagine a bad husband (and
I suppose there are such things amongst fish as amongst other animals)
bolting his mouthful of eggs and explaining the contretemps and excusing
himself on the grounds of a sudden inclination to cough.

I was very much disappointed when I received the impression that the pair
were destroying their own eggs, as it seemed to me that the Gourami, which
attains to a weight of 20lbs., showed a most wonderful adaptability to cir-
cumstances in coming to maturity at three or four pennyweighits, and I was
naturally anxious to prove that they were really mature in every sense of the
word, I had then to go into camp and leave the female still watching and
aerating her eggs. When I returned after a short absence the globule was
gone and all the fish were of the ordinary hue, and I searched in vain for any
fry. Very soon after another pair, or it might have been the same, took up
their quarters under the rock and went through the same process,

T am unable to remember how many times this happened, but one day I no-
ticed several tiny pairs of eyes looking at me through the glass ; behind these
eyes was.a gelatinous tail and what appeared to be a pendulous sac or stomach,

These were evidently very young Gourami, but I could only see them when
they came close to the glass as the Aquarium was very dark. Mr. Thomas

438 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, VIII.

had warned me that they could not stand much cold, and for this reason they
were kept permanently in my office as being rather warmer at night than the
verandah. These young fish did not appear to thrive, and as the cold season
approached they gradually disappeared until one only was visible, This one
eventually grew to about 2” in length, but was always very shadowy in appear-
ance and difficult to see at any distance from the glass. All the others got
sluggish and a few died, and as I was transferred during the cold weather, 1
returned the surviving ones into the lake.

The pond into which I had put the majority was emptied, but only a solitary
Murrel was found and no trace whatever of the Gourami. I have no doubt
that those put directly into the large lake also perished, but any way it dried
up completely a year or so ago, so there can be none there now. I reported
the results of my observations at the time to Mr. Thomas, and he started
a larger aquarium in order to check them, which I believe he was able to do
with satisfaction to himself, .

CHARLES F. GILBERT, M.1.¢.5.

No. VIIL—THE KOL-BHALU,

I have spelt the above name as it is pronounced, and as I have before seen
it spelt, but I am not at all sure that it is correct, I have never succeeded in
finding out what the name is derived from, and am ignorant as to what language
it is. I have heard it in G-uzerat, the Konkan, and Kanara, and pronounced, as
far as I could judge, exactly the same in all three Provinces,

The Kol-Bhalu is, I think, generally described by natives in the Bombay
Presidency as a jackal, either old and toothless, mad, or in attendance on a
tiger or some other large animal. I have also heard it positively asserted by
some villagers that it is an old and toothless jackal which has developed horns,
The idea that the animal is an old and toothless jackal has, im my experience,
the widest credence, and on examination of two Kol-Bhalus which I killed ait
different periods, whilst in the very act of uttering their peculiar weird-like
ery, may perhaps be worth recording as bearing out this theory. Both were
female jackals and bore the appearance of being extremely old, with short and
almost hairless tails. The elder of the two had only a little short hair in
patches on her body, and but one tooth in her head, a canine in the lower jaw
worn down level with the gum. The other had more hair, but it was very
short and of a dirty appearance, and in her mouth were five or six teeth much
broken and worn, I found nothing to indicate that either of them was mad,
nor did I kill them in places where there would be any likelihood of finding
any other animal more formidable than an hyena.

It seems possible that the peculiar cry which earns for the jackal the name
of Kol-Bhalu, may be caused by the absence of teeth, and to this cause I have

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES, 439

frequently heard it attributed by villagers. I have never observed the Kol-
Bhalu’s cry and the ordinary jackal’s cry uttered by the same animal,

On one occasion, in the evening whilst returning to my camp, I saw a jackal
at a short distance off, and having dogs with me I set them after him, but to
my astonishment the jackal made no great efforts to escape, but ran into a
small bush a few yards away, and as soon as the dogs came up, the Kol-Bhalu
cry was uttered ; the dogs stopped and after sniffing round the bush for a short
time came back to me, I never saw these dogs behave in this manner
before ; they had always been very keen in attacking jackals and had killed
many. J can form no reason why this jackal which, from the cry uttered,
must be called a Kol-Bhalu, was left in peace. Being pressed for time, I was
unable to go up to the bush and make investigations.

F, A, HILL,

BomBay, 30th September, 1893,

No, IX.—THE FLOWERING OF GRAMMATOPHYLLUM
BROMHEADII.

I am sending you a photograph of an enormous orchid, Grammatophyllum
bromheadit, which flowered during these rains in Rangoon, and as this is, I
believe, the first instance of its flowering in captivity to perfection, I think the
circumstance is worth recording, It has, I believe, flowered twice at Kew, but
on neither occasion was it successful. The habitat is Mergui and the plant
looks not unlike a sugar-cane, The owner of this plant, Mr. E, 8, Symes,
Secretary to the Chief Commissioner, has had it for three years, and it has
never shown any symptoms of flowering before. No special care was taken
with the plant this season, Mr, Symes describes the spike as 7 feet in length,
with from 60 to 70 flowers.

F, E. DEMPSTER,
RANGOON, October, 1893.

No. X.—NOTE ON THE THAMIN.

I have just come across Capt. St. John Richardson’s interesting note on this
animal, published in No. 2, Vol. VII of the Society’s Journal, und as his obser-
vations and conclusions regarding the Thamin in Lower Burma differ so essen-
tially from mine, made on the Chindwin, I should like to add a modest con-
tribution to what is known of this animal.

I do not quite understand how the “points ” on a Thamin head are to be
counted ; the horn is one continuous sweep from the point of the brow-antler
to the highest point of the horn, and this part is slightly palmated.

Small excrescences occur on all parts of the horn, very often two or three
on the brow antler itself, but there only appears to be one regular tine grow-
ing out of the main horn.

440 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

If these excrescences are to be counted as points, it will be very difficult to
distinguish where they end and the natural corrugations begin ; I have just
measured a horn which has certainly 11 and possibly 12 points on the left,
and 7 on the right, and I daresay, a very careful scrutiny might give a total
of 20 points for the pair,

For this reason and on account of the peculiar formation noticed above I
would suggest that all measurements be made right round outside the curve
from the tip of the brow antler to the extreme end of the main horn, that
points be not considered, and that this dimension together with the extreme
Span be regarded as all that is necessary.

I give below the measurements of three heads taken in this manner :—~

MEASUREMENT OF LOWER CHINDWIN THAMIN HORNS.

Right Horn tip to tip... Mee Bian Reon BO Orge ee cO0 leg raoe
Left Horn, do, “0 vee sae Boo” GPa 514 v sAGe
Greatest width across ... ia 260 Bo Pe aR St!
Circumference above skull ... sci POG SH See 5AM"

As regards the varying colour I do not feel at all sure that age only is the
eause of this, though it would be quite natural to expect to find very old stags
with darker coats than comparatively young ones,

In this district we have full-grown stags and does of a bright yellowish-
brown, much the same colour as the barking deer, and we have also the
Sambur-coloured stags and does.

All the villagers that I have ever consulted agree that there are certainly
two kinds, Thamin Wan (yellow), and Thamin Wet (pig), the latter term being
referable to the brown Thamin, and there seem to be three possible solutions
of the puzzle of the varying colour—

(1). Age only; in which case the herds would be mixed, all large stags
would be brown, and the cause of the change would be so evident that
villagers would scarcely fail to notice it.

I have seen some hundreds of yellow Thamin in herds, but on no single
occasion have I found a brown one with them. I have also shot a yellow stag
with a much better head than that of a brown one shot a short time
previously.

(2). Actual difference of species: this will be the only remaining solution

if (1) and (8) are erroneous,

(3). That the darker coat is only the winter coat.

I am led to believe that this may turn out to be the true explanation owing
to my failing to find brown Thamin during the hot season,

I have shot brown fawns, but only in the winter, and in a place where I was
unable to find a single brown deer during the hot season.

Captain Richardson mentions that “ the young are often spotted, but this
soon disappears’; in this district all the yellow deer are spotted very dis- ©

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 441

tinctly, and I have never shot one which was not. Further, the villagers declare
there is a third species, the Thamin Pyouktan (spotted) which is larger than
any of the others,

T never heard of Thamin in this district going into the hills, or even into
thick jungle; in the cold season they live amongst the long grass—spear grass
for choice—and thin jungle, and later they may be seen quite in the open
much the same as black buck. Just now they lie in the growing crops,

As regards the shedding of horns I saw many good heads up to August 15,
but could find none on the 25th, though I heard of some being seen much
later.

The span of head No.1 given by Captain Richardson (39}’) seems to me
unusually wide considering the length of the horn itself, and this is even more
marked in No. 7 where the two horns totalling about 54” diverge no less than
36”, The heads obtainable here are not nearly so flat as these.

There must be several members of the Society who have shot, or otherwise
come into the possession of, heads, and some more measurements of such
would prove of interest.

CHARLES F. GILBERT, m.1.c.z.
Monywa, 28th October, 1893.

P.8.—Since writing the above I have got a couple of so-called Thamin Wet,
one with the primary (or it may be secondary) scimitar-shaped horn, and one
with ten points,

Both had decided brown coats very different to the yellow of the Thamin
Wan, but neither of them approched blackness in the least degree.

Natives, here as well as in India, have a habit of saying what they believe
you wish them to say, and.it took a great deal of cross-examination before I
could obtain the admission that in the cold weather Thamin Wan were not
exactly plentiful, and in fact they could not say for certain that they had ever
seen them during that season, but I have now not the smallest doubt that the
Thamin Wet of the cold season develops into the Thaman Wan of the hot
weather, and further that the blackness has little to do with age, being merely
due to the full development of the winter coat,

I have noted the differences between the Wet and Wan as thicker horns and
longer hair for the former, and the former difference is at once explained by
the fact that before he sheds his winter coat, he has begun to rub the
corrugations off his horns,

T have one head with smooth horns which must have become so by constant
rubbing, as the corrugations are ducts through which the upper portions are
developed after the lower is formed.

On this subject the remark made by Captain Richardson that “ the horns aie
perfect in March ” is not quite clear ; I got a head last March, and though the

442 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VII1.

horns were good, they were rubbed to a certain extent, and it seems certain
that the horns are at their best directly the velvet comes off ; this date 1
should fix at the end of December or early in January.

I do not know if the stag “ bells” or makes any other sound during the
rutting season. I have never heard one, but the other morning I came on some
Thamin before daylight, and they made a sharp clucking noise not unlike

a pea-hen,
CHARLES F. GILBERT, M.1.¢.z.

lst December, 1893.

No. XI—A BRAVE WOMAN AND A COWARDLY TIGER.

The following account of a woman’s encounter with a tiger may interest
some readers of the Journal. The scene of the adventure was a jungle at
Deust, a village at the foot of the Amboli Ghat. At about 5 P.M. on the
7th July last,a young Mahrata woman named Parvatti was tending some
cattle, when suddenly a tiger made his appearance with the intention of mak-
ing his supper off one of the bullocks, as he had done more than once before
under similar circumstances. The woman, however, not wishing to lose one
of her precious cattle, very pluckily placed herself between it and the tiger ;
upon which the animal, resenting such interference, walked slowly forward
and seized the poor woman by the left shoulder, and crunched the upper part
of the arm bone into bits. Notwithstanding this, the brave woman gave the
animal several blows on the head with a bamboo she had in her right hand
which had the effect of making him let go; he then retired into the jungle
to seek his supper elsewhere, leaving the herd unmolested. The poor woman
was removed the next day to the nearest hospital, where she had to undergo
an amputation at the shoulder joint. She suffered a great deal from blood-
poisoning, but was quite well after two months. Asa reward for her great
pluck, and im consideration of her long and painful suffering, the State
authorities gave her a present of Rs. 50. The story, as related by the poor
and unsophisticated woman, bears every evidence of truth.

D. G. DALGADO, mp.
SAVANTVADI, 4th December, 1893.

No. XII.—ODD NOTES.

Has any one noticed how late the spotted-bill duck breeds? No doubt it is
recorded somewhere. I have now more than once shot their flappers as late
as the end of December ; in the N.-W. P. and in Mysore I have come across
them several times in November.

Quite recently, when on the march, I saw a harrier (I failed to identify him)
stoop on a quail who had just settled in a tussock of long grass. He missed

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES, 443

his mark, and the quail—a grey one—rose, and a pretty bit of aérial coursing
ensued. But to my surprise the quail had six to four the best of it and got
away by sheer speed. It upset all one’s theories of make and shape to see a
heavy-bodied, short, round-winged bird like this easily distance the lithe, long-
pointed, winged harrier in a fair run. One could only say “they run in all
shapes.”

I have several times, during the last few years, seen snipe on the ground.
On one occasion I found two on the edge of a dirty village pond, between 9
and 10 a.m., running about and pecking in the mud with sand-pipers, pond
herons, and other low company. I shot them both, and on examination they
proved to be fantails. Is this not rather against Hume’s account of their
habits ?

The snipe up here have contracted a perfectly pestiferous habit
of lying out in the middle of jhils on the rushes and weeds and coming
in to feed on the cut rice stubble, etc, after dusk, when you cannot
see to shoot them. The other day I’ walked up a likely bit of ground
on the edge of a jhil:and put up three birds only. Returning to camp
just before six, L crossed the same bit of rice field, and the birds got up
all round me in sixes and sevens. There were at least twenty couple of
them.

Thad an opportunity lately of seeing some wild cattle, or more properly
speaking, cattle whose progenitors ran wild. They imhabited a swampy
jungle, from the fastnesses of which they sallied forth morning and evening
to harry the adjacent fields. In colour the bulk of the herd were white or
grey, and far superior in size to anything one sees in the villages of the
N. W.P. I rode up to within 40 yards of a solitary bull and inspected him.
He was a remarkably fine animal, and would have passed for an unusually
good specimen of the wandering bull turned loose as a calf by some pious
Hindu but for one peculiarity. His general colour was grey, but over the
hump, shoulders, posterior portion of the neck, running down almost to the
edge of the dewlap, he had a jet black mantle, giving him a peculiar, not to
say weird, appearance. The same morning I came across a second bachelor,
a well-known budmash, who charged any one who approached him. He
was a really magnificent beast, and wore the same sombre mantle as the first.
I did not see the bull who led the herd, but the villagers reported him as
“‘burra jungi” and said he also had the same black marking. 1 should like to
know if others have noticed this curious black mantle in cattle that have
run wild. It is certainly unlike anything I have ever seen in domesticated

bovines.

I have several times, in the last few years, coursed and killed the desert
fox in the Meerut district, Speaking from memory, Jerdon notes its occurrence
in Hissar and near Amballa, but I have seen no record of any being found in

15

444 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

Meerut.* He is far and away a gamer, speedier animal than his relative, the
ordinary fox. He may be readily distinguished by the white tip to his tail.

I put up a couple of Houbaras (tilur) some time ago about 25 miles from
Meerut, Surely this is far out of their usual range.

G. F. RAYMENT, Ver. Mas., C. V. D.
Camp FATEHGARH, 6th December 1893.

No. XIII.—THE BHAKHA PLANT (INDIGOFERA CORDIFOLIA)
AND ITS EFFECTS ON CATTLE.

At the recommendation of the Hon’ble Mr. Justice (now Councillor) H. M.
Birdwood and Mr. Chester Macnaghten, Principal of Rajkumar College, Rajkote,
I was appointed in the year 1886 Curator of Gardens and Forests in Porbandar
State, when Mr. F. S. P. Lely of the Indian Civil Service was Administrator.

Accordingly, in conjunction with the Revenue Mamlatdar, I had to attend to
the grazing of cattle. I had thus an opportunity of observing what kind of
grazing was available in particular places in the different seasons of the year,
and what effect it had on cattle throughout the State.

The grazing land of the State is divisible into three parts—namely, (a) the
land along and near the sea-coast, (6) the hilly tract, (¢) the plateaux and
cultivated areas lying between the coast and the hills.

These three areas afford different kinds of grazing. On the first area there
is very little grass if any, but there are various annual herbaceous plants
cropping up at different times. On the hills there are to be found many
species of the larger grasses, and on the intervening area, which is very largely
cultivated by the agricultural classes, there are different kinds of smaller
grasses which afford excellent fodder.

Before the introduction of the British administration into the State, the
Rabaries (professional graziers) used to feed their cattle at all times of the
year in any place they chose. The result of this practice was that the cattle
found their way into the cultivated areas of the villagers and spoilt the crops.
There were no restrictions as to public grazing grounds, nor any control over
the depredations thus caused on private cultivated grounds. The British Ad-
ministrator, having heard several complaints with regard to the losses thus
caused to private cultivators, issued orders setting aside the coastal area for the
express use of the Rabaries, where alone sheep and goats were to graze ; on the
hilly area cows and buffaloes were allowed to graze ; and the intervening area
was reserved for the cultivators and their own private cattle.

In the year 1888 it so happened that 20 or 25 days after the first fall of rain
several sheep grazing on the coastal area died suddenly of diarrhoea. The

Se ee ee ee a eee
* Blanford states that the Indert Desert Fox, Vulpes lewcopus, inhabits the dry and semi-

desert regions of Western India, Sind, Cutch, Rajputana, the Punjab, and the North-Western
Provinces as far east as Fatigarh —ED

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 445

graziers therefore applied for permission to remove their sheep to the hilly and
cultivated areas for two months, The permission was granted,

But the question with me was, why there were so many sudden deaths from
diarrhea among the sheep grazing on the coastal area, On inquiry the
Rabaries informed me of what they thought to be the cause of such sudden
mortality. They appeared to think that the diarrhea was due to the sheep
having eaten immature grass, and that the jinjvo-grass [(Gujrati e'«4))
Ischemum pilosum, Dalz., Bomb. Flo., page 305] growing around the culti-
vated areas and on the hilly tracts was harmless. If at all the sheep suffered
(but asa matter of reality they do not suffer from diarrhea after eating
Jinjvo-grass), that diarrhea was amenable to treatment.

This explanation of theirs for a time satisfied me, but at the same time I
was carrying on inquiries as to the real cause of the mortality. I discovered that
although several cows and buffaloes which happened to be grazing at that time
on the same coastal area had not suffered from diarrhea, the sheep had,
I thought therefore that there was some special reason why the sheep should
suffer, and that there was some special herb which caused the diarrhea among
the sheep. I therefore made out a list* of all the plants growing on the coastal
area. Among these plants I found that the Bhdakhd plant [(Gujrati envi)
Indigofera cordifolia, Heyne, Hooker’s Flo. Br. Ind., Vol. IT, page 93]
was the most predominant. I suspected that feeding on it was the cause of
diarrhea among the sheep. But as the rainy season was then over, I was
unable to make any further investigations in the matter. One fact, however,
was noticeable at this time—namely, that although the sheep and goats had
returned to the coastal area for grazing, they did not suffer from diarrhea.

A few days after, I heard of the sudden death of two healthy bullocks in a
village. Iwas told that they had fed freely on Bhdkhd. After three or four
days more a cow anda bullock belonging to a villager died after feeding on
Bhakhd. It appeared that these two animals had wandered from their master’s
yard and fed freely on Bhakha during the whole night and in consequence died
in the early morning after a copious drink of water with their abdomens tumid.

Tt is commonly believed by graziers and villagers that excessive feeding on the
Bhakhé plant is productive of death among horned cattle. They are therefore
not allowed to feed for any length of time on ground where the Bhdkhd plant
grows wild.

Having noticed that these deaths had occurred among the horned cattle after
the rains, I ordered that they should not be allowed to graze after the rains on
the coastal area wherever Bhakh&é grew. Thereupon several buffalo-graziers
and the men in charge of the State camels represented that the coastal
area was a proper feeding ground for their animals and that the Bhakha plant
did them no harm. On such representation I countermanded my orders and
allowed buffaloes and camels to graze on the coastal area. I could observe
no injurious effects following such grazing.

Tip is To BES oo, PRE Ree on ee
* This list I propose to place before the Society on some future occasion with my notes,

446 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, VILE,

In the rainy season of 1889, when the first rain fell, I found that the Bhakha
plant had again shown ‘predominance over other newly-grown plants on the
coastal area. Being then quite young and not much raised above the ground,
the Bhakhé plant could not be got at by the horned cattle, as it was beyond the |
reach of their large mouths and thick lips. But it was within easy reach of the
smaller and thinner lips of sheep and goats; they therefore fed largely on it and
suffered in consequence. I therefore decided that it was the Bhakha plant
alone that caused the diarrhea among sheep.

I give below a description of the plant :—

Indigofera cordifolia (Heyne), Hooker’s Flo. Br. Ind., Vol. II., p. 93 ;
W. and A. Pro. Flo. Ind., Vol. I., p. 199 ; Dalz. and Gibs. Bomb. Flo., p. 58.
Gujrati—Bhikha, Darid (eu, 2a).

(Natural Order Leguminose).

Description. —A. diffuse annual plant covered all over with soft white hair
except corolla and seeds.

Root.—Long and tapering, sometimes slightly branched at the base and
giving off here and there a few minute fibres ; it is 3 to 8 inches long and as
thick as a crow-quill ; of a pale brown colour, and longitudinally fissured ; on
section it has a dull white resinous appearance.

Stems.— Suppressed. Branches radiating from a point immediately above
roots, which grow to the length of from six to eighteen inches, giving off
branchlets which are generally disposed of in secund. These branchlets give
off still smaller branchlets in secund, but in the opposite directions.

Leaves.—Simple, alternate, thickish, very shortly petioled, slightly cordate,
ovate, with a strong mucro, from # to 2 inches long ; soaked in water if dry,
they are dotted with pellucid glands ; the mid-ribs are only perceptible on the
under surfaces.

Stipules.—Minute and setaceous.

Flowers.—Racemes capituliform, sessile, flowers 4 to 8; calyx segments
setaceous and longer than the bright red corolla.

Pods.—t inch long, slightly curved and pointed with the remains of the
style, distinctly one to two seeded ; the valves are adorned inside with brownish-
red specks.

Seeds.—Small, ovate, of a brownish-red colour, pitted and minutely tubercled.

Remarks.—I present with these notes two dried specimens of Bhakha I have
in my collection. I attempted to collect a, fresh specimen of it near the Wode-
house bridge in Bombay, but I only found a dried plant as this is not the season
for collecting green samples of the plant. The plant grows in the rains and dries
up after the rains. The plant has been described in Hooker’s Flora of British
India, Wight and Arnott’s Prodromus Flore Indiz, and in Dalzell and Gibson’s
Bombay Flora. Dalzell and Gibson’s merely copies the description of Wight
and Arnott. Hooker’s description is short, but gives the measurements of the
different parts of the plant fairly well. I have supplemented the descriptions

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 447

of these well-known botanists by a few observations of my own, and it is to
be hoped that they will be of some help in the identification of this plant,

My thanks are due to Surgeon-Major K. R. Kirtikar for his having helped
me in putting my original Gujrati notes into the English form.

JAIKRISHNA INDRAJI,
Porebandar, Kathiawar.

No, XIV.—MEASUREMENT OF TIGER SKULLS.

It would be very interesting if such of our members as have,in their posses-
sion tigers’ skulls of considerable size would send the measurements of the
same to the Secretary of this Society, as I notice that in Rowland Ward’s
book on the Great Game of the World he places at the top of the list a
tiger’s skull, in his own collection, which measures 144” x 10”. These are
the exact measurements of the best specimen in our Society’s rooms.

Mr. ©. R. Cleveland, I.C.8S., recently wrote to the Secretary of our Society
stating that he had carefully measured a large tiger’s skull in the possession of
Col. T. W. Hogg, Deputy Commissioner at Saugor, C. P., which was exactly
148” x 108”, and that he himself had one which was 143” x 93”,

Sterndale speaks of ‘an enormous skull (Mammalia of India, page 165,)
which measured 153” x 103” and which he says was presented to the Calcutta
Museum by Mr. J. Shillingford of Purneah, but according to the Catalogue
of the Mammalia in the Indian: Museum, by Sclater, the largest specimen now in
the Museum measures 15” x 10:3” and is stated to have been presented by
‘Mr. Shillingford. ‘This is no doubt the same skull which Sterndale wrote of
in 1884, but it appears to have shrunk somewhat with age.

I need hardly say thai the measurements should be taken between uprights.

W.S. MILLARD.
BomBay, December, 1893.

No. XV.—FOOD OF THE WILD BOAR.

As very little has been written on the subject of the food of the Indian
Wild Boar (Sus cristatus), it is, 1 think, worth recording that, when I visited
Matheran Hill in August last during the south-west monsoon, I was told by the
jungle people (Thakors) that a large number of wild pigs came up on to the
hill every year during the rains in order to feed on the snails which are very
plentiful there at that time of the year. I verified this statement by carefully
examining all the pigs’ droppings IT came across and found that they con-
sisted almost entirely of snail shells. ;

J. M. MASON,

Custodian, Bo. Nat. Hist. Soc. Museum.
BomBay, November, 1893.

448 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

PROCEEDINGS

OF THE MEETING HELD ON 6TH SEPTEMBER, 1893.

The usual monthly meeting of the members of the Society was held on
Wednesday, the 6th September, 1893, Mr. J. Wallace, C.H., presiding.

NEW MEMBERS.

The following gentlemen were elected members of the Society :—

Mr. C. H. F. Binsteed (Secunderabad), Mr. P. Berry (Madras), Mr. J. EK.
Berkley (Secunderabad), Lieutenant T. E, Madden (Agra), Captain A. Fraser
(Secunderabad), Mr. H. 8. Elworthy (Bombay), Mr. Dayabhoy Jaduram

(Bombay), and Mr. Framjee R. Vikajee (Bombay).

CONTRIBUTIONS.

Mr. H. M. Phipson acknowledged the following contributions which had

been received since the previous meeting :—

Contribution. Description.

Contributor.

SR Se Se TE Naa De

1 Kingfisher ....0+++sseee esoares Alcedo bengalensis .......0+. 50
A Collection of Birds’ Hggs.. goc0a0000
9, PHOOLSAS «cereceoseeeeeeceseeeeee| Chis CaTiNata soaeee nano90n0Q000
2 Rain Quail (alive) ses... Coturnix coromandelica......
2 Rock Bush Quail (alive)...|Perdicula argondah.......-.0..
1 Short-toed Hagle ....0arcee0.|Circactus gallicus,....r.. soveces
1 Photograph of a Rampur
Hound .....-ece0e epd0000s22000 From JWAansi oc... cccecescccsese
1 Snake ..ceccerereeeeseeeeeereeee|COluber helena ......++« 5000000 00
5O Species of Birds’ Eggs ...|New to the Society’s collec-
LION occeccoccenscccvecersccccsoce
1 Sambhar horn ...ccecce eovece|OCTVUS UNICOLOL cve.c eoeeeenes
1 Large Centipede (alive) «. Scolopendra gigantea ...csocs.
TL Dhamanoecercececcccvecsccercee| LE LYAS MUCOSUS ecceescoceeerns ove

1 Wooden Caterpillar..cescce.|Hepialus VITESCEDS cssccrsecees

Echis carinata ...

1 PHOOTSA cocceccccss++s+conccse0e

9, Snakes ...ccccecccesee pon6a000d Trimeresures animalensis ...
1 Krait .....csccccccsccrcccevscces Bungarus ArCcUatus -crccccce...
2 Snakes ccccoee gacoedoudooboL00 Lycodon avlicus .....c--reee 60
1 Do. —evevee.ascenrccccecccecs Tropidonotus stolatus ...... ..
2 Do. eer cecceee odsa. doaddtess Onycocephalus acutus.......+.
2 Do. soosessacodene eHodeood| Collnorere MEN@ME, sadacqsqa20020000 :
3 Large Scorpions ..0... sce. Scorpio swammerdami ......
1 Large Sole sc..sescsesereseeeses Cynoglossus quinquelineatus
1 Green Pigeon (alive) ...... OSMOLTETON SPeeececsevcceesc.0e
2 Nests of Stewart’s Wren

Warbler cccorere F50000080 cooe| PTINIA SUCWATLL ... occceccsoseeve

Minor contributions from Mrs. Godfrey and Miss A. Prentice,

Mr, W. F. Sinclair, I.C.8.
Mr. C, Crommelin.
Col. MacRae.
Mr. D. Bennett.
Do.
Major L. Fenton.

Mr, W. H. Traill.
Mr, W. HE. Majer.

Mr. H.C. 8. Baker.

Mr. J. F. Snuggs.

Capt. Thorburn.

Mr. D. MacLaughlan
Slater.

Capt. Stewart (s.s. Ocea-
na).

Mr, J. A. Betham.

Do,
Mr. N. S. Symons.
Purchased.

Mr. G. Vidal, I.C.S.

PROCEEDINGS. 449

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Les Formicides de Madagascar, par M. Forel ... : ; Presented by

the author.
Memoirs of the Geological Survey of India, Vol. II, Part I, In exchange.
North American Fauna, No. 7 ... In exchange.
Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute, Vol. XXV .-- Ln exchange.
Proceedings of the Linnxan Society of New South Wales,

Vol. VIII, Part I. a bog ieee -. «. Inexchange.
Index and Appendix to the Die maccanishiea radi (Dymock.)
Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, No. 2, 1893 ..» In exchange.
The Destructive Insects of Victoria, Pari Il... on .. In exchange.
Manual of the New Zealand Coleoptera od Peete) i imexchange:
Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria, Vol. IV, Part 2. In exchange.

PAPERS RHAD.

Mr. A. Abercrombie read extracts from a paper he had written for the
Society’s Journal on the Common Marine Shells of the Bombay Coast, and
illustrated his remarks with specimens from a collection made .by him in the
immediate vicinity of Bombay. This local collection consists of 320 distinct
species, all of which had been identified by Mr. Abercrombie with the assist-
ance of the authorities at the British Museum.

The following miscellaneous notes were also read :—

(a) Notes on Indian Dogs, F. E. Dempster ; (0) Shooting Notes, Major
E. F. Becher ; (c) Birds observed breeding in Kharagora, H. Bulkley ; (@)

The habits of the Coppersmith, HE. H. Aitken ; (¢) Where do Swallows sleep ?
K. H, Aitken.

PROCEEDINGS
OF THE MEETING HELD ON 13rm NOVEMBER, 1893.

A meeting of the members took place on Monday the 13th November,
at the Society’s room, Brigade-Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel G. A. Maconachie
presiding.

NEW MEMBERS,

The following gentlemen were duly elected members of the Society :—The
Honorary Secretary, Government Museum and Public Gardens (Trivandrum),
Mr. C. C. Philpott (Rangoon), Mr. C. D. Twopenny (Cashmere), Mr. H. C.
Ryland (Calcutta), Mr. E. Bryden (Cachar), the Honorary Secretary, Tenas-
serim Agri-Horticultural Society (Moulmein), Dr. C. C. Caleb (Lahore), Lieutes
nant B. Buchanan, R. A. (Bombay), Surgeon-Major Henry J. Barnes (Ahmed:
nagar), Mr. S. L. Batchelor, 1.0.8. (Bijapur), Mr. C. P. Fox, C. EH. (Bellary),
Mr. C. Greatheed (Tanna), Mr. BR. Giles, M. A. (Sukkur), Mr. A. Lancaster
(Betul), Captain W. D. Gunn, A. V.D. (Dum Dum), Mr. G. C. Sturrock, R. As

450 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. ule

(Quetta), Surgeon-Major EH. P. Frenchman (Bassein, Burma), Mr. W. F. Loftus-
Tottenham (Pegu), Mr. Charles W. A. Bruce (Upper Burma), Surgeon-Lieu-
tenant Colonel H. J. W. Barrow (Ahmednugger), Captain R. M. Poore (Mhow),
Mr. Naranjee Dwarkadas (Bombay), Mr. A. J. A. Jardine (Bassein, Burma).

The Honorary Secretary drew attention to the fact that according to Rule
IV the first annual subscription of members elected during the months of
October, November, and December shall be considered to extend to the 31st of

December in the following year.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MUSEUM.

_ Mr. H. Phipson, the Honorary Secretary, acknowledged having received the
following contributions since the last meeting :—

Contribution.

Description.

Contributor,

“1 Albino Dove cscccccseessrencre
2 Cobras (Alive) cscccocoescorce

1 Malabar Civet Cat (alive)
1 Snake . ccccoereeee
1 Daboiu.
Beetineas of Gold Qnesin ».
1 Cobra ..
Nest and Begs of ‘the “Tailor
Bird hed
Photographs inate.

Do.
Do.
1 Indian Pipistrelle...
1 Snake (alive)

2 Chameleons (alive) 998 00000
1 Scylla ... ....2. ccsecevarc:cceres
1 Cobra -vccce BOCES OSOINOCOROOS

1 Yellow-breasted ground
Thrush
A Number of Scorpions, Li-
ZALAS, GCreececo
1 Snake
1 Sea Snake. ......0...00 Racotons
2 Snakes
1 Snake...
3 Tortoises’ “Hess. soleil Beweaoase
1 Spotted Crake ..... aveesswnse
1 Red-headed Pochard
1 Large Blue Heron...... Specoc
1 Snake
2 Snakes
L Snake ceccoc-.. coves
J Kimefisher ....2.cescuc.- soocee
A Collection of Birds’ Eggs...
1 Cobra (alive)
12 Birds’ Higgs ..

eoocrdecoe

000000 -ce 0bGsee COCVCF COO

ececce

e@eo0eeceo

coceooosoauncecace

CO a

eee DCLG ELOMNGS ceeeseccseumcsts

Ua EromvAGenbeeenscesice

Turtur SULAtEDSIS ecccccece

Naga tripudians ......-0.s00.-.

Tropidonotus piscator .....
Daboia russellii......00. coe .see °
a HromiVinyiS OTC ecscsnesiescicae annosce
Naga tripudians ....

--/Orthotomus sutorius

000000 .u.

Rampur Hounds ....-cccovecsee
Shan) DOR evecceres coscesencc sss
Vesperugo abramus cecccs. caree
..|Tropidonotus punctulatus ...
Chameleo calcaratus
Hrom Aden <ccsescccesceos
Naga tripudians .

Pitta brachyUraeeccrcc...cs

e
°

eoageeerao o
Typhlops brahminus .ee......
Hydrophis nigrocinctus ..
Tropidonotus stolatus .........
ZAMINUS MUCOSUS..e... cecceee

Testudo elegans csccoccesscovce
Peyzana Mariietta.s-ccoccccssere
Hyun sulla eT Aleeatan aleelseateneeeia
ATCA CINETEA cecsececcevensceee
Gongylophis conicus ......
Tropidonotus plumbicolor ...
Crysopelea ornata ec. saesiess
Alcedo bengalensis .........0..
Rope VOIR, Tescdstooecaossoccicon
Naga tripudians ..sccccccccasee
From Rutnagherry ccesescse.:-

ViIVELTA CLVELHINA coo... cseccce0e
..--| bure.-Capt. M. Knages,

.|H. H. the Maharaja of

Kolhapore.

The Principal of the Grant
Medical College.

Mr. Wasey.

Surg.-Major H. Martin.
Mr, H.C. Tooth.
Col, D. Robertson.

Mr. H. Hepworth.

.»|H. H.the Rao Sahib of

Cuteh.
Mr. W. H. Traill.

-| Mr. 4. HE, Dempster.

Mr. W. F. Sinclair, C. 8.
Miss. A. Prentice.

.| Mr. James Kenyon,

Capt. H. Shopland.
Capt. f. T. C. Hughes.

Mr. E'. A. Little.

Capt. H. Shopland, KR. 1.M.
Major H. C. Harford.

-| Miss S$. Baird.

Dr.H. EH. Drake-Brockman.

Do. do.
Do. do.
Hon. W. T. O’Brien.
Do. do.
Do. do.
Mr. H. H. Aitken.
Do.
Do.

Miss A. Waller.

.| Capt. Finny, R. I. M,

My, A. Leslie.
Mr. J. H. Dickinson.

Pr ann

PROCEEDINGS. 451

Contribution, Description. Contributor.
1 Persian Gazelle (alive) ...|Gazella subgutturosa ......-..| Capt. Gimblett.
1 Yellow-breasted Ground |Pitta prachyUura cecccsescrcece -| Mr. Douglas Bennett,
Thrush (alive).
i (SNARE cogonccacna6n oadao00ce sooee/SIMOLES TUSSEL]IL .2c.ccsceseeeee Mr, A. C. Walker.
i} 1D®s ceaccoanocadosn0 59000000000 Tropidonotus piscator......... Surg.-Capt. Knaggs,
2 Snakes ............0+0.e-eeeeee(Ohersyurus etanulatus ......| Mr. H. W. Barrow.
1 Snake.......... eqnogooosnccacdd Tropidonotus stolatus......... Do.
1] [Spent IEE ocoooccboode. eecce| DTOMCEUS ITTOTALUS .eccecccccce Mr. P, Churchward.
il QIDIREN? coaccgeacananonen 2005000 Pandion hanetus ...2.4 20:00 .| Mr. H. Bulkley.
1 Golden - backed Wood-|Brachypternis aurantius...... Do.
pecker.
1 Crested Cuckoo 0.0. gooond0ee. Coccystes jacobinus .........00. Do.
I {Sarees Cscadaoadanoaocdneddedo Astur badius ...scccccrccccccees Jo Do.
1 Marsh Harrier ..........+e0- Circus KLUGINOSUS ....eeeeeeee Do.
1 Indian Night-Jar.......0....|Caprimulgus asiaticus......00.« Mrs. Pearson.
IL (SIM@IE coccadedqocacacadosacc0s00¢ Lycodon striatus ...........-.../ Mr. W. H. Traill.
1 Flying Fox (alive) ......... PteropUs MEIUS ....ecccc.eso0e Mr. H. James.
1 oie Water Hen|Hrythra phoenicura ......0« .-.-| Mr. P. HE. Myer.
alive).
1 Albino Jack Snipe ...... ...|Gallinage gallinula .......s02., Mr. C. H. B. Forbes.
A Number of Sea Shells ...../From Karachi ..... Qonn ace 000000 Mr. G. Elton.
A Collection of Sea Shells ...)From Madras ......,..06 3000000 Mr. P. Berry.
2 Daboias (alive) -+...... .. eoe|Daboia elegans...ccccccccocse-a- Mr. P. R. Mehta,
1 Snake Glive)..c...--.scecceee Silybura macrelepis..........+.| Mr. EH. W. Scott.

MINOR CONTRIBUTIONS FROM

Miss Ida Prager, Mr. Aston, Mr. Brandenburg, Mr. W. Jackson, Mr. J. Stiven,
Mr. G. de Bildt, Major W.P. Kennedy, Mr. V. Cabral, Mr. A. L. Pilleau,
and Mr. F. Chard.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Field and Garden Crops of the N.-W. P. and
OETA UDC) Ge eA ce } From Bie dla To NGI

Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, \ From Mr. W. F. Sinclair,

ACLS leer ta cle TWIG ee ce cmnneeesassecc soc elaci<mcneese C.S.
The Prairie Ground Squirrels ..........0«sceccsess Beeeon From Mr, Vernon Bayley,
The Dictionary of Economic Products of India

(VG: Ween ae cea ae eee {rom Government:

PAPERS READ,
The following papers were then read :—

1, Notes on Sambar and Sambar Shooting, by J. D. Inverarity. 2,
Notes on some of the Butterflies of Matheran, by J. A. Betham. 3, Miscella-
neous Notes—(a) O Pao da Cobra, or ‘“‘ Serpent’s Wood,” by Dr. D. G.
Dalgado ; (+) The Nest of Stewart's Wren Warbler, by G. W. Vidal, I.C.S. :
(c) The Kol Bhalu, by F. J. A. Hill; (@), Symptoms of Snake-bite, the result
of fright, by Mr. 8. M. Fraser, I.C.S. ; (¢) Ihe Breeding of the Gourami, by
Charles F. Gilbert, M.I.C.E, ; (/) The flowering of “ Grammatophyllum brom-
headii,” by F. E. Dempster.

y . r
die kira hea A

ie ; ces ites Wi)
rea ee Ades.) eC ik Sap Cea os og WE Bae fe
a :

Cpr ce eel ete pern=

MS creas Bs

Pwr teen &

Te

Qonddere

per ens

CLEPOeEy (Pere Gee te LEAT TER CET G

Journ. Bombay Nat.Hist.Soc.Vol VIELIS9s3. Plate cd.

Mintern Bros. Chromo lth. Londen.
THE POISONOUS PLANTS OF BOMBAY.
Cerbera thevetia. Nat. Ord. Apocynacess.
1 Horizontal Section of Fruit 2. Vertucal Section of Fruit.

4,

Ye 9 Vien Senet The KOEN

Isaac Benjamin del.

JOURNAL

OF THE

yin) A OY
dlatural History Society,

No. 4.] BOMBAY. [Vol. VIll.

THE POISONOUS PLANTS OF BOMBAY.
By Surcron-Masor K. R. KirtiKgar, 1..8., F.LS8.

PART VIII,
(With Plate J.)

(Continued from page 334.)
CERBERA THEVETIA—~( Willd.).

(Natural Order—ApocyNacE&.)

Maratui— fqaqost Huet,

Synonym, THevetiaA Nerurouia (Juss).—It is known in England
as the Hxile tree. In this country it is known as the Yellow Oleander.

A handsome, ornamental, ever-green, spreading shrub, 12—15 ft.
high. It may also be classed asa tree. Hvery part of it contains
abundantly a thick acrid milky juice. The pith of the young branches
is particularly rich in this juice.

STEM.—Rough, rugose, branching irregularly. Wood soft, whitish,
and bitter.

BrancHEs.—Rounded, often rising in clusters; sometimes springing
from the ground separately,

Bark.—1—2 lines in thickness. The fresh bark of young wood is
smooth, bright green, and covered by a thin grey rough epidermis.
The epidermis can be readily scraped off; abundant milky juice
escapes from the exposed green bark,

1

454 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII,

The wood becomes more compact as it grows older, and is then
brownish, occasionally streaked black here and there. The pith
becomes absorbed as the wood gets older, and leaves an irregular
central canal, often large enough to admit of a crow-quill. The bark

at this time has a brown suberous coating, much cracked here and
there.

Srrputes.—Absent; there are several glands in the axilla of the
leaf instead.

LEAVES.—Alternate, linear te narrow-linear ; 2—5 inches long, +
inch at the broadest part, glabrous, coriaceous, glossy ; usually veinless ;
in some, the primary veins which arise from the mid-rib are faintly
prominent ; acuminate at both ends, decurrent in a very short petiole,
or almost sessile ; margin revolute, entire.

FLOWERS.—Large, bright yellow, 2—3 inches long, streaked on
the dorsum, with lanceolate twisted greenish stripes from the tube to the
distal end of the corolla, terminating in a point. 3

INFLORESCENCE.—Terminal or lateral cymes. Peduncles much
shorter than the leaves, rounded, glabrous, about a line in thickness,

AistivaTion.—Contorto-imbricate, the twist being to the right.

CaLyx.—5-parted; sepals distinct and persistent ; lanceolate or ovate-
lanceolate ; glabrous, deep green externally, yellowish or light green
internally ; acuminate ; 4 the length of the corolla-tube, or about 3
lines long.

CoroLta.—Deciduous, falling off the day after the opening of
the flower ; glabrous externally throughout, and internally as far
‘as the throat of the tube, below which it is thickly covered with
fine white hairs. The tubular portion is darker yellow inside,
greener outside.

The form of the corolla is said to be hypocrateriform by De Candolle,
as also by Mr. A, Smith in his article on this plant in “ Lindley and
Moore’s Treasury of Botany.”’ But the tube in this flower is neither
long nor slender, nor is the limb, that is, the terminal lobes of the
corolla, flat, The form of the flower is more campanulate than
anything else. The corolla may be divided into three parts :—
(1) a tube about 3—3? inch long, widest at its insertion on the
calyx ; about 2 lines in diameter, narrowest at its mid-part, and

THE POISONOUS PLANTS OF BOMBAY, 455°

contracted at the throat ; (2) beyond the throat is the bell-like
central portion, {—1 inch in length ; (8) from the distal part. of this
bell-like mid-portion five lobes twist in a spiral manner to the right,
%—1 inch in length. The tube is all but closed in above the anthers
by ovate acute-bilobate “scales ” at the throat. These “ scales” are
covered with soft white shining hairs. They leave just a small open-
ing enough to show the pointed apex of the stigma.
STAMENS.—5, alternating with the lobes of the corolla,

Ta ents SIU perceptible,

Anthers—2-celled, included within the tube by the “ scales”
mentioned above ; inserted on the throat of the tube ; erect,
introrse, subsessile, lanceolate ; enclosing the stigma at its base
by their inferior pointed extremities, almost adhering to the
stigma.

Pollen—Granular.

Pist1L—

Ovary—Superior, free, single ; 2-celled. The entire ovary is
surrounded by a bright yellow ring-like five-notched disk, the
notches alternating with the lobes of the calyx,

StyLe—Filiform, included ; each cell of the ovary sends up a
distinct thread which unites with its fellow about a line away
from the point of its exit from the cell.

Stiama—Conically capitate ; faintly 2-lobed; the apex of the
cone finely pointing at the distal end.

OvuLEs—2 in each ovary ; amphitropous; round, compressed
from base to apex ; equi-distant from the ovary.

FRUIT.-—Globose or ovately-globose, or half-orbicular ; truncated
at the apex ; smooth, glossy ; light green when immature, yellow ex-
ternally when mature ; slightly fleshy ; flesh white ; longest diameter
13—2 inches horizontally ; dilated at mid-portion transversely, with
a hard brown stone or putamen which contains the seed. The
putamen is of a peculiar triangular shape, resembling the “ cocked-
hat.” It is divided by a deep groove into two cells along the edge,
corresponding to the base of the triangle. ach cell is generally de-
scribed as having a distinct seed within it, but very often one of the
cells seems to remain undeveloped. In such cases the seed in such a
cell is abortive.

456 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

SEEDS.—Two, often only one, slightly winged near the situation
of the embryo ; pale yellow ; the tegmen of the seed is friable.

ALBUMEN.—Absent.

Hupryo.—Hrect, small, fleshy.

RADICLE.—Short, eccentric, cylindrical.

CoryLepons.-—Rotundate; convex externally, plane internal-
ly ; fleshy ; varying in size from a two-anna silver-piece to
a four-anna silver-piece. The substance of the cotyledons
is intensely bitter.

REMARKS.

The shrub is a native of South America and the West Indies. It
was introduced into England in 1735. It is not known when it was
introduced into this country and whether it came here direct from
its native soil or from England. It is, however, perfectly naturalized
in India in the different parts of the country. It has been figured and
described by Royle in his “ Illustrations of the Himalayan Plants ”
published in 1839. The flower is considered by some writers to have
a sickly odour. It has the faint odour of Neriwm oleander, which is by
no means disagreeable. But that is a mere matter of taste or opinion ;
and, as such, knows no definite law. The wood also, as has been already
observed, is credited by some writers of note, such as Lindley, with a
repulsive odour (“Veget. Kingdom,” p. 559, 1847). It does not possess
any such odour, so far as I can judge from the examination of several
specimens, fresh or dried, growing in Bombay, Thana, and Bandra,
where the plant is much appreciated asa garden beauty of hardy growth.

Kurz, describing the plant as it grows in Burma, gives its height
as from fifteen to twenty feet. It seldom grows as high as that on
this side of India. The length of the clear stem is given by him as
between six to ten feet, but very often here there appears to be no
clear stem, as fresh branches are given off, even when the stem is old
the branches keep sprouting out even downto the root, The flowering
time in England, as given by Loudon, is from January to July
(“Encyclopeedia of Plants,” p. 148, 1829). Kurz gives the flowering
time in Burma as between November and March, where the fruit is
ready in the cold season. The plant seems to flower and mature fruit on
this side of India at all times of the year. Here itis quite possible to see
a full-formed fruit,while fresh flowers are being thrown out in succession.

THE POISONOUS PLANTS OF BOMBAY. 457

The latest example in proof of this may be given from the specimens I
examined in January last in the Victoria Gardens, Bombay, through the
kindness of Mr. C. D. Mahaluxmeewalla,the well-informed and energetic
Superintendent of the Gardens. In one of these specimens on a single
branch, there was a mature fruit on one branchlet, on another a half-
developed fruit, on the third a full-blown flower. In the Bandra speci-
mens which I examined through the good offices of Mr. HE. M. Pratt,
LG.S., in July and August, 1892, and in January last, there were
flowers and fruits in all stages of development on one and the same tree.

The plant is said to require rich mould when grown as a stove-plant
in cold countries. In India it grows in red soil, as well as in sandy or
clayey soil. |

With regard to the question of stipules, Alph. De Candolle has the
following important observation in his monograph on the Apocynacee
in “ Annales des Se. Nat.” (8rd Series, Vol. I, Bot., pp. 285—263) :—
“In C. thevetia there are axillary fasciculated glands, that is to say,
accumulated in large numbers, between the stem and the petiole.
Considering their situation, number, and smallness, one cannot in
any way take these glands for stipules.” (J. Mittra.)

Dr. Norman Chevers says in his celebrated work on Indian Medical
Jurisprudence that the oil obtained by expression from the seed of
Cerbera thevetia is amber-coloured and slightly viscid, and that it is
recommended as a cathartic by natives; “but,” he adds on the
authority of Dr. Shortt, “it produces violent vomiting and hyper-
catharsis.” (Col. Drury observes in his “ Useful Plants of India ”’ that
the oil is of a bright yellow colour, but that its uses and properties
are yet undetermined. Dr. Dymock and his colleagues in their
“6 Pharmacographia Indica” (Vol. III, pp. 406—410), as our latest
authorities on the subject, say that the oil when pure is as inert as olive
oil. The oil, according to the researches of De Vrij, has an agreeable
mild taste like that of fresh almonds. DeVrij says that the oil is limpid
and almost colourless. The quantity that can be obtained by expression
is 835—41 per cent., and 57 per cent. with benzol.

POISONOUS PROPERTIES.

The plants of the order Apocynacee abound in milky juice con-
taining various acrid principles. The acrid principles isolated from

458 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

Cerbera thevetia, according to the most recent researches, are known
as Thevetin and Theveresin. These active principles render the plant
highly dangerous. It must not, however, be supposed that all the
plants of the order Apocynacee are of such a nature. Owing to the
absence of one or other of the acrid principles, the milky juice of a
plant belonging to this order may be perfectly innocuous. Royle
mentions, on the authority of Lindley, a plant of this order which is
perfectly harmless. It is the milk-tree or Hya-hya of Demerara,
ealled by Mr. Arnott Tabernemontana utilis. Royle mentions other
harmless plants, such as the Melodinus monogynus, which isa native
of Northern and Eastern India, and the orange-like fruits of which
have a sweet edible pulp ; the Carissa edulis of Nubia ; and the
Cream fruit of Sierra Leone ; all these yield edible fruit. The
Willoughbia edulis growing in India and the Carissa carandas
growing wild all over the Thana ‘District, are instances of plants
bearing perfectly harmless fruit. There are, on the other hand, other
plants of the same order, such as Cerbera Manghas and Cerbera
Tanghin, which are highly dangerous. The seeds of Cerbera Manghas
are narcotic, The seeds of Cerbera Tanghin (the Tanghin tree of Mada-
gascar) are said to be so powerfully poisonous that a single seed may
be sufficient to destroy twenty persons (Royle).

The bark of the plant, administered internally, has been, since the
days of Lindley, considered to be a powerful febrifuge, 2 grains of it
only being considered to be equal to a dose of cinchona. It is used
in countries where it grows wild for poisoning fish.

I must not omit to mention here the observations of Mr. A, Smith
in the “Treasury of Botany,” which are as follows :—“Its fruit is regard-
ed as noxious, though, according to Dr. Seeman, a gentleman ate four of
them, when a boy, without injury.” Possibly this was due to idiosyn-
crasy, by virtue of which the boy’s constitution withstood the effects
of the poison, or that he ate the quantity of the fruit on a loaded
stomach, which possibly diluted the poisonous element to such an
extent as to render it inert. Again, we are told that it was the fruit
that was eaten. Weare not aware to what extent the fruit, i.e., the
pulpy part, contains the poisonous element, nor do we know that the
pulp is ever. used for extracting the poisonous principles. Perhaps

THE POISONOUS PLANTS OF BOMBAY. 459

the poisonous principles exist in much less proportions in the fruit-pulp
than in the seeds, which latter is the part of the plant generally used
for the extraction of the active principles. We have clear instances
in recorded cases of how deleteriously the active principles of the plant
may sometimes act on certain individuals. It is the milk of the tree
that is considered highly venomous. Its bitter bark and leaves are
cathartic. |

Dr. Norman Chevers, on the authority of Dr. Waring, of unrivalled
therapeutic repute as regards Indian plants, observes in his Medical
Jurisprudence that the kernels of the plant are exceedingly bitter, I
know it by personal experience, for I have tasted them and found them
so to my disgust. “ They produce,” says Dr. Norman Chevers, “a slight
feeling of numbness, very slight indeed, in the tongue ;” but I did not
notice any heat whatsoever which Dr. Waring says is experienced.

From a case published by Dr. J. Balfour (‘‘ Madras Journ. of Lit.
and Se,” 1857, Vol. IIL, N.8., p. 140), it appears that the swallowing
of one kernel of the fruit produced acro-narcotic symptoms, similar to
those of aconite. In a case quoted by Dr. Chevers, as mentioned
to him by Babu Kannya Lall Dey, a case which occurred in the
practice of a physician whom the latter knew, it appears that on the
eating of a single seed, the following symptoms occurred :—In a short
time after swallowing, vomiting commenced, but there was no purging :
within half an hour the boy, who had swallowed it, was covered with
cold clammy sweat; the countenance was pale, and the eyes sunken
deeply, and within two hours he died convulsed.

Let us now consider the active principles of the plant under notice,
They are Thevetin and Theveresin. Dr. Dymock and his colleagues,
in their “ Pharmacographia Indica,” elaborately quote the experiments
of T. Husemann on the lower animals, such as frogs, dogs and rabbits,
Our concern is more with regard to man, and it will, therefore, be
more useful to summarize the researches of a leading Pharmacologist
like Schmiedeberg, so far as they could be determined on the mam-
malian genus Homo, with regard to the action of the poisonous group
to which Thevetin belongs.

Schmiedeberg classes Thevetin with the Digitaline Group. The
active principles of the various plants, classed under this group, act

460 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VII.

upon all sorts of animals in so uniform a manner that each of the
substances seems, as regards its individual action, a true copy of any one
of the others. The most important of this group is the one which
gives it its distinguishing name in pharmacology, namely, Digitalin,
which, together with Digitalein and Digitoxin, form the active princi-
ples of Foxglove. Next to these comes the active principle of Squills,
named Scillain. Next come Helleborin,the active principle of Hellebore,
and Oleandrin, otherwise called Nerein, to which the Common Oleander
owes its poisonous properties. Then there is Apocyanein. Finally,
belonging to this group are Adonis, the active principle of Adonis,
Vernalis and Convallamarin, the active principle of Convallaria
Majalias (Lilly of the Valley).

Scillain, Helleborin, Adonis, and Oleandrin or Nerein are not crys-
talline and are almost insoluble in water. Digitalin, Apocyanein and
Convallamarin are glucosides which form frothy solution with water
like Saponin, a glucoside contained in the bark of Quillaia of Chili
(Quillaia saponaria). Thevetin, Antiarin aud Strophanthin, belonging
to the Digitaline Group, are considered by Schmiedeberg as rarities.

The action of these active principles included in the digitaline group
consists almost exclusively in the fact that they alter ina peculiar
way the elasticity of the cardiac muscle without at first modifying
the contractility of it. There are three stages distinctly, from their
preliminary action to their most potent final effect :—(I)—Jn the first
stage, there is a rise of blood-pressure and consequent slowing of the
pulse, larger quantities of blood being thrown into the aorta and
thence into the arteries. This effect can be kept up by small doses
of the substances of this group. (II)—Jn the second stage, there is
continuous high blood-pressure with irregularity both in the action
of the heart and in the frequency of the pulse. (II1)—Jn the third
stage, there is sudden arrest of the action of the heart from the
paralysis of that organ as indicated by a rapid fall of the blood-pressure.

It is as such that Thevetin is supposed to act, especially producing
the phenomena characteristic of the second and third stages. The
subcutaneous injections of this substance, Schmiedeberg observes,
“‘cause phlegmonous inflammations more or less readily.” Closely
connected with this, is its action on the stomach and intestines which
causes gastric disturbance, diarrhoea and other symptoms, well known

THE POISONOUS PLANTS OF BOMBAY. 461

to have been observed during the use of digitaline. The action of
Thevetin appears, from the recorded cases of poisoning, to be more
- vapid than in cases where digitalin is administered medicinally.

These views of Schmiedeberg are corroborated by Cerna. His
experiments show that Thevetin produces death by asphyxia and
cardiac paralysis. Applied to the skin, says he, it produces irritation
and a sensation of burning. It produces also convulsions of cerebral
and paralysis of spinal origin. It increases intestinal peristalsis, lowers
the temperature, and, locally applied, it increases salivation, and con-
tracts the pupils. Warden has confirmed the statement as to the pro-
duction of convulsions. (Dymock.)

As against what Schmiedeberg has said—namely, that Thevetin is
non-crystalline—De Vrij says that Thevetin is obtained at the rate of
four per cent. from the cake left after the oil is expressed from the seed.
It consists of a “beautiful white crystallized glucoside.” This question is
well worthy of the study and further research on the part of the Indian
pharmacologist. De Vrij was able to find Thevetin in the bark also of
Cerbera thevetia. Pure Thevetin, says Dr. Warden of Calcutta, is white
and crystalline (“ Pharma, Journal,” Vol. XIII, 3rd Series, p. 43),
Warden has discovered a second poisonous principle in the seeds of
Cerbera thevetia, to which he gives no name, but it is one which appears’
to him to possess greater activity than Thevetin. Pure Thevetin, he says
is only faintly bitter, whereas the newly discovered poisonous principle
is persistently bitter and non-crystalline. The latter was obtained by
precipitating the mother-liquor left after the crystallization of Thevetin
by aqueous tannic acid and decomposing the precipitate by lime,
In his work on Medical Jurisprudence, Dr. Lyon observes that in India
cases of poisoning by Cerbera thevetia in the human subject are seldom
met with. But Dr. K. L. Dey says that he has lately found it employed
in Bengal for homicidal purposes without raising any suspicion. Two
cases of homicidal poisoning came under his observation in the course
ofa month, Nine cases of cattle poisoning by the seeds of this plant
came under the observation of Dr. Lyon in 1886, Dr. Dumortier
records a, fatal case in a child three years old after swallowing one seed.

I may observe here that Dr. K. L. Dey considers the oil obtained
from the seeds of Cerbera thevetia to be a cardiac poison. He says that
“the acrid oil contained in the kernels is a powerful acro-narcotic
poison allied to Nux Vomica, and its effects as a poison are very rapid”
(Pharmaceutical Journal, Vol. XII, 3rd Series, p. 397).

2

462

CONTRIBUTION A LA CONNAISSANCE DES MUTILLES
DE LINDE.

Par HARNEST ANDRE’.
(Read before the Bombay Natural History Society, 13th February, 1894.)

La petite collection de Mutilles qui fait objet du présent travail a
été recueillie dans diverses localités de la Présidence de Bombay par
Mr. R. C. Wroughton, Indian Forest Service, et par quelques-uns de
ses amis qui ont bien voulu, sur sa demande, joindre leurs recherches
aux siennes pour arriver 4 un resultat plus complet.

La totalité des espéces recueillies s’éléve 4 81, sur lesquelles 15 sont
nouvelles pour la science, ce qui donne une idée de Ja richesse de ses
regions priviligiées.

Pour faciliter la reconnaissance de ces insectes je commencerai par
résumer en un tableau synoptique les caractéres des 31 espéces que j’ai
pu étudier et qui toutes appartiennent au sexe femelle.

Puis je donnerai le catalogue raisonné des captures, avec les renseigne=
ments géographiques nécessaires et la description des espéces nouvelles.

Mais, avant d’entrer en matiére, je tiens a remercier ici Mr. Wrough-
ton de son extréme obligeance et 4 lui exprimer toute ma reconnais-
sance pour la générosité avec laquelle il m’a abondonné le fruit de ses
diverses explorations.

GRAY, 10 Juillet, 1893.
TABLEAU SYNOPTIQUE.
des Mutilles 9 comprises dans le present travail.
1, Thorax quadrangulaire, 4 cotés paralléles, rec-
tilignes ou légérement concaves ; abdomen
toujours sessile, sans étranglement entre
son premier et son second seements -s...... PEnbe aoeoaobbdgeods wea sacoo 2
Thorax allongé, sensiblement rétréci en arriere,
& cotés rarement rectiliones ; mais plus ou
MOINS en arc convexe, parfois dilatés en
dents ou tubercules. Abdomen tantot
sessile, tantot distinctement pétiolé ......ssesseeesreeee slelteleaiieceaaa set 24
2. Premier segment de l’abdomen sans tache dis-
tincte de pubescence claire, parfois cilié
de poils formant une bande peu fournie 4
Son Wore Moosvericul Wecescsueves+-;se-steeeseoeemaner™

1 CORDOC EHO DEOL ESCEE RCD 3

A,

i

DES MUTILLES DE LINDE. 463

Premier segment de abdomen avec une tache

distincte, isolée, de pubescence blanche ou

JAUNC sores reece seer] qeansin ahlaida slew ner« see ceeesseeesovecessccessercesseeeee le
Second segment de l’abdomen pourvu d’une

bande de pubescence blanche ou jaune,

mais sans tache isolée .....2..-c02scecss00e ScGbBOOBOLEGCORHOOBOLe:. a iericae
Second segment de abdomen avec ou sans

bande, mais pourvu d’une ou plusieurs

taches isolées. (Parfois les taches sont plus

ou moins confluentes et simulent une

bande, mais on les reconnait toujours en ce

qu’elles n’atteignent pas le bord externe du

SETUMNCIII)) decdocbocuce cocnetboacboodeadabon culo ¢ Gbbnecéedasddeorsepoceoonas By
Taille tres aie fe a 3 mill.) ; sae seg-

ment avec une bande de poils blanchatres

4 son bord postérieur ; les segments sui-

vants presque glabres; tete et thorax

rouges, sansrevétement de pubescence dorée .+..0....-.JM, atomus, 0. Sp.
Taille grande (11 4 15 mill.); tete densement

revétue de pubescence d’un fauve doré ;

thorax rouge; second segment abdominal

avec une large bande de poils d’un fauve

doré 4 son bord postérieur; troisiéme

segment recouvert en entier de semblable

PUbescence ...ceresecereeere AN ea esceeee coessveoe lM, Kaucre (Cam.)
Partie antérieure du second segment some

nal avec une setlle tache MEdiaNe ss1e..ccesenssscerecevecsecccsevesesess O
Partie antérieure du second segment abdominal

HVECLOCUa tAGhCS lAberalenyodcadsssovenseecesecacaesasccssecsieetcesecvccce, Ll
Bord postérieur du second segment abdominal

soit simplement avec une bande, dilatée

OU non en son milieu, soit avec une tache

meédiane reliée 4 une bande apicale ...scccscscsscecssccseccceecvecsecs 7
Bord postérieur du second segment abdominal

portant une tache médiane, isolée, de

pubescence blanche, non reliée 4 une

Wane apicales sense seeceseccscenad-acncctenisastseshoechechoesarsessessscece 10)
Troisieme segment abdominal sans bande de

pubescence blanche Ov jaune rsecnervecerconcecteseceseesesccoesepecserces 8

464 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

10.

il.

12,

Troisieme segment abdominal avec une bande

de pubescence d’un blanc jaunatre ; second

Segment avec une tache basale et une

bande apicale de méme couleur ; téte

noire, thorax rouge, Long: 546 mill ............M. rufipes (Latr.)
Tache et bande du second segment abdominal

dun jaune d’or ; téte noire, thorax rouge.

Mong HS Mall eee. seciceteacen sacle selene bcoobdneb soce seceoee Mf, pulla, 0. Sp.
Tache et bande du second seement abdominal
d’un blanc Wargent ......... pido ECOOENDURB USUBOnGUoSdAn= ee4oo0 mcoco| 8)

Tete entierement noire, un peu plus large que

le thorax, luisante, peu densément ponc-

tuée ; thorax arrondi en arriere; segment

anal non strié en dessus. Long: 4 mill ......... MM. subglabra, 0. sp.
Front et vertex rouges; téte pas plus -large

que le thorax, fortement ponctuée-réti-

culée ; thorax verticalement tronqué en

arriére ; segment anal longitudinalement

strié en dessus. Long: 344 5 mill ............ MM. mgrigena, 0. sp.
Téte noire; thorax rouge, arrondi en arriére ;

une tache blanche au milieu du quatrieme

segment abdominal, Long : 5 mill ........... A, trimaculata (Cam.)
Téte et thorax rouges, ce dernier nettement

tronqué en arriére ; une tache blanche au

milieu du cinquieme segment abdominal.

Tong 6 a7 mall seseoeecn. owaceeluees ets cetaioe sel soceeel, ocellata (Sauss.)
Taches abdominales formées de pubescence
blanches <..c..asccacemetasweudninesiecaeshieuen pdewecisecdaddecescneektetmssilie

Taches abdominales formées de pubescence

Un) Tative) MOLE yp acesdeseeseeeaduciecseaicccscdes sac. scan nictee toe neseeee eed
Second segment abdominal avec seulement

deux taches sur sa moitié basale .......0.. slsenletepdeidehenastetencielenesl
Second segment abdominal avec deux taches

allongées pres de sa base et deux autres

arrondies 4 son bord apical ; deux taches

semblables se voient sur le troisiéme

segment, ce qui forme en tout six taches

sur deux rangées verticales. Tete noire,

dos du thorax rouge. Long: 14 4 15 mill.......J/, secmaculata (Swed.)

138.

14,

1d.

16.

Ws

18.

DES MUTILLES DE LINDE. 465

Premier segment abdominal longuement et
assez densément cilié de poils fauves; tout
le corps noir, sauf le dos du thorax qui est
ferrugineux ; second segment abdominal
avec deux taches blanches allongées, troi-
siéme segment avec deux taches carrées de

méme couleur, Long: 10 mill, .......s..0000. M. niveosignata, 1. sp.
Premier segment abdominal non cilié de poils
TATIVES cco caeace sen Bese eee te diitatiatss Seccbus Wsseccuccwsanabonsccacdmecccld

Bord postéro-supérieur du thorax armé d’une

rangée d’épines courtes, mais bien accen-

tuées. Teéte rouge ou noire, thorax rouge;

troisiéme eb quatrieme segments avec des

bandes blanchatres plus ou moins obso-

[ebeaneomory 5: aig) mail secerencscescace MM. pectinospinata (Magretti)
Bord postéro-supérieur du thorax inerme.......0.ssseeeseeee ppanoanacucnqoG[Le}
Vertex avec une tache médiane de pubescence

blanche ; téte noire, thorax rouge ; second

et troisicme segments avec chacun deux

taches de pubescence argentée. Long: 6 mill ......J/. kolabensis, n. sp.
Téte noire, sans tache blanche ; thorax rouge........ssessesees Saoecuaesens 16
Second, troisiéme, et quatrieme segments de

Yabdomen avec chacun deux taches de

pubescence blanche. Long: 5 4 9 mill............ I. hexaops (Sauss.)
Second segment abdominal avec deux taches

blanches ; troisiéme segment avec une

bande interrompue au milieu de semblable

pubescence, Long: 9 2 10 mill.......... -++e lf, vicina (Rad. et Sich.)
Second segment abdominal avec deux grandes

taches basales trés rapprochées et souvent

confluentes, Taille plus grande ........ BO CUCESCCUCCH CUB CHOC AL oe ik
Second segment abdominal avec deux taches

rondes, plus petites et non confluentes ; son

bord postérieur ainsi que le troisiéme

Segment sont ornés de larges bandes d’un

fauve-doré. Téte noire, revétue de pubes-

cence dorée ; thorax rouge. Long: 3 mill. ......J/, Lilliputiana, n, Sp.
Troisiéme, quatriéme, et cinquiéme segments

couverts d’une épaisse pubescence d’un

FELT S 10. Oh Be RUBBER URE Ce BoCEC CHE CCU OUC SRR SESE eR ET ee rE CERL EEE se paman rere)

466.

19),

20.

21,

22,

23

JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

Cinquiémesegement abdominal non revétu d’une
Epaisse pubescence dorée ...secreeree Gonadcocsaonscosbancnooancogoncnsan 210)

Téte noire, recouverte de pubescence dorée ;
thorax rouge. Long: 7 4 12 mill..........scsscsseees IM, agnata, n. sp.
Tete et thorax rouges; tete non recouverte

de pubescence dorée. Long: 9 a
1134 rasill US) Bape spopopeeocenecoe sogaoansoosss Addnascatabos LT, nudiceps, 0. Sp.

Téte noire, recouverte de pubescence dorée ;
thorax rouge ; troisiéme et quatrieme seg-
ments de l’abdomen revétus d’une épaisse
pubescence d’un fauve-doré. Long: 8

3), 115/01 sda SoaeobenoopdhebdonosqsHddgonsasHo0Kodb0 M. wulchriceps (Cam.)
Téte rouge, sans pubescence dorée; thorax

HOVE socoososodansosapogsoabepodnaooNs Oe son osengoneensacos gqp900008800000 voedl
Troisiéme et quatriéme segments abdominaux

couverts de pubescence dorée; second

segment ventral sans dépressions ni saillies

bien accentuées, Long : 8 mill ........sccecceees I. erythrocera (Cam )

Troisiéme segment abdominal seul couvert de
pubescence dorée; second segment ventral
avec des dépressions et saillies trés
accentuées, en forme de cicatrice. Long:

INL wane Geosocsooosadddgoocoschsndpniosboe06 socneanece oA, Lua n. sp.
Tache du premier segment abdominal d’un

fauve doré; second et troisiéme segments

portant chacun une bande apicale, semi-

circulairement élargie au milieu, rétrécie

sur les cotés, de pubescence fauve. 'Téte

et thorax rouges. Long : 7 mill, ........006 IM. lunarifasciata, n. sp.
Tache du premier segment abdominal blanche;

second et troisicme segments portant

chacun, a leur bord apical, une tache

semicirculaire de pubescence blanche. Tete

Ch LaOtaK TOUTES ecencssenceaceeencenesceacacseet sacle seciieenaeaecaesacsese}
Téte quadrangulaire, distinctement plus large

que le thorax, 2 sculpture superficielle ;

thorax arrondi en arriére. Long : 4 a

GE mill iccveccescaencteasevcseusscoesce-sonsncsougacnsallt wil iceis) (\Smiltll):

DES MUTILLES DE L’INDE, 467

Téte de la largeur du thorax, plus grossiérement
gculptée; thorax brusquement tronqué en
arriére ; bord supérieur de la troncature
formant une aréte nette, denticulée. Long:
D Mill, .syrerseereceesseersaseerorscerorsseceesceresseoseaseol taylori, D. Sp,

24, Abdomen 4 couleur fonciére d’un bleu d’acier
ou d’un violet métallique. Téte et thorax
rouges ; une tache sur le pronotum, une
autre allongée 4 Ja base du second seement
abdominal, une troisiéme arrondie au
milieu de son bord apical, et parfois aussi
une tache médiane moins distincte sur
les quatriéme et cinquiéme segments, de

pubescence blanche. Long: 6 48 mill...............J0, regia (Smith),
Abdomen 4 couleur noire, rarement avec un
trés faible reflet bleudtre ........s.0. Suara aenaes A UN Oy

25. Thorax a bords latéraux simples ou légérement
crénelés, mais non élargis en un fort tuber-
cule dentiforme un peu avant leur milieu ...........0+0 stusbusisasacee 26
Thorax & bords latéraux élargis en un fort tuber-
cule dentiforme un peu avant leur milieu. ..........cesessosvescoerogeeeD
26, 'Téte et moitié antérieure du thorax trés densé-
ment revétues d’une pubescence d’un beau
jaune d’or pale-qui cache entiérement la
couleur rouge du tégument. Abdomen
pétiolé, son premier segment rouge, petit
et nodiforme, second segment avec une
tache basale et trois autres & son bord
apical, de pubescence blanche. Long :
Bg Ul] sssresserseessrseerer ecsseerecoreeeressorsnelll, auropalliata, 0. Sp.
Téte et thorax non revétus de pubescence
Gorcepaldomeny sessileescquscssasenncs sesesetentas eee nae eee OyT
27, Téte et thorax rouges ; abdomen noir avec un
trés faible reflet bleuftre; son premier
segment rouge, second segment avec une
petite tache au milieu de sa base, eb une
bande apicale parfois interrompue au
milieu de pubescence d’un blanc d’argent.
Moneys a) Ge milleeewersatese suse sesocronesceeeeee lf, poonaensis (Cam,)

468 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII,

Tout le corps noir, disque du thorax ferrugi-
neux, une tache sur le vertex, deux 4 la
base du second segment abdominal, deux
autres & son bord apical eb deux sur le
troisiéme segment, de pubescence blanche.
Long : 7 Mill ..ssccsecresreescnsceeecseers ceooveseoell, maculiceps, D, SP.
28. Abdomen distinctement pétiolé, son premier
segment nodiforme. Téte noire, marquée
d’une grande tache blanche ou jaunatre
SIDI PERNERe soos aoccoodecave= pdaodé connonducuoueonoocdrncaace ‘boousoadane BY
Abdomen non pétiolé, son premier segment
large et court. Téte rouge, sans PXCOS) Snooaoe bere are Saedosnaen eel
29, Les deux premiers tiers du second segment de
Yabdomen recouverts, ainsi que le disque
du thorax, de pubescence fauve ; une tache
sur le premier segment abdominal, trois
autres au bord apical du second segment
et une au milieu des quatriéme et cinqui-
éme segments, de pubescence blanchatre.
Long : 10 AL4 mill... -.200.--seseeeeeevees eseoel, argentipes (Smith),
Disque du thorax et premier segment de
Tabdomen seuls revétus de pubescence
fauve; une tache médiane 4 la base du
second segment abdominal, trois autres a
son bord apical et une derniére au milieu
du cinquiéme segment, de pubescence
d’un blanc jaunaire, Long: 12 & 15 mill. I, argenteo-maculata (Smith),
30. Téte et thorax d’un rouge sombre ; une bande
interrompue au bord apical du second
segment abdominal et une autre couvrant
tout le troisiéme segment, de pubescence
d’un jaune d'or. Long: 13 mill ....... wo, trichocondyla, 0, sp.
31, Téte eb thorax d’un rouge vif ; une tache
médiane surle premier segment abdominal,
une large bande deux fois échancrée a la
base du second, et deux -autres, plus
ou moins échancrées ou interrompues
au milieu, couvrant les troisiéme et
quatriéme segments, de pubescence d’un
fauve-doré, Long: 15 4 16 mill........... veces DL, pulchrina (Smith).

DES MUTILLES DE L’INDE. 469

CATALOGUE RAISONNE
ET

4
DESCRIPTIONS DES Esprces NouveLLes.
1. Mutilla ruficeps (Sm.) [= rufiventris (Sm.) |

Mes exemplaires s’écartent de la description de Smith en ce
que le dessous de Vabdomen n’est ferrugineux qu’d lextrémité
et est brundtre sur le reste de sa surface. La téte, rouge chez
certains individus, se rembrunit chez d’autres, surtout sur les cétés,
de fagon 4 ne presenter de rouge que le vertex ou méme & devenir
enti¢rement brune.

Kanara et Kolaba (Mr. Wroughton).
2. Mutilla taylor, nov. sp.

Q@ :—Téte brune, front et vertex d’un rouge sombre, thorax ferrugi-
neux, scape des antennes, base du funicule, et pattes rougedtres, le
reste du funicule d’un brun noir, abdomen noir, une tache ovale au
milieu du premier segment, une tache semicirculaire 4 l’extrémité
du second et une autre plus petite a Vextrémité du troisiéme,
‘ formées de pubescence d’un blanc sale. Tout le corps et les pattes
hérissés de poils blanchatres; sur la téte ainsi que sur le dos du
thorax et de l’abdomen les poils sont bruns. ‘Téte arrondie, assez con-
vexe, un peu plus large que longue et & peine plus large que le thorax,
grossiérement ponctuée-réticuleé ; troisiéme article des antennes presque
deux fois aussi long que le quatriéme ; yeux grands ovales, un peu
plus longs que l’espace occupé derriére eux par le vertex. Thorax
rectangulaire, ses bords latéraux paralléles, irréguli¢rement denticulés ;
il est tronqué en arriére et muni, au bord supérieur de cette troncature,
de denticules spiniformes dont le médian est le plus allongé ; le dos du
thorax est assez fortement et densément ridé-ponctué, les mésopleures
sont 4 peu prés lisses, les métapleures sont luisantes et marquées de gros
points mediocrement serrés. Premier segment de l’abdomen large, peu
allongé, non séparé du second, par un étranglement; ce dernier assez
densément ponctué ; segment anal couvert de poils blanchatres qui en
cachent la sculpture. 'Tibias postérieurs armés de 4 & 5 épines ; épe-

rons pales. Long: 5 mill.
3

470 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII,

Ressemble a la M. rujiceps (Sm.) par la disposition des couleurs, mais,
chez M. rujiceps, la téte est plus quadrangulaire, moins convexe, dis-
tinctement plus large que le thorax ; sa surface est luisante avec une
ponctuation médiocre et assez éparse, les yeux sont plus petits, plus
éloignés de Vocciput, le thorax n’est pas brusquement tronqué en
arriére, sa face dorsale passe insensiblement 4 sa face déclive sans former
daréte nette et sans dents spiniformes au point de jonction ; enfin
les bords latéraux du thorax ne sont pas distinctement denticulés.

Orissa (Mr, James Taylor) un seul exemplaire.

3. Mutilla lunarifasciata, nov. sp.

@ :—Téte et thorax d’un rouge ferrugineux, scape des antennes d’un
rouge brun, funicule noiratre ; pattes d’un ferrugineux pale, sommet
des cuisses et des tibias noir. Abdomen noir, assez densément revétu
de pubescence noire ; premier segment avec une grande tache tri-
anguliare de pubescence d’un fauve-doré qui couvre presque toute sa
largeur et dont la pointe s’étend sur le segment suivant; second seg-
ment portant 4 son bord postérieur une bande de semblable pubescence,
trés étroite latéralement, trés élargie au milieu en forme de demi lune ;
troisiéme segment avec une bande semblable mais moins large, segment
anal avec Pextrémité couverte de poils d’un jaune pale luisant ; en des-
sous, les segments deux et trois sont ciliés de poils jaundtres. Quelques
soles brunes sont éparses sur le dessus du corps et d’autres
d’un jaune pale se voient sur sa face inférieure et ses cdtés ainsi
que sur les pattes ou elles sont plus abondantes, Téte assez convexe,
en rectangle arrondi, transverse, un peu plus large que le thorax,
densément ponctuée-réticulée ; troisieme article des antennes une fois et
demie aussi long que le quatriéme ; yeux de grandeur moyenne, ovales,
un peu moins longsque l’espace occupé derriére eux par le vertex.
Thorax peu allongé, quadrangulaire, 4 cdtés paralléles et trés faiblement
concaves en leur milieu, assez fortement ridé-ponctué sur le dos,
presque lisse et luisant sur les flancs, 4 exception des métapleures qui
sont superficiellement ponctuées-réticulées ; il est assez verticalement
tronqué en arriére avec quelques denticules au point de jonction
de ses faces dorsale et postérieure, le denticule médian étant assez
long et spiniforme. Abdomen ovale, peu rétréci en avant ; son premier
segment large et court sadapte réguli¢rement au segment suivant, sans

DES MUTILLES DE LINDE. 471

étranglement ; second segment densément et assez finement ponctud-
réticulé en dessus, uisant et éparsement pointillé en dessous ; segment
anal assez fortement ridé-ponctué 4 la base, trés finement chagriné
a Vextrémité, sans aire médiane distincte. Tibias avec de nombreuses
et fortes épines d’un rouge brun ; éperons pales. Long: 7 mill.

Kolaba (Mr. Wroughton) un seul exemplaire.
4. Mutilla rujipes (Latr.)

Les individus que je rapporte a cette espéce sont semblables sous
tous rapports aux exemplaires Huropéens et présentent comme eux les
mémes variations dans la couleur des pattes et des antennes qui passent
du rougeatre clair au brun noir foncé. M. Magretti (Ann. mus, civ.
de Genova, 1892, p. 214) a décrit une MW, tenasserimica qui, d’aprés lui,
se distingue de la Md. rujipes par la sculpture différente de la téte et du
thorax. Les exemplaires de Inde que je posséde ne présentent A cet
régard aucune difference avec ceux de l’Hurope, et je ne suis pas certain
de la validité de la MZ. tenasserimuca comme espéce distincte. J’ajoutera
enfin que le pygidium réguliérement et longitudinalement strié sépare
notre MW, rufipes de la M. ellipsifera (Gribodo) dont Paire pygidiale est
couverte de stries en ellipses concentriques.

5. Muitilla nigrigena, nov. sp.

2 :—Téte brune, rouge sur le front et le vertex ; thorax rouge ;
scape des antennes et pattes d’un brun rougedatre, funicule tantot brun
tantot rougedtre, Abdomen noir, revétu d’une pubescence noire;
second segment avec une petite tache arrondie, d’un blanc d’argent, a
sa base, et une autre plus grande et semicirculaire 4 son extrémité qui
est bordeé d’une mince frange de poils également d’un blanc d’argent ;
une tache incertaine et mal définie de poils de méme couleur s’observe
aussi au milieu des quatri¢me et cinquiéme segments. Dessus du corps
parsemé de poils noirs; en dessous et sur les cotés, ainsi que sur leg
pattes, se voit une éparse pilosité blanchdtre. Téte arrondie, de la lar-
geur du thorax, fortement et densément ponctuée-réticulée ; antennes
avec le troisiéme article seulement un peu plus long que le quatriéme ;
yeux grands, ovales, bien plus long que lespace occupé derriére eux
par le vertex. Thorax rectangulaire, a cdtés paralléles, verticalement
tronqueé en arriére avec le bord de la troncature légérement crénelé:
un peu avant ce bord se voit un onglet scutellaire peu saillant mais

472, JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

distinct. Le dos du thorax est grossi¢rement ponctué-réticulé, ses
flanes sont plus éparsement ponctucs. Premier segment de l’abdomen
court, s’adaptant exactement au segment suivant, sans étranglement ;
second segment longitudinalement ridé-ponctué ; segment anal longi-
tudinalement strié. Une caréne courte, assez saillante et un peu
bilobée en dessous du premier segment. ‘Tibias intermédiaires et posté-
rieurs avec de fortes épines rougedtres ; éperons pales. Long : 3
a5 mill.

Cette espéce ressemble 4 WM. montana (Panz) d’Hurope, mais en est
bien distincte par son front et son vertex rouges, par l’absence de bande
blanche sur le troisiéme segment et par les stries longitudinales de son

idium.
Sag Kanara (Mr. Wroughton).
6. Mutilla subglabra, nov. sp.

Q :—Téte noire, tubercules antennaires rouges, gros et tres saillants;
mandibules rougedtres avec l’extrémité noire ; antennes noires, sauf
l’extrémité du scape et le premier article du funicule qui sont rougeatres.
Thorax rouge ; pattes brunes, tarses testacés. Abdomen noir, presque
sans pubescence, avec un reflet légérement violacé ; second segment
marqué & sa base d’une petite tache ovale d’un blanc d’argent et 4 son
extrémité d’une bande étroite de méme couleur, fortement élargie au
milieu en triangle arrondi. Dessus du corps hérissé de poils noirs, plus
abondants sur la téte et le thorax, plus épars sur abdomen ; en des-
sous sur les cdtés et sur les pattes il existe une pilosité éparse, d’un
blanc jaunatre. ‘Téte arrondie, assez convexe, un peu plus large que
le thorax, fortement mais peu densément ponctuée, luisante. Antennes
courtes et épaisses, leur troisiéme article 4 peu prés de la longueur du
quatriéme. Yeux grands, ovales, plus longs que l’espace occupé derriére
eux par le vertex. Thorax assez étroit, 4 cotés paralléles, arrondi en
avant et en arriére, sa face postérieure oblique rejoignant la face dor-
sale par une surface arquée, sans aréte ; il est assez fortement ponctué-
réticulé sur le dos, presque lisse sur les flancs. Abdomen en ovale
allongé, assez rétréci en avant et plus encore en arriére; son premier
segment court et ¢troit, mais sadaptant réguli¢rement au segment
suivant, sans ¢tranglement ; second segment luisant, peu densément et
peu profondément ponctué ; segment anal non strié. Epines des tibias
brunes, éperons pales. Long: 4 mill,

DES MUTILLES DE L’INDE. 473

Ressemble a MU. nigrigena, mais s’en distingue par sa téte entiére-
ment noire, plus large que le thorax, moins fortement sculptée, par ses
tubercules antennaires saillants, par son thorax plus gréle, non tronqué
en arriére, mais -insensiblement arrondi, par son abdomen presque
glabre avec le segment anal non strié.

Kanara (Mr. Wroughton) un seul exemplaire.
7. Mutella atomus, NOV. Sp.

® :—-Téte, thorax, antennes et pattes ferrugineux, abdomen noir,
avec un reflet bleuatre, presque glabre ; second segment portant 4 son
bord postérieur une bande, élargie au milieu, de poils blanchatres trés
peu serrés et parfois peu distincts ; les autres segments avec une pubes-
cence de méme nature, trés clairsemée et ne formant pas de bandes
bien distinctes. Dessus de la téte, du thorax et de labdomen éparse-
ment hérissés de poils bruns ; cdtés et dessous du corps heérissés de
poils blanchatres ainsi que les pattes. Teéte arrondie, assez épaisse, & peu
prés de la largeur du thorax, éparsement ponctuée et luisante. Anten-
nes épaisses, leur troisiéme article seulement un peu plus’ long que le
quatriéme. Yeux assez petits, ovales, moins longs que la distance qui les
sépare du bord postérieur de locciput. Thorax un peu étranglé en son
milieu, sa déclivité postérieure oblique et rejoignant la face dorsale par
une surface arrondie, sans aréte ; il est & peu prés aussi large en avant
qu’en arriére, assez densément ponctué-réticulé sur le dos, la sculpture
plus effacée sur les flancs. Premier segment de l’abdomen court, peu
densément ponctué, aussi large que la base du segment suivant qui est
rétréci en avant et en arriére, éparsement ponctué et luisant ; les autres
segments sont trés finement pointillés et luisants ; segment anal non
strié, rougeatre a l’extrémité, Le premier segment porte en dessous
une caréne courte et assez saillante. Tibias avec quelques épines,
éperons pales. Long: 3 4 32 mill,

Kanara (Mr. Wroughton).

8. Mutilla pulla, nov. sp.

Q :—Teéte noire, tubercules antennaires peu saillants, épistome, man-
dibules, scape et premier article du funicule testacts ; sommet des man-
dibules et le reste du funicule bruns. Thorax ferrugineux, pattes
testacées, sommet des cuisses et des tibias rembrunis, Abdomen noir,

474 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. Vol. VIII.

peu densément revétu de pubescence noire; second segment portant
asa base une tache allongée, assez grande, de pubescence d’un jaune d’or
luisant et, 4 son extrémité, une bande de méme couleur, trés étroite
sur les cdtés, fortement et semicirculairement élargie au milieu. Vertex
revétu d’une pubescence dorée assez éparse. Quelques soles noires,
obliques, sur le dos du thorax et sur abdomen ; face déclive du méta-
thorax, dessous du corps et pattes parsemés de rares soies blanchatres.
Téte arrondié, assez convexe, un peu plus large que le thorax, fortement
mais peu densément ponctuée, assez luisante ; troisiéme article des
antennes un peu plus long que le quatriéme. Yeux grands, ovales,
plus longs que l’espace occupé derriére eux par le vertex. Thorax a
cotés paralléles, arrondi en avant et en arriére ; sa face postérieure
oblique, regagnant la face dorsale par une surface fortement arrondie,
sans limite distincte entre les deux faces ; il est fortement ponctué-
réticulé sur le dos, bien plus superficiellement et trés éparsement
ponctué sur les flancs qui sont presque lisses par places. Abdomen
en ovale allongé ; premier segment court et étroit, mais s’adaptant
réguliérement au segment suivant sans étranglement; second
segment peu denséement ponctué, luisant; segment anal lisse,
non strié. Tibias avec quelques épines testacées, éperons plus pales.
Long : 5 mill.

Par la forme générale et la disposition du dessin cette espéce
ressemble beaucoup a la MZ. subglabra, mais elle s’en distingue par ses
tubercules antennaires bien plus petits, par la couleur de ses antennes
et de ses pattes, ainsi que par la tache et la bande de son second seg-
ment qui sont plus developpées et d’un jaune d’or au lieu d’étre d’un
blanc d’argent.

Kanara (Mr. Wroughton) un seul exemplaire,
9. Mutilla ocellata (Saussure).
Kanara (Mr. Wroughton).

10. Mutilla trimaculata (Cameron).
Poona (Mr. Wroughton).

11. Mutilla hexaops (Saussure).

Cette espéce parait repandue dans la majeure partie de l’Inde et a
Ceylan. La couleur des pattes et des antennes est trés variable,

DES MUTILLES DE LINDE. 475

passant du rouge ferrugineux au brun noir, mais ces légéres différ-
ences ne peuvent constituer des caracteres spécifiques. J’en connais
des exemplaires de Pondichéry et de Gingi ; Mr. Wroughton me I’a
envoyée de Kanara et de Kolaba.

12. Mutilla pectinospinata (Magretti).

L’un des deux exemplaires que je posséde a la téte rouge comme
le thorax, mais ne se distingue pas d’ailleurs d’un autre exemplaire
a téte noire, conforme 4 la description de Magretti. Les troisiéme et
quatriéme segments portent des bandes de poils jaundtres trés peu
accentuées, non & cause du mauyais état des exemplaires, comme le
pense M. Magretti, mais par suite du peu de densité des poils qui les
forment.

Kanara, Poona (Mr. Wroughton).
13. Mutilla kolabensis, nov. sp.

© :—Téte noire, avec une tache ovale de pubescence d’un blanc
d’argent sur le vertex ; antennes, mandibules et pattes d’un brun
noir. Thorax d’un rouge sombre sur son disque, d’un brun noir sur le
reste de sa surface, Abdomen noir, revétu d’une pubescence noire assez
abondante ; second segment orné, prés de sa base, de deux petites
taches ovales, assez distantes l'une de l’autre, d’un blane d’argent ;
troisiéme segment avec deux taches quadrangulaires situées respective-
ment au dessous de celles du second segment. Dessus de la téte,
du thorax et de l’abdomen hérissé de longues soies noires peu abon-
dantes ; cdtés et devant de la téte, dessous du corps et pattes avec une
pilosité blanche, fine et éparse. ‘Téte arrondie, assez épaisse, un peu
plus large que le thorax, grossiérement ponctuée-réticulée ; troisiéme
article des antennes une fois et demie aussi long que le quatriéme;
yeux médiocres, allongés, 4 peu prés aussi longs que l’espace occupé
derriére eux par le vertex. Thorax a cdtés paralléles ; son profil dorsal
assez conyexe, ses faces dorsale et postérieure réunies par une surface
largement arquée, sans limite précise; il est grossiérement réticulé-fossulé
en dessus, avec les propleures et les mésopleures presque lisses, et les
métapleures grossiérement et trés superficiellement rugueuses. Premier
segment abdominal médiocrement large, s’adaptant réguliérement au
segment suivant; second segment peu densément ponctué en dessus,
plus éparsement ponctué et luisant en dessous ; pygidium finement
ponctué. Wpines des tibias noiratres ; éperons pales. Long: 6 mill.

476 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII,

Voisine de M. aulica (Smith) mais les cdtés du thorax ne portent
pas de tache argentée, les pattes sont noires, les deux taches blanches
du second segment ne touchent pas sa base et le quatriéme segment est
dépourvu de taches.

Kolaba (Mr. Wroughton) un seul exemplaire.
14. Mutilla vicina (Rad. et Sich),
Dehra Dun (Mr. C. G. Rogers).
1d. Mutilla lilliputiana, nov. sp.

Q :—Téte noire, revétue de pubescence peu serrée d’un jaune d’or ;
scape des antennes, premier article du funicule et pattes d’un testacé
un peu rougedtre ; thorax ferrugineux. Abdomen noir, médiocrement
revétu de pubescence noire ; second segment portant, 4 sa base, deux
taches ovales assez grandes et, 4 son extrémité, une bande assez large
de pubescence fauve-doré ; le troisitéme segment est entiérement
couvert de pubescence semblable ; en dessous, les bords des segments
2, 3 et 4 sont décolorés et d’un jaune rougedtre. Le corps est hérissé
d’une pilosité éparse et noiratre en dessus, blanchdtre en dessous et
sur les pattes. Téte un peu plus large que le thorax en trapéze arrondi,
plus étroite en avant qu’en arriére, assez fortement ponctuée-réticulée ;
troisiéme article des antennes assez court, un peu plus long que le
quatriéme ; yeux grands, en ovale court, situés assez en arriére des
bords latéraux, bien plus longs que l’espace occupé derriére eux par le
vertex. Thorax quadrangulaire, 4 bords assez paralléles et trés
légérement sinueux, assez fortement ponctué réticulé sur le dos, presque
lisse sur les flancs qui sont un peu luisants ; il est obliquement
tronqué en arriére. Abdomen ovale, attenué en arriére ; son premier
segment assez étroit s’adapte réguliérement au segment suivant, sans
étranglement ; second segment couvert en dessus de gros points peu
serrés, plus éparsement ponctué et trés luisant en dessous ; segment
anal convexe, lisse et luisant, sans aire médiane. Tibias peu épineux,
éperons pales. Long: 3 mill.

Kolaba (Mr. Wroughton) un seul exemplaire.
16. Mautilla kauare (Cameron).

Les exemplaires que j’ai sous les yeux répondent a la description de
M. Cameron, sauf de petites divergences, Ainsi, l’abdomen ne porte
de veritables bandes d’un fauve-doré que sur le troisiéme segment et

DES MUTILLES DE LINDE. 477

au bord apical du second ; les quatriéme et cinquiéme segments sont
revétus de pubescence noire entremélée de quelques poils fauves ; le
segment anal est cilié de fauve sur les cOtés ainsi que le bord apical de
tous les segments ventraux. Le second segment ventral porte & la
base une courte caréne longitudinale. Wnfin, le thorax, légérement
en arc concave sur les cdtés, me semble de méme largeur en avant et
en arriére ; la suture méso-métanotale est Iégérement distincte et
montre en son milieu un onglet scutellaire peu saillant mais distinct.
Je-ne crois pas que ces particularités soient sufisantes pour caractériser
une espéce nouvelle, surtout en l’absence de confrontation directe avec
les exemplaires typiques de M. kauare.

Kanara (Mr. Wroughton).
17. Mutilla pulchriceps (Cameron),

Var. pulchricoma, nov. var.

Q :—S’écarte du type de Cameron par sa taille beaucoup plus
grande (15 mill), par les pattes et les antennes d’un brun noir, par le
scape et les deux premiers articles du funicule revétus de pubescence
fauve comme la téte, et par les flancs du thorax entiérement couverts
d’une pubescence fine et assez serrée, d’un jauned’or. Ces caractéres
ne me paraissent pas suffisants pour constituer une espéce distincte et
je la rattache comme variété a la WZ. pulchriceps.

Poona (Mr. Wroughton) un seul exemplaire.
18. Mutilla cicatricifera, nov. sp.

@ :—Téte et thorax d’un rouge ferrugineux, antennes et pattes
d’un ferrugineux plus pale. Abdomen noir, peu densément revétu
d'une pubescence noire ; second segment portant 4 sa base une large
bande triangulairement échancrée au milieu et paraissant formée de
la réunion de deux grandes taches transyersales de pubescence fauve-
doré luisant ; le sommet du méme segment est cilié de semblable
pubescence et une bande de méme nature et de méme couleur couvre
le troisieme segment ; les segments suivants sont seulement ciliés
de poils fauves en dessus et en dessous et le segment anal en est
plus abondamment pourvu. Quelques soies dressées, brundtres et
éparses, se voient sur le vertex, sur le dos du thorax et sur les deux

premiers segments abdominaux ; en dessous et sur les cOtts ainsi
4

478 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. ViTl.

que sur les pattes, la pilosite est plus abondante et d’un jaune d’or. Téte
arrondie, de la Jargeur du thorax, trés fortement ridée-réticulée ;
troisitme article des antennes presque deux fois aussi long que le qua-
triéme ; yeux petits, ovales, moins long que l’espace occupé derriére eux
par le vertex. Thorax court, quadrangulaire, 4 cotés paralléles, gros-
siérement ridé-réticulé ; mesopleures lisses et luisantes ; il est tronqué
verticalement en arriére, mais sans former d’aréte vive 4 la jonction de
ses faces dorsale et postérieure ; ses bords latéraux sont légérement
erenelés sur toute leur longueur et il n’existe pas d’onglet scutellaire
distinct. Abdomen ovale ; son premier segment, court et assez large,
sadapte réguli¢rement au segment suivant sans étranglement; en des-
sous il est muni d’une caréne ordinaire; second segment abdominal
marqué de fossettes allongées, profondes en avant, superficielles en
arriére, et dont les intervalles portent quelques points épars ; en des-
sous, ce méme segment, qui est irréguliérement ponctué, porte sur ses
deux tiers antérieurs une dépression quadrangulaire partagée par une
petite caréne longitudinale et limitée, en arriére et de chaque céte, par
des saillies tuberculeuses et caréniformes, irrégulieres comme les bords
d'une cicatrice ; segment anal tres superficiellement chagriné, non
strié. Tibias avec de fortes épines d’un brun rougedtre, éperous tes- ”
tacés. Long : 11 mill.

Cette espéce parait voisine de M. humbertiana (Sauss.), mais s’en
écarte par la disposition différente des: bandes abdominales et surtout par
les dépressions et saillies particuliéres de son second segment ventral.

Kanara (Mr. Wroughton) un seul exemplaire.
19. Mutilla erythrocera (Cameron).

Une femelle de Kolaba (Mr. Wroughton) s’accorde tout 4 fait avec
la description de Cameron, mais une autre de Kanara (Mr. Wrough-
ton) s’écarte du type par les taches du second segment abdominal qui
‘sont confluentes, par le bord postérieur de ce méme segment cilié de
poils dorés, par le quatrieme segment sans bande dorée mais seule-
ment cilié sur les cotés de méme que les suivants, et par la couleur
d’un jaune d’or et non d’un fauve-doré des taches et bandes abdomi-
nales. Malgré ces différences, la forme générale, la sculpture et les
proportions sont si exactement semblables & I. erythocera que je ne puis
considérer cet exemplaire que comme une vyariété.

DES MUTILLES DE LINDE. 479

20. Mutilla agnata, nov. sp.

Q :—Téte noire, couverte de pubescence d’un fauve-doré ; scape des
antennes, les deux premiers articles du funicule, les tubercules anten-
naires, les mandibules et les pattes ferrugineux, le reste du. funicule
brun, genoux et sommet des mandibules noirs. Thorax d’un rouge
ferrugineux. Abdomen noir, abondamment recouvert de pubescence
noire ; second segment portant asa base deux grandes taches, trés
rapprochées et parfois réunies, de pubescence fauve-doré, qui forment
une large bande peu ou pas interrompue et occupant la moitié
basale du segment; J’ extrémité de ce méme segment peut étre
concolore ou bordé d’une mince bande de pubescence fauve-doré ;
les segments 3, 4 et 5 sont entiérement recouverts de pubescence
de méme couleur et le segment anal est abondamment cilié sur
les cotés de longs poils fauves; en dessous les segments sont plus
ou moins ciliés de poils d’un fauve clair. Les pattes sont éparse-
ment hérissées de poils jaunes. Téte convexe, arrondie, de la largeur
du thorax, fortement ponctuée-réticulée ; tubercules antennaires gros
et arrondis ; troisiéme article des antennes deux fois aussi longs que
le quatriéme ; yeux trés grand, en ovale court, beaucoup plus longs
que l’espace occupé derriére eux par le vertex. Thorax quadrangu-
laire, 4 cdtés paralléles, fortement ponctué-réticulé sur le dos, presque
lisse sur les flancs qui sont comme dépolis et peu luisants ; il est presque
verticalement tronqué en arriére, mais arrondi au point de jonction de
ses faces dorsale et postérieure, avec un onglet scutellaire peu saillant
mais distinct. Abdomen ovale, son premier segment, court et médio-
crement large, s’adapte réguliérement au segment suivant sans étrangle-
ment; second segment assez fortement et peu densément ponctué
en dessus, trés luisant, et éparsement ponctué en dessous ; segment
anal assez plan, couvert en dessus de rides longitudinales sinueuses et
irreguliéres. ‘Tibias avec de fortes épines d’un rouge brun, éperons
pales. Long : 7412 mill. Ly)

Ressemble a 1M. soror (Sauss.) et 4 WM. nereis (Kohl.), mais la téte

est couverte de poils dorés et le cinquiéme segment abdominal porte
une bande dorée comme les deux précédents. Parait se rapprocher
aussi beaucoup de M, pulchriceps (Cameron), mais s’en écarte par son
thorax 4 bords latéraux rectilignes ou indistinctement concaves, par les
taches du second segment abdominal plus grandes et confluentes et par
la présence d’une bande dorée sur le cinquieme segment. ;
Kanara (Mr. Wroughton).

480 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

21, Mutilla nudiceps, nov. sp.

@ :—Ressemble extrémement a la précédente, mais la téte est rouge
comme le thorax, sans pubescence dorée, les yeux sont un peu moins
grands, le thorax est plus robuste, un peu plus large en arriére qu’en
avant, le premier segment abdominal est nu, non recouvert de pubes-
cence noire, éparsement ponctué et luisant, le pygidium est nettement,
fortement et longitudinalement strié sur toute sa surface, tandis que
chez M. agnata il est plus irréguli¢rement ridé. lle différe aussi de
M. soror et M. nereis par la téte rouge et par la présence d’une bande
dorée sur le cinquiéme segment. Long: 9 a 12 mill,

Poona, Kanara (Mr. Wroughton).
22. Mutilla sexmaculata (Sweder).
Jabalpur (Mr. J. A. Betham).

23. Mutilla niveosignata, nov. sp.

9 :—Téte, antennes et patties noires ; thorax noir, sauf la majeure
partie de sa face dorsale qui est d’un rouge ferrugineux et revétue
d’une pubescence trés éparse d’un fauve clair. Abdomen noir, dense-
ment revetu de pubescence noire; premier segment presque nu en
avant, cilié sur son bord postérieur de poils fauves formant une bande
peu fournie qui s’étend sur le segment suivant ; second segment avec
deux taches ovales, horizontales, de pubescence d’un blanc d’argent,
assez éloignées de son bord antérieur ; troisiéme segment avec deux
taches carrées de méme pubescence, plus larges que les précédentes en
dessous desquelles elles sont respectivement situées. Dessus du corps
hérissé de soies fauves ; une pilosite blanche en dessous et sur les pattes.
Téte arrondie, de la largeur du thorax, trés grossiérement ridée-réti-
culée; troisiéme article des antennes au moins deux fois aussi long qui
le quatriéme ; yeux ovales, de grandeur moyenne, 4 peu pres de la
méme longueur que l’espace occupé derriére eux par le vertex. Thorax
quadrangulaire, assez court, un peu plus large en arriére qu’en avant,
ses bords latéraux trés légérement concaves; il est verticalement
tronqué en arriére avec le bord supérieur de la troncature un peu ar-

-rondi ; sa face dorsale est grossiérement ridée-réticulée ainsi que ses
faces latérales, sauf les mésopleures qui sont lisses et luisantes et garnies
de pubescence blanche sur leur moitié inférieure. Abdomen ovale, son
premier segment large, s’adaptant réguliérement au segment suivant ;

DES MUTILLES DE L'INDE, 481

second segment grossi¢rement ridé-réticulé en dessus, plus faiblement
en dessous ou il est pourvu de trois carénes longitudinales, une médiane
raccourcie et deux latérales plus longues mais n’atteignant pas le bord
postérieur ; pygidium presque lisse, non strié. Hpines des tibias
brunes ; éperons pales. Long: 10 mill.

Cette espéce est trés voisine de MV. sewmaculata (Swed.) ; mais elle est
plus petite, son premier segment abdominal est frangé de poils fauves,
et le second ne porte que deux taches blanches au lieu de quatre.

Poona (Mr. Wroughton),
Orissa (Mr. James Taylor).

24. Mutilla maculeceps, nov. sp.

2 :—Teéte noire, avec une grande tache quadrangulaire sur le vertex
de pubescence d’un blanc d’argent ; scape des antennes et pattes d’un
brun noir, funicule et tarses rougedtres. Thorax d’un rouge sombre
sur son disque, noir sur le reste de sa surface; la partie rouge revétue
de pubescence peu serrée d’un jaune d’or, Abdomen noir, abondam-
ment revétu de pubescence noire, sauf sur son premier segment qui est
a peu prés glabre; second segment avec quatre taches de pubescence
argentée, les deux supérieures allongées dans le sens longitudinal,
obliquement divergentes en arriere, touchant la base du segment et
assez distante l’une de l’autre, les deux inferieures plus petites,
arrondies et situées au bord apical du segment ; troisiéme segment avec
deux taches de semblable pubescence, de méme grandeur que les précé-
dentes. les six taches de l’abdomen sont placées trois par trois sur
la méme ligne verticale. Dessus dela téte, du thorax et de abdomen
hérissé d’assez longues soies brunes ; le devant de la téte, le dessous du
corps et les pattes éparsement hérissés de poils blanes. Tete arrondie,
un peu plus large que le thorax, grossiérement ridée-reticulée, chaque
maille du réseau portant dans son intérieur un ou plusieurs gros points
enfoncés ; troisiéme article des antennes deux fois aussi long que le
quatriéme ; yeux grands, ovales, convexes, plus long que l’espace
occupé derriére eux par le vertex. Thorax allongé, un peu rétréci en
avant, plus rétréci en arriére, ses bords latéraux trés faiblement arqués
en dehors ; sa face postérieure oblique rejoint sa face dorsale par une
large courbe, sans former de limite précise entre les deux faces : il est
grossierement ridé-réticulé en dessus, mais sans gros points au fond des

482 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

mailles ; son flancs sont presque lisses et luisants, sauf les métapleures
qui portent de grosses rides superficielles. Abdomen ovale, rétréci en
avant et plus encore en arriére ; son premier segment, médiocrement
large, s’adapte au segment suivant sans ¢tranglement et est marqué de
gros points irréguliers et épars ; la sculpture du second segment est
indistincte par suite de I’épaisseur de la pubescence noire qui le re-
couvre ; en dessous il est éparsement ponctué, luisant et rouge sur la
plus grande partie de sa surface; pygidium éparsement ponctué ;
épines des tibias d’un brun noir, éperons pales. Long: 7 mill.

Par la disposition des taches de son abdomen, cette espéce se rap-
proche de UM. sexmaculata (Swed.), mais sa taille est beaucoup moindre
et la forme de son thorax est toute différente. lle parait aussi avoir
quelque analogie avec la I. aulica (Smith), mais son second segment
abdominal offre quatre taches blanches au lieu de deux, et le quatrieme
segment est sans tache; elle s’éloigne enfin de M. kolabensis par son
second segment marqué de quatre taches blanches et par la forme toute
differente de son thorax.

Poona (Mr. Wroughton), un seul exemplaire.
25. Mutilla regia (Smith).

Répond tout 4 fait 4 la description de Smith, mais les quatriéme et
cinquiéme segments, portent en leur milieu de petites taches mal definies
de pubescence blanchatre, qui ne sont pas mentionnées par Smith, pro-
bablement 4 cause de l’usure de ses exemplaires.

Kanara (Mr. Wroughton).
96. Mutilla poonaensis (Cameron),

Mes exemplaires se rapportent parfaitement 4 la description de Came-
ron, sauf que la bande blanche du sommet du second segment est trés
légérement interrompue au milieu.

Kanara (Mr. Wroughton).
Orissa (Mr. Jas, Taylor).
27. Mutilla auropalliata, nov. sp.
Q :—Téte, thorax, antennes, pattes et premier segment de l’abdomen
d’un rouge de sang ; dessus de la téte et des deux tiers antérieurs du

thorax couvert d’une épaisse pubescence d’un beau jaune d’or pale, lui-
sant, qui cache entiérement la couleur fonciére ; le reste de l’abdomen

DES MUTILLES DE L'INDE. 483

d’un rouge sombre sur la moitié du second segment et noir 4 partir de
cet endroit, mais il parait noir en entier par suite de I’épaisse pubes-
cence noire qui recouvre toute sa surface ; second segment orné de
quatre petites taches d’un blanc d’argent Iuisant, l'une médiane prés de
sa base et les trois autres placées transversalement prés de son bord
apical; téte et thorax hérissés de quelques longues soies noiritres
entremélées d’autres d’un jaune d’or; des soies noires, également
longues et plus abondantes se voient sur le dos de l’abdomen;
en dessous du corps les soies blanches prédominent et les pattes sont
elles-mémes hérissées de soies noires mélangées 4 d’autres d’un jaune
pale. Téte un peu plus large que longue, moins large que le thorax, a
sculpture cachée par la vestiture ; troisiéme article des antennes court,
& peine aussi long que le quatriéme ; yeux ovales, assez grands, plus
longs que l’espace occupé derriére eux par le vertex. Thorax court, peu
rétréci en avant, trés rétréci en arriére, ses bords latéraux en arc con-
vexe ou méme légérement anguleux a la partie la plus large de sa face
dorsale ; il est obliquement tronqué en arriére, mais le bord supérieur
de la troncature est arrondi et porte en son milieu un onglet scutellaire
peu saillant ; la sculpture, visible seulement dans la partie nue, offre
une réticulation grossiére ; ces flancs sont eux-mémes ridés-réticulés,
sauf les mésopleures qui sont lisses et luisantes. Abdomen pétiolé, son
premier segment nodiforme en arriére et beaucoup plus étroit que le
segment suivant dont il est séparé par un étranglement trés sensible ;
il est presque lisse en avant, grossi¢rement réticulé en arriére. Second
segment paraissant fossulé-réticulé en dessus, autant que permet d’en
juger son épaisse pubescence ; en dessous il est éparsement marqué de
grosses fossettes; pygidium finement et Jongitudinalement strié,
Epines des tibias brunes, éperons jaundtres. Long : 8} mill.

Cette remarquable espéce parait avoir été figurée par M. Cameron,
Plate I, fig. 13, de ses Hymenoptera Orientalis, Part IV, 1892, mais n’a
été ni nommeée ni décrite dans le texte.

Poona (Mr. Wroughton), un seul exemplaire.
28. Mutilla trichocondyla, nov. sp.

Q :—Teéte et thorax d’un rouge de sang foncé, scape des antennes et
pattes d’un brun rougeatré, funicule ferrugineux. Abdomen noir,
médiocrement revétu de poils noirs couchés; second segment orné i

484 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, VIL.

son extrémité d’une bande, légérement interrompue au milieu, de pubes-
cence d’un jaune d’or ; troisitme segment entitrement couvert de pubes-
cence semblable ; en dessous et sur les cdtés les segments 2 4 5 sont
abondamment ciliés de poils d’un jaune d’or, le segment anal en est
assez densément pourvu. De longues soies de méme couleur, insérées 4
la base du métathorax et du premier segment abdominal, donnent une
apparence trés hérissée 4 |’intervalle qui sépare le thorax de l’abdomen,
Le dessus de la téte, du thorax et des segments abdominaux, a l’excep-
tion du troisiéme et du dernier, est parsemé de soies noires et courtes ; les
pattes et les flancs du thorax sont hérissés de poils d’un jaune d’or- |
Téte aussi longue que large, un peu plus étroite que le thorax, trés
grossiérement ponctuée-réticulée ; troisiéme article des antennes environ
une fois et demie aussi long que le quatriéme; yeux médiocres, en
ovale court, 4 peu prés aussi long que l’espace occupé derriére eux par le
vertex. Thorax trapézoidal, plus large en avant qu’en arricére, dilate de
chaque cété, vers son tiers antérieur, en une forte dent mousse, en
arriére et 4 quelque distance de laquel se voit un tubercule arrondi beau-
coup moins saillant. Le métathorax est assez brusquement tronqué
en arriére, mais sans arréte distincte entre ses faces dorsale et posté-
rieure ; il est grossicrement ponctué-réticulé sur le dos, trés finement
chagriné sur les flancs, sauf dans les parties saillantes qui séparent les
pleures et qui sont assez grossiérement ponctuées. Abdomen en ovale
assez allongé; son premier segment assez court et un peu moins large
que le segment suivant auquel il ne s’adapte pas tout a fait réoulicre-
ment maisavec un leger ressaut ; second segment fortement fossulé-
réticulé en dessus, un peu plus superficiellement en dessous; segment
anal avec des élévations caréniformes 4 sa base, finement rugueux
2 Pextrémité. Tibias médiocrement épmeux, les épines ainsi que les
éperons d’un rougedtre pale. Long : 13 mill.
Kanara (Mr. Wroughton), un seul exemplaire.
29. Mutilla pulchrina (Smith).
Kanara (Mr. Wroughton),
30. Mutilla argentipes (Smith).
Kanara (Mr. Wroughton).

31. Mutilla argenteo-maculata (Smith),
Poona, Kanara (Mr. Wroughton).

se

Journ. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., Vol, Vill. Plate A.

Behari Lal Das. Del. 8 Lith. Caleutta
SPALGIS “EPIWS: Westwoad, Fram S Giele.

Journ.

Bombay. Nat.

Hist. Soc., Vol. VIII.

SPALGIS S-SIGNATA, Holland, from W. Africa.

Plate

R
Wisi

485

THE LARVA AND PUPA OF SPALGIS EPIUS,
WESTWOOD.

By B. H. ArrKen.
(With Plates A and B.)
( Read before the Bombay Natural History Society on 10th March 1894,)

Spalgis epius, Westwood, is a small butterfly of the family Lyce-
nid, not handsome or brightly coloured, but so curiously marked that
there is little difficulty in distinguishing it from all our other “ Blues,”
The upperside is brown, with a quadrangular whitish spot, or patch,
in the middle of the forewing. But when the butterfly is resting,
with wings closed, it is the underside we see, and this is of a clear
French-grey colour, covered with a tracery of very fine, dark, zig-zag
lines. In the centre of each wing there is a small, oval, whitish
spot, and the peculiarity of the butterfly’s appearance is completed by
the very short antenne and bright green eyes. The forewing of the
male is sharply pointed, that of the female more rounded. It is
found, I believe, throughout India, and, though not exactly a rare
butterfly, does not seem to be plentiful anywhere. Mr, Moore, in
his great book on the Lepidoptera of Ceylon, gave a figure of a curious
object, green and red, with long processes on its back, as the larva
of Spalgis epius, and said that it fed on Huphorbiacew. Afterwards Mr.
EK. EH. Green, of Ceylon, wrote to Mr. de Nicéville that he had reared
the larvae of Spalgis epius, or some butterfly indistinguishable from it, and
that they were carnivorous, feeding upon the white, fluffy, plant-
louse known to gardeners as the “ mealy bug.” Mr. de Nicéville pub-
lished Mr. Green’s observations in his book, and evidently leaned to
the view that he was right and Mr, Moore wrong ; but I had not seen
the passage when, in December, 1891, I saw a female Spalgis epius
flying suspiciously about a bush and thought it might be laying its
eggs. This led me to examine the plant, and almost at once I found
an unmistakeable lyczenid pupa. Then I instituted a regular search,
but not a larva could I find, nor any trace of one. The leaves of the
plant were nowhere eaten, and it was too much infested with “ mealy
bug ” to afford fresh, wholesome food to delicate insects. I had
almost given up the search when I noticed that some of the bugs were
enormously large. I brushed the white, woolly secretion off these, and
they were uncommonly like lycsenid larvee. They were of the wood-
louse form so common among the larve of that family, of a dark

5

486 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. Vill,

greenish-brown colour, with a few hairs scattered over the back, and
a fringe of bristles running along the side and round the front,
where the second segment conceals the head. With this fringe I
saw them shovel a quantity of the white stuff on to their backs and
clothe their nakedness after I had denuded them. Watching them
with a lens, I soon saw that they were feeding among the “ mealy
bugs.” They would pass over the larger individuals and bury their
heads in the downy covering of a little one, and though I could not
say I actually saw that they devoured it, I was quite satisfied that this
was what they did. So I secured a number and put them into a pill-
box, with a supply of their prey, and in a few days the prey had
disappeared and the larvee had become pupe. In a fortnight (exactly
twice the time required by the smaller Lycenide generally) fine
specimens of Syalgis epius emerged. I was very much surprised at
my discovery, for I did not then know that any butterfly larvee were
carnivorous, except when they indulged in cannibalism and ate each
other, as Lycenide often do. I wrote at once to Mr. de Nicéville, who
replied, drawing my attention to the passage in his book and saying
he was glad 1 had confirmed Mr. Green’s observations, I mention
all this to show that my observations were not biassed by any previous
notion of what my eyes ought to see. Afterwards Mr. de Nicéville
sent me a paper, published in ‘‘ Psyche,’ on Spalgis s-segnata, an
African species of the same genus, the larvee of which are also carnivo-
rous. The most remarkable thing in this paper was a figure of the
pupa, which, when magnified, exhibits a resemblance to the face of an
ape, or chimpansee, so striking and so detailed that it is more than
ludicrous, and deserves to be called mysterious. Unfortunately, when
I found my specimens, I was travelling in haste through a very wild
part of the country, so I put away the pup without examining them
closely, and I never saw another until last month (September), when Mr.
J. Davidson, 1.C.8., found two in Karwar. On examining them with
a lens, what was my astonishment to find a face totally different from
that presented by the African species, but even more life-like and
expressive. ars were wanting, but every other feature was there.
The abdominal portion of the pupa formed the forehead, two gleaming
black spots, exactly in the right place, made a most malignant pair of
eyes, the arched thorax was the nose, the effect of which was height-
ened by its being almost black at the muzzle, and the head, with its
attachment to the thorax, formed the chin and lips. No description
can convey any idea of the way in which the contour, features, and

THE LARVA AND PUPA OF SPALGIS EPIUS, WESTWOOD. 487

expression are worked out, and I am afraid that the plate will be re-
garded as overdone. To this I can only reply that it is underdone.
Drawing an object under a strong lens is difficult and the artist has
failed to bring out the peculiarly expressive moulding of the lips and
the malignant gleam of the eyes. In order to make it easier to
understand the figure, the pupa has been shown nearly life-size in two
positions. It is attached by the anal end to a leaf, usually, I think, on
the upperside, so rigidly that it remains in a position parallel to the
surface of the leaf. There is no band.

This almost perfect and yet wholly unaccountable representation of
animal physiognomy in the pupee of two allied butterflies should make
us cautious of explaining every fancied resemblance by “ protective
mimicry.” The likeness of the “* Leaf Butterfly” to a withered leaf and
of certain Phasmide to green leaves or sticks does undoubtedly often
save their lives, but in none of them does the likeness approach this
one, for which it seems impossible to suggest cause or reason. For
what advantage can it be to an object the size of a grain of wheat
that it looks just like a baboon? Verily we are not better than our
fathers. It is a lusus nature.

EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES.
Plate A,
Fig. 1. Imago of Spalgis epius, Westwood, male, from South
India, natural size.
Fig. 2. Ditto, female.
3. Dorsal view of the pupa of the same, highly magnified.
» 4. Side view of ditto, slightly enlarged.
5. Dorsal view of ditto, slightly enlarged.
Plate B.

This plate, with some slight alterations only—z.e., a front or dorsal
view of the pupa of the natural size has been added, and the sides of the
imago have been reversed, the left-hand side now showing the upper-
side, the right-hand the underside—has been copied from the original
Plate IV of “ Psyche,” vol. VI (1892), p. 201, drawn by the
Rev. W. J. Holland, Ph.D.

Fig. 1. Imago of Spalgs s-signata, Holland, from West Africa.

2. Larva of ditto, dorsal view.

» 9. Dorsal view of the pupa of the same, highly magnified,
4, Side view of ditto, probably natural size.

» 9 Dorsal view of ditto, also probably natural size,

488

BOTANY OF THE LACCADIVES, sine NATURAL
HISTORY NOTES FROM H. M. I, M. SURVEY
STEAMER “INVESTIGATOR,” CommanpER
Rk, F. HOSKYN, R.N., COMMANDING.

Series II, No. 5. By D. Pram.

Additional Note.

Since this paper was published, the writer has learned that while it is true
that in Sir Wm. Robinson’s day the Southern Laccadive islands belonged to
the Cannanore 7aj, and though this arrangement was still in force at the time
of Mr, A, O. Hume’s visit in 1875, very shortly after this date they were,
owing to revenue arrears, placed directly under British rule,*

The name given in this paper to the excavated areas under cultivation is
wrong. Sir Wm. Robinson gives two names—the éot or kat, and the writer,
following what has become the more usual custom, has unfortunately employed
the latter only, But itis the word ¢ot, which is a form of the Malayalam
word for garden, that should alone be used; the word hat is aform of a
Malayalam word for forest or jungle and is altogether inapplicable, The
writer is indebted to Mr. Winterbotham, Collector of Tanjore, for kindly point-
ing out this error to him.

Mr. Winterbotham informs him also that on Suhelipar reef there is an
island, Suheli ; and that it has coco-nut .trees.t

In addition to the species enumerated in the list of plants should be inserted
after n. 163, 163b. ALOcASIA INDICA, Linn., which, as_ well as Colocasia
antiquorum, is cultivated in Kalpéni, and perhaps in some of the other islands,

* Tt is characteristic of the inexactness of the information contained in the Imperzal
Gazetteer of India that even its second edition (1886) makes no mention of this not un-
important fact,

What would happen were these arrears to be paid up, it is very hard to predict. The
inhabitants of the southern islands, after nearly twenty years’ experience of settled British
administration, declare that they willresist by force any attempt on the part of the Can-
nanore raj to re-impose on them a native domination.

{ It is not unlikely that, as in Bitrapar, these cocoenut trees have been planted. The
island has a particularly fine lagoon and is often visited for its nuts and coir; doubtless it
would be permanently inhabited were it not that, again exactly as in Bitrapar, when wells
are dug only brackish and undrinkable water is obtained. One of the special features of
Suheli is the presence of a large Banyan tree, clearly a planted species.

489

NOTES ON THE SYNONYMY OF SOME SPECIES
OF INDIAN PIERIN ZL.

By E. Y. Watson, Inpian Starr Corps.
(With Plates I and IT.)

WHILE on leave in England a year or so ago, I endeavoured to
name my collection of Pverine, and to ascertain the difference
between the numerous ‘‘ species” described, especially in the genera
Terias and Izias. From the descriptions alone it is absolutely impos-
sible to identify specimens, and I found that, even with the type
specimens before me, the question to which named form any particular
specimen was referable, was a matter of the greatest uncertainty. In
either of the above quoted genera for example, we see in the British
Museum collection a series of specimens arranged above each name,
the type specimen being frequently included; but on further examina-
tion of the series it is found that the specimens contained in it are not
absolutely identical the one with the other or with the type, and that
in many cases some of the specimens might equally well be arranged
under the succeeding series, or, in fact, under one several rows distant,
If we find this the case in the National Collection, which is arranged by
experts, how can the ordinary individual ever hope to name his collec-
tion? The true explanation of course is, that many of the so-called
“ species’ simply represent some of the numberless seasonal forms which
occur in Terias and Jxas, in which genera, especially in the dry-season
forms, it is almost impossible to obtain two specimens which agree with
one another in every minute particular, and it must be remembered that
the “‘ species ” in these genera have in the majority of cases been differ-
entiated on the minutest details. The result has been that when
collections arrive at the British Museum it has been found necessary
either to describe and name every individual or else to assign the
specimens to that form to which they bear the closest resemblance ;
since this latter alternative has been adopted in the majority of cases,
the natural consequence has been that, under each “ species,” number~
less links to other “ species” have been arranged, one series in some
cases running into four or five other series according to whether the
acquisitions are incorporated on the markings of the fore- or hindwing
or upper- or underside respectively, all of which are eminently variable,

490 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

However, my object was not so much to ascertain the species
to which my specimens belonged, as to find out which particular
names were referable to which particular forms of which
particular species, and as with the type specimens before me
it has been possible to ascertain what is impossible from de-
scriptions and figures alone, I have thought it would be some
assistance to working entomologists in India if I published the
conclusions arrived at. In cases where the type of any particular
species isnot in the National Collection, the identifications of the
British Museum have been accepted.

There is no group of butterflies which has been so hardly dealt
with by the species-maker as the Péerine, or in which so much in-
genuity has been wasted in the attempt to make species out of the
many seasonal varieties which occur in almost every genus. The
naming of these various forms is no doubt largely due to the fact that
individuals of most species occur in great numbers, and in any collec-
tion which arrives in England many of the slight varieties will be found
to occur, to the great delight of the worker-out of the said collection, who
immediately sits down and describes them wholesale. That the above
statement is very near the truth is borne out by the fact, that of fifteen
forms of what I consider to be Terias hecabe, Linneeus, which have been
described within the last ten years, no less than fourteen were described
from the dry plains of Western and North-Western India, from districts
where vegetation is comparatively sparse and the species of butterflies
much more limited in number than in the wet heavy forest districts of
North-Hastern India, or Burma, or even the hill-ranges of Southern
India, so that when a collection is sent home from the above-mentioned
plains districts, if the worker-out wishes to describe new species, he has
to fall back on the Pierine for his purpose, as the other families would
be represented only by well-known species presenting comparatively
little variation, while, on the other hand, a collection from a richer
district would afford new species from other families, and would not
therefore offer the same temptation to describe slight varieties. These
remarks though applying in greatest force to the Pierin@, where slight
varieties are innumerable, will also be found to apply in many other
cases, as for instance in the genera Catochrysops, Tarucus and Zizera
in the Lycenide.

SYNONYMY OF SOME SPECIES OF INDIAN PIERINZZ. 491

There seems to be some confusion in the minds of naturalists at
home as to what is meant by dry- and wet-seagon broods. Mr. Butler
speaks of them quite wrongly as Spring and Autumn broods, and seems
to be under the impression that there are only two broods annually, as
he considers that an instance of the eggs of typical Terias hecabe pro-
ducing typical T, hecabe proves that T. excavata or any other similar form
cannot be the dry-season form of T. hecabe. He is however working on a
wrong basis: 7’. hecabe has atleast four and probably more broods annu-
ally, of which those individuals which emerge during the rainy-season
would betypical 7. hecabe, but those which emerge during the dry-season
would be 7. excavata or some other dry-season form, while there is no
doubt that in some cases the eggs laid by one female would produce
more than one form, according to the state of the atmosphere shortly
before the emergence of each individual, which is the period at which
it would be chiefly affected. Also the descendants of the first of the
rainy-season broods would themselves be of the rainy-season form, and
similarly the descendants of the first of the dry-season broods would be
also of the dry-season form, and only the last of the wet- or dry-season
broods would produce forms differing from themselves. To put down
the broods of J. hecabe at four annually is a very moderate
estimate, it is in fact probable that in the warmer regions there may be
ten or even twelve broods a year, one brood following another without
any break and in rapid succession.

Another difficulty with which naturalists at home have to contend
is that in different parts of the Indian region the seasons vary to a
certain extent, so that it cannot be laid down as a fixed rule that
specimens captured in any particular month will belong to any par-
ticular form ; besides which allowance has to be made for breaks in the
rains or showers in the dry-season; roughly however the rainy-season may
be said to extend from the middle of May to the middle of November,
and the dry-season for the rest of the year, and it will be found that
the very large majority of the specimens obtained during these periods
will be wet- and dry-season forms respectively. It will be seen from
this how misleading are the terms Spring and Autumn forms, while
the terms hot- and cold-season forms are equally inappropriate. The
limitations given above are approximately those of the seasons in
Burma, but they are liable to vary a fortnight either way, while in

492 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

the hilly districts of that country the rains sometimes continue till
well into December. The same limitations would also apply fairly
well to the whole of Hastern and Southern India, but in the dry tracts
of the North-west the rains are of shorter duration and are less con-
tinuous ; consequently, rainy-season forms are scarce, and dry-season
ones are much more pronounced.

It must also be borne in mind that these seasonal races are not con-
fined to two clearly defined forms, 7.e., a rainy-season, and a dry-season
form, but that in most species there are not only two very distinct-looking
forms which represent the extremes of the two seasonal races,
and which prevail in the rainy and dry-seasons respectively, but
also numerous intermediates linking these extremes together, many of
these intermediates having received names. A further point to be
noticed is that these forms themselves vary according to the vegetation
and rainfall, so that the extreme of the rainy-season form from a dis-
trict where the rainfall is great and the vegetation dense is much more
pronounced than the extreme of the rainy-season form from a district
with slight rainfall and sparse vegetation ; and these differences are
even more marked in the dry-season forms ; while in all genera the
dry-season forms are asa rule smaller than the rainy-season forms.
It is therefore an extremely difficult matter for home naturalists to
work out correctly questions of seasonal variation, more especially as
it is their usual practice to ignore the observations of working col-
lectors who see the species in life and note the forms changing month
by month from one extreme to the other.

The question as to what forms should be granted specific rank is
one which is continually under dispute, and it is impossible to lay
down any hard or fast rule which could be applied to all families and
genera of butterflies, as in some genera we find absolutely fixed types
which are constant throughout their range, while in other genera the
- difficulty is to find two individuals which are absolutely identical.
The most obvious way out of the difficulty is to give sub-specific names
to forms which appear to be constant but nevertheless to be too closely
allied to some other form to be considered a distinct species, and this
practice has been adopted to a limited extent by Mr. Scudder in his
“ Butterflies of the Eastern United States,” and I consider it very pro-
bable that it will be found necessary hereafter to adopt some similar

SYNONYMUY OF SOME SPECIES OF INDIAN PIERIN Z&, 493

method with the Asiatic Pierine. In this paper, where a form appears
to be fairly constant in a fairly defined area, it has been treated as a
local race, reference being made to the species of which it is, in all
probability, a modification. But I think the practice of naming
seasonal forms cannot be too strongly deprecated, this being done fre-
quently without any reference to the other forms of the same species,
so that the study of the variation of species, which, I take it, is one
of the chief aims of entomology as a science, is not in any way fur-
thered, but is, on the contrary, rather retarded. Further, in groups,
such as the hecabe group of Terias, where it is extremely difficult to
find two individuals of the dry-season form absolutely identical in
markings, each specimen might be named and described as reasonably
as many of the so-called “ species.”

The extraordinary extent to which this splitting of species may be
carried is well exemplified in the arrangement of the collection at the
British Museum, a most noteworthy point being that though practi-
eally every named form of Terias and Izas is represented in the
collection, yet there are almost as many unnamed forms separated off as
distinct species and only awaiting a sufficiently bold describer to name
them. Yet in spite of these many “ species” I found, on trying to name
my collection, mostly from Burma and Southern India, and containing
several hundred specimens of Jaas and Terias, that though many
specimens could be matched approximately, yet a very large residue
could not be assigned to any (named or unnamed) species in th
British Museum collection, and consequently represented many “ new
species.” As my collection was obtained at all periods of the year,
and as every specimen is dated, I was able to work it out to my own
satisfaction, and totassign the different seasonal forms to the species to
which in my opinion they belong, and though of course I do not fora
moment anticipate that my conclusions will be accepted by the
describers, yet I do not think I shall be far wrong in saying
that there is hardly a single working entomologist in India who has
not arrived at similar conclusions.

As Mr. Butler is the custodian of the butterfly collection at the
British Museum and is therefore responsible for its arrangement as well
as for the naming of many of the seasonal forms, I trust that both he
and others will bear in mind that the Butler referred to is one of

6

494 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII

many years ago and not the present reformed character who has
relinquished butterflies in favour of moths, and whose views on variation
have in consequence undergone considerable modification. This
latter gentleman, while I was at home, treated me with the greatest
kindness and gave me much assistance, though we differed on many
points, and I should be the last to criticize his views from any personal
animosity, and only do so that something like order may be produced
from the chaos of the splitter. I consider the above remarks necessary,
as I noticed when at home that some entomologists seemed to consider
any criticism on their work, even when just, must have emanated from
personal animosity, though one would have thought their opinions
were published for the benefit of science in general, and that they
should therefore be grateful if any points on which they had gone
astray were put straight by others who had greater opportunities for
observation.

The genera of the Pzerine, which present the greatest variation and
with which alone it is proposed to deal in this paper, are Huphina,
Appias, Ixias, Tertas, and Teracolus. In the remaining genera of the
Pierine the species present for the most part comparatively little
variation, and the synonymy is consequently not so voluminous.

HUuPHINA.

In this genus seasonal variation is shown in the greater prominence
of all the dark markings on the upperside and in the much richer
coloration of the underside in the rainy-season forms, the general tone
of the underside in the dry-season forms being, in most species, of a
much greyer shade. The difference in size referred to above is also
very marked.

The numerous named forms in this genus, from the Indian region,
if local races be excluded,may be reduced to three species only, the
males of which may be compared as below :—

A,—Hindwing broadly orange towards the anal angle.

H. tea, Doubleday.

B.—Hindwing not orange towards the anal angle; a more or
less prominent spot in the upper median interspace of the
forewing on the upperside.

H, PHRYNE, Fabricius.

SYNONYMY OF SOME SPECIES OF INDIAN PIERINZ. 495

C.—Hindwing not orange towards the anal angle ; no black spot
in the upper median interspace of the forewing on the
upperside.

H. nama, Moore,

H., lea is a common species in Southern Burma and usually stands
under the name of H. amalia, Vollenhoven, as Burmese (and Malay)
specimens generally differ from typical 4. lea from Borneo in having
a narrower dark margin to the hindwing on the underside, and a
greater extent of yellow suffusion on the same wing, but Mr. de Nicéville
informs me that he finds these differences are not constant and that he
sees no point on which the males of H.lea and HA. amalia can be
separated, .

HI. phryne occurs typically throughout the whole of peninsular
India ; east of Calcutta it is replaced by a geographical race, H. dapha,
Moore, and in the Andamans by a second race, H. lichenosa, Moore.

The males of these three forms may be compared as below:—

A.—Spot in upper median interspace on upperside of forewing
clearly defined ; underside, hindwing yellow, the veins
fuscous.

H. PHRYNE, Fabricius.

B.—Spot in upper median interspace on upperside of forewing
clearly defined ; underside, hindwing white, the veins

fuscous.
H, papHa, Moore.

C.—Spot in upper median interspace on upperside of forewing
almost merged in marginal border ; underside, hindwing
almost entirely suffused with greenish-yellow, the veins con-
colorous.

H. ticHenosa, Moore.

The form which is referred to here as H. dapha stands under that
name in the British Museum, and the writer has not been able to
find out for certain under what name the local race should stand, but
probably HZ. nerissa, Fabricius, will be found to be the oldest name.
This form is very common throughout Burma and extends as far west
as Sikkim, being replaced by H. phryne in the rest of the Indian
region. It may be distinguished from typical H. phryne in all its
forms by the ground-colour of the underside being white (tinged with
greyish-ochreous in the dry-season form), whereas in H. phryne the

496 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

ground-colour is invariably some shade of yellow. The dry-season
form of H. phryne is the H. cassida of Fabricius, and is also the
HT. pallida of Swinhoe.

HT, lichenosa is a very well-marked local race from the Andamans.

AI, nama, with its dry-season form, H. amba, Wallace, occurs fairly
commonly throughout North-Hastern India and Burma, and also in
the Andamans, the race occurring there having been named
AM, andamana by Swinhoe, but the only difference between specimens of
HH, nama and H. andamana, Swinhoe, is the locality-label on the pin.

H, nama. is replaced in the Nilgiris by a good local race, H. remba,
Moore, the dry-season form of which is probably the “ species”
recently described by Col. Swinhoe as H. liguida. Seasonal forms of
Huphina from my collection are figured on Plate I, figures 1 to 12
and Plate II, figures 6 and 7. Figures 1 and 2 on Plate I are
from a pair of the extreme rainy-season form of H. dapha taken
in coité at Thayetmyo, Lower Burma, in August ; figures 3 and 4 are
from a pair of an intermediate seasonal form of H. dapha taken in
coitt at Pokoko, Upper Burma, in October ; figures 5 and 6 are from
a pair of the extreme dry-season form of H. dapha taken in coité
at Toungoo, Lower Burma, in January. Similarly figures 7 to 12,
represent males and females of the extreme rainy-season form, an inter-
mediate form, and the extreme dry-season form of A. phryne ; figures
@ and 8 from a pair taken 2m codéd at Berhampore, Ganjam, in July ;
figures 9 and 10 from a male taken at Madras on the 2nd April and a
female taken at Madras on the 31st March ; and figures 11 and 12
from a pair taken zn coztd at Berhampore, Ganjam, in February.
Figures 6 and 7 on Plate II show the underside of males of the rainy-
season and dry-season form respectively of A. nama, the former from
a specimen taken in the North Chin Hills, Upper Burma, in the ond
of April, and the latter from a specimen taken in the Yaw District,
Upper Burma, in December.

Other named forms of the genus, which are either not represented in
the national collection or are doubtfully identified, are A. amasene,
Cramer ; H. evagete, Cramer ; H. zeuxtppe, Cramer; H. hira, Moore ;
H. coronis, Cramer ; and H. copia, Wallace. Mr. de Nicéville informs
me that H. amasene was described from China, and that he fails to
recognise it as Indian ; that A. evagete represents a male of the richly-

SYNONYMY OF SOME SPECIES OF INDIAN PIERINZ. 497

coloured rains-form of H. phryne, that the figure of H. zeuaippe shows
a dry-season female of H. phryne, that H. hira represents the extreme
of the dry-season form of H. phryne from districts where vegetation
is scanty, that H. coronis is figured from the very darkest female
rains-form of H, phryne, and that H. copia is usually given as a
synonym of H. zeuxippe.

APPIAS.

This genus is usually divided into two sections, viz., Appias and
Catophaga, the latter differing from typical Appzas in the forewing being
more produced apically and the outer margin excavated below the apex
instead of straight, These seem to form two very natural sections, the two
Indian species of the first section being very closely allied, in fact merely
geographical representatives of one another, while they differ from the
species of Catophaga in being very numerous in individuals, and being
most abundant in comparatively arid tracts, while the species of Cato-
phaga appear to prefer denser jungle and being also much less numerous
in individuals are consequently not so well represented in collections,

Section APPIAs,

Seasonal variation is shown much as in Huphina, the rainy-season
forms being larger and more profusely marked than the dry-season ones;
the latter also having the ground-colour of the underside tinged with
ochreous instead of being pure white, A. lbythea, Fabricius, and
A, zelmira, Cramer, are the only two species which occur within
Indian limits, the latter being the Hastern representative of the former.
Both these species show considerable seasonal variation, and four of
the seasonal forms have been named by Colonel Swinhoe, three of them
in the “ Annals and Magazine of Natural History ” for 1890 (pages 358
et seq.) Ofthese four named forms, A. ares and A. retexta are
respectively the extremes of the dry- and wet-season forms of A, libythea,
the typical form of which is intermediate between the two. The other
two named forms, A. zvinii, and A. olferna, are respectively the

extreme of the dry-season form and an intermediate between the
two extreme forms of A. zelmira, which is itself the extreme of the
wet-season form,

A, zelmira is a species which shows the transition from the extreme
of one form to the extreme of the other more clearly than any other
species known to me, and it is by no means difficult to obtain a series

498 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. V1I1.

of males showing every stage from one extreme, with all the veins
on the underside of the hindwing broadly black, to the other extreme,
in which the whole hindwing is of a uniform, slightly ochreous tint,
the only marking being a few greyish scales across the end of the cell.
Five forms from my collection are figured on Plate II. Figure 1 from
a specimen taken at Pokoko, Upper Burma, in October ; figure 2 from
a specimen taken in the Upper Chindwin District, Upper Burma, in
May; figure 3 from a specimen taken at the same time and place ;
figure 4 from a specimen taken in the Yaw District, Upper Burma, in
January ; and figure 5 from a specimen taken at Toungoo, Lower
Burma, in January.

It is curious that Colonel Swinhoe has failed to recognise the fact
of the above forms being seasonal, for though he has never met with
A, zelmira in life, yet A. libythea is a common species in Western
India, where he has spent the best part of his life, and though the males
of the latter species do not vary to the same extent as do the males
of A. zelmira, yet the females show a complete transition from one
extreme to the other. Col. Swinhoe also states he has a long series of
all three species (i.e., A. libythea, A. ares and A. retexta), but makes no
mention of intermediates, though my experience is, that if a large
series be collected, month by month, there are very numerous
specimens which cannot definitely be assigned to any one particular
named form.

In nearly all its forms, the male of A. zelmira can be distinguished
from that of A, libythea by the black venation of the underside of the
hindwing as well as by the much larger extent and white spotting of
the apical patch on the forewing ; the dry-season forms, however, are
not so easily separated, as not only is the black venation of the under-
side entirely absent in A. zelmira, but the white spotting of the apical
patch on the forewing is also obsolescent ; however, the greater extent
of the apical patch in A. zelmira appears to be a good and constant
character, as in dry-season A. lebythea this apical patch is almost
entirely wanting.

The females are similarly easily enough separated in the rainy-season
forms, the female of A. zelmira being much more richly marked with
yellow and green on the underside of both wings, though these tints are
not entirely absent from the extreme rainy-season female of A, libythea

SYNONYMY OF SOME SPECIES OF INDIAN PIERINZ. 499

as stated by Swinhoe in his description of A. reteata, nor are the apical
white spots of the female of A. zelmira at all constant or invariably
present as implied by Swinhoe in his description above quoted. The
females of the dry-season forms of the two species approach each other
very closely, but even in these the underside of the female of A. zelmira
appears to be invariably more richly marked than that of A. libythea,

Section CATOPHAGA.

There are some fifteen named forms of Catophaga from the Indian
region in the national collection, which may be compared as below :-—
A. Male, upperside red.
C. aauBa, Wallace, In the B. M. from Manipur and Sylhet.
B. Male, upperside white ; underside, hindwing with no black mar-
ginal band.
a. Male, base of forewing broadly irrorated with bluish-grey.
a. No large black spot in upper median interspace in the male,
a®, Male, apical border of forewing black extending broadly
to outer angle, enclosing a curved series of well-
defined apical white spots. Underside, male, pale
yellow ; female, pearly-white.
C, warpi, Moore. In the B. M. from the Nilgiris,
b?, Male, apex of forewing irrorated with greyish, enclosing
a row of ill-defined whitish spots. Underside, male,
pale yellow ; female, pearly-white.
C. neomso, Boisduval. In the B. M. from the Nilgiris.
b', A large black spot in upper median interspace in the male.
C. aLopr, Wallace.
6. Male, base of forewing slightly or not at all irrorated with
bluish-grey.
a’, Male with a black spot in upper median interspace of the
forewing on the underside.
C. ROEPSTORFFII, Moore. In the B. M. from Camorta,
b', Male with no black spot in upper median interspace of the
forewing on the underside.
a*, Male, apex of forewing broadly irrorated with greyish,
enclosing no white spots. Underside, male and female,
hindwing and apex of forewing deep ochreous-yellow.

500 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII,

C. LANKAPURA, Moore. In the B. M. from Ceylon and the North-
West Provinces.
b?, Male, apex of forewing narrowly irrorated with greyish,

Underside, male, pale ochreous ; female, pearly-white,

a®, Male, grey apical patch of forewing, extending for a

short distance along costa. Female, bluish irrora-

tions at base of forewing on upperside extending up
to or beyond the forking of the lower median branch.
a*, Male, a few apical black spots on margin of hind-

C. DARADA, Felder.

wing. Female, white portion of forewing
extending across the end of the cell to the upper
discoidal nervule ; apical patch containing four
white spots (the uppermost one of the possible
five being absent), the two upper prominent,
the two lower minute. Underside, forewing
strongly suffused with orange-yellow from the
base to more than two-thirds the length of cell.
In the B. M. from Darjeeling.

b+, Male, upperside, hindwing unmarked at apex.

C, GALENA, Felder.

Female, white portion of forewing extending
across lower end of cell, only reaching the lower
discoidal nervule. Three apical white spots all
prominent (the uppermost and lowermost of the
possible five wanting). Underside, forewing
suffused with pale yellow from the base to the
first median branch.
In the B. M. from Ceylon.

6%, Male, greyish irroration at apex of forewing not extend-

ing along costa. Female, bluish irroration at base
of forewing on upperside not extending as far as
forking of lower median branch. White portion of
wing extending across the end of the cell to the
upper discoidal nervule. Three to five apical white
spots, the uppermost and lowermost always minute,
occasionally wanting, the other three always promi-
nent; faintly suffused with pale yellow at base of
forewing on underside.

SYNONYMY OF SOME SPECIES OF INDIAN PIERINA. 501

C. venusta, Moore, In the B. M. from Ceylon.

e%. Male, greyish irroration at apex of forewing very slight,
or entirely wanting. Female, grey irroration at
base of forewing on upperside extending to forking
of lower median branch. Five apical white spots,
the lowest alone being minute, the other four promi-
nent. Underside, forewing, strongly suffused with
lemon-yellow from the base to two-thirds the length
of the cell.

C. pauLina, Cramer. In the B. M. from Java, Penang, and Celebes.

C. Male, upperside white; underside, hindwing with a black

marginal band.

a. Male, upperside, hindwing, marginal band broad and diffused
inwardly, Female, the cell entirely or almost entirely
suffused with dark brown.

at, Male, underside, hindwing, subcostal vein black,

C. TAPROBANA, Moore (rainy-season form). In the B.M. from Ceylon.

C. apzRTA, Moore (dry-season form). In the B. M. from Ceylon.

C. LATIFASCIATA, Moore (dry-season form). In the B. M. from the

Nilgiris and Trevandrum.
bt, Male, underside; hindwing, subcostal vein concolorous with
rest of wing.

C. HIPPOIDES, Moore. In the B. M. from Manipur, Pegu, and

: Tenasserim.

6. Male, upperside hindwing marginal band narrow. Female,
the cell almost entirely white.

C. vacans, Moore. In the B. M. from Pegu and Modah (Irrawaddy).

C. EPIcaNA, Swinhoe. In the B. M. from Maldah,

Tam unable to say how C. epicena is supposed to differ from
C. vacans. In addition to the specimens in the collection at the Bri-
tish Museum, from the localities quoted above, there are in my collec-
tion specimens of C. wardi from the Nilgiris in June ; C. neombo from
the Nilgiris in January, and Mysore in November; C. alope from
Tenasserim in March ; C. lankapura from Madras in June ; C. darada
from Tenasserim in March, and the North Chin Hills, Burma, in June ;
C. galena from Madras in August; C. venusta from the Nilgiris in

October and January, Madras in July and August, and Tenasserim
7

502 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII,

in March; C. paulina from the South Chin Hills in May and the North
Chin Hills in the same month ; C. hippordes from Toungoo, Burma, in
March, and Tenasserim in January and February ; and C. vacans from
Toungoo, Burma, in January, February and March, from Myingyan,
Burma, in December, and from Mysore also in December.

The differences given above are in most cases of a very slight
nature, and though fairly constant in the specimens I have been able to
examine, it is most unlikely that they would be found to hold good in
a larger series. There can be little doubt that C. ward? and C. neombo
are forms of one and the same species, and it seems very probable
that C. darada, C. venusta, C. galena, C. paulina and probably
C. lankapura as well do not represent more than one species; C. alope
is according to Distant the male of C. lezs of Htibner and should stand
under that name.

Other named forms recorded from the Indian region are C. hippo,
Cramer, C. eleonora, Boisduyal, and C. nero, Fabricius.

IXIA.

In this genus seasonal variation is shown on the upperside by the
black markings being broader and more prominent, and on the
underside in the ocelli and other markings tending to become
obsolete in the rainy-season forms. In the dry-season forms the
marginal band on the upperside of the hindwing is frequently entirely
obsolete, while the markings on the underside are always mere or less
prominent. The tone of the underside in the dry-season forms of the
yellow group is also much more ochreous than in the wet-season
forms. The females of the yellow forms also further differ in the
coloration of the apical patch, which is deep orange in the dry-season
forms, but usually more or less tinged with yellow in the rainy-season
forms, being sometimes entirely yellow and even insome cases white.
Some thirty forms of Izias have been recorded from Indian limits
as distinct species, though the correctnumber probably does not exceed
four, if local races are excluded.

Mr. Butler (Ann. and Mag. of Nat. Hist., March, 1888, p. 201), in
speaking of the species of Jaias in the collection of the British
Museum, says that a complete gradation can be traced from one extreme
to the other, ze, from J. reinwardti to I. depalpura, and his

SYNONYMY OF SOME SPECIES OF INDIAN PIERINAE. 503

inference is that the whole genus must be treated either as containing
one variable species, or else as containing numerous species differing
from one another only in very minute particulars. If his first state-
ment were literally correct, his inference would undoubtedly be so as
well; but, unfortunately, his statement is only correct with certain
limitations, .

The series in the British Museum collection commences with
I, reinwardta from Lombock, which is succeeded by three or four more.
island forms which run into J. venatriz from Moulmain. This species is
succeeded by J. kausala from Depalpur, and here we come to an
enormous gap, as there is no species linking I. venatrix to I. kausala,
which differ very widely, and undoubtedly represent two quite distinct
species. J. kausala is followed by the remainder of the forms of
yellow Jaias, and the series runs through J. pygmea, I. pyrene,
I. pyrenassa, I. watt, I. colaba, &c., ending with the pale yellow forms
I, citrina, I. verna and I. andamana, and there is no doubt that a very
fairly complete gradation can be shown from J. kausala to
I, andamana, and that all the forms included in the collection
between them represent one and the same species, though several
of the forms are sufficiently localized and defined to deserve naming.
After I. andamana there is another big jump to J. marianne,
and there is no connecting link between these two forms, which
undoubtedly belong to two distinct species. The remaining species
mentioned by Mr. Butler, wiz., I. meridionalis, I. agniverna, and
I. depalpura are nothing more than seasonal forms of J. marianne, so
that, at the time Mr. Butler wrote, the British Museum collection
contained three distinct species of vias from the Indian region
all quite distinct and not running into one another. Since that time
a fourth species, J. nola, has been discovered at Mahableshwar in the
Bombay Ghats.

The males of these four species may be compared as below :—

A,—Upperside yellow, apical orange patch of forewing occupying
more than half of cell.
I, VENATRIX, Wallace.
B.—Upperside yellow, apical orange patch of forewing not
occupying more than outer fifth of cell.
I, PYRENE, Linnzus,

504 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

C.—Upperside white, apical orange patch of forewing broad, ex-
tending into submedian interspace.
J. MARIANNE, Cramer.
D.— Upperside white, apical orange patch of forewing narrow, not
extending into submedian interspace.
I. noua, Swinhoe.

I, venatriz, of which there isasingle specimen in the British
Museum from Moulmain, has no near ally from the Indian region, but
is closely allied to several species from the Malay Archipelago. It is
more than probable, I think, that the recorded locality for this species
is incorrect, unless the specimen be a “ sport.”’

I, pyrene is very subject to both climatic and seasonal variation,
and many forms have been named. Of these some are fairly distinct,
and the males can be compared as below:—

A.—Forewing, upperside, yellow of ground-colour not entering
upper median interspace.
a.—Apical orange patch extending across whole breadth of cell.
I, eviepz, Drury.
b,—Apical orange patch entering cell both above and below
black spot on disco-cellulars.
a',—Upperside deep lemon-yellow.
I. PYRENE, Moore.
b}.—Upperside pale lemon-yellow.
I. crrgina, Moore.
c.—Apical orange patch entering cell only above black spot on
disco-cellulars.
ai.—Upperside, deep lemon-yellow.
I. pyrenassa, Wallace.
b!.—Upperside, pale lemon-yellow.
a’.—Apical patch orange-yellow.
I. vErNA, Druce.
62,—Apical patch orange-red.
I, anpAMANA, Moore.
B.—Forewing, upperside, yellow of ground-colour entering
upper median interspace and filling angle at origin of
second median branch.
I, cINGALENSIS, Moore.

SYNONYMY OF SOME SPECIES OF INDIAN PIERINZE. 505

Typical J. evippe is a very large form, in which the orange of the
apical patch enters largely into the cell and extends across its whole
breadth. This form appears to be confined to the north-east of the
Indian region, and is in the British Museum from Nepal, Darjeeling,
and Manipur. The figures of the dry- (fig. 28) and rainy-season
(fig. 27) forms on Plate II are taken from two specimens in my collec-
tion from Assam.

Typical I. pyrene differs from I. evippe in being smaller, and in the
orange apical patch on the forewing entering the cell both above and
below the black spot onthe disco-cellulars, but not, or hardly, entirely
surrounding the black spot.

I, moulmeznensis, Moore, only differs in the apical orange patch
entering the cell toa rather less extent below the black spot. Both
typical I. pyrene and typical J. moulmeinensis occur commonly
throughout Burma, but apparently do not extend west of Assam.
The two forms run into one another, and are not separable, The dry-
and rainy-season forms are figured on Plate II, figs. 28 and 25, the
former from a male taken in the Yaw District, Upper Burma, in
January, and the latter from amale taken in the same locality in
September.

I. pyrenassa is a form in which the apical orange patch only
extends into the cell above the black spot on the disco-cellulars ; this
is the common yellow Iwias which occurs throughout the Indian region
wherever yellow forms of Jxias are found (except in the Andamans
and Ceylon). It would, therefore, appear to be the parent form, other
yellow forms being local modifications of it. It has received numerous
names, having been called J. dharmsale, I. frequens, and I, watti by
Butler, J. colaba and I. alana by Swinhoe, and the extreme of the dry-
season form having been named I. pyymea by Moore. I am quite
unable to say how the first four of these forms are supposed to differ
from typical I. pyrenassa, but am quite certain if the specimens
arranged above each name in the National Collection were mixed
up and the labels removed, that no one would be able to re-
arrange them as they are now arranged. [. alana I have not seen,
but there is not the faintest doubt that it is a form of J. pyrenassa,
occurring ina more rainy time of year than J. colaba, with which it
is compared by its describer.

506 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, VIII.

I. pygmea, which represents the extreme of the dry-season form,
is only represented in the British Museum from North-western India
(October, November, December) ; but there are perfectly typical exam-
ples of it in my collection from several localities in Burma, taken in
January, besides numerous intermediates between typical I. pygmea
and typical I. pyrenassa.

I. pyrenassa is in the British Museum Collection from Dharmsala,
Bombay, Barrackpore, Darjeeling, Bengal, the Nilgiris, Campbellpore,
Attock and Kangra ; and in my collection, from Madras, the Nilgiris,
Mysore, Ganjam, and numerous localities in Burma. I have not found
this form so common in Burma as typical J. pyrene, and some specimens
are distinctly intermediate with J. moulmeinensis, having a few specks
of orange in the cell below the disco-cellular spot on one wing and
none on the other. These puzzling specimens apparently do not occur
out of Burma, where they show a distinct transition to I. moulmeinensis
and thus to I. pyrene and I. evippe.

The figures on Plate II represent a male of the rainy-season form
taken in Upper Tenasserim in May (fig. 21), a male of the ordinary
dry-season form taken in the Karen Hills, Burma, in December
(fig. 20), and a male of the extreme dry-season form, 2.¢., J. pygmca,
taken in the Yaw District, Upper Burma, in February (fig. 22).
This latter is the ordinary dry-season form in dry districts, where the
rainy-season form is, on the other hand, not so pronounced ; the specimen
figured is absolutely typical even in size, though, as has been pointed
out by Mr, Butler, the small size of this form is by no means constant,

I regret I took no notes about I. latifasciatus when at home, but it
represents the utmost extreme of the rainy-season form of either
I. pyrene or I. pyrenassa, probably the former.

I. citrina, which I am unable to distinguish from J. pallida, Moore,
is in the British Museum from Tenasserim and High Island, Mergui,
and in my collection from Tenasserim. It appears to be a pale form
of I. pyrene and is probably insular, its head-quarters being in the
Mergui Archipelago, while it straggles occasionally on to the adjacent
continent.

I. verna, which is in the British Museum from High Island, Mergui,
and is in my collection from Tenasserim, bears exactly the same rela-
tion to I. pyrenassa that J. citrina does to I. pyrene.

SYNONYUY OF SOME SPECIES OF INDIAN PIERINZE, 507

I, andamana, the dry-season form of which has recently* been named
I. lena by Swinhoe, can only be separated from J. verna by the redder
tinge of the apical patch on the forewing.

I, cingalensis is a very well-marked local race, and occurs commonly
in Southern India and Ceylon. It can be separated at once from all
other forms of yellow Jas by the greater extent of the basal yellow
of the forewing, which spreads into the upper median interspace ; the
British Museum has specimens of typical I. cingalensis from Ceylon
alone, and of the dry-season form [. kausala, Moore (which is in-
separable from I. jhoda, Swinhoe), only from the Bombay Presidency.
Both forms, however, occur in the utmost profusion throughout the
whole of Southern India, and I have numerous specimens from the
Nilgiris, Madras, and Ganjam ; some of these specimens are distinctly
intermediate to I. pyrenassa, but nothing approaching I. pyrene or
JI. evippe occurs in Southern India.

A form rather intermediate between the dry-season and wet-season
forms, but nearer the latter, is figured on Plate II (fig. 23) from a male
taken at Madras at the end of April, and the extreme of the dry-season
form (I. kausala) at fig. 24 from a male taken at Surada, Ganjam, in
January.

My conclusions on the pyrene group of Ixias are that, as far as the
Indian region is concerned, the parent form is represented by
I. pyrenassa, which occurs typically wherever yellow Jaias are found,
with the exception of the Andamans and Ceylon; that the forms
I. cingalensis, I. pyrene, and I. evippe are fairly well-marked local races,
not yet fully established; and that J. citrina, I. verna, and I. andamana
are paler island forms, the two former of which extend to the adjacent
mainland.

I. marianne of Cramer is the common white Jzias which occurs
throughout Southern and Western India. Typical J. marianne, which
has been re-named J. cwmballa by Swinhoe, represents the extreme of
the rainy-season form. The dry-season form has been named
I, agniverna by Moore, and re-named J. depalpura by Butler, An
intermediate form has been named J. meridionalis by Swinhoe. The
males of these three forms differ comparatively slightly ; in fact, males
of I. marianne and I. meridionalis are hardly distinguishable, The

* Ann. and Mag, of Nat. Hist., sixth series, Vol. V, p. 357, n. 7 (1890).

508 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII,

females, however, differ more conspicuously, though all the forms run
into one another.

The figures on Plate II represent a typical female of J. marianne
taken at Berhampore, Ganjam, in July (fig. 17), a typical female of
I. meridionalis taken in Mysore in November (fig. 18), and a typical
female of J. agniverna taken at Berhampore, Ganjam, in February
(fig. 19), all from specimens taken by myself.

I, nola has as yet only been recorded from Mahableshwar. It appears
to be a quite distinct species. Both seasonal forms are represented in
the collection at the British Museum. Other named forms of Jzias
recorded from the Indian region, which are either not named in the
British Museum, or about which I neglected to take notes, are I. bebryce,
Hiibner, J. anewibia, Hiibner, I. sesta, Fabricius, I. rhexia, Fabricius,
I, pirithous, Fabricius, I. meipona, Grose-Smith, J. birdi, Distant,
I. ganduca, Moore, I. familiaris, Butler, and I. satadra, Moore.

TERIAS.
The genus Terias has been more hardly dealt with than any other in

the matter of bad species, chiefly owing to the fact that seasonal variation
is very much developed in the species of the T. hecabe group, of which
there are twenty-two named forms in the collection at the British
Museum and almost as many unnamed ; how many of these will turn
out to be good species when they have been bred is rather doubtful,
but probably it will be found that not more than four species of this
group occur within Indian limits.

The Indian species of Terias fall naturally into four groups which
can be readily separated. The chief point of separation is the presence,
absence, or form of the glandular streak in the male—a point to
which attention was first drawn by Mr. de Nicéville in a paper on the
Butterflies of Calcutta, published in the Journal of the Asiatic Society
of Bengal for 1885. Apparently no mention of these characters has
been made by subsequent authors, though their presence or absence is
a point of great systematic importance.

The four groups referred to above may be compared as follows :—

A.—Male, with a greyish glandular streak on either side of
submedian nervure at base of forewing on underside. No
male-mark on hindwing. A reniform spot on disco-

cellulars of forewing on underside.
T. HECABE group.

SYNONYMY OF SOME SPECIES OF INDIAN PIERINZ. 509

B.—Male, with an oval patch of closely-set salmon-coloured scales
on underside of forewing below submedian nervure, and a
similarly coloured patch on upperside of hindwing below
costal nervure. A single spot on disco-cellulars of fore-
wing on underside.

T. LHTA group.

C.—No secondary sexual characters on wings of male. Underside
more or less irrorated with fuscous scales. Two small dots
on disco-cellulars of forewing on underside.

T. LIBYTHEA group.

D.—No secondary sexual characters on wings of male. Underside
absolutely fleckless. 7

T, HARINA group.

In the hecabe group of Terias seasonal variation is shown by the

greater breadth of the black markings on the upperside, and also by
the deeper shade of the yellow in the rainy-season forms, and by the
underside in the dry-season forms being more or less marked with
brown, especially towards the apex of the forewing.

The named forms of this group represented in the National Collection

may be compared as below :—

A. With three dark streaks or spots in cell on underside of
forewing in addition to the reniform spot on disco-
cellulars (7. selhetana).

a, Apex of forewing on underside more or less marked with
brown. (Dry-season forms.)
T. SILHETANA, Wallace.
T. uNIForMIs, Moore.
T. HELIOPHILA, Butler.
6. Apex of forewing on underside unmarked with brown,
(Rainy-season forms.)
T. mERGUIANA, Moore.
T. moore, Butler,

B. With never more than two streaks or spots in cell on underside
of forewing in addition to the reniform spot on disco-
cellulars (7. hecabe).

a. No apical brown patch on underside of forewing. (Rainy-

season forms. ) |

510 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII,

a’. Upperside, forewing, marginal band dilated into a large
square spot at outer angle.
T. HECABE, Linnzeus.
T. HECABEOIDES, Ménétriés,
T. NICOBARENSIS, Felder.
6’. Upperside, forewing, marginal band only slightly dilated

at outer angle.
T, TEMPLETON, Moore.
1

cl. Upperside, forewing, marginal band uniformly broad

throughout.
T. curtosa, Swinhoe.

6b. Apex of forewing on underside with a more or less strongly
pronounced brown patch. (Dry-season forms.)
a’. Upperside, forewing, marginal band sharply angled at
upper median branch, and dilated into a large square
spot at outer angle. |
a’. Upperside, hindwing, marginal band narrow.
T, ExcAVATA, Moore.
T. smmuLata, Moore.

6°, Upperside, hindwing, marginal band obsolete.
T. FRATERNA, Moore.

6:1. Upperside, forewing, marginal band not sharply angled
at upper median branch, and only slightly dilated at
outer angle.

a’, Upperside, hindwing, marginal band narrow.

T., SWINHOEI, Butler.
T. PATRUELIS, Moore.
6°, Upperside, hindwing, marginal band obsolete.
T. PURREEA, Moore.

c'. Upperside, forewing, marginal band uniformly narrow
from upper median to outer angle.

a?. Marginal band sharply angled on upper radial.

T. smmPLEX, Butler.
6?, Marginal band not sharply angled on upper radial.
T. FIMBRIATA, Wallace.
T. IRREGULARIS, Moore.
T. warcissus, Butler.
T, ASPHODELUS, Butler.

SYNONYMY OF SOME SPECIES OF INDIAN PIERINZ. 511

d'. Upperside, forewing, marginal band obsolete from lower
radial to outer angle, appearing only as dots at the
extremities of the nervules.

T. aprcatis, Moore.

The minor characteristics given above for separating the different
forms are taken almost entirely from the type specimens of the re-
spective “ species.” It is needless to say that the specimens arranged
under each name in the British Museum are not true to the type,
but show every gradation from one form to another, if one judges
by the characters taken above. These characters (the apical
marking on the underside of the forewing and the shape of the
marginal band of the forewing on the upperside) have been
taken as they are the ones on which the describers of the forms
have based their “ species,” but they are eminently variable and
unreliable, nor have I been able to find a single constant character
to separate the forms shown under Section B ; and until some constant
character is shown, these forms should, in my opinion, be all classed
under the name T. hecabe. .

The distinctions between Sections A and B may appear trivial, but
they appear to be absolutely constant. The three markings in the cell
of the forewing of 7. silhetana are all confined to the basal half of the
cell, and consist of a highly zigzag, somewhat 3-shaped, marking,
slightly nearer to the base than to the end of the cell, inside of which
is a somewhat similar but shorter streak, and at the extreme base
of the cell there is a small rounded spot. These three markings
are absolutely constant in JT. silhetanain all its forms,and of
the large number of this species which I have taken in copuld,
the males and females invariably presented the same markings
in the cell, while the apical markings differed from typical
T. silhetana to typical T. mergwana. In no form of T. hecabe
are there more than two markings in the cell, and in the extremes of
the wet-season form one or both are frequently absent, though
they appear to be invariably present in the dry-season forms, When
present, these markings consist of a streak inwardly concave, somewhat
variable in size and shape, situated in the same place as the 3-shaped
marking in 7. silhetana, and a second small spot, either linear or
rounded, similarly situated to the second streak in T. silhetana, while

512 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

the spot at the base of the cell is invariably wanting. I have taken
typical T. hecabe in copula with typical T. hecabeoides, T. excavata,
T. swinhoe, and T. purreea, but never with either T. silhetana or
T. merguana ; the circumstance of specimens of the dry- and rainy-
season being taken in copuld is accounted for by their having been
taken during a break in the rains, or else either at the commencement
or conclusion of the rainy-season, when both forms can be obtained on
the wing together.

To take all the named forms in detail :—

TL. uniformis differs from T. silhetana only in having a slightly more
prominent apical brown patch on the underside of the forewing, but
in pairs of T. stlhetana taken tn coité, where the male has been
typical T. selhetana the female has been typical 7. uniformis ; in fact
the brown patch invariably seems more developed in the female than
in the male.

T. mooret differs from T, merguiana only in having the marginal
band of forewing rather less dilated at the anal angle.

This species, 2. ¢., T. silhetana, occurs in Burma more commonly
than T. hecabe, and also occurs throughout Southern India though less
commonly than 7. hecabe. I have it in my collection from numerous
localities in Burma and 8. India, and also from Assam and Sikkim.
The dry-season form taken from October to February, and the wet-
season form from July to September, with a few odd ones at other
dates.

T. heliophila was originally described by Mr. Butler from three males,
“only one in good condition,” taken by Dr. Watt “ near Assam,” one of
these males is now in the British Museum and must be taken as the type
of the “species.” This male represents an intermediate seasonal form
of 7. silhetana, and is very closely matched by the specimen figured
here on Plate Il, fig. 9. This form was described in 1885, but in 1886
Mr. Butler apparently repented of his sexing of his type specimen
above referred to, as he in that year incorporated into the Museum
collection a male of TJ. excavata from Durbunga as male T. heliophila,
this specimen now standing in the British Museum as “ 7. heliophila,
male, type,’ the original Assam specimen, which is also a male,
standing as “ T. heliophila, female, type.” These two specimens are
the only ones which are arranged over the name 7, heliophila.

SYNONYMY OF SOME SPECIES OF INDIAN PIERINZ. 513

Mr. Butler’s oversight is due to the fact that his original
specimen like most other forms of TZ. silhetana is pale yellow,
and therefore rather similar to females of the hecabe group, while the
second specimen is of the usual darker yellow of 7. excavata, and,
as the apical markings on the underside of the two specimens
are very similar, they being the corresponding forms of two different
species, he was led to believe they were the same species. As these
apical markings on the underside are the distinctive characters on
which so many described forms have been based, and as it has not
been generally recognised that these markings are purely seasonal, no
doubt the mistake was a very natural one; it is, however, unfortunate
that he overlooked the sexual glandular streak on the underside of the
forewing, which is present in both specimens. It will therefore be
seen that the Durbunga specimen, which is not absolutely typical
T. excavata, has no name. Will Colonel Swinhoe oblige ?

The next three forms, 7. hecabe, T. hecabeoides, and T. nicobarensis,
are absolutely identical, and there is no doubt that if the specimens of
the three forms in the British Museum were mixed together no one
would be able to re-separate them as at present arranged,

T. iempletonii has the marginal band of the forewing rather less
dilated at the outer angle than in typical T. hecabe, but otherwise does
not differ from it.

T. curtosa, of which the type is the sole known specimen, appears
to be a “sport” of T. hecabe.

T. simulata is inseparable from T. eacavata, which is the ordinary
dry-season form of 7. hecabe.

T. fraterna differs in the marginal border to the hindwing being
obsolete, which is probably due to its dry habitat.

T. swinhoci, T. patruelis, and T. purreea are slight varieties of
T. excavata, and occur with it throughout its range. The first two are
inseparable the one from the other, and the third is hardly more
distinct.

Of the next five forms, T. irregularts is an exact synonym of
T. fimbriata, and T. asphodelus of T. narcissus, which is slightly
smaller than J. irregulars ; while T. simplex differs slightly in the
shape of the marginal band of the forewing. They are all almost
certainly only extremes of the dry-season form of 7. hecabe.

514 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

T. apicalis appears fairly distinct, it is represented in the British
Museum, as far as I remember, by two specimens only, both dry-season
forms. |

T. sari, Horsfield, is possibly a distinct species. Mr. Butler speaks
of it as ‘‘ purely Malayan,” but I took a perfectly typical specimen in
the Nilgirisin January. It occurs fairly commonly in Burma, and
seems very constant. The shape of the marginal band on the forewing
and the entirely brown apical patch on the underside are very distinc-
tive, but before the species can be considered established, some character
should be pointed out which is not found to vary in other species of
the genus, and the rainy-season form should also be designated.

Of T. kana, Moore, I have only seen two specimens, both from
Burma, and both rainy-season forms; this may turn out to be the
rainy-season form of 7. sar, although it does not agree with it at all
in the shape of the marginal band of the forewing.

Of the species referred to above I have examined the type specimens
of 7. mooret, T.templetonit, T. curtosa, T. heliophila, T. fraterna,
LT. swinhoer, T. purreea, T. excavata, T. irregularis, T. narcissus,
T. asphodelus, T. simplea, T. apicalis, and T. kana. Figs. 8 to 11
on Plate II represent the undersides of four seasonal forms of
T. silhetana ; figs. 8, 9,10 from three males taken at Thayetmyo, Lower
Burma, the first in August and the others in September, and fig. 11
from a male, taken in the Yaw District, Upper Burma, in December.
Figs. 12 to 16 represent the undersides of five seasonal forms of
T. hecabe ;:figs. 12 and 13 from two males taken at Thayetmyo in
August ; fig. 14 from a male taken in Mysore in October; fig. 15
from a male taken at Madras in March, and fig. 16 from a male taken
in the Yaw District in December.

The species of the 7. leta group may be compared as follows :—

A. Apex of forewing very acuminate, marginal band of forewing

extending scarcely beyond the lower median branch (7. lata).
a. Underside, hindwing reddish.
T. Lata, Boisduval,
6 Underside, hindwing flesh-coloured.
T. sacERi, Ménétriés.
c. Underside, hindwing yellow.
T. vacans, Wallace.

SYNONYMY OF SOME SPECIES OF INDIAN PIERINZA. 515

B, Apex of forewing less acuminate, marginal band of forewing
extending to outer angle (7. venata).

a. Marginal band of hindwing narrow.
T. veNATA, Moore,
T. namA, Moore.
T. patiitana, Moore.

6. Marginal band of hindwing broad.
T. crngata, Moore.

T. jegert has the underside more flesh-coloured than T. lata, of
whichiit is probably the dry-season form.

T. vagans, which is possibly wrongly identified in the British
Museum, has no reddish tinge on the underside, and is apparently
without the salmon-coloured patch on the upperside of the hindwing
in the male, though the similar patch on the underside of the fore-
wing is present.

Of the next four forms the British Museum possesses nine males of
T. venata, from Bombay, the Punjab, Mhow, and the N.-W. Hima-
layas ; one male and one female of 7. czngala, both from Ceylon ; two
males of 7’. rama from the Nilgiris ; and two females of T. pallitana
from Kutch. As identified in the British Museum, T. pallitana repre-
sents the ordinary female of 7. rama. T. venata is slightly smaller
than 7. rama, but does not appear to differ otherwise. 7. cingala
may represent a distinct species. It is not at all certain that the above
four forms are correctly identified in the British Museum.

The 7. libytheu group is represented in the British Museum by four
named forms, of which three are separable. They may be compared as
below :—

A. Marginal band of hindwing evenly broad throughout,
T. senna, Felder.
B. Marginal band of hindwing evenly narrow throughout.
T. prona, Horsfield.
C. Marginal band of hindwing broad at apex and narrow at

anal angle.
T. LipytHEA, Fabricius,

T. RUBELLA, Wallace.
T. senna is in the British Museum from the N.-W. Himalayas,
Mhow, and Camorta, and in my collection from the Nilgiris, Ganjam,
Madras, Mysore, and Burma.

516 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII,

T. drona isin the British Museum from Java only, and I have never
met with it in India or Burma, but it is recorded from Ceylon by
Moore, though probably the insect referred to by him is not the same
as that identified in the British Museum as 7. drona.

L. libythea, from which, as identified in the British Museum,
T. rubella is inseparable, is in the British Museum from Poona and
Sheemagar, Upper Burma, and im my collection from the Nilgiris,
Ganjam, Mysore, Tenasserim, and the Shan States. I am inclined to
believe that 7. libythea is the female of 7. senna.

The T. harina group is represented in India by one species alone,
which varies slightly seasonably in the breadth of the black margins of
both wings. The more heavily-marked or wet-season form has been
named 7’. formosa by Wallace.

Mr. Butler has given it as his opinion that the only true species is a
local race, but in this I do not see my way to agree with him, nor does
the British Museum collection arranged with his own hands bear him
out. For in it we see forms suchas 7. fimbriata, T. narcissus, and
T. asphodelus arranged as three distinct species, z.e., as three ‘‘ local
races ;” but specimens of these three ‘‘ local races’’ are all in the
British Museum from the one locality of Campbellpore, and the only
conclusion to which we can come is that the variation between the
three forms is due to the different local influences of three adjoining
compounds or gardens, a conclusion which is certainly justified by the
extent of the variation, but in spite of that I question very much
whether such is Mr. Butler’s contention. But if on the other hand we
conclude that these three forms are simply modifications of one species
due to slight atmospheric changes shortly before their emergence from
the pupa, in my opinion we should be much nearer the mark; as it
is evident to any one who has taken the trouble to catch numbers of
Terias from month to month that this genus is pre-eminently affected
by the state of the atmosphere. A similar reductio ad absurdum could
be made in the case of almost every “ species” of the 7. hecabe
group, many of the “ local races’ of which will be found together in
the same spot, while at the same time 7. excavata is in the British
Museum from Bombay and Pegu, 7. purreea from Kangra and
Kyoukmyoung in Burma, 7. patruelis from the North-West Himalayas
and Christmas Island, T. irregularis from Campbellpore and Assam,

SYNONYMY OF SOME SPECIES OF INDIAN PIERIN#AE. 517

T. hecabeoides from Mhow, N.-W. Himalayas, Cachar, Malacca,
and Australia, and Z. hecabe from Mhow, Campbellpore, Cachar, the
Andamans, the Nicobars, Formosa, China, Aru, and N.-W. Australia—
all rather extensive ranges for local races.

Other forms of Terias, which have been recorded from the Indian
region, but which were either not represented in the collection at the
British Museum or about which I neglected to take notes at the
time, are 7’. rotundularis, Moore, T. contubernalis, Moore, T. ander-
sonit, Moore, T’. citrina, Moore, T. sodalis, Moore, T. suava, Boisdu-
val, and 7. esiope, Ménétriés ; all these will almost certainly be found
to be merely forms of T. heeabe or T. silhetana.

TERACOLUS.

This genus may be divided into several well-marked groups or
sections, which are all more or less affected by seasonal variation, but in
different ways.

Section A.—Of moderate size ; upperside salmon-coloured, male with
_ a glandular patch of scales above submedian vein near base of forewing,
the inner margin of forewing prominently lobed.

Of this group there are eight named forms in the British Museum
collection, which probably represent at most two species ; but how far
the variation is seasonal and how far geographical I am unable to form
an opinion without more personal experience of the group, only three
forms of which I have met with, while the specimens in the British
Museum are for the most part undated.

The males of these eight forms may be compared as follows :—

A. Submarginal fuscous band of forewing not coalescing with

marginal band towards outer angle.
a. Upperside, forewing, costa not irrorated with greyish.
a’. Underside, hindwing, not dusted with brown ; mark-
ings faint and brownish.
T. raustus, Olivier. In the B. M. from Hurope,
Turkey, and Kandahar.
61, Underside, hindwing, densely irrorated with brown ;
markings prominent and reddish.
T. Faustinus, Felder. In the B. M. from
Campbellpore and Rawal Pindi.

518 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

c'. Underside, hindwing, not irrorated with brown ;
markings prominent and reddish,
T. ornreNs, Butler. In the B. M. from Kalka
(foot of W. Himalaya).
b. Upperside, forewing, costa strongly suffused with greyish
from base to apical markings.
T. soLARis, Butler. In the B. M. from Deesa.
B. Submarginal fuscous band of forewing coalescing with mar-
ginal band towards outer angle, thus forming an apical
patch enclesing spots of the ground-colour.
a. Apical fuscous patch not reaching outer angle.
T. Funvius, Wallace. In the B. M. from
Khandesh.
T. PALLISERI, Butler. In the B. M. from
Khandesh.
b. Apical fuscous patch continued to outer angle,
a’, With three spots of ground-colour in apical patch.
T. tripuncratus, Butler. In the B. M.
from Bombay and the Nilgiris,
6}. With more than three spots of the ground-colour
enclosed in apical patch.
T. sunya, Moore. In the B. M. from Ganjam.

T faustus, T. faustinus, T. oriens, and T. solaris grade into one
another, and are probably not separable; 7. rosaceus, Butler,
which is not represented in the British Museum, is apparently identical
with 7. oriens. As far as known the females of all the above forms
are similar to the males, but are of a deeper shade.

T. pallisert is slightly smaller and more suffused with red beneath
than 7. fulvius, but is otherwise identical. The distinction between
T. surya and T. tripunctatus is very slight, and is not true to locality.
I have specimens of typical 7. tripunctatus from Ganjam, and of
typical 7, surya from the Nilgiris, T, fulvius, which is in my collec-
tion from Southern India, is in my opinion the dry-season form of
TL. tripunctatus, and it is almost certain that 7. fulvius, T. palliserd,
TL’. tripunctatus, and T. swrya represent a single species. The females
of these four forms as far as known are white, sometimes slightly
tinged with salmon-colour towards the margin.

SYNONYMY OF SOME SPECIES OF INDIAN PIERINZ. 519

Section B.—Of small size. Upperside salmon-coloured ; male
with a patch of specialized black scales on upperside of hindwing
extending from subcostal vein to costal margin. No glandular patch
on forewing, but the inner margin slightly convex.

The described forms of this group may be compared as below :—

A. Upperside, forewing, submarginal spot in submedian inter-
space prominent and squared ; apical spots conspicuous.
a. Underside, forewing, base prominently suffused with
orange in both sexes.
T. cazats, Cramer. In the B. M. from Aden
and Kilimanjaro.
T, carnirer, Butler. In the B. M. from the
N.-W. Himalayas and Karachi.
6. Underside, forewing, base faintly suffused with orange in
male, more prominently so in female.
T. DyNAMENE, Klug. In the B. M. from
Aden, Somali, N. India, and Karachi.
ce. Underside, forewing, base not suffused with orange in

either sex.
T. cypraus, Fabricius. In the B. M. from

Bombay,

B. Upperside, forewing, submarginal spot in submedian inter-
space linear; apical spots comparatively inconspicuous ;
no orange suffusion on underside of forewing in either sex.

a. Male, hindwing, marginal band narrow, more or less
obsolete towards anal angle, and prominently spotted
with the ground-colour.

. - (In the B. M, from the
T. amatus, Fabricius, 47 beacons cing) Cline

T.. KENNEDII, Swinhoe
( mandel.
b. Male, hindwing, marginal band broad, continuous, almost

unspotted.
T, mopEstTus, Butler. In the B. M. from

Ceylon.

In this section there are at most two species, which will stand as
T. calais and TI, amatus respectively, Z. kennedii being identical with
and Z. modestus a good geographical race of the latter, while
T. dynamene and 1. cypreus are inconstant varieties of the former.

520 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

These two species are themselves not much better than geographical
races, J’. amatus being confined to Southern India, where it occurs com-
monly, and is replaced by 7. calais in the drier climate of Western and
North-Western India.

LT. kennedit, Swinhoe, does not appear to differ from TJ. amatus,
or 7’. carnifer from T. calais, The females of J. calais, T. amatus,
and J. dynamene are very similar to the males. The females of
T. modestus are either white or salmon-colour, while of 7. cyprus
there is only a single pair in the British Museum, the male being a
largish long-winged insect, and the female white.

Section C.—Similar to Section B but the male with a minute
glandular patch on upperside of forewing above the submedian nervure.

The only species of this section occurring within Indian limits is
T. protractus of Butler, which is in the British Museum from the
Punjab, Kutch, Campbellpore and the Hubb Biver (Biluchistan); there
are two well-marked seasonal forms which differ in the tone of the
underside, which in the dry-season form, obtained in November, is
pale reddish-yellow, and in the wet-season form, obtained in June,
July and August, is bright yellow.

There are two other closely allied species of this group in the British
Museum. 7% ocellatus from Somali and 7. phisadia, Godart, (T. arne
Kliig), from Senegal, Abyssinia and Aden.

Sectzon .—Of moderate size. Upperside, white or lemon-yellow
with broad black margins, that on the forewing spotted with white ;
the male with a minute glandular patch on the forewing exactly as
in Section C,

In this group there are at most two species, though there are many
named forms, The seasonal broods differ in the colour of the under-
side, which is reddish-buff in the dry-season form and yellow in the
wet-season form.

The two species may be compared as follows :—

A. Underside, forewing, the lowest of the three black spots near

the outer angle not extending below the submedian nervure.
T. VESTALIS, Butler.
T. Dusius, Swinhoe.
T. INTERMISsUS, Butler.
T. PEELUS, Swinhoe.

SYNONYMY OF SOME SPECIES OF INDIAN PIERINZ. 521

B, Underside, forewing, the lowest of the three black spots near
the outer angle extending to the inner margin.
T. PUELLARIS, Butler.
T. OCHREIPENNIS, Butler,
T. Rorus, Swinhoe.

Of the above forms, 7’. dubius is an exact synonym of 7’ vestalzs, and
LT. rorus of T. ochreipennis. T. vestalis and T. puellaris are wet-season
forms and T. intermissus and T. ochreipennis dry-season forms,
T. peelus isa lemon-yellow variety of the female of T. zntermissus.

Section E.—Of moderate size. Forewing with a crimson apical
patch. No glands on wings of male.

In the British Museum the following eight forms are separated :—

. DANAE, Fabricius. Ceylon, Coimbatore and Bombay.
SANGUINALIS, Butler, Ceylon and Khandesh.

. Dizus, Butler. ‘»)

. EBOREOIDES, Butler. |

IMMACULATUS, Swinhoe. ? Karachi,

. DULCIS, Butler.

. SUBROSEUS, Swinhoe. J

. TAPLINI, Swinhoe. Poona and Bombay.

The above undoubtedly represent only one species.

T, danaé is the rainy-season form in Southern India with a broad-
ish black margin to the hindwing, and is replaced in the dry-season
by T. sanguinalis, which differs in being slightly smaller, and in
having less black on the hindwing. 7. dirus, T. eboreoides and
T. immaculatus run one into the other and represent the extreme
of the dry-season form froma dry-climate, and as a rainy-season is
practically unknown in Sind, the heavily marked rainy-season form is
not found there. 7. dzrus, which is the most heavily marked form of
the three, is hardly separable from J. sanguinalis. T. dulcis is in-
separable from J. dérus in the male, but differs in the female in having
no discal spots on the upperside of the hindwing, an eminently vari-
able character, and in any long series of females, typical specimens of
T. dulcis would be obtained. T. taplint and TJ. subroseus are slight
varieties of 7. dirus, the underside in both being more or less suffused
with pink, 7. subroseus, differing from 7. tapline only in having a rather
narrower inner black margin to the apical patch, There are very few

EFRAHRHHAH

522 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

specimens of these last two forms in the British Museum, and like the
female T. dulcis, they consist of slight aberrations picked out of long
series, JZ’. éaplint, as might be expected, being as near to the
Southern 7. sanguinalis as to T. dirus. T. albertus of Swinhoe I
have not seen, but judging from the description it is only a form of
T. danaé. T. phenius of Butler originally described from Abyssinia
but since recorded from Karachi has been sunk by Swinhoe as a syno-
nym of J, dulcis (P. Z. S., 1884).

Section F.—Upperside white, with an orange apical patch. No
sexual glands on wings of male.

This group is represented in the Indian region by two species,
I. etrida and T. eucharis, the former of which has a well marked local
race (T’. limbatus), in Ceylon.

The three forms may be compared as below :—

A. Upperside, forewing, the fuscous inner border of apical
orange patch more or less obsolete.
T, EucHARIS, Fabricius,
T. PSEUDEVANTHE, Butler.
T. tirEa, Godart.
B. Upperside, forewing, the apical orange patch entirely sur-
rounded with dark brown.
a. Hindwing with a border of separated spots.
T. ETRIDA, Boisduval.
T. FARRINUS, Butler.
T. peRNoTATUS, Butler.
T. purus, Butler.
T. BruBURA, Butler.
b, Hindwing with a continuous border.
T. ummBatus, Butler.

Of the first species, 7. pseudevanthe is the wet-season form,
T. eucharis the dry-season form, and 7. titea intermediate. ‘This species
occurs throughout Western and Southern India, and in Ceylon.

The first four named forms of the second species are practically
inseparable ; 7. bimbura, which is im the British Museum only from
North-West India, differs in having a reddish-brown underside, but this
is a character which is found in specimens from Southern India and is
merely varietal, probably more or less seasonal.

T. etrida occurs commonly throughout Southern, Western and North-
Western India, and is replaced in Ceylon by the local race T. limbatus.

SYNONYMY OF SOME SPECIES OF INDIAN PIERINA. 523

T. casimirus of Butler, which I have not seen, appears from the de-
scription to be a form of T°. etrida; another named form probably
identical with T. etrida is the T. pallens of Moore,

Tn this genus I have received great assistance from Mr, Butler, who
has in many cases pointed out the characters on which several of the
forms were originally supposed to differ, and which have since been
found to be inconstant, and I think I am not far wrong in saying that
the views expressed above do not differ materially from those held
at the present time by Mr. Butler himself.

The conclusions arrived at in the foregoing paper may be sum-
marised as under, what I consider to be true species or well defined
local races being shown in ordinary type and numbered, while mere
varieties and synonyms are shown in italics,

Huruina,
1. H. uma,
2, H. PHRYNE, rainy-season form.
A, pallida, extreme of dry-season form of H. phryne.
FT, cassida, synonym of H. pallida.
FT, hira, synonym of H. pallida.
H, evagete, extreme of rainy-season form of H. phryne.
A, zeuxippe, dry-season form of H. phryne.
FT, copia, synonym of H, zeuxippe.
HZ, coronis, synonym of H. evagete.
3, H. papna, well defined local race of H. phryne.
[| H. nerissa, ? oldest name for H. dapha. |
4. H. ticHENosa, well defined local race of A. phryne,
5. H. nama, rainy-season form.
H, amba, dry-season form of H. nama.
Hl, andamana, synonym of H. nama,
6. H. REempa, well defined local race of H. nama.
H. liquida, ? dry-season form of H. remba.
APPIAS,
1, A. LiByTHEA, intermediate form.

A, ares, dry-season form. E
; xtremes,
A, rete«ta, rainy-season form.

2. A, ZELMIRA, rainy-season form.
A, irvinii, dry-season form.
A, olferna, intermediate form,

t Extremes,

524 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

10.

1.

Ixtas.
J. VENATRIX,
I. pyRENE, local race of J. pyrenassa.
I, moulmeinensis, inconstant variety of I. pyrene.
I. crrrina, insular race of J. pyrene.
I. pallida, synonym of I, citrina.
I. nviprE, local race of I. pyrenassa.
I, PYRENASSA, parent form of this group.
I. dharmsale, >}

I. frequens, | synonyms of J. pyrenassa, ranging from the
L. watii, > extreme of the rainy-season form to the
I. colaba, normal dry-season form.

I. alana, J

I. pygmea, extreme dry-season form of I. pyrenassa.
I, VERNA, insular race of I. pyrenassa.
I, ANDAMANA, insular race of J. pyrenassa.
I, lena, dry-season form of I. andamana.
I. cINGALENSIS, local race of J. nyrenassa.
I. kausala, dry-season form of I. cingalensis.
T. jhoda, synonym of I. kausala.
J. MARIANNE, rainy-season en
Extremes.
I. agniverna, dry-season form.
I. depalpura, synonym of J. agniverna.
I. meridionalis, intermediate form.
I, NOLA.
TERIAS.
JT. SILHETANA, dry-season form.
T. uniformis, synonym of T. silhetana.
T. heliophila, synonym of T. silhetana, slightly intermediate.
T. merguiand, rainy-season form. ;
T. moore?, slight variety of T. merguiana.
T. HECABE, rainy-season form.
e Tonal ie 4 synonyms of T. hecabe.
T. nicobarensis,
T. templetonit, slight variety of T. hecabe.
T. curiosa, “sport” of T. hecabe.
T. excavata, dry-season form of 7’. hecabe.

SYNONYMY OF SOME SPECIES OF INDIAN PIERINE. 525

i,

10

T. simulata, synonym of T. excavaia.

T. fraterna,

T. purreea, } slight varieties of T. excavata.
T. swinhoei,

T. patruelts, synonym of T. swinhoet.

P. simples, } varieties of the extreme dry-season form of T,

see nly ata, ¢ hecabe from districts with little rainfall.
T. narcissus, J

T. irregularis, synonym of T. Jimbriata.
T. asphodelus, synonym of T. narcissus.
T. APICALIS, dry-season form only )

known. | ‘These are possibly iden-
T. SARI, do. do. > tical with J. hecabe, but
T. KANA, rainy-season form only | are probably distinct.
known. J

T. LaTA.

T. jegeri, dry-season form of T’. lata.
T. VAGANS, identification doubtful.

T. VENATA. ‘>
T. rama, synonym of T. venata.

T. vallitana, synonym of T. venata. ‘ datas
Aes en ral i of 7. venata. | he identification of
ih Geri 7 these eight named forms
T. prona, doubtfully Indian. i doulen

T, LIBYTHEA, ? 9 of T. senna

T. rubella, synonym of T. libythea. J

T. HARINA-
T. formosa, rainy-season form of T. harina.

TERACOLUS,
T, FAUSTUS, )
T. faustinus, | forms running into one another and not sepa-
T. oriens, ‘ rable. Variation probably more climatic
T. rosaceus, | than seasonal.

T. solaris; °° J

T. FULVIUS, dry-season form.

T. pallisert, slight variety of T. fulvius.

T. tripunctatus, rainy-season form.

T. surya, inconstant variety inseparable from T. trpunctatus,

5296 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. Vill.

3.

ee

10.

11.

12.

T. CALAIS.

T. carnifer, synonym of 7. calais.
T. dynamene, )
T. cypreus, §
T. AMATUS.

T. kennedii, synonym of T. amatus.

T. moDESTUS, local race of TJ. amatus.

T. PROTRACTUS.

T. VESTALIS, rainy-season form.

T. dubius, synonym of T, vestalis.

T. intermissus, dry-season form.

T. peelus, inconstant variety of Q of T. intermissus.

T. PUELLARIS, rainy-season form.

T. rorus, synonym of 7. puellaris.

T. ochreipennis, dry-season form.

T. DANAE, rainy-season form.

T. sanguinalis, dry-season form from districts with normal rainfall.
T. dirus, 7} : j ;

®. Ghoxaien, orms from an exceptionally dry climate, all
T. immmaculatus) running into one another and not separable.
T.-dulcis, slight variety of 2 of T. dirus.

T, subroseus, 7}

T. taplint, ‘slight and inconstant varieties of T. dirus.

T. albertus, J

T. EUCHARIS, dry-season form.

T. titea, intermediate form.

T. pseudevanthe, rainy-season form.

T. ETRIDA.

TL. farrinus, }

T. pernotatus, psynonyms of T. etrida.

T. purus, J

T. bimbura, slight variety of T. etrida probably seasonal.

T. toBatus, local race of T. etrida.

Reckoning well defined local races as species, the number of

inconstant varieties of 7’. calazs.

Indian species in the above genera would be :—Huphina, 6 ; Appias,
2; Ixias, 10; Terias, 18; and Teracolus, 12. If on the other hand
local races are excluded, the number of species would be :—Huphina, 38 ;
Appias, 1 ; Ixas, 4; Terias, 12; and Teracolus, 10.

SYNONYMY OF SOME SPECIES OF INDIAN PIERINA. 527

EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES.*
Prats I,

Fig. 1. Huphina dapha, Moore,
9» 2 5 ” ”
9 3. 2? ? 29
4. 99 »? »?

3, extreme of rainy-season form.

ay ae ”?
é, intermediate form.
2

r) 2? 29
3, extreme of co ae form.

5

6. 2,

@. Huphina phryne, Fabricius, 3, extreme of rainy-season form.
8

99 0 99 29 92 Q; LI :
a Ds a A a 3, intermediate form.
» 10. » ” 2 é, ” ”
pea lell: = c 3 &, extreme of dry-season form.
9 12, » 0 9 ? 9 )
Prats II.

Fig 1. Appias zelmira, Cramer, ¢, extreme of rainy-season form..
» 2. . a5 M 33 intermediate form.
”? 3. ry) oy) 29 2 nia. 9
es P) ty) Y) ) 39 ”
nls a Pe S 6, extreme of dry-season form.
5,5 5. Huphina nama, Moore, 6, rainy-season form,
erm it as 3 $, dry-season form,
» 9 Terias silhetana, Wallace, 6, extreme of rainy-season form.
ce a ea 5 As é, intermediate form,
ty) 10. 2? yp) 2? ? 92 99
Sag Gl eas - mA 6, extreme of dry-season form.
» 12. ,, hecabe, Linneus, , extreme of rainy-season form.
ay WIG BE O)US) 5 # 6, intermediate form.
ny l4, y ” 2 ro) 29 ”
9 15. 3 ” ” ? 2 mE)
~ 16: 3) 6, extreme of dry-season form.
spits lige marianne, Cramer, @, extreme of rainy-season form.
ay USBI) a ss Fe 2, intermediate form.
es “i Ms ¥, extreme of dry-season form.
» 20. ,, pyrenassa, Wallace, ¢, ordinary dry-season form,
» 21. 4, 99 » ° 6, rainy-season form.
TORY Yea, 3 af ¢, extreme dry-season form.
» 23. ,, cingalensis, Moore, @, rainy-season form (rather

intermediate),

yy 2a oy é, dry-season form,
ay aa Ae pyrene, ; (moulmeinensis) Linneus, ¢, rainy-season form,
pase Obie atys ts 0 6, dry-season form.
ee aN eine Drury, 6, rainy-season form,
Sn Zee ua inet a , dry-season form,

* These nlatoas ies I, I, of Indian Pierine will be issued
with a subsequent number of the Journal.—Ep1tor.

528

DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SNAKE FOUND IN TRAVAN-
CORE, BY Mz, 8S. DIGHTON. PIRMAAD.

By G. A. Boutencer (Brit. Museum, Naturau History).
(With a Plate.)
(Read before the Bombay Natural History Society on 18th Feb., 1894.)
DIPsAS DIGHTONI.

Anterior platine and mandibular teeth enlarged; eye shorter
than the snout. rostral broader than deep, just visible from above ;
internasals broader than long, shorter than the preefrontals ; frontal as
long as broad, as long as its distance from the end of the snout,
shorter than the parietals ; lonal longer than deep ; a single preeocular
reaching the upper surface of the head ; two postoculars : temporals
small, scale-like, 2 and 3 ; eight upper labials, third, fourth, and fifth
entering the eye; four lower labials in contact with the anterior
thin shields, which are as long as the posterior. Body strongly
compressed ; scales in 23 rows, not very oblique, the vertebral scales
scarcely enlarged on the anterior half of the body, longer than broad
on the posterior half. Ventrals 241; anal entire ; subcaudals 95,
Pale reddish-brown above, without any dark markings ; a series of
salmon-coloured blotches along the back; head pale brown, with
minute blackish dots ; lower parts yellowish, finely dotted with brown;
the outer ends of the ventrals salmon-pink.

Total length 1,100 millimetres (8 feet, 8 inches) ; tail 220 milli-
metres (84 inches).

I am indebted to Mr. H.S. Ferguson for a single example, a female,
of this fine new snake, which was obtained by Mr. 8. Dighton at
Pirmaad, at an altitude of 3,300 feet, in January, 1893.

Journ. Bombay Nat.Hist Soc.

Mintern Bros. del et hth. London.
DIPSAS DItGHTON1, Boulenger.
A new species of Tree Snake found uw N. Travancore,
by MP 5. Dightow.

529

“SMALL DERR.”
By W. F. Sincuarr, I.C.8.
(Read before the Bombay Natural History Society, 13t:. Féruary, 1894.)

The phrase of my heading is familiar, and briei et
our notice cards. But of three animals before us to-ziglt, the first is
an antelope, the second an aberrant deer, and the third yeither,

lf one of us send out a shikari from Bombay to any jingle within
our horizon, his report of game will commonly include“ Ibkris.” He
he first, and
le(antelope—
Tetraceros quadricornts, This animal has really, in periectmale speci-
mens, two pairs of short hollow horns. Nothing else of théort is now
known above ground. The Giant Stvather:wm of the Indin tertiary
rocks seems to have had four horns, and to have had a co emporary
poor relation assigned to the very genus that we are now dd ing with.
Some American monsters seem to have had even three paitof horns,

But that sort of thing is out of fashion amongst modern \minants,

ough to suit

may mean one or other of two very different animals.
commonest in the lower and thinner forests, is the four-horne

which belongs to Mr. Wellis, of the Tanna Jail. His observabns,
and mine, of that herd will be of some use to us to-night. A ful-g
buck weighs three stone : a doe in good condition little less. The cdur

|
|
530 JOURNAL, BOUBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

isa dull dun-brown, something that of most Sambar. The hair is
long (for a Peninwlar Antelope), harsh and rather scanty. The under-
parts have « symewhat softer and shorter hair; pale-brown or
whitish, almcst white in some specimens. The dun and white colours
are curiously anl irregularly mixed upon the legs; and in perfect
specimens there are two white spots above the fetlock joints, forming
an almost conplite ring. The fetlock below these is black, as are
the coronet ind back of the pasterns, But these carry on each toe so
large a whit spot that a casual observer may easily suppose the whole
pastern whe. It is only in good specimens that these markings can
be fully decried or described. The colours, like the horns, seem to
be very vaiable, and not dependent on age nor on locality.

Many oyou may have noticed similar foot-markings on the Blue
Bull, andl shall have more to say about them later on.

The for-horned Antelope is not very polygamous nor gregarious.
Five or < is an unusually large herd. Four is a common number,
as the feale of a virtuous couple usually bears twins of the same sex
in the cd or early hot weather, and at six months’ notice. <A female
nursing Vins readily adopted an orphan fawn.

ThesAntelopes are tameable little beasts, and often petted by
natives But the bucks are sometimes dangerous. One at Tanna
wound«a woman severely, and a female nursing attacked a man
four o1ive times her weight.

Thedrop their “‘ fewmets” in a common place, like many other
forest uminants. Probably this habit is of much use to animals 50
little xregarious when the time comes for pairing. It lets each
knowaat there are others about ; and, amongst animals so keen of
scent;he tuck may well find, at such places, the means of following
up a litaty doe in season. There is no accident in nature.

Tt four-horned Antelope occurs in all our true Bombay forests,
exce thé densest highland thickets of the hills, where it is replaced
by 1e
whe coyered with “ babul kurans” (that is, Acacia plantations), as
far; L4m aware. But I have not been in those countries for some
yes. t is good meat, but dry ; wants to be well larded with mutton
fator pacon. It makes excellent “‘ hare soup,” as my cook says,
deribing the haunch further as bakri-ka “ leg-mutton.”

ext species. It is not known on any of our plains, even

SMALL DEER. 531

The second of our small deer is truly a deer, having solid bony
antlers, This is Cervulus aureus, the “ barking deer.” I have
chosen the two most descriptive of its names from amongst many
inappropriate or barbarous.

Tt is Cervulus, a little deer ; itis aureus, or golden (a very fine
chestnut in good specimens); and it does bark. just like a little dog,
The antlers are small and have but two points as a rule, though a
third, or even fourth, subordinate point may be occasionally met with,
The main “ beam” stands up straight from the burr for about three=
fifths of its length ; then curves lightly backward, and ends in one
point imperfectly hooked. At its base is a tiny brow-antler.

The burr rests upon a bony stalk, which in Indian specimens is
commonly as long as the antler, or longer. I have seen a Javan
collection in which the antlers were far finer than this ; but the species
are now considered identical. The animal is lower on its legs than the
four-horned Antelope, and perhaps a little less in weight ; but I
have no weights before me. Itis more thick-set, indeed, and puts
on more fat. The colour, as I have said above, isa fine chestnut ;
the lower parts white or whitish, especially under the tail, which
it has a way of cocking up in flight, as a rabbit does his “ fud,” and
probably for the same reason—as a “ danger signal.”

It is an inhabitant of the thickest thickets, such as are, with us,
chiefly on the higher hills ; and into these it dives, as a rabbit into
furze, when it finds itself driven out by force, or surprised at forage.
Another point in the colour is the presence, in this very different
animal, of foot-markings, very like those of our last beast and of
the Nilghai. I shall probably have more to say about this hereafter.

The barking deer is pretty monogamous, often solitary, and never
found in anything worth calling herds. I should say seldom four are
together. For, although its period of gestation is reported the same as
that of the four-horned Antelope (six months), it seems seldom to pro-
duce twins. It seems, too, to breed rather later in this region, as I
have found pregnant females well into the hot weather on the ghats.

There is one curious point about this deer, marking it off to any eye
from the true Cervide and associating it with our next (though very
different) beast. This is the presence in bucks of long, sharp, upper
canine teeth, capable of inflicting a very severe wound on a rival,

532 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII,

or (as I have knowi) on a dog, and therefore presumably upon a
jackal or wild cat. [he feeble recurved horns can hardly be looked
upon. as serious weapons.

Tt is good meat ahd, in the ghits, not so dry as our last beast,
or most of our other yenison. The evergreen thickets which it loves
give it more perenni:l green food than our other horned game get ;
and it probably browses more, and grazes less, than even the four-
horned Antelope, itself a browser for choice.

Both are habitually called “ bekad’’ and “ bekri’”? by natives,
and sometimes “ jungle sheep” by both natives and Huropeans.

I have mentioned already the curious foot-markings of these two very
different creatures and of the Blue Bull, not very closely related to either.

The reason of these has puzzled me long, until I found that I was
looking at the matter through the eyes of a man, and not of a beast—
wanting in sympathy in short.

Most wild animals when they find themselves in presence of foes or
prey, but suppose themselves unobserved, have the habit of standing
like statues for a short time, as, indeed, have the best human hunters.
In the ruminants we call this “ gaze”; in the Carnivora “ point” or
“set.” But the object is the same in both cases—to observe without
attracting attention by motion.

Now, during much of the tropical year the grasses and herbs of
the forest are dead and dry, perhaps burnt up by forest fires.

The bushes have a much more perennial foliage.

Therefore, the Carnivora, none of them animals of lofty stature,
and mostly given to crouching, more or less get a clearer view of the
legs of ruminants below the bushes than of their bodies behind, or
heads over them. We, indeed, commonly see the heads or bodies
first, but our point of view is different.

All old shikaris know how seldom a tiger or panther looks up if
men keep quiet in a tree, and that the eyesight of these creatures,
though good, is not unerring.

Now, if we suppose a ruminant animal standing “at gaze” in the
neighbourhood of a foraging panther, with the advantage of the wind,
and standing quite still (as he has commonly the sense to do until
he knows himself discovered), the advantage of the foot and leg
markings is clear; they break the outline of the leg and make it
more resemble a bush-stem with lichens, or a bamboo-stem with its
white foot-markings—signs of age and approaching decay, which
I have been to-day noting for the purpose of this paper.

SMALL DEER. 533

Above, the outline is again broken by the whitish under-parts,
always difficult to observe against light ; and higher up, the darker
body is lost amongst the foliage.

Not always will such protection avail the prey against the terrible
hunting power of the Carnivora, itself sharpened on the wheel of
natural selection. But if it avails five times in a hundred of such
occurrences, which is little to suppose, the race of ruminants con-
cerned is most likely to be continued by those members with motley
“ stockings,” other things being equal.

The lateral position of spots on the toes, and more nearly annular or
vertical disposition of those on or above the fetlock joint, we can
conceive to be not altogether unrelated to the present and past oste-
ology of those parts. It is a difficult question for an amateur natu-
ralist; but we do constantly see that certain colours and forms of colour
do hold their place over certain parts of the skeleton, even in such
variable domestic species as horses and dogs. No man ever saw a
horse with a blaze or star on the shoulder, nor an ass with a cross on
its belly and thighs.

Our third beast is the so-called ‘‘ mouse-deer’’— Tragulus memimna.
There is much confusion about its names. I adopt Mr. Blanford’s
assignment to the genus Tragulus, but suspect a printer’s error in
either his last book or Jerdon’s Mammals of India (the-reprint, p. 269),
where the spelling is consistently as I have given it. Mr. Blanford not
only spells “ Meminna” (with double x) himself, but quotes Jerdon
as doing so, giving the page above quoted, and each of them quotes
the same or other authorities as using his own spelling. These are not
here for me to examine.

As regards the trivial name, Jerdon and Blanford both call it
“‘mouse-deer,” the latter also giving the name “chevrotain,” a
good deal used by European writers. In some of our gazetteers it
has been called a “ hog-deer,” and identified with “ Cervus poreinus.”
I took some trouble to trace this error to its source; and the Presi-
dent’s special reference to the matter, when the substance of this paper
was spoken, induces me, preparing it fot the press, to go fully into it,
“ Hog-deer”’ is the Bengal name for Cervus porcinus, which is not a
“ small deer ” at all, the bucks often exceeding a hundredweight fresh
killed and untouched by the knife, except to cut their. throats.

This deer is not found in the Peninsular provinces of Bombay at all.
Tt is abundant in parts of Sind, But the Anglo-Sindian sportsmen

seldom call it ‘‘ hog-deer,” preferring the more elegant native
ra

534 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. V1I1.

name “ Para.” One at least (if not more) of the last generation of
Bombay sportsmen had contracted the habit of calling our present
beast a “* hog-deer,”’ and so it spread to the early gazetteer lists. The
writers, turning up the name in Jerdon and identifying by name
and not by nature, added the Latin name he gives, viz., Ais porcinus,
and so the thing got into print.

On the mere merits, Cervus porcenus has less right to its not very
elegant trivial name than our beast. For there is nothing hoggish
about it, except a certain failure in the beauty of colour and form,
and poetry of motion, that distinguish its nearest ally, the spotted deer.

Now the mouse-deer has several very porcine points about him.
He is hornless ; he has (the male) tusks in the upper jaw, and his feet
are “pettitoes,” like a pig’s ; whereas those of Cervus porcinus are,
like those of all the horned ruminants, “‘cloots.”’

The difference is not very obvious at a glance ; and although many
of us have anatomised cow-heel and pettitoes, it has seldom been with
scientific intent. Opportunities of dissecting the foot of Tragulus
are not common, though we have a specimen in spirit in our collec-
tion. But if any one will take any text-book of natural history, or
Mr. Blanford’s own book (page 480), he will see the difference between
a pig’s foot and a deer’s plainly illustrated. ‘The figure and action of
Tragulus memimna are clumsy and ungraceful, and it squats on the
ground in a pig-like way. But it is not very much observed. Itisa
small animal, seldom exceeding two feet long or half a stone in
weight; the colour is olive-gray, almost green ; whitish below, and
along the sides it has the marks which naturalists call “ menillings ”’;
longitudinal rows of long whitish spots. These are almost continuous
stripes in young animals, but the chain gets broken up as they grow
older ; the oldest males seem to get almost reddish, especially about the
head, as may be seen by our fine mounted head on the table. It
haunts the thickest forests, and even holes in rocks, so that beaters,
without dogs, go over or past it. European sportsmen in such
places are apt to be reserving their fire for something better, and if
they espy it at all, or hear it move in the thicket, take it for a hare.

Natives, hunting with dogs, know a good deal more about it, and
know it well throughout the Ghats and the Konkan. The Maratha
name is “ Pisarwa,.” The female usually produces twins in the early
cold weather after a gestation of four or five months. It may be
presumed that the males fight with their tusks. The natives say that
it is well to handle a netted male carefully ; and this is likely.

535

THE NILGIRI GAME AND FISH PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION,

[Extracts from the Annual Report for the year ending 30th June, 1893.]
INCREASE OF GAME AND RESULTS OF PROTECTION.

Sambhur.—There is still a great scarcity of good stags, and such scarcity
must continue so long as license-holders and others butcher small brockets.
In the deer forests of Scotland, on Exmoor, in Germany, Newfoundland and
many other places, none but “ warrantable” stags are allowed to be shot. On
these hills, there is nothing whatever to restrain any one but his own feelings
of humanity and sport.

For the Mudumalai Forest, however, special rules have been published,
which prohibit the shooting of brockets. These rules have been in force from
ist July, 1892, and have worked satisfactorily.

Jbex.—The Association has to announce, with great regret, that the small
herd of 5 ibex which existed in Tarnad Burray has totally disappeared, and
the only buck left on Konabetiu was killed by a landslip last February. Ii is
to be hoped that one of the 2 kids born last year may be a buck; otherwise
this small herd of 7 (including the kids) must become extinct.

Elsewhere on the Kundahs and at Pakasuramalai the ibex are slowly
increasing. As already remarked, ibex are much preyed on by panthers, and
a small herd cannot make head against their depredations: a larger herd of 20
or 30 may continue to increase in spite of such losses.

Bison.—A few young bulls are still with the herds in the Mudumalai Forest.
Though there were 6 sportsmen shooting in these forests during the year and
every inch of the ground was gone over by them, only one black bull was
seen, The herds, too, have decreased in number since last year.

Spotied deer.—The wild dogs have done much damage to these deer during
the year. A pack of over 40 dogs appeared in the Sigur Forests and killed
deer every day for some months, when the pack suddenly broke up into twos
and threes. Nine dogs were found lying dead in the forests. Mr. Liebenrood
also reports that he found 3 wild dogs lying dead in the forests near Nella-
kotta. The presumption is that distemper or some other disease broke out in
the pack. Some such cause must operate in keeping wild dogs in check, or they
would rapidly increase and overrun the whole country.

Antelope.—These will increase, no doubt, in time with efficient protection.
There are 3 or 4 small herds of 5 or 6 in each in the Sigur forests.

Small Game.—Woodcock have been scarce. Hares fairly plentiful, except
in places where jackals are abundant. There is a satisfactory increase in
jungle-fowl in all the large sholas, but in the small sholas they are shot down
every season and have but a poor chance of breeding,

EXOTIC AND INTRODUCED GAME.

Chikore.—Single birds are occasionally seen, and a covey of 15 was reported

in the neighbourhood of Billikal.,

536 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

Pheasants,—Those turned out in Lovedale are occasionally seen; others
have been seen in Governor's shola, Marliamund plantation, Tudor valley and
elsewhere. The birds have apparently scattered widely, as is their habit.
Of the 12 pheasants originally imported, there are 8 alive; also 3 chickens
hatched out. The eggs do not appear to be fertile in the hot climate of
Kartéri, and the chickens do not live long when hatched. Mr. G. Oakes, who
spent over a thousand rupees in importing pheasants from England at his own
expense, came to the same conclusion and removed his birds to Ootacamund,
where, to his great disappointment and the lasting regret of all sportsmen,
they were destroyed to a bird by a marauding jackal, which gained entrance
into the pen at night.

Rabbits.—The game-watcher reports that he occasionally sees rabbits, but
they have probably scattered and are not likely to increase very fast in such a
vermin-infested district as Kartéri.

Peafowl.—The Honorary Secretary has not relaxed his efforts to obtain
pardees to capture peafowl. After sending men over the Mysore District,
a gang was found, but they declined to enter the Government forests even
though offered an advance of Rs, 10, as they imagined it was only a ruse to
entice them away and put them in jail! The Forest Department hunted them
out of the forests before, and this is really the reason why it is so difficult to
get hold of them now. However,it is to be hoped that when the season
commences for capturing peafowl, the Association will be able to obtain the
agsistance of these men,

Partridges.—The Association is under great obligations to those gentlemen
who have, at their own expense, endeavoured to further sport and benefit the
district by the introduction of game and fish or who have assisted the Associa-
tion by donations for the furtherance of the same good objects.

Mr. H. P. Hodgson has been instrumental in introducing partridges at his
own expense at Kartéri, where they have bred successfully.

Guineafowl—The Honorary Secretary obtained 6 guineafowl, a peahen,
and 2 partridges at his own expense, which are doing well, The guineafowl
have increased to 13,

Mr, Naher of Kartéri has also introduced guineafow]l, and he is getting black
partridges from Northern India at his own expense.

In former years many sportsmen spent considerable sums of money in
introducing guineafowl, partridges, peafowl, Himalayan pheasants, &c., and
letting them loose ; but, as no protection was then afforded by the law, the
birds let loose were all either shot down or trapped within a few months.

IMPORTED AND INDIGENOUS FISH.

Trout.—The four large fish at Dodabetta were transferred to the Snowdon
troutponds. The two females spawned in February, but, as the male were in
milt in November, the ova could nctbe fertilised, 40,000 ova were obtained

NILGIRI GAME AND FISH PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION. 537

from Mr. Silk (Marquis of Exter’s Manager). They were put into the ice-
house and were, of course, at once frozen to death. The money spent and
trouble taken about the matter were wasted. A telegram was despatched to
Mr. Silk to send out 20,000 more ova, and, instead of sending them at once on
receipt of the telegram, Mr. Silk delayed a whole month and then sent out
the ova. They arrived on the 4th March, the hottest time of the year. The
high temperature of the water destroyed the fry as fast as they were hatched
out, and only 83 of the strongest survived. These were put into the frypond
at Snowdon and are now fine strong young fish 3” in length. Out of the fry,
10 were retained in the large hatching box ; of these, 6 survived and are quite
equal in size to the fry put out in the pond, All the fry have been daily fed
with sheep’s brains and chopped earth worms and young white ants,

Stockponds.—A. stockpond of 1,000 cubic yards capacity and a fry pond of
smaller dimensions have been excavated in Marliamund plantation, with two
silt pits, the whole surrounded with wire netting. The adjoining ground has
been tastefully laid out with flowers, ferns, &c., at a total cost of Rs, 279.

A site has been chosen on the banks of the Pykara river for a stock pond
for breeding fish, where a natural depression in the soil has lent itself to the
formation of an artificialdam. The surrounding soil has been excavated
to a depth of 3 feet, and the earth thus obtained thrown up across the neck
of the depression. The dam is 54 yardsin length by 51 feet in diameter,
with a puddlewall of clay 4 feet wide in the centre, The total length of the
pond is 95 yardsand the average width 30 yards, The depth varies from
12 feet near the dam to 3 feet near the upper end of the pond. The capacity
of the pond is 5,800 cubic yards. About 700 tons of granite have been collect-
ed for facing the dam, lining the calingula and building a wall round the
pond, The necessary iron standards, galvanised wire fencing, cement
and other necessary materials have been purchased. From 20 to 40 laborers
are daily employed by the contractor, and the work will probably be
finished by October. The pond will be capable of holding 500 trout, which,
in so limited a body of water, must necessarily be daily fed with chopped
crabs, earth worms, &c, Mahamed Cassim is in charge of the pond and, as he
lives within 50 yards of it and as he takes great interest in the work, may be
entrusted to look after the place properly. An artificial waterfall will be
constructed 12 feet high, the water (diverted from a neighbouring stream) will
fall on to a gravel redd, with a trapdoor 14 feet from the fall. The trout will
ascend the redd to spawn, when the door will be let down, the fish stripped
of their ova, which will be fertilised and then despatched to the hatching
boxes in Snowdon, which are most excellently situated for the purpose
and in charge of Mahamed Gouse, who has been taught and thoroughly
understands everything connected with the management of ova. He deserves
great credit for the manner in which he has supervised and carried out
the last experiments,

5388 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

Trout turned out in the Pykara and other Rivers—The Association is
indebted to Mr. Marsh for the first successful attempt made to introduce trout
ova and hatch them out on these hills. Encouraged by the success :of Mr,
Marsh’s experiment (which cost him some Rs, 200 and much personal trouble)
the Association imported ova, which Mr. Edmiston kindly took charge of on
the voyage out and which proved a success. The fry were introduced into
the Emerald Valley Stream, the Pycara River, the Ootacamund Lake, Doda-
betta and Marliamund reservoirs, and Dr. Ross’s Lake.

Mr. Wapshare also went to considerable private expense, amounting to
several hundred rupees, in importing ova, which he placed in the Pykara River.
Mr. M. A. Lawson aided the Association with his personal assistance and a
donation, and the Association is not a little indebied to him for the successful
results attained. Trout have been seen in the Dodabetta reservoir, the
Emerald Valley Stream andthe Pykara River, but, unless the Association
systematically hatches out ova and turns the fry into the streams and
rivers, no real success can be hoped for, as all ova are devoured by the legions
of crabs infesting the rivers as soon as they are laid. Natural reproduction
is not therefore to be expected, but the fish kept in the Association ponds
must be annually stripped and the ova artificially hatched in boxes and the
fry turned out. Three men have already been well trained for the work.

The troutponds at Pykara will probably cost Rs, 1,200 when properly
completed, but this will be very cheap compared to the cost of similar work
executed at home.

Perch fry.—Mr. Silk has kindly promised to present the Association with
some perch fry, which Mr. H. P. Hodgson will probably bring out with him
on his return shortly.

Carnatic Carp, Tench, Mahseer, &éc.—Though the Honorary Secretary pro-
posed that some attention should be devoted to the introduction of valuable
indigenous fish, more especially Mahseer, the Committee did not sanction his
proposals. There is no doubt, however, that some of the reservoirs might be
stocked with Barilius bola (the Indian Trout), Barilius bakeri (Striped
Mountain Carp), Mahseer, Rosyperch, Labeos, Rohus, &c., instead of being, as
they are now, full of the worthless golden carp, which afford no sport and
are worthless for food on account of their numberless bones. The Honorary
Secretary (at his own expense) introduced during the year 28 Mahseer, 2
Mountain Carp, 1 Labeo, 24 Carnatic Carp and 16 common Barilius. All
these fish are doing well and promise to succeed, but the Barilius, which
were only caught last year, have already increased to about two or three
thousand, and the fry are now nearly full-grown. Some Mountain Carp were
obtained from the Kollimalais by the Honorary Secretary in 1872 and
successfully brought up to the hills, but an otter managed to get into the
pond where they were kept and destroyed them all. These and other
experiments connected with pisciculture cost the Honorary Secretary nearly

NILGIRI GAME AND FISH PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION. 539

Rs. 900, and Mr. Wapshare and other gentlemen have also spent money freely
on similar experiments, which on the whole have been sufficiently encourag-
ing to warrant further perseverance.

Enemies of jish—Horned owls, Water-snakes, Otters, Crabs, the larve of the
dragonfly and mildew (Suproligneus ferow) are the most deadly enemies to
fish on these hills, The owls hook the fish out with their talons when they
come into shallow water at night and are exceedingly destructive. The
Honorary Secretary trapped several owls that had become confirmed depreda-
tors with gins. No doubt the two male trout which died were injured by
owls seizing them. Water-snakes, fortunately, are not found above 6,000 feet,
but they swarm at a lower elevation, and it is impossible to keep fish in any
small pond if they once obtain entrance,

Twenty-eight Black spots, which the Honorary Secretary brought all the
way from Tellicherry, were eaten ina week by 5 snakes, all of which were
shot as they appeared. Hach snake had 2 or 3 fish init. They do not hesitate
to attack and kill fish of even half a pound in weight.

Otters kill large quantities of crabs and dragonfly larve, but very rarely
kill fish, unless they find them in a confined pond. Crabs and dragonfly larve
are so destructive to fish ova that itis hopeless to expect trout to increase
where these pests are abundant.

GENERAL REMARKS.

Other Societies —The Dehra Din Fishing Association has been very unfortu-
nate. After the expenditure of Rs. 900 and infinite trouble, only 4 fry out of
10,000 ova were put out into the Re Nadi. May they have greater success
next time !

In Ceylon the trout fry put out into the Newara Eliya streams seem to
have thriven, butdo not increase. These fish are of considerable size and
come into the runs to spawn on the gravel, when it is found necessary to have
guards put on to prevent them being netted and stolen. No trout fry has
been seen in the streams. This is doubtless due to the crabs devouring
the ova at night. If the fish are stripped and the fertilised ovaput into the
hatching boxes, those interested ought to have no reason for complaint.

Messrs. Crossley and MacTaggart on the Pulneys have collected Rs. 700
already, and are making active preparations to introduce trout into the pretty
lake at Kodaikanal, in which spirited endeavour all must heartily wish them
success.

540

ON A STAG, CERVUS THOROLDI, FROM TIBET, AND ON THE
MAMMALS OF THE TIBETAN PLATEAU.

By W. T. BuanForp, F.R.S.
(With a Plate.)
[From the Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 2nd May, 1893.]
In the course of Captain Bower and Dr. W. G. Thorold’s adventurous

journey across the Tibetan plateau from west to east, two specimens of a stag
were shot by the latter at aspot about 200 miles N.H, of Lhassa 1. These

animals were killed in the snow amongst brushwood just above the forest, at

an elevation of about 13,500 feet above the sea. Of one individual a complete
skin, skull, and horns have been brought to England, and are now in the
Natural History Museum ; of the other, the head with the skin and horns has
been preserved and has been left by Dr, Thorold in London, so that I have
been able to examine both.

Last February I received a letter from Dr. Thorold, in which he asked me
to look at the specimens and let him know to what species I thought they
belonged, Some time before this I had heard from Mr. Oldfield ‘Thomas that
the complete specimen had been received by the Museum, but had been sent
away to be stuffed, I, however, saw the head which had been mounted, and
although I did not like to come to any decided conclusion without having an
opportunity of seeing the skin also, I was disposed to believe that the deer
was probably the same as that of an immature horn of which the name of
Cervus nariyanus was given by Hodgson in 1851, and was clearly identical with
the species, of which the head was described and figured by Mr. W. L. Sclater
in 1889 (J. A.S. B., lviti., pt, 2, p. 186, pl. xi.), and which was shown to be
allied to the Mantchurian C. dybowskiz.

For the last two months the skin has been in the hands of the taxidermists,
but I have at length, by permission of Dr. Gunther, been able to examine it ;
and I have now no hesitation in saying that I believe the stag obtained by
Dr. Thorold must be regarded as an additional peculiar species of the extra-
ordinarily specialized mammalian fauna inhabiting the Tibetan plateau, The
following are the principal characters :—

The animal is about the size of a Red Deer, C. elaphus, The height at the
shoulder must have been about 4 feet, that measurement on the body over the
curves to the withers having been recorded by Dr. Thorold as 4 ft. 5 in., and
the length from the insertion of the tail to the nose 6 ft. 13 in. The tail (with
hair probably) measured only 4 inches. Theearsare of moderate size and
pointed, and measure outside in the mounted skin 93 inches from the head.

The horns are distinguished at once by the want of the bez tine characteristic
of the Elaphine group and found in the other Tibetan stag, C. affints. There
are five points on each horn (except one, which has only 4),and there can be

+ T am indebted to Captain Bower for several of the details. The approximate position is
in lat, 31° 40’ N., and long 93° 30! E,

TE eS eee

Journal Bombay Nat ; Hist: Sec:.

ale

a
Cae ora
a ae

CERVUS THOROLD!

A NEW STAG FOUNO IN THIBET .
DESCRIBED BY M2 W.T BLANFOROD PZ.S./893.

CERVUS THOROLDI, FROM TIBET. 541

very little doubt that this is the number characteristic of the adult. The beam
is angularly bent at the insertion of the second tine (corresponding in position
to the tres tine of C. elaphus), and above this is gradually curved back and
presents the peculiarity that the upper four points and the upper part of the
beam are nearly in a flat plane. Another conspicuous character is that (except
in one horn which is slightly abnormal) the third tine exceeds all the others in
length. The corresponding tine (4th) is generally the longest in the Wapiti,
and the upper part of each horn in the present animal much resembles that of
C’. canadensis in shape.

Each horn measures round the curve outside 38 inches, none of the four
differing more than a quarter of an inch more or less, The girth above the
burr is 5:25. The following are the measurements of the different tines on one
horn in inches :—

Lowest or brow tine ... van aa seal.)

Ane (—ICTGs) Ni eeeest tile coel iiliceat Ue scetiiteevenr 10:20
ord coe vee oes Ses} \iitens woo ibe
4th see nee ee wee oe wwe «4
5th bool be ES SiMe eels VEE pure ek ee

The coloration of the skin is very uniform brown, minutely speckled,
scarcely paler on the lower parts, but much paler and ochreous-buff on the
small pygal disk which completely surrounds the tail, this latter being also pale
rufous throughout. Har whitish within. The muzzle, chin, and under surface
of lower jaw white, The hairs of the body are stiff, long, and very coarse,
and somewhat resemble those of the Musk-deer, being filled inside with a cellular
pithlike tissue and having very small roots.1_ The hair of the body is long,
dark brown, except at the base which is whitish, and at the tips which are buff.
The pale tips are wanting around the caudal disk, so that the latter appears to
be surrounded by a dark band. The hair along the spine is directed forward
from above the hips as far as the wither, where the anterior direction ceases
abruptly. This character is quite peculiar.

The muffle or rhinarium occupies the whole area between the nostrils, and
a rather narrower portion extends to the upper lip.

The skull presents a few peculiar characters, the most important of which
have been already noticed by Mr. W. L. Sclater. As awhole, the skull is short
when compared with other skulls of Elaphine Deer; the muzzle is especially
short, but broad. The hinder part of the skull is distinctly lower and flatter
than that of C. elaphus, the forehead continuing the line formed by the nasalg
and not curving upwards into a ridge between the horns. In this respect the
present specimen shows some resemblance to Rusine and Pseudaxine skulls,
but the evidence of affinity is small, The termination of the bony palate in
the middle above the opening of the posterior nares is between the last molars,

* I am indebted to Mr. E. Gerrard for calling my attention to the very peculiar structure
of the hair.
12

542 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCTETY, Vol. VIII.

’

whereas in all other deer of which I have examined the skull, the Openme ig
farther back.

But by far the most peculiar character, as already noticed by Mr. Sclater, is
the form of the nasals. These,a little way from the posterior termination,
are fully twice as broad as they are in front, each bearing on the outer side a
large rounded lobe-like expansion, so as to cover over the greater part of
the lachrymal vacuity, which is much narrower than in Hlaphine or
Rusine deer.

The following are measurements in inches :—

Basal length of skull, from anterior border of foramen magnum to

anterior end of premaxillaries .........0sssscsecerscersecnsceer ees Leconte tetets 13°4
Length from posterior border of occipital condyles to ditto............ 14°3
Breadth across posterior edges of orbits ......... Sospanurinncoancouacnccdonko. \ [EPG
Breadth across premaxillaries just above Canines ..err..eeee: Hecasoorany 28)
uength of Masal, bONeS sarc: .veenrsee. esau ceo.Fsc.cere, Seonenemeees MAS ieentoch MOSOD
Greatest breadth of nasals between Hee VACUIUIES! | sathececccosseo i nnO
Breadth of nasals in front at suture between maxillary daa pre-

TineR olen eraneecececbesdacauasbedshSaceodoad joosnonbeneaccbuos auboore bao ee sibeaseeeay 1°45
Length of row of upper molars and a cee aun ch Caeokt cae eae ceeene 4°3
Length of upper three molars alone ...........- Eg anc08! Ga98, CosonaRpaooNeCe 2°6

On the whole, I can see no very close affinity between this and any known
species of Cervus ; the present species approaches some forms of the Hlaphine
group quite as much as any other Cervine type, perhaps more. I can see no
evidence of Pseudasine affinity, such as the horns might perhaps suggest. On
the whole, the species is probably as near to C. cashmirianus and C. affinis
as to any other, though perfectly distinct from both.

As regards the name of the present species, some little difficulty arises. As
already mentioned, it is most probable that the horn to which the name Cervus
nariyanus was given by Hodgson (J. A. 8. B., xx., 1851, p. 292, pl. viii.) belonged
to a younger individual of the same species. This horn was said to have been
brought from Ladék ; it was 34 inches in length, and had four points, the two
lower being more than 4 inches apart, so there was no bez tine. Judging by
the figure,1 the horn was more massive than would be expected in a young
specimen of Thorold’s Stag. Mr. Hodgson remarked that “the Bhotiahs who
brought this horn say it belonged to a very young animal, and that the species,
which is proper to Gnari or Western Tibet, is larger than the Shou”’ (C. affinis).
The stag obtained by Dr. Thorold is considerably smaller than the Shou ;
there is, so far as is known, no stag in Western Tibet, C. cashmirianus being
limited to the Kashmir valley, at all events on the north and east of its range,
and, as is well known, young examples of C. elaphus, and I believe of the

1 The original specimen cannot be foundin the British Museum, though Mr. Oldfield
Thomas has searched for it. As no mention of itis to be found in the published catalogue
of Mr. Hodgson’s collections, it was perhaps not included in them.

CERVUS THOROLDI, FROM TIBET. 543

Wapiti also, frequently want the bez tine ; so that it is by no means impossible
that the Lad4k horn may have belonged to a young C, cashmirianus from Kash-
mir, to C. yarkandensis from Eastern Turkestan, or even to C. eustephanus (C.
canadensis, var.) from the Thian Shan, Laddk being connected with all these
regions by trade routes. ‘The Bhotiah story was probably pure fiction.

There is, moreover, one very strong reason for not using the name C. nari-
yanus for the present animal even if, as is highly probable, it was the species
that furnished the horn described and figured by Hodgson, The name was
taken from Nari, the Western (or rather perhaps the South-Western) province
of Tibet, often called Gnéri or Ndri-Khorsum, a tract, as represented on maps,
of no great breadth from north to south, but extending “long the north of the
Himalayas from the western extremity of Tibet proper near Rudok to between
long. 80° and 85° E. This region, part of which is known as Hundes, is on the
frontier of our own territory, and has been visited at several points by British
Sportsmen. If any stag inhabited the region, it is incredible that nothing
should have been heard of it ; moreover, the whole of the upper valleys of the
Sutlej and Yarots4npo or Brahmaputra, of which the area consists, is a barren,
treeless almost bushless waste, differing essentially from the country inhabited,
so far as is known, by any species of Cervus. I think it extremely improbable
that any stag inhabits Nari; and, under these circumstances, it is not desirable
to apply the name nariyanus to a'species which does not occur there.

Whilst Mr. Sclater pointed out the similarity of the head which had been
purchased in the Darjiling bazaa¥, and was described by him, to that of Cervus
dybowskii, he was careful to avoid identifying the two. It is clear that he
was perfectly right in supposing that the head, the skin of which was dried on,
had come from Tibet. Now that we have the whole skin and dimensions, it ig
evident that the species is distinct from C., dybowskii (P. Z. S. 1876, p. 123,
woodcut of head and horns, p. 124), which is a much smaller form, spotted at
all seasons, although the spots in winter are described as indistinct and con-
fined to the posterior part of the body. So far as is known, the horns in the
adult of C. dybowskiz only bear 4 points each, and the shape of the beam is
different, being more regularly curved.

As, therefore, the Tibetan species requires a name, I think it impossible to do
better than to call it Cervus thoroldi, after its discoverer. The following are the
principal characters :—

Cervus magnitudine ad C. elaphum proxime accedens ; fuscus, immaculatus,
area pygalt circum caudam porrecta pallide rufa ornatus ; pilis hirtis crassis
longiusculis, in medio dorso ab uropygio usque ad humeros antice versis,
indutus ; cornibus singulis valde curvatis, ramos ad quinque gerentibus ; ramo
secundo a primo vel basali multo distante, tertio longiusculo.

Plate XXXIV, represents the stuffed specimen in the British Museum, the

type of the species; the cut (p. 445) is taken from the head of the other
specimen, still belonging to Dr. Thorold.

544 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

About a year ago, when discussing the geological age of the Central Asiatic
highlands,? I had occasion to call attention to the remarkable specialization of
the mammalian fauna inhabiting the Tibetan plateau. The stag now described
adds another to the species peculiar to this tract of elevated country, and the

list of these mammals as amended may be of interest to zoologists.

therefore, added here.

MAMMALIA OF THE TIBETAN PLATEAU.

INSECTIVORA.

Crocidura aranea.
}Nectogale elegans,

CARNIVORA.
Felis manul,
F, lynx.
FF, uncia.
*Paradoxurus laniger.
Canis lupus, var. laniger.

Vulpes alopex, var. flavescens.

*V. ferrilatus,
Cyon deccanensis, var.
Mustela foina, var.
* Putorius larvatus,
*P, canigula,
P. alpinus, var, temon.
P. erminia,
* Meles leucura.
* 1M, albogularis ?
+luropus melanoleucus,
* Ursus pruinosus,

RODENTIA,

}Lupetaurus cinereus.
*Arctomys himalayanus,
*A Srobustus.

RoODENTIA—continued.

*Mus sublimis.
*Microtus (Arvicola) blythi.
*M, strauchi.
*M, (Eremiomys) preevalskii,
Siphneus fontanier?,
*Lagomys curzonie,
*D, rutilus,
*L, erythrotis.
*L. melanostomus.
*L. ladacensis,
*Lepus otostolus,
*L, hypsibius,
UNGULATA.
Equus hemionus, var, kiang,
*Bos grunniens,
*Ovis hodgsont.
O, vignei, var.
*0. nahura,
Capra sibirica,
tPantholops hodgsont.
{Budorcas taxicolor ?
*Gazella picticaudata,
* Cervus affinis,
*C, thoroldi,
Moschus moschiferus.

In this list * signifies a peculiar species, [| a peculiar genus ; that is, a species
or genus not known to exist out of Tibet.

This is a list of the mammals known to inhabit the plateau north of the
Himalayas and south of the Kuenlun, Altyn Tag, and Nanshan, at elevations
exceeding 12,000 feet. Many of the forms named only inhabit small portions
of the area, and whilst Bos grunniens, Ovis hodgsoni, Pantholops hodgsoni and
Gazella picticaudata, with several rodents, appear to be peculiar to the high
plateaus above 14,000 feet, the two species of Cervus are probably found in
brushwood at a rather lower elevation in the more broken regions of Hastern
Tibet, where the rainfall is heavier and the vegetation more abundant.

As was pointed out in the paper in the “ Geological Magazine,” there is,
so far as 1 am aware, no equally peculiar mammalian fauna to be found in any
continental area of equal extent, and fora parallel it is necessary to turn to
some island like Celebes, that has long been isolated from all surrounding lands,

1 Geological Magazine, April, 1892 (iii.), ix., p. 164;

545

DEEP SEA LIFE IN THE BAY OF BENGAL.

[Extracts from a paper read before the Microscopical Society of Calcutta, on
11th September, 1893, by Dr. A. W. Alcock.]

Tn a previous lecture, which I had the honour last year of delivering before
this Society, I gave an account of the physical geography of the sea basins and
seas of the Indian region, and of the various technical methods by which the
facts of marine physiography, or hydrography, have been elucidated. To-day
I have before me the much simpler task of exhibiting a few of the inhabitants
of these deep sea basins, of explaining some of the more obvious peculiarities
of their structure, and of offering a few suggestions as to the relations which
these peculiarities of structure bear to the peculiarities of the habitat in which
the animals are found.

Ti is hardly necessary for me to remind you that peculiarities in the form
of animals are largely the outcome of peculiarities in their environment or
habitat. We express this fact by saying that such or such an animal is exactly
adapted to its environment. In the case, for instance, of animals that live in
dark caves—such as the Mammoth Cave of Kentucky—we find that the eyes
are wanting, Here isa cray fish (Cambarus pellucidus) from the Mammoth
Cave: it has eye-stalks just like other cray fish, which proves that it is descend-
ed from a well-eyed form, but there are no eyes at the end of the eye-stalks,
Other species of Cambarus which do not live in the dark possess eyes. Now
why should Cambarus pellucidus have lost its eyes? Because eyes are no
longer necessary ; they have fallen into disuse. Being of no service to their
possessors they are not acted upon by natural selection, for in the dark an
animal with eyes has no better chance of surviving than an animal without
eyes, Furthermore, eyes are delicate organs and extremely liable to injury :
moreover they are large and vascular structures, and require a large amount
of blood. Now, so long as the eyes are highly useful to their possessor, it so
to speak “‘ pays” to protect them from injury, and to keep them supplied with
blood ; but when they become useless it is in the highest degree wasteful to
expend upon them the nourishment and care that might be much more ad-
vantageously bestowed upon some organ more useful to an animal living in
the dark,—such as an organ of smell or an organ of touch: under such con-
ditions we may expect an eyeless species to be gradually developed—such as
this Cambarus, and the blind fish and the blind amphibian, along with which
it lives. Cambarus, then, is an excellent and extreme illustration of the truth
of the fact, that peculiarities in the environment of an animal are largely
answerable for peculiarities in the structure of that animal.

Beside peculiarities in the inorganic environment there are other powerful
factors that influence the shapes and structure of animals, One of the prin-
cipal of these is the necessity for getting food to eat in the face of a multitude
of hostile competitors of the same and of other species.

946 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

Another of the principal of these factors is the effort for preservation
of the type—in other words, the desire to win a mate and generate
offspring amid a crowd of competitors of the same species. If this
statement of the case seems somewhat unromantic, let me bring before
you some extreme illustrations in its .support. Here is a specimen of
a peculiar crustacean known as Sacculina, which, as you see, is a shapeless
mass of tissue firmly fixed to the tail of this crab, In its early larval stages,
Sacculina resembles not perhaps the crab, since the crab’s earlier larval stages
are somewhat different from those of other crustacea, but the prawn; so that
it has—for a crustacean—noble relatives and a high ancestry. Both Sacculina
and the prawn have at first the form of small free-swimming larve with a pair
of antennz, two pairs of biramous legs, a mouth, a single median eye, &c.,
known as Nauplius. Now the necessity for self-preservation has led Sacculina
to attach itself as a parasite to some other animal. Being a parasite and
entirely dependent on this other animal, or host, it no longer requires
organs of sense to see its prey or, escape its enemies ; it no longer wants legs
to swim about in search of prey, and its existence being assured as a parasite,
it loses all resemblance to its nobler relatives and becomes nothing but a large
stomach encapsuled, along with its reproductive organs, in a bag of skin,

- Sacculina then exhibits in an extreme degree the truth of the proposition, that
the form of an animal is very very largely determined by the manner in which
it gets its living.

Again, let this Gelasimus crab be a witness of the truth of the fact, that the
aim of preserving the type—in other words of winning a mate and leaving
offspring—has a great effect in shaping an animal. Here are two specimens of
Gelasimus annulipes—a male and a female. Now the females of this Gelasimus
are relatively scarce, while the males are relatively very numerous, so that it
is a difficult thing for the male Gelasimus to win a wife. To obtain a wife he
must fight with his fellows, and this necessity of existence has led to the
wonderful development of one of his chelipeds asa fighting weapon—a develop-
ment so extraordinary, as to make the animalarather ridiculous appendage.
to his own claw. That this claw is not otherwise necessary for existence is
proved by the fact that the female does not possess it,

In a nexus of animal life the necessity to get a living—i. ¢., the necessity to
eat—involves and implies a necessity to escape being eaten, and this necessity
to avoid falling a victim becomes a third factor of great importance in deter-
mining the forms of animals. Asan extreme illustration of the influence of
this third factor, let me show you this beautiful specimen of Oreophorus—a
small, timid, inoffensive crab which, for the purpose of concealment from its
enemies, has become so modified in form as to resemble a piece of eroded
coral shingle, rather than an animal.

To recapitulate then, we find one, or all, of four principal factors at work in
determining the peculiarities of form of animals—viz., (1) peculiarities in the

DEEP SEA LIFE IN THE BAY OF BENGAL. 547

inorganic environment ; (2) the necessity to kill and eat ; (3) the necessity to
avoid being killed’and eaten, and (4) the necessity to obtain a mate.

Before proceeding to consider the play of these four factors in the depths
of the sea, we must briefly explore these depths and discover the nature of the
first factor. Comparing the subaqueous surface of the sea bottom with the
subaérial surface of the dry land, we find a great contrast between the two,
The surface of the dry land is sculptured and diversified in multitudinous
ways by all those forces classed by geologists as ‘epigene—i.e., by rain, by
runnels and streams and rivers, by alternating periods of moisture and drought,
and of heat and cold, by ice, by winds, by movements of the sea itself, even
by plants. On the floor of the ocean none of those epigene forces are present,
and in consequence there is very little diversity of surface. We find, it is true,
great plains and great valleys and great mountain-chains—the Bay of Bengal
for instance is a vast plain nearly 1,000 miles in greatest breadth, broken only «
by the one long narrow mountain-chain, which at places rises above the surface
of the sea as the Andaman Islands—but everything is on a vast and monotonous
scale, without diversity because there are no sculpturing forces at work,
no inequalities of temperature, no alternating periods of heat and cold, no
winds, no movements of the water (for waves are quite superficial, and even
great currents, such as the Gulf Stream, do not extend to any great depth below
the surface), no plants.

Another great difference between the surface of the land and the bottom
of the depths of the ocean is that the bottom of the ocean is entirely screened
from the heat and light of the sun by the intervening mass of water. Every
one here is familiar with the fact that the intervention of clouds, which are
simply finely divided masses of water, between the sun and the earth’s surface
results in gloom and in a reduction of temperature, Now apply this familiar
phenomenon with thousandfold intensity to the bottom of the ocean, between
which and the sun there is interposed, not for a day or two a layer of cloud,
but for ever a volume of water often several miles thick. Even in 15 fathoms
depth, as seen by the water-glass on a fine sunshiny day, the light that reaches
the bottom is much subdued, giving more the appearance of moonlight than
of direct sunlight. Experiments by Messrs. Fol and Sarasin in the clear waters
of the Lake of Geneva, in winter time, proved that sunlight there does not
penetrate to a greater depth than 155 fathoms. They sunk photographic
plates, suspended from a buoy, to various depths by night, and left them
exposed all the following day, with the result that at about 155 fathoms the
plates were unaffected. In the open ocean, where there is absolutely no sedi-
ment, and in the tropics, where the sun’s light is fiercest, it is generally allowed
that no light whatever penetrates to a greater depth than 200 fathoms, Below
that depth all is eternally dark.

Not only is the sun’s light cut off. Weknow how clouds shield us from
the sun’s heat rays, and similarly at the bottom of the ocean the sun’s heat is

548 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

completely cut off by the overlying water. Even in the Bay of Bengal, ata
depth of 20 to 30 fathoms, there isa fall of temperature, compared with
the temperature at the surface, of 2° to 3°. At 200 fathoms in the Bay of
Bengal the thermometer would stand all the year round at about 55° Fahr.,
at 2,000 fathoms it stands all the year round at about 35° Fahr.

To get an idea, then, of what the ocean-bed is like, we must imagine great
plains, thousands of miles in extent, broken here and there by great valleys
with very gently sloping sides, and by great mountain chains rising here and
there into land. Minor inequalities of surface there are none, for the good
reason that none of those forces which wear and sculpture the surface of con-
tinents are in action. All is absolutely still, the darkness must be something
that we can hardly conceive, and the temperature is near the freezing point.

Plant life is of course absent, for plants can grow only in the presence of
sunlight, so that we must imagine these vast dark silent plains and valleys to
be absolutely bare. It is difficult to conceive that life can be found in the
midst of such desolation ; and yet the researches of the last 20 years have
proved that these cold, dark abysses teem with animal life, and are quite as
well inhabited as the warm tropical reefs. Another factor has to be consi-
dered. At the surface of the sea we are accustomed to the presence of the
Superincumbent atmosphere only, a pressure which amounts to 14:7 Ibs. on
every square inch of the surface of our bodies ; but water is infinitely heavier
than air, and the animals which live at the bottom of the sea are subjected to
the enormous pressure of the superincumbent ocean. Now,acolumn of water
33'7 feet high exercises the same pressure as the whole column of the atmos-
phere. Let us say in round numbers that a column of water 54 fathoms high
exercises the pressure of one atmosphere ; then a column of water 2,000
fathoms deep exercises a pressure of 363 atmospheres—a pressure that is of
363 times 14:7 Ibs, or in round numbers of 2 tons 8 cwt. That is to Say an
animal placed at a depth of 2,000 fathoms has to support a pressure of 2 tons
8 cwt. on every square inch of the surface of its body. We now know the
conditions under which animals live at the bottom of the ocean: (1) they are
subjected to an enormous pressure : (2) they are absolutely deprived of sun-
light ; (3) they live in a medium, the temperature of which is only slightly
above the freezing point; (4) as there are no plants for them to eat they are
carnivorous, and therefore highly rapacious.

At the outset of this lecture we realized the fact that the forms of animals
are profoundly modified by the direct action of the conditions of their in-
organic environment ; and by means of these specimens I propose to illustrate
some of the ways in which deep sea animals are modified by the peculiar cir-
cumstances of their inorganic environment. Here I hand you a specimen of
a deep sea fish, Tauredophidium heatii, Tauredophidium is closely allied to the
blind fish that inhabits the underground waters of the great Mammoth Cave of
Kentucky. You observe that it is quite blind. Underneath the skin, in the posi-

DEEP SEA LIFE IN THE BAY OF BENGAL. 549

tion where eyes ought to be, there are indeed the rudiments of eyes, showing
that it is descended from ancestors that had eyes, but it itself, living in dark-
ness, is quite blind ; it has no need foreyes, eyes would be liable to be injured,
and are therefore a disadvantage, and so they have been gradually eliminated
by natural selection. These crustaceans, Polycheles, Nophropeis, and Lyreidus,
are also blind. They have eye-stalks, like their close relatives the lobsters,
but the eye-stalks, like those of Cambarus, carry no eyes. It commonly hap-
pens that the absence of eyes is compensated by the development of organs
of touch—just as a blind man feels his way about witha stick. This beauti-
ful specimen of Bathypterozs illustrates this compensatory development : its
eyes are not quite lost, but they are quite rudimentary, and in compensation
the fin-rays are enormously prolonged, and are abundantly supplied with
nerves, On the other hand there may occur, and there actually does occur,
another line of development equally interesting, and perhaps even more wonder-
ful, Animals may become adapted to darkness by becoming blind—sur-
rendering at once, so to speak, to the irresistible force of their environment
like Tauredophidium, &c., &c. Other forms, however, when deprived of sun-
light, may meet the difficulty by manufacturing their own light, just as man
when deprived of sunlight by the daily rotation of the earth manufactures fire
sticks and candles. There is nothing really out of the way in animals thus
developing light by the combustion of their own tissues. The familiar fire-
fly is a daily illustration of this common physiological phenomenon. In the
fire-fly certain cells situated on a certain part of the abdomen undergo chemical
changes which result in phosphorescence—the albumen of these cells is burnt
or oxidized, it is converted into uric acid, and urates, with the evolution of
light, just as the muscles of other animals are burnt and converted into urates
and urea, &c., with the evolution of heat and mechanical motion. Again it is
well known to all voyagers by sea that most marine animals are at times
luminous. Now in certain deep sea animals living in constant darkness, this
luminosity is very highly developed. Cells in particular regions of the body
become aggregated to form glands, the secretion of which is brilliantly lumin-
ous. These fishes, Thawmastormias, Gonostoma, and Leptoderma, illustrate this,
as also do these crustaceans, Nephrops, Aristaeus, and Heterocarpus. In this case
the eyes, instead of aborting, are very singularly developed, being of enormous
size, like those of owls, to catch all the comparatively feeble light of their own
manufacture. These illustrations, then, must suffice to show some of the
modifications of structure imposed by the peculiar conditions of life at the
bottom of the ocean.

Let us next consider some of the modifications which follow from the
action of the law “ kill and eat,” a law which acts with peculiar rigour in the
depths of the sea, because there are no plants there, and carnivorism is a
universal rule. If there are no plants, how is the cycle of life carried on?
On dry land we know that plants are the great manufactures manufacturing

13

550 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII,

food for the consumption of animals—all animals either living directly on
vegetable food, or being dependent on it indirectly, as in the case
of the carnivora which eat the herbivora. Animals in turn furnish
carbonic acid to the plants for food, and when they die, are ultimately
converted into salts and gases which may serve as food for planis.
Thus we get a cycle, a constant succession, of changes of life ending
in death, and of death ending in life. But in the deep sea this series seems to
want a link, for we have no plants to manufacture food out of inorganic sub-
stances. The wanting link, however, is only apparently wanting. Whence
then the ultimate food supply? It is supposed that it all comes from the
surface. ‘The surface of the sea is crowded with organisms, both animal and
plant, and there appears to be an incessant rain of small food from the surface.
Great rivers also carry into the sea a large amount of water-logged matter that
finds its way to the bottom. On food derived from these sources, the smaller
and lowlier forms feed, and the larger and higher forms feed in turn on the
lowlier forms. This necessity for catching prey impresses a very distinct
mark upon many deep sea animals, which are horribly rapacious. This is best
seen in certain fishes which have the teeth enormously magnified, and the
mouth capable of even greater distention than that of a serpent. In this spe-
cimen of Thaumastomias, the lower jaw is practically a great rat-trap attached
to the head simply by a long elastic muscular band, and capable of being
turned completely over the head. In Ponerodon we have a somewhat similar
mouth with large hinged teeth : from the stomach of this specimen of Pone-
rodon I removed the remains of a fish weighing more than the Ponerodon itself,
the animal being a mere appendage of its own abdomen. In Polycheles, again,
observe the long chelipeds, and that all the “ feet” end in chele.

The third factor we may now consider is, that which covers the modifica-
tions due to the action of the law, “ avoid being killed and eaten.” “ Protec-
tive resemblances” for the purpose of deceiving enemies appear to be rare in
deep sea animals, and we can easily understand that it must be so, seeing that
there is no light. Coloration, which is so largely developed in land animals
for purposes of protective resemblance, cannot come within the scope of
natural selection where light is wanting. Hence deep sea animals are com-
monly sombrely and uniformly coloured in harmony with the uniform sombre
gloom of their habitat, deep black being common, and deep purple shading
off to red and pink.

The action of the fourth factor—sexual selection—appears also to be much
hampered by the want of light. However, our knowledge of the deep sea
fauna is not yet comprehensive enough to allow us to make any definite
statements on this subject. So far the only case of difference in form between
the male and female which has come to my notice, is in this :specimen :of a
male of Neobythites pterotus, which has the pectoral fin-rays much prolonged,
perhaps for the purpose of feeling for the female. At any rate, in the female
the rays are of the ordinary length.

551

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.
No, L—QUAILS BREEDING IN CAPTIVITY.

In June or July, 1891, I bought a large cage with 20 or 30 birds in it;
among them 3 bush-quail cocks: one died soon after. In August or Septem-
ber, 1891, I rescued a hen bush-quail from the hands of my cook, who was
about to slay her, and I put her into the cage. Soon afterwards she began to
lay, and up to this (January, 1894,) she cannot have laid less than 60 eggs, One
of the cocks died last November. At the beginning of December I puta “sod”
of grass into the cage; the hen almost immediately made a nest,—that is, she
pressed down a small circular portion of the grass,—and laid five eggs, I let
her sit. Three weeks afterwards I broke one of the eggs; there was a partly
developed chick in it, alive. A few days afterwards I broke another egg: con-
tents bad. Then, as I thought it best to make the bird cease from sitting, I
broke the other three eggs ; one was bad, but in the other two were fully-
formed chicks, dead. I believe that if the other (many) birds in the cage had
not disturbed the sitting quail, she would have hatched her egos.

R, P. BRUNTON,
15th January, 1894.

No. I11—SAUROMATUM GUTTATUM, SCHOTT.

In the “ Flora of British India,” Vol. IV, page 509, it is stated S. guttatum
is confined to N.-W. India, except Schott’s specimens should prove to be from
the Concan, of which there is no evidence.

A root collected at Tulsi near Bombay has flowered in the Botanical Garden
of this College during the last few days and proves to be this species, The
description in ‘‘ Flora of British India” is good, and the figure in Wight’s Icones
Plant., n. 800, is unmistakable.

G. MARSHALL WOODROW.
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE,

Poona, 28th January, 1894.

No. IJI.—NOTES ON CALLEREBIA NIRMALA, MOORE, A
SATYRID BUTTERFLY.

On the 5th of July, 1893, I caught at Mussoorie, a hill-station in the Western
Himalayas, a female example of Callerebia nirmala, Moore, which the same
day laid eight eggs on grass.

The eggs are pearly-white, irregularly globular, slightly flattened at the top
and bottom like an orange, and resemble seed-pearls both in colour and shape.
They are about the size of very fine grains of sago. They were laid on the
blades of grass, but fell off at once when the grass was touched. On the 16th
the eggs turned yellow and remained go till the 20th, when a slight dark mark

552 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

was visible on the top of the egg, in shape like a crescent. On the Qist this
mark had enlarged, and the head of the caterpillar was distinctly visible,
the rest of the ege being of a dirty pink shade,

July 22nd.—Five larves emerged by eating away the top of the shell. The
rest of the shell is left untouched. The larva, when newly hatched, is a little
over }” long, white, with a few fine white hairs or down. It resembles a flat
white maggot more than anything else. Head black, very large for the body,
heart-shaped. The body tapers a little towards the tail.

July 28th.—Larve nearly 3” long, of a blue-green colour, fading to yellowish
at the tail, The body is thicker at the head, and tapers regularly to the tail.
It is covered with minute white hairs. Scarcely perceptible lines of a brownish
tint extend from the head to the tail.

August 12th.—The body is very much thicker in the middle, tapering towards
the tail, The larve were now ’,” long, and very pretty. Head flat, rising to
two little points at the top. By degrees spots and lines made their appearance,
and on the 27th of August I described the nearly full-grown larva as follows:—
Length 3”; fusiform ; from the front the head looks like that of a cat with
ears erect, ‘The body tapers more from the middle to the tail than from the
middle towards the head, and terminates in two little pointed tails. Head and
body fawn-colour, with the following markings :—two ear-like projections on
the head, and a line on each side of the head, dark brown. Minute brown
lines forming a square on the face, A narrow dorsal dark brown stripe, much
darker from the middle of the body to the tails, bifurcated anally. The sides
are ornamented by five narrow yellowish-white lines, the two upper ones
undulating, the three lower ones straight. Two minute subdorsal dark brown
spines on the 3rd segment, two on the 4th, and one dorsal one on the 13th. An
irregular subdorsal series of dark brown spots, one on each of the 6th, 7th,
8th, and 9th segments, A narrow spiracular dark brown line, Legs, claspers,
and abdomen, fawn-colour. The whole body presents the appearance of a
piece of very finely woven repp. On the 31st of October I brought the larve
from Mussoorie, in the hills, to Bankipore, in the plains, and fed them on
various kinds of grass,

The larva, when full grown, is 1}” long. The markings are the same as )
described above, only more spread out,

December 24th.—One larva suspended itself by the tail, and remained in
that position for two days. I found it changed to a chrysalis on the morning
of the 27th. The chrysalis is brown, wing-cases paler and more of a reddish-
golden-brown. Shape, much the same as Lethe sidonis, Hewitson.

January 19th, 1894,—Butterfly emerged.

February 7th.—A second imago appeared to-day. These, like their parents,
are distinctly C. nrmala. It would appear, therefore, that this is a distinct

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 553

species, and not a seasonal form either of C. annada, Moore, of C. hybrida,
Butler, or of C. scanda, Kollar.

Mrs. 8. ROBSON.
BANKIPORE, 7th February, 1894.

4
Note By Mr. pe NICEVILLE,

Mrs, Robson is to be congratulated on her discovery for the first time of the
egg, larva, and pupa of a species of Callerebia. Until now no one had succeeded
in doing so. From her account of the life-history of C. nirmala, it is evident
that, like nearly all the temperate species of Satyrine, the species of Callerebia
occurring in the Himalayas are only single-brooded ; so with them there can be
no question of seasonal forms. It is further obvious that they hybernate in
the larva state, as, but for the fact that Mrs. Robson brought her living larve
in the autumn from the cold Himalayas to the hot plains and thus forced them
to premature perfection, there is no doubt that the butterflies, instead of
emerging from the pupa in February, would have done so in June, thus com-
pleting the full cycle of a year, the larve in a state of nature attaining their
full size and pupating in the spring after the winter hybernation.

No. IV.—PSAMUMOPHIS LONGIFRONS.

On page 406 of Vol. VII of our journal there is an interesting account of a
fine specimen of the above secured by Father Dreckmann, I am glad to be
able to present the society with a specimen new to the collection, The snake
was caught by myself in the Umargaon Taluka of Thanna, a few miles from
the coast and from the Damanganga River, in April, 1891. It was found in
grass on a dry and rocky little hill, and tried to escape by taking refuge in
the ground. It was very agile, and nearly succeeded. Father Dreckmann has
the credit of discovering the arboreal habits of this snake, but it is probably
as much at home on the ground. More information is needed, but in any
case it is most interesting that a snake of so desert a type as Psammophis
should be found in forest trees in the moist climate of Kalyan.

F, GLEADOW.

Poona, February, 1894.
No. V.—THE FLAMINGO BREEDING IN INDIA.
I send you a letter which I received some time ago from the Rao
Sahib of Cutch together with several eggs of the Flamingo (Phenicopterus
antiquorum).

BHUJ, 5th October, 1893.
My DEAR Mr, LESTER,

Thave caused a letter to be sent to Khadir to inquire the name of the spot where the
Flamingo’s eggs were found and shall let you know when an answer is received. In the
meantime I have looked up the letter which came with the eggs sent last year by the official
at Khadir, This letter is dated 28rd October, and I received with it about 20 eggs and two
recently hatched flamingoes, The eggs were easy to blow, as the young ones were not
formed inside, From this it seems safe to conclude that the flamingoes lay in September and

554 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

October. The letter further says that the men who picked up the eggs found numerous nests

in one place on the Runn.
Yours sincerely,

RAO KHENGARBJLI.
I think His Highness can claim to be the first who has discovered for certain
that Phenicopterus antiquorum does breed in India.

C.D. LESTER, Lievt.,
17th Bombay Infantry.
Curen, lst March, 1894.
No. VI.—MEASUREMENTS OF TIGERS’ SKULLS.

Referring to the note by Mr, W.S. Millard in the last number of the
Journal, I beg to send you the measurements of two tigers shot by me this
year in the Central Provinces. They were both carefully measured as they lay
on the ground before being skinned. Tiger No. 1 measured 9’ 10” from nose
to tip of tail ; length of tail 3’; the skull measures 133”x9i". Tiger No, 2
measured 9/ 103” from nose to tip of tail ; length of tail 3’ 33” ; the skull
measures 14” x 10".

H, F. CLEVELAND, Sure.-Cart.,
5th Bombay Light Infantry.
Bompay, 1st March, 1894.

No. VIL—MUSCULAR ACTION AFTER DEATH,

While dealing with a big cobra the other morning, the quiver of his dying
tail recalled to my mind an incident, connected with one of his race, that
occurred to me several years ago. The narrative may be of interest to mem-
bers of the Society, although the curious circumstance described is possible of
explanation as a mere accident.

I was out quail-shooting one morning with a friend at Dharwar when we put
up acobra. A charge of small shot failed to stop him, and he escaped to his
hole on the maidan and was nearly in when another shot stopped him, and
he lay with his tail outside the hole.

Wishing to examine him, we pulled gently and then firmly at that tail, but
could not stir him. Resolving to put on more power, we took a rumal from
one of the beaters and tied the tail to a stick and put on two men to pull.
The result was that the snake came in half, and with the jerk the tail portion
was unloosened from the stick and fell to the ground at a short distance from
the hole.

Then the marvel followed. This piece of tail, about two feet in length,
proceeded to act as if endowed with sense, It wriggled towards the hole, but,
missing it went a foot or two beyond. Then it stopped and, as if it knew
it had gone wrong, wriggled back again, and this time struck the hole and
went down it and disappeared.

I remember that we all stood aghast, and that my friend and I found little
encouragement to repeat our story in the station.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 555

I mentioned the incident in a letter home at the time, and in reply was in-
formed, on the authority of the Parish Clerk, that it was a well-known fact
that, if you cut an adder in two, the tail will follow the head.

Also I found something like it in Lucretius, but the poet describes the head
as going in search of the tail, and not the tail of the head,

The experiment is easy of repetition, but one does not often get the oppor-
tunity of pulling a lively snake in half, and there are obvious objections not
only on the score of cruelty.

Tt would be interesting if some of our naturalists have any lore on the gsub-
ject to communicate.

HK. J. EBDEN, I.CS.
Camp, AHMEDNAGAR DisTRICT,
1st March, 1894.

No. VIII.—FERTILIZATION OF THE VANILLA FLOWER
BY BEES.

“ Autrefois l’clevage des abeilles constituait une industrie importante ; Cuba
exportait alors de grandes quantités de miel dt de cire. Délaissé dans ce
derniéres années, ce genre d’exploitation, encouragé par les demandes croissantes
des consommateurs américains, reprend 4 nouveau et c’est par millions que se
chiffre exportation aux Htats-Unis.”

“Ce résultat en améne un autre. La reprise de l’apiculture 4 Cuba donne
une impulsion vigoureuse 4 la culture du vanillier, Duranta plumiere, la
fécondation artificielle devenant inutile, affirme-t-on, et les abeilles y suppléant.
On s’est souvent demandé comment il se fait, alors que des capitaux immenseg
sont engagés, en Chine et aux Indes, dans la culture du thé, que celle de la
vanille, bien autrement lucrative, quoique d’une consommation autrement
restreinte, attire si peu l’attention des planteurs. En gens pratiques, les
Américains ont compris les grands benélices qu’elle pouvait donner aux
Antilles, ott le sol et le climat sont des plus favorables 4 cette liane originaire
du Mexique.”

VII.—Le monde Antilien. II.—Cuba, Puerto-rico, par M. OC, de Varigny.

Revue des Deux Mondes, 1st January, 1894, p. 185.

For the benefit of members that do not happen to read French, I may say
that the pith of the passage quoted from the Revwe des Deux Mondes is as
follows :—

Formerly the Cubans, like other Vanilla cultivators in many tropical coun-
tries, had to fertilize their Vanilla flowers by hand, because the plant, an exotic
orchid, depends in its native country for fertilization on an insect that no one
had managed to induce to follow the plantiacross'seas,

556 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NA TURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, VITI.

Now the Cuban bees, whether themselves indigenous, or, as is more proba-
ble, naturalized European bees, have learnt to do the fertilizing for their
masters, and given a great impulse to the cultivation, The other countries
which have been producing vanilla by artificial fertilization must, if this is
the case, either use bees too—or be undersold. —

W. F. SINCLAIR, 1.0.8,
TANNA, lst March, 1894.

No, IX.—THE BUTTERFLIES OF MATHERAN.

I notice in the last number of the Society’s Journal a list of the butterflies
of Matheran. It is some years since I have been there, and I do not remember
accurately all I have caught there. I, however, certainly have caught there
both Lethe europa, Fabricius, and Apatura camiba, Moore, These might, there-
fore, be added to the Matheran list.

J. DAVIDSON, I.C8,
Kanara District, 7th March, 1894,

No. X.—BREEDING SEASON OF THE SPOTTED-BILLED DUCK.

Vet.-Maj. G. F. Rayment «asks on p. 442 of the Society’s Journal (Vol.
VIII, No. 3) if any one has noticed how late the spotted-billed duck, Anas
Pecilorhyncha, breeds. I have shot flappers of this species in the Kod taluka
of the Dharwar district, about ten miles from the northern frontier of Mysore,
in the middle of November. They were very nearly full-grown; but the
remiges, or flight-feathers (quills), had not developed.

C. HUDSON, 1.C.8.

Camp BassEIN, 14th March, 1894.

No. XI.—COLD-WEATHER SHOOTING IN RAIPUR.

When I saw the Honorary Secretary in October last and told him that I was
going to pass the cold weather in camp in the Kaipur jungles, he said, “ You
will have lots to tell us for the Magazine ;” the result has not come up to the
anticipation ; in the first place I have have had to contend with much bad
luck and much fever. As I have been in camp, with the exception of about
fifteen days, in Raipur from the 1st November to the 1st March, I may consider
this period as the cold weather.

A correspondent in the Pioneer lately said that tigers jostled each other in
Raipur ; this is theory ; from the 7th November to the 20th December I had
garahs out in every direction ; I did not have a single kill from a tiger, and
only one from a panther ; I left my garahs down for several days, and I did
not shift camp very frequently, to show on what sort of lines I worked ;
lately a friend (whose camp was about 8 miles from mine) and myself had about

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES, 557

fifteen garahs out between us for three days and eleven for six days; the amount
of ground covered can be imagined ; result—one kill by a panther ; there
was no lack of fresh pugs, but in the cold weather a place where there are
fresh pugs is the most unlikely spot for a kill as a rule: Twice I should have
got acertain kill if it had not been for the obstinacy of my shikaris in this
matter : native shikaris have two articles of faith—one is that itis no use
tying up unless there are fresh pugs, and another that, if there is no blood, it is
a miss ; I am glad to say that I converted mine on both these points, I found
the greatest difficulty in getting information of village animals killed by tigers,
it was quite the exception for information to be volunteered. Isaw a full-
grown buffalo which had a narrow escape from a tiger, who must have sadly
miscalculated his spring, as the buffalo was clawed at the back of its hind
quarters, one very bad wound involving the anus: I am surprised at the tiger
attacking a full-grown buffalo, especially as the tiger (which I shot) was only
@ young one.

This tiger must at one time have had an encounter with a porcupine in which
the former did not have all the honours, for, on skinning him, I found pieces
of porcupine quill, some nearly three inches in length, in his foot, head and
body ; these had evidently been ina long time, as there was no trace of any
external wound, and the quills were very much discoloured and worn ; they
were between the inner layers of the skin,

Panthers I also found decidedly scarce ; one was the smallest one I have ever
seen and seemed all tail (I missed it sitting over the kill). I was surprised
at finding it on the kill when I went to inspect it between one and two o’clock
in the day. It was a long time before I could make myself understood when
I wished to enquire about panthers and chital, when neither tendwa or chital
was understood ; however I at last got hold of the difference, viz., Chitwa for the
former and Chita for the latter ; this, however, does not seem to work
everywhere,

There was a custom in the case of a tiger being shot which was new to me,
or at least which I do not remember, wiz., when the dead tiger was being
brought in, the women of the village used to put a rope across the road and
refuse to let it pass until they received backsheesh ; it would be interesting to
know when this originated ; I am afraid that they never get any thing out
of me.

There is a deal of latent pluck and folly combined about a native ; how
frequently do we hear of a herd driving off a tiger which has attacked one of
his cattle with no more formidable weapon than a stick ; a case occurred near
here only last week ; the tiger, however, resented the interference and made
for the man, who died of his wounds,

Bears were fairly numerous, I was having a beat fora tiger on one occasion ;
behind me was an open space about 300 yards across, then grass ; during the
beat two bears at different times came close to me; they both behaved in

14

558 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VI11,

exactly the same way, they would not face the little bit of open; they
went a little way on it, then back they came and sat down close to
me (to consider I suppose) ; there was jungle all round the open, so
they might have cut across, but they appeared not to be able to see
that there was, which no doubt was the case, on the other side of the open
their sanctuary. I shot a she-bear and her cub, which was nearly. as big
as his mother, but was still being suckled. Bears frequently take a lot of killing
on account of the difficulty in placing one’s shotin a massof fur ; I was rather
surprised at one I shot in the shoulder, breaking it, but not injuring any
internal organs, it was up on its hind legs facing me, it went off quick
enough, but did not go far before I heard it grizzling ; I went to the sound, about
200 yards, and found him lying down bemoaning his luck; he was off again as
soon as he saw me, but I knocked him over. My experience is that bears are
easily knocked over, but they very quickly recover sufficiently from a most
severe wound to get clear away.

I made two small excursions into the buffalo country and saw a fair
number, but did not bag a bull; I could not make out that there
was a bull in the small herds of six and under which I pursued; if |
there was a bull, he must have been quite young and with very smallhorns. A
buffalo which I killed was an object-lesson for those gentlemen who are
advocating small-bore rifles for big game ; I wounded it and had to follow up
in thick jungle with much foliage. I could never get a fair shoulder-shot, but
put four more bullets into its body without stopping it; my sixth shot at
the root of the tail brought it down, and I finished it with a ‘500 Express behind
the horns ; all the other six shots were from an 8 bore with 6 drams powder ;
if I had not made the lucky shot at the root of the tail, the buffalo might
have “‘eaten”’ more bullets ; all my shots were within less than 15 yards; I
kept coming on the buffalo amongst the thick foliage, and as it was off as soon
as it saw me, all my shots had to be snap, but, as I said before, they were all in
the body ; this shot behind the head I found a capital one for finishing off
wounded animals. I killed one of my garahs to putit out of its misery—it was
in an awful state—and a sambhur instantaneously with my Rook rifle with
this shot.

As regards deer, 1 was woefully disappointed ; I only saw one sambhur,
male or female, and very few chital ; of the latter I saw three stags, but with
very poor horns ; discounting the grass and the foliage, Tam sure they are
both remarkably scarce, I have beaten hills for the former, where the
natives said there were ‘‘ bahut, bahut,” without seeing anything ; I think the
cause of chital being scarce is the native shikari, as the part of Raipur I. have
been in (south of Sambalpur road) has many villages and much cultivation, so
they really have not a chance ; in fact in afew years to come Raipur will
be played out asa shooting ground. New villages are constantly being settled.
As an instance I will take Sankra on the Sambalpur road ; a very few years

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 559

back you could find buffalo within a mile of the dak bungalow I am told ; it
is necessary to go a good many miles now before you would see one ; I walked
one evening about four or five miles up the river, the Jonk Nadi, without
Seeing anything whatever except fresh clearings. I neither saw nor heard a
barking deer, I sawa few four-hornedantelope without horns—they are called
universally ‘“ Kotri”—a few nielghai, and that is all. This scarcity of deer
quite spoils the pleasure of a shooting expedition, as it is always pleasant to see
some life in the morning or evening walk : I nearly always was out in the early
morning and always in the evening, and as arule saw absolutely nothing ; in
fact latterly my shikar diary nearly daily contains the following entry :
“ Morning stroll, usual result ; evening walk, as usual.” My beats also were so
depiorably lifeless ; I have beaten lovely hills and jungle ; perhaps I might see
two or three peafowl, but generally not that, nor even a monkey ; not a single
jungle or spur foul did I ever see.

Of miscellaneous animals I was annoyed by wild dogs once or twice ; natives
call them “ Kog” (g hard) ; on one occasion I had kubber of a panther kill,so
rode out 6 or 7 miles to arrange about a machan being made, only to find out
that about ten or eleven o'clock a pack of wild dogs had come down the nullah
and eaten up every bit of the kill. Wild dogs seem to be later on the prowl
than other animals ; whether they turn out at a corresponding later hour in the
evening Ido not know, but I have come across them when every other
predatory animal would be ensconced for the day.

Porcupines I saw two in beats.

The universal pig, of course, was common enough. One evening sitting up
over a kill I was interested by their behaviour,they went all roundthe kill and
remained in its neighbourhood all the evening ; they apparently devoured the
droppings of the vultures, but never offered to touch the kill; one pig came
under my machan and evidently winded something as he sniffed about for
some considerable time, but appeared satisfied at last ; the panther did not come
to the kill, nor would this be accounted for by it not daring to face the pig, or
ought the panther to be master of the situation? I cannot imagine a cat-sized
panther, which I have referred to above, being able to frighten off a number of
full-grown pig ; at last, as it was too dark to see to shoot, 1 decided to give up,
but as a pig was under my machan and several close to it, I decided to try the
effects of the sound of a whistle to see if it would alarm them ; I had with me
what is known asa policeman’s whistle ; I blew this as hard as I could; not
one of the pig took the slightest notice, Ihave mentioned that the pig did
not touch the kill ; at another place I had a kill from a tiger (which I shot) ; the
next morning my shikari reported that pig had eaten up all the kill. Why
should they have done so in this case and taken no notice of the kill in the
other ?

Jackals, of course, were present in body and in voice ; as we know, they are
not usually of a particularly timid nature, and I was very much amused—ai

560 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIil.

least as much as one can be amused with one’s temperature about 104° F.—one
' evening sitting overa kill to see the scared way in which a jackal tried to snatch
a little meat from the kill ; however he unfortunately did not remain until
the panther came, which it did very shortly and gave me ashot, on which
I would stake my life, but I was so weak and shaky that I missed.

A common jungle cat (J. chaus) annoyed me at one camp ; why it should
have such confidence in man I cannot imagine ; in this case it was misplaced ; it
sat at the corner of my servants’ tent one nightand let me, without any stalking,
walk up and shoot it—range 5 yards.

When I was sitting up on one of the occasions above mentioned, an animal
which I take to be the long-tailed mongoose (H. jerdoni) with great circumspec-
tion came up to the kill, sitting up every now and then to have a look round ;
though it sniffed all round the carcass, yet it did not touch it; it, I fancy, smelt
our foot-steps and was afraid.

I yesterday found a musk-rat in my bath, but as this is Sambalpur, it cannot
count, At one of my camps a wolf was reported to have jogged slowly through
my camp ; I was out for my evening walk at the time, so did not myself see it.

I think that with the hyzna, of which I saw two, and the hare, of which I
came across about six, I have closed my list of quadrupeds.

As regards man himself, the country I was in was too civilized for jungle
tribes, such as Gonds and Bheels ; I came across one or two individuals who
were not cultivators, and that is all. The Huropeanized shikari is also develop-
ing; I even sawone of my shikaris—a well-known one to those who have
shot in these parts—walking about in the sun in December with an umbrella
of the bazaar type opened, in addition to being covered up more or less with
cast-off Europe clothes.

It must be remembered in cold weather shooting that in November, on
account of the rice harvest, there are difficulties in getting beaters together.
Again in the grass districts, in the latter half of February grass-cutting is going
on, which disturbs the whole place. The language of the country is Hindi.

I will now turn to the birds. I must first state that on account of more than
two years’ absence from the country my ornithology has grown rusty, and kil-
ling a bird merely for the sake of puttinga name to it is now rather repugnant
tome. Raipur is what is called a tank district ; do not imagine that this means
it resembles Guzerat ; on the contrary it means that water is very scarce and
that the inhabitants draw their water-supply from tanks; at one village I was
at, the water of the universal tank already stank ; what it will be like in the hot
weather can be imagined. In Raipur I did not shoot a single duck with the
exception of one teal; I saw a few duck on one tank; on suitable tanks there
are generally whistling teal and cotton teal. The flock of common teal, out
of which I shot one, were the only teal I saw. Snipe were exceedingly scarce ;
I am told it isa very bad year in this district for both duck and teal; I saw
two painted snipe and no jack, Her (Bosna, which is maidan) there are one

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 561

or two tanks with sufficient duck on to amuse one, but in no great quantities ;
nukta, red-crested pochard (/. rufina), and ganganey teal are what I have
bagged. )

Peacock in suitable places are in fair numbers. I have seen and shot a few
painted partridges and two florican ; there are no grey partridges. I was told
that there was no quail in the district, but the common quail at all events
this year is generally distributed ; Ihave also shot a rain quail or two, and some
small quail which I did not identify ; the crop of the country is rice ; when
that is cut, except here and there, where there is an odd patch or two of
irrigated cultivation, the fields remain bare ; so the only place to find quail is
in the grassy “ bands” between the rice fields. This is taken advantage of by
the native bird-catcher who walks along the “ bands” with a large oblong
net over his head, beating the grass as he goes along. As regards species of
water-birds which I saw, I could count them on my fingers, probably on one
hand ; even the common pied kingfisher was scarce. Hurrial are generally to
be found about villages, and the common grey hornbill, locally called danéis,
_ is not uncommon ; both make a welcome addition to the bill of fare. I saw
five wild pigeons near Bosna ; in fact it seems to me that I am better situated
as far as ornithology and entomology are concerned in Sambalpur than in
Raipur, but as I have seen so very little of the former, I can say nothing
for certain.

Before I came out I received a commission to catch pretty butterflies, but I
have seen none but the commonest kinds; but as none have English names and
my Indian nomenclature has lapsed, I can say no more,

I have mentioned before that the principal crop is rice; here and there,
however, there is a small crop of sugarcane of indifferent growth, some few
patches of miserable-looking castor oil, a field or two of wretched cotton and
gram, and a fair amount of bad “ till’ ; on the other hand the linseed does not
look at all bad, I was desirous of photographing some Indian crops as they
stood in the field. I have not seen anything worthy of exposing a plate on
(I do not allude to rice).

The jungles seem composed for the most part of various more or less useless
timber, principally saj. I have often, on the march through jungle, asked
my shikari the name and use of every sort of tree I passed, and the reply to
the latter query was in nearly every case “ Of no use.” My other botanical
observations were principally practical. Various villages have weekly their
market-days or bazaar-days; at most of them tomatoes, brinjals, a green
equivalent to spinach, onions, etc., can be obtained. A most important
discovery I made at Bosna (Sambalpur road) is that potatoes can be obtained
in quantity ; they are brought from Raipur. I find native tobacco—the dark
and mild sort—very good when smoked in a leaf-pipe after the native fashion ;
the light-coloured leaf is too strong.

562 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL AISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. Vill.

The only poisonous snake I saw was one very large cobra, which suddenly
appeared out of a white-ants’ nest at the foot of a tree, round which a number
of men were sitting ; luckily it was slain before any harm was done. It seems
strange to me that so many natives cannot discriminate between a harmless and
poisonous snake ; they seem to know as little about what must be an only too
common object as if they had never seen asnake before. Having now
descended from unavoidable and constantly regretted circumstances to the
status of a globe-troter, I have committed my three months’ experiences
to paper. I, however, have not investigated the drink question except when
my shikari has got drunk, nor the currency question except in one particular,
which is that, when you pay your beaters two annas each, this two annas
cannot be converted into food, drink, or raiment except at the rate of one anna
three pies ; in fact the current coin of the realm in Raipur and in most other
places is copper.

I was asked to notice any particular breed of dogs which I might come across,
but I have not seen anything except the ordinary “Pie.” By the way, what
is the meaning of “ Pie’? Ihave, however, been puzzling over the reason
that so many of them have tails curled round like a pug ora Chinese dog, &c,
I should have thought that, semi-wild creatures that they are, their tails would
droop. The colour of pies asa rule seems to be for the many yellow, for the
few black and tan. Isaw about three black ‘‘ Pies.” I came across a very good
black and tan dog of sporting proclivities, and evidently, from the sleekness

of his coat, well looked after, but still unmistakeably a pie.
. E. F. BECHER.

Bosna, March, 1894.

4 No. XII.—ANNELIDE REEFS.

Tam forwarding to youa couple of specimens of the Annelide Reefs of
Kelve Mahim in the Tanna District.

All along the west coast, north of the Waitarna River, the coarse debris
brought down by numerous local streams and torrents, with the sand of the
Arabian Sea, and the finer silts and sands washed out of the Gulf of Cambay,
are forming recent deposits over the (probably) Tertiary basalt, of very various
quality.

The muddy character of the water is probably unfavourable for the growth
of corals. But the place of these seems to some extent to be taken by tubi-
colous Annelides, probably of, or allied to, the genus Serpula, which are really
here reef builders, though not to be compared in degree with the masons of
the “ massive corals.”

The specimens forwarded will easily enable you to understand that their
productions are here used in construction and have even, in Portuguese times,
been used in fortification.

W. F. SINCLAIR, LCS.
TaNNA DistRIcT, March, 1894.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 563

No, XIJI.—STALKING SAMBAR.

In the interesting account of Sambar Shooting which Mr. Inverarity gives
in the last number of the Journal, he begins by stating that there is no deer-
stalking in India: but India is rather large and few sportsmen have shot on
all its hill ranges. I think it may interest some of your readers to know that
there is at least one place where stalking sambar may be had, and where a
good telescope is absolutely necessary. I refer to the Koondha range in the
Nilgiri district, some 20 miles west of Ootacamund. The height is about 6,500
feet, a perfect climate at times, with delightful scenery of open grassy hills,
with woods of rhododendron scattered here and there. Stag shooting is obtain-
able from November to April, but a license is required, which costs Rs. 30.

As the district shot over is comparatively small, large heads are now rare,
but I believe there are several other hill ranges south of the Nilgiris where
sambar can be obtained by stalking. I send you a photograph I took during
a recent shooting trip among the Koondhas, which I hope will give you and
Mr. Inverarity an idea of the country.

G. S. RODON, Masor,

The Royal Scots.
BELGAUM, 23rd March, 1894.

No. XIV.—WOLF CUBS.

I shall be glad to know whether the Indian wolf has ever been successfully
trained to hunt with dogs, in a “ bobbery ” pack, as I hope to try the experi-
ment before long.

Last month I came on the lair of a pair of wolves on the borders of the Runn
of Cutch, containing 5 cubs (2 males and 3 females). I removed three of the
cubs and left the others so as to tempt the parents back to their lair, hoping to
be able to run them down with my greyhounds in the morning, but when I
visited the place the next day before dawn, the old wolves had removed the two
young ones during the night and had left their lair.

The three cubs, which I had taken, were successfully suckled by means of a
village dog. Their foster-mother objected to them considerably at first, but
soon became very fond of them, and will not leave them now. They are
perfectly tame, come to call, and lick my hand, but they appear to be rather
stupid, although exceedingly keen and plucky. All my dogs have taken a great
fancy to the young wolves and play with them, but the wild parentage of the
little cubs is especially noticeable at meal time when they bolt their food in the
most ravenous manner imaginable. When they were only about three weeks
old, they showed their hunting instinct by flying at the throat of a tame Chin-
kara fawn. Should they become unmanageable and dangerous, I shall send
them to you for the Zoological Gardens in Bombay, but T still hope to train
them to hunt with my “bobbery pack.” They went out with me yesterday
with the terriers and followed very fairly.

G. B. O'DONNELL, Capiain.
MatiA, KATHIAWAR, 26th March, 1894.

@

564 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII,

No. XV.—HORNS AND SKULL MEASUREMENTS, &c.

I agree with Mr. Gilbert's remarks in your latest number of the journal that
it would be of great assistance if some of our members, who must be acquainted
with the Brow-Antlered Deer, would give us the benefit of some additional
notes on the subject. In reckoning the points on the heads of stags, it was the
custom, I believe, to count as a point anything on which a powder flask could
be hung, If Mr. Gilbert bears this in mind, I do not think he will find any
difficulty in determining the points of a ‘“‘Thamin’s” head any more than
of the heads of its consin, the Swamp Deer (Cervus duvauceli). The
Thamin’s head, with the exception of the peculiar direction of the Brow Antler,
is not unlike the head of the Swamp Deer—that is, they generally have a small
point on each brow antler and four or five “on top.” The beam at the top,
where it gives out a number of points, is sometimes thickened, as in the Swamp
Deer, but I think the horns are never palmated as is the case with the Fallow
Deer (Cervus dema) found in Persia. As regards the last paragraph but one in
Mr, Gilbert’s paper, 1 may mention that all the measurements quoted were
carefully made by myself,

With regard to Mr, Millard’s article on Tigers’ Skulls, there is or was in the
collection of the Society the skull of a tiger presented by Mr. Shillingford,
the measurements of which are precisely the same as Mr, Rowland Ward’s, w2.,
142/10", Mr, Cecil Gray in 1888 shot a tiger, I believe, over 10 feet; the
skull measurements were 1311” x94." : for comparison I will put one of my
own (a good-sized male 9’ 5”) 133” 93", and I think we may safely conclude
that a skull over 14” must have belonged to an animal longer than 10 feet.

The other day I was out stalking not far from here amongst some rocks. I
came across a Muntjac (Rib-faced Deer) quite freshly killed by a panther ;_ its
head and forequarters were mostly eaten, but what struck me as most singular
was that the hairs on the rest of the body had been licked clean off with his
tongue, just as if a razor had been used. It was quite easy to see where each
sweep of the tongue had gone, and there on the ground were the hairs exactly
as he had put them off histongue. This was new to me, for I never knew a
panther or tiger ever to take any trouble about hair on an animal, certainly
they do not seem to usually, in the case of a calf or buffalo; but I suppose
the long and somewhat erect hair was too much for this gentleman’s palate. I
picked up the other day a fine Swamp Deer’s head ; it has only ten points, but
it isa good head. It had lain in the jungle some years, and I was going to send
it to the collection in Bombay as an instance of deer eating their horns, for to
my eye the chisel-shaped marks of the teeth are conclusive. In the jungle,
however, I met an old friend (of about thirty years’ shikar experience) and he
pooh-poohed it, saying “ Oh, rats and squirrels, even our prickly friend
Hystri« leucwra.” It was a shock, but it was only too true ; the teeth-marks
bear a great resemblance to those of rodents,

W. ST. JOHN RICHARDSON, Caprain,

Torna, 23rd March, 1894,

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 565

No. XVI.—_THE RUSSELL’S VIPER.

I think it may be worth putting on record that on the 4th January, 1888,
two very large specimens (male and female) of the Daboia russellit were killed
in my garden at Cuddalore, North Arcot. The male measured 5’ 6” and the
female 5’3”, Again, at Vellore,in November, 1890, I killed a specimen of
the same snake in my verandah, which measured 5’ 6”,

F. G. BROOK-FOX,

Executive Engineer.
Muttan, 25th March, 1894.

[Dr. Giinther, in his “Reptiles of British India,” states that the Daboia attains
the length of 50”, and Mr. Boulenger in the “ Fauna of British India” gives
48” as a full measurement, but it is evident that both of these excellent autho-
rities have considerably understated the maximum length of this snake, We
have a specimen in the Bombay Natural History Society’s Collection killed at
Hurda in the Central Provinces by Mr. J. C. Anderson, which measured 62”.
—EDITOR.]

No. XVIIL—THE NUX-VOMICA TREE.

All lovers of Natural History will be grateful to “ Hha” for the many
valuable and interesting observations published from time to time in the
columns of the Times of India. In his latest article of March 23rd—* Leaves
from a Naturalist’s Scrap Book ”—he criticises Dr, Kirtikar’s paper, published
in the Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society on the nux-vomica tree,
or, by-the-bye, plant, for anything vegetable from a microscopic yeast cell toa
giant eucalypt is a plant in botanical language, but “ Eha” is a facetious writer,
and my correction is perhaps hardly apt. It is to be regretted that Dr, Kirti-
kar has not availed himself of the latest and most valuable literature on the
subject, especially as all the recent researches are summarized or noted ina
Bombay work, Pharmacographia Indica, by one of his distinguished confréres
of the I. M.S., and a past President of the Bombay Natural History Society,
the late Dr. William Dymock. I refer chiefly to the laborious researches of
Dunstan and Short, These writers, after describing the statements of leading
Indian botanical authorities as to the harmlessness of the pulp of the fruit, say
that these statements are rendered quite unintelligible by the experiments of
Fluckiger and Hanbury, who found both the fresh and inspissated pulp con-
tained strychnia. In view of these conflicting statements the following physio-
logical experiments were made by Dr. Ondaatje at the Hambaulota Hospital,
Ceylon :—

Experiment I.—The pulp of a large fruit mixed with about half an ounce of
water was given to a large cat. In five minutes tetanic convulsions set in, and
the animal died within ten minutes of the administration of the pulp.

Experiment II.—5-6 grammes of the fresh pulp mixed with half an ounce
of water was given to adog about two months old. After eight minutes
the posterior extremities became stiff, tetanic convulsions supervened, and the
dog died eighteen minutes after the administration of the pulp. In both these
cases the toxic action of the pulp was proved, the animals exhibiting the usual
symptoms of poisoning by strychnine. Post mortem and other details are given
in the paper, but it is not necessary to reproduce them here. As, however,
the pulp was stated to have no poisonous action on birds, further experiments
were made.

16

1

566 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, VIII.

Experiment I1I.—Some fresh pulp mixed with a little water was given to a
pigeon without any result.

Experiment IV.—The pulp given to a pigeon as in Experiment IIT
without any effect.

Experiment V.—0°3 gramme of the inspissated pulp was administered to a
frog and produced no effect. As the quantity of alkaloid contained in the
amount of inspissated pulp administered to the frog was extremely small, and
considering the fact that in the first pulp which was administered to pigeons
there would be still less owing to the large quantity of water present, Dr.
Ondaatje repeated the two last experiments, using larger and weighed quantities
of the pulp.

Experiment VI.—2°6 grammes of the inspissated pulp was dissolved in water
and given to a frog and no effect followed, but on administering twenty
grains more, convulsions speedily came on, commencing at the lower extre-
mities, and death resulted in forty minutes.

Experiment VII.—2°0 grammes of the inspissated pulp mixed with water
was given to a pigeon, Almost immediately after violent tetanic convulsions
set in, and the bird died in twelve minutes.

These experiments conclusively demonstrate the poisonous nature of the
pulp, and show that its action is mainly, if not entirely, due to the strychnia
which it contains. Birds can no doubt consume a certain quantity of the fresh
pulp with no fatal effects, for the proportion of strychnine present in the semi-
liquid mass is not large as subsequent analysis shows. ‘Obviously, if eaten
to more than this extent, fatal results will ensue. With regard to the action
of strychnine on monkeys, it appears that some Species possess immunity, while
others are susceptible to the poison, From some experiments undertaken
about twenty years ago and published in the Indian Medical Gazette, it seems
that the “lungoor” may be said to be proof against strychnia, that the ‘‘ pouch-
cheek” is susceptible, but not so readily as a human being, and thatthe popular
saying that a monkey will never eat anything that is poisonous is borne out by
the “lungoor ” readily eating and relishing the strychnia which produced no ill
effect upon him, whilst the “pouch-cheek” refused the same and fell a victim
to the poison, The story related by “ Hha” that two horses were killed by
eating the leaves is very likely correct. The leaves have been recently analysed
by my friend, Mr. David Hooper, Quinologist to the Government of Madras,
who found them to contain brucine ; hence they are poisonous. Horses and
cattle, possibly through long years of domestication, do not readily distinguish
between poisonous and non-poisonous plants. Horses are occasionally killed in
Europe by eating the leaves of the yew tree, which are poisonous, Dr. Kirtikar
writes: “ Brandis says that the pulp in the fruit is orange-coloured, It is not
so; it is white. It is difficult to understand how such a careful observer as
Brandis. says so. Ii is evidently a misprint or slip of the pen.” Dunstan
writes :—‘‘The fruit contains the seeds imbedded in a white gelutinous
pulp. . . . Theripe fruit has a deep orange colour”—and again in another
place—‘The pulp when fresh hasa very bitter taste and is white, but on
drying becomes dark brown.”

27th March, 1894. _J.G. PREBBLE,

(The above appeared in the Times of India on 2nd April, 1894.)

567

PROCEEDINGS
OF THE MEETING HELD ON 10rn JANUARY, 1894.

The usual monthly meeting of the members of this Society took place on
Wednesday, the 10th of January, Mr. G. W. Vidal, I.C.S., presiding.

NEW MEMBERS.
The following gentlemen were elected members of the Society :—

Mr. H. HE. Chappel (Calcutta), Mr. J. Harrington (Bikaneer), Mr. G. Battie
(Ganjam), Mr. R. HE. 8. Thomas (Calcutta), Mr. EH. Pemberton (Mormugoa),
Mr. Jugmohandas V. Bhaiseti (Bombay), Mr. C. M. Hodgson (Belgaum), Mr.
F. G. H, Anderson, I.C.S. (Dharwar), Mr. Jivaji Dinshaw Ghandy (Bombay),
Mr. Edward Comber (Bombay), Surgeon-Lieutenant C. E. Williams (Agra),
Mr. Charles M. Inglis (Cachar), Surgeon-Lieutenant P. P. Kilkelly and Captain
H. V. Biggs, R.H. (Secunderabad), the Secretary, Colombo Museum (Colombo),
Mr. G. R. Hong (Moulmein), Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel D. M. Martin
(Saugor), Rev. &. Leigh Lye (Bombay), Mr. H. Mainwaring ee) Mr. W.
Trood (Gitispore), and Mr, G. R. Duxbury (Tanna).

Mr. H. M. Phipson, the Honorary Secretary, acknowledged the following
contributions which had been received since the last meeting :—

CONTRIBUTIONS DURING DECEMBER,

Contribution. Description. Contributor,

1 Indian Oriol (alive).........;Oriolus kundoo ....s.se02,.,| Mr. Douglas Bennett.
A collection of Sea Shells,

from Kurrachee ...... sasstells FRM TUCO romesee keoee Capt: F. W. Townsend.
1 Common Yellow Bat ...... Nycticejus Kuh]i ..sssccesscones Mr, W. F. Sinclair, C.S.
4 Cobras...... Cccceasaceacsacsasce Naga tripudians ......+0... Mr. C, H. Kane,
A collection of 140 Birds’

SKIN SuenoMy NCMary Le eecealiM Al RW iioaeecesns Mr. F. J. R. Field.
1 Green Tree Snake @live)..|Dryophis mycterizans......... Mr. A. D. Stewart.
Up Horned: Owls esccessssacrse see Bubo bengalensis.......0cceeres Mr. W. Shipp.
1 Red-headed Merlin ......... Haleo Chiquera...c..c.sercseasee Mr. A, C. Walker.
AP COMA i cnccnsedaccvsccecesscas Naga tripudians ..ercceo.-.| Mr. H, 8. Symons,
A number of Corals, from

Arabian Gulf ........ssce00 Speer ace Dr. N. V. Gokhale,
1 Albino Snipe...... eoee(Gallinago gallinaria .se.sers. Capt. A. H. Hatch.
1 Smake sseesecoe.cecccreseeseeeses(LVCCCON AULICUS -caseesecoeeree Mr. F. Graham.
1 Bustard’s Hog .............-. Hupodotus edwardsii ......... Mr. H. Gibbs.
1 Dhaman (alive) ............ ZAWCDIS MUCOSUS....0c0sececvee Mr, W. Thacker.
1 Black-winged Kite (alive).|Hlanus coeruleus .....-....ee006 Mr, H. Bulkley.
1 Sind Hare Glive).......0c605 Lepus dayants.......cssccccese c Do.
EW SHANC ies osenctriccaccsescse teens as Dipsas trigonata ....0.ss0 Do.
1 Kingfisher (alive) _ Sostvaces Halcon eMyrensis ..ccocseeree Mr. J. ae Snuges,
1 Tanned Crocodile Skin .../Crocodilus Be el anecasoe
1 Pintall Duck.......ccssecee--|Dafila ACUtA seccee. -eseeee| Capt. A Nowuham.
1 Red-crested Pochard 56000 s Rio ay Tot aiewcecesecensees
1 Common Teal: .......c.--..2.|Querquedula CreCca......seseee De,
1 Koklass .....scccccccscsoeeeess-[Ducrasia Macrolopha sss. Do.
UECHeetiearcraccnccrs poesanneaennee Phasianus wallachi..........0. Do.
T Curlew wiicoccsesccan. coe esosee NUMENIUS ALQUATA sesceccnecee Do.

1 Shaheen Falcon .0.,..cccc00|/a1CO Peregrinator ..seeccocees Do.

568 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. VIII.

Contributions. Description. Contributor.
1 Porcupine, Stuffed ......«./Diodon bystrix....«...00-.-+--| Mr. Esoofali Hiptoola,
2 Painted Snipe ...-c0...00 - |Rhynchea bengalensis oo0000 Hon. W. T. O’Brien.
AP Ble Wer omy) ccescceeseceress--|ATGES CIMNETCA | .cecstcecsssseccrs Do.
1 White-eyed Pochard ccocee{ HF ULISMIA NYLOCA secsceee ere ec .| Mr. N, 8S. Simons.
1 Purple Coot ..... Gonca0s0000e0 Porphyrio po ocepaalus Do.
1 Snake ...... sdeapdgbasseresssaces/LiViCOCOM aulliCus) meeiaemeeress| EEE Le ‘Gibbs.
1 Spotted Owlet . .|Carine brama ..... cecccecceecee| Mr. W. H. Major.
2 Long-tailed Tree. ” “Mice
(alive) .......ssceccccsseeee-.| VaNueleuria Cleracea os....... Mr. Page.
1 Albino Squirrel... (|Sciurus palmarum .........006 Mr. M. Meling.
4 Kegs of White Scavenger
Vulture .. ae -ee|Neophron ginginianus ss... Lieut. H. E. Barnes,
2 Hees of White-tailed | "Sea
Beedle oe eidador -.|Poliogetus ichthy2tus......... Do.
1 Starling (alive)... Benbeceets eooee/SCUIDUS VUIGATIS ....-2.sseceeee Mr. M. C. Turner.
2 Jedbos (alive) . .....sceeeee Alactaga indica ......... Scand Do.
The Bones of the great In-
dian Fin Whale...... vee---|Baloenoptera indica ...s0e...| Mr. W. F. Sinclair, C.S,
2 Fishing Cats (alive) ...... Felis viverrina......... saacdiDo0e Mr. T. 8. Brumby.
1 Civet Cat (alive) ............ Viverra civettina.. Mr. G. K. Wasey.
12 Snakes Clive)....00.......0 (Silybura macrolepis, Cylin-
drophis rufus ...c.cce So0bo06 Mr. C. E. Kane.
A Collection of Birds’ Skins,
from Mysore .........« Gabeel oe Jul k uN deieseiies Mr. P. H. Lee.
1 Snake socccecsecssceecee--.|allophis trimaculatus .....| Dr. K. RB. Kirtikar.
1 Leopard’s Skin 999900868 000006 Felis pardus .......-..sse00..-..| Mr. E. G. Farquharson,
R.E.
I Wigeon (alive)........sse0v- Mareca penelope ...............| Mr. B. G. Buchanan, R.A,
UPBIACK MIS csccceccccsessconsoes Inocotis papillosus .. ccccccooeee| Mr, A. C. Walker.

1 Snake es ecscecccsccsocsaccoceacee ..|Zamenis fasciatus cgasaoe a Mr. Cc. E. Kane.

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Illustrations of the Botany of the Himayalan Mountains and of the Flora
of Cashmere (Royle), from Colonel Kenneth Mackenzie.

Illustrations of the Forest Flora of the North-West Provinces and ‘Caintral
India (Brandis), from Colonel Kenneth Mackenzie.

Stray Sport, Vols. I and II (J. Moray Browne), from the author.

A number of back parts of the Society’s Journal, Major Selby, R.E.

Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria, Vol. V, in exchange.

PAPERS READ.

The following papers were then read:—(1) On new and little-known
Hymenoptera, from India, Burma, and Ceylon, by Major C. T. Bingham,
F.Z.S.; (2) The genus Psilotum Sw, in India, by Dr. D. Prain; (3) On
the Brow-antlered Deer or Thamin, by Charles F. Gilbert, C. E. ; ‘® Odd
Notes, by Vet.-Major G. F. Pomen, C.V.D.

PROCEEDINGS
OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING HELD ON 13TH FEBRUARY, 1894,

The annual general meeting of this Society took place on Tuesday, the 13th
February, Mr. G. W. Vidal, I.C.S., presiding.

PROCEEDINGS. 569

NEW MEMBERS.

The following gentlemen were duly elected members of the Society :—

Mr. D. Rutherford, C.E. (Sholapore)? Captain John Charles Watson
(Kathiawar), the Superintendent of the Government Central Museum (Calcutta),
Mr. Allen McF. Chalmers (Cachar), Mr. J. E. O’Conor, C.1.E. (Calcutta),
Mr. G. Jacob, 1.C.S. (Shikarpur), Mr. A. M. Caccia (Hoshungabad), the
Curator, Central Museum (Nagpore), Mr. G. Trevithick (Bombay), Mr. H. B.
Thurburn (Bombay), and the Superintendent, Government Central Museum
(Madras).

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MUSEUM.

Mr. H. M. Phipson acknowledged the following contributions to the
Society’s Museum since the last meeting :—

Contribution. Description. Contributor.

1 Antelope’s Head, mounted|Antilope cervicapra.ece....-e.| Mr. J. F. Snuggs.
TL COR ocoocccncccnccoosaeoneendS Naga tripudians .se.ccccs,..eee| Dr. T. 8S. Weir.
1 Sea Snake .....scccc00---coeee\Nhydrina valakadien ......) Mr. W. 8. Turnbull.
L Stake ....ceccccccces.-.ccccsoree(LiyCOGON AULICUS sceons...cee.s.| Mr. A, F. Ferguson.
1 Albino Sand-piper ......... Actitis SP. ccccsocecrserecseoroeeee| Major Mason.
Land shells, from Aden ...... cacsesses Capt. H. L. Shopland.
1 Smake ..ecoccec.esccevcceeeeeo(yHOphis malabaricus ......| Dr. F'. H. Davar.
AME HOOTHAN..-.. cree socccssccssone LCHiS CATINAtA ...esevec...000---| Mr. W. Thacker.
Fossil Bones, from Jubbul-
POTE seceee apeoruace Shee eene see sonst coos Mr. R. Dale.
A. Coppersmith’s Nest......0..|xanthosma hemacephala... Do.
2 Kites’ Hoos csscosccccsees cooe{Milvus GOVINdA ....ece00000--., Mr. W. George.
T Teal ..sseccvccsecccresceesss .-.(Querquedula crecca..... ......| Miss N. Otto.
29 Species of Bombay Fish.) = --- «ev ove Mr. A. Corrodi.
I DRAFTED soceoecoccog cococtesacte ZaMENiIS MUCOSUS...... 00000002, Mr. H. Godfrey.
il SIRES) Gosaagooooades severeeeee|ESAammophis longifrons >....| Mr. EF. Gleadow.
1 Parrot Fish ..... peaceeeares ../Letrodon reticularis ...-.....| Capt. Nantes.
1 Paradise Fly-Catcher......|Muscipeta paradisi ......+cee..| Mr, D, Campbell.
STC heanee scenes aboodancoe Dryophis pulverulentus...... Mr. J. Davidson, C.S.
1 Snake (alive) .........00000. Dipsas trigonata ...cc0c0.-0..| Mr. C. HE. G. Crawford,C.S.
1 Indian Pipistrelle ........./VespeTugo AbTAMUS eeoreccgeeee| Mr, J. A. Betham.
11 Srakes ceoe*esccsccccoreeveeces|ycodon aulicus, 2; Hryx Do.
johnii ; Tropidonotus stola-
tus ; Hchis carinata ; Naga
| tripudians, 2; Bungarus
arcuatus; Trimeresurus

anamalensis ; Dipsas
trigonata; Onychocephalus
acutus.

a EO EE

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LIBRARY.

Indian Snakes, Part I (Chiplonker), from the author.

Indian Museum Notes, Vol. 2, No. 7, from Government,

Annals of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Calcutta, Vol. IV, from Dr. G. King,
Records of the Geological Survey of India, Vol. XX VI, Part IT, in exchange,

570 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, VIII.

EXHIBITS.

Mr. Gambier Bolton, F.R.G.S., exhibited some splendid photographs of
animals in the Zoological Society’s Gardens, London, and explained the process
by which they had been taken, The pictures, which measured 36” by 48”,
were greatly admired. Mr. N.S. Symons exhibited a beautifully-made net
used by Bengal trappers for catching snipe. It measured 120’ by 43’, but only
weighed 53 ozs.

THE ACCOUNTS FOR 1893.

Mr. E. M. Slater, the Honorary Treasurer, read a statement of the accounts
of the Society for the year ending 31st December, 1893, showing a balance
carried forward of Rs. 2,182, witha Reserve Fund of Rs. 2,000. It was
decided that the accounts be passed subject to the usual audit.

ALTERATION OF RULE No. 3.

It was resolved that Rule No. 3 be cancelled and that the following words be
substituted :—

‘“'The election of Members shall be vested in the Committee, subject to
such by-laws as they shall from time to time make. A majority of two-thirds
of those who vote shall be required to secure election.”

ELECTION OF OFFICE-BEARERS.
It was further resolved that the following be elected office-hearers for the
current year :—
PRESIDENT,
H, E. Lorp Hareis.
VICE-PRESIDENTS.
Dr. D. MacDonald, M.D., the Hon’ble Mr. H. M. Birdwood, and Dr. G. A.

Maconachie, M.D.
MANAGING COMMITTEE.

The Hon’ble Mr, H, M. Birdwood, Dr.G. A. Maconachie, Dr, D. MacDonald,
Mr. G. W. Vidal, C.S., Rev. F. Dreckmann, 8.J., Dr. T, 8. Weir, Dr. Kirtikar,
Mr, J. D. Inverarity, Mr. W.S. Millard, Mr. W. F. Sinclair, C.S., Mr. M. ©.
Turner, Col. W. 8. Bisset, R.E., Lieut. H. E. Barnes, Mr. J. OC. Anderson,
Mr, H. L. Barton, Mr. Reginald Gilbert, Mr. R. M. Branson, Mr. N. S.
Symons, Dr. J. C. Lisboa, Mr. E. M. Slater (ex officio), and Mr. H. M. Phipson
(ex officio),

SMALL DEER.

Mr. W. F. Sincair, 1.C.8., read an interesting paper on three small deer
found in the neighbourhood of Bombay, viz., the Four-horned Antelope
(Tetracerus quadricornis) ; the Rib-faced or Barking Deer (Cervulus muntjac) ;
and the Mouse Deer (Tragulus meminna), illustrating his remarks by means of
specimens from the Society’s Museums, An excellent photograph, taken by
Mr, J. D. Inverarity, of a specimen of the first-named species was also exhibited,

A NEW SNAKE.

The Honorary Secretary read a description, by Mr. G. A. Boulanger, of the

British Museum, of a new snake which had been found by Mr. 8. Dighton of

Piermaad, Travancore. The snake has been named Dipsas dightoni after its
discoverer.

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