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THE

JOURNAL

OF THE

Bombay Natura History Socrery.

EDITED BY

W. S. MILLARD,

R. A. SPENCE and N. B. KINNEAR.

VOL. XXII.

Consisting of Five Parts and containing Fifteen Coloured
Plates, Sixty Lithographed Plates, Diagrams
and Maps and Seventy-two Blocks,

Dates of Publication.

Part I(Pages 1 to 302) a. ase ese m0 aus o08 coc eee 31st Oct., 1911,

» LL (Pages 303 to 719)... ane 580 C00 coc ese eee ee. lst Mar., 1912.
» LL7 (Pages 721 to 1107) oo ove eco coe toe se ee 30th July, 1912.
> LV (Pages 1109 t0 1364) © os ene) ee | tnee | wen eve eo 20h Nov., 1912.
» V Cindex, éc.) coo oes eco «oo eve ove ace ee. 21st April, 1913.

Bombay:

PRINTED AT THE TIMES PRESS.
70013

CONTENTS OF VOLUME XXII.

No. l.

A PopuLaR TREATISE ON THE Common INDIAN SNAKES,
Part XVI. (With Plate XVI and Diagram and Maps.)
iby Wvilnonebe Valls Wives.) CML ZicS.0 i. of ,cens anieiele ne ain ofe 4 ler

THE Game Brirps or [npi4, BURMA AND CEYLON. Part V.
By E. C. Stuart. Baker, F.L.S., F.Z.S., M.B.0.U. ........,

Notes on BUTTERFLIES FROM THE NaGa Huts. Part I.
(With Plate A.) By Major H. C. Tytler, 17th In-
ETAT | Une rPemree er Bath Sea AP Bea SES: ee

Tue Patms or BrivisH INDIA AND CEYLON, INDIGENOUS AND
IntropuceD. Part V. (With Plates XVIII-XXV
and Text-figs. 13-19). By H. Blatter, 8.5. ...............

THe RESIDENT BIRDS OF THE SaUGOR AND Damon Dis-
TRICTS, CENTRAL Provinces. By R. C. H. Moss
STN DYE OSI ie gee NG Dee PEA ie Ciera N/T Ah ot,

DESCRIPTIONS OF InpDIAN MicrRo-LEPIDOPTERA. Part XIV.
yale Meyrick) B) As RIRSs, i Zi8s. st ljseh yee slacken

REPTILES COLLECTED IN CHITRAL. By Major F. Wall,
TMS; CoM. ZaSup styh tugs th. aatyncuaa da ccasea sd capl betel cot ae ns

A Last or Inpran FUNGI, CHIEFLY OF THE BOMBAY PRESI-
DENCY, WITH THE DESCRIPTION OF 'wo NEW SPECIES.
CWrith a Phatesye: Wy Ui TlatternScditen.cs.) cecilia» asl

NorEs ON THE BirRDS OF SEHORE, CENTRAL INDIA, WITH

SpecIAL REFERENCE TO Migration. By Captain C.
EE WVilhatehiendy aah lls. Sus Ve Se MOR MIE

ORCHIDS oF THE Bompay PresmipeNcy. Part XII. (With
aL creNC) eae Gre Nit Gy AMALIE HUES 00s Neg ne sae Wrenice alee

FurTHER Norges oN SOME MamMmaLs FROM LOWER SIND,
Eakin Cp NVMOUCRLOM 2 clauses esse segeee ee nu sc sinee ee ece nee

PAGE

A8:

104:

132

146

153

175

iv CONTENTS.

Some Nores on BIRDS FROM GYANTSE AND CHUMBI IN
TIBET, WITH A LIST OF THE GAME BIRDS KILLED DUR-
ING THE FOUR YEARS, 1906-1909. By Captain F. M.
Bailey

CC Ce ee ee ee

‘THE IMPROVEMENT IN THE YIELD AND QUALITY OF INDIAN
Wueat. By Albert Howard, M.aA., 4.R.C.S., F.L.S., Im-
perial Economic Botanist, and Gabrielle L. C. Howard,
M.A., Associate and some time Fellow of Newnham
College, Personal Assistant to the Imperial Hconomic
Botanist

CC ee et ey

A New SNAKE FROM THE WESTERN Himatayas Trachis-
chium quinquelabialis. (With a Text-fig.) By Major
Ta Walla isenCiiuZas ethics btn iden vunie.ncls. falda Batiane
PLANTS OF THE Punyas. A Brief Descriptive Key to the
Flora of the Punjab, North-West Frontier Province
and Kashmir. Part IX. By Colonel C. J. Bamber,
F.L.S., (Indian Medieal, Senvice.. ci... dcr ee ieh. ee eal

THE PROGRESS OF THE MAMMAL SURVEY OF INDIA, BURMA

ANDdy CBYEONG: Meh ececeee eee haent «cel annn nck onG ae i eaean seme
MISCELLANEOUS NoTES.—

I. Tiger calling like a Sambur. By Major H.

H. Harington and J. W. Best, LF.s. ......

II. Young Tiger attacking Human beings. By

SELAH oes aces ebin ioe sce tae ie). pene aed

III. Panther and Wild Boar. By Lieut. F. Fitz-
Gibbons .ceccacceseasete ths ccl spose

IV. Golden Cat (Felis temminckt) killing Buffallo
Calisy WyaiNio6 jKoinneaty ycaoaaeet sneer

V. Mungooses in the Eastern Ghats. By P.
Roscoe Aden. oc. fics eget epee aes

VI. Distribution of the Sloth-Bear (Melursus
wrsinus), and the Indian Lion (Felis leo).
By R. Khengarji ..........c.sseeeecss ere eeeees

PAGE

178

187

201

XIII.
XUV,

XY.

XVI.
XVII.

evils

XIX.

. CONTENTS.

The Birth of a Wild Elephant Calf. By
Oo Wi, Allan, 06.0. walgasl lh. \ ) prea
Notes on the Gaur (Bos gaurus). By , Ayl-
HIT Fae gs HAT tas SANDS ise hyena h cence dee
The Domestic Breeds of Indian Sheep. By
Le bac raed DAN ic Sac Bice So ern ee AR GBmG AH O
Weight and Measurements of a Serow. By
Mex, MP rinitosehy ;cmclilsstwd. tahdeee ccs ded oe
Weight and Measurements of a Goral. By
lex IES EaGimiOse: 7) yeeaett fete onc clen te
Strange Mortality amongst Black Buck
(Antilope cervicapra). By Lt.-Col. G. H.
ARVIN ara tes on Tes ep aokancie serians rasta Fe oie n.e omega
Large Heads of Malay Sambar and Brow
Antlered Deer. By H. J. Davis, F.a.s....
Crow and its Food. By P. T. L. Dodsworth,
HZ Sy) MUSEO Usaha onsen Ad ya sheet oe
Notes relating to the Habits and Nidifica-
tion of the Black-headed Sibia (Lioptila
capistrata, WVigors). (With 2 Text-figs.).
By P. T. L. Dodsworth, F.z.S., M.B.0.U. ...
A New Bar-wing from Burma. By Major
EE, Harmretom. 20...20.. EE Dae ean Erect:
Curious behaviour of a Myna. By Lieut. F.
Bey Sco thigtias h4-Sagei ao caateotseakorenes
Notes on Birds round Rawal Pindi. By
H. Whistler, Indian Police, and N. B.

1 aa NP eens Ey, SC Rn IN

Notes on the Nidification of Microcichla scou-
leri (Vigors), the little Forktail. By P.
mM Le Dodsworth wzise. M.BLOlU.s.0..sace cs

Nesting Notes from Lower Burma. By S.
AUUDEI SO) OVK@IS@TaNRA Eves core QA Ane) 2 ene

256

257

261

XXI.

XXII.

XXIII.

XXIV.

XXV.

XXVI.

XXVITI.

XXIX.

XXX.

XXXI.

XXXIT.

XO:

CONTENTS,

Some winter visitors to Rawal Pind
H. Whistler, Indian Police..................

Seasonal movements of the Himalayan

Greenfinch (Hypacanthis spinoides). By
Capi ity bi Skintier, aR re en.
Occurrence of Hemilophus pulverulentus,

(Temm.) The Great Slaty Woodpecker, in
the neighbourhood of Simla, N.-W. Hima-

layas. By P. T. L. Dodsworth, F.z.s.,
DISBIOUU isan om. 5 ARES EIREE Ree her eee Se iv nace
Hornbills devouring young Paroquets. By
(eColA.Newnlhiam, Ay sts. .5.0..::2eeeee
Jack Snipe in the Cawnpore District. By

Capt. WW. BiSpaldine oR, Av... aeeeenacee

Nesting of the Cinereous Vulture (Vuliur
monachus) near Quetta. By Major T. EH.
Marshall ~

eee eee eee eee eee eee ese ese eee eee eee ee ee

PCC Oe CC i i Ceca

Nesting of the Osprey or Sea-Hawk. By
Lt:-Cola Shh). aera was ys 5 los haere

European Great Bustard in Chitral. By
IN, “Badin eartere ial oe URI aes
Woodcock in Kulu. By J. Coldstream, 1.0.8.
Occurrence of Swinhoe’s Snipe (Gallinago
megala) at Myitkyina, Upper Burma. By
Capt. F- W VW. Vieumino, eee peer r rc
Occurrence of the Fantail Snipe (Gallinago
celestis) in Siam. By D. O. Witt, LFS.,
aur W's «dF. "Walliamsonk eae neem ser

262

265

267

XXXIV.

XXXV.

XXXVI.

XXXVII.

XXXVITTI.

XXXIX.

XL.

XLII.

EXUIEE,

XLIV.

XLV.

XLVI.

CONTENTS.

Snipe Shooting in Upper Burma.
tl gl 6 7elll ep lat eaiats ate APA Reh Aes con eae
The Occurrence of a ‘“ Booby,” Sula
cyanops (? ) at Cannanore. By Major H.
R. Baker

The Occurrence of Cygnus bewickt and other
Swans in India. By E. C. Stuart Baker,
BL Sia SAS yo BLO’ Wins. abt satiny dyaty ane Salen

wee eco rset ee eee eee eee ese eee sen esesseeee

Uncommon Birds in the United Provinces.
By Capt. M. A. Girdlestone, 41st Dogras.

Nidification of the Little Grebe or Dabchick
By John Fry......

Recovery of Birds from Injuries. (With a
Teat-fig.) By Lt.-Col. G. H. Evans

(Podiceps albipennis).

eooees

Habits of the Python (Python molurus).
We Morsiy blir fais 20oe itch wis tees cates sinus eintiais
Remarks on Two rare Blind Snakes. (Wath
a Teut-fig.) By Major F. Wall, L™M.s.,
CMA. Se Sat hageitds. Adds Al iett San chee pam oe:

On the Occurrence of the Snake Dipsado-
morphus nuchalis (Beddome) in Berhampur,

Orissa. By Major F. Wall, I.M.S., C.M.Z.S..

Is Lycodon gammiet (Blanford) an aberrant

specimen of Lycodon fasciatus (Anderson) ?
By Major F. Wall, 1.M.S., C.M.Z.S. ...

Do Snakes swallow stones? By EH. A.
BTW OTS PY ARS eemiee Bob ore has co Yorie COCR eee EER

Remarks on the Greater and Lesser Black
Kraits (Bungarus niger and B. lividus). By
Major F. Wall, 1.M.S., C.M.zZ.S.

Large Common and Banded Kraits.
Major O. A. Smith, 27th Punjabis

Vil

277

278

279

283

(Wil _CONTENTS .

XLVII. The Development of Embryo in the Eggs of
the Oviparous Viper, Lachesis monticola,
prior to oviposition. By Major F. Wall,

LMiS:, O.MZiSih Seto eR eee. co eso scion
XLVIII. <A Sporting Kashmir Fish, the Cheroo, Schizo-
thorax esocinus. By F. J. Mitchell ......

XLIX. Note on Distribution of Lethe kansa (Moore)
and Dophla patala (Kollar). By F. Han-

WWM NReKO)E) | Mobgocap boson nedood Dog odcurHaeHsns aug Oe

L. Appeal for information concerning Papilio
‘polytes.. Ty, Ce leeseiiyie tel cs oceeeer

LI. A Note on Polyommatus bwticus. By Capt.

if CME rAserclviecripe stemnrie. 43 ccasaeeeeeaeee

LII. Some disputed points in the Anatomy of a
common Indian Harthworm. (With 3

Texi-figs.) By Capt. R. E. Lloyd, I.M.s.,

and A. Poyell lio seat Me chee eres

LIII. <A Natural Bird-lime. By C. Gilbert Rogers.
LIV. Natural Selection. By C. H.C. Fischer, 1F-.s.
LY. Immunity of Animals to Snake-bite. By
Capts Acq EM ose, dA. ig 3b) ees.

LVI. Natural History Notes from the Red Sea.
By JM svElanmymaebonsy We CSesait oc.) 2. ae
PROCEEDINGS

eee eres eee see eee eee eee eee eee eee eee eee eee ese Besson esnene

No. 2.

THE GAME Birps or InpIa, BuRMA AND CEYLON. Part VI.
(With Plates V, VI, and A.) By H. C. Stuart Baker,

B-LS:, P2282, “M-B-O3U 2 ope ene ee eres ens: nie errr e
Some New Inpian Ropents. (With a Plate and 2 Text-jigs.).
By RAC! Wrouslibon, h7:Selo ere eee scorer eee reser

THE Pats oF BritisH INDIA AND CEYLON, INDIGENOUS AND
IntRopuceD. Part VI. (With Plates. XXVI—XXXII,
and Text-figs. 20-23). By HE. Blatter, S.J. .............5

PaGE

302

338

343

CONTENTS.

Bompay NatTuRAL History Society's MamMMAL SURVEY OF
Inpia. Report by R. C. Wroughton, F.z.S. ....

Tue Morus or InpiA. Supplementary Paper to the
volumes in “The Fauna of British India.” Series
IV, Part III. By Sir George F. Hampson, Bart.,
FS. ToL Sel Apne des Prego Heie Oise Hs aan Le ea en

A PoruLaR TREATISE ON THE Common INDIAN SNAKES.
Part XVII. (With Plate XVII.) By Major F. Wall,
1 TUT SS CORLISS ORM A a eee ee
A MonoGraPH oF THE WASPS OF THE GENUS Cerceris INHA-
BITING British Inp1a. With Notes on other Asiatic
Species. (With Plates A. and B.) By Rowland E.
Mb aetve IE Ze Sey FRE Suwe sass case cise de sales stores a se
THe Common BUTTERFLIES OF THE Pains or India (In-
cluding those met with in the Hill Stations of the
Bombay Presidency). Part X. (With Plates D2, D3,
A ee toy Wboe, rel WetsSepeensen tee etcleeciacterctae~ lene
Birp Nores BY THE WAY IN Kasumir. (With 2 Teat-figs.)
By Major H. A. F. Magrath ..........-.....---..0s2 22-6

A List or InpIAN BurrerFLies. By Capt. W. H. Evans, R.£.

Some Maymyo Birps. Part II. By Major H. H. Haring-

NoTEs ON BUTTERFLIES FROM THE NaGa Huts. Part II.
(With Plate B.) By Major H.C. Tytler, 17th In-

MEETS ee Pace aed compat Sites sci MANGE eee cee nic a niete'eojma'
Notes on Fiuata. (With Plates A.& B.) By J.C. Ker-
SEL WAREZ? SUM ENS U.cete A ht 0) AAEM RISEN St lahat eelern
THE OoTHECcA oF AN AsiLip. (With Plates A. & B.) By J.
Réeraltanys BeZieSox pFsHiGayeh. tics Jade bienseetecld oA dooBe. sic e dete de

RaMBLiInG Notes on NatTuraL History 1n Cuirran. (With
2. Text-figs.) By Major F. Wall, 1.M.s., C.M.z.S.......
Some Birps anp Birps’ Nests From Haka, CuHin HILLS.
ByaCapts lt OHS Wis Venminigt | GMI AS, 0 cc ws. eee

411

447

476

621

x CONTENTS.

A New Snake, Psammophis triticeus, FROM BALUCHISTAN.
(With 2 Teat-figs.) By Major F. Wall, 1.M.s., C.M.z.8..

DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF Acmaea FROM BomMBAY,
AND NOTES ON OTHER FORMS FROM THAT LOCALITY.
(With a Text-fig.) By Edgar A. Smith, 1.8.0. ..........

PROGRESS OF THE MAMMAL Survey. (With a Plate and a
1111p MMAR SEO on i Soa ARUBA Gls sty seid eet

Reviews. “ Forty years among the Wild Animals of
India.” By F. C. Hicks, and ‘‘ Medical Entomology.”
By A. ACO Sons eee ere oct oo se thietseiceteiet Cen Re

“OBITUARY CNOTICH Sy EEO aOatiosuho). coos tetee Bie ee

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES :—

I. The number of Cubs in a Tiger’s litter. By

Lt. C. R. 8. Pitman, 27th Punjabis ......
IJ. The Stoat in Kashmir. By Major H. A. F.
Magia thn .0)) sauce ye eee cee sen ene

Ill. A Deformed Thamin Stag (Cervus eldit).
(With a Text-fig.) By A. H. D. Barron,
ith ointantry sei. -en,. Sino ile oe Seebeatiac

IV. Do Chinkara (Gazella bennett) drink water ?
By Lt. C. R. S. Pitman, 27th Punjabis ...

V. Indian Breeds of Sheep. By H. J. Elwes.
VI. The Banting or Tsaing (Bos sondarcus).

(With a Teat-fig.) By A. Rodgers ......
VII. The Colouration of Tigers. By Lt. C. R.S.
Pitman, (27th\ Punjabis! (sar-.q--eeeee eee

VIII. <A Deformed Head of the Four-horned Ante-
lope. By C. R. 8. Pitman, 27th Punja-
| NR ee Ree ME Ae Lae SU ca see

IX. The Pintail Duck (Dajila acuta) shot in
September. By Major H. A. F. Magrath.

PAGE

634

637

640

645
651

XV.

XVI.

XVII.

XVIII.

XIX.

CONTENTS.

- Occurrence of European Striated Swallow

(Hirundo rufula) in Kangra. By H.
Whistler, dindian. Police \eac)mel2t. son tte oe
Nidification of the Tweeddale Scimitar Bab-
bler (Pomatorhinus nuchalis). By J. P.

The Paradise Flycatcher (erpsiphone para-
dist). By Major H. A. F. Magrath ......
The Crag Martin (Ptyonoprogne rupestris).
By P. T. L. Dodsworth, F.Z.S., M.B.0.U. ...
Extension of the Habitat of the Common
Kingfisher (Alcedo ispida). By P. T.
Le Dodswort ls) WZ: Sey MBL OWae dec o ses ctoee
Note on the Common Kingfisher (Alcedo
ispida). By Major H. A. F. Magrath
The Notes of Pallas’s Fishing-Hagle (Hal-
iaétus leucoryphus) and some water birds.
By, Major HewAe he Magrathin i... c.c.cnke
Immature Plumage of Lammergayer (Gypaé-
tus barbatus). By H. Whistler, LP. .......
Occurrence of the Goshawk (Astur palum-
barius) in Sind. By Raymond W.
Cacpent tas ewe ee, eA aye kao
Extension of the Habitat of the Brahminy
Kite (Haliastur indus). yt Bae.
Dodsworth, 7.28.00. B.OL04)) 0 esty ees. deh

The Painted Snipe (fostrutula capensis).
By Lt. C. R. 8S. Pitman, 27th Punjabis...

Painted Snipe (Rostratula capensis) in large
numberse By AL He Rineston) 2..........-

Record of Snipe Shot at Hminelongyee, in
the Chiengmai District of Siam, 18-15
North Lat., 98° East Long., from 1905 to
HOMO So Bie Die 1. edict aten92 025223...

PAGE

609

659

660

661

662

663

665

667

Xil

XXIII.
XXIV.
XXV.

XXVI.

XXVIT.

OL ON AOE

XXIX.

XXX.

XXXII.

XXXIT.

XXXITTI.

XXXIV.

XXXV.

CONTENTS.

Notes on some of the Bird Life at Thandoung.
By dl Coole Aare eu keke, i ee eee

Migration of Baya (Ploceus baya). By A. B.
Punde, D.F.O.

The Maroon Oriole (Oriolus traillit).
Alex. M. Primrose

Wood Snipe (Gallinago nemoricola) occurring
near Bangalore. By Lieut.-Col. R. M.
Betham, 10th Grenadiers

Goose-shooting in Cutch.
mar Shri Vijayarajji

@eeecee ser soe ese eee ese eee eee

wer eereeee ees eee ose ees

By Maharaj Ku-
Falcons and their prey. By Lt.-Col. S. E.
age W Uae ANT TAKSIG pablo (hh As a ea aa em ale Sass B
On the Occurrence of the Common Wood
Shrike (Tephrodornis jpondicerianus) and
the Central Asian Black-bird (Merula
maxima) near Peshawar. By H. A. F.
Magrath, ollshiSikhs)) Mal We. ascoccrs.s cc
Habits, Food and Nesting of the Great Hi-
malayan Barbet (Megalema marshallorum).
By P. T. L. Dodsworth, F.z:S.,M.B.0.U.
Marbled Duck at Baroda. By Lt.-Col. R. G.
Burton, 94th Russell’s Infantry
The Sooty Tern (Sterna fuliginosa) in Cachar.
By E. C. Stuart Baker, F.z.S., F.L.S.
Notes on the Southern Migration of Snipe
near Calcutta, 1911. By C.R.S8. Pitman,
CrAb LED AO IS |», He sistas olaiehs Saiki epehelanc eto eeeets
Occurrence of the Nukhta or Comb-duck
(Sarcidiornis melanonota) in Sind. By M.
LATS] ONS TRON SE elle Hes BPR MME oo RMN Male gee| abt
The Breeding of the False Himalayan Viper

(Psammodynastes pulverulentus). By Major
EY. Weal GimicSt SG. MtZ-Stee... Ag ht Siete ce

ccc eee eee eee

676

677

678

680

681

684:

684.

684:

685

686

XXXVI.

XXXVII.

XXXVIII.

XXXIX.

xo.

NOUTS

XLII.
XLII.

XLIV.

XLV.

XLVI.

XLVII.

XeUN TL:

DXeTEIXS,

CONTENTS.

Food of the snake Rhabdops bicolor. By
Mayor B Wallsit.MiS;,)CsM.Z.Si.6.0.000..+ 00208

The Diet of the Bull-Frog (Rana tigrina).
By 8S. P. Agharkar

eee ser eee eee eee eee eee see see

Notes on the Indian Chameleon (Chameleon
calearatus). By C. Chenevix Trench, 1.c.s.

Snake eating a Snipe. By Capt. F. EH. W.

Venning

Some Notes on the Hatching of the Agamoid
Lizard (Calotes jerdont). (With a Text-fig.)
By Capt. F. E. W. Venning

of Macclelland’s Coral Snake
(Callophis macclellandi). By Major F.
RV \enllee TeNic Se COM Zesreiecia<seeer weit aurad a Oe

The Madras Aquarium. By N. Annandale.

The Life of a Dog Tick. By Capt. W. J.
IMiassyeullatbl ialomeens ase aae a etn

Asilid Oviposition. (With a Teut-fiq.).
S. K. Sen, Asst. to 2nd Imp. Ent. ......

Caterpillar Pest on Cotton in Khandesh.
By R. 8. Kasargode, Lecturer on Ento-

eee ese see cer cee

Breeding

mology, Poona Agricultural College

eecoeee

Note on the Butterflies Lethe kansa and
Dophla patala. By G. W. V. DeRhé-
Heli eM EME Ge” 7 Wenanven ener knee ha ca aoe

Papilio polytes in Bangalore. By K. Kunhi
Kannan, Asst. to State Mycologist and
Entomologist

ee Oe ee ee rd

A Note on Trichosanthes dioica, Roxb. By
Lt.-Col. K. R. Kirtikar, 1.m.s. (Ret.) ......

Notes on the Flora of the Vale of Kashmir.
By J. H. A. Ivens

seer eeo see sec ose see eee see eee

690

698

699

700

701

XIV CONTENTS,

L. Second Year’s growth of a Plantain Inflores-
cence. (With a Text-fig.). By W. Burns,
Heonomic Botanist, Poona. ........)... 04...

LI. A Fly Trap (Boucerosia crenulata, Wight and
Arn.). By Capt. F. E. W. Venning ......

LIT. Note on Macrochlamys (Hurychlamys) platy-
chlamys (Blanford), etc. By A. J. Peile.

LIU. Conchological Notes from Bombay. By
Taonel 2h.) A damsyiB Aen Gece panne. seh

LIV. Notes on the Cutch Ammonites. (With a
Map and 2 Diagrams). By J. H. Smith..

IPROGENDINGS Yate. coe eneeenee A Ne a a Le Rennie SL,
No. 3.

THe GAME Birps oF Inpia, BurMA AND CEYLON. Part VII.
(With Plates VII and A. & B.). By H. C. Stuart Baker,
PAG EUS pe MeBvOnUs,. 6 ipa. eat teres. a ectatnce oe eae nee aCe

Tae ComMoNn BUTTERFLIES OF THE PuaiIns oF InpIA. (In-
cluding those met with in the Hill Stations of the
Bombay Presidency). Part XI. (With 2 Text-figs.).
HBP ID Tehph EXE AVANSH MPS Basin gs seo goodolace ssoocah Seoaangs od55e

Some New Inpran Mammats. (With a Tewt-jig.). By R.
(, Wricomiel tional) yaa ssecab deo cesdepasces secon. eos bon 20500"

TERMITES FROM BritisH [npIA (Bombay) COLLECTED BY DR.
J. AssmuTH,8.J. (With Plates A-D). By Nils Holm-
SVEN ((SUOCI MOM) 45005 we abo sabaseAessavososarscesssne209

A MonoGRaPH oF THE WASPS OF THE GENUS Cerceris INHA-
BITING BritisH India. With Notes on other Asiatic
Species. Part II. (With Plates C.& D.). By Row-
Tanah tie Dummer azese PBs Wennci a2. «ci Ge teen ease ee

BompBay Narurau History Society’s MammMaL SURVEY OF
Inpia. Report by R. C. Wroughton, F.z.s. (With 3

Ue) HES) Wee NO 98 Saba oho 056-990-430 daaIONg Sade ato aap sone Oe .

PAGE

706

707

708

709
716

721

774

794

820

CONTENTS,

Descrierions oF InpIAN Micro-LEpIpopTERA. - Part XV.
By E. Meyrick, B.4., F.R.S., F.Z.8, ...2..3 i ee Gale a
Tae Morus or Inpia, Supplementary Paper to the
volumes in “The Fauna of British India.”’ Series IV,
Part IV. By Sir George F’. Hampson, Bart., F.z.s.,
IEEE sO Some aval sat cxavreici chet Veual Neboraies ctelcl’s) siousrieyiokepeh diay aual ai seaqe os avelehalle,o)lateieverel ols ere

THE PALMS OF BritisH INDIA AND CEYLON, INDIGENOUS AND
InrropuceD. Part VII. (With Plates XX XIfI—
XXXIX, and Teut-figs. 24—27). By H. Blatter, s.J....

A List or Inpran ButrerFuies. Part II]. By Capt. W. H.
Hyams, RoE. 12-22-10 eee ee cee cee eee tee eee ence nse tee een een ens

A PopuLaR TREATISE ON THE COMMON INDIAN SNAKES. Part
XVIII. (With Plate XVIIL, Diagram and Map). By
Ilene YA eUlle ens eee(C ai 7ASE pase br aebeemeruoden or crenanon

PLANTS OF THE Punsas. A Brief Descriptive Key to the
Flora of the Punjab, North-West Frontier Province
and Kashmir. Part X. By Colonel C. J. Bamber,
Bees a vlmonam, | Miedicale ServilGe woos. 5. c se anionic

PROGRESS OF THE MAMMAL SURVEY... .r/.)..-.322-4-0-.---4--- +

MiscELLANEOUS NOTES :—

I. Notes on Tigers. By C. H.C. Fischer,1F.s.,
F. Dewar, 1.c.8., Lieut.-Colonel R. G.
Burton, 94th Russell’s Infantry, and Capt.
V. A.S. Keighley, Viceroy’s Bodyguard..

II. Notes on Panthers. By Lieut.-Colonel R.
G. Burton, 94th Russell’s Infantry ......
III. A large Oorial head. (With a Text-fig.)
By Colonel HV Biges e jciscctasiaee «ses
IV. The so-called One-horned Sheep of Nepal and
other breeds. (With a Plate and a Text-
fig-) By Lieut.-Colonel J. Manners-Smith.

V. Some Notes from the Abor Expedition.
(With a Teat-fig.) By Major Alban Wil-
Sony Guly, Gitkiasi. «ete ebemriee ema eye --'e-h

€78-

969

1009:

1022:
1060:

1062
1063.

1065

1066.

Xxvl

Vi:

WALES

alate

XIV.

XGVs

XVI.

KV IL.

CONTENTS,

Do Chinkara (Gazella bennetti) drink water ?
By Lt.-Col. R. G. Burton, 94th Russell’s
Infantry, and F. Dewar, I..8......00/..0.06.

Recovery of Animals from Injuries. By
W.J.H. Ballantine, Assistant Political

Olicers Sadia reer: oc caea ra esos nce
Note on Takin (Budorcas taaicolor). (With
2 Plates), By Capt. F. M. Bailey .........
Gayal or Mithan (Bibos frontalis). (With a

Text-fig.) By Capt. F. M. Bailey .........
Tsine (Bibos sondaicus) found with village
cattle.

OLAWOreStS: DULMA aae.) soe teen cack epee ee

By T. A. Hauxwell, Conservator

Notes on Birds from Lahore.
Jones

ee ee eC ey

Nestling Plumage of the Great Stone Plover
By H. Whistler,
Tndiail Police)! 2. RTOS Ben enon ener

(Hsacus recurvirostris).

The Himalayan Greenfinch (Hypacanthis sj-
noidis, Vigors). By H. Whistler, Indian

Police

ee er |

Distribution, Habits, and Nesting of the
Himalayan Greenfinch (Hypacanthis spi-
noides, Vigors). By P. 'T. L. Dodsworth,
F.Z.8., M.B.O.U.

The Long-tailed Grass Warbler (Laticilla
burnest, Blyth). By H. Whistler, Indian
RONG Ey essere eeties is o nin « «Raton eee ES

Nidification of Burmese Great Black Wood-
pecker (Thriponax feddeni). By J. P.
OS UP Ol Sh Fie MOR Lge DoE ee ie

PAGE

1068

1069

1071

1072

1073

1074

1075

1080

XVIII.

XIX.

XX.

JOS

XXII.

XXIII.

XXIV.

XXV.

XXVI.

SOx VL

XXVIII.

XXIX.

CONTENTS.

Occurrence of the Common Peafowl (Pavo
cristatus, Linn.) in the neighbourhood of
Simla, N.-W. Himalayas. By P.T. L.
Wodswortit.F 7.8... MB.OsU. os. .kad oes cae.

Swinhoe’s Snipe (Gallinago megala) near
Madras. By R. F. Stoney, and I. S.
HUTASOD) ve eaecicetite ale data elses «= eoctimnticgoe slant

Cruelty to Wild Fowl, &., in Sind. By
Capt. C. H. Elliot, 58th Rifles, F.F. ......
The Himalayan Snow Cock (Tetrogallus him-
alayensis). (With a Teat-fig.) By W. G.
Ts FOTO AEO) AON ae aR Ae EE Re GRA aA te An
Woodcock (Scolopaw rusticwla) in South
By Major J. H. Whitehead,
Gand. Baxmoay latent j/jos ce a-tctene sso slnaeanes 5
Note on the Habits of Swinhoe’s Reed-
Warbler (Urosphena squamiceps) and on the
Nesting of the Burmese Great Wood-

Andamans.

pecker (T'riponau feddent). By J. P.
Co eee Ae as ctcrtdcatss ta ccc olss At tavaay via aceiSainicinlgadanat
Chinese Grey Duck in Burma. By Major

Ie eS Elie ei bO Miter es css oun serteldneee ses
Nidification of Davison’s Babbler (Turdi-
By se Ve obimsonie. . cel.e
The Sheldrake (Tadorna cornuta) in the Unit-
By ae Scab cts ccuce.s
Notes on some Birds from the Chindwin

Valley. By Cyril Hopwood, D. C. Forests
Baikal or Clucking Teal (Netiiwm formosum)

shot in Assam. By Francis W. Gore, and

nulus exsul).

ed Provinces.

Beep SAC MALI ta nlaeee et ak secant eye

Insects in the Nest of the Common Swift
(Cypselus affinis). By P. T. L. Dodsworth,
ISU MEB-OLU. ue. boc weh femmnneeet seca Nate

Xvi?

PAGE

1082)

1083

1084

1085

1086

1088

1089

1090

Xvill CONTENTS.

XXX. Distribution of the Cricket Schizodactylus
monstruosus. By Lieut. W. P. C. Tenison,

XXXI. Intelligence of Ants. By F. B. Scott. ......

XXXII. The Castor Rust (? Melampsorella ricint,
De Tomi). (With Plates A.& B.). ByS.
L. Ajrekar, B.A., Assistant Professor of
Mvcoloey, Poomas..s...-p-5. cee eee
XXXII. Notes on Cacti in North-West India. By
RONG Parker, De) Wl orestses.. see eee

XXXIV. <A branching Palmyra Palm (Borassus jlabel-
lifer. (With a Text-fig.). By R. F. Stoney..

XXXV. Rate of growth of a Dhaman (Zamenis muco-
sus) hatchling. By EH. A. D’Abreu, F.z.s.

XXXVI. The rupture of the Kge-shell in the Genus
Calotes! | By IN. Anmandalen.: see sseeeneeere

XXXVIT. Chinese Gold Fish (Carassws auratus). By

dei & tt ei wh 0) OU sears nes tang eam OM a

XXXVIII. Horse-Mackerel attacking Jelly Fish. By

PUES > StOmel ce see. nee ye a eeamerteere cae aaa

PROCEEDINGS. eee erecta otek metres eee nek eee Cheer
No. 4.

THE GAME Birps oF Inpia4, BurMa AND CEYLON. Part
VIII. (With Plate VIII). By HE. C. Stuart Baker,
F.L.S:, F.Z.S.,, MoBsOlU cc eee erence op okie. a eee ieee eaeree

ORCHIDS OF THE BomBay PresipENcy. Part XIII. By
G.. A. Gammniie, FALiS) 78 eee et ane ee cee

THE CoMMON BUTTERFLIES OF THE Puains oF Inpia (In-
CLUDING THOSE MET WITH IN THE HILL STATIONS OF
THE Bompay Presipency). Part XII. (With Plates
1 &J., and Text-figs. 15-22). By T. R. Bell, Lr.s. ...

PAGE

1091
1092

1092

1095

1098

1099

1100

1101
1102

1109

1129

Pea

CONTENTS.

Notes on A BIRD COLLECTING TRIP IN THE BALAGHAT
DISTRICT OF THE CENTRAL PROvINcES. By EH. A.
DOAN ore IMR Serene ns seta. ors: Se dc wads cjaratd adaeads beac saelosoee

Bompay Natural History Sociery’s MAMMAL SURVEY OF
Inpia. Report by Rk. C. Wroughton, F.z.s. (With a
HSIOICRO MO] MAMI =fUGS=)\. fla clas. separ clciocaic chats « dicta ents «'sicie si

A List oF Birps From ARAKAN. By Cyril Hopwood, LF-.s..

THe Morus or Inpia. Supplementary Paper to the
volumes in ‘“‘The Fauna of British India.’’ Series
IV, Part V. (With Plate G.). By Sir George F.
eliaano SOM bsaisies E78: SF aR Sie eke ne ieloae se eae eesti.

THe Funer or Inpia. Part Il. (With Plates I—IV., and
Heni=igs, 1-00) ) By hy Wherssemy Sida Shecd.e0csen s+ <i:

More Birp NoTes BY THE way IN Kasumir. (With 2
Text-jigs.). By Lt.-Col. H..A. F. Magrath ............

IBROGRESS) OF THE (MAMMAL SURVEY ..i..c.ucces ode ccees once

MiscetLanzous Notes :—
I. Tiger (Mehs tigris) killing and eating its
young. By James W. Best, LF.s. .........
II. Cannibalism among Panthers ( Felis pardus).
By Major J. R. Carter, Bombay Political
Deane inte’. as sss oe sate atate eaan eae
Iii. Number of a Panther’s (Melis pardus) caudal
vertebre. By Captain A. H. Mosse, LA
IV. Notes on Martens in Kashmir. By Lt.-
(Croll ele valg INN [everieiiloy So odund sccecooce sen one
V. Notes on the Time of Appearance and Flight
of Eastern Bats. By G. C. Shortridge ...
Vi. The Habits of Voles. (With a Diagram).
By bib Cols sills “AV Hem Maori stays sec cae
Vil. The Indian Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). By G.
Ci SUG IGE TT Gis ae, ys re Ie Nee ae espero ce

xix

PAGE
1158

1170
1196

1222
1273

1304
1315

1318

1319
1319
1320

1321

xXx

VIII.

IX.

XI.

XIT.

XIII.
XIV.

XGVE

ava

pxevalie

XVITl.

XIX.

CONTENTS.

Tsine (Bzbos sondaicus) consorting with tame
cattle. By Major G. P. Evans, XIX
Punjabis

Habits of the Kashmir Stag (Cervus kash-
By Lt.-Col. H. A.

miriensis) in summer.

F. Magrath

execs e eee eee ees eee eee ese ooo eee eee OS

Abnormal type (?) of Eggs of the Little
By
PoVE> EDodewerthii27S-.5\iBiO.U.. ccs
Nesting of the Western Blue Rock Thrush
(Petrophila cyanus, Linn.) in the neigh-
bourhood of Simla, N.-W. Himalayas. By
P. T. L. Dodsworth, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U.

Forktail (Microcichla scouleri, Vigors).

The Himalayan Greenfinch (Hypacanthis
By Lt.-Col. H. A. F. Mag-

spinoides).
rath

Eggs of the Large Hawk-Cuckoo (Hierococcya
sparvertoides). By A. EH. Osmaston

Question whether Gyps fulvus, Gmelin, the
Griffon, occurs in the Himalayan districts
of the Punjab. By P. T. L. Dodsworth,
F.Z.8., M.B.O.U.

A Kite’s larder.
F.Z.8., M.B.O.U.

eee cere ee eee eee eee ees eee eee Boe eee

By P. T. L. Dodsworth,
Tameness of Great Indian Bustard (Hupodotis
edwardst). By R. Teague Jones, Indian

Police’) hey Tee Miata atcha t-te ott
Bustard in Kathiawar. By Major J. R.
Carter, Bombay Political Department......

The Great Indian Bustard (Hupodotis ed-
By A. B. Aitken

eer ereceeesc ser ees

wardst).

PAGE

1323

1325

1327

1328

XX.
XXI.

XOGET:

XXIII.

XXIV.

DOV.
OANE
ROOVEL:
aoe TNE
XXIX.
XXX.

XXXI.

OXON.

CONTENTS.

The Masked Booby (Sula cyanops) in Bombay
Hagbouryrabyi Nr olKijamear ia fos...
Baikal or Clucking Teal (Nettiwm formosum).
Egy Wem bo PA THULE TN EA... yl. aiseelolyetieie ariejeicls vas
Is Lycodon gammiet (Blanford) an aberrant
specimen of Lycodon fasciatus (Anderson) ?
(With a Text-fig.). By HE. A. D’Abreu,
IWASo dao con doo duo ODO COD OOn OOGMCoOUN TID JODODOOBOOND
Notes on the size and breeding of the
common Green Whip-snake (Dryophis

By N. B. Kinnear

By Surgeon-

mycterizans).
Cobra breeding at Parel.
Gerieral W. B. Bannerman, I.M.S., and
Senior Assistant Surgeon J. P. Pocha,
Tellin, (a6 ASE, 4 aaa see alin in teach ee ea ie aE
Breeding of the Common Green Viper
By N. B. Kinnear.
Saw-Scaled Viper (Hchis carinata) as a tree
By Capt. A. H. H. Mosse, 1a. ...
By Capt. G. G.
VOM AVIEIMAS ie thats ciel heporoiolts ola sreich ciel atyel ct ats
IByy Jalg Ite
SaUMGers (22.505. De OT RONAN CSE
The Food of a Bull-frog (Rana tigrina).
J. P. Mullan, m.a.
Vitality of a Butterfly. By Capt. G. A.
Hassels- Yates, R.G.A.
The Bed Bug (Cimex rotandatus) on the
Common Yellow Bat (Scotophilus kuhlt).
By K. Kunhikannan, M.4.,F.E.S., Assistant

(Lachesis gramineus).

snake.

Habitat of Hchis carinata.

“Poisonous ”’ Lizards in India.

eco eee eos ese eee eee oe eee ee

eee eee ese eee ese eee eee

Hntomologist, Bangalore ..................++-
Flies By Lt.-Col.
Magrath

on Snow.

ees eee eos eee ee te ooo eee eee ees oeeoeeBessenes

XX1

PAGE

1334

1335

1336

1339

XXil

XXXII.

XXXIV.

XXXV.

XXXVI.

XXXVIT.

CONTENTS.

Preservation of Game. (With a Text-fiq.).
By StaGyideiCarheneth...0....)reecerereeeere
Notes on Cutch Ammonites. Il. (With 2
Diagrams). By J. H. Smith ...............
Ammonites from Cutch. By H. J. Davies,
WeGSly cad adnoGo voodoo nag obo oud Dds ADO OND GOO ODONRS
The Trinomial System of Nomenclature. By
Pn sis Dodsworth d7,5 ees 0.0. cere
Letter from Mr. A. D. Younghusband, C.s.1.,

1.C.s., Commissioner in Sind, on Cruelty to
Wald Howl imi Sind) 2 veesec cases Herat Tan

PROCEEDINGS He ered Aone eC Gn Ope a: Ore ea ne

ALPHABETICAL LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS.

VOLUME 2tox1r.

Apams, Lionet H., B.A. ; Con-
chological Notes from Bom-
bay .. nl noe a

Aquarkar, 8. P.; The Diet of
the Bull-Frog (Rana tigrina).

AitkEN, A. B.; The Great
Indian Bustard (Lupodotis
edwards?)

; Baikal or

Clucking Teal (Nettiwm for-

mosun)

Asrexar, 8S. L., B.A., Assis-
tant Professor of Mycology,

Poona; The Castor Rust
(Melampsorella ricint, De
Tomi). (Wirth Pls. A. & B.)

Auten, C. W., D. F.O.; The
Birth of a Wild Elephant
Calf .. Pt

ALLEN, P. Roscor ; Mungooses
in the Kastern Ghats

- ANNANDALE, N.; The Madras

Aquarium

= ; The rupture
of the Egg-shell in the
Genus Calotes

APPLEFORD, W. G.; The Hi-
malayan Snow Gone ( Tetro-
gallus himalayensis). (With
a Text-fig.)

Battey, Captain F. M. ; Some
Notes on Birds from Gyantse
and Chumbi in Tibet, with
a List of the Game Birds
killed during the four years,
1906-1909

Pace

. 1384

. 1335

1092

- 099

. 1084

178

Bat.ey, Captain F. M.; Notes
on Takin (Budorcas taxicolor).
(With 2 Plates.)

; Gayal
or Mithan (Bibos frontalis).
(With a Text-fig.)

Baxer, EH. C. Sruarz, F.L. S,
F.Z.S., M.B.0.U.; The
Game Birds of India, Burma
and Ceylon. Part V

3
The Occurrence of Cygnus
bewicki and other Swans in
India. .

}
The Game Birds of India,
Burma and Ceylon. Part
VI. (With Pls. V, VI, and

The Sooty Tern (Sterna
Suliginosa) in Cachar

?
The Game Birds of India,

Burma and Ceylon. Part
VII. (With Pls. VII., and
A.,and B.) .

cia | ;

The Game Birds of India,
Burma and Ceylon. Part
VII. (With Pl. VILL.)

Baxter, Major H. R.; The Oc-
currence of the “ Booby,”
Sula cyanops (?) at Canna-
nore ..

BALLANTINE, W. J. H, Aguiats
ant Political Officer; Sadiya;
Recovery of Animals from

Injuries

Pace

. 1069

= illyal

273

302

684

721

. 1109

272

. 1069

XXIV

BampseEr, Colonel C. J., F.L.S.,
Indian Medical Service ;
Plants of the Punjab. A
Brief Descriptive Key to the
Flora of the Punjab, North-
West Frontier Province and
WKashmir. Part IX
Plants of the Punjab. A
Brief Descriptive Key to the
Flora of the Punjab, North-
‘West Fontier Province and
Kashmir. Part X ..

BaNNERMAN, Surgeon-General
W.8B., and Pocua, Senior
Assistant Surgeon, J.P.,
L.M. & 8.; Cobra breeding
in Parel

Barron, A. H. D., 17th Infan-

try; A Deformed Thamin
Stag (Cervus eldii). (With a
Text-fig.) . - a
Bett, E.N.; Snipe Shooting

in Upper Burma no

Beno, 0. Bis bwe.s Ehe
Common Butterflies of the
Plains of India (Including
those met with in the Hill
Stations of the Bombay
Presidency). Part X. (With
Pls. D2, D3 and D 4)

; The
Common Butterflies of the
Plains of India (including
those met with in the
Hill Stations of the Bombay
Presidency). Part XI.
(With 2 Text-figs.) .. :

—__—___—___—__-—__;_ The
Common Butterflies of the
‘Plains of India (including
those met with in the Hill
Stations of the Bombay
Presidency). Part XII.
(With Pls. I. and J. and
Text-figs. 15-22)

Paces

. 1022

. 1337

517

740

= aol

LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS.

Bzst, James W., 1. FS. ; Tiger
ealling like a Sambur

—; Tiger

(Felis tigris) killing and
eating its young 2

Betuam, Lieut.-Col. R. M.,

10th Grenadiers; Wood

Snipe (Gallinago nemoricola)
occurring at Bangalore
Bices, Colonel H. V.; A Large
Oorial head. (With a Text-
iG.) a wee ie Awe 3
Buatter, E., 8. J.; The Palms
of British India and Ceylon,
Indigenous and Introduced
Part V. (With Pls. XVILI-
AXV and Text-figs. 13-19)...
; A List
of Indian Fungi, chiefly of
the Bombay Presidency,
with the Description of Two
New Species. (With a Plate).
— ; The Palms
of British India and Ceylon,
Indigenous and Introduced.
Part VL. (With Pls. XX VI-
XXXII and Text-figs.20-23.)
; The Palms
of British India and Ceylon,
Indigenous and Introduced.
lenay SAN (Ca ES
AX XAXITTI-XX XIX and Text-
Jigs. 24-27.) ..
Bompay Natvurnat History
Socrety’s Mammat Survey
oF Inpi1a; Progress of— ..,

pe ee
Report by R. C. Wroughton,
F.Z.S.

Progress of—(With a Plate
and a Map) ..

3
Report by R. C. Wroughton,
F.Z.S. (With 3 Text-figs.)

PAGE

235

. 1318

677

. 1065

146

640

820

LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS. XXV

Bompay NatruraL History
Soctety’s Mamma SurveY
or Inp1a ; Progress of—

?
Report by R. C. Wroughton,
E.Z.S. (With a Plate and
2 Text-figs.) ..
ee
Progress of-——

Burns, W., Economic Bota-
nist, Poona; Second year’s
growth of a Plantain Inflo-
rescence. (With a Text-fiy.).

Burton, Lt.-Col. R.G., 94th
Russell’s Infantry ; Marbled
Duck at Baroda

—_—___—___——_——_; Notes
on Tigers ye :
; Notes
on Panthers.. :
Do

Chinkara (Gazella bennettt)
drink water ?

Carter, Major J. R., Bombay
Political Department; Canni-
balism among Panthers
(Felis pardus) ; :

; Bustard

in Kathiawar : ;
CoLpsTREAM, J., I1.C.S.; Wood-
cock in Kulu
Coox, J. P.; Uncommon Birds
in Burma

; Nidification of
the Tweeddale Scimitar Bab-
bler (Pomatorhinus nuchalis).
; Notes on some of

the Bird Life at Thandoung.
—- ; Nidification of

Burmese Great Black Wood-

pecker (Thriponax feddent). .
; Notes on the Ha-
bits of Swinhoe’s’ Red-
Warbler (Urosphenax squami-
4

PAGE

a LOGO

706

684

. 1062

. 1063

. 1068

1081

Pace

ceps) and on the nesting of

the Burmese Great Wood-

pecker (Thriponax feddeni).. 1085
CoorEr, Raymonp W.; Occur-

rence of the Goshawk (Astur

palumbarius) in Sind .. 665
Cross, H. E.; Young Tiger
attacking human beings .. 256

D’Asrevu, EH. A., F.Z.8.; Do

snakes swallow stones? .. 281
—__—___—1__——__——_;; Rate
of growth of a Dhaman (Za-
menis mucosus) hatchling .. 1099
; Notes

on a Bird collecting trip in
the Balaghat District of the
Central Provinces .. bo lilt}
— ; Is Ly-
codon gammiet (Blanford),
an aberrant specimen of Ly-
codon fasciatus (Anderson)
(With a Text-fig.) .. =o laeo
Davis, H. J., F.G.S.; Large
heads of Malay Sambar and
Brow Antlered Deer .. 246
; Ammo-
nites from Cutch .. ye aleise
De CarTERET, St. G. : Preserv-
ation of Game. (With a
REDERTIG ee rete , .. 1343
Ds RueE-PuHitiee, G. W. V.,
F.E.S.; Note on the But-
terflies Lethe kansa and
Dophla patala Bee .. 698
Dewar, F., 1.C.8.; Notes on
Tigers uh 55 2. | LOG2
; Do Chin-
kara (Gazella bennett) drink
water ? Be a .. 1069
DopswortH, P.T. L., F.Z.S.,
M.B.O.U.; Crow and its
food .. Als a0 .. 248

————S— 3

Notes relating to the Habits

XXV1

and Nidification of the
Black-headed Sibia, Lioptila
capistrata (Vigors). War 2
Text-figs.) :

Dodsworth, P. T. L., F. Z. 8.,
M. B. O. U. Notes on he
Nidification of Microcichla
scoulert (Vigors), The Little
Forktail

ee
Occurrence of Hemilophus
pulverulentus: (Temm.) The
Great Slaty Woodpecker in
the neighbourhood of Simla,
N.-W. Himalayas
The Crag Martin (Péyono-
progne rupestris)

Extension of the Habitat of
the Common Kingfisher
(Alcedo ispida)

Extension of the Habitat of
the Brahminy Kite (Halias-
tur indus)

Habits, Food and Nesting of
the Great Himalayan Barbet
(Megalema marshallorum) ..
Distribution, Habits, and
Nesting of the Himalayan
Greenfinch (Hypacanthis
spinoides, Vigors)

aay
Occurrence of the Common
Peafowl (Pavo cristatus,
Linn.) in the neighbourhood

of Simla, N.-W. Himalayas.

Insects in the nest of the
Common Swift (Cypselus

uffinas

PAGE

249

ne}
on
XQ

bo
joy)
co

660

661

681

1082

» JOSH

LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS.

PaGE
Dovsworrtn, P. T. L., F.Z.S.,
M.B.O.U. ; Abnormal type(?)
of Eggs of the Little
Forktail (Microcichla scoulert,
Vigors) . 1327
Nesting of the Western Blue
Rock Thrush (Petropila cya-
nus, Linn.) in the neighbour-
hood of Simla, N.-W. Hi-
malayas . 1328
Question whether Gyps
fulvus, Gmelin, the Griffon,
occurs in the Himalayan
districts of the Punjab

The Trinomial System of
nomenclature :
Donatp, J., I. F.8.; Early
arrival of Grey Wagtail

Eiuiotr, Carr. C. H., 58th
Rifles, F. F.; Cruelty to Wild
Fowl, &c.,in Sind ..

Kuiwes, H. J.; The Domestic
Breeds of Indian Sheep

; Indian Breeds

of Sheep F oe
Evans, Evan A.; Baikal or
Clucking Teal (Nettiwmn for-
mosum) shot in Assam . 1091
Evans, Lieut.-Colonel G. H.;
Strange mortality amongst
Black Buck (Antelope cervi-
capra) a .. 247
Recovery of Birds from In-

juries. (Witha Text-fig.).. 276

| Evans, Major G. P., XIX

Punjabis ; Tsine (Bibos son-
daicus) consorting with tame
cattle. . .. 18238

LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS.

PAGE
Evans, Capt. W. H., R. E. ;

A List of Indian Butterflies. 553
Trestle
A List of Indian Butterflies
Part IT oe -3 We
Fawcett, Col. J. M.; Mimicry
in Silk-Worm Moths 5 ABSA
Fiscuer, C. H. C., 1. F.8.;
Notes on Tigers . 1062
ier Sinan ae)
Natural Selection .. .. 294
Firz-Gispon, Lieut. F.; Pan-
ther and Wild Boar ad
Forsytu, W.; Habits of the
Python (Python molurus) .. 277

Fraser, Capt. F.C., I. M.S. ;
A note on Polyommatus beeti-

CUS) 4. at ws ROR |

Fraser, I. S.; Swinhce’s Snipe
(Gallinago megala) near Mad-

EAS. Ss. a Be LOSS |
Fry, Joun; Nidification of

the Little Grebe or Dabchick

(Podiceps albipennis) . . fe eee |

Fryer, J. C. F.; Appeal for
information concerning Pa-
pulio polytes .. ie So Asi

Gan, G. Ay, KF. L: S.;
Orchids of the Bombay Pre-
sidency. Part XII. (With
HELA XD) 4 ie Ecce bfAl
Orchids of the Bombay Pre-
sidency. Part XIII

GIRDLESTONE, Capt. M. A.,41st
Dogras; Uncommon Birds in
the United Provinces 274

Gort, Francis W.; Baikal or
Clucking Teal (Nettium for-
mosum) shot in Assam

Hampson, Sir Gerorce F.,
Bart., F.Z.8., F.E.S.; The

Moths of India. Supple-

| HomLMGREN,

mentary Paper to _ the
volumes in ‘The Fauna of
British India,” Series IV,
Part III

?
The Moths of India. Supple-
mentary Paper to the
volumes in “The Fauna of
British India,” Series IV,
Part IV ok nd

Pia addi Se ik Sepa aL,
The Moths of India. Sup-
plementary Paper to the
volumes in “The Fauna of
British India’, Series IV,
Part V. (With Pl. G)

Hannyneron, F., 1.C.S.; Note
on Distribution of Lethe
kansa (Moore) and Dophla
patala, Kollar a

ee hl Noe
tural History notes from the
Red Sea ae ss

Harineron, Major H. H.;
Tiger calling like a Sambur.

;
Some Maymyo Birds. Part
II

Duck

Chinese in
Burma : (on .
Hassets-YateEs, Capt. G. A.,
he Ge Ags Vitality Vota
Butterfly :
Hauxwet, T. A., Conserva-
tor of Forests, Burma.
Tsine (Bibos sondaicus) found
with village cattle . ;
Nits (Stock-
holm) ; Termites from Bri-
tish India (Bombay) collect-
ed by Dr. J. Assmuth, S.J.
(With Pls. A-D.). ..

Grey

XXVii

PAGE

All

878

286

299

235

256

585

. 1086

. 1342

. 1072

774

XXVIli

Horpwoop, Cyrrit. D. C.
Forests; Notes on some
Birds from the Chindwin
Valley

A list of Birds from Ara-
kan..

Howarp, ALBERT, M.A.,

A.R.C.S., F.L.8., Imperial
Botanist, and
Howarp, Gasriztte, L.C.,
M.A., Associate and some
time Fellow of Newnham
College, Personal Assist-
ant to the Imperial Econo-
Botanist ; The
provement in the yield and
quality of Indian Wheat ..

Heonomic

mic Im-

Ivens, J. H. A.; Notes on
the Flora of the Vale of
Kashmir

Jouty, Capt. G.G., IMLS. ;
Habitat of Eechis carinata ..
Jonzgs, A. H. ; Notes on Birds

from Lahore
Jones, R. Tracuz, Indian
Police ; Tameness of Great

Indian Bustard (Lupodotis
edwards?)

Kannan, K. Kunui, Asst.
to State Mycologist and
Entomologist; Papilio poly-
tes in Bangalore

Kasarcopeg, R.
on

S., Lecturer
Entomology, Poona
Agricultural College; Ca-
terpillar Pest on Cotton in

Khandesh

Keppiz, D. L.; Record of
Snipe Shot at Hminelong-
yee, in the Chiengmai Dis-
trict of Siam, 18°15 North

Pace }

.. 1089

5 JIGS

. 1335

699

LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS.

Lat., 98° East Long., from

1905 to 1910 4
KEIGHLEY, Oapt. V. A. s.
Viceroy’s He Notes
on Tigers
Kersuaw, J.C. PLS. FES.
Notes on Flata. (Wi ith Pls.
ASB)

?
The Ootheca of an Asilid.
(With Pls. A: § B.)..

Kuencargsi, R. ; Distribution
of the Sloth-Bear (Melur'sus
ursinus), and the Indian
Lion (Felis leo) cH

Kone, Rh. CoE. Moss, 1-82;
The Resident Birds of the

Damoh Dis-
tricts, Central Provinces ..

Kineston, A. H.; Painted
Snipe (Rostratula aie

Saugor and

in large numbers

Kinnear, N. B.; Golden Cat,
Felis joao killing Buf-
falo Calf.

Notes on Birds round Rawal
Pindi..

}
European Great Bustard in
Chitral
The Masked Booby (Sula
cyanops) in Bombay Har-

bout

Notes on the
breeding of the
Green Whip-snake (Dryo-

size and

common

phis mycterizans)

Breeding of the Common
Green Viper (Lachesis gra-

mineus)

Pace

667

. 1063

607

610

238

667

237

256

. 1334

. 1336

. 1359

LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS.

Krrrizxar, Lt.-Col. K. R.,
I.M.S. (Ret.); A note on
Trichosanthes dioica. . %

Kounuixannan, K., M.A.,
F.E.S. , Assistant Entomo-
logist, Bangalore; The Bed
Bug (Cimex rotandatus) on
the Common Yellow Bat
(Scotophilus kuhlt)

Luoyp, Capt. R.E., I.M.S. ;
Some disputed points in the

Anatomy of a common
Indian Earthworm (With
3 Text-figs.) ..

MaceratH, Lt.-Col. H. A. F.;
Bird Notes by the way in
Kashmir (With 2 Text-igs.)...

The Pintail Duck (Dajila
acuta) shot in September ..

The Flycatcher
(Terpsiphone paradist)

Paradise

Note on the Common King-
fisher (Alcedo ispida)

)
The notes of Pallas’s Fish-
ing Hagle (Haliaétus leucory-
phus) and some water birds.

On the Occurrence of the
Common Wood Shrike (Teph-
rodornis pondicerianus) and
the Central Asian Black-
bird (Merula maxima) near
Peshawar

More Bird Notes by the way
in Kashmir (With 2 Text-
figs.) «.

PAGE

. 13842

658

660

661

662

680

. 1304

Macraty, Lt.-Col. H. A. F.;
Notes on Martens in Kash-
mir

The Habits of Voles (With ¢ aa
diag gram)

;
Habits of the Kashmir Stag
( Cervus

kashmiriensis) 10

summer
The Himalayan Greenfinch
(Hypacanthis spinordes)

Flies on Snow

Manners-Smiru, Lt.-Col. J.;
The so-called One- honed
Sheep of Nepal and other
Breeds (With a Plate and a
Text-fig.)

MarsuHat., Major T. E. ; ails
ing of the Cinereous Vultare
(Vultur monachus)

Martin, Avtmer F.; Notes
on the Gaur (Bos gaurus)

Massy, Capt. W. J., 12th
Pioneers; The Life of a Dog
Ricks: 5 Be 2

Meyrick, EH. B. A., F.R.S.,
F.Z.S.; Descriptions of

Indian Micro-Lepidoptera,
Part XIV

Description of Indian Micro-
Lepidoptera, Part XV
Mircuet, F. J.; A Sporting
Kashmir Fish, the Cheroo
(Schizothorax esocinus)
Mossz, Capt. A. H., E.LA.;
Immunity of Animals to
Snake-bite
Number of a Panther’s (Felis
pardus) caudal vertebrze

XXIX

Pace

. 1320

. 1066

264

241

694

104

852

285

295

. 1319

XXX LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS,

PAGE

Mosssz, Capt. A. H., H.LA. ;
Saw-scaled Viper (Echis
carinata) as a tree snake .. 1339

Muttan, J. P., M.A.; The
Food of a Bull-frog (Rana
tigrina) ok ee .. 1341

Newnuam, Lt.-Col. A., LA.;
Hornbills devouring young
Paroquets .. Sic a Oe

OxzituaRy Norice; EK. W.
Oates wy Mi sa soll

Osmaston, A. E.; Eggs of the
Large Hawk-Cuckoo (Mero-
coccyx sparveriordes) . . .. 1830

Parker, R. N., D. C. Forests ;
Notes on Cacti in North- |
West India .. a .. 1095

Priz, A. J.; Note on Macro-
chlamys (Eurychlamys) platy-
chlamys (Blanford), ete. .. 707

Puitirze, G. W. V.de Rhé:

See DE RHE-PHILIPE, G.W.V.

Pirman, Lt. C. R. S8., 27th
Punjabis: The Number of
Cubs in a Tiger’s litter .. 653

oe ;
Do Chinkara (Gazella ben-
netti) drink water? .. .. 655

. ;

The Colouration of Tigers.. 65

ae ;

A Deformed Head of the
Four-horned Antelope so (ONS)
}
The Painted Snipe (Rostra-

tula capensis)

666
>
Notes on the Southern
Migration of Snipe near Cal-
cutta, LOM Hs .. 684

Pocua, Senior Assistant Sur-
geon, J.P., L.M. & S. and
BaNNERMAN, Surgeon-Gene-
ral W. B.; Cobra-breeding
at Parel ie De eet

Powerit, A.; Some disputed
points in the Anatomy of a
common Jndian Earthworm.

Pratt, Lieut.-Col. 8. E.,
I.M.S.; Falcon and Gulls. .

et eee.
Nesting of the Osprey or
Sea-Hawk

Falcons and their prey
Primrose, AtEx.M.; Weight

and Measurements of a

Serow aa of
; Weight
and Measurements of a
Goral..

= ; The
Marcon Oriole (Oriolus
trail) Sie

PounpHaeAr eB. Dak aiOc.
Migration of Baya (Ploceus
baya) .. é

Remineton, G. L.; A Kite’s
Larder :

REVIEWS ; “Forty years
among the Wild Animals of
India,” By F. C. Hicks

——; “Medical Entomo-
logy,” By A. Alcock

Rozinson, 8. M.; Nesting
Notes from Lower Burma. .

; Nidifica-
tion of Davison’s Babbler
(Turdinulus exsul)

Ropgers, A.; The Banting or
Tsaing (Bos sondatcus).
(With a Text-fig.)

Pacer

. 1337

291

267

676

. 1082

1088

656

LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS.

Rogers, C. Guitpert; A
Natural Bird-lime ..

Saunpers, H. F.; “ Poison-
ous” Lizards in India

Scott, Lieut. F. B.; Curious
behaviour of a Myna

; The Shel-

drake (Yadorna cornuta) in

the United Provinces

; Intelli-

gence of Ants
Sren, 8. K., Asst. to 2nd etn.
Ent. ; sin Oviposition.
(With a Text-fig.)
SHOoRTRIDGE, G. C.; Notes on
the Time of Appearance and
Flight of Eastern Bats
—_—___—___——_; The Indian
Buffalo (Bubalus bubalus)
SKINNER, Capt. R. B., R. H.;
Seasonal movements of the
Himalayan Greenfinch (Hy-
pacanthis spinoides) .. ie
Smiru, Enear A., 1.8. O.; Des-
cription of a new Species of
Acmea from Bombay, and
Notes on other forms from

that ae (With a Text-
JEG) ee SF Soo
Smitu, J. H.; ete on the

Cutch Nun agninens (With
a Map and 2 Diagrams)
-; Notes on Cutch

Ammonites. II. (With 2
Diagrams) ‘
Smitu, Lieut. Oniena J.
Manners; See MANNERS-
SmitH, J. me
Smitu, Major O. a 27th

Punjabis. ; Large Suanen
and Banded Kraits. . 5

Spatpine, Capt. W. B., R.A.;
Jack Snipe in the Cawnpore
District

PaGsE

293

. 1341

256

. 1089

. 1092

695

. 1347

264

Stone, F. H. 8.; Chinese

Gold Fish (Carassius auratus)
; Horse-
attacking Jelly

Mackere!
Wish .

Stoney, R. F.; Swinhoe’s
Snipe (Gallinago

near Madras

megala)

; A branch-
ing Palmyra Palm (Borassus

flabellifer). (With a Text-
J9:)
TrEnison, Lieut. W. P.C., R.

F,A.; Distribution of the
Cricket (Schizodactylus mons-

truosus)
THEISSEN, F.,S. J.; The
Fungi of India. Part I.

(With Pls. I.-IV., and Tevt-
figs. 1-10)

TreNncH, C. CHENEVIXx, I.C.S. ;
Notes on the Indian Chamze-
leon (Chameleon calcaratus)..

Turner, Rowrann E., F.Z.S.,
F.E.S.; A Monograph of
the Wasps of the Genus
Cercerts inhabiting British
India. With Notes on other
Asiatic Species. (With Pls.
Yala (se 18%)

?
A Monograph of the Wasps of
the Genus Cerceris inhabit-
ing British India. With
Notes on other Asiatic Spe-

cies. Part Il. (With Pls.
CaS -D) 5
TytteR, Major H. C., 17th

Infantry ; Notes on Butter-
flies from the Naga Hills.
Part I. (With Pl. A.)

XXXi1

Pace

1100

LOL

. 1083

. 1098

. LO9l

687

476

XXXill

TyrteR, Major H. C., 17th
Infantry ; Notes on Butter-
flies from the Naga Hills.
Part IL. (With Pl. B.)

Vennine, Capt. F. E. W.;
Occurrence of Swinhoe’s
Snipe (Gallinago megala) at
Myitkyina, Upper Burma ..
Some Birds and_ Birds’
Nests from Haka, Chin Hills.

Snake eating a Snipe

Some Notes on the Hatch-
ing of the Agamoid Lizard

(Calotes jerdont), (With a
Text-fig.) he
Sse a ek IA Ae
A Fly Trap (Boucerosia

crenulata, Wight & Arn.) ..

VisayaRrass1, The Maharaj
Kumar Suri; Goose-shoot-
ing in Cutch..

Nia) Mayor yunHi mle IVES Sa,
Cc. M. Z. 8.; A Popular
Treatise on the Common
Indian Snakes. Part XVI.
(With Pl. XVI. and Diagram
and Maps.) :

A New Snake from the
Western Himalayas (TZrachi-
schium quinquelabialis). (With
a Text-fig.) :

Remarks on Two rare Blind
Snakes. (Witha Teat-jig.).
On the Occurrence of the
Snake Dipsadomorphus nu-

;

PAGE

588

269

689

690

707

678

—

LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS.

chalis (Beddome) in Berham-

pur, Orissa oF ds
CRRA a
Is Lycodon gammiet (Blanford)
an aberrant specimen of

Lycodon fasciatus (Ander-
son)?.. : :
—————— ————————= 3
Remarks on the Greater

and Lesser Black Kraits
(Bungarus and 2B.
lividus)

niger,

The Development of Embryo
in the Eggs of the Oviparous
Viper (Lachesis monticola),
prior to oviposition. .

A Popular Treatise on the
Common Indian Snakes.

Part XVH. (With Pl. XVIL.)

;
Rambling Notes on Natural
History in Chitral (With 2

Text-figs.)

A New Snake, Psammophis
triticeus, from Baluchistan.
(With 2 Text-figs.) ..

The Breeding of the False
Himalayan Viper (Psam-
modynastes pulverulentus)
Food of the Snake hab-
dops bicolor .

———S= ——————_— = eee 5
Breeding of Macclelland’s
Coral Snake (Callophis
macclellandt) . .

A Popular Treatise on the
Common Indian Snakes.
Part XVIII. (With Pi.
XVI1I., Diagram and Map).

bo
~]
ice)

447

614

634

686

1009

LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS.

Wers, M., I. C. 8.; Occur-
rence of the Nukhta or
Comb-duck (Sareidiornis
melanonota) in Sind

Wuistxer, H., Indian Police.;

Notes on Birds round Rawal
Pindi..

Some winter visitors to
Rawal Pindi. . wr.

meierea Ti aa ae ;
Occurrence of European

Striated Swallow (Hurundo
rufula), in Kangra ..
Immature Plumage of Lam-
mergayer (Gypaétus barba-
tus)

Te is ee
Nestling Plumage of the
Great Stone Plover (Hsacus

recurvirostris)

Rit ED
The Himalayan Greenfinch
(Hypacanthis

Vigors)

spinoides,

The Long-tailed Grass
Warbler (Laticilla burnesi,
Blyth) :
WHITEHEAD, Major J. H., 93rd
Burma Infantry ; Woodcock
(Scolopax rusticula) in South
Andamans

Pace

685

659

663

ST Lowe

.. 1074

. 1080

. 1085

WHITEHEAD, Captain C. H. T.;
Notes on the Birds of
Sehore, Central India, with
Special Reference to Migra-
tion a 2 :

Witiiamson, W. J. F.; Occur-
rence of the Fantail Snipe
(Gallinayo celestis) in Siam. .

Witson, Major Asan, 8th
Gurkhas ; Some notes from
the Abor Expedition. (With
a Text-fig.) a :

Wirt, D. O., I. F.S.; Occur-
rence of the Fantail Snipe
(Gallinago celestis) in Siam .

Wrovucuton, R.C., F.Z.8.;
Further Notes on some Mam-
mals from Lower Sind

Some New Indian Rodents.
(With a Plate and 2? Text-figs.)

aaa)
Some New Indian Mammals.
(With a Text-fig.)

See Bompay Naturat History
Soctety’s MAMMAL SURVEY
or INDIA.

Yarss, Capt. G. A. Hasszets—
See Hassets-YateEs, Capt. G.
A.

YouncuusBanp, A. D., C.S.1.,
I.C.S., Commissioner in Sind.
Letter from, on Cruelty to
Wild Fowl in Sind ..

XXXiil

Pace

153

269

. 1068

269

175

338

767

. 1356

ERRATA.

Cover of Part 1, line 9, for on read from.
,, L, last page, line 4, for Podicepes read Podicrpes

proms Aaa Nab Sr, 5 92 », abbipenis read albipennis.
oe 1 DW RM Rae Fe », 30 ,, polyites read polytes.
Page 29, line 22, for Dr. Aitchinson read Aitchison.
Contents of Part 1, line 32, for Pantail read Fantail.
- mae sus, bdo, for page 272 read) 271.
Page 58, line 19, for Stibochiana read Stibochiona.
64, lines 8 and 9, for Cirrhochroa read Cirrochroa.
64, line 12, for Angynnis read Argynnis.
ze 95, ,, 1, for Pyrrhulanda read Pyrrhulauda,
Be 98, ,, 38, for Perenopterus read percnopterus,
oe 99, ,, 31, for Mertin read Merlin.
4», 157, ,, 15, for Ballon’s read Baillon’s.
5 157, ,, l%, for Crane read Crake.
5, 157, ,, 29, for pheops read pheopus. |
» 157, ,, 42, for March read Marsh.
» 1o9, ,, 7, for Marecca read Mareca.
» 159, ,, 18, for Querquedecula read Querquedula.
5, 159, ,, 25, for ferrina read ferina.
» 161, ,, 36, for supercillaris read superciliaris.
. 164, ,, 24, for Franklina read Pranklinia.
165, ,, 34, for maderapatensis read maderaspatensis.
166, ,, 36, for torcuatus read torquatus.
SON ay 29 etor Recwrirrostris read Recurvirostris.
180, ,,. 33, for brunercephalus read brunneicephalus.
180, ., 34, for Fulea read Fulica.
Sle lan tor strepserus read streperus.
» 181, ,, 28, for penolope read penelope.
181, ,, 28, for clyptea read clypeata.
181, ., 38, for Syrhaptes read Syrrhaptes.
184, ,, 8, for Wadell’s read Waddell’s.
» 184, ,, 8, for Barbax read Babax:
> 184, ,, 8, for Wadelli read Waddell.
=, 185, ,, 8, for Propassers read Propasser.

XXXvVi ERRATA.

Page 227, line 4, for hirtellas read hirtellus.

266, ,, 16, for strata read striata.

299, ,, 15, for Catapsilia read Catopsilia.
406, ,, 41, for ellliott read elliote.

422, ,, 48, for Dascocheta read Dascoecheta

i 423, oes POs LOE ie * MN
AS eee Mlioneat on Spodopotera read Spodoptera.
,, 444, ,, 4, for Hypoprigea read Hypoperigea.
» 988, ,, 24, for Z read L.

» 094, ,, 1, for Mejisba read Megisia.

, 601, ,, 8, for Hypolijzena read Hypolyceena.
, 614, ,, 21, for valgaris read vulgaris.

, 661; ,, 39, for frogs read fry.

, 204, ,, 382, for molliuscllus read molliusculus.
» 702, ,, I, for eyrypylus read eurypylus.

, 800, ,, 27, for allopicta read albopicta.

5) OCS, seme or Weart il read ny):

, 972, ,, 85, after agenor insert (9d, butlerianus, Roth.,
(9d, alcanor, Cr.)

,, 984, ,, 46, (Phengaris) saria lower to line 48.

,, 984,>5,. 47, atroguttata, Dohn,,°,,.;, 00:
» 988, ,, 382, for ephyrus read Zephyrus.
» 989, ,, 18, for kohmensis read kohimensis.

989, last line, for S read An.
990, line 26, for Apporosa read Apporasa.
992, last line, for Sounguva read tounguva.
998, line 40, for Cnaiolade read Coladenia.
1008, ,, 89, for p. 573 read p. 578. .
1183, delete Fig. 21 and block (see under Pieris brassicae
in The Common Butterflies of the Plains of India,
No. 1, Vol. xxii.)
1185, at bottom of delete key under Genus Huphina and
ansert—
A. Underside hindwing : veins more
or less broadly bordered with or
delated with, dusky black ...... NeTISSA,
(PIP WY ties oli 610%)

ERRATA. XXXVli

B. Underside hindwing: veins not
bordered with dusky black ...... remba.

Page 1136, line 12, for J. read I.

1136,
1140,
1144,

1144,
1145,
1147,
1148,
1150,
1150,
1152,

1156,
1169,
1209,
1218,
1304,
1306,
1310,
1321,
1321,

», 21, for Anapheis read Pareronia.

, 26, for J. read I,
explanation of Plate I, for Pereronia hippavead Pare-

ronia pingasa.
5 af add 63 A. Pareronia hippia 9.

line 38, for strigoe read strige.

» 22, for Crateva read Orateva.

8, for narrows read narrow.

. 7, for broad base-short read broad-based, short.
5, 97, for Dirtera read Diptera.
explanation of Plate J, fig. 65 b is Ixias marianne
and not I. pyrene.
line 15, for booklets read hooklets.

», 21, for garettu read gazetia.

» 22, for swinhoi read swinhoei.

a lo jon Giread I:

2 lines from the bottom, for nepalensis read neglecta.
line 18, for pregnacious read pugnacious.

», 28, for flock read flocks.

», 11, for small read large.

», 13, above Megadermatidae insert Hipposiderus

(small)- --- late - - - - similar to Rhinolophus.

‘THE

JOURNAL

OF THE

Bowpay Naturat History Soctury.

EDITED BY

w. S. MILLARD,

RAAT AAA AAA

VOL. xT. No. I.

ee a a ee)

Date of publication, 31st October 1911. :

Price to Non-Members van hy waa AS, T=8S

PRINTED AT THE TIMES PRESS,

CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER.

A PopuLaR ‘TREATISE ON THE Common INDIAN SNAKES. Part
XVI. (With Plate XV1, and Diagram and Maps.) By
Major“: Wall. Miss CUZ ssa in fas Gae Nii). apie chicane me

THe GAME Birps oF InpI4, BURMA AND CEYLON. Part V.
The Great Bustard and Litile Bustard. By H.C. Stuart
Bakker: Fa Ss) ZS. MM IBLOUU, ae Note meee ce kare meena tet nen

NOTES ON THE Dinieneries ON THE NaGa Faia Part h,
(Plate A.) By Major H. C. Tytler, 17th Infantry ...

‘THE PALMS OF Britis INpia AND CEYLON, INDIGENOUS AND
InTRopUCED. Part V. (With Plates XVIII—XXYV,
and text figures 13-19.) By H. Blatter, $.J.............

‘THE RESIDENT BIRDS OF THE’SAUGOR AND Damon DistRICTS,
CENTRAL Provinces. By R. C. H. Moss King, 1.c.s...

Descriptions OF .InpIaN Micro-LEPIporTERA. Part XIV.
By Wy Meyaiclenn AS FURS) BOZaS) Ties a ey cade As

REPTILES COLLECTED IN CHITRAL. By Major F. Wall,
1 Bclatan CEN EB AR RE RCC RU a an RAMEN ara ed ata oe RE Atl

A List oF INDIAN FUNGI, CHIEFLY OF THE BomBay PRESI-
DENCY, WITH THE DESCRIPTION OF TWO NEW SPECIES.
(With.a Plate). ).; By Hy! Blatier, sure: 3.2 east ag Se

Nores ON THE BIRDS OF SEHORE, CENTRAL INDIA, WITH
SPECIAL REFERENCE TO MicratTion. By Capt. C. H. T.
Whitehead: 25) 8 Be ata Ae oa, ah iapiwe ey ays

‘ORCHIDS OF THE BomBay PRESIDENCY. Part XII. (Plate XJ.)
By GY AC Gamer USA ieee ea ty be)

FuRTHER NOTES ON SOME MAMMALS FROM LOWER SIND.
By? C." Wrovigtom poe ioe ata ee aca ca

SoME NOTES ON THE BIRDS. FROM Cyakien AND cae IN
TIBET, WITH A LIST OF THE GAME BIRDS KILLED DURING
THE FOUR YEARS, 1906-1909. By Capt. F. M. Bailey..

"THE IMPROVEMENT IN THE YIELD AND QUALITY OF INDIAN
Wueat. By Albert Howard, M.a., A:R.C.S., F.L.S.,
Imperial Economic Botanist, and Gabrielle L. C.

Howard, M.A., Associate and some time Fellow of

Newnham College, Personal Assistant to the Im-
perial Heonomic Botanist 577 2 aera aves

PAGE.

104

14:6

187

Jdourn.Bombay Nat.Hist.Soc.

Plate: XVI.

ae
hs cud pf

Cy Ogle

Jd.Green, Chromo.

J. G.del.

(Wall)

2—6, Eryx conicus, hprel ze, NAL. SURE.

THE COMMON INDIAN SNAKES.

1. Eryx johnu, harmless nat. sve.

JOURNAL
OF, .LHE

Bombay Natural History Society.

Ocr 191). VOL. SOC INGE iL:

A POPULAR TREATISE ON THE COMMON INDIAN
SNAKEKS.

ILLUSTRATED BY COLOURED PLATES AND DIAGRAMS.
BY
Mayor F. Wat., I.M.S., C.M.Z.S.
Part XVI with Plate XVI and Diagram and Maps.

(Continued from page 953 of Volume XX.)

Introductory remarks.—The subjects of this paper belong to the
Boide, a family comprising the boas, and the pythons. There
are many representatives scattered over all five Continents. These
snakes are characterised by the possession of rudimentary hind
limbs, and a rudimentary pulvis, the termination of the former
being more or less visible as claw-like processes situated on each
side of the body in a fold or dimple above the anus.

The family is divided into two sub-families, viz., Pythoninc in’
which there is a bone (the supraocular) distinct from the frontal:
forming the roof of the orbit, and Boinae in which the frontal
alone forms the orbital roof. The latter includes 13 genera of

2 , JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

which Hryxz is one. The genus Hryx of which jaculus is the type
has seven species inhabiting North and Hast Africa, and Central
and Southern Asia. Three of these, viz., jaculus, conicus, and johni,

occur within Indian limits.
ERYX CONICUS (SCHNEIDER).
RUSSELL’S HARTH SNAKE.

History.—* The first certain reference to this snake was made by
Russell who described and figured it unmistakeably in 1796. It
is not certain, whether the Vipera orientalis referred to by Seba in
1734, or the Serpens indica of Boiquatraza, are identical with H.
conteus, though this may be the case.

Nomenclature—(a) Scientific—The generic name appears to be
derived from the Greek “‘eruo” I drag along, probably in allusion
to the feeble powers of progression of the type jaculus. Daudin
introduced the name in 1808. Ccnicus from the Latin conical,
suggested itself to Schneider in 1801, on account of the peculiar
short and conically shaped tail.

(6) English.— The Common HKarth Snake suggests itself, but the
fact that John’s Harth Snake (Hf. johnz) is also common, deters one
from accepting this as appropriate. I think Russell’s name should
be associated with it, and Linné’s name with its close ally jaculus.

(c) Vernacular.—lIt is confused by natives so frequently with
John’s Harth Snake, that many of the names in use apply to
both species. Russell says about Vizagapatam it is called ‘‘padain
-cootoo,”’ “* mondi poda,”’ and ‘“‘ manooli pampoo ’ (pamboo?). The
last is certainly one of its commonest names in S. India, and is the
Tamil for ‘‘ earth-dweller.”’ Other common names are ‘‘manoo
pamboo” or earth snake, ‘“‘mannary,’ ‘“‘mannooly,” or man-
nooni’’ malayalanm words meaning “sand or earth eater.”
‘‘Mandally ’’ is another, and the one in frequent use about
Malabar. J have known it called ‘‘kuley pamboo’”’ or mud snake
and Russell also mentions “ pedda poda.” In Mysore its Canarese
name is “‘itallay havu’’ or ‘“ two-headed snake.” Mr. Millard tells
me that at Ratnagiri it goes by the name of “ kander,” and about

* Ind. Serp., Vol. 1, p. 6, pl. IV.

POPULAR TREATISE ON THE COMMON INDIAN SNAKES. 3

Bombay as ‘“‘kakria.”’” Mr. D’Abreu tells me the Hindi name is
“‘thut-thur-samp ”’ or ‘‘ snouted snake.” Inthe Punjab, and in
Bengal it is often called ‘“‘do muha ” or ‘“‘ two-mouthed ” (Hindi,
and Punjabi), but this is more appropriately the name for Hryx
johnt.

General characters.—Ilt is of a markedly stout habit, the body
being short and heavy, and the tail short. The body is broader in
its transverse direction than its vertical, and stoutest about the
middle. It attenuates somewhat, and very gradually in both
directions, passing almost insensibly into the head so that there is
but slight indication of a neck. Jt is rough dorsally owing to the
‘keeled condition of the scales, and this roughness becomes more
pronounced posteriorly. At each side just above the vent is a
small curved claw-like process directed downwards in the ¢ and a
small pointed process directed backwards in the 9? , which indicate
the termination of the rudimentary hind limb. This is far more
developed in males, and is frequently supposed to be the male
copulatory organ by those not conversant with ophiology. In
females the development of this process is so small that it is usually
overlooked* leading to a popular belief that, it is the male only
that bears it, hence the idea, no doubt, that it is the male sexual
organ. Most of the limb is concealed within the muscular tissues
but if dissected out by competent observers, the analogues of many
of the bones seen in the limbs of other vertebrates can be traced up
to its origin in the rudimentary pulvis. The head is moderately
elongate, rounded evenly from side to side, and has a more or less
pronounced temporo-occipital eminence, on either side. The snout
is long, rounded laterally owing to a complete absence of any
canthus rostralis, and broadly rounded in front. It overlaps the
chin, to an extent often equalling the diametre of the eye and is
not provided with the transverse ridge in front, which is seen in
both the other Indian representatives of this genus, nor has it the
groove beneath the chin, (mental groove) which is characteristic of
these two species (jaculus and johni). The eye is very small, its
diametre being only about one-third the length of the snout. Its

* Nicholson (Ind. Snakes, p. 3.) says the @ alone has them.

4 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

pupil is vertically elliptical, and its iris beautifully speckled with
gold. The nostril is slitlike, and placed high on the snout. The
tongue is pale at the base, but blackish at the tips. The
tail is short, and tapers very rapidly so that it is conical in:
shape. It is even rougher above than the hinder part of the*
body.

Oolowration.—The under parts are buff, uniform, or with but little
trace of mottling. In the flanks there is a mottling of brown,
sometimes of a light shade, sometimes as deep as chocolate. At
first very fine this mottling becomes coarser as it ascends the flanks,
and then vertical bars of the ground colour pass up to the spine.
These bars are much narrower than the intervals. When they meet
over the back large somewhat irregularly squarish blotches are
formed which proceed from the nape to the tail tip. More often the
bars of the two sides alternate, and an irregular dark patchy
confluent pattern results. The head is light above with sometimes
dark speckling especially about the lips, and a dark irregular stripe
passes from the eye to the gape. Dr. Annandale*, who captured a
mother and young, says the latter are more brilliantly coloured. _

Identification.—Russell’s earth snake is very like Linné’s earth
snake (jaculus), so much so that I have no doubt the two have
been confused repeatedly in the Punjab where they are associated.
It was only in 1909 in this journal that J reported the occurrence
of jaculus for the first time within Indian limits, the specimen
being captured at Jhelum. Whether it is as rare as this single
record might lead one to suppose, remains to be seen.

The dual association of small head scales, with ventrals so nar-
row that they are only twice or little more than twice the breadth
of the last costal row, suffices to pronounce the snake an Hryz.
Oonicus differs from the other two Indian species (johni and jaculus)
in having no groove beneath the chin, and no angular transverse
ridge on the rostral shield, so that the identification is extremely
easy. A similar specimen with a conical tail, mental groove, and
angular ridge on the rostral would prove to be jaculus.

Dimensions.—The largest specimen I know of was a gravid 9

* Mem. As Soc.. Bengal, Vol. 1. 10, p. 193.

POPULAR TREATISE ON THE COMMON INDIAN SNAKES. 5

killed in Trichinopoly by the Revd. C. Leigh, s.J., which he said
taped 2 feet 9 inches. I saw another large specimen (not of local
origin) in the St. Joseph’s College collection, Darjeeling, that
measured 2 feet 7 inches. The largest I have had myself were
2 feet 42 inches, 2 feet 3} inches, and 2 feet 13 inches. Speci-
mens over 2 feet are not common.

Haunts.—It is generally stated to be a desert snake, but it is
by no means confined to desert tracts. It was avery common
snake in Malabar, where the annual rainfall was about 150 inches,
and the soil supported a particularly luxuriant vegetation. Father
Dreckman tells me he has frequently seen it in the Western Ghats
at an elevation of 2,000 feet (Khandalla), a locality favoured with
200 inches annual rainfall and a flourishing forest growth.

Like the rest of its genus it is an earth snake, but though it
does not possess even a rudimentary indication of the transverse
ridge which all the other members of the genus have developed,
and which they use for digging purposes, it does not appear to
me to suffer from the want of it, for it burrows into loose soil
quite as easily, and expeditiously as Hryx johm, the species
which exhibits this ridge in its most exalted state of development.
Possibly were it to test its powers in harder soil against John’s
earth snake, the latter would show its superiority.

Though an earth snake its life is by no means completely sub-
terranean. Were it so, doubtless by now it would have acquired,
or be acquiring the condition of ocular degeneration seen in the
blind snakes (Typholidce), a family in which the eyes have under-

gone a devolution process brought about by a protracted residence
in darkness.

From what I know of conicus I feel confident that a considerable
period of its life is spent either above the soil, or in the most
superficial layers, into which light is admitted and by its stimulus
the function of the eye has been preserved. As a result this
organ beyond being small, is quite as well developed, and vision
seemingly quite as good, as in colubrines, and other highly
organised representatives of the order.
~The specimens I have kept myself, and that I have seen in cap-
tivity elsewhere I have frequently noticed are often to be seen

6 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

above the soil which has been provided for them to conceal them-
selves beneath, and in some cases where no earth was given it
appeared to thrive just as well without it, and for long periods.
The only specimen I remember not having seen for many days.
was missing when I came to investigate! It had evidently con-
trived to reach the top of the sides of the box in which I had
placed it and so effected its escape. A large number of those
brought in to me were reported above the ground, and many of
those were discovered in broad daylight. It is also evident that it
must have been above ground, and in daylight in the instances.
where it had managed to capture squirrels. On the other hand
I have frequently had specimens brought in that were found be-
neath the soil, their refuge being disturbed by human earth oper-
ations. In these cases it appeared to have retired from active
‘life. In Cannanore it was in the hot and dry weather that it
was most often abroad, being as common in that season, as it was
scarce in the monsoon.

Disposition.—Russell’s Earth Snake is a dull, phlegmatic creature,
and a most uninteresting occupant of the vivarium. The ones I
had in captivity were generally to be seen lying above the earth,
or only partially buried, and remained motionless for hours to-
gether. They were not easily roused, except when the food was
offered them, and then they showed an interest in life not seen
at other times. I have played with many specimens, but it has
a nasty uncertain temper, and one has to handle it with caution
to avoid being bitten. It will lie on the ground motionless, take
little notice of teasing, and just when one begins to think the
reptile has no vice in its composition, and will submit to a touch,
it suddenly springs forward, and implants its teeth into one’s hand,
and it can bite with considerable force. Although careful in my
dealings with it, I have been bitten several times, the suddenness
of the assault giving me no chance to withdraw my hand, as one
can do with so many other snakes, when familiar with their ways.
Russell remarks of one he had sent him that it bit ferociously. Mr.
Boulenger* says the one he kept had a fierce temper, and Father

* Faun. Brit. Ind. Rept., p. 247.

POPULAR TREATISE ON THE COMMON INDIAN SNAKES. 7

Dreckman tells me that he thinks it is one of the most, vicious
members of all snakedom, ready to snap at anything at a moment’s
notice. He was bitten by the first snake that he ever encountered’
in this country which happened to be a conicus. Dr. Henderson
says that in his experience it is a sluggish snake, but occasionally
it strikes out fiercely when irritated. Mr. D’Abreu tells me he
kept a pair for a long time. He says when first captured it is very
fierce, biting readily when touched, but after a little handling
it gets quite tame, and never bites no matter how much it is
handled. Certainly the specimens which accompany many jug-
glers allow themselves to be handled without betraying any malice.
I have known some specimens when irritated, sulk in a most
determined manner, remaining quite motionless, and refusing to
offer any malice. Sometimes indeed it hides its head beneath
its body, and remains so for many minutes. It will often
flatten its body to the ground when alarmed, like many other
snakes do.
Habits.—-Whether this snake is in the main nocturnal I do not.
know. At any rate it is very frequently abroad by daylight, and
even in the midday glare of the hot weather, frequently establishes
itself beneath trees in S. India where it lurks for the purpose of
catching the squirrels (Hunambulus palmarum) when they descend.
With this object I believe it partially buries itself, and patiently
awaits the chance of a squirrel coming within reach, and the chances
are not so remote as one might imagine who does not know Southern
India, for the squirrels there almost amount to a pest. They are
always on the move, and frequently descend, and wander about
beneath the trees. In this connection I believe whatever the
original function of the keels on the scales of snakes and lizards
may have been, that they are of material advantage to a snake
like Hrya conicus, for they undoubtedly assist its effectual conceal-
ment. As the snake noses its way through the surface soil, the
particles of earth lodge in the grooves formed between the keels
on its back and serve to conceal its serpentine form. Were the
body smooth the particles would roll off, and expose more or less
of the snakes body, unless buried so deeply as to hamper its
movements when the quarry came within reach. This function

8 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol, XXI,

of the keels in snake’s, is also seen in desert snakes like the horned
vipers (Cerastes) that lie partially concealed in the sand. The
movements of Russell’s Earth Snake are laboured, and slow, and
it is impossible for the creature to proceed at any pace other than a:
crawl. The reason for this is apparent when the snake is laid on
its back. The shields on the belly are very narrow compared to
those of colubrines and vipers. They only occupy some two-
fourths of the middle of the belly breadth, and as the ribs are
attached to them, those bones are very much bowed, leaving one-
fourth of the body on each side, without a support.

As asnake moves on its ribs, the body which in this snake is
unusually massive has only half its breadth supporting it during
progression.

Food.—lts food is almost exclusively of a mammalian order.
Those I had in captivity in Trichinopoly persistently refused frogs,
and lizards, and my servant told me their usual fare was squirrels
(Funambulus palmarum). Following his advice I gave them squir-
rels whenever I could get them, and they were always taken
eagerly.

The distension of a snake about 20 inches long after swallow-
ing a squirrel may well be imagined, but although the process of
incorporation was a protracted one, no misadventure occurred.
On two occasions in Cannanore specimens were brought to me
that had been discovered in the act of devouring full grown
squirrels, in one case the snake was only | foot 44 inches long !
A third specimen contained a relatively large mammal in its
stomach which appeared to be a squirrel. Mr. D’Abreu fed his
specimens on mice which they ate with avidity, and grew very fat
upon. A captive specimen in Madras Museum ate in one year 97
mice, another 65 rats, and a third 51 mice, and 1 rat in the year.
A. specimen brought in to me at Cannanore had eaten a large frog
(hana tigrina), but reptiles are not usually acceptable. Mr.
D’ Abreu says that a lizard of the genus Calotes was very promptly
despatched by one of his captive specimens but no attempt was
made to eat it subsequently. Mr. Millard tells me that one in
our Society’s room tried to eat a young snake (Tropidonotus pis-
cator), andthe Revd. J. Castels, s.J., told me of one he had in

POPULAR TREATISE ON THE COMMON INDIAN SNAKES. 9

captivity that killed a green whipsnake (Dryophis mycterrzans)
with which it was quartered.

Like other boas it kills its victims by constriction, and the
strength of its body is such that the life is crushed out of a squirrel
or mouse in a few seconds, and until life is extinct it does not
commence swallowing.

The sewes.—Of the 18 specimens I sexed in Cannanore 9 were

g 6,and 99 9, showing that the sexes are evenly balanced.
The 9 appears to grow distinctly larger than the g. I never
had a male reaching a length of 2 feet, though I have had 39 ¢
exceeding that length. The largest record I have already alluded
to was alsoa? Mr. Leigh’s 2 foot 9 inch. specimen. The deve-
lopment of the tail differs in the sexes, the length being in favour
of the g, in which this appendage accounts for from one-eleventh
to one-fourteenth the total length of the snake. In the © it is
from one-fourteenth to one-seventeenth the total length. There
appears to be another sexual difference judging from my notes,
and this is in the costal rows which number in midbody 47 to 51
in the 9, and from 43 to 48 in the ¢.

Breeding.—Our knowledge of the breeding is not what it ought
to be when one considers what a common snake it is, and how
well it thrives in captivity. In Southern India the season of
matrimonial intercourse is about November, but we do not know
whether the snake is oviparous or viviparous. I had a gravid 9?
killed in camp on the 7th of December at Cannanore within which
were 6 largish eggs, perhaps an inch long. Mr. Leigh told me
of one he had in Trichinopoly that contained 16 eggs about half
an inch in length, in early January. Dr. Annandale* however
mentions a 9 specimen said to have been found with 3 young ones
at Ramanad in August. The smallest specimen I know was a 8%
inches long in November, but whether a hatchling or not I could
not say. One noticeable feature in the young is that the navel is
placed very much further away from the anus than is the case
with colubrine snakes. I have counted no less than 43 ventrals
intervening.

* loc. cit.

10 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX.

Sloughing.—A few notes were made in Madras a few years
back. One specimen desquamated on the 18th of April, 18th of
May, 6th of August, and 9th of October in 1895. Another
(perhaps the same snake) shed its skin on the 30th of April, 4th
of June, 22nd of July, and the 4th of October 1896. Another
(perhaps the same specimen) cast its slough on the 13th of June,
23rd of September, and 24th of December 1897.* Like our other
Indian representatives of its family, its ecdysis occurs about 4
times a: year at rather irregular intervals.

Parasites—I have paid very little attention to this subject, but
it is almost certainly infested with Entozoa like the python, and
most other snakes. I have found ticks attached to its skin, and
those though not identified are almost certain to prove a species of
Aponomma. A blood parasite the Hemogregarina canthei has
been discovered inhabiting the blood cells. t+

Distribution—Peninsula India from the base of the Himalayas to-
Cape Comorin, and Northern Ceylon. In the North-West it
extends to Sind and Baluchistan, and in the North-East to Behar
and Lower Bengal. Major H. H. Magrath sent me a fragment of
a skin of an Mryx from Bannu that might be this species or jaculus,
more probably the latiter.

It is a snake of the Plains, but like many other species ascends:
some distance into hilly regions. There are specimens in the
British and the Indian Museums of Colonel Beddome’s collecting
from the Anamallays, altitude not specified. Father Dreckman
has met with it in Khandalla, (circa 2,000 ft.) and there is a speci-
men from Poona (circa 3,000 ft.) in our Society’s collection. In:
the Indian Museum there is a single example from Palair in the
Naini Tal District, but the altitude is not recorded. Von Schla-
gentweit’s specimen in the British Museum is reported from:
Sikkim—a most improbable locality—though of course it 1S pos—
sible it may have been acquired from a juggler, this snake being
seen so frequently in the possession of this nomadic class.

The accompanying map shows the precise localities from which

it has been reported.

* This valuable information was communicated to me by Dr. J. RB. Henderson.
TManson. Trop. diseases 1907, p. 819.

INDIAN EMPIRE |

KABUL oe f fxash
ayy Sd war: Srinage
ES to 4 a one

7 SS “s..- Ye
ins : oS

a tk
Cd (ey CULFOFG Ff
i \iszsar |

7 = i i

A
ees

DistRIBUTION or HRYX CONICUS.

B. M. implies British Museum, I. M. Indian Museum, Bo. M., Bombay
Society’s Collection, F. W., the Writer.

1. Fort Munro, Baluchistan (Bo. M.). 2. Sind (Murray & B. M.). 3.
Multan (Bo. M.). 4. Palair, Naini Tal District (I. M.). 5. Gwalior (B.
M.). 6. Allahabad (I. M.). 7. Saugor (Bo. M.). 8. Neemuch (Bo. M.).
9. Rajkot, Kathiawar (F. W.). 10. Khandeish (Bo. M.). 11. Nasik (Bo.
M.). 12. Bombay (Bo. M.). Khandalla (Dreckman). 15. Ratnagiri (Mill-
ard). 16. Hingoli, Deccan (Bo. M.). 17. Malabar (Dumeril et Bibron &
F. W.) 18. Anamallays (B. M. & I. M.). 19. Travancore (Ferguson).
20. Trincomalee, Ceylon (Bo. M.). 21. Ramnad (I. M.) 22. Trichinopoly
(F. W.). 23. Pondicherry (Dumeril et Bibron). 24. Madras (Russell &
B. M.). 25. Godavary (Blanford). 26. Vizagapatam (Russell). 27.
Chandbatty, Cuttack District (I. M.). 28. Chota Nagpur (I. M.). 29.
Singbhum (I. M.). 30. Manbhum (I. M.). 31. Behar (D’Abreu in
epistola).

Hed
“ais
ae |
Les
A

.
we
| ee
Bers

ae if

POPULAR TREATISE ON THE COMMON INDIAN SNAKES. 11

Lepidosis.—Rostral much broader than high, not ridged trans-
versely. Touches six shields, the anterior and posterior nasals and
lst labial. Internasals.—Absent. The small scales on the top
of the head become first mammillated, and then carinate as they
proceed backwards. Nasals.—Two, an anterior and a posterior
with the nostril between. The eye is surrounded by small scale
only, and one or two rows of scales intervene between it and the
supralabials. Supralabials—12 to 15, the anterior largest, and
distinctly higher than broad. Mental.—Small. Infralabial.—17 to
20, the anterior largest, much deeper than ‘broad, the first do not
meet behind the mental. Costals.—Two heads-lengths behind the
head 38 to 46, midbody 40 to 53, two heads-lengths before vent
24 to 35; keeled (except the 7 to 10 lowest rows anteriorly, 9 to
13 in midbody, and 2 to 6 posteriorly). The keels are peculiar,
seen in profile they gradually incline upwards from the base of
the scale to a point about one-third from the apex when they
decline to the apex. In the most posterior scales they suddenly

e decline from the summit, so that they appear

a. <b g in outline as shown in our diagram. The
dorsal scales are a shade longer than broad,

those in the last 3 subcostal rows progressively
increase in size, and their breadth exceeds
their length, the last being 4 or a shade less than } the breadth
of the ventrals. Ventrals.—Narrow, 162 to 186. Anal.—Divided
into 3 parts, a larger median, and two small lateral portions.
Subcaudals.—17 to 24, frequently entire, but usually some, often

many divided.

Dentition.—The maaillary teeth number from 15 to 15, the first
3 progressively increase, and the posterior gradually decrease in
length. The palatine are 5 in number, and the pterygoid 14 to 15.
The mandibular array number 20, the anterior are largest, and
these progressively decrease to about the 7th tooth, after which
they are subequal.

Our plate is good except that the neck is shown far too evident
and the nasal shields are shown in contact, whereas they are really
separated by a pair of internasals. The irregularity of the pattern
is well rendered, and in no two specimens will this be found quite

lz JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XX1,

the same. In many specimens in life so much mud or earth
adheres to the skin, that the pattern is often much, if not comple-
tely, obscured. In spirit specimens, consequently, the marking is
much better seen.

ERYX JOHNI (RvssELL).

JOHN’S EARTH SNAKE.

History.—This was first described and figured by Russell* in
1801, from an adult specimen sent to him by the Revd. John of
Tranquebar. The same author figured a young examplet (from
a painting given to him by Captain Hardwick taken from a speci-
men collected in Bengal. ?)

Nomenclature.—(a). Scientific. The specific name was given by
Russell in honour of the Missionary who presented him with the
original of Plate XVI of his work.

(b) Englsh.—l think John’s, Harth Snake, or John’s boa,
the most appropriate name to apply to it.

(c) Vernacular.—Russell tells us on John’s authority that it
is called “ erutaley nagam ”’ about Tranquebar. This name, and
“eruthally pamboo,” both of which are Tamil, meaning ‘two-
headed snake,’ are in common use in Southern India. It is also
called ‘‘manooli” or ‘ earth dweller’ in the same part of India.
On the Malabar Coast, and also in other parts of S. India it is some-
times called ‘‘ mandalli,”” and in Mysore the Canarese name for it is
‘“itallay havoo”’ which also means “ two-headed.” In Lower
Bengal the Hindi name for it is ‘“‘do muha” or “ two mouthed,”
and the same application is in use in the Punjab generally. A
well educated native told me that about Peshawar it is known as
“landai,’ the Pushtu word for ‘short,’ but I am very dubious
about this, believing that this name is correctly applied to either of
the two httle blind snakes, Vyphlops braminus, or Glauconia
blanfordi, both of which are very diminutive, and sometimes also
called two headed snakes.

General Characters.

The snake is of remarkably even calibre in
its whole length, showing little if any constriction at the neck.

* Ind. Serp., Vol. II, Plate XVI. ' + Loe. Cit., Plate XVII.

POPULAR TREATISE ON THE COMMON INDIAN SNAKES. 13

The body is very stout, heavy, and muscular. Its transverse
diameter very appreciably exceeds the vertical, and there is a groove
along the spine. It is covered with numerous, small, smooth or
nearly smooth scales. The claw-like termination of the rudimentary
limb is situated as in H. conicus. The head is covered with scales
little larger than those on the back. The broad muzzle is
furnished with an angular horizontal ridge with which the creature
burrows, and this ridge is more pronounced in this than in any
other species of the genus. The upper jaw projects beyond the
chin to an extent equal to the diameter of the eye. The eye is
very small, its diameter being about one-third the length of the
snout. The pupztl is vertically elliptical, and the iris is spotted
with ruddy gold. The nostril is slit-like, and is placed between
two enlarged shields rather high on the snout. The tongue is
yellowish basally, black at the tips. Beneath the chin there is a
longitudinal furrow (the mental groove). The tail is short and
stumpy, its extremity rounded, and general form very similar to
that of the head, hence the almost universal belief among natives
that the snake is two-headed. Indian jugglers, who so frequently
have this snake among their stock in trade sometimes improve
upon nature, and mutilate this stumpy appendage, making marks
to suggest eyes, and cutting a transverse incision at the extremity
which leaves a scar suggesting a mouth. The public, who for the
most part prefer to keep a respectful distance from any snake, fall
easy victims to their own credulity, and too often go away under
the firm conviction that they have seen a head at each extremity.
Colour.—The adult specimens I have seen have been either
uniformly coloured, of a lightish brown, ruddy-brown, or dark
olivaceous-brown, or marked with fine dark reticulations arranged
so as to form cross bars. The cross bars are ill defined, but when
present at all most conspicuous posteriorly, and on the tail especially.
Many specimens in life are so sullied with earth adhering to their
scales, that any marks are obscured till the snake is washed.
Immersion in spirit makes any marks very apparent. The belly is

of a lighter shade than the back, and often more or less mottled
with blackish. :
The young are very different, so much so that many people who

14 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XX.

are quite familiar with the adult fail to recognise the most juvenile
specimens as of the same species. According to Russell the young
one figured by him was coral red, but Dr. Annandale uses the
expression brick-red for his specimens. A young specimen, about
14 inches long from Multan in our Society’s collection, is sandy-
red and when looked at closely the scales are seen to be pale buff
with ruddy outlines forming a very fine reticulation. In Russell's
specimen there is a dorsal series of large black blotches from the
nape to the tip of the tail. In the Multan specimen there are broad
cross-bars of a ruddy-brown hue, on the tail, and posterior body
which disappear anteriorly. The belly is buff heavily dappled with

darker tones.
Identification.—The snake once seen should never be mistaken,

however both Europeans and Natives confuse it with ’. conicus. _ As
mentioned under conicus the genus is very easily recognised.
Johni differs from the other species in its blunt tail. It also has a
larger number of scale rows at midbody, vz., more than 53.
Dimensions.— Adults rarely exceed 3 feet. The largest 1 know
of is in the British Museum and measures 3 feet 3 inches.
Haunts.—Like Russell's earth snake John’s boa is described as a
desert snake, but the remarks I have made under the former apply
equally here. Father Dreckman tells me it is by no means un- |
common about Khandalla in the Western Ghats (circa. 2,000 feet).
He tells me further that he has always found it close to water,
though not actually in that element, and that it is a very thirsty
creature he having counted more than 120 gulps taken at a single

drink.
It is probably much commoner than Museum specimens would

make it appear, for it is one of the usual subjects of exhibition in
an Indian juggler’s stock in trade.

It is called an earth snake, andis frequently found beneath the
soil, but how much of its life is spent beneath the ground it is
impossible to know. ‘Though the eye is small it is in other
respects as perfectly developed as in Colubrine, and other snakes.
This leads one to infer that the subterranean life is one that has
been acquired in recent times, or that it spends part of its life
above the surface soil. There is no doubt that it is frequently

POPULAR TREATISE ON THE COMMON INDIAN SNAKES. 15

encountered above ground, and | am inclined to think this is the
result of its own inclination rather than from force of circumstances,
such as a water logged soil in the rains, or the desire for water to
assuage its thirst in long drought.

The remarks made upon Mr. John’s captive specimen makes it
appear that it was usually lying above the earth, and it has
certainly frequently been my experience to see other caged speci-
mens lying visible, though they were supplied with earth, in
which they might have concealed themselves. It would be
interesting to note in future, the climatic and other condi-
tions when a specimen is met with either above or beneath the

soil.
Habits.—1 know very little of this snake in its natural haunts,

‘so that most of my observations have been made from specimens
in the hands of jugglers, or in captivity elsewhere. I always found
it a particularly inoffensive creature, but thought that its gentle
disposition might merely be the result of its captivity, and a re-
conciliation to the repeated handling it had received. However
more than one good observer, who is better acquainted with the
snake in nature, has remarked to me on its extremely placid nature ~
at all times. Russell tells us that Mr. John kept one for a year in
a chatty of earth. It generally lay coiled up with its head under
its belly, was not easily roused, and never showed a disposition to
bite. Father Dreckman, who has encountered many, tells me that
he has never met with a more harmless creature, even freshly
caught, he says, it never attempts to bite, and although he has
handled many under natural conditions none ever used its
teeth. Dr. Henderson too remarks that it is the gentlest of snakes
allowing itself to be handled without any attempt at self defence.
One I found in Trichinopoly lying on some loose soil, took no
notice of me, allowed me to move it about with a stick without
showing any signs of annoyance or attempting to escape, and
was altogether so lethargic that I thought it must have been
mortally damaged though I could find no trace of an injury.
‘Those in the possession of snake men usually lie where they are
placed on the ground, or make aimless movements without any
attempt to conceal or bury themselves. From what has been

16 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

already said, one will readily imagine that it is a very uninterest-
ing reptile in captivity. Perhaps its chief interest lies in the
deft and speedy manner in which it can bury itself in the earth
when so disposed, but one is lucky if one witnesses this perform-
ance. It noses its way into the earth, by using the transverse
ridge on its snout as adigging implement. The premaxillary bone
which has to bear the strain of these operations is extraordinarily
developed, surpassing in size and strength that of any other
snake that I know. The only other interest attaching to the
snake in the vivarium is its method of killing its prey.

Its movements are in keeping with is phlegmatic disposition,
and clumsy corporeal habit. Progression is slow, and laboured
and under no degree of stimulation even amounting to cruelty,
does the creature seem capable of bestiring itself. The reason
seems to be on account of its very narrow ventral shields and I
have already remarked upon the handicapping influence these
must have upon progression when dealing with the last species.

(conicus).
Food.—I have no knowledge of its tastes in a state of nature,

but from the avidity with which it devours squirrels, rats and mice
in captivity one may assume that it is very partial to a mama-
lian fare. One in Madras ate in one year 16 rats and 3 mice,
another 4: squirrels, 28 rats and 4 mice, and another 17 rats.
How it manages to capture such creatures under natural condi-
tions it is difficult to understand unless as | think most probable
it burrows into and invades their subterranean abodes where it
can effectively bring them to bay. Once captured, it employs the
same means of killing its victim as the python, encircling it, and
crushing the life out of it. Its massive, and muscular body makes
the accomplishment of this object an easy matter, and a speedy
one. Major O. A. Smith tells me that he had one in his vivarium
in company with a saw-scaled viper (Hehis carinata). The Hehis
one day was observed to be particularly lively, and it is possible
may have molested the Hryx. At any rate the Hryx wound itself
round the viper’s neck and constricted with such force that the
viper succumbed next day to the injuries received.
Breeding.—Practically nothing is known of the breeding. We

POPULAR TREATISE ON THE COMMON INDIAN SNAKES. 17

do not even know whether it is oviparous, or viviparous though it
is probably the former. The season when mating occurs, and the
time of year when the young appear are similarly unknown. The
smallest specimen I know of is the one mentioned by Russell, 93
inches long, probably a hatchling, which came from Bengal, but
no date of capture is given.

Observations on the breeding habits are badly wanted, and with
so common a snake, and one that thrives so well in captivity these
observations should not be difficult to collect.

Sloughing.—In the Madras Museum some years ago attention
was directed to this function with the following results :—One
desquamated on 1-4-95, 3-5-95, 22-10-95 and 21-2-96. Another
(if not the same) on 24-4-96, 28-6-96, 18-9-96 and 14-1-97. <A
third (if not the same specimen) on 2-8-97, 10-11-97 and 17-3-98.
It thus appears to slough about four times annually at intervals
varying from one to five months, and at no special season of the
year.

Legends.— Russell tells us that in his day the natives in Southern
India declared that the bite of this snake produced leprosy. The
belief is still as firm there now, even a lick from its tongue being,
natives declare, sufficient to cause that terrible malady. The Rev.
C. Liegh, S.J., and Dr. Henderson have both written to me to this
effect. In the Punjab they say that if it once bites any one, the
bitten subject will be again bitten on each succeeding anniversary
of the accident by the same snake, which however is quite invi-
sible to everyone, but its victim.

The belief that it has two heads, one at each end seems to be
universal. The natives in Southern India, Lower Bengal, and
the Punjab all say the same, and their names for it are founded
on this assumption. In Lower Bengal and in the Punjab they say
that the reptile uses each head alternately for six months. The
obstinacy of the native in crediting fabulous stories of this des-
cription is most extraordinary. Even if one takes the trouble to
demonstrate the true character of the tail, and a native has been
prevailed upon to look attentively, he prefers to allow his imagina-
tion to override his common sense, and to discredit the evidence

of his own eyes.
3

18 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XX.

Distribution.—Its distribution is probably the same as conicus, but
records of the snake are very meagre. J have lately seen
specimens from Balucistan, but this is the furthest record I am
aware of in the North-West. Iam doubtful if it occurs in the
Ganges Valley, and there appear to be no records from Central
India, the Central Provinces or Upper Bengal, but with these ex-
ceptions it is known to occur throughout Peninsula India. It has
not been recorded from Ceylon. It is an inhabitant of the Plains
but wanders into the lower slopes of hilly regions. In the Western
Hills it has been met with at Khandalla and Belgaum (about 2,000
feet), but I do not think it occurs in the Himalayas anywhere.
The specimen in the British Museum collected by Von Schlagen-
tweit said to have come from Sikkim (9,800 feet) is discredited
by Mr. Boulenger, and his doubts must be certainly shared by all
Indian herpetologists.

It is possible the specimen may have been in the possession of
a juggler, and | know from personal experience how untruthful
these people are when questioned. In Fyzabad I interrogated a
juggler about a typical monocellate cobra he had, and which he
assured me he had got in the Cantonment Gardens a day or two
before, but he finally confessed that the statement was untrue,
and he had captured it in Bengal near Calcutta somewhere. The
precise localities from which it has been recorded are shown in the
accompanying map.

Lepidosis.— Rostral—A very large shield, with an angular trans-
verse ridge. Touches six shields, the anterior and posterior
nasals and the Ist labial. Jnternasals—Absent. Nasals—Two, an
anterior, and a posterior, with the nostril between; the anterior
meeting behind the rostral in contact with 1st and 2nd _ labials.
Eye surrounded by small scales, one or two rows intervening
between it, and the labials. Supralabials—10 to 13, the anterior
3 or 6, behind which
a series of marginal scales borders the lip; the Ist do not meet

largest, and higher than long. Infralabials

behind the mental. A mental groove bordered by small scales.
Costals—54 to 65 in midbody as long or rather longer than
broad, except the last 3 rovrs which progressively increase in
breadch, and are much broader than long, the last being about

[ov 104

INDIAN EMPIRE ;

@sewe tc0 Me een:

ee s8___. Gilgit |
74 C ral. Re
lo | magUL |S ikashwr

AFEGHA PeshPwar:« Sri
es CORE _

Distripution or LRYX JOHNI.,

[. M. implies Indian Museum, B. M., British Museum, Bo. M., Bombay
Society's Collection, F. W., the Writer.

1. Ramanad (I.M ). 2. Trichinopoly (F. W.). 2. Tranquebar (Russell).
4, Madras (B. M.). 5. Malabar (Dumeril et Bibron). 6. Belgaum (B. M.).
7. Khandalla (Dreckman). 8. Poona (Bo. M.). 9. Bengal (Russell). 10.
Allahabad (D’Abreu in epistola). 11. Dholpur (F. W.). 12. Agra (I. M.).
13. Jeypore (I. M.). 14. Ajmere (I. M.). 15. Karachi (I. M. & B. M_).
16. Hanna and Duki, Baluchistan (F. W.) 17. Multan (Bo. M.). 18.
Zajanpur (I. M.). 19. Pind Dadun Khan (I. M.).*

* We trust our readers will take every opportunity to send specimens of H. johni
and conicus to our Society’s Collection, especially from the Punjab and Bengal, to

throw more light on their exact limits.

POPULAR TREATISE ON THE COMMON INDIAN SNAKES. 19

2 or little less than 3 the breadth of the ventrals. Keels present
in the melian dorsal rows, but very obtuse. Ventrals—Narrow,
189 to 210. Anal—Trifid, the median part largest. Subcaudals—25
to 36, mostly entire, but many often divided. 7
Dentition.—In my single skull which is from a Trichinopoly
specimen the teeth are as follows :—Mawillary—11, gradually de-
creasing from before backwards. Palatine—4, decreasing from
before backwards ; about as large as the maxillary. Pterygoid—8,
subequal, well developed and about as large as the posterior
maxillary. Mandibular—13, decreasing from before backwards.

THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA,
BURMA AND CEYLON.

BY
EK. C. Stuart Baxer, F.L.S., F.Z.S., M.B.0.U.
PART.
( Continued from page 929 of Volume XX.)
Sub-Order—OrIpgEs.

The Bustards form a sub-order of birds connected with, yet
distinctly separated from, many others. In general superficial
appearance they are, perhaps, most like the Gallinaceous birds,
more especially in regard to their heads and wings. ‘They are,
however, more closely allied in anatomy and other ways to many
other families, such as the Rails, Cranes, Plovers and, in the New
World, the Tinamus.

They are schizognathous and holorhinal, the cervical vertebree
are either 16 or 17 in number and the sternum has two small
notches on each side of the posterior border. There is no hallux
or hind toe and the two deep flexor tendons unite and again divide
into three.

They possess ambiens, accessory femoro-caudal, semi-tendinosus
and accessory semi-tendinosus muscles, but the femoro-caudal is
absent.

There is no oil-gland and the ceca are long.

The contour feathers possess an after-shaft and there is no
lateral bare tract on the side of the neck.

Family—OTIDIDAi.

The Family of Bustards, which is the only one in the Sub-order
Otides, contains birds ranging in size from that of a large partridge
to birds weighing as much, or more than, 4() lbs. They are gene-
rally of sturdy build with comparatively long necks and legs, the
latter very strong and furnished with three toes only. These, the
toes, are remarkably broad and fleshy, but at the same time short in
comparison to the size of the bird they have to support. The

THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA, BURMA AND CEYLON, 21

claws are short and blunt. The tarsi are reticulated with small,
often unequal, scales and the toes are scutellated above.

In some species the males possess a small gular pouch which is
connected with an opening under the tongue.

The tail feathers vary from 16 to 20 in number in different
species, and the primaries number 11, the first being of considerable
length.

The young are hatched covered with down and can run about
almost immediately after leaving the egg.

Otididee, of some one or more species, inhabit the three continents
of the Old World—Europe, Asia and Africa—and one species—
a very close relation of our Great Indian Bustard—is also found in
Australia. Some genera and species, such as Olis tarda, extend
over a vast extent of country whilst others again, for example
Sypheotis, are very local in their distribution.

Within Indian limits we find six species, which are generally
divided into four genera, but many systematists, the late
Dr. R. Bowdler-Sharpe amongst others, divide two of our genera,
Otrs and Sypheotis, yet again. For the purpose of these articles I,
however, retain Blanford’s classification and omit Sharpe’s genera,
Tetrax and Houbaropsis.

KEY TO GENERA.

A.—No ruff. Sexes differing in size or in —
breeding plumage.
(a) Top of head black.
a Wing over 20" aa Ds ... Hupodites.
G Wane under Vor) tiie: et ... Sypheotis.
(6) Top of head not black.

a Tarsus more than i length of wing.. Sypheotis.

b* Tarsus + length of. wane Ate . Ons.
B.—A ruff on ee side of neck. Sexes alike. Houbara.
Genus—OTTS.

This genus is now generally divided into two, Otis confined to
Otts tarda and its first cousin Otis dybowskii and Tetraw which
contains only the Little Bustard, Tetrax tetrax. There is but little

22 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

outward difference, however, in these two genera beyond size, and
I retain Blyth’s classification for these Bustards and place both our
birds in the one genus.

The genus Oiis may be distinguished from the other genera of
this family by the fact that the crown of the head is never black,
and only very short-crested and the short, stout tarsus is only
equal to } of the length of the wing.

The Great Bustard, Oiis tarda, has no seasonal change of plumage,
but the male of the Small Bustard, Olis tetrax, has one. Again,
whereas the male of Otis tarda is much bigger than the female, the
female of Otis tetrax is certainly as large as the male and sometimes
somewhat larger.

KEY TO SPECIES.

Wing over 15", generally between 18" and 25"... tarda.
Wing under 15”, generally between 9" and 11"... tetraz.

OTIS TARDA.

The Great Bustard.

Otis tarda.—Linn. Syst. Nat. 1, p. 264; Hume, Jbis, 1871,
p- 404; id., Str. Feath. vii, p. 4384; Hume and Marsh. Game Birds’
I, p. 1, pl.; Hume, Cat. No. 836 bis; Sharpe, Cat. B.M. xxiii,
p- 284; id Hand. List. B.i, p. 173; Finn, “Indian Waders”
.p. 116. Oates, Game-Birds, i, p. 394; id, Eggs of B.M., i,
p. 84; Willoughby Verner, ‘“‘ My Life among the Wild Birds in
Spain” pp. 131 et seg; Chapman and Buck, ‘“ Unexplored
Spain” p. 253; Fooks, The Field Febr. 11, 1911.

Vernacular Name.—Deo-dagh (Chitrali.)

Description—Adult Male.—General colour above sandy rufous,
broadly banded across with black, the bands very strongly marked
on the upper back and scapulars, less so on lower back and rump;
upper tail-coverts and tail feathers light bay or vinous-chestnut,
barred across with black, some of the bars broken up; the tail
feathers more or less distinctly tipped with white, the outer
feathers white at the base, the three outermost almost entirely
white, with a broad subterminal band of black; lesser wing-coverts
like the back, with black bars, less closely arranged than on the

THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA, BURMA AND CEYLON. 23

back; remainder of wing-coverts, bastard-wing, and primary
coverts white, powdered with grey towards the end of the feathers ;
quills brewn with white bases, the primaries whity-brown with
white shafts, the outer web and the tips blackish; the outer
secondaries blackish, white at the base, the white increasing in
extent towards the inner secondaries, which have a gradually
decreasing extent of black tip till the last feathers are quite white,
the innermost secondaries being sandy rufous barred with black
like the back; crown of head light grey, becoming tinged with
rufous on the hind neck, which has numerous narrow black trans-
verse bars, sides or face, ear-coverts, cheeks and entire throat light
grey, with elongated bristle-like feathers on each side of the chin ;
lower throat orange-chestnut, forming a band across the fore-neck,
which is washed with light grey, the sides of the neck with
numerous small bars of black; sides of upper breast sandy rufous
barred with black; remainder of undersurface of body pure white.

“‘ Bill leaden-grey, horn black at the tip; feet earthy brown,
nails horny black; iris dark-brown; eyelid with white feathers.”’
(J. F. Naumann). :

“Total length about 42 inches, culmen 2:1, wing 23:5, tail 10,
tarsus 6.” (Sharpe).

Adult female.—The female differs from the male chiefly in being
considerably smaller and in having no whiskers. The chestnut
band on the lower throat of the male exists in the female only as
patches at the sides under the shoulders of the wing.

Wing 18-25" to 20"; culmen 1-9" to 2-1"; bill from gape
2°75" ; tarsus 4°5" to 5-25"; mid toe 2°25"; tail about 8”.

Youny.—The crown of the head like the back, which is similar
to that of the females but paler and less boldly marked with black ;
lower throat and foreneck more or less washed with sandy buff;
the white of the wings is much marked with black, the bastard
wing is barred with rufous and brown and thera is a certain
amount of rufous on the greater wing coverts.

Nestling.— Covered with light down, mottled with black.

Colonel Willoughby Verner in his most interesting book “ My
Life among the Wild Birds in Spain ” makes the following remarks
concerning the weights of Bustards :—‘‘ The weight of a Bustard

24. JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

is a subject of which very varied accounts have been written.
Apparently the unfortunate stragglers which have from time to
time visited England and have been promptly slain, must have
been very young birds. Yarrele records males of only 16 lbs. and
females of 9 lbs. to 10 lbs., whereas the males in Spain commonly
weigh between 20 lbs. to 30 Ibs. and the females 12 Ibs. to 18 Ibs.
Professor Newton mentions 22 Ibs. to 32 lbs. as the average
weight of Huropean Bustards. The remarkable variations of
weight in birds shot out of the same flocks and in the same
localities lead me to believe that Bustards take very much longer
to reach maturity than is popularly imagined. Again, they seem
to vary enormously in weight according to the season of the year.
Out of a number of Bustards | have weighed and examined, those
killed in the winter months have averaged only about two-thirds
the weight of those killed in March and April. The smallest
Great Bustard I ever saw killed was a young female in the month
of February, and which weighed only 12 lbs. This bird must have
been at least 9 months old.”

‘‘Six old male birds shot by a party of three guns, of which I
was one, in the month of April averaged over 34 lbs. each, the
heaviest being 37 lbs.; no doubt the contents of the crops
accounted for some of this great weight. ”’

In “ Unexplored Spain ’’ Messrs. Chapman and Buck give much
the same weights. They say: ‘‘ In weight, cock Bustards vary
from 20 to 22 lbs. in Autumn, up to 28 to 30 lbs. in April. The
biggest old males in spring reach 33 and 34 lbs., and one we
presented to the National Collection at South Kensington weighed
37 lbs.”

«‘ Hen-Bustards seldom exceed 15 Ibs. at any season.”

Sharpe gives the range of this magnificent bird as “‘ Southern
Europe and Northern Africa, extending to Central Asia and N.-W.
India’ and this range now includes Persia and Afghanistan. In
the latter country it was obtained by the Afghan Delimitation
Commission and in the former it has now been several times taken
and I have eggs also thence.

To the east of this recorded range its place is taken by a very
closely allied species, Otis dybowskii. This species, or more

THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA, BURMA AND CEYLON. 25

properly speaking sub-species, has no rufous breast-band in the
male and in that sex there is also a band of white or greyish white
formed by the median wing-coverts. The female differs from the
female of Otis tarda, if at all, in having the head a somewhat
darker grey.

In India the Great Bustard has been obtained on only four
occasions ; on one of these, two females having been shot, on the
other three occasions single females.

lt was first obtained by Hume’s collectors in 1870 and Hume
thus records the event :—‘‘Once, and once, only as yet, has the
Great Bustard of Europe been obtained within the limits of the
British Empire in the Hast.

“On the 23rd of December 1870, a couple of my collectors, who
were working at Mardan, under the Direction of Dr. J. A. Johnson,
then of the Guides, came across a party of Bustard in some fields
of mustard and giant millet, belonging to Hashtnagar and just
north of the Kabul river. The birds were very shy, but my old
jamadar succeeded, by driving a buffalo in front of him, in getting
within shot and knocking over a female.

“This Hashtnagar is within a few miles of the very most
north-westerly point of British India proper, and is in lat. 34
N. and long. 7:45' HK.

“This party of Bustard did not leave the neighbourhood for
some weeks, but they were so wary that, despite all the efforts of
many sportsmen, Native and Huropean, no second specimen could
be obtained; and notwithstanding repeated subsequent enquiries
from officers stationed at Mardan, Michni and Shabkadar, in the
midst of which Hashtnagar lies, I have never been able to learn
that the Great Bustard has again revisited the locality.”

After this, its next record is that by Col. Fooks, I.M.S., in the
columns of The Field of the 11th February 1911, to which article
my attention was drawn by Capt. A. H. Mosse. Col. Fooks’
interesting note is as follows :—

“Great Bustard shot in India.
rare visitor to India, only one specimen having been shot in Dec-

The Great Bustard is a very

ember 1870. Now, after forty years, two others were shot on

January 8, by a duffadar of the 15th Lancers near the place where
4

26 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX1.

the first was killed. It was very cold over the north of India
about Christmas, the thermometer falling to within half a degree
of the record, which accounts for their presence here, and also for
some Mute and Bewick’s swans which have lately been seen on the
Kabul river near Risalpur. In north China I once saw a large
number of the European and the Great Indian Bustards on the
same ground. It was interesting to note the difference between
them ; the latter were always scattered when feeding, and rose and
flew independently like houbara, the lesser bustard, but the former
did not separate so much when on the ground, and rose and flew
together more like geese, although, of course, not in V formation.
We do a great deal of hawking round here, especially Houbara,
and it is the greatest ambition to kill one of the great Huropean
bustards with a saker falcon, but up to now no flight has been
obtained of this fine species.”

To this record Col. Fooks adds in epistola :—‘‘ The Great European
Bustards were first seen here about the 20th December 1910, and
migrated northwards again about the first week in February. I
went after them several times to try and get a complete skin for
the Bombay Natural History Museum, but was usually unable to
find them when I had a gun, although I saw them several times
when hawking Houbara. We flew a Goshawk at a flock (1 don’t
know the right term) of eleven of them which we saw one day,
but as the Great European Bustard keep together when on the
wing, and do not separate like the Great Indian Bustard or Hou-
bara, I rather fancy the hawk was afraid to come to close quarters,
although we had a flight of about 3 miles and nearly lost the hawk.
A duffadar of this regiment shot 2 females on the 6th January,
they were both females and weighed 93 lbs. each. It is interest-
ing to note that these were killed in the same neighbourhood as
the only previously reported one was, 40 years ago. I should
think that probably about 25 of these birds were seen in this
district, all told. Iwas able to recognize them before any were
shot by their mode of flight, as they always keep more or less
together on the ground and rise and fly together.”

The fourth specimen which has been shot within Indian limits
was killed by Capt. H. M. Symonds at Jacobabad, Sind, on the

THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA, BURMA AND CEYLON, 27

12th January 1911. As already stated this bird is a female and
apparently not full grown. It is said to have weighed 5 lbs. when
cleaned which would have given a weight of about 8 lbs. to the

whole bird.

Finally the skin of another young female has been secured by

Capt. Lyall, Chitral, and sent to the Bombay fociety’s Museum.
This bird was shot by Lieutenant Stirling on the 30th March 1911,
and Capt. Lyall in forwarding the specimen says in epistola:— As
far as I know the Bustard has not been recorded in Chitral, but I
found that the Chitralis had got a name for the bird, ‘ Deo dagh,’
though it is said to be a rare one.”

It is interesting to note that all our records are of very young
birds; a corroboration of the theory that young birds travel and
migrate further than old ones.

In its general habits the Great Bustard closely feueeables our

Great Indian Bustard, but the few occasions on which it has been
seen in India have not given much opportunity for observation, and

it is on European authors, therefore, that we must rely for inform-
ation.

Dresser, in ‘“‘ European Birds”’ gives the following interesting
account of the habits of the Great Bustard :—‘‘ The Great Bustard
frequents open, flat ground, preferring grassy plains or cultivated
land, but avoiding localities near human habitations, and places
where there are trees and bushes and where it cannot command an
aninterrupted view over a large tract of country. It is peculiarly
wary and shy; and it is almost impossible to approach it within
gun shot range. Hilly country, and especially mountains, it avoids
altogether, and is never met with in the woodlands and forests. It
specially frequents cultivated fields, and is often found in those
where rapeseed, wheat and rye have been sown. It passes the
night in the open fields, choosing places where it cannot be
approached without taking alarm, and is so watchful that it is
impossible to surprise it when asleep. It leaves its night-quarters
at the first break of dawn, and during the hot summer days will
often take a siesta during the hottest part of the day, but it is then
equally wary and difficult of approach. - It flies with more ease
than one would imagine, considering the size and weight of the

28 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

bird and has no difficulty in taking wing, at once springing up
into the air without first taking a step or two, and appears to
prefer taking safety in flight rather than by making use of its legs.
When it flies it stretches out its neck and legs and is thus easily
distinguishable . . . . . . Early in Spring, according to the mild-
ness of the season, they commence to prepare for the cares of
nidification ; and the flocks then by degrees break up. The males
fight desperately for the possession of the females, and may at that
season of the year be seen strutting about, acting not unlike a
Turkeycock.”

As regards its flight all authors do not agree with Dresser, and
some have remarked that this Bustard has to run a step or two
before it can raise itself on the wing. Probably a good deal
depends on the breeze, as a headwind would help the bird to get
the use of his wings at once. Also, a bird suddenly startled, would
use an extra effort and start into flight from where it stood, whereas a
bird rising under ordinary circumstances might take matters more
leisurely and run a pace or two before exerting itself to take to
flight.

Col. Verner says that ‘‘The flight of the Great Bustard is
extraordinarily quick and without effort. Before they take wing
they simply walk for a few paces—no attempt at a run—and,
opening their white wings, flap away in what appear to be a most
leisurely manner. Save when there is a strong wind, or when
coming off higher ground, they rarely fly more than thirty yards
above the grounds, and hence, when they take the right direction,
afford good driving shots. Nothing, however, is more deceptive
than the pace they fly at, for owing to the steady beats of their
immense pinions, some 8 ft. across, they seem to the eye to be
moving slowly; but they are not.

“To appreciate the extraordinary speed they travel at it is
necessary to have a bird pass close over one. More than once
when lying absolutely prone on my face amid a few dead thistles

. a Great Bustard has passed only a few yards over my
lair, at times coming from behind or from some unexpected
quarter whilst all one’s energies were concentrated in the direction
whence the driven hirds were expected. On such occasions before

THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA, BURMA AND CEYION. 29

one can alter one’s position and rise to shoot, it has passed out of
shot !”’

Messrs. Chapman and Buck’s description agrees well with that
of Col. Verner—-“‘'Two quick steps and a spring and the broad
wings of every bird in the pack flap in slowly rising motion.”
Later on in the book (p. 252) they add ‘‘ Tardy strokes deceive the
eye, and the great bulk of the Bustard accentuates the deception
—it seems impossible to miss them, a fatal error.”

*“ Yet geese with their 40 strokes fly past, ducks at 120, and the
bustard’s apparently leisured movement carries him in full career as
fast as whirring grouse with 200 revolutions to the minute. To
kill bustard treat them on the same basis as the smaller game
that appears faster but is not.”’

In former times the Bustard was considered a great delicacy for
the table, as, indeed, were many other birds which it would take a
very hungry man to tackle now-a-days. As also with many other
birds, recent diet has much to do with their flavour, and whilst
often its flesh may be found quite palatable, at other times it may
be almost uneatable. Oates says:—‘‘The Great Bustard has a
peculiar and very disagreeable smell when alive, and its flesh is not
now held in much esteem. Dr. H. T. Aitchinson informs us that
when he was on the Afghan Delimitation Commission, a flock of
these Bustards was met with, and Lieut. Rawlins succeeded in
shooting one, but the stench of the bird was so great he almost
thought of leaving it; it was so dark that he scarcely knew what it
was that he had got, and the scent was almost enough to put off
anyone from even a new acquisition. Notwithstanding this
however, we are told that the flesh was eaten next day and found
excellent.”

Finn, in his “‘ Indian Waders” also comments on this curious
smell of the Bustard, and suggests that, it may be this which
accounts for the strange antipathy which is alleged to exist be-
tween horses and Bustards: He quotes Pallas as saying in his
“‘Zoographia Russo-Asiatica”’ that horses will trample on sitting
hens should they get the chance, and he adds that Bustards have
got into trouble in England by attacking horses.

It is said that Bustards have been captured by being run down

30 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXJ.

on horse-back and this may be true when they are found in places
where relays of horses and horsemen can take up the pursuit,
otherwise it seems incredible that birds of such power of wing
should be thus tired out and caught. They can certainly fly faster
than any horse can gallop across country, unless for a very short
distance, and if not at once put up by a fresh horse and rider and
forced to fly again, would have ample time to recover before its
exhausted pursuer could come to close quarters.

During the non-breeding season the Bustard is generally found
in flocks (or droves, as flocks of these birds are usually termed).
These droves may number anything from half a dozen to twenty
birds, but, according to some authors, they are often seen together
in much larger numbers than this, and Hume speaks of parties of
50 Bustards being seen together; whilst Colonel Willoughby
Verner speaks to himself having seen 74 birds together in
Andalucia; and Col. Irby records that ‘‘ Bustards are usually found
in troops varying from half a dozen birds to as many as 50 or 60
and in September we have seen 200 together.” Very often these
droves may break up and scatter over a large area of country when
feeding, but when disturbed, leaving the ground for some other,

they again unite and fly off together.
Bustards are very omnivorous, but their food undoubtedly con-

sists mainly of grasshoppers and other insects, in addition to
which they eat all sorts of grain and a good deal of green vegetable
matter. When hungry or at all hard-pressed for foo! they will eat
worms, small lizards, snakes, small mammals, such as shrews, mice,
etc., and also the eggs of such other birds as deposit them on the
ground. It has, like others of this family, a quaint habit of pick-
ing up and toying with any small bright object it may come across
and also of swallowing the same, either by accident or design. In
the same way small pebbles have often been taken from the internal
arrangements of Bustards, but these are probably only swallowed
as an aid to digestion. The specimen shot by Humv’s collec-
tors was found to have been feeding entirely on green mustard
leaves.

The Bustard is believed by many writers never to drink and
probably does so very seldom, but Finn has observed this bird

THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA, BURMA AND CEYLON, 31

drinking when in confinemeat in the Zoological Gardens in Lon-
don, and its not drinking may be a habit from which it departs
where water is plentiful. According to Messrs. Chapman and
Buck the fact that it does drink often leads to its destruction.
They write :—‘‘ There is, however, one period of the year when
the great bustard falls an easy prey to the clumsiest of gunners.”

“« During the long Andulucian summer a torrid sun has shrunk
up every brook and stream that crosses the cultivated lands; the
chinky, cracked mud, which in winter formed the bed of shallow
lakes and lagoons, now yields no drop of moisture for birds or
beasts. ‘The larger rivers still carry their waters from sierra to
sea, but an adaptive genius is required to utilise these for pur-
poses of irrigation. All water required for the cattle is drawn up
from wells; the old world lever with its bucket at one end and
its counterpoise at the other has to provide for the needs of all.
These wells are distributed all over the plains. As the herdsmen
put the primitive contrivances into operation and swinging up
bucketful after bucketful of cool water, the cattle crowd around,
impatient to receive it as it rushes down the stone troughing. The
thirsty animals drink their fill, splashing and wasting as much
as they consume, so that a puddle is always formed about these
bebideros. The moisture only extends a few yards, gradually
diminishing, till the trickling streamlet is lost in the famishing
soil,

“These moist places are a fatal trap to the bustard. Before
dawn one of the farm-people will conceal himself so as to command.
at a short range all points of the miniature swamp. A slight
hollow is dug for the purpose, having clods arranged around,
between which the gun can be levelled with murderous accuracy.
As day begins to dawn, the Bustard will take a flight in the direc-
tion of the well, alighting at a point some few hundred yards dis-
tant. They satisfy themselves that no enemy is about, and then,
with cautious, stately step, make for their morning draught.
One big bird steps on ahead of the rest; and as he cautiously
draws near, he stops now and again to assure himself that all is
right and that his companions are coming too—these are not in
a compact body, but following at intervals of a few yards. The

32 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXII,

leader has reached the spot where he drunk yesterday; now he
finds he must go a little nearer to the well, as the streamlet has
been diverted ; another bird follows close; both lower their heads
to drink; the gunner has them in line—at twenty paces there is no
escape; the trigger is pressed, and two magnificent bustards are
done to death. Should the man be provided with a second barrel
(which is not usual), a third victim may be added to his morning’s
spoils.”

Messrs. Chapman and Buck also describe a second method which
the Spanish cultivators and cattlemen employ in winter.. This is
shooting them at night with the assistance of a dark lantern, much
in the same way as in India our cultivators in many parts of the
country kill deer, or as poachers in Wales spear Salmon.

To cover their movements and to lull the suspicions of the
Bustards, the cattlemen carry on their wrists a cattle bell or cencerro,
to which the Bustards are accustomed and of which they have no
fear.

Many hens and young birds are also killed by so-called sportsmen
during the breeding season, when the hens sit close and the young
are not sufficiently advanced to seek safety in flight.

The two legitimate means of obtaining this grand game-bird are
by driving and—a less sporting method—by working them in a
grain cart as one shoots Black-buck in India. The latter method
requires no description, for it is well known to most sportsmen in
India, but the driving of Bustard requires so much special care and
so much local knowledge that I again indent on Messrs. Chapman
and Buck for their most interesting account of such a drive :—

‘The district having been selected, it is advisible to send out
the night before a trustworthy scout who will sleep at the corizjo
and be abroad with the dawn in order to locate precisely the
various bandatas, or troops of bustard, in the neighbourhood.
The shooting party (three or four guns for choice, but in no
case to exceed six) follow in the morning—riding, as a rule, to
the rendezvous.”

‘“‘ Arrived at the cortijo, the scout brings in his report, and at
once guns and drivers, all mounted, proceed towards the nearest
of the marked bandadas . . . . The drivers should number

THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA, BURMA AND CEYLON, 33

three—the centre two flush the birds, two flankers to gallop at top
speed in any direction should the game diverge from the required
course or attempt to break out latterally.”

“Ten minutes’ ride and we are within view of our first bandada,
still a mile away. They may be feeding on some broad slope,
resting on the crest of a ridge, or dawdling on a level plain; but
wherever the game may be—whatever the strategic value of their
position—at least the decision of our own tactics must be clinched
at once. No long lingering with futile discussion, no hesitation,
or continued spying with the glass is permissible. Such follies
instil instant suspicion into the astute brains on yonder hill, and
the honours of the first round pass to the enemy.”

“ For this reason it is imperative to appoint one leader vested
with supreme authority, and whose directions all must obey
instantly and implicitly.”

«The thoughts revolving in the leader's mind during his brief
survey follow these general lines: First which is (a) the favourite,
and (b) the most favourable line of flight of those bustards when
disturbed ; secondly, where can guns best be placed athwart that
line; thirdly, how can the guns reach these points unseen? <A
condition precedent to success is that the firing line shall be drawn
around the bustards fairly close up, yet without their knowledge.
Without a halt the party ride round till out of sight. At the
furthest safe advance, the guns dismount and proceed to spread
themselves out—so far as possible in a semicircle—around the
focal point. At 80 yards, apart each lies pressed on the earth,
utilizing such shelter (if any) as may exist on the naked decline—
say skeleton thistles, a tuft of wild asparagus, or on rare occasions

a natural bank or tiny rain scoop.”
‘« Now we have placed our guns in line and within that short

distance of the unsuspecting game that all but assures a certain
shot. We cannot, let us confess, recall many moments in life of
more tense excitement than those spent thus, lying prone on the
gentle slope listening with every sense on stretch for the cries of
the galloping beaters as in wild career they urge the huge birds
towards a fatal course. Before us rises the curving ridge, its
summit sharply defined against an azure sky—azure but empty.

34. JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX1I.

Now the light air wafts to our ear the tumultuous pulsations of
giant wings and five seconds later that erst empty ether is crowded
with two score huge forms. What a scene—and what commotion
as, realising the danger, each great bird with strong and laboured
wine-stroke swerves aside. One enormous barbon directly over-
head receives first attention ; a second, full broadside, presents no
more difficulty, and ere the double thuds behind have attested the
result, we realize that a third, shying off from our neighbour, is
also ‘our meat ’.”

The Bustard breeds all over Central and Southern Europe,
where there is suitable country obtainable, and in former days was
often known to breed in England, especially in the South-Eastern
countries. Its strongholds in Hurope, however, are Spain and
Central and Southern Russia. From Europe it extends to Nor-
thern Africa and through Asia Minor and Persia as far as the
extreme N.-W. of India andjinto Afghanistan. The birds seen and
recorded from Eastern Siberia and China are the nearly allied
species, dybowsku, which is often not distinguishable from our
bird.

During the courting season the male is said to display the most
extravagant anticks. Finn says that when courting ‘‘the male
combines the extravagances of the Pouter or Fantail pigeons be-
sides turning much of his plumage the wrong way,” to this
combination he may be said to add many of the courting attitudes
of the Turkey. Where there is a slight eminence, handy proceed-
ings are usually commenced by the bird climbing up this and
calling loudly until a female or females are attracted, when he
descends and goes through a variety of strutting and bowing
actions until he thinks he has won the heart of the coveted female.
He also erects his feathers, spreads his tail and displays his wings
in a trailling position and struts round his bride much as a
Turkey does. These actions and the curious twisting of the
feathers are most beautifully shown in a plate opposite p. 260
in “ Unexplored Spain,” and this plate also shows how the general
appearance becomes white during the pre-nuptial contortions and
displays.

The Bustard is polygamous, but it is rather unfair to the male

THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA, BURMA AND CEYLON. 3D

to leave the matter thus; for there is no doubt that the female
will accept the attentions of any male who can succeed in con-
quering her husband for the time being and adopting his harem.
The males fight desparately during the breeding season, and are
said by some observers often to seriously injure one another.
This, however, hardly agrees with Col. Verner’s amusing descrip-
tion of the fights. He writes (p. 137) ‘‘One of the most per-
plexing traits in the Bustard’s character is that he by no means
confines the period of these antics to the season of courtship.
Long after the females have settled down to their eggs in the far
distant corn-lands the males, congregated in big flocks, will con-
tinue to indulge in their frenzied movements, which, so far as |
have ever been able to see, are purely games of * bluff’? and
“swageer’’ which never lead to more than a momentary
encounter—a sort of collision and “fend off” with another bird,
after which both turn about and continue their absurd movements
independently. When one watches such an encounter, one can
almost imagine one inverted old cock saying to another: ‘You
be off!’ «I won’t’ replies Number Two. ‘What! you wont?’
Thunders No. 1., rustling up to him with creaking primaries and
a generally appalling appearance. ‘No!’ says No. 2, equally
erackling all over and strutting around ferociously ‘ Then stay
where you are’ remarks No. 1, wheeling about and adroitly
evading the difficulties of the situation.”

The nest, if such it can be called, is merely a depression in the
soil either natural or scratched in loose sand or earth by the bird
itself. As a rule, the site selected is in some field of grain or
in scrub grass sufficiently high to conceal the sitting bird and its
eggs; but sometimes it is in comparatively or quite open country,
only screened from sun and enemies by a stunted bush or two or a
small patch of withered grass. The hen is said to be a close sitter,
once the eggs are advanced in incubation, but when newly laid she
leaves them at the first signs of danger, and slinking through the
cover, if there is any, takes to wing far from their vicinity.

As with other polygamous birds, the male takes no interest in
the hatching of the eggs or bringing up of the chicks, and these
duties are left entirely to the female.

36 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX1.

The eggs are generally laid in May, the time merely varying
according to the latitude. In its more Northern habitat no eggs
will be found until wellon into May, whilst many may be taken in
June, on the other hand, in Northern Africa, South Russia and
Asia Minor it is said sometimes to lay in the end of April, and
egos have been taken in North Africa as early as the first week of
that month.

The normal clutch of eggs is generally said to be two and occa-
sionally but one egg is incubated. On the other hand, three eggs
are sometimes laid in a clutch, although this would seem to be
rather rare and four and even five eges have been taken from the
same nest. There are two clutches in the British Museum, both
in the Seebohm Collection, which contains three eggs, one taken at
Halberstadt, Germany, on the 22nd May, and the other at Choousk-
Keui, Asia Minor, on the 11th May.

Both Col. Verner and Col. Irby, however, consider 3 or 4 the
normal clutch. The former says :—‘ It is well known to all inter-
ested in bird-life that when once a ‘ fact’ regarding natural history
has been duly recorded, it takes a long time to disprove it, succes-
sive authorities being content to quote from one another without
seeking for further information. Among such is the generally
accepted statement regarding the number of eggs laid by the
Great Bustard which has been recorded as two from time imme-
morial, with the explanation that when four eggs are found in a
nest ‘no doubt two females have laidin it’. In consequence when
I first saw a nest with four eggs I duly noted the fact and
entered the usual stock explanation in my diary. By good chance
my notes some years later were read by the late Lord Lilford,
undoubtedly one of the best authorities on the birds of the Spanish
Peninsular, who very kindly pencilled across the page: ‘ The
Great Bustard often lays four and rarely five eggs. L.’”

«¢ Some years later | met with a second nest with four eggs as
recorded by Colonel Irby.”

«¢ After Col. Irby’s book appeared, I on several occasions found
Bustards’ nests with three eggs, not four, sometimes considerably
incubated but it was not until last year that after a long interval
I chanced to be among the Bustards at the right time. In May,

THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA, BURMA AND CEYLON. 37

1907, in one beanfield, I came across no fewer than four nests
containing respectively four, three, three, and two eggs. The set
of four were somewhat incubated, as were one of the sets of three,
the remainder being quite fresh.”’

‘“‘ My conclusion, based on many years’ experience, is that Great
Bustards commonly lay three or four eggs, but in some instances
they only lay two, though in others even five eges.”’

Normally the eggs of the Great Huropean Bustard are broad
eclipses in shape, rarely oval, and still more rarely with both ends
somewhat pointed. Dresser, in ‘‘ Huropean Birds’’, gives the
greatest and least dimensions of ten as 3:47"' by 2:18" and 3-075"
by 2:075" respectively. Im his “ Palzartic Birds” he gives the
average as 3°22" x 2:12".

The 26 eggs in the British Museum collection vary between
2°7'"' and 3:35"' in length and between 2:0"' and 2:4"' in breadth.
I have no eggs as large as the largest of Dresser’s in my collection,
but I have a pair from South Russia which measure only 2°65" x
1:98" and 2°63" x 1:99,"" These are unusually small, almost
abnormal, though both were, I believe, fertile eggs.

The ground colour varies very much, it may be a dark-stone
colour, grey stone, dull olive-grey, or olive-brown, olive-buff or
even olive-brown with a tinge of yellow; nine eggs out of ten,
however, will be found to be olive, either olive-brown or olive-grey,
more often the former, though even this will vary considerably in
depth and richness of tone. Dresser says that sometimes the
eround colour may be an almost uniform dull bluish, but in the
very large series I have examined lately I have seen none such.
The marks consist of blotches, smudges and clouds of dull-brown
of various shades and density, sometimes reddish and occasionally
purplish. These are seldom very numerous and sometimes very
scanty and are distributed fairly evenly over the whole surface of
the egg, being but rarely any more thickly scattered over the
larger end than elsewhere.

The secondary or underlying spots are of paler brown and grey,
as a rule the latter colour predominating. These markings are
often tinted with purple or pink and are generally less well defined

than the superior markings. I have seen a few eggs which have,

388 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

in addition to the markings already described, a few streaks and
lines of very deep rich brown, in one or two almost black.
The texture is rather coarse, but extremely close and hard, and
most eggs carry a very fine gloss, though this varies and is
“sometimes practically absent.

OTIS TETRAX.
The Little Bustard.

Otis tetraw.—Linn., Syst. Nat., i, p. 264 (1766) ; Jerdon, B. of I.,
ili, p. 625; Blyth, [dis, 1867, p. 163; Beavan, zbid, 1868, p. 388;
Blanford, Hast Persia, ii, p. 287; Scully, Str. F., iv, p. 184; Hume,
ibid. vii, p. 485; Hume and Marsh. Game-B. i, p. 3; Hume Cat.
No. 836; ibid, Str. Feath., viii, p. 111; Biddulph, Zbis 1881, p. 84;
Scully, ibid, p. 586; Swinh. ibid, 1882, p. 119; St. John, aid,
1889, p. 175; Sharpe, Yark. Miss. Aves, p. 145; Blanford, Avi.
B. I., iv, p. 198 3° Finn} Indian Waders’ ip. 1135) Wand) 5 Ne
H.S. Journal xvii, p. 945; Mitchell, cbid, xx, p. 1154; Verner,
‘“‘ My life among the Wild Birds of Spain,” p. 149 et seg. Chap-
man and Buck, ‘“‘ Unexplored Spain,” p. 262 et seq.

Tetrax tetrax.—Sharpe, Cat. B. M., xxiii, p. 287, wbid, Hand List,
i, 174; Oates, Eges of B. M., ii, p. 85; ibid, Game-B, i, p. 409.

Vernacular names.—Chota tilur, Obara, Punjabi; Kum-tokosi,
Turki; Charaz, Baluchi.

Adult Male in breeding plumage.—General colour above sandy
buff, coarsely vermiculated with black, and also showing some black
blotches in the centre of the feathers; rump a little grayer than
the back, the feathers being freckled with whitish instead of sandy
buff; upper tail coverts white or white mottled with a few blackish
markings; wing coverts like the back, but somewhat more sparsely
vermiculated with black; lesser and median coverts white at the
ends, and more or less freckled with black; the external coverts,
bastard wing and greater coverts pure white, the inner ones
slightly freckled or spotted with blackish; primary-coverts black-
ish, narrowly tipped with white; quills white, mostly blackish
towards the ends, the tips of these feathers being again white, so
that the black mark becomes subterminal; the outer primaries

blackish with white bases, the white gradually increasing towards

THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA, BURMA AND CEYLON. 39

the secondaries, which are almost entirely white with an occasional
spot of black. Innermost secondaries like the back; tail-feathers
coarsely freckled with black on a white ground and crossed with
four distinct bars of blackish, which are very pronounced on the
basal half of the tail, which is white without any blackish freck-
lings, the outer feathers broadly tipped with creamy white; crown
of head, nape and hind neck brown, mottled with streaks and
edgings of sandy buff, with a few blue-grey feathers intermixed ;
lores and sides of crown pale and sandy buff, streaked with dark
brown ; feathers above and round the eye uniform creamy buff;
sides of face, ear-coverts, cheeks and throat light bluish grey,
which is bordered by a broad band of black extending from. the
sides of the hind neck diagonally across the latter and uniting in
a broad band which runs down the centre of the lower throat ;
around the hind neck and occupying the sides of the latter is a
broad extent of black which unites on the upper foreneck ; this is
bordered above by a broad band of white which encircles the hind
neck, separates the black on the sides of the neck, and descending
on the latter to the lower throat, unites there in a point; across
the lower foreneck a broad black band, which is separated from
the lower throat by a band of white which traverses the foreneck
also; remainder of undersurface pure white; sites of the upper
breast sandy-coloured and mottled with black like the upper parts ;
underwing coverts, axillaries and quill-lining pure white.

Adult Female.—Whole upper surface rich buff or rufous buff,
vermiculated with black and with black central lines here and
there widening into blotches; on the hind neck the markings
are very fine and the buff replaced by brown ; the black markings
on the crown form irregular bars; lesser wing coverts like the
back but less profusely marked with black, median coverts the
same but with still less black and with the buff becoming almost
white at the tips, greater coverts white with dark brown or blackish
shaft streaks and with a few scattered specks and spots of black
which become regular subterminal bars on the innermost; pri-
maries dark brown mottled with white at the tips and with white
bases, concealed on the outermost but increasing in extent until

the innermost are nearly all white, outer secondaries white, with

40 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

specks and bars of black at wide intervals, inner secondaries like
the back. Chin and upper throat dull buff or brownish white,
the underneck the same streaked with black and buff sides of
head like throat but streaked finely with black; lower throat and
breast dull pale buff, the former streaked and the latter barred
with black. The centre of the breast is generally nearly white,
as is the lower breast, and the bars are wider apart. Under the
wing the buff extends down the breast for some two or more
inches ; remainder of underparts, flanks and underwing coverts
white ; some of the feathers of the flanks with black shafts and
here and there a black spot.

Male in Winter.—Resembles the female but the vermiculations
are finer and the black markings less bold. The black crescentic
marks on the lower breast are also less defined and regular.

Young.—‘ General distinguishable from the adult by the greater
amount of barring on the chest, by the more profuse barring on
the upper tail-coverts and the sandy frecklings of the primary
coverts.”” (Sharpe).

In this species. unlike Otis tarda, there is little difference in size
between the sexes, and whereas in that bird the male greatly
exceeds the female, in this the male, though it averages heavier
and a little bigger, is not apparently so. Hume says in regard to
Indian birds, “1 do not find the sexes differ materially, although
the males unquestionably average rather larger and are perceptibly
heavier.”

“‘The following are dimensions, etc., recorded of Indian speci-
mens :—Length 17 to 19 inches; expanse 33°5 to 36; wing
9-5 to 10-1; tail 4 to 5; tarsus 2:2 to 2°66 ; bill from gape 1-5 to
1:6; weight 1-5 to 2 lbs.” |

“The colours of the soft parts vary a good deal; the legs and
feet are yellow, dusky yellow, greenish yellow, the feet often
browner and dingier; the bill is blackish, greenish black, dusky
horny or brown, generally paler on culmen, and bluish grey,
greenish or yellowish at the base and the irides vary from light
yellow to orange.”

J. F. Naumann says the irides of the young are brownish yellow.

Sharpe notes some curious measurements in the Catalogue, he

THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA, BURMA AND CEYLON. 41

gives the culmen of the male as 1-5" and that of the female
1-1" but the wing of the male as averaging 9-4"' whilst that of the
female is 9:7".

Blanford thus defines the distribution of the Little Bustard
“Southern Hurope, Northern Africa and Central Asia, including
Afghanistan and Yarkand. A few birds occur in Gilgit, and
this species is a regular winter visitant to the extreme North-
Western Punjab near Peshawar. A few stragglers are found
occasionally east of the Indus and the species has been recorded
from Gurdaspur and even from Saharanpur.”

Hume, as usual, gives a good and detailed account of the habitat
of Otis tetrax, both in reference to its whole range and its occur-
rences within Indian limits. He writes :—‘‘The Butterfly Houbara,
as Indian sportsmen in the North-West have not inappropriately
designated the Little Bustard of Europe, is a regular and tolerably
abundant winter visitant to the northern portions of the Trans-
Indus Punjab.

“‘Cis-Indus, they can only be considered rare and occasional
stragglers. In December 1878, Col. Macleod, R.A., shot a fine
male of this species near Gurdaspur, and about the same time Mr.
O. Greig shot a female at Balawala on the bank above the Ganges
Kadar in the Saharanpur district ; and, others must doubtless have
occurred in the submontane tracts of the Punjab and North-
Western Provinces; these are, I believe, the only instances on
record of their being brought to bag.”

“Out of India, the Little Bustard is common in suitable locali-
ties in Southern Europe and Northern Africa, adjoining the basin
of the Mediterranean. It straggles to Northern Europe, even to
the British Isles and Sweden. It occurs, and very numerously, in
some places, in Syria, Asia Minor, the Caucasus, Northern Persia,
Kabul and Northern Baluchistan, and throughout the tract of
country lying between the Caspian and Western Yarkand, whence
we have specimens from Yangihissar, Kashgar and other places in
the plains between these and Sanju.”’

“It does not appear to go north across the Tian Shan, or east-
wards into Mongolia or China; neither Radde, Prjevalski nor
David include it in their lists. ”’

42. JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXT.

A remarkable extension to this birds range is made by records
of three birds obtained in Kashmir. The first of these refers to
one obtained by Col. A. E. Ward near Hajan, Kashmir, in Dec-
ember 1906, and recorded in Vol. XVII of the Journal of the
Bombay Natural History Society; the other two are recorded by
Mr. F. J. Mitchell in Vol. XX of the same journal. Of these two
latter one was shot by Major Brown during a duck drive on the
Hooka Sar Jhil in 1910 and the second by Major Smitb near the
Woolar Lake in early 1911.

The Little Bustard is, of course, only a cold weather visitant to
India, arriving early in October and leaving in March, occasion-
ally staying as late as the first week or two in April. These dates
are very rough but there is a curious absence of all records as to
this bird’s appearance and disappearance from Indian limits and an
almost equal lack of accounts of its ever being shot or hawked.

One of the best general accounts of this bird’s habits, &ec., is
that given by Seebohm and quoted by Oates on pp. 410-411 of
“Game Birds.” Seebohm writes as follows: ‘It is a partial
migrant, arriving at its breeding grounds in flocks early in April,
which are dispersed in May. It is so much less than the Great
Bustard, that by the middle of May the grass and the flowers hide
it completely from view. The females sit very close and are
difficult to find, but the males betray themselves by their curious
notes. As you drive slowly across the steppes, your attention is
arrested by a distant cry, resembling the sound of the syllable
spurrtz. By following with the wagon in the direction whence it
proceeds for a hundred yards or more, you may generally put up
the bird, frequently within shot, but it followed on foot there is
little or no chance of securing it. The flight is quite different to
that of the Great Bustard, more resembling that of the partridge
than that of a heron. The wings are moved with great rapidity
and the flight is very straight, though not very slow. The beats
of the wing are so rapid that they make quite a loud whirring
sound, and they shew more white when flying than the Great
Bustard does. In many respects their flight resembles that of a
butterfly or of a Snow-Bunting. We never saw two males

together during the breeding season. The nest can only be found

THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA, BURMA AND CEYLON. 43

by accident. We were driving rather quickly across the steppe,
anxious to reach Kalarath before dark, when suddenly a female
Little Bustard rose within ten feet of the wagon and was speedily
dropped by our Jager, who was sitting gun in hand by the driver.
We jumped out of the carriage, and in a quarter of a minute found
the nest, containing four eggs. The hollow was deeper than that
of the nest of the Great Bustard, and there was a distinct nest of
dry grass and weeds, though very slight ; it was about seven inches
across and well concealed by tufts of a kind of lucerne.”

Mr. M. M. L. Currie has sent me the following interesting note
upon the occurrence of the Lesser Bustard in Ludhiana :—
“ Bustard, 7. ¢., the Lesser Bustard or Obara, commonly called
‘Tilur’ in the Punjab was pretty common in the Dhera Ghazi
Khan where I shot a certain number in the cold weather of
1908-09. They were most common in the dry tract at the foot of
the Sulimans where they seemed to be especially fond of lying up
on a kind of short coarse grass locally known as ‘Ghamn.’ Later
in the year they haunt the fields sown with oil-seeds (faramira).
I have also occasionally seen them down on the low lands near the
Indus. The usual number seen together was three or four, but
once or twice I have seen as many as a dozen together. The
method of shooting most often employed is with camels. The
sportsman dismounts and taking cover behind the camel continues
to approach in circles till within range when he advances towards
the spot where the bird is lying till he puts it up.

“The best bag I ever saw made in this manner was by a com-
panion of mine who got six birds one day whilst I, not so
fortunate, shot but one. It is said to be possible at times to walk
them up in the oil-seeds, but I never did so with any success.”

The Lesser Bustard is capable of straight, strong flight but often
indulges in most curious vagaries when on the wing, rising to a
great height and then twisting and twirling about in an indefinite
kind of manner until it makes up its mind to go straight away.
Some of my correspondents, however, who have met with this bird
principally in grain and mustard fields, which offer good cover,
describe it as lying very close, easy to walk up and easy to kill
when once flushed. They describe the flight as being much like

44 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX.

that of a Partridge, though perhaps not so fast, and the bird is
said to get up with a good deal of Auster of wings but once
up to ‘get into its stride” and away at once. Others who
have pursued this Bustard in more open plains describe the bird as
shy and difficult to approach, rising far out of shot, but as being a
poor, weak flier with a ‘flip, flap sidelong action” looking as if
the bird could not make up its mind where to go.

Colonel Willoughby Verner in “ My life among the Wild Birds
of Spain” says ‘‘ Their flight is effected by extremely rapid beats
of the wing, noticeable even at great distances, owing to the flash-
ing of the sunlight on the white portions. The noise produced by
their quick motion is one which once heard can never be forgotten
and can be likened to a quick sibilant sound of ‘see-see-see-see ©
suggestive of that produced by the steam of a railway engine as it
gathers way.”

Messrs. Chapman and Buck, in commenting on the impossibi-
lity of driving the Little Bustard, write “‘ You cannot diagnose
beforehand his probable line of flight, for he has none, nor can
you influence its subsequent direction. For the little bustard
shuts off all negotiation at its initiation by springing vertically in
air, soaring far above gunshot, and there indulging in fantas-
tic eerial evolutions more in the style of a wigeon or other wild-
fowl than of a true game-bird as he is. Thus from that celestial
altitude he spies out the country and all terrestial dangers, finally
disappearing afar amidst the waste of atmospheric space.
Frequently we have noticed the high-flying band, after, say, twenty
minutes of such display of wing-power, descend directly to their
original position at a safe interval after the drivers had passed
forward thereof!’

Hume says that “At times, especially early and late, they are
very wary, but at other times, chiefly, | think, when the sun is
high and hot, they will lie as close as a Button Quail.”

“They are often shot, bags of ten or a dozen couple having
been reported ; but it is chiefly as a quarry for falcons that they are
esteemed, and in the neighbourhood of Mardan, hawking
with the Saker or Chargh Falcon used to be a standing
amusement.

THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA, BURMA AND CEYLON. 45

«They are broad-breasted, compact, strong birds but withal
easily killed though perhaps less so than the Florican.”

The food of this Little Bustard is as varied as that of its big
cousin, and though it lives principally on grain and ereen food it
will devour anything in the insect line, and also slugs, snails,
worms, and even small lizards, frogs, etc.

As an article for the table, opinions differ greatly, but whilst
many consider it a delicacy, few condemn it altogether, and it
certainly ranks as food not to be despised when once it has been
shot. Messrs. Chapman and Buck declares ‘its flesh to be both
delicate and delicious.”’

Dresser says that during the breeding season the male has a
harsh cry why may be syllablized as trec, trece, and which can be
heard from a great distance, and Col. Willoughby Verner says that
when alarmed “it utters a loud gutteral rattling cry, somewhat
similar to that of a grouse calling in early morning and even more
like that given by the Bustard which we came across on the veldt
between the Orange and Modder Rivers during the eventful days of
November 1899.”

The Lesser Bustard, like other birds of the family, is generally
considered to be polygamous, and constant fighting between the
males goes on throughout the breeding season for the females,
who appear to be indifferent to what male takes them as long as
they have a husband of some kind---Messrs. Chapman and Buck,
however, disagreeing with the above write: ‘‘ They are strictly
monogamous, yet the males ‘shew off’ in the same fantastic way
as great Bustard and Blackcock. ”’

In the more Northern parts of its breeding range the eggs of
the Lesser Bustard are laid late in May and early in June, but
further South most will be found in the first fortnight of May and
some in the end of April.

I have eges from Hast Prussia, dated 26th June, and another
clutch from Italy, dated 135th April.

Their breeding habits and nidification, if such it can be called,
seem to closely resemble those of the Great Bustard. here is
no nest, though sometimes the depression which contains the eggs
may be more or less filled up with grass and weeds, and the

46 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXT.

constant lying on this may have formed it into a hollow cup.
They select, or themselves make this depression, either in standing
crops of grain or mustard or under shelter of a bush or patch of
grass in an open plain and the hen sits very close when once
incubation has begun.

Col. Verner thus describes the nests of the Little Bustard: “Few
nests are more difficult to find than the Little Bustards’, especially
when they are amid the rank herbage on the fallow lands or the
asphodel, when they are as well concealed as a Partridge’s or
Quail’s. They are almost equally baffling when on the plains
amongst the thousands of acres of waving reeds, 2 ft. or 3 ft. in
height, which permit of the old bird running for an indefinite
distance from the nest before taking wing. ‘The same remark
applies to those placed amongst the standing corn.”

‘« The nest varies much in its size and construction, being at
times a well compacted mass of dried grasses and herbage and in
others little more than a chance collection of debris. Where a
nest is well concealed, the female will sit very close and not betray
its situation until almost trodden upon, whereas in more exposed
situations she usually slips off and, crouching, runs some distance
before taking wing.”

«The nest here shewn was amidst a dense growth of coarse
herbage, in which ox-eye daisies and dandelions predominated.
The bird only left when I was within 2 ft. of her and in her scuffle
and alarm drove a claw through one of the eggs. To get a photo-
graph of this nest, we had to clear away much of the surrounding
herbage. The nest was only a slight depression measuring 8
in. across and was lined with grasses and herbs pressed down

around it.”
«The day I found this nest with two eggs was dull and wet with

heavy gusts of wind ... ... It was 18th May and, ... ... a few hours
later on the very same day I came across a second nest about three
miles from the first one. It would be hard to imagine a greater
contrast than it presented, for it was on a bare and open hill-side,
fallow ground with practically no cover on it save that afforded
by some scattered patches of rank herbage. The nest was con-
structed in one of these patches and was quite open to view to any

THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA, BURMA AND CEYLON. 47

passer by as can be seen from the picture. The cup of the nest
was much deeper and better finished than the cup of the first one,
being well lined with grasses. ‘The adroitness of the Little Bus-
tard is shewn by the fact that despite the open nature of the
ground around this nest and of my keeping a sharp look out, we
never saw her leave it and she took wing from a point just 23
yards (measured) from one side of it.”

The number of eggs is generally four, but five eggs have been
taken in the same clutch and three are often found whilst some-
times only two have been incubated.

Aksakoof, as quoted by Dresser, gives the number of eggs laid
as from 8 to 12, but this, of course, is incorrect and is probably
due to a mistake of some kind, as even clutches of five eggs are
exceedingly rare.

Oates, in his British Museum Catalogue of eggs, thus describes
the eggs of Otis tetra: ‘The eggs of the Little Bustard are of
a short pointed oval form, frequently elliptical and sometimes
spheroidal. They are highly glossy. The ground is dark olive-
ereen or olive-brown, and occasionally of a buff colour, and this
is marked with streaks, clouds and blotches of very pale reddish
brown or yellowish brown. The underlying markings are hardly
separable from the ground colour. Many specimens are marked
so faintly that they appear to be quite plain coloured; but when
closely examined the markings can always be made out. The
egos measure from 1-92 to 2°23 in length and from 1:43 to 1:6
in breath.”’

In addition to the ground colours mentioned above I have one
clutch which is a pale french grey with the markings very
pronounced and dense, and two others again which might be
termed olive-blue upon which the markings, though faint, contrast
well and distinctly.

I have no eggs of the shape Oates describes as “short, pointed
oval,”’ mine all being spheroidal, or nearly so.

The texture is much finer and closer than that of the ege of the
Great Bustard and is more consistently highly glossed.

My eggs average 1-92’ x 1-44'" and Dresser gives the average
of his eggs as 1:95" x 1:45".

NOTES ON BUTTERFLIES FROM THE NAGA HILLS.
BY

Masor H. C. Tytier, 17TH INFANTRY.
(With Plate A.)
Parr I.

The only account of butterflies from the Naga Hills, as far as I
am aware, is that by Mr. H. J. Elwes, P. Z.8., 1891, p. 249, and
1892, p. 647; in these notes Mr. Elwes gives a list of the rarer and
more interesting butterflies collected in the years 1889 and 1890
by Mr. Doherty in the Naga and Karen Hills and in Perak and
also a few in the Assam valley.

In these notes I have included all the commoner butterflies most
of which were probably taken by Mr. Doherty, but not mentioned
by Mr. Elwes, and also a few not found by him; this is by no
means a complete list and no doubt many other forms will turn up
especially amongst the Lyceenide and Hesperiide.

As far as possible I have given exact dates, localities and
altitudes where the insects were captured and hope this will assist
future collectors when working these interesting hills.

Since Mr. Doherty visited these hills the Assam Bengal Railway —
has been built and passes within a march of Nichuguard on the
frontier, and so access to these hills is now very much easier.

The area collected over by myself and my collectors consists of—

(1) The low country at the foot of the hills between Nichu-
guard, about 700 ft. and Gaspani, 1,700 ft.; this consists almost
entirely of fine forest and is excellent collecting ground.

(2) The country close to Kohima from 3,000 ft. to 5,000 ft.,
here the hillsides are extensively cultivated and what little forest
there is is of recent growth, consequently good butterflies are not
plentiful.

(3) The country above the cart road between Kohima and
Maothana, on the Manipur frontier, from 5,000 ft. to 7,000 ft. ;
this is grand collecting ground, the hills are steep and covered

with thick virgin forest.

WXPLANATION OF PLATE A.

Mig. |. Lethe brisandra, de N. g

2. b) 3 " 2 Wy
oe ,, @inarbas, Hewitson g
4. 9 9 2 Q

0. Apatura florencia, m. sp. g upperside.

6, 4p 4G » o underside.

7. Cyllogenes janetee, de. N. ¢

Journ. Bompay Nat. Hist. Soc. Prats A.

NaGa Hitn BUTTERFLIES,

NOTES ON BUTTERFLIES FROM THE NAGA. HILLS. 49

(4) A few specimens were also obtained at Tamlu, at the
Northern extremity of the Naga Hills, and given to me very kindly
by Capt. Bliss.

Famity—NYMPHALID.
Sub-family—DanaInz.

1. Danais plexippus, Z.—Occurs from the foot of the hills up to 5,000 ft.
throughout the year.

2. Danais chrysippus, 7.—A few specimens obtained at the foot of the
hills in J anuary and February.

3. Danais tytia, Gray.— Common near Kohima from August to October,
one specimen obtained at the foot of the hills in February.

4. Danais melanea, Cramer.— Not common, afew specimens obtained near
Kohima from August to October.

5. Danais limniace, Cramer.—Not very common, specimens were obtained
at the foot of the hills in November and at Kohima from April to
August.

6. Danais septentrionis, Dutler—Occurs commonly near Kohima from
August to November, a few specimens were obtained at the foot of the
hills in January and February.

7. Danais melanoides, Moore.—Common at the foot of the hills in Feb-
ruary and March, and in the vicinity of Kohima from August to
November.

8. Euplea hopei, Melder.—Taken at the foot of the hills in March and
October and near Kohima in April and May ; in the latter month it is very
common. .

9. Euplea alcathoe, Godart.—Not common, taken at the foot of the hills
in February, April, July and November.

10. Euplea dione, Westwood.—I have not obtained this butterfly but it
is included in Mr. J. L. Sherwill’s list of butterflies from the Naga Hills.

11. Euplea diocletiana, Fabr.—A common butterfly, taken at low eleva-
tions throughout the year; females are rare.

12. Euploea klugii, Moore.—Two specimens of the form indigofera, Moore,
were obtained at the foot of the hills in May.

13. Euplea splendens, Butier.—Not common, taken at low elevations in
January, May, August and November and a single specimen at 5,000 ft.
in November.

14, Euplea mulciber, Cramer.An extremely common butterfly through-
out the year from the foot of the hills up to 6,000 ft.

Sub-family—Satyrin Zz.

15. Mycalesis anaxias, Hewitson.—Mr. Moore records this from the Naga
Hills but I have not yet obtained it.
7

50 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXT.

16. Mycalesis sanatana, Moore.—A few wet season forms were obtained
in May, October and November, and a single dry season form in May all

at about 5,000 ft.
17. Mycalesis charaka, MJoore.—Mr. Moore records this species from the

Naga Hills.

18. Mycalesis orseis, Hewitson.--Recorded from the Naga Hills, but I
have not met with it yet.

19. Mycalesis mineus, Zinn.—Dry° season forms were obtained at the
foot of the hills in February and at Kohima commonly in October and
November. Wet seasons forms occurred commonly at Kohima from August
to October.

20. Mycalesis visala, 1ooie.—T wo wet season forms were obtained at the
foot of the hills in May and dry season forms at 2,000 ft. to 5,000 ft. in
October and November.

21. Mycalesis malsarida, Dwtier.—Recorded from the Naga Hills but |
have not met with it.

22, Myealesis malsara, Moore.—A single dry season form was obtained
at Phiphima, 4,000 ft. in February.

23. Mycealesis lepcha, Moore.—Dry season forms obtained at Gaspani.
2,000 ft. and at Kohima in March and April, and wet season forms at
Kohima in August and October.

24. Mycalesis nicotia, Hewtson.—A single male, wet season form, was
obtained at Kohima in August.

95. Orsotriena meda, fab;.—A single male taken at 5,000 ft.

26. Lethe rohria, ‘abr.—Males common at Kohima and at the foot of
the hills, April to November. Females rare.

27. Lethe dinarbas, Hewrtson.—Pl. A, figs.3 ¢,4 2. Three males and
three females taken at 7,000 ft. im September anda male at 6,000 ft. in
October.

28. Lethe brisanda, de N.—P1. A, figs. 1 ¢, 2 9. Three males and a
female at 7,000 ft. and two males at 5,500 ft. taken in September and
November. Bingham considers that L. dinarbas and L. brisanda to be merely
races of Z. insana. I however consider that ZL. brisanda is specifically
distinct from L. dinarbas; the differences are clearly shewn in the figures on
plate A. Both these forms, @.¢., drisanda and dinarbas fly together and I do
not consider it possible for races of one species to do this. .

The female taken is very different to the form figured in Moore’s Lep.
Ind. vol. 1, pl. 85, fig. 3 (a), but I have no doubt that I have identified it
correctly as the characteristic markings are the same as in the male, In
Moore’s figure they certainly are not. Mr. Heron who kindly examined
it for me is also of the opinion that it is the female of L. brisanda.

I give a description of it as it does not agree with de Nicéville’s original
description. Upperside, as in male but paler, the discal band on forewing

NOTES ON BUTTERFLIES FROM THE NAGA HILLS. 51

slightly broader and paler, beyond it three of the subapical ocelli of the
underside shew through as black spots on a pale ground of the same colour
as the discal band; above these spots inclined inwards are two pale
brown diffuse spots in interspaces 6 and 7, the upper one minute. . Hind-
wing with all the spots more conspicuous than in the male, those in
interspaces 2 and 3 centred with white and distinctly encircled with
yellowish brown, that in interspace 4 indistinctly encircled with the same
colour and with no white pupil, those in interspaces 5 and 6 diffuse and
blind and not encircled with an outer rmg. The geminate spot in inter-
space 1 on the underside does not show through.

Underside as in male but paler: forewing, the discal band a little more
eurved, broader and paler; the area between it and the submarginal lines
near the tornal angle yellowish brown ; above which are four submarginal
spots placed on a lilacine ground in interspaces 3, 4,5 and 6; the lower
three being black with white pupils, encircled with yellow and a narrow
outer ring of darker colour ; the upper spot lilacine with a dark outer ring.
Hindwing asin male but lighter and the yellow rings round the occelli
brighter.

The male and female can at once be distinguished from the same sexes
of Lethe dinarbas as follows :-—

(1) In L. brisanda the discal band is directed towards a point on the
dorsum short of the tornal angle, whereas in L. dinarbas it is directed either
towards the tornal-angle, or to a point on the termen above it.

(2) The submarginal spots on the underside of the forewing in L. brisanda
are four, in LZ. dinarbas three.

(3) The termen of the hindwing at vein 4 in JL. brisanda is prolonged
into a more distinct tooth than in L. dinarbas and. gives the wing a different
appearance.

In addition to the above differences the female of Z. brisanda has the
discal band narrow, pale-brown and curved, the female of Z. dinarbas has
it broad pure white and straight.

29. Lethe confusa, Azrzvellius.—The wet season form is common at Kohima
from July to October and the dry season form which appears to be undes-
cribed was taken commonly from the foot of the hills up to 3,000 feet in
February and April.

Description of the dry season form.—

Upperside: the same as in the wet season form except thas on the
hindwing the submarginal ocelli are more conspicuous and in some speci-
mens distinctly ringed with yellow. Underside: differs from the wet
season form as follows: the ground colour between the discal band and
the apex of the forewing and also that on the anterior sides of the discal
and discoidal bands rich chocolate brown, this colour filling the apex of the
cell; the rest of the wing grey brown; the submarginal spots are partially

52 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

ringed with whitish or ochreous lilacme and not with bright lilacine
as in the wet season form; the areas between the upper two spots and the
termen whitish and diffuse. Hindwing, the discoidal band anteriorly and
the discal band posteriorly bordered with rich chocolate brown, the latter
band more angled at its middle than in the wet season form; the areas
between the discal and discoidal bands and the basal area extending to
the tornus rich grey and the area between the submarginal spots and the
submarginal line pale chocolate brown; the submarginal ocelli are more
elongated than in the wet season form especially the apical one and the
second from the bottom, all the ocelli except the upper one, which is blind,
have the pupils more or less disintegrated. Hach ocellus separately ringed
with whitish lilacine and not enclosed in a common bright lilacine band
as in the wet season form; the marginal and submarginal lines are quite
distinct, of equal width and yellowish, the submarginal tinged with lilacine.
In size the dry season form averages larger than the wet season form.

The dry season form may at once be recognised by the underside, the
ground colour of which is dark chocolate and grey crossed by ochreous
lilacine bands, in the wet season form the ground colour is uniformly dull
brown with all the markings bright lilacine.

30. Lethe verma, Aol/a7.—Very common from 5,000 feet to 7.000 feet
July to November.

31. Lethe sidonis, Hewitson.—Males very common, females rather rare at
5,000 to 7,000 feet. Wet season forms were obtained from July to October
and large dry season forms in October, the latter do not agree with Moore’s
figure or description, they are of a much lighter brown than the wet season
form on both surfaces ; on the underside of the hindwing the 2nd, 5rd and
4th ocelli from the top only have blurred lilacine centres; two inter-
mediate forms were also taken in September and October, both are of the
same size as the wet season form but are as pale as the dry season form ;
in one form the ocelli of the hindwing resemble the rainy season form
and in the other they resemble the dry season form.

32. Lethe siderea, Marshall.—A single male of this rare butterfly was
obtained on 21st September near Kohima at 6,500 feet.

38. Lethe scanda, J7oore.—Males not uncommon at 7,000 feet, I did not
obtain the female.

34. Lethe bhairava, Joore.—A few specimens of both sexes were obtained

at 7,000 feet in September; from October to December the males are fairly
common, the females less so.

35. Lethe guinihal, de V.—A single male was obtained at Gaspani, 1,700
feet in July.

36. Lethe latiaris, Hewitson.—Occurs not uncommonly at 5,000—7,000
feet in September and October. Specimens of both sexes were captured

in my garden at Kohima.

NOTES ON BUTTERFLIES FROM THE NAGA HILLS. 58

37. Lethe kansa, Woore.—Occurs at the foot of the hills from May to
August.

38. Lethe vindhya, Fe/der.—Three males of the wet season form taken
at the foot of the hills in June and July.

39. Lethe serbonis, Hewitson.— Rather rare. A few males obtained be-
tween 6,000 and 7,000 feet in September.

40. Lethe sinori, Hewitson.—Three males obtained at 5,000 feet in July
and October and a female in November.

4]. Lethe chandica, Moore.—Not uncommon. Males obtained at the foot
of the hills and at about 1,700 feet from February to November.

42, Lethe mekara, Moore.—A male taken in May at the foot of the hills
and a female in November at Gaspani, 1,700 feet.

43. Lethe goalpara, Moore.—A pair obtained at 7,000 feet in September.

44, Lethe sura, Doubleday.A very common butterfly from July to
November. During September and October many males but only two
females were taken; in November, however, females predominated, fourteen
females being taken and only two males.

45. Lethe khasiana, Moore.—Two males taken by Mr. Doherty.

46. Lethe pulahoides, Moore.—Not uncommon at 5,000—6,000 feet in
August and September.

47, Lethe yamoides, Mooie.—Recorded from the Naga Hills, but I have
not met with it.

48. Zipetis scylax, Hewitson.—Recorded from the Naga Hills.

49. Orinoma damaris, Gray.—Not common, a few specimens taken at
5,000 feet in September and October.

Rhaphicera satricus, Dowbleday.—A single male obtained at 6,000 feet
in September.

51. Aulocera loha, Doherty.—Two females of an aulocera thought by
Mr. Elwes to belong to this species were obtained by Mr. Doherty at
8,000 feet in August near Mao on the Manipur frontier of the Naga Hills.

52. Ypthima baldus, 2247.—Common. Dry season forms were obtained in
February and Wet season forms in August at 4,600 feet.

53. Ypthima affectata, Elices and Edwards.—Two males and a famale were
taken at 2,000 feet in February.

54. Ypthima austeni, Moore.—Three males and one female obtained at
Kohima, August to October.

55. Ypthima methora, Hewtson.—Recorded from the Naga Hills.

56. Ypthima newara?, Moore.—Not uncommon at Kohima from August
to October. Specimens obtained are much smaller than the measurements
given by Moore and Bingham, the smallest being 1:46 in expanse and the
largest 1:64; the colour of the underside is not so yellow as in a specimen
I have from Bhutan. It agrees more with the description of Y. lycus, de N.,
but the basal area does not appear to be darker than the rest of the wing,

54° JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXT.

57. Yythima avanta, J/oore.—A few specimens obtained at Kohima and

at the foot of the hills in January and February.

58. Ypthima huebneri, Av7dy.—A male obtained at the foot of the hills in
February and another at Kohima during the same month; the former
agrees with specimens in my collection from Barrackpore, but the latter
differs in being much paler and in having the forewings more pointed.

59. Evebia orixa, Moore.—Fairly common on grass slopes, 6,000—7,000
feet in September and October.

60. Melanitis ismene, Cramer.—Wet season forms taken commonly at
Kohima in August and September, and dry season forms from September
to November. A few ‘specimens also obtained at the foot of the hills in
August and November.

61. Melanitis bela, Moore.—Fairly common from the foot of the hills up
to 6,000 feet. Dry season forms obtained from February to May and again
from August to December and wet season forms in August.

62. Cyllogenes janet, de V.—PI]. A.; fig 7, 2. A single female of this
rare form obtained at 6,000 feet in September. Mr. Doherty secured a
male.

63. Anadebis himachala, Moore.—Taken not uncommonly at low eleva-
tions from July to October.

64, Neorina hilda, Westwood.—A few specimens obtained at 6,500 ft. in
September; Naga Hill specimens seem to be smaller than Bhutan
specimens, being only 3°5 inches in expanse ; the yellow discal band on the
forewing is also paler and of a slightly different tint.

65. Elymnias undularis, Drwry.—Common at the foot of the hills from
February to November.

66. Elymnias malelas, Hewtson.—A few males taken at low elevations in
May, July and August.

67. Elymnias patna, JJestwood.—Males obtained at low elevations in
July and August.

68. Elymnias vasudeva, 1Zoore—A single male taken at Gaspani, 1,700 ft.,
in March.

Sub-family—Morenin a.

69. Clerome arcesilaus, /air.—Recorded from the Naga Hills but not
met with by me.

70. Amathusia amythaon, Dowdleday.—Recorded from the Naga Hills.

71. Thaumantis diores, Westwood._—Two males taken at low elevations
in May and November.

72. mona amathusia, [Hewitson.—Recorded from the Naga Hills but
must be very rare.

73. Enispe enthymius, Dowbleday.—Two males of the variety tessellata
Moore, were obtained at 2,000 ft. in February and March.

Or
Or

NOTES ON BUTTERFLIES FROM THE NAGA HILLS.

74. Enmispe cyenus, Westwood.—Several males and two females of this
beautiful butterfly were obtained at 6,000 ft. during September and Octo-
ber; they are fond of flying up and down narrow jungle paths and are difii-
cult to catch as the thick jungle prevents the net being handled efliciently.

74a. Discophora tullia, Cramc.—Common at low elevations from March

to October.
Sub-family —NyMPHALIN &.

75. Gharaxes marmax, J] estwood.—Taken at the foot of the hills in March,
April and August.

76, Charaxes kahruba, .Voore.—Two males taken at Tamlu and Gaspani
in August and October.

77. Gharaxes aristogiton, /e/dc:.—Five males obtained at the foot of
the hills in April and October.

78. Gharaxes hierax, Fe/der.—J have not taken typical dzerar in these
hills but 1¢ will probably occur; I follow Bingham in considering all the
banded forms to be varieties of this form—

(1) Variety, hipponax, Felder.

Typical forms taken at the foot of the hills in March and April; itis a
most variable form and merges into form jalinder in one direction and into
form pleistonaz in another; it is impossible to place some of the interme-
diate forms under any typical varietal form satisfactorily.

(2) Variety, naganum, n. ;

Il propose this name for the narrow yellow banded forms which Moore
considers to be a variety of C. hipponax and which are peculiar to the Naga
Hills. Jt is certainly a very distinct form and worthy of aname. Three
males taken in April at the foot of the hills are very small, only measuring
2°85 inches across ; rainy season forms taken at Tamlu and at Nichuguard
in August are larger.

(5) Variety, pleistonax, Felder.

A single typical male obtained at Nichuguard in August.

(4) Variety, khasiana, Butler.

Two typical males taken at the foot of the hills in April and August, the
specimen taken in the latter month has the basal area much darker than
the male taken in April. Forms intermediate between this and jalinder
were also obtained.

(5) Wariety, jalinder, Butler.

This is the commonest form ; taken at the foot of the hills from February
to September.

79. Gharaxes sulphureus, 2othch and Jordan.—Taken sparingly at the
foot of the hills in June, October and November.

80. Eulepis athamas Dywry—'Taken commonly throughout the yearfrom
the foot of the hills up to 5,000 ft.

56 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XX.

81. Eulepis arja, /e/der.—Not uncommon at the foot of the hills through-
out the year. A single specimen was taken as high as 4,000 ft. in August.

82. Eulepis Schreiberi, Godart.—Recorded from the Naga Hills.

83. Eulepis moori, Distant.—Recorded from the Naga Hills.

84. Eulepis eudamippus, Doubleday.—Not uncommon. Males taken at the
foot of the hills in March and April and at Tamlu in August.

85. Helcyra hemina, Hewitson.—Recorded from the Naga Hills.

86. Apatura ambica, Kolla.—Males exceedingly common at the foot
of the hills throughout the year; a few also taken up to 4,500 ft. in
October.

87. Apatura sordida, Moore—A single male of this rare butterily was
obtained near Kohima at about 5,000 ft. in October and I also received a
female from the adjacent state of Manipur taken in November. I believe
this form has hitherto only been recorded from Sikhim.

88. Apatura chevana, Moore.—A single male of this beautiful butterfly
was taken at the foot of the hills in July.

89. Apatura parisatis, JVestwood.—Males exceedingly common at the
foot of the hills throughout the year.

90. Apatura florenci#, n. sp. Pl. A, figs. 5 and6 S Male. Upperside:
forewing ; basal area brown with a greenish golden sheen; the rest of the
wing brownish-black with the following markings :—a yellow discal band
composed of three large spots, the upper one almost filling the apex of the
cell, the middle one filling the basal third of interspace 2 but not reaching
its base and the lower one placed near the tornal angle in interspace 1; a
postdiscal transverse band, composed of three yellow linear spots in inter-
spaces 6,5 and 4,a large diffuse spot in interspace 3 and small diffuse
spots in interspaces 2 and 1, commencing at the costa beyond its middle
and ending near the tornus; a small diffuse yellow spot beyond the post-
discal band in interspace 4 above which are two white subapical spots in
interspaces 5 and 6. Hindwing, dusky greenish-brown with a golden
sheen ; costal area brownish-black ; interspaces 5 and 6 yellowish near
their bases and with diffuse yellow spots near their outer thirds, also a
minute yellow spot in interspace 4; a black spot ringed with yellow ochre
in interspace 2, a submarginal band consisting of yellow ochre lunules
inwardly bordered by dark diffuse spots decreasing in width towards the
tornal angle and stopping at vein 2; a narrow black marginal line out-
wardly bordered with yellow ochre.

Underside: pale greenish-yellow somewhat suffused with silvery; fore-
wing, a discal yellow macular band as on upperside but paler, the upper
spot inwardly very diffuse, the middle one inwardly bordered with chestnut
and the lower one placed in a purplish-grey area which fills interspace 1
and reaches the dorsum; beyond this band in interspace 2 is a large black
spot; the postdiscal band as on upperside but paler, the three upper

NOTES ON BUTTERFLIES FROM THE NAGA HILLS. a7

spots greenish or yellowish-white inwardly bordered with chestnut, the
lower spots very indistinct ; subapical spots as on upperside; a pale chest-
nut marginal line bordered on both sides with greenish-white. Hind-
wing : a greenish-white discal band, inwardly bordered with chestnut as far
as vein 2, commencing a little beyond the middle of the costa, where it
bends sharply outwards, slightly curves outwards as far as interspace 4
and then inwards as far as the middle of interspace 2 and then again
outwards towards the tornal angle which it does not quite reach;
asubtornal black spot, centred with white and ringed with yellow,
in interspace 2, above which a postdiscal series of four greenish or
yellowish-white spots in interspaces 3, 4, 5 and 6, the lower ones sometimes
indistinct ; a pale chestnut marginal line bordered on both sides with
ereenish-white.

Abdomen and thorax: upperside yellowish-brown, underside bluish-
grey. Eyes reddish-brown. Palpi reddish-brown above and yellowish-
white below. Antenne blackish-brown above and yellowish-brown below
with a little white speckling near the base ; club black.

Expanse 2°64—2:72 inches.

This is a well marked form and seems to be intermediate between 4.
ulupi, Doherty, and A. pallas, Leech, from both of which it is however quite
distinct. It is decidedly a rare butterfly and in two years collecting only
nine males were obtained, seven in September and October at 5,000 ft. and
two in May at the foot of the hills. The female is apparently still rarer
and I did not manage to get one. I was at first inclined to think that this
form was A. ulupi, but on comparison with the co-type of that species in
British Museum it proved abundantly distinct. It can be at once dis-
tinguished from A. wlupi on the upperside by its darker colour and by the
black discal band between the yellow bands being immaculate and not
broken up into a distinct spot in interspace 2; and on the underside by its
greenish colour, in wlupi it is yellow; the discal band on the hindwing is
angled in the middle whilst in wupt it is nearly straight.

90. (a) Apatura parvata, Moore.—Apparently very rare. A single male
taken at Jakama, 5,000—6,000 feet, in October.

91. Dilipa morgiana, /Vestwood.—Rather rare; taken at the foot of
the hills in March and June and at 5,000—6,000 ft. from July to October.
The female is very rare and I only succeeded in obtaining one in August.
Most of the specimens were taken in March and October.

92. Hestina nama, Doubleday.—Very common throughout the year from
the foot of the hills up to 6,000 ft.

93. Parhestina persimilis, /estwood.—A single male taken at Gaspani,
1,700 ft., in October. Two females were also taken by my Native
Collector in Manipur during the same month. I believe this form has not
previously been recorded further east than Sikhim.

8 :

58 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX.

94. Euripus halitherses, Dowbleday.—Males taken commonly at the foot
cf the hills and upto 2,000 ft. Also a single specimen as high as Kohima.
A few specimens of the female form zse, Moore, were obtained in April,
July, October and November and a single specimen of the form czxnamomeus,
Wood-Mason, was obtained at 4,500 ft. in October. The females are by
no means common.

95. Sephisa chandra, Moore.—A single male taken at the foot of the
hills in May and several males and a single female (Moore’s fourth form)
taken near Kohima in September and October. Several more were seen
flying round the tops of the trees in my garden. A female was seen as late
as December, it was benumbed in the coldand I nearly succeeded in catch-
ing it with my fingers, having no net with me at the time. The female
differs in structure a good deal from the male in having the palpi much
longer than in that sex and in’ the specimen obtained it is nearly three
times as long. This peculiarity, which gives the insect a curious effect,
does not appear to be recorded by either de Nicéville, Moore or Bingham.

96. Neurosigma doubledayi, /Vestwvood.—-Recorded from the Naga Hills, but
I have not met with it.

97. Stibochiana nicea, Gray.—Not uncommon at the foot of the hills from
January to August and as 5,000—6,000 ft. from September to November.
A dry season form taken in January is much smaller, the postdiscal blue
band on the hindwing is not sinuous and is better defined; the subter-
minal spots have the inner blue border and outer white border broader,
the latter almost reaching the termen, the black central spots very small
and the terminal black line very narrow ; all the blue markings are much
paler and brighter. Figure 2, plate 217, Lep. Ind., vol. ii evidently is
intended to represent this extreme dry season fori.

98. Sympheedra khasiana, Szzinhoe.—A few specimens taken at the foot of
the hills in April, June and October. The males differ from my Bhutan
specimens in having the ochreous spots on the forewing more conspicuous
and the terminal band more developed in some specimens almost as in 8S.
dirtea, the subterminal band on the hindwing is also bluer and not so
violescent. The solitary female taken has all the spots tinged with
ochreous. The form from these hills appears to be intermediate between
the form from Bhutan and 8. dirtea from Burma. f

99. Dophia nara, Moore.—Two males taken in July and eight males in
August at 5,000—6,000 ft.

100. Dophia sahadeva, Moore.—Males not uncommon from July to Octo-
ber at 4,600 to 6,000 ft. Females are rare. Fresh specimens were only
obtainable in July and August and towards the end of the latter month
all the specimens taken were battered.

101. Dophia derma, Kollar.—Apparently rare; a smele female taken at
1,700 ft. in March and another was seen.

NOTES ON BUTTERFLIES FROM THE NAGA HILTS. 59

102. Euthalia lepidea, Butier.—Fairly common at the foot of the hills
throughout the year.

103. Euthalia appiades, Ménétriés—A few specimens taken at the foot
of the hills in February, March and November.

104. Euthalia jahnu, Moore. —Obtained by Mr. Doherty inthe Naga Hills.

105. Euthalia kesava, Moore.—A few specimens taken at the foot of the
hills, April to July.

LO6. Euthalia lubentina, Cramer.—Two females taken in April and a male
in August at 1,700 ft.

107. Euthalia franci#, Mace attenuata, n.—Under the above name I
propose separating the Hastern race of £. francia, from the Khasia and
Naga Hills, from the typical form occurring in Sikhim and Bhutan. It
can easily be distinguished by its much darker colour and by the bands
being very much narrower; in only one specimen that I have seen is it as
broad. The colour of the discal band is very variable; in many specimens
there is a tendency for the spot to become white and in some specimens
the bands are entirely white. This form is not uncommon at 5,000—6,000
ft. from August to October.

108. Euthalia phemius, Dowbieday.—Occurs at the foot of tae hills. a few
specimens taken in June, August and October.

109. Euthalia telchinia, Ménétr2és.
1,700 ft., in July.

110. Euthalia garuda, Woore.—Not common probably from the absence of
its food plant. A single male taken at the foot of the Hills in August is

A single female taken at Gaspani,

much darker than any specimen I have seen and has the white discal spots
very small, the spot in interspace 4 being wanting.

111. Euthalia jama, Felder.—A single male taken at the foot of the
hills in March which is smaller than specimens in my collection from
Bhutan and the Khasia Hills being only 2°41 inches in expanse. The
markings on the underside are very pale and the white streaks hardly
visible.

112. Euthalia apicalis, /ol/enhoven.—A male taken at the foot of the hills
in March and a female in June. The male agrees with the figure of £.
ertphyle de N. as figured in Lep. Ind. iii, pl. 238, (2) and the female agrees
with the figure of £. apicaiis, Lep. Ind. iii, pl. 239, (1b.) except that the
discal spots are longer. I have placed both under £. apicalis following
Bingham who considers L. ertphyle de N. to be same as this species.

115. Parthenos gambrisips, ’¢d7.—Fairly common at the foot of the hills.
The males of the spring brood have the apices very white, whilst in the
summer broods there is only a trace of this as if the wings had been
slightly rubbed.

114. Moduza procris, Cramer.—Common throughout the year at low

elevations.

60 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol, XXI.

115. Liminitis zayla, Douwbleday.-Not uncommon at 6,000—7,000 ft. in
the latter half of August and the beginning of September. The females
seem to be very rare.

116. Liminitis daraxa, Doubleday. Very common, many specimens taken
from June to November at the foot of the hills and up to 7,000 ft.

117. Liminitis dudu, Westwood.—Males rather common at 6,000—7,000 ft.
from August to November ; a few were also taken at 1,700 ft.im April.
Females appear to be very rare and none were taken.

118. Lebadea martha, /ad;.—Not uncommon at the foot of the hills
from June to August.

119. Auzakiadanava, Moore——A single male taken at 1,700 ft. in
August and many males at 5,000—7,000 ft. during September and October.
Specimens taken in August and September are larger and darker than
those taken in October; one specimen taken in October is as small and
pale as specimens from the N.-W. Himalayas but as a rule they are a good
deal larger and darker.

120. Pantoporia inara, Doubleday.—Dry season forms taken at the
foot of the hills in February and November and wet season forms in July,
August and September.

121. Pantoporia kanwa, Moore.—Recorded from the Naga Hills, but |
have not met with it.

122. Pantoporia cama, Moore.—Not uncommon ; the autumn form which
is intermediate between the summer and spring forms was obtained in
October and November at 2,000 ft. and up to 5,000 ft. The spring form,
which is the smallest and palest, was obtained at 2,000 ft. in April and the
summer form, which is the darkest and largest, was taken from the foot of
the hills up to 5,000 ft. from June to August.

123. Pantoporia selenophora, Aol/ar.—Males very common at low eleva-
tions; one was taken as high as 4,600 ft. Small spring broods taken in
February, and summer broods from June to October, and one specimen as
late as November. The autumn brood which is intermediate between the
summer and spring broods began to appear in October, many specimens
being taken in November.

124. Pantoporia zeroca, Moore.—Not very common; dry season forms
taken at the foot of the hills in November and wet season forms in July
and August at 1,700 ft. to 4,600 ft.

125. Pantoporia orientalis, Zdwes.—This Eastern form of P. opalina is not
uncommon at 4,500—7,000 ft. from June to November. It differs from P.
opalina from the N.-W. Himalayas in having the white bands narrower.

126. Pantoporia ranga, Moore.—A few specimens taken at low elevations
from July to November.

127. Athyma perius, Zinn.—An extremely common butterfly throughout
the year.

NOTES ON BUTTERFLIES FROM THE NAGA HILLS. 61

128. Athyma asura, Moore.—Three males taken at Gaspani, 1,700 ft., in
August and October.

129. Neptis astola, Moore.—Very common; wet season forms taken at
Kohima from August to November and dry season forms in February.

130. Neptis varmona, JMoore—Not so common as the last; dry season
forms taken at the foot of the hills and at Kohima in February.

131. Neptis yerburii, Butler.—Taken at 5,000 ft. from July to November,
but not commonly; the form from these hills have the white bands some-
what narrower than the form from the N.-W. Himalayas.

io2. Neptis soma, Moore.—A few specimens taken at the foot of the hills
in January and February.

135. Neptis guilta, Swinhoe.—Recorded from the Naga Hills.

134. Neptis cartica, Moore.—Recorded fromthe Naga Hills, but I have
not met with it.

135. Neptis radha, Moore.—Mr. Doherty obtained this in the Naga Hills
but it must be very rare.

136. Neptis ananta, Moore.—Not uncommon from July to October. Two
wet season form males taken at the foot of the hills in July and August
* and many males of the dry season form with pale yellow bands were taken
at 5,000—6,000 ft. from August to October; itis curious that I only
obtained the form with the dark bands at low elevations and the form
with the pale bands at high elevations. ,

137. Neptis miah, Joore.—Not uncommon at the foot of the hills in June
and July, a single male was also taken in March.

138. Neptis viraja, JZoore.—lecorded from the Naga Hills, but I have
not met with it.

139. Rahinda hordonia, Sto//.—A few males taken at low elevations in
February and August.

140. Cyrestis thyodamas, Loisduval.—A single male was taken at Kohima
in September and another was seen; it does not appear to be common.

141. Chersonesia risa, Doubleday.—Two males obtained at Nichuguard

in June.

142. Junonia iphita, Cramer.—Very common throughout the year in the
neighbourhood of Kohima. Dry season forms taken in February, May,
November and December, and wet season forms from August to November.

143. Junonia lemonias, Z.—Common at low elevations, not taken above
4,000 ft. The autumn brood is intermediate in coloration and depth of
markings between the summer and spring broods, specimens of the latter
taken in February are very small and pale underneath.

144. Junonia orithya, Zinn.—A very common butterfly throughout the
year in the neighbourhood of Kohima.

145. Junonia atlites Johannson.—Not common, a few wet season forms
taken in October and November at the foot of the hills and below Kohima

62 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY; Vol. XAT,
4,000 ft. A dry season male taken in February at the foot of the hills is
very small and has the apex of the forewing distinctly truncated ; on the
underside the ocelli are quite wanting and both wings are crossed by a
dark conspicuous dark lilacine brownish-grey band.

146. dunonia hierta, Padiciws.—Fairly common at low elevations.

147. Junonia almana, Zinn.—Not uncommon ; dry season forms taken in
February and October at the foot of the hills up to 4,500 ft. Wet season

forms taken in October.
148. Vanessa cardui, Zenn.—Very common throughout the year at about

5,000 ft.
149. Wanessa indica, Herbst.—Common throughout the year at 5,000-

6,000 ft.

150. Vanessa canace, Johannsen.—Rather common from July to October
at 4,000-6,000 ft. ; less plentiful in the Winter.

151. Avraschnia dohertyi, Moore.—Fairly common, appearing firston the
wing in August, fresh specimens fly up to the beginning of October. Two
worn specimens taken as late as 7th November. Not seen below 5,000 ft.,
most of the specimens were taken at 6,000-7,000 ft.

Bingham remarks “a slightly divergent form. Differs from prorsoides in
the white not ochraceous discal band on the upperside of the wings, and
the more slender terminal markings.”

In his description he also states that most of the markings are white.
In all my fresh specimens these markings are yellow, the two spots in
interspaces 3 and 4 only inclining to white, in some specimens these also
are quite yellow. In some worn specimens these yellow markings become
whitish and in a few specimens all the markings are white on both wings ;
i think it likely that Bingham’s description is based on a worn specimen ;
Mr. Elwes gives excellent figures of both sexes in his notes on Naga Hill
butterflies previously referred to. This butterfly has, I believe, only been
recorded from these hills.

152. Symbrenthia lucina, Cramer.—Common throughout the year. The
seasonal forms do not vary much; a specimen taken in February, the
height of the dry season is as dark as any wet season form. It occurs
from the foot of the hills up to, 6,000 ft.

153. Symbrenthia hypselis, Godart.—Rather common. There appear to
be three seasonal forms (1) a large dark form taken commonly at about
5,000 ft. and sparingly at 1,700 ft. from July to November; (2) a small form
with broader and paler fulvous markings (S. cotanda, Moore) taken im
October at 5,000 ft. and at the foot of the hills in February and March;
(3) an intermediate form taken at 1,700 ft. in June and July.

154. Symbrenthia niphanda, Moore.—Rare, only two males and a female
obtained in two years’ collecting at 5,000-6,000 ft. im August and

October.

NOTES ON BUTTERFLIES FROM THE NAGA HILLS. 63

155. Rhinopalpa polynice, Cramer.—Recorded from the Naga Hills, but [
have not met with it.

156. Hypolimnas bolina, Zinn.—Very common as low elevations through-
out the year; rather scarce below Kohima at about 4,000 ft.

157. Penthema lisarda, Douwbiedvy.—Has been recorded from the Naga
Hills.

158. Doleschallia continentalis, Ly iihstorfer.—Very common at low eleva-
tions from May to July; scarce near Kohima from September to Novem-
ber.

I have not seen DV. malabarica from South India, but D. continentalis
from North India and Assam can always be distinguished from the
Ceylon form by having the termen at the apex between veins 7 and
9 concave, in all Ceylon forms that I have seen it is either straight or
even conver.

159. Kallima inachus, Doisduval.—Fairly common from the foot of the
hills upto 6,000 ft. from March to November.

160. Kallima knyvetti, de N.—Rather rare, several males and one female
taken at 5,000—3,000 ft. from July to November, my last specimen, a female,
being taken on 6th of November. This beautiful butterfly appears to be
very local and keeps to thickly wooded ravines; perfect specimens are
difficult to obtain.

161. Gethosia cyane, Dirury.—Not common, taken at the foot of the hills
upto 4,600 ft. in January and from July to November. It is not nearly
so common as C. biblis.

162. Gethosia hiblis, Dyay.—Kixceedingly common at 4,000—7,000 ft.
from July to September; a few specimens also taken in January and
February at the foot of the hills ; these only differ from the summer brood
in being smaller. The grey variety of the female was very rare.

163. Cynthia erota, fabr.—Males fairly common throughout the year,
females rather scarce. Small dry season forms taken at the foot of the
hills from January to March ; intermediate forms taken at foot of the hills
and up to 4,600 ft. in April and November, and wet season forms at foot of
the hills up to 4,600 ft. from June to October.

164. Atella phalantha, Drury.—Common, from August to November from
the foot of the hills up to 4,600 ft.

165. {ssoria sinha, Kol/ar.—Taken commonly at low elevations, April to
December, and near Kohima from August to November.

166. Gupha erymanthis, Drwry.—Rather scarce ; wet season forms taken
at the foot of the hills in May and August and at 4,600 ft. in October; a
single male of the dry season form taken at the foot of the hills in the
latter half of November. |

The wet season form is larger and darker than specimens from Kumaon
im my collection.

64 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XX1.

The dry season form taken in November differs from the wet season
form in being smaller and on the upperside paler ; underside paler and the
markings not so pronounced and without any trace of the reddish-ochreous
round discal spots; the yellow discal fascia on the forewing is slightly
darker and not such a clear yellow as in the wet season form and almost of
the same shade as the ground colour giving the whole of the undersurface
a very uniform appearance.

167. Girrhochroa mithila, M/oore.—Not uncommon; taken at the foot of
the hills in May, October and November and at 4,500—5,000 ft. in October.

168. Cirrhochroa aoris, Doubleday.i—Not very common; obtained at
the foot of the hills from March to November and at 5,000 ft. in July.

169. Angynnis childreni, Gray.—Fairly common in gardens at Kohima
from July to October.

170. Argynnis hyperbius, Johanssen.—Very common throughout the year
near Kohima.

171. Ergolis ariadne, Johanssen.—Not uncommon at low elevations in
February.

172. Ergolis merione, Cramcr.—A single female taken near Kohima at
about 3,000 ft. in October. :

173. Pseudergolis wedah, Aol/a.—Not uncommon at 5,000 ft. from
August to November.

174. Calinaga brahma, Butler.—Five males and a female taken in my
garden at Kohima in April and May ; several more were seen flying round
the tree tops; they were difficult to catch as they seldom came within
reach of the net. The flight is rather like that of Danais tytia.

Sub-family—AcrA#Inz&.
175. Pareba vesta, /ab;.—Very common in August and September.
Numerous pup were brought to me at the end of August, all attached to
blades of ekra grass.

Sub-family— LispyTHEIN&.

176. Libythea lepita, Moore.—A few specimens taken at 1,700 ft. and
5,000 ft. in March and October.

177. Libythea myrrha, Godart.—Taken sparingly in April and November
at 1,700 ft. and in October at 5,000 ft.

Famity—NEMEOBID A.

178. Dodona dipwea, Hewitson.—Taken sparingly from September to
December at 5,500—6,500 ft.

179. Dodona eugenes, Bates.—Taken sparingly at 6,000—7,000 ft. from
August to December.

180, Dodona egeon, Doubleday.—Bingham records this from the Naga

Hills. I have not met with it.

“NOTES ON BUTTERFLIES FROM THE NAGA HILLS. 65

181. Dodona ouida, Moore.—Taken commonly above Kohima 6,000—7,000
ft. during August and September. At the end of November and beginning
of December a fresh brood appeared at a lower elevation, when many speci-
mens were taken in my garden in Kohima; this brood averaged smaller
than specimens taken in September, the difference in size being especially
noticeable in the females.

182. Dodona adonira, Hewitson.—Rather uncommon. Males taken near
running water, sucking up the moisture from the sand, at 5,500—6,500 ft.,
from October to December. Females were not taken.

188. Abisara fylla, Doubleday.—Males common, females very rare from
August to December at 4,000-—7,000 ft.

184. Abisara neophron, Hewxtson.—Recorded from the Naga Hills. 1
have not met with it,

- 185. Abisara chela, de V.—Obtained by Mr. Doherty in theiNaga Hills,

186. Zemeros flegyas, Cramer.—Very common in gardens at Kohima.
Three well marked seasonal forms occur.

(1) Summer brood with markings well defined, taken from July to
October.

(2) Autumn brood darker and larger than the summer brood taken
from September to December.

(8) Winter brood, much smaller and paler than the summer brood
with all markings small and indistinct, taken from December to February.

(To be continued.)

THE PALMS OF BRITISH INDIA AND CEYLON,
INDIGENOUS AND INTRODUCED

BY
EO UBUATTER, Sed
Part. V.
(With Plates XVIII—XXV, and text-figures 13—19).

(Continued from page 995 of Volume XX.)

CORYPHA UMBRACULIFERA, UL, Sp. Pl. 1187 (1758); Gaertn.,
Fruct., I. 18, t.7; Roxb. Fl. Ind. II. 177; Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm. III, 282, t.
108, 127 (partim) ; Griff. in Cale. Journ. Nat. Hist. V. 319 ; Palms Brit. India
116 ; Dalz. and Gibs., Bombay FI. Suppl. 94; Kurz For. Fl. II, 525; Brand.

For. Fl. 549; Hooker, Fl. Brit. Ind. VI, 428; Trimen, Fl. Ceyl. IV,
328; Talbot Trees Bomb. ed. 2, p. 343; Prain, Bengal Pl. 1090; Brandis,
Ind. Trees 657.—C. gebanga, Kurz For. Fl. Il, 525.—C. macropoda, Kurz
in Journ. As. Soc. Beng. XLITI, IT. 197; For. Fl. I, 525.1
Names.—Talipot Palm; Fan-Palm ; Tala (Ceylon) ; Condapana
(Tam.); Sidalum (Tel.) ; Talee (Beng.) ; Coddapana (Mal.).
Description.—Trunk erect, straight, cylindric, 30-80 feet high,
with a diameter of 2-3 feet, annulate. Leaves 8-16 feet in dia-
meter, sublunate or circular, palmately pinnatifid, plicate, cleft to
about the middle into 80-100 linear-lanceolate, acute or 2-fid lobes ;
petiole 5-10 feet long, very stout, the margins armed with short,
compressed, dark-coloured spines. Spadix pyramidal, 10-20 feet
long, decompound, shortly and stoutly peduncled; peduncle
clothed with tubular spathes which are pierced by the primary
branches, branchlets forming pendulous spikes. Calyx broadly
3-lobed ; petals oblong, about 74 inch long. Ovary suddenly con-
tracted into the style. Drupe shortly stipitate, globose, 14 inch in
diameter, with 2 abortive carpels at its base, greyish olive-coloured

+ Corypha gebanga Kurz and C. macropoda, Kurz have been referred to C.
umobraculifera by Prain.

MHMOTA NI WIVG LOdIIvy,

‘009 “ISIE] “LVN AvaWog ‘NUno¢

TITAX SLVTq

THE PALMS OF BRITISH INDIA AND CEYLON. 67

roughish ; seeds globose, very hard, smooth and polished. (Fig. 13).

ae 6
Fie. 13.—Corypha umbraculifera,
1. Corolla just before opening. 4. Dorsal view of stamen,
2%, Open corolla seen from above. 5, Longitudinal section through pistil,
3, Petal with stamen, 6. Vertical section of seed.

1—5 enlarged. (After Martius).

Hapirat.—Ceylon : in the moist low region below 2,000 feet,
rather common; Malabar Coast; Kanara: moist forests of the
Kumpta and Honavar talukas of Northern Kanara, covering
extensive areas near the Gairsoppa and Yena rivers, also on the
Yellapur Ghats; sometimes planted in gardens near the coast ;
South Andaman Islands; Little Coco; Great Coco; cultivated in
tropical India and Burma.

Hooker makes the following remark in Trim. Fl. Ceyl. IV.
328: “This must be a native palm [of Ceylon], but I have never
‘seen it in original jungle. Of the vast number of seedlings which
come up near the parent tree, very few arrive at maturity, the
young leaves being continually cut. Beddome remarks that he
has never seen it wild in 8. India.”

FLowERS.—November to January.

GERMINATION.—The development of the young palm has been
observed by Gatin." The seed is globose with uniform albumen.

* Gatin, C. L., Recherches Anatomiques et Chimiques sur la Germination des
Palmiers. Paris, 1906, p. 248.

68 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XX1.

The embryo has the shape of a short cylinder with an elongated
cone on top of it. It is covered all over, except in the central
portion of the end of the radicle, with a continuous epidermis, the
cells of which are slightly elongated in the direction of the radius.
The plumule is straight and its axis coincides with that of the
embryo. In the peripheric portion of the cotyledon there are
three or four hypo-epidermic layers consisting of smaller and more
granular elements than the rest. Vascular bundles of elongated
and narrow cells run through the cotyledon. .

At the moment of germination the cotyledonal petiole becomes
longer and forms, close to the seed, a swelling. At the base of the
primary root thin lateral rootlets are formed, but none of these
bear root-hairs. At a later state numerous lateral roots are deve-
loped which are smaller than the primary root. ‘The first leaf is
reduced to a sheath. Finally the cotyledonal petiole and sheath
begin to wither and decay. (Fig. 14.)

Fre, 14.—Successive stages in the germination of Corypha umbraculifera.
¢, p == cotyledonal petiole. p. 7. = primary root.
¢. Ss, = cotyledonal sheath. 11. and /2, = first and second leaf.

Uses.—The leaves are extensively used by the lower classes of
Singalese as umbrellas. ‘They are extremely well adapted for that
purpose, one outspread leaf affording sufficient shelter for seven or
eight persons. Umbrellas made of the leaves are largely exported

Journ. BompBay Nat. Hist. Soc. Daan MIDS.

TALIPOT PALM BEARING SEED.

Thee "4
ay oe eo *.

<¥

ee ee
‘y sath 5

HE PALMS OF BRITISH INDIA AND CEYLON, 69

from «nara. Some of the sacred records of the Singalese are

writte on pieces of the blade of these leaves with either a brass
or irc. style. It has been asserted by various authors that such
record; aave resisted for ages the ravages of time, by others it has
been denied. Under the native government of Ceylon each person
was allowed, according to the social station he occupied, to have a
certain number of the gigantic leaves of the Talipot, folded up in
the form of fans, borne before him.

In Geylon they beat the pith of the stem in mortars to flour
and bake cakes of it, which taste much like white bread ; it serves
them instead of corn before their harvest is ripe. The seeds are
nearly as hard as ivory and are extensively employed in the
manv.acture of beads, or are coloured and sold as coral, or even
made into small bowls. In Europe they are used in the manu-
facture of buttons. They are known in the trade as bazarbatu,
bajurbet or bayurbatum nuts, and a fairly considerable export in
these goes from Bombay. The trade is chiefly carried on by
Arabs. It is not improbable that after the removal of the pith,
the long fibro-vascular cords of the stem might be employed in the
same way as the fibre of Caryota wrens.

Robert Knox’s quaint description’ of the Talipot is worth
quoting, though it may contain some repetitions of what we have
sard above: “It is as big and tall as a ship’s mast, and very
stiaight, bearing only leaves which are of great use and benefit
to this people, one single leaf being so broad and large that it
will cover some fifteen or twenty men, and keep them dry when it
rains. The leaf being dried is very strong and limber, and most
wonderfully made for men’s convenience to carry along with
them, for though this leaf be thus broad when it is open, yet it
will fold close like a lady’s fan, and then it is no bigger than a
man’s arm. It is wonderfully light; they cut them into pieces and
carry them in their hands. The whole leaf-spread is round almost
like a circle, but being cut in pieces for use are near like unto a
triangle ; they lay them upon their heads as they travel, with the
peaked end foremost, which is convenient to make their way

1 In “ An Historical Relation of the Island of Ceylon, by Robert Knox, a
captive there near twenty years.” London, 1681.

70 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XX1I.

through the boughs and thickets. When the sun is vehement hot.
they use them to shade themselves from the heat ; soldiers all carry
them, for besides the benefit of keeping them dry in case it rain
upon the march these leaves make their tents to lie under in the
night. A marvellous mercy, which Almighty God hath bestowed
upon this poor and naked people in this rainy country.”

ILLustTRATIONS.—Plate XVIII shows a gigantic specimen of the
Talipot Palm in flower. In its youth it devotes itself to producing
only huge fan-shaped leaves; later on a trunk begins to form
which grows straight as a mast. The grand white stem is encircled
with closely set ring-marks, showing where it has born and shed
its leaves from year to year. When the Talipot attains full
maturity, it grows somewhat smaller leaves, and develops a
gigantic bud some four feet in height. In due course this bursts
with a report, and unfolds a lovely white blossom which expands
into a majestic pyramid of cream-coloured flowers, which rise to a
height of twenty feet above the leafy crown. At the same time
the leaves begin to wither and cover in this state for some time
the upper part of the stem, as may be seen in our picture.

Plate XIX shows the same palm a short time after. The
magnificent bloom is succeeded by the fruit which consists of
innumerable nuts or seeds. It now begins to droop and within a

year it falls dead. (Plate XX.)

CORYPHA TALLIERA, Roxb. Cor. Pl. III, 251, t. 255, 256; Fl. Ind.
III, 174; Kunth Enum. III, 236; Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm. III, 231; Griff.
in Cale. Journ. Nat. Hist. V, 317 ; Palms Brit. Ind. 114, t. 220, E. F.; Wall.
Cat. 8616; Hook. Fl. Brit. Ind. VI, 428; Brandis, Ind. Trees, 658.—Talhera
bengalensis, Spreng. Syst. Veg. II, 18.—T. taleti, Mart. in Roem.—Schult.
Syst. VIL, 1306.

Names.—Tara, Tallier, Tareet (Beng.).

Description.—Trunk perfectly straight, about 30 feet high,
equally thick throughout, obsoletely annulate, dark brown, rather
rough. Leaves palmate-pinnatifid, subrotund, complicate above
the middle, sub-glaucous, 6 feet long, 15 feet broad, 90-100-fd, -
lobes deeper and broader than in wmbraculifera, the central 3-3}
feet, basal ones overlapping ; petiole 5-10 feet long, not spirally

Journ. Bompay Nat. Hist. Soc. PrATE XX,

THE LAST STAGE OF THE TALIPOT PALM.

THE PALMS OF BRITISH INDIA AND CEYLON. Gn

arranged, bi-auricled, remarkably strong, upper side deeply chan-
nelled, the sharp margins armed with numerous, short, strong
dark-coloured, polished, compressed spines. Spathes as many as
there are primary and secondary ramifications in the spadix, all
smooth and obtuse. Spadix 20 feet or more high, supradecom-
pound ; primary branches alternate, round, spreading nearly hori-
zontally with their apices ascending; secondary ramifications
alternate, bifarious, compressed, drooping, recurved, soon dividing
into numerous, variously curved, smaller, subcylindric branchlets
covered with innumerable, small, white, odorous, subsessile flowers.
Calyx minute, obscurely 3-lobed; petals 3, oblong, concave, fleshy,
smooth ; stamens 6, nearly of the length of the petals, at the base
broad, and somewhat united; anthers ovate, dorsifixed. Ovary,
3-lobed, 3-celled, suddenly contracted into the style; style shorter
than the stamens; stigma simple. Drupes 1-3 14 inch in diam-
eter, wrinkled, dark olive or greenish-yellow, pulp in small pro-
portion, and yellow when the fruit is ripe. Seed solitary, round,
attached to the base of the drupe, white, horny, with a small cavity
in the centre; embryo apical. (ig. 15.)

~~
wl

XL I)
NT I
\\\ /
N
ee

3
8
3)
Fie. 15,—Corypha talliera.

1. Calyx. 5. Side view of stamen,
2. Open flower seen from above, 6, Transverse section of ovary.
3. Longitudinal section of flower show- 7. Longitudinal section of ovary.

ing 2 stamens and pistil. 8. Longitudinal section of seed,

4, Ventral view of stamen. 1—7 magnified. (After Martius).

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

Hasirat.— Bengal.

FLowErS.—At the beginning of the hot season; fruit ripens 9
or 10 months afterwards. aye

Usres.—The leaves are used for writing upon with pointed steel
bodkins ; besides for tying the rafters of the native houses, as
they are strong and durable. The wood is not applied to any
useful purpose. '

NANNORHOPS, H. Wendl. Bot. Zeitg. 1879, 147.
(From the Greek ‘“‘ Nannos”’, a dwarf and ‘ rhops’’, a low shrub.)

Griff. Palms Brit. Ind., 135.; Aitch. Journ. Lin. Soc. 19, 140,
t. 26.—Benth, and Hook. Gen. Pl. III. II, 923,84; Boiss. Fl. Or.
V. 47, app. 754.

A gregarious, tufted, low-growing, glabrous palm; stems or
rhizoms robust, prostrate, branching. Leaves cuneately flabellate,
rigid, plicate, split into curved 2-fid segments; petiole short.
Spadix axillary (intrafoliar), much-branched; spathes tubular,
sheathing, spathels ochreate. Flowers polygamous. Calyx tubu-
lar, membranous, unequally 3-lobed. Corolla 3-partite, valvate.
Stamens in hermaphrodite flowers 6, in male flowers about 9.
Ovary 3-gonous; ovules basilar; style short; stigma 3-toothed.
Drupe small, globose or oblong, 1-seeded; style basilar. Seed
free, erect, ventrally hollowed, hilum small; albumen uniform ;
embryo dorsal or subbasilar.

Species 1; India, Afghanistan.

NANNORHOPS RITCHIEANA, H. Wendl. in Bot. Zeit. 1879, 148;
Aitchis. in Journ. Linn. Soc. XIX, 140, 141, 187, t. 26. Chamerops
ritchieana, Griff. in Cale. Journ. Nat. Hist. V. 342; Palms Brit. India 135;
Brandis For. Fl. 547; Gard. Chron. 1886, 652, fig. 128, 129; Mart. Hist.
Nat. Palm. III. 252.

Names.—Mazari (Vern.); Mzarai (trans-Indus); Maizirrye
(Pushtu) ; Kilu, Kaliun (Salt Range); the fibre is called patha
in the Punjab; Pfis, Pesh, Pease, Fease, Pfarra, Dhora (Sind,
Baluchistan).

Description.—A low gregarious shrub, the leaves usually tufted
from an underground much-branched rhizome 8-10 feet long, as

‘(TpueM “H “owneryoj11 sdoysowunny) SWIVd IMVZVIN 40
WW HiMOUS ASNHG VY ONIMOHS ‘yiLHaAt) GNV IdIQ NHGMOLAA N
VISIHONIVG NI @dvos
anv] V

mscomres 8 a nile

THE PALMS OF BRITISH INDIA AND CEYLON. 73

thick as a man’s arm, sometimes from an erect branching stem,
reaching 20 feet high. Leaves 2-4 feet long and broad, cuneately
flabellate, rigid, plicate, greyish-green, consisting of 8-15 linear
rigid segments 12-15 inches long, with often interposed fibres,
folded, 2-partite ; petioles unarmed, 6-12 inches long; base of
petiole without any reticulate inner layer, but with a mass of rust-
coloured wool. Flowers polygamous, male and hermaphodite.
Spadix pyramidal; branches ascending and recurved; branchlets
slender ; branches and branchlets arising from the axils of tubular,
membranous, sheathing bracts with prominent, reticulate, longi-
tudinal nerves ; branchlets bifarious, with numerous flowers in the
axils of turbinate, membranous, sheathing bracts, with a thin
membranous edge. All the bracts are closed sheaths, with a short,
subulate or triangular apex; they are spirally arranged, though
apparently distichous on the principal axis and the main branches.
Flowers in pairs in the axils of hyaline bracts, distinct or connate,
and bicuspidate. Calyx thinly membranous, flat, 3-toothed.. Petals
connate at the base. Stamens 6, sometimes 9 in the male flowers,
in the male flowers inserted in the corolla-tube, in hermaphrodite
flowers in its throat; anthers sagittate, attached at the back above
the base to the subulate filaments. Ovary 3-celled, narrowed into
the short style. Fruit an ovoid or subglobose 1-seeded drupe, with
the rudiments of 2 abortive carpels, supported by the marcescent
calyx, petals, and the remains of the filaments, 3-? inch in diameter
surface minutely wrinkled ; albumen horny, with a central cavity.

Beccari is of opinion that there exist several forms of Nan-
norhops vitchieana on account of its wide distribution in the
arid region of Western India, Baluchistan and Afghanistan.
He says that the seeds show marked differences, some being
spherical, others oval, some measuring } inch in diameter, others
2 inch. The seeds are said to be very hard and the albumen
homogeneous.”

GERMINATION.—The successive stages in the development of
this palm, as observed by Holm,* are given in figure 16, whic h

2 Beccari, O. Notizie sul ‘ Nannorhops Ritchieana’ H. Wendl. Webbia, vol. i
(1905), p. 73.

1 Holm in “ Memoirs Torrey Bot. Club,” Vol, IL,
10

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

shows the following details in natural size :—

Fig. 16,—Successive stages in the germination of Nannorhops ritchieana.
Natural size. (After Holm),

1. A longitudinal section through a germinating plantlet in the first stage.

2. The same a little older.

3. An older germinating plantlet, where the plumule has commenced to
break through.

A young plant with two leaves developed and with the fruit still attached.
The same, but older, where the primary root has ceased to grow, and the
first secondary root has come out.

THE PALMS OF BRITISH INDIA AND CEYLON.

=I
or

Hasirat.—Sind, Baluchistan, Punjab, Afghanistan: Abundant
in the Peshawar Valley, in Kohat, and in the trans-Indus territory
along the eastern skirts of the Suliman range, ascending up to
3,000 feet; on the hills which form the western boundary of Sind ;
common locally on a limited area in the central Salt range, be-
tween 2,500 and 5,000 feet, and on Mount Sakesar; in one
place in the Siwalik tract east of the Jhelam, near Sumani
above Bhimbur ; common in the Khaiber Pass, and generally in
the low arid mountains of eastern Afghanistan; everywhere
up to 5,000 feet in Baluchistan and Mekran, except near. the
coast.

FLOwERS—From August to November; fruit ripens in summer.

Uses.—It is a very useful plant in the arid regions where it is
common. ‘The stems, leaves, and petioles serve as fuel; the
delicate young leaves are eaten as a vegetable; the reddish-brown
moss-like wool of the petioles is impregnated with salpeter and
used as tinder for matchlocks; the matting made of the leaves
is considered to be superior to that made of Phenix; of the leaves
and petioles rope is made; the leaves are also made into fans,
sandals, baskets, pouches, and brushes: in the trans-Indus coun-
try a rude kind of drinking-cup is made of the entire blade, by
tying together the tops of the segments; the seeds are pierced,
made into rosaries, and exported for that purpose to Mekka
via Muskat, from Gwadur on the Baluchistan coast, west of the
Indus (Brandis). The leaf-bud or “cabbage,” and the young
inflorescence, as well as the flesh of the fruit, are commonly
eaten.

CuLtivaTion IN Evrore.—This stove-plant grows best in a
compost of sandy loam, to which some leaf soil and a little
charcoal may be added with advantage. Good drainage is neces-
sary. The palm is propagated by seeds and offsets, if the latter
can be procured and detached without injury to the parent
plant.

Opinions as to the treatment of this palm seem to be divided.
A London Gardener writes that Nannorhops is probably one of the
hardiest of Fan Palms and that it does not like artificial heat,

preferring the temperature of an unheated greenhouse.

76 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. X-XI.

We have no practical experience of the cultivation of this palm,
but considering the geographical distribution of the species, we
should rather say, that it will prefer an unheated greenhouse to the
moist temperature of a hothouse.

Beccari mentions two specimens which he is cultivating in
the open in the vicinity of Florence, and he says that the plants
are doing very well in the northern Mediterranean region.

ILLUSTRATIONS.— We are indebted to Mr. H. V. Kemball, Mr.
R. T. Harrison, and Mr. Advani for the following two photo-
eraphs : ;

Plate X XI shows a characteristic landscape in Baluchistan with a
dense growth of Nannorhops. ‘The palms grow in thick small
clusters and are about 6 feet high as arule. The Railway station
which is seen in the photograph is the Nakas Railway station,
about 5 hours journey from Sibi towards Quetta side.

Plate XXIT. A cluster of Nannorhops from the same place.

LIGUALA, Thunb. Acta Holm. 1782, 84.

Geertn. Fruct. II, t. 189.—Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm, III, 234, t.
134, 1385, 162.—Kunth Enum. PI. III, 238.—Bl. Rumph. II, 37,
t. 82, 88-98, II, 47, t. 94.—Griff., Palms Brit. Ind. 117, t. 221 A,
B, C, 224-224 A, B.—Mig. Fl. Ind. Bat. III, 51, suppl. 254,
591.—Kurz For. Fl. Il, 527.—Walp. “Ann. III, 469, V, 815.—
Becc. Males. I, 80.—Wendl. & Drude Linn. 39, 191, t. 3, fig.
2.—Benth. Fl. Austr. VIJ, 144.—Drude Bot. Zeitg. 1877, 638, t.
6, fig. 86-38.—Benth. & Hook. Gen. Pl. II, I, 928, 96.—
Hook. Fl. Brit. Ind. VI, 430.

Low, rarely tall palms; stems annulate. Leaves more or less
orbicular, or flabellate, plicate, deeply partite; petiole usually
spinous. Spadices interfoliar, sheathed by tubular, coriaceous,

persistent spathes, simple or branched, glabrous, tomentose or

Ps.

‘(‘TPUSAA “HL ‘vwwary9j1.0 sdoy.wowwvAT) SWIVd IUVZV] JO YALSAID VW

So co ee ve st oh ch der eal ——— —

. THE PALMS OF BRITISH INDIA AND CEYLON. fifi

scurfy ; flowers usually small, scattered, hermaphrodite ; bracts and
bracteoles obscure or absent. Calyx cupular or tubular, mouth 3-
fid. Corolla-lobes coriaceous, valvate. Stamens 6; filaments
subulate ; anthers cordate. Ovary of 3 free or nearly free truncate
l-ovuled carpels ; styles filiform ; ovules erect. Drupes small ; style
terminal. Seed erect, globose, free, ventral face often hollowed
albumen equable ; embryo dorsal.

Species about 50. Asia, Australia, Pacific Islands.

With regard to this genus J. D. Hooker has the following
note :—‘‘ There are several unnamed Burmese and Malayan-Penin-
sular species in the Kew Herbarium, which I fail to identify with
any of the Indian ones enumerated by Beccari. I refrain from
describing them, as they are solitary specimens, and may be the
same as known Malayan Island species, of which J have seen no
specimens.”

CULTIVATION IN EHuRopE.—The species of this genus are dwart
stove palms. They grow in a compost of two parts peat and one
of sandy loam. They require a strong moist heat. Propagation is
effected by seeds sown in a sandy soil, and placed in a strong,

moist bottom heat.

* INDIGENOUS SPECIES.

LICUALA PELTATA, Roxb. Fl. Ind. I, 179; Ham. in Mem. Wern.
Soc. V, 313; Griff. in Calc. Journ. Nat. Hist. V, 325; Palms Brit. Ind. 120,
t. 222; Mart. Hist. Nat. Palms, III, 234, t. 162; Kunth Enum. ITI, 238;
Wall. Cat. 8617; Kurz in Journ. As. Soc. Beng. XLITI, II, 204; For. Fl.
II, 527; T. Anders in Journ. L. Soc. XI, 13; Gard. Chron. 1872, 1657, fig.
300; FI. Brit. Ind. VI, 480; Grah. Cat. p. 225; Prain Beng. Pl. 1091;
Brandis Ind. trees, 656. |

NameEs.—Kurud, Kurkuti (Beng.) Patti, Chattah-pat (Ass.) ;
Salu (Burm.).

78 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XX1.

DEScRIPTION.—Stems 8-15 feet high, usually gregarious, marked
below with the scars of the fallen leaves, above rough from the
persistent bases of the petioles. Leaves orbicular, 3-5 feet in
diameter, peltate, 12-30 partite, segments variously connate, many
toothed at the apex, teeth 3-2 inches, very variable in length and
breadth, obtusely 2-fid. Petiole 6-7 feet long, triangular, armed
throughout along the margins, especially towards the base, with
stout, horny, black, very sharp, conical, and rather curved spines.
Spadix erect, longer than the leaves, stout, simply branched,
sprinkled in the upper parts with brown scurf. Spathes tubular,
6-12 inches long, 3-? inch broad, mouth irregularly toothed or
lobed, at length variously split, and similarly scurfy. Spikes 3-5,
solitary, 6-12 inches long, nodding-pendulous, centrifugally
developed, fulvous-tomentose, adnate to the axis to about the
middle of the spathe. Flowers numerous, on short stalks,
solitary, very large, of a greenish-white colour, covered externally
with the same pubescence as the spike, opening centrifugally.
Calyx campanulate, shortly 3-toothed. Petals 4-4} inch long,
lanceolate, coriaceous, reflexed. Stamens 6; filaments united
among each other, and to the corolla as far as the base of its
segments, thence free, long, stout, plano-subulate, keeled along
the back.; anthers linear, cordate, exserted, attached near the
middle ; otherwise the cells are nearly distinct. Ovary turbites,
short, with a depressed apex; carpels cohering by their apices.
Ovules solitary, erect, anatropous. Style filiform, slender, 3
times longer than the ovary. Stigma obsoletely 3-toothed, on a
level with the anthers. Fruit 4 inch long, ellipsoid, narrowed
equally at both ends, orange coloured, one-seeded, apiculate by the
persistent base of the style, and crowned with the 2-abortive carpels,
surrounded at the base by the perianth, the tube of the calyx
resembling a short pedicel. Seed oblong, with the intruded hilar

process dilated within. Albumen horny. Embryo dorsal, situated

THE PALMS OF BRITISH INDIA AND CEYLON. 79

below the middle. (Fig. 17).

ote,
Wl

a
iy

4
Fie. 17,—Licuala peltata.
1. Calyx. 4, Pistil opened, an ovule is visible.
2. Part of corolla spread open with 3 5. A floral diagram after a section through
stamens, the upper part of the flower.
3. Pistil

All much enlarged, (After Martius’,

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

Hasziratr.—Sikkim, deep hot valleys near the Teesta river; Assam;
Khasia hills ; Cachar, woody mountainous country to the east of
and near Chitagong. Burma, Upper and Lower, indamp ravines
of the Pegu Yoma; Andaman Islands.—Introduced into gardens.

FLOWERS

In the cold season ; fruiting in the hot season.

Usres.—The leaves, according to Jenkins, are used for the same
purposes as those of the Toko-pat, but are much coarser, and only
made use of by the lower orders. The demand for them is very
great, scarcely a ploughman, cow-keeper or cooly, but has his hat
made of chattah-pat.

ILLUSTRATION.—Plate XXIII shows a fine specimen of Licuala
peltata. From between the round peltate leaves rise 6 simply
branched spadices. The branches resemble large catkins on the
photograph. We have to thank Mr. H. F. Macmillan who took
the photograph in the Royal Botanic Gardens of Peradeniya.

LICUALA LONGIPES, Griff. in Cale. Journ. Nat. Hist. V. 330; Palms
Brit. Ind. 125, t. 224, A and B; Kurz in Journ. As. Soc. Beng. xliii. 204;
For. Fl. II. 528; Brandis, Indian Trees 656.

Name.—Plass Bhatto (Malay.)

DESCRIPTION.—Stem very short. Leaves peltate, orbicular, 5-4
feet in diameter, dark green. Segments about 20, the lateral ones
being the narrowest, obliquely cut off, unequally 3-4 lobed, lobes
irregularly denticulate the terminal one cuneate, 5 inches broad,
truncate, 11-keeled above, with as many short, truncate, broad,
bifid, denticulate lobes as there are keels; intermediate ones
narrower, generally 3-keeled, otherwise similar; the upper margins
of all blackish brown. Petioles stout, 4-5 feet long, trigoncus,
deeply channelled above, armed (except the upper third) along
the two inner angles with stout, horny, conical, tooth-shaped
prickles. The rete consists of stout leathery fibres. Spadix
stout, much branched, much shorter than the petioles, 13-3 feet
long, erect, undulate, flexuose. Flowers numerous, sessile, green.
sparsely and sometimes densely pubescent. Calyx subcylindrical,
3-toothed, teeth bifid. Corolla almost twice as long as the calyx,
divided. to a little below the middle into 3 broad, cordate, lanceolate

seoments. Filaments short, setiform. Anthers cordato-ovate,

Journ, Bompay Nav. Hist. Soc. Pruate XXIII.

ae
‘
.
)

Kurup (Beng.), Patti (Ass.) on Satu (Burm.) (Licwala peltata, Roxb.).

THE PALMS OF BRITISH INDIA AND CEYLON. 81

slightly inflexed. Ovary turbinate, towards the base smooth and
3-partible, above entire and villous. Ovule solitary, erect, anatro-
pous. Style cylindric, rather shorter than the ovary, hollow at the
apex. Stigmas 3, minute. Fruit seated on the stout pedicel-like
tube of the calyx, surrounded at the base by the perianth and
annulus of the stamens, apiculate by the style, l-seeded. Endo-
carp thin, sub-osseous.

HapitatT.—Tenasserim coast in forests near Lainear to the
south of Mergui; Malacca, solitary in dense forests, Ayer Punnus
Goonoong Miring, and Mount Ophir, but not above an elevation
of a thousand feet.

FLowEers—Nearly all the year.

LICUALA SPINOSA, Wurmb. in Verh. Bat. Genootsch. II, 469;
Roxb. Fl. Ind. II, 181? (excl. syn. Rumph.); Griff. in Calc. Journ. Nat.
Hist. V, 321; Palms Brit. Ind. 119; Blume Rumph. II, 39, t. 82, 88;
Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm. III, 235, 318, t. 135, 1, 2; Mig. Fl. Ind. Bat. III.
53; Suppl. 254; Becc. Males. III, 74.—Z. paludosa, Kurz in Journ. As.
Soc. Beng. xliii, 528; For. Fl. Il, 528.—Z. ramosa, Bl. in Schult. Syst.
VII, 1803; Rumphia II, 39.—Z. horrida, Blame Rumph. II. 41, t. 89, f. 1;
Mart. 1. c. 237, 318.— Corypha pilearia, Lour. Fl. Cochinch. I, 265.

Beccari has lately reduced to this species his former varieties: Zicuwala
spinosa var. cochinchinensis and var. brevidens Becc. Malesia III. There
would be no end of varieties, he says, if all the different forms of a species
so widely distributed were to be described. (Webbia, vol. 3 (1910) p. 240.).

Name.—Plass (Malay).

DESCRIPTION.—Stems stout, 8-10 feet high, 2-4 inches in dia~-
meter, densely tufted, rough with the scars of fallen leaves.
Leaves orbicular-reniform, about 4 feet across the broad diameter ;
pinnules about 18 in number, narrow-cuneate ; the central ones
about 2 feet long; the terminal one is 10- or 11-plicate, truncate,
with as many lobes as there are plaits, the lateral ones are the
-deepest, all are obtusely bifid, the intermediate ones are more or less
truncate, 3—5-lobed, lobes larger and deeper, but otherwise similar
to those of the terminal one, the lateral ones with oblique
3-lobed ends. Petiole about 4-45 feet long, obtusely trigonous,
margins armed throughout with stout, conical, somewhat curved
spines. ligule very narrow, 1-1} inch long, scarious. Spathes

82 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXTI.

5)
—

green, sprinkled with brownish scurf, 2 inch in diameter, with
scarious, lacerated ends, occasionally obliquely lacerated. Spadix
a little longer than the leaves; branches 7-10, adnate to the
vhachis as high as the mouths of the spathes; lower branches
several, compound, stout, subulate, downy, spreading, generally
secund. Flowers sessile, placed in two’s or three’s, small, nearly
ovate. Calyx sub-ovate, divided to the middle into 3-rounded
teeth. Corolla a little longer than the calyx, divided below the
middle into 3 broad, lanceolate, acuminate segments. Annulus of
stamens rather high, nearly entire. Filaments short, setaceous.
Anthers oblong-ovate. Ovary depressed, turbinate, sculptured at
the apex. Style filiform, rather longer than the ovary. Fruit
obovoid, + inch long, pedicelled by the calyx-tube, red, 1-seeded,
surrounded at the base by the perianth. Seed ovate; albumen

horny, on a transverse section horse-shoe-shaped. (Fig. 18).

SS
y

| Nan iw)
Jy)

Fig. 18.—Licuala spinosa.
1. Top of a flowering branchlet before the 4. Stamens surrounding the pistil.

flowers open. 5. Pistil,
2. Young flower, 6. Longitudinal section through pistil to
3. Corolla, one petal removed to show show the ovules.

zstivation of stamens, 7. Longitudinal section of seed.

Allenlarged, (After Martius).

THE PALMS OF BRITISH INDIA AND CEYLON. 88

Hasirat.—Malacca, common in wet places, particularly in
hedges; Andaman Islands, tidal forests; Nicobars ; Malay Islands.

FLOWERS (in the Bot. Gard. Calcutta,) in the cold season; fruit
ripens in the hot season.

CULTIVATION IN Evrore.—This palm must be kept in the hot-
house, and it is well to remember that in its original home this
species grows with preference in calcareous soil.

IuLustration.—Licuala spinosa will be figured later on together

with Sabal mauriticeformis.
* INTRODUCED SPECIES.

LICUALA PALUDOSA, Griff, in Cale. Journ. Nat. Hist. V, 328;
Palms Brit. Ind: 118, t. 221, A, B, C; Hook. Fl. Brit. Ind. VI, 480; Becc.
Males. ITI, 74.

DEscriprion.—Stem 4-10 feet high, 5-9 inches in diameter,
unarmed, almost without marks of rings, except towards the apex
where they are incomplete; crown of moderate size. Rete rather
stout, of rich brown colour. Leaves flabelliform or orbicular, 3
feet in diameter, 6-9 partite; lateral segments oblique at the
apex, deeply and acutely 3-4 lobed, lobes bilobed (except the side
ones), the others are more or less truncate, with 4-8 broad, short,
bifid lobes; petiole 1-2 feet long, subtrigonal, armed along the
margins, except towards the apex, with small, black, horny,
conical, curved spines; sheaths very fibrous. Spathes # inch
broad, tubular, green, with membranous or scarious, lacerated
mouths. Spadix very stout, rather curved; branches of the
spadix bearing 5 or 7 spikes, which are 4 or 6 inches long, curved,
secund, generally nodding, slightly puberulous, often appearing as
if they arose separately from within the mouth of the spathe.
Flowers solitary, sessile, of a turbinate form; calyx cup-shaped,
7) ich broad, nearly entire, irregularly split at the expansion of
the flower; corolla (in bud) urceolate, about 4 longer than the
calyx, divided to the middle into 3 cordate-ovate segments. Ring
of the stamens white, nearly entire, projecting considerably above
the throat of the corolla; filaments short, setiform; anthers

84 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XX.

versatile, oblong, pale-brown. Ovary depressed, turbinate, with a
horny sculptured apex; carpels adhering by the style; ovules
solitary, erect, anatropous; style subulate, rather shorter than the
ovary; stigma simple. Fruit spherical, } inch in diameter.

Hasirat.—Malacca, low sandy wet places along the sea-coast.
about Tanjong Cling, Rundur, and Pulo Bissar, associated with
Pandanus, Hugenia, Diospyros, Helospora, etc.; Perak; Siam.

Introduced in gardens.

FLowers From April to May.

LICUALA ELEGANS, Bl. Rumphia Il, 42, tab. 90 A, B.—Bece.
Malesia, III, 71.

DESCRIPTION.—Caudex of the thickness of a man’s arm, 4 feet
long, erect, with transverse scars. Petioles 3-44 feet long, the
margins with recurved spines, uppermost part of petiole unarmed.
Lamina suborbicular, palmatisect, segments about 20, divided
almost to the base, the inner ones 16 inches long, linear-cuneiform
with the apex straight-truncate, outer ones shorter, lmear-lanceo-
late, with the apex obliquely truncate, all glabrous. Spadix
elongate, 7 feet long, rigid; spathes incomplete, vaginate, striate,
pale green. Calyx in smaller unripe fruits cupuliform, in ripe ones
more cylindrical, at the base depressed-truncate on a very short,
tuberculiform pedicel, teeth broadly-ovate, subacute, striate, persis-
tent. Corolla deeply tripartite, longer than the calyx, with a
staminiferous ring. Immature fruit turbinate-globose, yellowish-
ereen, apex discoid-dilate. Berries ellipsoid, surrounded at the base
by the persistent perianth, with the apex rounded, glabrous, fleshy,
l-seeded. Putamen ellipsoid-globose, obsoletely mucronate at the
base, thin, fragile, whitish, outer side fibrous-striate, inner side
smooth. Seed spheric—ellipsoidal. Albumen with a large irregular
cavity, solid, cartilaginous, white. Hmbryo dorsal, transverse.

Hasirat.—Sumatra.

ILLusTRATION.—Plate XXIV shows a well-developed specimen
of Licwala elegans. At first sight this species might easily be
mistaken for Licuala peltata (Plate XXIII). The straight-trun-

cate segments, however, distinguish L. eleyans from L. wpeltata,

Sa LE gy Oe L/P ae
% = 2 x. -_ 7 7 cf na fn

Prate XXIV.

Journ. Bompay Nav. Hist. Soc.

- SS

Licuala elegans, Bl.

yee

“A

THE PALMS OF BRITISH INDIA AND CEYLON. 85

which even on our picture shows distinctly the many-toothed top
of the segments. For other well-marked characters we refer to
the description of the two plants.

On the left side of the picture a spadix is visible with the
flowering spikes spreading in all directions.

The specimen, taken by Mr. H. F. Macmillan, is growing in the
Botanic Gardens of Peradeniya.

LICUALA GRANDIS, H. Wendl. MSS.; André Illustr. Horticol.
+. 412; Hook. Bot. Mag. t. 6704 and in Report Kew 1882 (1884) p. 65;
Gard. Chron. 1886, 139; Becc. Males. III, 78.—Pritchardia grandis, Hort.

DeEscriIPTION.—Whole plant about 6 feet high to the base of the
topmost petiole; stem leaf-bearing for nearly half of its length,
clothed shortly below the leaves with the sheaths of the old leaves,
which are semi-amplexicaul and about 3 inches long. Leaves erect
and slightly spreading, deep bright green ; petiole 23-3 feet long.
slender, concave-convex, armed with short, stiff, nearly straight or
curved, sometimes irregularly forked spines along the margins from
the base to the middle, ending in a short, ovate, acute, concave,
thickly coriaceous ligule ; blade sub-erect, 3 feet in diameter, and
about two long, orbicular or semi-orbicular, concave from the
incurving of the sides and more or less of the whole blade, closely
plaited and a little wavy, base cuneate or truncate, margins cleft
into bifid lobes about 1 inch long, lobules of the lobes very obtuse.
Spadices several, rising from amongst the leaves and nearly as long
as they are, sub-erect; rhachis as thick as the little finger, cylin-
dric, terete, quite smooth, giving off at intervals of a foot or less
flowering panicles 5-6 inches long. Spathes at the bases of the
panicles, two or more, 2-3 inches long, lanceolate, acute, concave,
brown, striate. Flowers 4 inch long, jointed on to very short
pedicels or sessile on the branches of the panicle. Calyx tubular-
campanulate, terete; mouth truncate, slightly lobed. Petals as
long as the calyx, ovate, acute, concave, very thick, with broad
margins and an inflexed tip. Stamens very small, inserted be-
tween the triangular teeth of a 6-lobed coriaceous cup; filaments
subulate, as long as the teeth of the cup; anthers oblong. Ovary

86 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

of 3 slightly cohering wedge-shaped carpels, united by a very short
entire style ; stigma simple. (Fig. 19.)

Fie. 19,.—Licuala grandis, H. Wendl.

1. ‘Top of petiole and hase of leaf blade 5. Petal.
(nat. size). 6. Starminal cup and stav ens.
2. Branch of panicle and flower. 7. Ovary. ‘
3. Flower spread open. 8. Ovary with the carpels disurited.
4. Calyx cut open and petals ia bud. All, except 1, enlarged. (After J. D, Hooker)

Hasily distinguished from other species by the spathes not being
tubular.

Hapirat.—New Britain.
JuLustraTion.—The palm figured on Plate X XV is an old speci-
men growing in the Botanic Gardens of Peradeniya.

The photograph was taken by Mr. H. F. Macmillan.

(To be continued. )

Journ. Bompay Nat. Hist. Soc. BE AC) SOO.

rete aes pk BP cas

a
i

Licuala grandis, H. Wendl.

THE RESIDENT BIRDS OF THE SAUGOR AND
DAMOH DISTRICTS, CENTRAL PROVINCES.

BY
R. C. H. Moss Kine, I.C.S.

This is my first attempt at writing on Natural History matters
and I hasten to disclaim all pretentions whatsoever to being an
ornithologist ; | am only very interested in birds. From what I have
read I gather that the apparently most common observations, if
only accurate and reliable, apart from interesting bird-lovers, can
serve to extend general scientific knowledge of the subject.

All that I lay claim to is that what I have observed I have done
accurately and such information as I give is reliable and a fact.
That my list is incomplete I know and admit; he would be a bold
man who for even the most circumscribed locality would‘not admit
the possibility of an omission; but I guarantee every bird in the
list is a permanent resident of the Saugor and Damoh districts, to
be found, by those clever enough and with sufficient time to spare,
breeding there. Most of them I have been able to find myself.
Some have eluded, and a few will doubtless continue to elude, my
search, and | have a strong suspicion that the Button-Quails, for
example, will be among the latter. But I am perfectly satisfied
that every bird mentioned does actually breed here.

I should have preferred to restrict this note to my own district
of Saugor, but I have included Damoh for the sake of the water
birds and accuracy. The fact is, and I do not attempt to explain
it, that all the water-birds and waders seem to prefer, while some
appear to restrict themselves to, the Damoh district for breeding.
I call this odd, and, like Naaman, exclaim ‘“ Are not Chandrapur
and Dhamoni, lakelets of Saugor, better than all the waters of
Damoh?” Nevertheless does the fact remain that, in the three
years watching on which this note is based, I have been totally
unable to discover any nesting colony of Hgrets, Herons, Snake-
birds, etc., inthe Saugor district. That they do not breed here is
practically inconceivable ; on the other hand their nesting is not
unobtrusive and ought to be discoverable, and having failed to

88 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXI,

discover it except in Damoh, where it is multitudinous, that
district is included with Saugor as constituting the area to which
this note refers.

I have not attempted ordinarily to describe either birds, nests or
egos, for this is done, very excellently, by Oates and Blanford who
have throughout been my authorities. In one or two instances I
have commented on or added to the information which they give,
but my notes are purely topical and my chief object has been
simply to record the permanently resident birds of the two districts.
My list, which is the result of many miles of tramping and many
hours of watching with glasses all over Saugor district and also
in Damoh, gives 155 birds as resident and mentions a few more
which I have been unable to verify myself. I think a list of, say,
165 birds would practically cover all our resident species.

The local vernacular names which I give differ very considerably
from those mentioned in Oates and Blanford as Hindi names, but
local variations are, I imagine, the rule rather than the exception.
The limitations in nomenclature are striking: some birds have no
names at all; in some cases different species of the same genus or
family all have well known individual names, e.g., every one of
the eight varieties of Larks in the district has its own distinctive
name and any native who knows anything about birds at all will not
only recognize each name but pick out and differentiate each par-
ticular lark from all the others. On the other hand, there are
whole different families which have to rest content with one
common name, é.g., Bagla, applied indiscriminately and without
differentiating epithets to Storks, Herons, Ibises and practically to
any long legged wader. I have only given names perfectly well
known and in common use in the district.

The subject of birds imitating other birds’ calls is very fascinat-
ing. My notes mention a case of the King-crow imitating the
Shikra, a performance for which the former is well known among
the natives, and which is done deliberately and for a definite object.
The Harewa, Jerdon’s Chloropsis, goes even one better, following
up the sharp cry of the Shikra with an imitation of the alarm and
distress note of the common Bulbul, a combination which will
drive every bird in hearing into cover. Mr. Tucker had a tame

THE RESIDENT BIRDS OF SAUGOR AND DAMOH DISTRICTS. 89

Harewa who used to go about the garden repeating this perform-
ance whereupon every other bird fled lke Catiline who, on the
discovery of his conspiracy, “ abiit, excessit, evasit, erupit.”” Apart
from these two instances of what is, on the part of the King-crow
at any rate, imitation with practical intention and purpose, birds
produce the songs of others apparently for amusement. The Larks,
Indian Sky-lark, Ganges Sand-lark, Singing Bush-lark, Crested
Lark and Sykes’s Crested Lark, are all good at imitation, while
one of the best of all is perhaps the Rufous-backed Shrike, who
when in the mood will imitate one bird after another most

beautifully.

My acknowledgments, which | here gratefully record, are due
to various people for much valuable help and information ; to
Mr. Tucker who gave me most material assistance at the beginning,
the most difficult time of my observations; to Mr. Chenevix
Trench and Mr. Thornhill, both keen naturalists and bird-lovers ;
and lastly to Maula Baksh, most stalwart of Chaprasis, whose
knowledge of local birds, while requiring check, is, like Sam
Weller’s of London, extensive and peculiar.

N.£.—The first number given against each bird in the followimg list is
the serial number of the bird in the Fauna of British India
Series—Birds by Oates and Blanford.

4. (1). Corvus MacRorHyNcHUs. Jungle Crow.

Pahari or Jangal Kauwa.
7. (2). Corvus sPLENDENS. Indian House Crow.
Kauwa.
16. (3). DenpDRociItTa RuFA. Indian Tree-pie.
Chota Mahuka.
45. (4). MacHtotopus Haptonotus. Southern Yellow Tit.
Gulsabdaroshan.

Nests in June. Last year I found three nests, two with four and one
with five eggs. As Oates and Blanford say the dimensions of the eggs are
not recorded. J may mention that these three clutches averaged ‘74x °55,
excluding one very small egg which only measured ‘69 x ‘51.

105. (5). An@ya cAupAtTA. Common Babbler.

Chota Genga.
110. (6). CRaTEROPUS CANORUS. Jungle-Babbler.
Genga or Satbhar.
139. (7). Pycroruis sinensis. Yellow-eyed Babbler.
These are the only Babblers that I know of in Saugor. The large Grey

90 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XX.

Babbler (Argya malcolmi) and Rufous-bellied Babbler (Dumetia hyperythra)
might both be expected, but I have not been able to find either myself.

226. (8). ZOSTEROPS PALPEBROSA. Indian White-eye.

Motichur.

Nests in May and June. Oates and Blanford say the eggs are
“generally two.” I have never found two but either four or three, all pale
blue without any marks.

243, (9). AdairHina TIPHIA. Common Iora.

Chota pilak.
252. (10). CHLOROPSIS JERDONI. Jerdon’s Chloropsis.
Harewa.

Oates and Blanford give the eggs as ‘two in number” but I found a nest
with three on 3rd June 1909. The usual number is two.

278. (11). Motpasrses HamorRHOUS. Madras Red-vented Bulbul.

Bulbul.

I have never seen either the Bengal Red-vented (Molpastes bengalensis) or
the white-eared Bulbul (Molpastes leucotis) though both from their distri-
bution should occur in Saugor.

321, (12). Srivra CASTANEIVENTRIS, Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch.

325. (13). Srrra FRONTALIS. Velvet-fronted Blue Nuthatch.

I include both these birds on the authority of Mr. Tucker who has seen
them both in Saugor throughout the year, though he has not found their
nests. I have not myself observed either of these Nuthatches in the
district.

327. (14). Dicrurus ater. Black Drongo.

Karanjua.

This is the only Drongo that I have myself seen in Saugor, but
Mr. Tucker tells me he has seen the white-bellied Drongo (Dierurus ceru-
lescens) on various occasions at different seasons of the year and though he
never found a nest, there is no reason why it should not breed in
the district. My. Thornhill told me of an amusing incident which he had
witnessed in connection with the Black Drongo. King-crow was sitting
on a Telegraph wire, and on the ground below a couple of Mynas and
a Hoopoe were making investigations. The Mynas had just discovered
a nice plump worm over which they were wrangling when suddenly the ery
of the Shikra (Astw badius) was heard, so unmistakeable that Mr, Thornhill
looked about for the little hawk. The Mynas and Hoopoe tarried not for
anything of the kind but legged it for all they were worth to the nearest
tree, the former dropping their booty in the excitement. There was not,
and never had been, any Shikra about but the King-crow, who had
imitated its cry, then swooped leisurely down and absorbed the worm. As
a matter of fact the King-crow is particularly fond of this little dodge and
the natives are well aware of this habit of his. It involves, of course,

THE RESIDENT BIRDS OF SAUGOR AND DAMOH DISTRICTS, 91

a reasoning power which however I am convinced that nobody who knows
anything about King-crow will have any difticulty in accrediting him with.
There is a curious superstition among the natives that, if a young King-
crow in its first flight from the nest alights on the horn of a bullock,
the horn will drop off. This may have a parallel in the similar behaviour
attributed to the eyes of the guinea pig if you hold the animal up by
its tail.

374. (15). OrtHoromus sutorivs. Indian Tailor-bird.

Piddi.

1 have found both the reddish white and the bluish-green eggs of
this bird, but the former are much the more common.

384. (16). FRANKLINIA BUCHANANI. Rufous-fronted Wren-warbler.

464. (17). Printa soctaris. Ashy Wren-warbler.

465. (18). Prinia syivatica. Jungle Wren-warbler.

467. (19). Printa rnornnata. Indian Wren-warbler.

Chitakul.
The latter is the more common of these Wren-warblers, and I have found
its nest very distinctly resembling that of the Tailor-bird, so much so that
I at first thought the eggs were the blue variety which the Tailor-bird
sometimes owns. All of them nest in the rains, in July. As regards the
Rufous-fronted Wren-warbler Mr. Tucker has sent me a couple of eggs
from a nest found by him in Saugor, and speaks of it as “fairly common ;”
from the wide distribution given by Oates and Blanford there is no reason
why it should not be, but I have not actually come across it myself.
469. (20). Lanrus tautora. Indian Grey-Shrike.
Bara latora.

476. (21). Lantus ERytTHRONOoTUS. Rufous-backed Shrike.
Majhla latora.

484, (22). Hemipus prcatus. Black-backed Pied Shrike.
Chota latora.

488. (23). TEPHRODORNIS PONDICERIANUS. Common Wood-Shrike.

I have never seen a Shrike’s larder, but on one occasion, on the march in
camp, on riding up to investigate a nest in a thick thorn bush, I found
close to the nest, which was a new one in process of building, a full-grown
lark, fresh killed, impaled through the neck on a long thorn. A pair
of Grey Shrikes were in the vicinity, and that the nest belonged to them
there was I think no doubt and the responsibility for the murdered lark it
was difficult to dissociate from them, but how they managed to catch it I
have never been able to imagine. The Grey Shrike nests early in March
and April ; the other three varieties wait till June and July. The Wooa
Shrike’s nest is very difticult to find, and being very small and always
situated, according to my experience, on the upper side of a fairly stout
branch, at the junction of a fork, is quite impossible to see from below.

92 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol, XX1.

500. (24), PERICROCOTUS PEREGRINUS. Small Minivet.
Rajelal.

501. (25), PERIcROcCoTUS ERYTHROPYGIUS. White-bellied Minivet.
Safed Rajelal.

The latter Minivet is not common; I have only seen it in one place, in
the Karta Jungle, and have never found its nest, but Mr. Tucker found one
near Rurawan. The small Minivet breeds in April and May. Mr. W. Jesse
in his interesting pamphlet on the ‘ Birds of Lucknow’ mentions a very
curious fact in connection with this bird, vz., that “with, I think, only one
or two exceptions at the most, I have always found nests, whether building
or with eggs, in possession of three birds, two females and one male. What
is the exact duty of this second wife I cannot make out.” I have looked
out for this ‘ tertium quid’ in Saugor but have never seen any sign of her.

508. (26). CampopHaca sYKESI. Black-headed Cuckoo Shrike.

Chota Bahram.
510. (27). GrRravucatus macit. Large Cuckoo Shrike.
Bahram.

A very common bird, distinguished for its ridiculously inadequate nest,
even more insufticient in comparison with the size of its owner than that of
the King-crow.

518. (28). Oniotus kuNbDoo. Indian Oriole.

Pilak.
544, (29). TemMENUCHUS PacopARUM. Black-headed Myna.
Pawti Maina.
549. (80). AcRIDOTHERES TRISTIS. Common Myna.
Maina.
555. (31). Srurnopastor contra. Pied Myna.
Ablak Maina.
The Pied Myna is nowhere very common but is very generally distributed
over the district.
576. (32). Cyornis tTickrnL1I. Tickell’s Blue Fly-catcher.
Surmai.

598. (33). TrRPsIPHONE PARADISI. Indian Paradise Fly-catcher.
Sultana Bulbul.

604. (34.) RurprpuRA ALBIFRONTATA. White-browed Fantail Fly-catcher.
Chamkul.

All three of these fly-catchers have defeated me at present so far as their
eggs go. But Mr. Tucker has found the nest of the white-browed Fantail
and also in the gardens behind the Gopalgunj Bazar, which is one of our
happy hunting grounds, found one year in June a nest with young of
Tickell’s Blue Fly-catcher. This latter Fly-catcher is probably more
common than it appears to be, for it always haunts thick cover and shade.
The Paradise is fairly common in the district while the white-browed

THE RESIDENT BIRDS OF SAUGOR AND DAMOH DISTRICTS. 93

fantail, with its very distinctive and pretty call, which ends so abruptly
and always sounds as if the bird had been interrupted about two notes
before the end, is very common indeed ; but I have very rarely seen any of
these Fly-catchers, and never the white-browed Fantail, in the vicinity of
Saugor itself. The white spotted Fantail Fly-catcher (Rhipidura pectoralis)
ought to be found here, but I have never come across it. I like the legend,
due of course to the difference in the colour of the plumage of mature and
immature birds, which Sterndale gives in “Seonee” of the Paradise
Fly-eatcher, or as he calls it the Rocket-bird. It was originally one of the
most beautiful birds in Paradise, all white with twelve long plumes and a
lovely voice, but meeting a real bird of Paradise it went and complained to
Allah that its own beauty was not sufficiently perfect. Whereon Allah
became angry and gave sentence that, as they had shewn an evil spirit and
had blackened their faces before him, they should become dingy brown
birds with black heads but that after a period of this humiliation they
should be allowed to resume their white garb with, however, only two of
their tail plumes while their faces should always remain black.
608. (85). PRratinconta capRATA. Common Pied Bush-chat.
Pidda
629. (36). CERCOMELA FUSCA. Brown Rock-chat.
Shama.
661. (37). THAMNOBIA CAMBAIENSIS. Brown-backed Indian Robin.
Ldlgandi.
663. (38). CopsycHuUS SAULARIS. Magpie-Robin.
Dhayal.
720. (389). PLocErus Baya. Baya.
The lumps of clay, which I have never failed to find inside the weaver-
bird’s nest, can only be, I think, to weigh the nest and prevent it swinging
about too much.

734, (40). UnononcHa MaALABARICA. White-throated Munia.

Churakka.

735. (41). Urnotoncua puNcTULATA. Spotted Munia.
Sianbas.

737. (42). SricrospizA ForRMosa. Green Munia.
Harelal.

738. (43.) SpoR#GINTHUS AMANDAVa, Indian Red Munia.
Lél Muna.

Another series of birds, which, with the exception of the white-throated
which breeds all the year round, two females sometimes using and bringing
up their broods in the same usually untidy and conspicuous nest, have
hitherto eluded my search for their nests. I-think they only breed here in
the rains.

775, (44). GYMNoRHIS FLAvIcoLLIS. Yellow-throated sparrow.

94. JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXTI.

776. (45). Passer pomusticus. House sparrow.
Banniwallah Chiriya.

Why Sparrows should be locally known as the Brahmins among birds I
have never been able to discover. It may be, however, because they indent
so freely on, in fact practically monopolise, the hospitality which Brahmins
offer in the shape of grain and, in the hot weather, water to birds in
general. The eggs of the yellow-throated vary considerably but resemble
very much those of the English Tree-sparrow.

803. (46). MenopHus MELANICTERUS, Crested Bunting.

Kala Chandul.

This handsome little bird is very common, nesting in the loose-built stone
walls and houses which abound all over the district.

809. (47). CorizE stneNnsis. Indian Sand-martin.

811. (48). PryonoprocNnE concotor. Dusky Crag-martin.

818. (49). Hirunpo smiruir. Wire-tailed swallow.

819. (50). Hirunpo rruvicota. Indian Cliff-swaliow.

823. (51). Hirunpo eryrHropyeia. Sykes’s striated swallow.

Native name for swallows and martins Awadil.

All quite common: I have found the nests of all the four latter in large
numbers in the Khurai fort, but have not yet come across a breeding colony
of the Sand-martins.

881. (52). Moraci~La MaADERASPATENSIS. Large pied Wagtail.

Khanjan.

The only permanently resident wagtail I believe in Saugor.

847. (53). ANTHUS RUFULUS. Indian Pipit.

Oates and Blanford give the number of eggs as three, but on 21st
May 1909, I found a nest with four in the rough grass at the head of
Saugor lake, a place where the Pipit and various Larks nest, almost by
the dozen.

861. (54). Atsaupa cuLGULA. Indian Sky-lark.

Bharat.
866. (55). ALAUDULA RAyTAL. Ganges Sand-lark.
Retal.
869. (56). Mrrarra CANTILLANS. Singing Bush-lark.
Aghin.
871. (57). Mirarra ERYTHROPTERA. Red-winged Bush-lark.
Jhirjhira.
874, (58). GaLERira cristata. Crested Lark.
Ghdgas Chandil.
875. (59). GaLERITA DEVA. Sykes’s Crested Lark.
Chandil.
877. (60). AmMMoMANES PH@NICURA. Rufous-tailed Finch-lark.

Geruwa.

es
er
=

THE RESIDENT BIRDS OF SAUGOR AND DAMOH DISTRICTS. 95

879. (61). PyrrHuLANDA GRiseA. Ashy-crowned Finch-lark.
Dabkut,

All eight of these larks are common. I do not think the Indian Sky-lark,
Ganges Sand-lark and Crested lark breed more than once a year about
May. Both the Bush-larks and the squat little Ashy-crowned Finch-lark
certainly breed twice, in April and again in August-September. It is
curious that Oates and Blanford do not mention that both the Red-winged
and the Singing Bush-lark’s nest is always domed. The Ashy-crowned
Fineh-lark likes a guard for its nest, preferably a stout thistle.

895. (62). ARACHNECHTHRA asiaTicA. Purple Sun-bird.

Phil Sungni.
921. (63). Pirprisoma squatipuM. Thick-billed Flower-pecker.
Both these little birds nest early, about March. I have never found the
Sun-birds nest without the little entrance porch. The Flower-pecker’s
little brown felt woven purse nest with its sht in the side for entrance, and
the bottom woven slightly thicker than the rest to keep the sides apart, is
the most beautiful example of bird-building that I know.
972. (64). Liopicus MaHRATTENSIS. Yellow-fronted Pied Wood-pecker.
Chitla Katkola.

976. (65). IyNerprcus HaRDWwicKII. Indian Pigmy Wood-pecker.
Chota Katkola.

986. (66). BracHyPreRNUs AURANTIUs. Golden-backed Wood-pecker.
Sond Katkola.

There are, I believe, the only three Wood-peckers found in Saugor. The
first and last are both common, the Golden-backed extremely so. The
Pigmy Wood-pecker is not so common and I have not found a nest yet but
I imagine they breed like the two other species about March. I have seen
the Pigmy hop from branch to branch and also come down to the ground
in chase of a flying-insect, a habit I have never seen in the other
Wood-peckers.

1008. (67). THEREICERYX zEYLONICUS. Common Indian Green Barbet.

1019. (68). XANTHOLHMA HAMATOCEPHALA. Crimson Breasted Barbet.

Hara Katkola.
The latter is ubiquitous, the former not common. Nest in March-April.
1022. (69). Coracitas InpIcA. Indian Roller.
Vilkant.

The Nilkant is a “lucky” bird and on the Daserah day Hindus go out
for the express purpose of finding one and it is considered very lucky if
the bird is seen flying from right to left. So too old Horace,

“ Nec laevus vetet wre picus
Nec vaga corn.”
i026. (70). Mernops viripis. Common Indian Bee-eater.
Tiltilla.

96 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX.

1027. (71). Merops purtipprnus. Blue-tailed Bee-eater.

The Blue-tailed is not common. I have only seen it in one place in
Saugor, at Dewal in the extreme North-West of the district. It occurs in
the neighbouring district of Damoh.

1033. (72). CErynE varia. Indian Pied King-fisher.

Chitla Kilkilla.
1035. (738). AucEDo Ispipa. Common King-fisher.
Chota Kilkilla.
1043. (74). PELARGOPSIS GURIAL. Brown-headed Stork-billed King-
fisher.
Bara Kalkilia.
1044. (75.) Hatcyon sMyRneENSIS. White-breasted King-fisher.
Nila Kilkilla.

The Storked-billed is fairly frequently seen. I am certain that a pair
have used the wall of the Saugor fort over the lake for nesting, though I
have not been able to discover where. The other three kinds are ubiqui-
tous ; they all nest about April and May.

1062. (76). LopHocERos BIROSTRIs. Common Grey Hornbill,

Stlgulla.

The only Saugor Hornbill, quite common, nests in April. Thefemale can
invariably be caught on the nest, has in fact to be removed in order to take
the eggs.

1067. (77). Uprupa inpica. Indian Hoopoe.

Navah.

Very common; the nesting hole is always very odorous, but this has
nothing to do, as I have heard it suggested, with any natural smell of the
bird itself; it merely contravenes, in common however with many other
birds, the precept of not fouling its own nest, the peculiarly far-reaching
effect being due, I think, to the nest’s situation which is always in
a hole. ;

1073. (78). COypsELUS AFFINIs. . Common Indian Swift.

Awabhil.

1086. (79). Macrorreryx cononata. Indian Crested Swift.

Extremely local but in good sized flocks where it does occur. Mr. Thorn-
hill told me that out shooting, observing one of these birds coming
constantly to the same branch, he was able from his machan and with his
glasses to make out the tiny saucer on the branch which constitutes the
nest ; it was however quite inaccessible and the eggs of these birds must be
difficult to get.

1091. (80). Caprimuteus asiaticus. Common Indian Night Jar.

Chapka.

I feel certain that there are other Night-jars in the district, but they

are not easy to identify without shooting, which, apart from the fact that

THE RESIDENT BIRDS OF SAUGOR AND DAMOH DISTRICTS. 97

IT only resort to the gun in sheer desperation when every other means of
identification have failed, is not so easy as it sounds when it comes to
Night-jars.

1104. (81). Cucunus canorus. Cuckoo.

Kuku, or Papatya.

1109. (82). Hrsrococcyx varius. Common Hawk-Cuckoo.

1118. (88). CoccysrEs sacospinus. Pied Crested Cuckoo.

1120. (84). Evpynamis Honorata. Indian Koel.

Koel.

1129. (85). Taccocua LESCHENAULTI. Sirkeer Cuckoo.

All common except the last which I have only seen on a few occasions.
I have never found the Cuckoo’s egg, though I flatter myself that I have
obtained that of the Pied Crested on more than one occasion from the nest
of Crateropus canorus. But considering how the eggs are said to resemble
those of the legitimate owner, I fail to see how one can be certain, short of
seeing the Cuckoo on the nest. And I am afraid that my belief in the
genuineness of the egg, apart from a slight though appreciable difference
in their shade of blue and size, is largely based on my personal desire
to believe. The Koel’s eggs are easy to get and last year I took a nest
with three Koel’s and two Crow’s eggs. To my great regret I have
never been able to witness any dispute or manceuvring between the Koel
and the Crow over the depositing of these eggs in the Crow’s nest, and I
personally have a theory, based on the undoubted fact that at this parti-
cular time of year Koels are awake, and most vocally so, at all hours
of the night, that Mrs. K. must often introduce the egg stealthily in
the dark.

The Sirkeer Cuckoo is a poor creature, hardly worth calling a Cuckoo as
he is said to demean himself so far as not only to lay his own eggs, which
according to the small boy of the story no decent Cuckoo ever does,
but even to make his own nest. I have never found this nest and do not
want to or to have anything more to do with this disreputable bird.
Swadeshi is all very well but when it comes to self-made nests for Cuckoos,
I consider that it is carried to excess.

Mr. Tucker adds the Indian Plaintive Cuckoo (Cacomantis passerinus) to
the Saugor list, but I have not come across the bird myself.

1130. (86). CENTROPUS SINENSIs. Common Coucal or Crow-pheasant.

Mahuka.

Nests late in August, making a large globular nest of green leaves and
creepers, always very carefully concealed in tke thickest of foliage.

1135. (87). PaLzornis NEPALENSIS. Large Indian Paroquet.

Karan-tota.
1138. (88). Panaornis rorquatus. Rose-winged Paroquet.
Tota.
15

98 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Voi. XX].

1139. (89). PaLeorNIS CYANOCEPHALUS. Western Blossom-headed
Paroquet.
Chota Tota.

The large Indian Paroquet is the most popular cage bird, so much
so that contractors regularly pay for the monopoly of the right to take all
the young birds to be found in particular tracts of jungle.

1152. (90). Srrix rnamMEA. Barn-owl or Screech-owl.

Gugu.

The old fort at Dhamoni is full of these owls.

1161. (91). Syrnrum ocettatum. Mottled Wood-owl.

1164. (92). Ketupa zeyLtonEeNsis. Brown Fish-owl.

Gugu.

A most fearsome bird: I shall never forget seeing one of these owls in a
big mango tree which, I promptly climbed in the hope of finding the nest.
IT found the nest all right with two young ones in a large hollow

of the trunk ; it was late in the evening and getting dark and as I climbed

both the parent owls watched me, one each side, from a distance of a few
feet. With their huge yellow eyes and most truculent aspect in general
they were about as terrifying as tigers and I was expecting a ‘charge’ at
any moment.

1180. (93). ATHENE BRAMA. Spotted owlet.

Chipru.

A very common little owl; it is a most amusing sight to see three or four

young ones at the edge of their nesting hole, all glaring and jerkily

bobbing and bowing at one like so many little marionettes. I feel sure

that there are other species of owls in the district, one of which Mr. Tucker
says, is the Jungle owlet (Glaucidium radiatum) of which he has seen
several pairs. The four above-mentioned are however the only ones I am
definitely certain of, and owls, like Nightjars, present difticulties in the
matter of identification.

1192. (94). Gyps FuLvus. Griffon vulture.

Gid.
I saw this vulture breeding on a cliff at Mundra.
1196. (95). PsEuDogyps BENGALENSIS. Indian White-backed vulture.
Gid.
1197. (96). NEOoPHRON GINGINIANUS. Smaller White Scavenger-vultere.
Safed chil.

I believe this is the Saugor vulture and not Neophron perenopterus. The
latter is said to have the bill dusky, never yellow, and every vulture of this
species which I have seen in Saugor has a very distinctly yellow bill.
i take this opportunity of warning egg collectors of a dreadful method
of defence sometimes adopted by the young of the white-backed vulture,
which, when the luckless climber comes within range, deliberately puts its

¥
C

F
iG
At
'
i

eee

THE RESIDENT BIRDS OF SAUGOR AND DAMOH DISTRICTS. 99

head over the side of the nest and disgorges on nim. Memo: to senda up a
hireling in future to investigate a Vulture’s nest and to stand well trom
under the tree oneself.
1203. (97). Aguita vinpHIANA. Indian 'lawny Eagle.
I took a clutch of two eggs from the nest of this bird in December: she
did not desert but proceeded to lay again and I had the second pair
of eggs, slightly smaller than the first, taken in January. I believe the bird
is still using the same site.
1211. (98). SpizaETus cirrHatus. CrestedHawk-eagle.
A beautiful bird: I have not found it nesting yet, but it is certainly
resident.
1216. (99). Crrcarrus Ganuicus. Short-toed eagle.
I have also failed to find this eagle nesting as yet.
1220. (100). Butastur tEEsaA. White-eyed Buzzard Eagle.
Common: nests in April. All eggs found were white unspotted. The
peculiar pale yellow eye can be distinguished at a considerable distance.
1228. (101). Hatiasturinpus. Brahminy kite.
Sankar chil.

1229. (102). Minvus govinpa. Common Pariah-kite.
Chil.

1244. (103). Asrur Bapius. Shikra.
Shikra.

1255. (104). Fatco pErEGRINATOR. Shahin Falcon.
Shahin baz.

Not common, but I have seen it on various occasions and identified
it beyond doubt. Have not found it nesting yet.

1257. (105). Fatco suecer. Laggar Falcon.

Laggar.

I took a clutch of the 4 very handsome eggs of this Falcon, fairly hard
set, on 19th February 1909. It is not common in Saugor.

1264. (106). Alsaton cHicquEeRA. Turumti or Red-headed martin.

Turumti,
Also not common, and I have as yet failed to secure the eggs. I found
a pair building last year but unfortunately for some unaccountable reasou
they deserted before completing the nest. There are, I think, one or
two other species of Raptores in the district and I have had eggs brought
to me, undoubtedly Hawk’s, which I have been unable to identify.
1272. (107). Crocopus cHLoRoGASTER. Southern Green Pigeon.
Harial.

1292. (108). CotumBa INTERMEDIA. Indian Blue-rock Pigeon,
Kabutar.

1307. (109). Turrur suRAtTENSIS.. Spotted Dove.
Chitla Fakhta.

100 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol, XX,

1309. (110). Turrur camBayensis. Little Brown Dove.
Fikhta.

1310. (111). Turrur risortus. Indian Ring-Dove.
Bara Fakhta.

1311. (112). QCENopoPpELIA TRANQUEBARICA. Red Turtle Dove.
Lal Fikhta.

All these pigeons and doves are ubiquitous.

1317. (118). Prerocies rascratus. Painted Sand Grouse.
Chapka.
The vernacular name is the same as for the Nightjar with which the
natives apparently confuse this bird.
1321. (114). Prerociturus Exustus. Common Sand-grouse.
Bhat totar.

1324, (115). Pavo cristatus. Common Pea-fowl.
Mor.

1350. (116). GaLLoPpERDIx LUNULATA. Painted Spur-fowl.
Sangli murghi.

I have never seen the Red Spur-fowl (Galloperdix spadicea) in Saugor, and
do not think he exists here.

1356. (117). Corunnix conoMANDELICA. Black breasted or Rain-quail.

Bater.
1357. (118). Prrpicuna astatica. Jungle Bush-quail.
Chota Bater.

1358. (119). Prrpicuna areunpa. Rock Bush-quail.

There are other points of distinction but for the ordinary person the main
distinction between these two Bush-quails lies, as Hume points out, in the
chin.

“It is dificult to represent colours accurately in words, but bright
chestnut (the Jungle Bush-quail) and dull rufous, slightly suffused in many
specimens with a grey shade (the Rock Bush-quail) are so different that
the colouration of the chin and throat ought alone to suftice to distinguish
adults, at any rate, of the two species.”

1373. (120). Francontnus pictus. Painted partridge.

Kélé Titar.

In the Saugor Gazetteer Colonel Sutherland, I.M.S., mentions the Black
Partridge (Francolinus vulgaris) as one of the Saugor birds. He tells
me that he has undoubtedly seen this species in Saugor, but it was some
years ago. I myself have never seen it, though constantly on the look-out,
more especially when in camp on our North border, for the Black Partridge
is certainly found in Jhansi. Mr. Thornhill however shot a Black Partridge
cock by the Garoula Tank in November 1909, and the identification being
beyond doubt, the Black Partridge may perhaps still be included among
the Saugor resident species, though it is certainly extremely rare.

THE RESIDENT BIRDS OF SAUGOR AND DAMOH DISTRICTS. 101

1375. (121). FRancoLInus PonpicERIANUS. Grey Partridge.
Gora Titar.

1382. (122). Turnix puaNax. Bustard-quail.

1383. (123). Turnix pussumiert. Little Button-quail.
Lawa.

1384. (124). Tournix tanxi. Indian Button-quail.

Starting with the Sand-Grouse, I believe this to be a complete list of the
resident game birds of Saugor. I have found the nests of all with the
exception of the two Button-quails, the discovery of which seems to me a
matter of pure luck and to depend on the size of one’s boots (extra size
policeman’s should be well adapted for quail nesting) as much as on
anything else, and I still live in hopes of treading on one some day.

‘The lesser Florican (Sypheotis aurita) has been seen, but extremely
rarely, in Saugor, and there is certainly not enough evidence to call
it a resident.

1400. (125). Amavrornis aKoot. Brown Crake.

Mr. Thornhill found this Crake with young at the end of June. Oates
and Blanford mention “some young birds from Saugor in the Hume
collection.”

1401. (126). AmauvroRNIS PH@NICcURUS. White breasted water-hen.

Jal murghi.
1402. (127). Gaxtinuta cHLororus. Moorhen.

Jal murgh.
1 do not think the Coot (Fuliea atra) breeds in Saugor.
1409. (128). Grus anticgonEe. Sarus.

Saras.

The Sarus usually breeds in the rains, about August, but Mr. Thornhill
found a nest two years running by the Saugor lake in March.

1418. (129). Cipicnemus scotopax. Stone-curlew.

I found two eggs of this bird in August 1909. It makes no nest at all.

1419. (130). Hsacus RECURVIROSTRIS. Great Stone-Plover.

The local Vernacular name for any kind of Plover is Titirri. The great

Stone Plover is known as the Billiwallah-Ankh-Titirri or cat-eyed Plover.
It makes no nest, lays its two handsomely marked eggs from March to
May.
1422. (181). Cursorius cornomanvELicus. Indian Courser.
1428. (132). Metopipius 1npicus. Bronze winged Jacana.
Languria.
1429. (133). HypropHasiIANus cHiRURGUS. Pheasant-tailed Jacana.
Safed Languria.
Both Jacanas are common, but their floating nests and beautiful glossy
eggs take a lot of finding.
1431. (134). Sarcoerammus inpicus. Red-wattled Lap-wing.

102 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXTI-

1432. (135). SarciopHorus MaLABARICcUS. Yellow-wattled Lap-wing.

1447, (136). Aeratiris puBIA. Little Ringed-Plover.

1488. (137). RostraruLA CAPENSIS. Painted Snipe.

Réija chah.

Quite common : I found three nests, all within 100 yards, on Saugor lake
last year. The ground colour of the eggs is usually yellowish stone colour
but I found one clutch distinctly greenish, covered with the usual large
blotches.

1504. (138). SveRNA MELANOGASTER. Black-bellied Tern.

1528. (139). PHanacrocorax gavanicus. Little Cormorant.

1529. (140). Puorus me~anocaster. Indian Darter or Snake-bird.

1541. (141). Isis MeLanocerHALa. White Ibis.

1542. (142). Inocoris papittosus. Black Ibis.

1545. (143). Puaratza LEUcoRoDIA. Spoon Bill.

1552. (144). PSsEUDOTANTALUS LEUCOCEPHALUS. Pamted Stork.

1553. (145). Awnasromus oscirans. Open-bill.

1554. (146). ARDEA MANILLENSIS. Eastern Purple Heron.

1555. (147). ARpDEA CINEREA. Common Heron.

Herons are very careless nurses: I found quite a considerable number of
young birds underneath the tree occupied by one colony and had to put an
end to one or two which had survived but been injured by the fall.

1561. (148). Heroptas carzetra. Little Keret.

1562. (149). Busuncus cornomanpus. Cattle Egret.

The Egrets, as I have already observed, seem to prefer the waters of the
adjoining Damoh district for breeding purposes and I have had some happy
days over there with Mr. Trench visiting various colonies. The value
of the Little Egrets plumes is well known, and one colony we visited
we were glad to find was under the protection of the village landlord, the
birds being unmolested and the plumes only collected on their moulting.
But this was not always the case, and the attention of the District
Magistrate being drawn to the matter | am glad to say that all Egret
colonies in Damoh are now under magisterial protection. A tree with an
Egret colony looks as if it had been heavily snowed on, and to see the
birds fluffing out their plumes is worth going a long way.

1565. (150). ArpEona Grayi. Pond Heron.

Bagla.

‘Bagla’ is the local name for all birds of this shape, Herons, Egrets,
even Ibises being included. The Pond Heron, or more familiarly Paddy
bird, affords in Saugor an extraordinary instance of the temporary loss,
during the breeding season, of all fear of human Society, its chosen nesting
site being the tall trees by the Gopalganj Police Station. The Paddy-bird
has evidently not heard of the Mackarness pamphlet on the Indian Police,
or it would hardly choose such a dangerous neighbourhood for a nursery.

nit
By

THE RESIDENT BIRDS OF SAUGOR AND DAMOH DISTRICTS. 103
1567. (151). Buroripges Javanica. Little Green Heron.
Oates and Blanford describe this Heron as “less nocturnal than the

Bitterns and may occasionally be seen fishing in the day time in shady

places.” So far as I have seen it, I should call it a most ordinarily djurnal

bird, but this perhaps was due to the fact that it was nesting at the time.
1584. (152). SaRcrDIORNIS MELANOTUS. Comb Duck.
Nakta.

1589. (153). Denprocyona savanica. Whistling Teal.
Chillonia.

1591. (154). Nerropus CoROMANDELIANUS. Cotton Teal.
Bhujakiya.

The first and last of these have steadily defeated every attempt to find
their nests, though that they breed here is absolutely certain. The nearest
I have got to the Cotton Teal was to find a nest, in a hole in a trees
at Khurai from which the young had recently flown.

1617. (155). Popictpss ALBIPENNIS. Indian Little Grebe or Dabchick.

Charcharia or Pandubi.

For some reason or other they do not approve of the Saugor lake
as a nursery site; seen there in quantities up to July, they then one and
all unobtrusively disappear to other more favoured spots.

There are one or two other water birds, rails I think more specially,
which ought to be included in this list, but which I have at present failed
to locate with sutticient certainty.

104

DESCRIPTIONS OF INDIAN MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA
BY
Hi MEY RICK BoA.) FERS.) Bezecs
XIV.
(Continued from page 736 of Volume XX. }

PTEROPHORID.

Deuterocopus, Z.

I think that Mr. T. Bainbrigge Fletcher in his recent paper on this genus
(Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1910) has not yet got to the bottom of the difficul-
ties connected with it. The whole subject cannot be discussed here, but
I consider that the two following forms are truly and recognisably distinct
from socotranus and from each other. It¢ will greatly assist the study of the
genus if collectors, who come across a species in plenty, will take a good
series of specimens at the same place and time, which can be relied on as
specifically identical, and also ascertain the species of vine which they
frequent.

Deuterocopus viticola, n. sp.

6 2. 9-10 mm. Head and thorax ochreous-brown sprinkled with dark
fuscous, face more ochreous, thorax beneath yellowish-white. Palpi
whitish, second and terminal joints each with two ferruginous bands more
or less sprinkled with dark fuscous. Antennz black lined with white,
ciliations in ¢ a Abdomen ferruginous-ochreous more or less suffused
with brown, basal segment with two white spots, second segment forming a
darker brown band, its posterior margin mixed with white, behind this with
two interrupted white lines, beneath yellowish-white with a usually inter-
rupted slight ferruginous bar on margin of third segment. Legs brown
more or less irrorated with dark fuscous, with indistinct rings of white
irroration. Forewings with lower cleft % of upper; ferruginous-brown.
variably irrorated with dark fuscous ; two or three white scales at base of
upper cleft ; the dark irroration forms a patch on base of first segment and
an inwardly oblique fascia at its middle, between and beyond which the
segment is suffused with fulvous-ochreous ; second segment with a trans-
verse fine median line of a few white scales: cilia bronzy-fuscous, faintly
rosy-tinged, slightly mixed with white scales on basal 3 of upper cleft and
basal half of lower, beyond this with a dark fuscous patch on upper margin
of second and third segments reaching apex, and on lower margin of all
segments extending to apex and limited by a gently curved colinear
(subcontinuous) black basal line at apex of each segment, but on two upper

DESCRIPTIONS OF INDIAN MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA. 105

segments cut by a single white scale near before apex, on dorsum with a
blackish scale-projection just beyond cleft, at apex of wing with a blackish
bar, on costa brownish-ochreous with a dark fuscous patch on middle of
first segment. Hindwings dark fuscous, tinged with crimson anteriorly,
and near base with ferruginous ; cilia rosy-fuscous, on dorsum with a small
triargular blackish scale-projection just before middle of third segment,
and a large circular blackish scale-projection occupying its apex on both
margins.

Hambantota and Puttalam, Ceylon (Pole, Fletcher); in October and
November, eight specimens. This is the form bred in plenty by Mr.
Fletcher from larve feeding on flowers of Vitis quadrangularis; it is the
commonest Ceylon form (I have seen numerous specimens besides those
here described), but possesses characters which I have never met with in
examples from other localities. Mr. Fletcher includes it in his account of
socotranus, but together with what I regard as heterogeneous material from
various regions.

Deuterocopus alopecodes, n. sp.

6 @. 10-11 mm. Head and thorax ferruginous sprinkled with dark
fuscous, thorax beneath whitish-yellow. Palpi whitish, second and termi-
nal joints each with two ferruginous bands. Antennz black, lined and
dotted with white, ciliations in ¢3. Abdomen ferruginous, basal segment
with two small white spots, posterior margin of second segment somewhat
mixed with white, two or three pairs of white dots or slight marks on
posterior segments, beneath whitish-yellow with well-marked entire deep
ferruginous band on posterior margin of third segment. Legs ferruginous
banded with dark fuscous suffusion on whorls, and more or less obscurely
ringed with white. Forewings with lower cleft over % of upper; ferru-
ginous, variably irrorated with dark fuscous; the dark irroration forms
a patch on base of first segment and a band at its middle, latter sometimes
hardly marked, its margins sometimes indicated by a few white scales ; two
or three white scales on second segment beyond its middle: cilia golden-
bronzy, slightly mixed with white scales on basal 3 of upper cleft and basal
half of lower, beyond this with a patch of dark fuscous suffusion on upper
margin of second and third segments reaching apex, and on lower margin
of all segments separated by a pale patch from a blackish downwards-direc-
ted triangular apical scaletooth, most distinctly on second and third
segments, outer edge of apical scaleteeth nearly straight but dislocated and
not in the same line, on dorsum with a slender blackish scale-projection
just beyond cleft, at apex of wing with a blackish bar, on costa ferruginous-
ochreous with a blackish patch on middle of first segment. Hindwings
dark fuscous,. third segment ferruginous; cilia golden-bronzy, sometimes
rosy-tinged, on dorsum with a small triangular scaletooth of ferruginous

and black scales before middle of third segment, and a large angular
14

106 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXi.

suboblong projection of black and ferruginous. scales occupying its apex
on both sides, with its lower margin triangularly emarginate. a

Karwar, in August (Maxwell) ; five specimens. Mr. Maxwell, who is at
present in England, informs me that these were all taken from a single
vine-plant on which the species was plentiful, and that he will be able to
ascertain its name on his return.

Marasmarcha phlyctaemas, n. sp.

6 2. 16-20 mm. Head ochreous-whitish, face and crown somewhat
infuscated. Palpi moderately long, slender, ochreous-whitish, terminal
joint with dark fuscous lateral line. Antenne light greyish-ochreous,
ciliations in g +. Thorax ochreous-whitish finely sprinkled with fuscous.
Abdomen ochreous-whitish, with mdications of pale brownish-ochreous
stripes. Horewings cleft from 2, segments acute, first moderate, second
narrower (but much less narrow than in atomosa) ; whitish-ochreous, tinged
with fuscous except towards dorsum anteriorly, more infuscated on poste-
rior half, sometimes with a few scattered dark fuscous scales ; three more
or less marked cloudy roundish discal spots of dark fuscous irroration, viz.,
towards dorsum at 3, towards costa at 3, and before cleft: cilia ‘pale
whitish-ochreous, grey on outer 3, beneath apex of each segment with an
iregular blackish scale-tooth, above apex of second with a short blackish
subbasal line, on lower margin of first segment with three blackish specks, on
dorsum with several irregular undefined groups of black specks. Hindwings
with segments slender, acute; dark grey; cilia pale ochreous-grey, on
dorsum with a series of scattered black scales from base to beyond middle.

Puttalam and Trincomali, Ceylon (Pole, Fletcher) ; N. Coorg, 3,500 feet
(Newcome); from October to December, seven specimens. Closely allied
to atomosa, but readily distinguished by the different colour and con-
siderably broader segments of forewings. It has however hitherto been
confused with atomosa, and most records of that species from Ceylon are
probably referable to phiyctenias, but I have a specimen of atomosa from
Peradeniya.

ORNEODID.

Orneodes panduris, n. sp.

2. 18-20mm. Head ochreous-white. Palpi moderately long, ascend-
ing, with appressed scales, terminal joint ¢ of second, ochreous-whitish,
second joint slightly sprinkled with dark fuscous. Antennz whitish-
ochreous. Thorax whitish-ochreous. Abdomen whitish-yellow-ochreous.
Forewings light ochreous-yellow, crossed by five rather curved cloudy
whitish rather thick lines, second and third enclosing a moderate median
fascia hardly darker than ground colour, widest on third segment ; a small
whitish spot on costa between third and fourth; fourth line expanded on
first two segments, and sometimes confluent with fifth on costa: cilia light
ochreous-yellowish, with obscure whitisl: bars on lines, on median fascia

DESCRIPTIONS OF INDIAN MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA. 107

greyish. Hindwings light ochreous-yellow, with four thick curved whitish
lines, first two enclosing a moderately broad slightly darker antemedian
fascia ; cilia as in forewings, greyish on antemedian fascia.

Palni Hills (6,000 feet), and Gooty (Campbell) ; two specimens.

Orneodes lyristis, n. sp.

6 18mm. Head white sprinkled with dark fuscous. Palpi moderately ©
long, subascending, second joint thickened with dense scales angularly
projecting at apex beneath, dark fuscous sprinkled with white, terminal
joimt 4 of second, rather thick, white with dark fuscous median band.
Antenne whitish-fuscous. Thorax grey sprinkled with dark fuscous and
white. Abdomen with basal segment dark fuscous, marked with white on
posterior margin, next four segments blackish, with margins somewhat
marked with white, remainder ochreous-whitish with a few blackish scales.
Forewings ochreous-whitish closely irrorated with dark fuscous; three
blackish marks along costa on anterior half, terminated at each extremity
by fine white strigule; a moderately broad nearly straight median fascia,
edged with dark fuscous and then with fine white lines, slightly angulated
near costa, widest on sixth segment; a subquadrate dark fuscous spot on
costa beyond this, with white lateral margins which are curved round on
costa so as to be continuous with preceding and following white lines; a
moderate straight dark fuscous subterminal fascia, edged with fine white
lines ; a blackish dot at apex of each segment: cilia pale fuscous, with
whitish bars on lines, on median and subterminal fascize dark fuscous, on
space between these pale yellowish between second and third segments,
and between fourth and sixth. Hindwings whitish, with scattered dots of
dark fuscous irroration; basal area irrorated with dark fuscous up to
a moderately broad blackish antemedian fascia edged with white, remainder
of first two segments also irrorated with dark fuscous, with two white dots:
cilia fuscous mixed with dark fuscous and barred with whitish, on segments
3-6 whitish on posterior half with light fuscous bars towards apex.

Khasis, in May ; one specimen.

TINEIDA.

Nepticula polydova, n. sp.

3S. 3mm. Head pale yellowish. Antenn grey, eyecaps yellow-whitish,
Thorax dark grey. Abdomen grey. Forewings lanceolate; |dark shining
purplish grey ; a somewhat oblique bright silvery-metallic fascia at about 3,
preceded by blackish irroration, apical area beyond this wholly suffused
with blackish irroration: cilia grey mixed with blackish, outer half silvery-
whitish, on tornus with a silvery-metallic patch posterior to fascia, but
connected with it. Hindwings and cilia grey.

Peradeniya, Ceylon (Green) ; in April, one specimen. Characterised by
the small size, and silvery tornal patch in cilia.

108 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. X XI.

Nepticula sporadopa, n. sp.

S. 5 mm. Head brown. Antennze pale greyish-ochreous, eyecaps
ochreous-whitish slightly speckled with dark fuscous. Thorax whitish mix-
ed with grey and dark fuscous. Abdomen greyish. Forewings lanceolate ;
whitish-ochreous, sprinkled with dark fuscous, with a slight purple gloss; a —
small undefined spot of black irroration in disc beyond middle: cilia on
basal half whitish-ochreous sprinkled with dark fuscous, outer half whitish.
Hindwings and cilia pale grey.

Trincomali, Ceylon (Fletcher), in June ; one specimen.

Opostega epistolaris, n. sp.

36. 8-9mm. Head, antenne, and thorax white. Abdomen pale pris-
matic grey. Horewings lanceolate ; white; a semi-oval dark fuscous spot on
middle of dorsum ; a minute black dot at apex: cilia pale ochreous, towards
tornus whitish, on costa with two or three oblique fuscous lines at and near
base from $ to apex. Hindwings pale grey ; cilia whitish-grey.

N. Coorg, 3,500 feet, in May (Newcome) ; two specimens.

Crobylophora sighas, n. sp.

2.8 mm. Head, thorax, and abdomen white, occipital tuft small.
Antennze whitish, eyecap white. Forewings lanceolate, apex caudulate ;
shining white ; three dark fuscous strigule from posterior half of costa,
faintly edged posteriorly with pale yellowish; a round raised bronzy-
leaden-metallic spot on tornus, marked anteriorly with a small black dot,
and surrounded by some pale ochreous-yellowish suffusion: cilia white, on
costa ochreous-whitish with an oblique dark fuscous subbasal line terminat-
ing at apex and a shorter fuscous line above this towards apex, on termen
with a patch of light ochreous-yellow suffusion. Hindwings and cilia white.

Khasis, in April; one specimen.

Leucoptera sphenograpta, n. sp.

3 2. 67mm. Head, thorax, and abdomen white. Antenne grey, basal
joint white. Forewings lanceolate, apex caudulate ; shining white; an
oblique dark grey strigula from middle of costa terminating in an oblique
elongate light ochreous-yellow anteriorly grey-edged spot which extends
from near costa to disc at?; a lght ochreous-yellow triangular spot on
costa at ?, preceded by a dark grey oblique strigula; a light ochreous-
yellow patch extending along termen; a round black apical dot: cilia
white, on costa with two short direct grey bars, round apex whitish-
ochreous beyond a short blackish subbasal line, with two diverging grey
bars, on termen yellowish at base within a fine subbasal line of grey
irroration. Hindwings and cilia white.

Mooltan (Manders), Pusa (Lefroy), in April and May ; seven specimens.
Bred from larve mining blotches in leaves of Dalbergia sissu (Lefroy).

Lyonetia melanochalea, n. sp.

3 9. 8-11 mm. Head silvery-white, crown silvery-grey, apparently

DESCRIPTIONS OF INDIAN MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA. 109

without tuft. Palpi moderately long, white. Antenne whitish. Thorax
silvery-grey.. Abdomen whitish. Forewings very narrow, elongate-
lanceolate, acutely pointed, caudulate ; pale ochreous-yellowish ; a coppery-
bronze patch occupying basal = of wing, longitudinally streaked with
blackish suffusion in disc, brassy-metallic towards dorsum and posterior
edge, which is inwardly oblique from costa; an inwardly oblique brassy-
metallic fascia beyond middle, marked with two black longitudinal dashes,
and terminating above in a black subcostal line which runs to near apex ;
a brassy-metallic streak along termen, edged above with a black line
except near apex ; a black apical spot: cilia grey, at apex with a blackish
hook-projection and another less marked beneath it, on costa wholly white.
Hindwings rather dark grey ; cilia grey.

Khasis, in October ; two specimens.

Lyonetia pracfulva, n. sp.

62. 8-llmm. Head, palpi and thorax white, occipital tuft moderate.
Antenne dark grey, eyecap white. Abdomen grey. Forewings very
narrow, elongate-lanceolate, acutely pointed, caudulate; shining white ; a
ferruginous-brown apical blotch, its anterior edge strongly convex,
margined by a suffused dark fuscous streak running from costa beyond
middle to tornus, where it is sometimes enlarged into a triangular spot; a
round black apical dot mostly in cilia: cilia grey, on costa with three dark
_ fuscous bars preceded by spots of whitish suffusion, at apex with project-
ing blackish bar and an oblique one below it, on termen with a blackish
subbasal line. Hindwings rather dark grey ; cilia grey.

Maskeliya, Ceylon (Pole); Khasis; from March to June, and from
October to December, eight specimens.

Prytaneutis, n. g.

Head smooth ; tongue absent. Antenne #4, in @ simple, basal joint
dilated with scales so as to form a moderate eyecap. Labial palpi short,
drooping, filiform, pointed. Maxillary palpi rudimentary. Posterior
- tibize clothed with very long fine hairs above. Forewings with 3 absent,
4 absent, 6 and 7 stalked, 7 to costa, 10 absent, 11 from before middle.
Hindwings under 3, linear, cilia 6; transverse vein absent between
2 and 5, 3 absent, 4 absent, 5-7 approximated at base.

Allied to Lyonetia, which however has the antenne always longer than
forewings.

Prytaneutis clavigera, n. sp.

$2. 8llmm. Head and palpi white. Antenne grey, basal joint white.
Thorax whitish-grey, in ¢ with an expansible tuft of long fine hairs from
beneath hindwings. Hairs of posterior tibixe whitish-ochreous. Forewings
elongate-lanceolate, apex caudate, rather upturned ; pale glossy purplish-
grey; costal edge white from base to an oblique white strigula at 2, reaching

half across wing; a longitudinal orange-yellow mark in disc beneath this

110 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX1.

strigula ; apical area beyond this dark yellowish-grey, marked with two
converging white wedge-shaped costal strigule; a round black apical dot,
edged on costa with white: cilia lilac-grey, on costa whitish barred with
dark grey, at apex with two diverging blackish hooks, beneath apex suffus-
ed with whitish within a blackish sub basal line. Hindwings grey ; cilia
yellowish-grey-whitish.

Maskeliya, Ceylon (Pole) ; in January and April, three specimens.

Opogona orchestris, nu. sp.

Sd. 11mm. Crown dark purple-fuscous, fillet, face, and antennz ochre-
ous-whitish. Palpi ochreous-whitish, externally with a streak of fuscous
suffusion on upper part of second joint, and terminal joint except apex.
Thorax dark purple-fuscous. Abdomen grey, anal tuft whitish-ochreous.
Posterior tarsi with whorls of bristles at apex of joints. Forewings elongate-
lanceolate, apex acutely produced ; bright brassy-yellow ; a dark purple-
fuscous basal patch, occupying about ¢ of wing, edge somewhat angulated
below middle ; an irregularly triangular dark purple-fuscous blotch extend-
ing on dorsum from origin of cilia to middle of termen, and reaching costa
at 2, its anterior edge very oblique, somewhat indented in middle and
convex near dorsum: cilia grey, becoming pale yellowish on costa. Hind
wings rather dark grey ; cilia grey.

Hakgala, Ceylon, in April (Green) ; one specimen.

Opogona dramatica, n. sp.

2. 10mm. Head and thorax rather dark bronzy-fuscous, face and
antennee ochreous-whitish. Palpi ochreous-whitish, externally with a dark
fuscous streak. Abdomen rather dark fuscous, on sides and beneath pale
ochreous. Forewings elongate-lanceolate, apex acute; clear light yellow ;
a dark purple-fuscous streak along costa from base to 3; posterior half dark
purple-fuscous, its anterior edge vertical, with short triangular projections
in and above middle, enclosing a small triangular spot of ground-colour on
costa at 2; cilia fuscous. Hindwings rather dark fuscous ; cilia fuscous.

Khasis, in August ; one specimen.

Opogona semisulphurea, Stt.

This species must apparently be regarded at present as distinct from the
Javanese dimidiatella Z., which is only known from the original example
the latter differs however only in the somewhat inward inclination of the
median dividing line, and the distinction may ultimately prove not to be
tenable.

Puttalam, Ceylon; Calcutta ; Khasis ; Kuching, Borneo ; twelve specimens.

Opogona stathmota, u. sp.

36 Q. 11-16 mm. Head dark fuscous, face ochreous-whitish. Palpi
ochreous-whitish, externally with a streak of dark fuscous suffusion.
Antenne ochreous-whitish, basal joint dark fuscous. Thorax dark fuscous,
posterior third yellow. Abdomen fuscous. Hairs of posterior tibiz pale

DESCRIPTIONS OF INDIAN MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA. ty

grey. Forewings elongate-lanceolate, apex acute, somewhat produced ;

yellow ; a small triangular dark fuscous spot on base of costa, extending less

than } of wing ; posterior half fuscous with slight purple gloss, its anterior
edge rather outwardly oblique from costa, marked with a few black scales,
with two or three slight irregular indentations: cilia fuscous. Hindwings
rather dark grey; cilia grey.

Maskeliya, Ceylon (Pole, Alston, de Mowbray); N. Coorg, 3,500 feet
(Newcome) ; from March to May, and August to October, eight specimens.
In semisulphurea the division of colour is nearly vertical, and the basal mark
of costa forms a streak extending about 3 of wing; in 2soclina the division
is much more oblique, and the hairs of posterior tibiz are ochreous-
whitish.

Opogona xanthocrita, mw. sp.

©.14-15mm. Head dark purple-fuscous, face ochreous-whitish. Palpi
ochreous-whitish, externally with streak of dark fuscous suffusion. Anten-
nee ochreous-whitish, basal joint dark fuscous. Thorax yellow, anterior
third dark purple-fuscous. Abdomen greyish. Hairs of posterior tibize
pale whitish-ochreous tinged with grey. Forewings elongate-lanceolate,
apex somewhat produced, acute; clear yellow; a wedge-shaped dark purple-
fuscous mark on base of costa, extending hardly § of wing ; somewhat more
than posterior half rather dark fuscous, with slight purplish gloss, anterior
edge vertical, slightly irregular, marked with a few blackish scales: cilia
fuscous. Hindwings grey ; cilia pale greyish.

Nilgiris, 3,500 feet (Andrewes) ; N. Coorg, 3,500 feet (Newcome) ; from
August to November, five specimens. Intermediate between semisulphurea
and stathmota in wing-markings, but differs from both in having the thorax
mainly yellow.

Opogona pandora, n. sp.

36 9. 13-14 mm. Head rather dark purplish-fuscous, face ochreous-
whitish. Palpi ochreous-whitish, externally suffused with dark fuscous.
Antenne ochreous-whitish, basal joint rather dark fuscous above. Thorax .
dark purplish-fuscous, posterior third pale yellow. Abdomen grey. Fore-
wings elongate-lanceolate, apex produced, acute; rather dark purplish-
fuscous ; a light yellow oblong blotch extending along dorsum from base
to near middle of wing, and reaching } or more across wing, posterior edge
rather irregular : cilia fuscous. Hindwings rather dark grey ; cilia grey.

Khasis, in October ; two specimens.

Opogona sphaerotoma, n. sp.

2.10mm. Head and thorax dark purplish-fuscous, fillet brassy-metal-
lic, face ochreous-whitish. Palpi ochreous-whitish, terminal joint exter-
nally infuscated towards base. Antennze ochreous-whitish, basal join:
infuscated. Abdomen grey. Forewings elongate-lanceolate, apex some-
what produced, acute; dark purplish-fuscous ; a bright yellow semi-circular

112 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL AIST. SOCIETY, Vol, XXT,

blotch extending on dorsum from } of wing to beyond middle, and reaching
more than half across wing: cilia bronzy-fuscous. Hindwings dark grey ;
cilia grey.

N. Coorg, 3,500 feet, in September (Newcome) ; one specimen.

Opogona cerodelta, n. sp.

3 @. 11-15 mm. Head and thorax dark purplish-fuscous, face pale
whitish-ochreous. Palpi ochreous-whitish, externally suffused with dark
fuscous. Antenne fuscous. Abdomen dark bronzy-fuscous. Forewings
elongate-lanceolate, apex produced, acute; dark purplish-fuscous; a
moderate sharply-defined triangular ochreous-whitish spot on dorsum
somewhat before middle of wing, reaching 1 across wing: cilia rather dark
fuscous. Hindwings dark fuscous, in ¢ coppery-tinged ; cilia rather dark
fuscous. :

Sikkim, 4,500 feet (Dudgeon) ; Khasis; in May, July, and October, five
specimens.

Opogona plasturga, n. sp.

36 2. 10-12mm. Head and thorax dark purplish-fuscous, face ochreous-
whitish, fillet brassy-metallic. Palpi ochreous-whitish, externally with
a suffused fuscous streak. Antennee rather dark fuscous. Abdomen dark
fuscous. Forewings elongate-lanceolate, acute; dark purplish-fuscous ;
a transverse or sub-triangular whitish-ochreous spot on dorsum some-
what before middle of wing, anteriorly suffused, posteriorly well-defined,
reaching more than half across wing: cilia rather dark fuscous. Hind-
wings dark bronzy-fuscous ; cilia rather dark fuscous.

Nilgiris, 3,500 feet, in August (Andrewes) ; two specimens.

Opogona elaitis, n. sp.

g.10-l1l mm. Head dark purplish-fuscous, face whitish, fillet silvery-
metallic. Palpi whitish, externally with a dark fuscous streak. Antennze
fuscous-whitish, basal joint dark fuscous towards apex. Thorax rather
light ochreous-grey. Abdomen grey. Forewings elongate-lanceolate, apex
produced, acute ; yellowish-grey, with a faint lilac gloss: cilia concolorous.
Hindwings grey; cilia light grey.

N. Coorg, 3,500 feet (Newcome); from November to February, three
specimens. .

Opogona protographa, n. sp.

6 2. 11-l14mm. Head, antennz and thorax whitish-bronzy-ochreous.
Palpi ochreous-whitish, externally with a dark fuscous streak. Abdomen
greyish. Forewings elongate-lanceolate, apex slenderly long-produced,
acute; pale bronzy-ochreous; costal edge suffused with dark fuscous
towards base; a blackish discal dot at 2

5?
beyond this, sometimes also a third beneath costa in a line with these;

and one on dorsum slightly

posterior area beyond these sometimes tinged with fuscous, or more or
less suffused with fuscous towards termen and apex: cilia pale bronzy-

DESCRIPTIONS OF INDIAN MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA. 118

yellowish, base sometimes tinged with fuscous. Hindwings grey; cilia
pale greyish-yellowish.

Khasis, in September and October ; fourteen specimens.

Amathyntis, Meyr. |

This genus does not appear to have any close relationship with Opogona
as originally stated, but is essentially a smooth-headed Tinea.

Amathyntis catharopa, n. sp.

g. 12-14mm. Head and thorax bronzy-yellowish, face silvery-white.
Palpi whitish, second joint with a slight lateral line of blackish scales. An-
tennz light greyish-ochreous. Abdomen whitish-ochreous. Forewings
elongate, narrow, costa gently arched, apex acute, termen extremely
obliquely rounded ; bronzy-yellowish: cilia light yellow. Hindwings
more acutely pointed than in the other species ; grey; cilia yellow-whitish. -

Maskeliya, Ceylon (Pole) ; in October and January, two specimens.

Amathyntis oporina, n. sp.

62. 12-17 mm. Head and thorax bronzy-yellowish, forehead and
face shining whitish. Palpi dark grey, terminal joint white. Antenne
grey, basal joint white. Abdomen light greyish-ochreous. Forewings elon-
gate, rather narrow, costa gently arched, apex pointed, termen extremely
obliquely rounded ; shining ochreous-yellow ; cilia concolorous. Hindwings
grey ; cilia whitish-ochreous.

Khasis, from June to October ; six specimens.

Amathyntis athyra, n. sp.

S. 15mm. Head and thorax bronzy-whitish-ochreous. Palpi dark
fuscous, terminal joint whitish. Antenne whitish-ochreous tinged with
grey. Abdomen ochreous-grey-whitish. Forewings elongate, rather nar-
row, costa moderately arched, apex pointed, termen extremely obliquely
rounded ; light bronzy-ochreous-yellowish ; costal edge suffused with dark
fuscous from base to 2; a few scattered dark fuscous scales towards apex :
cilia light yellow, towards base with a few dark fuscous specks. Hindwings
grey; cilia whitish-ochreous.

Maskeliya, Ceylon, in February (Pole) ; one specimen.

Amathyntis nucleolata, nu. sp.

3. 12-14 mm. Head, antennx, thorax, and abdomen glossy whitish-
ochreous. Palpi dark fuscous, terminal joint ochreous-whitish. Forewings
elongate, rather narrow, costa gently arched, apex pointed, termen ex-
tremely obliquely rounded ; glossy whitish-ochreous, posteriorly with some
scattered dark fuscous scales; costal edge dark fuscous towards base ; a
rather large cloudy dark fuscous dot in dise at 2: cilia whitish-ochreous,
somewhat sprinkled with dark fuscous specks. Hindwings whitish-grey ;
cilia pale whitish-ochreous.

Maskeliya, Ceylon (Pole) ; in May, November, and January, three speci-
mens..

114 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX.

Epactris, Meyr.

It should have been mentioned in the characters of this genus that the
stout antenne are distinctly flattened.

Epactris thyreota n. sp.

3. 8-9 mm. Head and palpi blackish. Antennz ochreous-whitish.
Thorax blackish-fuscous, patagia whitish-ochreous except shoulders. Ab-
domen grey. Forewings elongate, rather narrow, costa gently arched,
apex obtuse, termen very obliquely rounded; whitish-ochreous, markings
blackish-fuscous ; a large triangular patch extending along costa from base
to 4, broadest posteriorly, where it reaches % across wing, but including a
roundish spot of ground-colour in dise beyond middle, of which the dark
lower edge is suffused or sometimes almost obsolete; apex of this patch
connected with an irregular streak along termen; a slender streak along
dorsum fromm base to near middle : cilia whitish-ochreous, towards base with
undefined bars of dark fuscous suffusion. Hindwings grey ; cilia pale grey.

Madulsima and Bandarawela, Ceylon (Pole, Vaughan, Fletcher); in
April and May, four specimens. Nearly allied to melancheta (of which
I have now a good series), but much smaller and readily distinguished by
the dark colour forming a broad unbroken costal band, whereas in
melancheta it is interrupted and spotted.

Monopis viatica, n. sp.

6. 12mm. Head whitish-ochreous. Palpi dark fuscous, apex whitish.
Antenne dark fuscous. Thorax pale reddish-ochreous, patagia blackish-
fuscous. Abdomen fuscous, beneath whitish-ochreous. Forewings elongate,
rather narrow, costa moderately arched, apex obtuse, termen very
obliquely rounded ; 2 out of 4, 6 to apex, 7 and 8 stalked ; dark lilac-
fuscous irregularly mixed with blackish ; a roundish semi-hyaline whitish
spot in disc before middle ; a rather broad ferruginous-ochreous streak from.
base along dorsum and termen to apex: cilia pale ferrugimous-ochreous,
on costa dark fuscous. Hindwings with 6 and 7 stalked, 6 to apex ; grey ;
cilia light grey. :

Khasis, in May ; one specimen.

Monopis florilega, n. sp. |

gd. 11-12 mm. Head yellow. Palpi and antenne dark fuscous. Thorax
yellow, patagia dark fuscous. Abdomen grey. Forewings elongate,
costa moderately arched, apex obtuse, termen obliquely rounded; 9 and
10 short-stalked ; dark purple-fuscous irregularly mixed with blackish; a.
bright yellow streak along dorsum from base to tornus, upper edge rather
prominent at 3, and forming a triangular projection upwards before tornus,
opposite which is a large irregular yellow costal spot reaching half across
wing, marked with two or three small blackish strigulze on costa; an
obscure whitish semi-hyaline spot in middle of dise ; several minute whitish
dots on costa posteriorly : cilia bright yellow, on costa dark fuscous, on

DESCRIPTIONS OF INDIAN MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA., 115

lower half of termen with basal third blackish. Hindwings with veins all
separate ; brassy-grey ; cilia grey-whitish.

Matale and Madulsima, Ceylon (Pole, Fletcher) ; in May and August,
three specimens.

Crypsithyris spectatrix, D. sp.

g 2. 11-13 mm. Head light ochreous. Palpi dark fuscous, apex
whitish. Antennze dark fuscous. Thorax rather dark bronzy-fuscous.
Abdomen light fuscous. Forewings elongate, rather narrow, costa mode-
rately arched, apex obtuse, termen very obliquely rounded; 7 and &
stalked; dark bronzy-fuscous, somewhat paler-sprinkled in disc ; a distinct
whitish semi-hyaline oval longitudinal spot in disc before middle, formed of
two adjacent circular impressions: cilia bronzy-fuscous, paler towards tips.
Hindwings light bronzy-grey ; cilia bronzy-whitish.

N. Coorg, 3,500 feet (Newcome) ; Nilgiris, 3,500 feet (Andrewes) ; in May
and June, three specimens.

Crypsithyris soporata, n. sp.

$9. 11-13 mm. Head light brownish. Palpi dark fuscous, apex
ochreous-whitish. Antennse rather dark fuscous.. Thorax brownish mixed
with dark fuscous. Abdomen pale greyish. Forewings elongate, rather
narrow, costa gently arched, apex obtuse, termen extremely obliquely
rounded ; 7 and 8 stalked; pale ochreous-brownish, coarsely irrorated with
dark fuscous ; a small obscure semi-hyaline ochreous-whitish spot in middle
of disc, sometimes followed by a cloudy spot of darker suffusion ; slight ind1-
cations of a lighter and more ochreous streak along dorsum, tending to be
edged above with a dash of dark fuscous suffusion before discal semi-hyaline
spot: cilia lizht brownish-ochreous sprinkled with dark fuscous. Hindwings
rather light grey ; cilia pale greyish-ochreous.

Maskeliya and Madulsima, Ceylon (Pole, deMowbray, Fletcher) ; in Janu-
ary, February and May, twelve specimens.

An obscure insect, most like fissella, but longer-winged, with hyaline spot
much less developed and more inconspicuous, and without the dark fuscous
suffused spot immediately beneath it.

Tinea schoenoploca, n. sp.

6.9mm. Head white. Palpi white, with a black line above. An-
tenn grey. Thorax ochreous-whitish, anterior margin suffused with
blackish. Abdomen pale grey. Forewings elongate, rather narrow, costa
gently arched, apex round-pointed, termen faintly simuate, extremely
oblique ; yellowish-white ; markings blackish ; a very oblique wedge-shaped
patch extending over basal fourth of costa, its apex reaching in disc to
near middle ; about fifteen variable oblique lines from costa, reaching half
across wing, mostly approximated in three groups before middle and at
% and £ respectively, their apices received by an irregular discal streak

running to apex;an irregular oblique triangular patch from dorsum,

116 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX.

extending over its basal third, and another beyond middle, not reaching
half across wing ; a slender streak along termen: cilia whitish mixed with
blackish (imperfect). Hindwings grey ; cilia light grey.

N. Coorg, 3,500 feet, in September (Newcome) ; one specimen.

Tinea tsoplaca, 1. sp.

6.8mm. Head whitish, crown suffused with blackish on sides. Palpi
white. Antennze ochreous-whitish. Thorax dark fuscous. Abdomen grey,
anal tuft grey-whitish. Forewings elongate, costa moderately arched,
apex round-pointed, termen faintly sinuate, extremely oblique; dark
purplish-fuscous ; a broad pale yellow transverse fascia about j; large
opposite subcostal and dorsal pale yellow spots beyond middle; seven
oblique wedge-shaped whitish strigule from posterior half of costa, first
running into subcostal spot: cilia dark fuscous, beneath tornus yellow-
whitish, at apex and on costa yellow-whitish, with a projecting apical
dark fuscous bar, and barred on costa with dark fuscous. Hindwings
rather dark grey ; cilia grey.

Maskeliya, Ceylon, in May (Pole) ; one specimen.

Tinea hierographa, n. sp.

36 2.11-13mm. Head dark fuscous, forehead and back of crown pale
yellowish. Palpi dark fuscous, internally white. Antenne ochreous-grey-
whitish, basal joint dark fuscous, ciliations in g 1. Thorax blackish, with
broad posterior transverse yellow band. Abdomen dark fuscous, anal
tuft in g¢ mixed with white. Forewings elongate, costa moderately
arched, apex tolerably pointed, termen extremely obliquely rounded;
purple-blackish-fuscous ; a small yellow dorsal spot near base; a rather
irregular transverse yellow fascia at +, connected in middle with base by
an irregular sometimes interrupted yellow line; seven oblique yellow
strigule from costa between 3 and apex, last two enlarged into wedge-
shaped spots; a yellow dot on termen beneath apex: cilia dark fuscous,
with yellow spots on markings. Hindwings and cilia in ¢ rather dark
grey, in Q dark fuscous.

Maskeliya, Ceylon (Pole) ; in September and October, four specimens.

Tinea imbricata, a. sp.

3.10-11 mm. Head fuscous, suffused with dark fuscous behind anten-
nee, face whitish. Palpi whitish, second joimt marked with dark fuscous
towards apex. Antennz ochreous-grey-whitish, basal jomt dark fuscous.
Thorax pale yellow, anterior margin suffused with blackish (imperfect).
Abdomen dark grey. Forewings elongate, costa moderately arched, apex
obtuse, termen very obliquely rounded; dark fuscous, becoming deep
bronzy towards costa; an irregular-edged light yellow patch occupying
basal 2, enclosing eight small blackish spots, viz., three basal, one on costa
near base, and a curved transverse series of four at 4; seven oblique
wedge-shaped white costal streaks between this and apex; a small white

ee ee ee

DESCRIPTIONS OF INDIAN MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA., vide

triangular spot on dorsum before tornus: cilia dark fuscous, at apex with
a white patch divided into two triangular segments by a blackish hook,
on costa white with dark fuscous bars. Hindwings dark grey; cilia grey.

Maskeliya and Patipola, Ceylon (de Mowbray, Alston, Pole) ; in Septem-
ber and January, three specimens.

Tinea trierodes, n. sp.

36.14mm. Head whitish, crown suffusedly mixed with dark fuscous.
Palpi white. Antennze whitish, infuscated. Thorax yellow-whitish, an-
teriorly suffused with fuscous. Abdomen greyish. Forewings elongate,
costa moderately arched, apex tolerably pointed, termen slightly rounded,
extremely oblique ; dark purplish-fuscous, towards costa ochreous-bronzy ;
markings shining whitish suffused with light ochreous-yellowish; a patch

occupying basal 2 of wing, containing two or three small dark fuscous
spots, and marked on costa with indistinct oblique streaks of ground co-
Jour; seven oblique wedge-shaped streaks from costa between this and
apex; an irregular blotch on dorsum before tornus, reaching half across
wing, cilia fuscous, base obscurely dotted with whitish on termen, on costa
bronzy-ochreous barred with whitish. Hindwings grey, darker posteriorly ;
cilia grey tinged with whitish.

Palni Hills (Campbell) ; one specimen.

Tinea brachychlora, Meyr.

In the published description of this species the basal patch is stated (by
an error of printer) to occupy 2 of wing ; it should be 2. The species is
very like camarota, but the ground-colour of forewings is dark fuscous,
markings pale yellow, subcostal projection of basal patch much less
prominent.

Maskeliya, Patipola, and Hakgala, Ceylon ; five specimens.

Tinea scenatica, n. sp.

2. 10mm. Head fuscous, face white. Palpiwhite, second joint sprink-
led with dark fuscous externally. Antennz ochreous-whitish. Thorax
yellow-whitish, anteriorly suffused with dark fuscous. Abdomen grey-
whitish. Forewings elongate, costa moderately arched, apex tolerably
pointed, termen very obliquely rounded ; dark fuscous, becoming deep
bronzy towards costa; a white antemedian fascia with an angular subcost-
al projection posteriorly, basal area as far as this fascia pale yellow; six
oblique white costal strigule between this and apex ; a rather irregular
white line along termen: cilia white, beneath tornus dark fuscous, at apex
with two diverging dark fuscous bars, on costa barred with dark fuscous.
Hindwings light grey; cilia whitish-grey.

Maskeliya, Ceylon, in January (Pole); one specimen. Nearest to
brachychlora, but much smaller, and without the large tornal patch.

Tinea camarota, n. sp.

62 12-15 mm. Head and palpi dark brown. Antennz whitish-

118 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

grey-ochreous. Thorax white, anterior margin dark brown, abdomen
grey-whitish. Forewings elongate, costa moderately arched, apex tolerably
pointed, termen very obliquely rounded ; ochreous-bronze, mostly suffused
with dark fuscous except towards costa ; a shining white patch occupying
basal of wing, with an acute-triangular subcostal projection extending to
beyond middle, sometimes enclosing a very small dark fuscous spot on
dorsum at +; six oblique white wedge-shaped strigule from costa between
this and apex ; an irregular white streak along termen, dilated on tornus
into a rounded-triangular blotch: cilia white, at apex with two diverging
blackish bars. Hindwings grey-whitish ; cilia white.

Maskeliya and Patipola, Ceylon (Pole, Alston, Green) ; in April, August
and September, seven specimens.

Tinea strophiota, n. sp.

@. 18mm. Head pale ochreous-yellowish. Palpi and antennz whitish-
ochreous, antennx gradually infuscated towards tips. Thorax pale och-
reous-yellowish, anteriorly irrorated with dark fuscous. Abdomen whitish-
ochreous. Forewings elongate, costa moderately arched, apex tolerably
pointed, termen very obliquely rounded; ochreous-brown ; costal edge
dark fuscous towards base; a very broad inwardly oblique white anteme-
dian fascia, edged with dark fuscous irroration, posterior edge rather
irregular, running from middle of costa to middle of dorsum; a small
triangular white spot before tornus; a white dot on costa just before
apex : cilia ochreous-brown sprinkled with dark fuscous, above apex with
a light ochreous-yellowish patch. Hindwings with 5 and 6 stalked ; grey ;
cilia pale ochreous.

Nilgiris, 3,500 feet, in May (Andrewes) ; one specimen.

Tinea charmatica, n. sp.

S. 18 mm. Head yellowish-white. Palpi white, second joint with a
lateral streak of dark fuscous irroration. Antennz whitish-ochreous.
Thorax white, dorsally yellowish-tinged, shoulders with a fuscous spot.
Abdomen whitish-ochreous. Forewings elongate, costa gently arched,
apex obtuse, termen very obliquely rounded ; ochreous-yellow, sprinkled
with fuscous ; markings white, partially edged with a few dark fuscous
scales; abroad anterior transverse fascia, inner edge near base, straight,
outer edge running from middle of costa to middle of dorsum, with very
acute angular projection beneath costa ; four small oblique wedge-shaped
spots on costa between this and apex; a large triangular spot on dorsum
before tornus; a triangular blotch resting on apex and upper 4 of
termen : cilia pale yellowish. Hindwings bronzy-grey ; cilia whitish-ochre-
ous.

Palni Hills, 6,000 feet (Campbell) ; one specimen.
Tinea sindonia, n. sp.
362. 20-24 mm. Head ochreous-whitish. Thorax white, anteriorly

|
e

DESCRIPTIONS OF INDIAN MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA. 119

ochreous-whitish, shoulders with a dark fuscous spot. Palpi ochreous-
whitish, second joint externally dark fuscous except apex, terminal joint
long, sometimes dark fuscous towards base. Antennz ochreous-whitish,
tinged with grey towards apex. Abdomen ochreous-grey-whitish. Fore-
wings elongate, costa moderately arched, apex tolerably pointed, termen
very obliquely rounded; pale whitish-ochreous, yellowish-tinged, in one
specimen suffused with fuscous except towards base; markings white,
sometimes yellowish-tinged, edged with scattered dark fuscous scales ; two
triangular blotches occupying most of dorsum, reaching nearly half across
wing; undefined patches towards costa before middle, and in disc at 2,
sometimes almost obsolete ; a semicircular spot on costa before apex, and
two or three irregular spots on termen, more or less edged with dark
fuscous suffusion : cilia pale whitish-ochreous sometimes mixed with fus-
cous, at apex with a dark fuscous bar. Hindwings with 5 and 6 stalked ;
pale brassy-whitish-yellowish ; cilia yellow-whitish.

Palni Hills, 6,000 feet (Campbell) ; five specimens.

Tinea chelyodes, n. sp.

9. 16mm. Head and thorax pale ochreous, shoulders infuscated.
Palpi whitish-ochreous. Antennz whitish-ochreous, towards apex with
several rings of dark fuscous suffusion. Abdomen whitish-ochreous. Fore-
wings elongate, costa gently arched, apex pointed, termen extremely
obliquely rounded ; bronzy-yellow-ochreous ; costa suffused with dark
fuscous near base; two transverse white streaks towards base, confluent
towards costa into a patch containing three costal dots of groundcolour,
with a white dorsal dot between them ; between this and apex are about
eight indistinct transverse whitish streaks, posteriorly obsolete towards
costa, and several dots on costa and termen towards apex ; a blackish-
fuscous elongate patch extending along dorsum from 3 to beyond tornus,
cut by one streak anteriorly and enclosing several whitish dorsal dots:
cilia pale whitish-ochreous, obliquely barred with dark fuscous irroration,
at apex with a direct projecting blackish bar, on costa whitish trans-
versely barred with yellow-ochreous. Hindwings grey-whitish; cilia pale
whitish-ochreous.

Khasis, in October ; one specimen.

Tinea artificiosa, n. sp.

6. 12 mm. Head and thorax white, shoulders marked with dark
fuscous. Palpi and antennze fuscous-whitish. Abdomen pale grey. Fore-
wings elongate, costa moderately arched, apex round-pointed, termen very
obliquely rounded; shining bronzy-ochreous tinged with fuscous ; markings
shining white; a basal patch occupying rather more than 3 of wing, outer
edge angulated in disc, enclosing dark fuscous marks on base of costa and
dorsum, and a striga of groundcolour mixed with dark fuscous from dorsum
at 3, reaching half across wing; a spot on dorsum close beyond this, and

120 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. X.XI.

two smaller adjacent spots on fold and dorsum respectively; seven oblique
wedgeshaped costal marks between this and apex; a subtriangular spot ou
dorsum before tornus, edged with dark fuscous and surmounted by a curv-
ed streak; a longitudinal streak in dise above this, followed by an undefined
longitudinal patch of dark fuscous irroration : cilia bronzy-whitish, at apex
with two diverging dark fuscous bars, on costa barred with dark fuscous, on
termen with a dark fuscous subbasal line. Hindwings light grey ; cilia
whitish.

Patipola, Ceylon, in September (Alston); one specimen.

Tinea melanochrysa, a. sp.

$. 11-14mm. Head, palpi, antennz, and thorax blackish. Abdomen
dark fuscous. Forewings elongate, rather narrow, costa moderately arched,
apex obtuse, termen very obliquely rounded; shining ochreous-yellow ;
markings brown more or less suffused with dark fuscous; a broad irregular
streak along costa, dilated in middle where it reaches half across wing, on
apical fourth often variably reduced in width and enclosing a white margi-
nal striga which is sometimes once or twice interrupted; a rather broad
streak from dorsum beyond middle along termen to apex, sometimes
extending to base, somewhat whitish-sprinkled, above tornus rather
triangularly prominent, in one specimen broadly confluent here with
projection of costal streak: cilia yellow, on costa and round apex with a
strong dark fuscous basal line, at apex with a dark fuscous bar. Hind-
wings and cilia dark grey.

Khasis, in May and June; eight specimens.

Tinea canicoma, n. sp.

Sie 14-17 mm. Head white, face, palpi, and antennz blackish.
Thorax light yellow or yellow-whitish, shoulders narrowly blackish. Abdo-
men grey. Horewings elongate, rather narrow, costa moderately arched,
apex obtuse, termen extremely obliquely rounded; light bronzy-ochreous-
yellow, sometimes suffused with white on margins of dark markings; a
broad dark fuscous costal streak from base to 2, widest in middle of wing;
beyond this a white striga along costa to apex, partially edged anteriorly
with blackish; a dark fuscous streak from base along dorsum to origin of
cilia, thence continued as a broader brown or deeper yellow streak edged
with blackish to apex, on tornus somewhat sprinkled with dark fuscous and
projecting upwards: cilia ochreous-yellow, round costa and apex with
strong dark fuscous basal and less pronounced postmedian line. Hind-
wings and cilia rather dark grey.

Khasis, in June, September, and October; six specimens. Very like
melanochrysa, but immediately distinguished by the different colour of head
and thorax.

Tinea sartoria, n. sp.

dé. 13 mm. Head, palpi, antennze, and thorax blackish, posterior

DESCRIPTIONS OF INDIAN MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA. Te

margin of thorax slenderly white. Abdomen dark grey. Forewmgs
elongate, rather narrow, costa moderately arched, apex obtuse, termen
extremely obliquely rounded ; pale ochreous-yellow ; a broad dark fuscous
streak along costa from base, finely white-edged beneath, broadest in
middle of wing, terminated by a fine oblique white strigula about 2,
beyond this is a narrower blackish-fuscous costal streak to near apex,
eut by asecond fine white oblique strigula, and followed by two small
white dots before apex, these markings margined beneath by a light
ochreous-brown streak ; a brown streak edged with black from near base
along dorsum and termen to apex, on terminal edge marked with a
slender white striga edged with blackish: cilia ochreous-yellowish, on
costa with basal and postmedian dark fuscous lines, at apex with broad
dark fuscous bar. Hindwings and cilia dark grey.

Khasis, in March ; one specimen.

Tinea mellifiua, n. sp.

6. 13-16mm. Head and thorax pale ochreous: yellow, face, shoulders,
and palpi dark fuscous. Antenne dark grey. Abdomen grey. Forewings
elongate, rather narrow, costa moderately arched, apex obtuse, termen
very obliquely rounded ; light yellow; a suffused grey streak along costa
from base to 3, where it is replaced by an orange streak edged anteriorly
on both margins with grey and marked with a white oblique strigula edged
anteriorly with dark grey; this costal streak is sometimes tinged with
orange suffusion beneath, and a small blackish-grey spot adjoins it in
middle ; a narrow dark grey streak along dorsum from + to origin of cilia,
thence continued as an irregular subterminal streak to a small apical spot
of blackish irroration, with white adjacent dots above and beneath: cilia
light yellow, on costa with fuscous subbasal line. Hindwings grey ; cilia
grey-whitish.

Maskeliya, Ceylon (Pole) ; in September and October, three specimens.

Tinea zalocoma, n. sp.

39. 11-13 mm. Head ochreous-whitish. Palpi dark fuscous, tip
whitish. Antennse grey. Thorax ochreous-whitish, shoulders dark fuscous.
Abdomen grey, anal tuft whitish. Forewings elongate, rather narrow, long-
pointed, acute ; light grey mixed with white and pale ochreous-yellowish ;
costa irregularly strigulated or irrorated with blackish ; markings formed of
blackish irroration mixed with pale ochreous-yellowish suffusion ; roundish
spots beneath costa at ¢ and before middle, and smaller dorsal spots opposite
these; a larger subtriangular spot on costa at 3, its apex nearly reaching
a small tornal spot; an undefined apical spot: cilia whitish-yellowish
mixed with whitish. Hindwings lanceolate, grey ; cilia light grey.

Maskeliya, Ceylon (Pole) ; in February, four specimens.

Tinea, spharagistis, n. sp.

9. 14mm. Head pale whitish-ochreous. Palpi blackish, terminal joint

122 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

ochreous-whitish except base. Antennze over 1, dark fuscous. Thorax
brown mixed with dark fuscous. Abdomen grey. Forewings narrow, long-
pointed, acute; 7 and 8 stalked; grey mixed with whitish and sprinkled
with dark fuscous, margins suffused with dark fuscous ; four roundish spots
of blackish-fuscous suffusion, vz., one on fold at 4, two in disc at 2 and 2,
and one on dorsum between these two; an elongate blackish-fuscous patch
along termen: cilia pale grey, towards base sprinkled with dark fuscous.
Hindwings lanceolate, grey ; cilia light grey.

Gooty (Campbell) ; one specimen.

Tinea plasmatica, n. sp.

32. 24-27 mm. Head light greyish-ochreous. Palpi dark fuscous,
terminal joint ochreous-whitish except towards base. Antennze fuscous.
Thorax light brownish, shoulders suffused with dark fuscous. Abdomen
pale greyish-ochreous. Forewings elongate, rather narrow, in d narrower,
costa gently arched, apex pointed, termen extremely obliquely rounded ;
light greyish-ochreous, more or less mixed with brown, veins partially
marked with dark fuscous lines; costa, dorsum, and termen marked with
numerous small dark fuscous spots, and there is a median longitudinal
series of similar spots connecting dark veins ; a very oblique patch of dark
fuscous suffusion from costa near base to fold; stigmata forming rather
large suffused roundish dark fuscous spots, plical somewhat beyond first
discal and confluent with it: cilia pale greyish-ochreous, with subbasal
and postmedian shades of dark fuscous irroration. Hindwings grey ;
cilia pale greyish-ochreous.

Khasis, in December ; two specimens.

Tinea orphnodes, nu. sp.

6 9. 1419 mm. Head ochreous-yellow. Palpi dark fuscous, apex
ochreous-whitish. Antennze pale whitish-ochreous. Thorax dark purple-
fuscous. Abdomen rather dark grey. Forewings elongate, rather narrow,
costa gently arched, apex obtuse, termen very obliquely rounded ; glossy
pale ochreous, sometimes speckled with grey ; costa variably suffused with
dark grey anteriorly, sometimes only towards base, sometimes more broadly
from base to 3; usually a cloudy dark fuscous dot in dise at #?, and apical
patch of dark fuscous suffusion, but these are sometimes almost obsolete :
cilia pale ochreous, sprinkled with fuscous, round apex more or less suffused
with dark fuscous irroration. Hindwings rather dark bronzy-purplish-grey ;
cilia pale grey, with darker grey subbasal shade.

Khasis, from March to May and in August and November; seven
specimens.

Tinea iritis, n. sp.

g. 18-24mm. Head yellow-ochreous. Palpi dark fuscous, sometimes
yellowish towards apex. Antenne nearly 1, whitish-ochreous. Thorax dark
grey-purplish. Abdomen ochreous. Forewings elongate, rather narrow

DESCRIPTIONS OF INDIAN MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA. 123

costa moderately arched, apex obtuse, termen very obliquely rounded ;
dark grey-purplish, sometimes with strong indigo-green gloss: cilia grey-
purplish, sometimes mixed with pale ochreous, towards base more greenish-
purple. Hindwings light ochreous-fuscous; cilia pale ochreous, with
fuscous subbasal shade.

Quetta (Nurse) ; Ajmere ; from June to September, six specimens.

Tinea sacerdos, Wals.

$2. 22-36mm. Head clear light yellow. Antenne whitish. Thorax
purple. Forewings purple. Hindwings rather dark purple-fuscous.

Konkan (Young) ; Karwar (Maxwell); Simla. I give short characters
here to show its distinctness, as this group of nearly-allied unicolorous
species requires care.

Tinea glabrella, Walk.

$2. 16-25mm. Head clear light yellow. Antennz white lined with
blackish. Thorax lilac-brownish-ochreous. Forewings brownish-ochreous
finely irrorated with fuscous, with strong lilac-purplish gloss. Hindwings
rather dark purplish-grey.

Madulsima, Maskeliya, Haputale, and Matale, Ceylon (Vaughan, Pole,
Alston, deMowbray); N. Coorg, 3,500 feet (Newcome).

Tinea opsigona, n. sp.

36 Q@. 22-34 mm. Head deep yellow. Palpi short, dark fuscous, tip
yellowish. Antennz ochreous-whitish. Thorax lilac-yellow-ochreous. Ab-
domen deep ochreous-yellowish. Forewings elongate, rather narrow, costa
moderately arched, apex obtuse, termen very obliquely rounded ; yellow-
ochreous, sometimes tinged with grey, with lilac-purplish gloss; costal
edge purplish-fuscous towards base: cilia yellow-ochreous. Hindwings
rather dark bronzy-purple-grey ; cilia light greyish-ochreous or grey, with
darker subbasal shade.

Peradeniya, Haldamulla, Gampola, Diyatalawa, Balangoda, Matale, and
Pundaluoya, Ceylon (Green, Alston, Pole, Fletcher); Nuilgiris, 3,500 feet
(Andrewes) ; N. Coorg, 3,500 feet (Newcome) ; from February to October,
sixteen specimens. This large species has been often regarded as identical
with the equally large South African vastella, but is distinct.

Tinea cholea, n. sp.

6. 20-21 mm. Head pale greyish-ochreous. Palpi dark fuscous
towards tips pale greyish-ochreous. Antenne grey. Thorax dark ashy-
fuscous. Abdomen grey. Forewings elongate, rather narrow, costa
moderately arched, apex obtuse, termen slightly rounded, rather strongly
oblique ; greyish-bronzy-ochreous, with slight prismatic reflections, some-
times sprinkled with fuscous; costa more or less suffused with dark
ashy-fuscous on anterior half; a cloudy dot of fuscous suffusion in disc be-
yond #: cilia light bronzy-ochreous, sometimes sprinkled with grey.
Hindwings bronzy-grey ; cilia pale greyish-ochreous.

124. JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Voi: XX,

Diyatalawa, Ceylon, in September (Fletcher) ; two specimens. The colour
of antennez affords a good leading point of distinction in this group.

Tinea platyntis, Meyr.

3. 14-20 mm. Head deep yellow. Antenne ochreous-whitish.
Thorax yellow-ochreous, more or less suffused anteriorly with dark purple-
fuscous. Forewings yellow-ochreous, with faint purple gloss; costal edge
more or less dark purple-fuscous towards base. Hindwings rather dark
purple-grey.

Trincomali and Eppawela, Ceylon (Green, Fletcher); Cuddapah, 4,000
feet (Campbell) ; Nilgiris, 3,500-6,000 feet (Andrewes); N. Coorg, 3,500
feet (Newcome) ; Koni and Mone, Burma (Manders): in May and June,
and from September to December.

Trophimea testata, n. sp.

32. 10-12mm. Head pale whitish-ochreous. Palpi whitish, second
joint externally marked with dark fuscous. Antenne fuscous, ciliations
in 9 13, basal tuft ochreous-whitish. Thorax ochreous-whitish, somewhat
sprinkled with dark fuscous. Abdomen grey-whitish, in 2 with large
ochreous-whitish anal tuft. Forewings elongate, costa moderately arched,
apex round-pointed, termen extremely obliquely rounded ; 4 absent;
whitish-ochreous sprinkled with white points, and more or less strewn with
dark fuscous strigule ; markings dark fuscous; a narrow rather oblique
fascia near base, interrupted in middle; an irregular somewhat oblique
fascia before middle ; a spot on costa beyond middle; an irregular rather
imwards-oblique fascia about ?, narrowed on costa; a small spot on costa
towards apex, anda series of five along termen: cilia ochreous-whitish,
sprinkled with dark fuscous, tending to form undefined bars. Hindwings.
with 4 absent; pale grey; cilia ochreous-whitish. -

Peradeniya and Madulsima, Ceylon (Green, Vaughan); in March and
April, seven specimens. Very like arenatella, but larger, and easily distin-
guished by absence of vein 4 in both wings.

Lepidoscia globigera, v. sp.

¢. 138-15mm. Head fulvous-ochreous. Palpi with loosely projecting
scales, ochreous, somewhat mixed with dark fuscous. Antenne dark
fuscous, ciliations 4, fasciculated. Thorax dark purplish-fuscous. Abdomen
dark fuscous. Forewings elongate, rather narrow, slightly dilated poste-
riorly, costa gently arched, apex obtuse, termen very obliquely rounded ;
7 absent; deep fuscous-purplish, suffusedly strigulated with dark fuscous ;
costa irregularly strigulated with whitish-ochreous ; dorsum with a patch

of whitish-ochreous strigulation extending from + to +, widest before

middle, where it reaches 3 across wing; several small whitish-ochreous
dots on termen: cilia fuscous-purplish mixed with dark fuscous, on termen
with two or three undefined bars of ochreous-whitish suffusion. Hindwings.

and cilia rather dark purplish-bronzy-fuscous.

DESCRIPTIONS OF INDIAN MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA. i

bo
ao

©. Length 4 mm.; head small, antennze and legs short and weak,
slender, abdomen with whitish anal tuft; wings reduced to minute
rudiments.

Haputale, Ceylon (Green); 9 g, 2 2, bred in February. Larva ina
sub-globose egg-shaped case of silk covered with grains of refuse, feeding
on lichens ; length of case 8-10 mm., width 5-7 mm.

Mailobathra cellulata, n. sp.

g. 12-15 mm. Head and palpi whitish-ochreous-yellowish. Antennze
dark fuscous, ciliations 4. Thorax and abdomen dark fuscous. Forewings
elongate, costa moderately arched, apex rounded-obtuse, termen obliquely
rounded; 6 present; dark purple-fuscous, costa sharply spotted with
pale ochreous-yellowish, rest of wing wholly strewn with obscure
suffused whitish-ochreous dots: cilia dark purple-fuscous, on costa barred
with pale yellowish on spots, on termen with a basal series of pale yellow-
ish spots, round apex with tips ochreous-whitish. Hindwings with 6
present ; rather dark bronzy-fuscous ; cilia fuscous, paler towards tornus.

Maskeliya, Ceylon, in January (Pole) ; seven specimens.

Elegistis, n. g.

Head rough ; ocelli present ; tongue absent. Antenne 1, in ¢ biciliated
with long fascicles, basal jomt moderate, without pecten. Labial palpi
moderate, porrected, clothed with dense loose scales, obtuse. Maxillary
palpi obsolete. Posterior tibize clothed with long hairs above. Forewings
' with 2 from towards angle, 7 to apex, 8 and 9 short-stalked, 11 from before
middle. Hindwings under 1, elongate-ovate, cilia 2; 5 absent, other veins
separate, nearly parallel.

Elegistis cunicularis, n. sp.

362. 10-13 mm. Head and thorax grey spinkled with grey-whitish
and blackish. Palpi blackish sprinkled with grey-whitish. Antennal
ciliations of ¢ 5. Abdomen dark fuscous. Forewings elongate, moderate,
costa gently arched, apex obtuse, termen obliquely rounded ; purplish-
fuscous suffusedly irrorated with blackish; a moderate rather curved
fuscous-whitish fascia at 3, another at 2 interrupted in disc, and a band of
undefined cloudy spots towards termen, but these are always more or less
obscured by dark fuscous irroration, and sometimes wholly obsolete and
merged in ground colour: cilia dark purple-fuscous sprinkled with whitish
points. Hindwings and cilia dark fuscous, purplish-tinged.

Maskeliya and Peradeniya, Ceylon (Green, Pole) ; in October, five speci-
mens. Bred from larve tunnelling dead wood, making long external tubes
of silk and refuse (Green).

Thisizima bubalopa, n. sp.

dg 14-16 mm., 2 20 mm. Head ochreous. Palpi pale ochreous, second
joint dark fuscous except towards apex. Antenne pale ochreous. Thorax
dark purplish-fuscous. Abdomen light fuscous. Forewings elongate, costa

126 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXT.

moderately arched, apex obtuse, termen very obliquely rounded; dark
purplish-fuscous, with indigo-blue reflections : cilia concolorous. Hindwings
bronzy-fuscous ; cilia light bronzy-fuscous, paler or whitish-tinged towards
tips.

Peradeniya, Ceylon (Green) ; Nilgiris, 3,500 feet (Andrewes); in May,
July, and December, eight specimens.

Myrmecozela, Zell.

Head loosely rough-haired ; ocelli present ; tongue absent. Antennz 2,
in ¢ stout, compressed, simple, basal joint short, without pecten. Labial
palpi moderate, ascending, second joint clothed with dense rough scales,
with long projecting lateral bristles, terminal joint short, loosely scaled,
somewhat obtuse. Maxillary palpi obsolete. Posterior tibiz loosely
scaled above. Forewings with 2 from towards angle, 7 to apex, 8 and 9
rather approximated, 11 from before middle. Hindwings 1, elongate-ovate,
cilia 3; 2-7 tolerably parallel.

This genus apparently indicates the passage from Melasina to Thisizima.

Myrmecozela leontina, u. sp.

3 17-18 mm., 2 24 mm. Head, palpi, thorax, and abdomen deep
ochreous. Antenne pale ochreous. Forewings elongate, somewhat dilated
posteriorly, costa moderately arched, apex rounded-obtuse, termen obhi-
quely rounded; brownish-ochreous ; more or less faintly indicated cloudy
fuscous spots round posterior part of costa and termen: cilia brownish-
ochreous, outer half suffused with fuscous. Hindwings rather dark pur-
plish-fuscous; cilia pale ochreous tinged with fuscous, with fuscous
subbasal shade.

Kulu, Punjab ; four specimens.

Myrmecozela glebifera, n. sp.

¢ @. 15-18 mm. Head and thorax ochreous-brown, face ochreous.
Palpi ochreous, sometimes mixed with dark fuscous. Antennz and abdomen
dark fuscous. Forewings elongate, costa gently arched, apex rounded-
obtuse, termen obliquely rounded; rather dark purple-fuscous mostly
suffused with ochreous-brown, the dark ground colour appearing to form
obscure strigule ; posterior part of costa and termen more distinctly
spotted with dark fuscous: cilia dark purple-fuscous, base pale ochreous.
Hindwings and cilia dark fuscous, faintly purplish-tinged.

Khasis, from March to May ; fourteen specimens.

Myrmecozela metrophora, n. sp.

3. 12-14 mm. Head greyish-ochreous, face whitish-ochreous. Palpi
whitish-ochreous mixed with dark fuscous. Antenne and abdomen dark
fuscous. Thorax fuscous. Forewings elongate, costa moderately arched,
apex rounded-obtuse, termen rounded, rather strongly oblique ; fuscous
or ochreous-fuscous, more or less suffusedly irrorated with dark fuscous;
costa and termen regularly marked throughout with suffused dark fuscous

LIISA IM

- DESCRIPTIONS OF INDIAN MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA. 127
spots; a suffused dark fuscous spot in dise at 3: cilia light brownish-
ochreous or fuscous, obscurely barred with dark fuscous irroration.
Hindwings and cilia rather dark fuscous.

Ajmere, in July ; three specimens.

Sapheneutis galerita, n. sp.

6.15mm. Head and palpi dark fuscous. Antenne whitish-ochreous,
basal joint dark fuscous, ciliations 23. Thorax whitish-ochreous, anterior
half dark fuscous. Abdomen pale whitish-ochreous. Forewings elongate,
moderate, costa gently arched, apex rounded-obtuse, termen obliquely
rounded ; 7 and 8 separate ; whitish-yellowish ; costal edge dark fuscous
towards base ; a round blackish dot in dise at 4: cilia whitish-yellowish.
Hindwings and cilia yellow-whitish.

Sikkim, 4,500 feet, in August (Dudgeon); one specimen. Allied to
S. metacentra.

Macheropteris, Wals.

Head rough-scaled; ocelli present; tongue absent. Antenne under 3,
in ¢ very slender, simple, basal joint short. Labial palpi moderate,
second joint clothed with long dense projecting tuft of rough scales
beneath and expanded bristles or long rough hair scales laterally and at
apex above, terminal joint short, slender, obtuse, ascending, more or less
concealed in scales of second joint. Maxillary palpi obsolete. Thorax
with posterior crest. Anterior tibiz and tarsi short, posterior tibize rough-
haired above, in g with these hairs usually more or less elongate and
expansible. Forewings with numerous tufts and ridges of raised scales
on surface; 2 from angle, sometimes stalked with 3, 7 to costa or apex,
separate or stalked or coincident with 8, 9 and 10 sometimes approximated
or short-stalked, 11 from before middle. Hindwings 1, elongate-ovate,
cilia +; 2-7 separate, 5 and 6 more or less approximated at base.

Type phenaz, Meyr. (receptella, Wals., nec Walk.). This curious genus at.
first seems to present difficulties, as the obscurely-coloured species have
usually no defined markings, and are apparently seldom obtained in good
condition ; but on examination of the form of wing and neuration they
are found to be really easily determinable. The antennze are unusually
short and slight, and I know no other genus of Lepidoptera in which they
are so slender and weak in the ¢. Dasyses, Durr., and Trachycentra, Meyr.,,
are allied genera. I give a tabulation of the species based on trustworthy
points of difference :—

1. Vein 7 of forewings absent ss $3 .. taciturna.
Vein 7 of forewings present 2.

2. Vein 7 of forewings to apex 3.
Vein 7 of forewings to costa 6.

3. Apex of forewings pointed 4,
Apex of forewings rounded-obtuse .. dD.

128 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXJ.

4, Apex of forewings much produced .. ie .. phenax.
Apex of forewings not produced .. -.. .. lmatula.

5. Horewings moderate, with dark median fascia .. frenigera.
Worewings rather narrow, without fascia .. vernacula.

6. Head and palpi whitish-ochreous .. st .. melicera.
Head and palpi brownish or dark fuscous a it

7. Forewings with 7 and 8 stalked... me .. vreceptella,
Forewings with 7 and 8 separate .. ne eae

8. Apex of forewings produced, head dark fuscous .. horrifera.
Apex of forewings not produced, head brownish Shima

9. Apex pointed, tibial hairs whitish-ochreous .. .. hakstrepta.
Apex round-pointed, tibial hairs grey a .. ceramina.

Macheropteris taciturna, n. sp.

3 2. 24-27 mm. Head, palpi, and thorax fuscous, more or less mixed
or suffused with dark fuscous. Abdomen dark fuscous. Forewings elon-
gate, costa moderately arched, apex round-pointed, termen hardly sinuate,
oblique ; 7 absent, 9 and 10 approximated or stalked ; fuscous, suffusedly
irrorated with dark fuscous, without defined markings : cilia fuscous sprink-
led with pale ochreous, more or less obscurely barred with dark fuscous
suffusion. Hindwings rather dark purplish-bronzy-fuscous ; cilia fuscous.

Madulsima and Hakgala, Ceylon (Vaughan, Green): from March to May,
five specimens.

Macheropteris receptella, Walk.

(Tinea receptella, Walk, Cat. XXVIII, 479.)

6 2. 16-20 mm. Posterior tibiz in gd with extremely long expansible
erey hairs. Forewings with apex pointed, produced, termen sinuate,
oblique ; 7 and 8 stalked, 7 to costa, 9 and 10 approximated or short-
stalked; fuscous, irregularly irrorated with dark fuscous. Hindwings
dark grey.

Peradeniya, Colombo, and Trincomali, Ceylon (Green, Mackwood,

Fletcher) ; in April, July, October and December, seven specimens.

Macheropteris halistrepta, n. sp. :

3 2. 28-27 mm. Head and thorax ochreous-brownish, usually more
or less variably irrorated with dark fuscous. Palpi brownish, hairs suffused
with dark purple-fuscous except towards base. Abdomen rather dark
grey. Posterior tibize in ¢ with long whitish-ochreous hairs. Forewings
elongate, costa moderately arched, apex pointed, termen somewhat sinuate,
oblique ; 7 separate, to costa, 9 and 10 approximated; llac-brown, closely
irrorated with brownish-ochreous, usually with some irregular undefined
and variable groups of dark fuscous scales: cilia lilac-brownish irrorated
with pale ochreous, more or less barred with dark fuscous, especially at
apex. Hindwings rather dark purplish-fuscous ; cilia fuscous sprinkled

with ochreous-whitish.

DESCRIPTIONS OF INDIAN MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA. 129

Puttalam, Ceylon (Pole) ; Gooty (Campbell) ; Konkan (Young); in De-
cember, six specimens. Larval case elongate, nearly flat, parallel-sided
(12mm. x 4 mm.), both ends rounded; composed of silk and grains of
refuse, but entirely coated with silk outside; sent without note of habits
(Campbell), possibly a wood-feeder, or on dead leaves, but the case is not
suitable for a lichen-feeder.

Macheropteris ceramina, n. sp.

$6 2. 30-39 mm. Head brownish. Palpi brownish irrorated with dark
fuscous. Thorax dark brown or dark fuscous. Abdomen fuscous. Poste-
rior tibis in 6 with extremely long expansible fine greyish hairs. Fore-
wings elongate, costa moderately arched, apex round-pointed, termen
sinuate, oblique; 7 separate, to costa, 9 and 10 remote; dark brown,
suffusedly irrorated with dark fuscous or sometimes partially with blackish,
costa sometimes obscurely darker-spotted: cilia brown, mixed with dark
brown and sprinkled with pale ochreous. Hindwings rather dark fuscous ;
cilia fuscous:

Maskeliya, Peradeniya, and Bogawantalawa, Ceylon (Pole, de Mowbray,
Green) ; in October, November, and May, seven specimens.

Macheropteris phenax, n. sp.

(Macheropteris receptella, Wals. (nec Walk.), Moore Lep. Ceyl. III, 502,
pl. ceviii, 14.)

362. 28-36 mm. Head brownish. Palpi dark brown, scales with
ochreous-whitish tips. Thorax dark brown. Abdomen dark fuscous.
Forewings elongate, costa moderately arched, apex much produced, acute,
termen sinuate, oblique; 2 and 3 approximated or sometimes stalked, 7
separate, to apex, 9 and 10 remote; brown or purplish-fuscous, irrorated
with dark fuscous, with some bluish-leaden scales, without defined mark-
ings: cilia lilac-brownish sprinkled with dark fuscous, towards base
yellow-ochreous, at apex with a projection of dark fuscous scales. Hind-
wings dark fuscous; cilia fuscous sprinkled with dark fuscous, base pale
ochreous. 7

Peradeniya, Ceylon (Green) ; in August and December, four specimens.
I am indebted to Mr. J. Hartley Durrant for the information that this was
the species on which the genus Macheropterts was founded, and not the
true receptella, Walk.

Macheropteris horrifera, n. sp.

6. 22mm. Head, palpi, and thorax dark fuscous. Abdomen fuscous.
Posterior tibie with very long fuscous hairs. Forewings elongate, costa
moderately arched, apex pointed, produced, termen sinuate, oblique ;
2 and 3 connate, 7 to costa, separate, 9 and 10 approximated at base;
dark purplish-fuscous, raised scales with a bluish-leaden gloss: cilia dark
purplish-fuscous. Hindwings and cilia fuscous.

Sikkim, in August (Dudgeon) ; one specimen.

130 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX1.

Macheropteris limatula, n. sp.

¢. 22mm. Head brownish. Palpi brownish, slightly sprinkled with
whitish points. Thorax brownish-ochreous sprinkled with dark fuscous.
Abdomen dark grey. Forewings elongate, rather narrow, costa moderate-
ly arched, apex pointed, termen sinuate, very oblique ; 7 to apex, separate,
9 and 10 remote ; ochreous-brownish, some scales finely tipped with black :
a broad streak of whitish-ochreous suffusion along fold from near base to
beyond middle, and a rather elongate patch in dise beyond middle: cilia
purplish-ochreous sprinkled with dark fuscous, basal third brownish-ochre-
ous limited by a fine black line. Hindwings and cilia dark grey.

Hakgala, Ceylon, in April (Green) ; one specimen.

Macheropteris frenigera, 1. sp.

QO. 24-25mm. Head, palpi, and thorax whitish-fuscous suffused with
darker and more or less mixed with dark fuscous. Abdomen rather dark
grey, protruded ovipositor as long asabdomen. Forewings elongate, mode-
rate, costa moderately arched, apex rounded-obtuse, termen obliquely
rounded; 7 to apex, separate, 9 and 10 remote ; light fuscous irrorated
with dark fuscous, tending to form transverse strigule ; a transverse streak
of dark fuscous suffusion from beyond middle of costa to dorsum before
tornus : cilia whitish-fuscous, with several fuscous les. Hindwings rather
dark grey ; cilia grey, with darker subbasal line.

Colombo, Ceylon, in November (Mackwood) ; two specimens.

Macheropteris vernacula, n. sp.

2. 14 mm. Head, palpi, and thorax fuscous. Abdomen dark grey,
apex ochreous. Forewings elongate, rather narrow, costa moderately
arched, apex rounded-obtuse, termen obliquely rounded ; 7 to apex, sepa-
rate, 9 and 10 separate; lilac-brown, irrorated with dark fuscous: cilia
brownish, with two dark fuscous lines. Hindwings dark purple-grey ; cilia
grey, with darker subbasal line.

Madulsima, Ceylon, in June (Green) ; one specimen.

Macheropteris melhcera, a. sp.

3 2. 21-80 mm. Head and palpi whitish-ochreous. Thorax whitish-
ochreous, anteriorly suffused with fulvous-ochreous. Abdomen grey.
Posterior tibise: in ¢ with moderate whitish-ochreous hairs. Forewings
elongate, costa moderately arched, apex pointed, produced, termen
sinuate, oblique ; 2 and 3 sometimes connate or short-stalked, 7 to costa, 7
and 8 sometimes stalked, 9 and 10 remote ; whitish-ochreous, more or less
strewn with small ferruginous-ochreous spots and strigulee ; costa suffused
with ferruginous-ochreous towards base; sometimes two very oblique
fuscous fascize before and beyond middle respectively, edged with ferru-
ginous-ochreous, and a streak running from lower extremity of first through
middle of second to costa before apex, but these markings are sometimes
very faintly indicated or quite obsolete : cilia whitish-ochreous mixed with

6 es SS

DESCRIPTIONS OF INDIAN MICRO-LEPIDOPTERA. 131

ferruginous-ochreous and sometimes sprinkled with dark fuscous. Hind-
wings and cilia rather dark fuscous.
Maskeliya, Ceylon (Pole) ; from January to July, six specimens.

PLUTELLIDE.

Lamyristis, n. &.

Head shortly rough-scaled ; ocelli present ; tongue absent. Antenne 3,
in ¢ ciliated, basal joint short. Labial palpi moderately long, rather
curved, somewhat ascending, second joint with compressed tuft of very
long rough projecting scales beneath, terminal joint shorter, rather
slender, obtuse. Maxillary palpi obsolete. Thorax with posterior ex-
pansible tuft of hair-scales. Abdomen in 9 with large anal tuft. Anterior
tibize moderately long, loosely expanded with scales, tarsi very short ;
posterior tibize with appressed scales. Forewings with 2 from towards
angle, 7 and 8 long-stalked, 7 to termen, 9 and 10 from near 8, 11 from
somewhat before middle. Hindwings 1, oblong-ovate, ciliai; 3 and 4
connate, 5-7 nearly parallel.

I describe this genus here, because superficially the species has con-
siderable general resemblance to a Macheropteris, and also some points of
curious similarity in structure, but I do not consider that there is any real
connection. The true relationship of the genus is with Anticrates, Meyr.

Lamyristis leucopselia, n. sp.

62. 17-20 mm. Head ochreous-whitish more or less mixed with
fuscous. Palpi fuscous, tuft of second joint suffused with ochreous-
whitish towards base. Thorax dark fuscous, posterior edge marked with
white. Abdomen rather dark fuscous, anal tuft fuscous. Forewings
elongate, moderate, costa rather strongly arched, apex obtuse, termen
slightly sinuate, oblique; deep purple, suffusedly irrorated with dark
fuscous ; costal edge somewhat spotted with ochreous-whitish suffusion,
especially on a patch before middle ; a clear white spot on dorsum before
middle, and two white dots placed transversely above it ; a white dot on
dorsum before tornus; three white dots on costa towards apex: cilia dark
purplish-fuscous, with white patches above and beneath apex. Hindwings
4lark bronzy-fuscous ; cilia fuscous, with dark fuscous subbasal line.

Maskeliya, Ceylon, in May (Pole, Alston) ; three specimens. The white
patches in the cilia of forewings produce the optical effect of the unusual
form of the apex and cilia in Macheropteris phenar.

(To be continued).

132

REPTILES COLLECTED IN CHITRAL.
By
Mayor F’. WALL, I.M.S., C.M.Z.S.

Whilst stationed in Chitral in 1910, I managed to secure a good
representative collection of the snakes of that State, and several
lizards and batrachians. The region is by no means rich in
species, but what there are are very abundant for the most part.

REPTILIA.

SQUAMATA.
Lacertilia.

Without making any special search for lizards, I managed to collect a
few species.
Gymnodactylus stoliczke (Steimdachner).

This was by no means uncommon. I encountered it several times in the

Fort at Drosh, among old packing cases or rubbish by day, and in the
open after nightfall. Two fell into my basin at different times, and I
came across others on the verandah floors when returning to my quarters
at night. -It is fairly agile.

Calotes versicolor (Daudin).

Rather uncommon. I saw but a few specimens at low elevations (4,000
to 5,000 feet). 1 noticed that the gular scales were distinctly keeled and
that there was an oblique fold in front of the shoulder, though Boulenger
(Faun. Brit. Ind., 1890, p. 136) says the gular scales are smooth or feebly
keeled, and there is no fold in front of the shoulder. Chitral appears to be
about the most northern limit from which this species has been recorded.

Agama tuberculata (Gray).

At an altitude of from 5,000 to 10,000 feet, this is as common in Chitral
as it is in the Western Himalyas (Mussoorie, Almora). I found it up to
about 12,000 feet.

Agama himalayana (Steindachner).

This was a very common lizard about Madaglasht, and I found it up to
11,000 feet or more. like the last it lives among rocks coming out to
bask in the sun, and scuttles into any cranny when disturbed. It is
remarkable how it manages to capture butterflies as wary as the common
painted lady (Vanessa cardu). On several occasions I found it devouring
this species. Boulenger does not remark upon the peculiar and attractive
colouration of the head, which is a rather bright yellow, and there isa
large and conspicuously bright orange patch on each temporal region.

_—

(Corset ine pte

REPTILES COLLECTED IN CHITRAL. 133

Varanus griseus (Daudin).

I had one specimen brought to me on the 25th May which measured 21
inches from snout to anus, and the tail, though slightly deficient, also
measured 2] inches. Boulenger calls it a desert species, and makes no
reference to it among hills, so that its occurrence in the heart of the
Himalayas close to the Hindu Kush at an altitude of about 4,000 feet is
noteworthy.

Lygosoma himalayanum (Ginther).

At 10,000 feet this was a very common little lizard. Its numbers must be
considerably checked by the pit-viper (Ancistrodon himalayanus) which preys
upon it extensively.

OPHIDIA.

Snakes, though fairly abundant in Chitral, were represented by but few
species. The name for a snake is “ae,” a corruption of the Arabic name
“afae”’ I am told, but there is no Chitrali name for any of the species, not
even the cobra which is very common.

CoLUBRID.

Tropidonotus tessellatus (Laurenti.)

Three specimens of this species were captured near Mastuj in July at
an altitude of about 6,000 feet. The species was plentiful there in a piece
of ground adjoining a stream. I obtained it nowhere else.

Chitralis had told me that a snake frequents the hot springs in their
country and I made every endeavour to get specimens. A cooly was
sent on three occasions to the springs they were supposed to inhabit, but
his labours were fruitless. I very much suspect that this snake is
the one referred to, and that the water need not be hot to suit their
tastes.

Two of my specimens were ¢ gd, andthe third a @. One killed be-
tween the 14th and 22nd July discharged two eggs during its death
throes.

The ventrals and subcaudals were 182+66 and 180+ 67 in the g ¢ and
are not recorded in the third specimen.

The lepidosis in every respect agreed with that of the many Persian speci-
mens I have examined. One specimen had swallowed a good-sized newt,
that was too digested about the head to identify. Asfar as I am aware
the species has never before been recorded East of the Hindu Kush and
its known habitat is therefore much extended.

Dentition—The maxillary in my skull supports 26 teeth in an uninter-
rupted series, the hinder gradually enlarged. This condition conforms to
that of the genus Nerodia (Baird and Gir). Palatine 13 to 15. Pterygoid
17 to 19. Mandibular 26 to 28. It completely accords with my three
Persian skulls.

134 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXT.

Zamenis mucosus (Linné).

This is common, as much so perhaps as in most parts of India, but
decidedly less numerous than Z. diadema in Chitral. I obtained 20
specimens of which 7 were ¢ dG, and 18 2@Q. The largest wasa 9
which measured 6 feet. A little one only 18 inches long when pursued

by an Irish terrier faced round, and bit the dog most viciously. 6,000 .

feet was the highest altitude at which I obtained a specimen. Three
specimens that had recently fed were found to contain toads (Bufo viridis)
when dissected. Most of the examples had only two loreal shields (1+1),
as in korros. In other parts of {ndia it is quite unusual to find only two
of these shields. In one specimen there was but one loreal on the left
side with two on the right side. In one specimen there were 9 supralabials
with the 5th and 6th touching the eye on the right side, and in another
9 with the upper part of a divided 4th, the 5th and 6th touching the eye
on both sides. The ventrals in the ¢ were 194 to 197 and in the @ 192
to 202. The subcaudals in the ¢ were 112 to 119, and in the 2 109 to
122. The scales two heads-lengths behind the head were 17, in midbody
17 usually (once 16 and once 15), and two heads-lengths before the anus
12 or 14 (not influenced by sex). The rows became 16 invariably by the
absorption of the vertebral into the adjacent row on the left side. In the
succeeding steps the 3rd row above the ventrals disappears being absorbed
into the 2nd usually (rarely the 4th).

Zamenis rhodorhachis (Jan.).

I collected 16 specimens all from elevations between 4,000 and 5,000
feet.. Three of these conformed to variety typica, and the remainder to
variety ladacensis (Anderson).

Of the 16, 7 were 5 3,8 2 Y and one was not sexed.

Variety ladacensis is extremely like the species Z. ventrimaculatus (Gray).
So much so that I think it probable the two have been confused by most
if not all writers hitherto. Boulenger (Faun. Brit. Ind., 1890, p. 326) says
it differs in having more numerous ventrals and subcaudals, but that m
other structural characters it agrees with ventrimaculatus. With this I
cannot agree. In the first place the large series of both species that I
have examined shows that no difference can be claimed in the respective
ranges of the ventrals and subcaudals, and in the second place a very clear
distinction can be shown in the dentition of the two species. Thus, in
rhodorhachis a gap precedes the two last maxillary teeth which are much
enlarged, but in ventrimaculatus no such gap exists and the posterior teeth
are not enlarged.* This difference appears to me of sufficient importance
to warrant generic distinction between the two.

I did not examine the dentition in every Chitral specimen, though I

¢ My skull is from a specimen killed at Campbellpore, Punjab.

REPTILES COLLECTED IN CHITRAL. 135

did so in most. Im all examined (both typica and Jadacensis) there was
a gap posteriorly im the maxillary array succeeded by two enlarged teeth.
In this as in other respects they agreed with specimens I have seen from
Karachi and Baluchistan.

I can find no constant differences in lepidosis, by which rhodorhachis
can be distinguished from ventrimaculatus.

The details of my specimens are as follows :—

Costals,
-- |
a 2
eh Sal
tn °
ac e nm
Wy de onl css aur th ce REMARKS,
2 San a =
ia) ast! os i 2) 3S =
oo SH © re} (5) |] SS me
o 60 2 oO 2 ak (3)
~~ q Che) a o ® qd a
= wn i) ode 52) qo (<b)
“4 oO 3 SI > s
(=) TR | ™ ™ N

Variety /adacensis.

25-10-09} 2 | 3/-8” | 19 | 19 | 15 | 239] 136)A lizard Calotes versicolor in
the stomach.

5-11-09} 9 | 1'-22"”| 19 | 19 | 13 | 221) ? |Tail imperfect.
Calotes versicolor in the
stomach.

29-11-09! g | 1’-6" | 19 | 19 | 18 | 930) ® |Tail imperfect. 126 sub-
caudais counted.

3-12-09} ¢ | 1/-12"| 19 | 19 | 13 |206?| 112

20-5-10; ¢ | 2’-8" | 19 | 19 | 13 | 208) ? |Tail imperfect. 120 sub-
caudals counted.

23-5-10| g | 3-2" | 19 | 19 | 13 | 208) P |Tail imperfect.

24-5-10; 2 | 3/-07”| 19 | 19 | 14 | 213) ? |Tailimperfect. Eight eggs
in abdomen +3” ~ 2,".

25-3-10| ? | 1’-23/"| 19 | 19 | 15 | 213) ? /Tail imperfect. A gecko
| probably Gymnodactylus
stoliczke in the stomach.

29-9-10} 2 | 2’-11”| 19 | 19 | 15 | 220) 115!Three eggs in the abdomen
: about 2 inch long.

caudals counted.

P| Q?| W/-02"| 19 | 19 | 13 | 221; ? |Tail imperfect. 108 sub-

23-9-10; 2 | 1/-12”| 19 | 19 | 15 | 216) 118

1-10-10] ¢ | 1-52") 19 | 19 | 15 | 212] 120/A young Calotes lizard in the
stomach.

|
: 3 | 4-07" | 19 | 19 | 13 | 235) P |Tail imperfect. A large

136 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXII,

Costals,
mn [ay
= a 4s
ore on FI fs
as a os REMARKS.
rt a I 2 ss}
= b Pay 2 at is}
peW neha Hen |(ielsap ahah y=
3 op Se || | Sha | 6s S)
2 iM S| 2a 2 | 32 = Q
3 o Co) pe! ©) =
(=) mM 4 lo) =| ]n > DM

Variety typica.
12-6-10} @ | 3/-42”{ 19 | 19 ; 15 | 222) 122)Heavily gravid. Contained
| 9 eggs from 1 to 13
inches long with no trace!
of embryo.

17-9-10| ¢g | 1-10") 19 | 19 | 13 | 211) 111|A gecko Gymnodactylus sto-
liczke: in the stomach.

6-10-10} 9 |2/-102 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 215) 118

The costals reduce to 15 or 13 posteriorly irrespective of sex. In the’

reduction from 19 to 17 the 8th row above the ventrals is absorbed into
the 7th usually (more rarely the 9th). From 17 to 15 the 3rd row above
the ventrals disappears, being absorbed into the 4th usually (rarely the
2nd). These two steps occur quite close together, and may be reversed or
mixed. When the rows still further reduce to 13, as is the rule, it is the
7th row above the ventrals that is absorbed. The supralabials are usually
9, the 4th divided, and its upper part with the 5th and 6th shields touch
the eye. Rarely there are 8 in the series, and then the 3rd is divided, and
with the 4th and 5th touches the eye. The tongue is pinkish with blackish
tips. The eye has a narrow golden pupillary margin, with fine specks of
gold interspersed through the iris. The ¢ claspers are beset with many
falciform tentacles. The anal glands furnish a white secretion. In ladacen-
sis the colour is olive-greyish, or olive-greenish, and there are usually 6 rows
of quincunciate, small, blackish, round spots, most conspicuous anteriorly.
Sometimes these spots are absent. There is usually a small round blackish
spot at the side of each ventral especially marked in the anterior ones,
but these may be absent. The belly is otherwise a pearly white, with
sometimes some pinkish suffusion posteriorly. In variety typica, the
vertebral stripe was a bright rosy pink in two specimens, but a brownish-red
in the third. There are spots on the ventrals as in the last, and the belly
was a pale creamy-yellow, or pale sulphur-yellow. I do not think there
were any dorsal quincunciate spots, but I have failed to specially mention
their absence in my notes. In both varieties there is a periorbicular buff
zone, and the overlapped parts of the scales especially in the forebody are
black basally, whitish apically. These hues show up only when the snake
under excitement dilates itself, at other times they are quite concealed.
The species is remarkably slender in habit, wide awake, and active,

REPTILES COLLECTED IN CHITRAL. 137

slipping away into cover 80 rapidly that itis difficult to capture alive.
Many were killledin the Fort. The teeth were examined in Nos. 1, 5, 6, 7,
8, 14,15 and 16. There were 13 or 14 maxillary teeth before the gap in
Nos. 1, 5, 6, 7 and 16; and 10 or 11 before the gap in the remainder.

I have 6 skulls in my collection. The habitat of two is unknown, one is
from Karachi and the rest from Chitral (Nos. 1, 8 and 16).

The dentition is as follows :—Mazillary—10 to 14 small teeth gradually
increasing in size from before backwards, then a gap that would accommo-
date one tooth, followed by. two enlarged, compressed and obliquely
placed teeth, one-third longer to twice as long as the preceding. Palatine—
9 to 11, slightly decreasing in size from before backwards. Pterygoud—15
to 24, slightly decreasing in size from before backwards (one in which
habitat is unknown has 24, and No.1 Chitral specimen has 22 and 23, all
the rest from 15 to 18). Mandibular 15 to 20, the anterior and posterior
slightly decreasing in size.

Zamenis ravergiert (Ménétr).

I collected 7 examples of this very elegant species at altitudes varying
from about 9,000 to 11,000 feet. Of these 4 were dS and 3 go. I
do not think it has been previously recorded East of the Hindu Kush, so
that its habitat is materially extended. One specimen was picked up in a
snow drift at about 11,000 feet apparently dead, but revived in the warmth
of the hand. The details of the specimens follow :—

COSTALS,
a2 a nm
ss Bis
on an S
a4| .|ae a REMARKS,
: suc) Ere lienera a os
a |de| 8s |es| €|-8
9 an BCS | oe | say |) te 5
~ oe io} ov
= i a gq2)-so |.qo)| § a
a) pa a = nA > mM
|
5-7-10 Seu NET AL IG ex ONS) ? | Tail imperfect.

362 P21 201s 22001 88

D
~]
1
i—
=
0 40 & |8e

3/7" | 21 | 21 | 15 |223 | 83 | The stomach contained the
| hair of some _ digested
| mammal.
14-7-10| g | 3’ 8” | 21 | 21 | 15 1209 | 89

14-7-10| ¢g |3’ 102” 21 | 21 | 15 |212 | 96 | Killed in the act of attack-
ing a nest of fledglings
some of which I found in
the stomach.

T7210 | |\gi4
3

23-8-10] ¢ |3":

188 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

In one specimen the 10th row above the ventrals divided, and fused
several times in the anterior two-fifths of the body, the scales being there-
fore in 23 rows in places. I have noted the same thing once before in a
specimen (No. 4609) in the Indian Museum, the 10th row again dividing at
least once, the resulting rows reuniting later.

The young are especially handsome, with their very conspicuous, large,
chocolate, or black spots in three series. These, and other markings
become much less distinct with age, in fact may become very much
obscured.

Several specimens reached me alive. J found them restless, active, and
wary creatures, but playing with them cautiously none ever attempted to
bite me.

In life the iris is speckled with gold, and exhibits a narrow orbit of gold
around the pupil which is a horizontal ellipse in shape rather than
a circle.

I prepared two skulls, and the dentition is as follows:— Maaillary—13
teeth gradually increasing in length from before backwards; followed by a
gap that would accommodate one tooth, behind which are two enlarged,
and obliquely set teeth about one-fourth longer than the immediately
preceding. Palatine—9, very slightly zeducing in length anteriorly and
posteriorly. Pterygoid—l4 to 19, gradually decreasing in length from before
backwards. Mandibular—16 to 19, reducing in length anteriorly and
posteriorly. I may mention here that nearly four years ago I received a
fragment of a skin of this snake from Mr. (now Captain) C. H. Whitehead
from near the Peiwar Kotal in the Kurram Valley, N.-W. Frontier, evea
7,000 feet. Mr. Whitehead told me he found fragments of a mutilated
snake in the nest of a kite (Milvus govinda), and sent me about three
inches of the skin. I wrote at the time that it was part of a snake quite
unfamiliar to me which I thought would prove to be a species of Zamenis.
The scale rows in the fragment counted 17 and 15. I pasted this fragment
into my note-book, and recognised the first ravergier’ I saw in Chitral as
the same snake.

Zamenis diadema (Schlegel).

I think this is the commonest snake in Chitra] at elevations up to about
4,000 to 5,000 feet. Writing recently on the snakes in the Quetta Museum,
I commented upon at least three varieties of this snake. In Chitral I only

saw one variety, vz., typica, that ornamented with large brownish-black or

REPTILES COLLECTED IN CHITRAL. 139

chocolate spots in three series. The species has, I believe, not been re-
corded upto date as far north as Chitral. A detail of the specimens

follows :—
Costals,
es a
as toe A
gs - 2 © a a REMARKS.
ioe tee ea cule oe
Bee |) 2 |fa\s\ssls | s
ee | 6 (n=) S64 \2)e
10-10-09 | 3g | 2'-11" | 27 | 29 | 19 | 241) P |Tail imperfect.
27-10-09| 3 25 | 29 | 17 | 243) 104
28-10-09] 2 | 4/-1”| 27 | 31 | 21 | 948) 2 [ail imperfect.
11-11-09| Q | 4/-42”| 27 | 31 | 21 | 248) ? |Tail imperfect.
17-11-09) 9 | 4-11" | 27 | 29 | 19 | 248) ? |Tail imperfect.
17-11-09) 9 | 4/-3" | 27 | 31°} 21 | 255) +P |Tail imperfect.
8-12-09| g | 3/-8" | 25 | 29 | 19 | 240; ? |Tail imperfect.
8-12-09| 9 | 3-5" |...
12-2-10} 2 | 1/-82"| 27 | 31 | 21 | 254) 103)/Found on a cold wet day
with deep snow on the
ground.

yas" | 25 | 29°) 19° | 252) 103
4!-13" | 26 | 31 | 21 | 251; P |Tail imperfect.
2!-62" | 25 | 29 | 19 | 239} ? |Tail imperfect.
4!-62" | 25 | 29 | 19 | 233] ? |Tail imperfect.

Alot | 25. | 29°) 19 | 245) 110

3-112") 27.) 31 | 19 | 289] 104

4i-4" | 97 | 31 | 19 | 241) 106

A!-73" | 27 | 29 | 19 | 240; ? /Tail imperfect.

4'-Ja" | 25 | 29 | 19 | 247| ? |Tail imperfect.

bo
i
or
=
i=)
Ob, 4k) Oy Oy, OK Oy OO OD)

5-532") 25 | 29 | 19 | 241} 108)One tick (dponomma Spec ?)
found attached on the
| back.

140 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXT.

Costals, |
ery al |
a aS
on on *
Bes) lone eet eae =a REMARKS,
en eee ee | eee ere
S. eal) 2 eel ec e
3 id a |28)/ 53 |S3/ 8] 2 |
Q | mM 4 los) =| a | & teal
| 4
BZ AO || Bi) ates agent | eal eee | be
|
10-7-10} Q | 3/-2" |
13-8-10 | 2 | 3/-10"| 28 | 31 | 21 | 250) ? |Tail imperfect.
2-10-10] 2 | 2/-4" | 25 | 29 | 19 | 252) 104
}

Of the 24 specimens 12 were ¢ gd and12 22. Other specimens were
sent to me in a state of putrefaction collected in Drosh, whilst I was
absent at Madaglasht (—June to 21st September).

It is very remarkable that among all these specimens no single 2 showed 7
signs of being gravid, though all were dissected. Perhaps the breeding ;
season was during the hot months when I was absent at the Sanatarium.
The large number of imperfect tails in this, and other snakes is to be ac- }
counted for, by the Chitralis seizing this appendage, when the snake often ;
screws itself loose leaving part of its tail behind. The costal rows are ;
peculiar, being always fewer anteriorly than in midbody. Where the rows ,
increase from 25 to 27, from 27 to 29 or from 29 to 31 the extra row :

appears on each side below the row adjacent to the vertebral, that is to say,
where 25 becomes 27 a row appears between the 11th and 12th rows above
the ventrals, where 27 becomes 29, it appears between the 12th and 13th,
and where 29 becomes 31, it appears between the 13th and 14th. The
reduction of rows is affected with one exception by the absorption of the
2nd row from the vertebral into one of its adjacent rows, 2.e., where 31
becomes 29, the 14th row above the ventrals disappears, where 23 becomes
21, the 10th row disappears. In one step the 3rd row above the ventrals is
absorbed, and this is usually the second or third step in the reduction
process; but as the first three steps occur close together, they are
occasionally reversed or intermixed so far as the absorption of rows is
concerned.

The ¢ claspers are furnished with cartilaginous, pedunculated processes. ¢
The anal glands produce a custard-like material.

I found this species infested with small, encysted, white parasites about
the size of lentils which were scattered all over the peritoneum. I submit-
ted some to Professor A. E, Shipley, who reported that they were protozoa,
probably sarcosporidia but possibly myxosporidia.

REPTILES COLLECTED IN CHITRAL. 141

Naia tripudians (Merrem).

The cobra is a very common snake in Chitral up to about 5,000 feet
elevation, and is chiefly represented by the variety ovzana of Hichwald. I
have already referred to, and figured this variety in this Journal (Vol. XIX,
p. 1001). It is peculiar in having no suspicion of a hood mark, and in being
banded dorsally. The anterior two, three or four bands are black or
blackish, and any succeeding ones brownish. In young specimens the
bands are quite conspicuous to the vent. Ihave seen a specimen in our
Society’s collection from Aden and another from Parachinar on our
N. W. Frontier. It was also the only variety of cobra I met with in
Malakand some years ago.

I collected 16 specimens 5¢ 5, and 11@ 2 ; some of these were killed
mside the Fort at Drosh. One came into an officer’s bed-room at night, and
and on another occasion in camp one came after nightfall into an officer’s
tent. The furious barking of a chained terrier attracted our attention at
dinner-time, and we found the cobra sitting up facing the dog. It was so
taken up with the dog, that it ignored our presence even with a lighted
lantern, and was despatched without any trouble. Another passed through
my pony’s legs one day in broad day-light, and only when I halted, did
it erect itself. It struck me that its hood is not so expansive as in the
binocellate variety usually seen in India.

The details of my specimens are as follows :—

17-10-09

ee)
ou

=
ho
Go
bo
bo
pa
Or
bo
=
j=)
(ep)
bo

18-10-09 2/-108"| 21 | 21 | 15 |209 | 69

20-10-09

2-11-09 1-72" 20 | 21 | 16 |206 | 69

7-11-09
11-11-09

3
2
se
sd
24-10-09] @ | 3/-22" 21 | 21 | 15 (218 | 64
3
2
Saal 2) 21) | 152i | 69) |
g

21- 5-10

144° JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCLETY, Vol. XX,

Scales.
Coen a
a eae)
ga) |8s :
wm
an e Ze E S REMARKS.
= /32| 2 \ze| 2] 3
: f ‘3 + 5
2 4 a |33 2 [es a =
=) 2) 4 a a la = 22)
24 -5-10| @ | 1-68" |
| }
24 -5-10} @ SYA PIL) Zab Pais 20 |) G0?
3 -6-10!] 3 3/-23" 21 | 21! 18 |203 |°70
|
SONS) ESA IG) ea eR oye i G3)
16 -9-10) @ AOU ea Onl 202) P
|
28- 9-10} @ WEB IG) 240) | Tess GR
|
5-10-10} & 2!-62" 21 | 21 | 15 |207 | 68

No specimen was gravid, but itis probable that the deposition of eggs tool:
place during the months that I was away in the sanatarium at Madaglasht.
Most specimens were of rather a light shade of brown, but one was
quite uniform black, the skin and scales alike. There was no suspicion of
banding, and no hood marks.
VIPERIDE.

Ancistrodon himalayanus (Gunther).

At 10,000 feet, up to 12,000 feet, I found this species as common as it 1s
in other parts of the Western Himalayas. I do not think it has been
recorded before west of the River Indus. I collected 33 specimens
between June and September, 19 of which were ¢ gd, and 149 9.

In my article on this snake in this Journal (Vol. XX, p. 65, et seq.) I
remarked upon its very quiet disposition. The many living specimens
Thad in Chitral, some of which I had for weeks in captivity, serve to
confirm my previous observations on its timidity. I encountered several
in my walks abroad, and picked them up without one attempting to bite
I played with several, trying to irritate them to bite, but to no

me.
purpose. It sometimes under irritation rubs one coil upon another in a
restless fashion, reminding one of the characteristic motion elicited by the
saw-scaled viper (Echis carinata). More rarely it agitated the tail tip as a
demonstration of excitement.

It is difficult to see, when not in motion, its sombre hues haimonising very
closely with those of its favorite bed, the needles |of the various conifers
that flourish about Madaglasht, the commonest of which is the spruce (Picea

movinda). The silver fir (Abies webbiana) and the deodar (Cedrus lebani var.

REPTILES COLLECTED IN CHITRAL. 145

deodara) are also much in evidence at that elevation (cca 10,000 feet).
The tongue in life is blackish with whitish tips. The secretion from the
anal glands is of a dark-ochraceous colour, usually of the consistency of
custard but sometimes inspissated so that it reminded one of pomade hong-
roise being expressed from a tube. In addition to this secretion, pressure
behind the anus will, in a fresh specimen, sometimes eject a very fine jet of
a limpid fluid, which is evidently stored in some quantity. I have noticed
a similar limpid secretion in some other vipers.

In the annexed table of details it will be seen that the scale rows are
normally 21 anteriorly, and 17 behind.

In 4 specimens the scale rows anteriorly were 19 in places, and in all the
4th and 5th rows above the ventrals had fused to reduce the normal number.
The resulting scale divided, and the parts again fused, sometimes 3 or 4
times before the normal 21 rows were finally established.

| | Costals. |
| | 4 | s
| | DNs | ons = nM
a | S| a REMARKS.
| Recerca site tee ines elie hk 6s
Shee leone | Fe iS
| g 4 f |S8/ |S) 3] 2
| A mn 4 oe PS igi nD
1
28-6-10 So | 1-22") 19 | 21 | 17 | 150) 39°)A ZL. Acmalayanus in stomach.|
| 4-7-10...| Q | 1-62") 27 | 21 | 17 | 156) 41 |A mouse in the stomach.
| 4-7-10. | Q | 72"| 21 | 21 | 17 | 149] 36 |Two Scolopendia in stomach.
:
| HHO...| 2 627/91 991 | 17 | 148] 38
| | |
eee S| 112" 21 | 21 | 17 | 151) 43 |
| 5-7-10,..| 2 72" 21 | 21 | 17 | 155} 35 |15 ventrals between anal and
| the navel.
eert0...| g.| 13241 21 | 21 | 17 | 146] 41
| }
en OMe eo st gy | 21 4) We) Bs) B87
13-7-10...) 2 | 1-92" 21 | 21 | 17 | 156) 36
'18-7-10 So | V-7a"l 21 | 21 | 17 | 154| 38
Ee e10 Soe aaa OT ay 144) 40) |
18-7-10 3 | V-23"% 21 | 21 | 17 | 152} 41 |The tails of two Lygosoma in
! stomach.
14-7-10... g | 1’-42" 21 | 21 | 17 | 153) 42 |A Lygosoma himalayanus in,
| the stomach.

ee ee ee ee

144 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX,

29-7-10...
2-8-10...
5-8-10...

25-8-10...

Sex.

ir) Gn) KO) gp) OK Oy ON OHO) OS

Length,

qegue

Ai
y-42

]/-8" 2

1-42"

1/-g.3! 9

2 heads-lengths

bebind head,

Costals,
wu
Eas
ane
Be

= Cl
ol ae
eo |So6
eS |) 5
Sesto
A la

Ventrals,

Subcaudals,

REMARKS.

A mouse in the stomach.

A large Scolopendrum in the
stomach.

A L. himalayanus in stomach. |

!
A. L. hamalayanus in stomach}

A mouse in the stomach.

if i .
Hair of a small mammal in
stomach.

Contained 4 fetus. 2 go
and 2 9 9, measuring 4
inchesinlength. The ¢
genitals extruded.

3 young in the abdomen,
3 54", So 52” and 2 53”,

A L. himalayanus in the sto-
mach.

:
"
,
t

oy a
REPTILES COLLECTED IN CHITRAL. 145
BATRACHIA.
CS ARCIFERA,.
Bufonide,

dus (Laurenti). ,
i the common toad in Chitral, and was abundant inside the fort at
he summer. It was generally abroad at, or after, dusk.

CauUDATA.
mdride:. ;
wt occurs in Chitral, but I was unable to identify it. The one
en I saw had been swallowed by one of the snakes Tropidonotus
| captured near Mastuj. The head was a good deal digested,
est of the creature was intact.

146

A LIST OF INDIAN FUNGI, CHIEFLY OF THE BOMBAY
PRESIDENCY, WITH THE DESCRIPTION OF
TWO NEW SPECIES.

BY
Ky BEATER, Seed.

(With a plate).

The following is a list of Hyphomycetes, chiefly Basidiomycetes,
which, about a year ago, I had sent to the Rev. F. Theissen, 8S. J.,
for identification. This gentleman was obliging enough to take
the trouble of naming the specimens which were not always in the
best state of preservation. Mr. C. G. Lloyd was so kind as to com-
pare a great part of the Polyporaceze with the material kept in
Kew, and Mr. L. Romell of Stockholm identified several specimens.
The Ascomycetes were examined by Dr. H. Rehm, and the Uredi-
nales and Deuteromycetes by Mr. H. Sydow of Berlin. I wish
to express my thanks to all who in some way or other lent us their
kind help. :

Rev. F. Theissen published a list of the fungi in the ‘‘ Annales
Mycologici” (Berlin, 1911, vol. IX, fase. 2). As only anfews
however, of those interested in Indian Botany and, at the same
time, residing in this country are in a position to consult that
Journal, we consider it advisable to publish the results in these
pages. To the species mentioned in the ‘‘ Annales” we shall add
the names of some other fungi, which were collected between 1904
and 1906.

RETICULARIACEA.

Reticularia venosa, B. et C.

On dead wood.—In the ravines of Khandala (Western Ghats).—No. 72.
SPHAIRIOIDACEAL.

Macrophoma Musz, Berl. et Vogel.

On leaves of Musa sapientum, L.—Anand (Gujarat).—No. 85. Collected
by Rev. H. Zurhansen, 8. J.

Robillarda scutata, Sydow n. sp.

“Pycnidiis amphigenis, sine maculis, sparsis, rotundatis, 200-250 «
diam., atris, lenticularibus vel subdimidiatis, contextu minute celluloso ;

Journ. Bompay Nat. Hist Soc.

or ao bo

INDIAN FUNGI.

Polystictus xanthopus Fr., seen from above.
6 ae ,, seen from below.
Hymenium of l’olyporus wmbilicatus Berk.
Hymenium of Lenzites ochroleuca Lévy. (lenzitoid form).
ae - Ay ,, (polyporoid forin
near the base, passing over into the lenzitoid form neur
the periphery).

iasgee =

LIST OF INDIAN FUNGI OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY. 147

sporulis subfusoideis, utrinque acutiusculis, leniter curvulis vel imzequi-

_lateris, medio spurie 1-septatis, hyalinis, apice setulas duas hyalinas late

divergentes tenues ca. 12-15 « longas gerentibus, cellula basali interdum
eaudata, 14-17 \Y 2-3 «; basidiis brevissimis, vix visibilibus.

This species does not represent a typical Robdzllarda, but, in consequence
of the flat and almost shield-shaped pycnidia, it must be considered as

_ forming a transition to the Leptostromatacee. We can, nevertheless, class

it under the Spheropsidee, because the pycnidia scarcely show anything of
the typical radial structure of the Leptostromatacee.”
On dead leaves of Mimusops hevandra.—Anand (Gujarat).—No. 83. Dis-

~ covered by the Rev. H. Zurhausen.

USTILAGINACEAL.

Ustilago Tritici (Pers.) Jensen.
On wheat.—Anand.—No. 93; Malakwar (Punjab).

UREDINACEA.

Aecdium Parvette, K)k.
On Pavetta sp. October and November 1906.—Matheran.—No. 161.

AURICULARIACE 4.

Auricularia polytricha, Mont.

On stems.—Near Kanheri Caves (Salsette).—No. 170 and 102.
Auricularia mesenterica, (Dicks.) Fr.

On dead wood.—Bandora; Khandala.—No. 81.

Auricularia sambucina, Mart.

On stems.—Khandala (Western Ghats).—No. 100.

DACRYOMYTACEA.

Dacryopsis sp.

Sporophores densely arranged, simple, cartilaginous, reddish-yellow,
1,5mm. high. Stem 1,2 mm. high, red at the base, 350 » in diameter,
upwards lighter, 250 » in diameter. Capitulum spherical, O, 5 mm. in
diameter, red. Sterile.

On bark.—Mount Pedro (Ceylon).—April 1909.—No. 171.

THELEPHORACEA.

Corticium cfr. ceruleum (Schrad.) Fr.

Khandala (Western Ghats).—No. 69.

Stereum hirsutum (Willd.) Fr.

On stems.—Khandala.—No. 157.—Dehra Dun, U. P.—No. 8.
Stereum elegans, Mey.

On wood.—Khandala.—No. 78 and 88.

Stereum lobatum, Fr. forma.

On stems.—Khandala.—No. 8.

148 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Voi. XX,

Stereum annosum, B. et Br.—Khandala.
Hymenochete strigosa, B. et Br.
On bark.—Khandala.—No. 106.

HYDNACEA.

Irpex flavus, K]. (Polystictus flavus, Jungh.)

On branches of trees.—Khandala. No. 4 and 66.—Salsette.—No. 136
and 141.—(Has also been found in Africa, Ceylon, Java, Samoa, Australia.)

irpex vellereus, B. et Br.

On wood.—Khandala.—No. 98.

Irpex canescens, F'r.

On wood.—Khandala.—No. 67 and 68.

POLYPORACEA.

Ganoderma applanatum (Pers.) Wallr.

On stems —Khandala.—No. 159.—(Cosmopolitan).

Ganoderma lucidum (Leys.) Fr.

On stems.—Victoria Gardens, Bombay.—No. 121.

Ganoderma resinaceum (Bod).

Pileus up to 12 cm. broad, Pores 4-5 to 1 mm, whitish, later on brown, 8-10
mm.long. As regards texture, colour, crust, and spores fully identical with

the European Ganoderma lucidum and, according to Mr. Lloyd’s notes, only —

a stipeless form of the latter. Puileus laterally attached, with or without
concentric sulcate zones.

On old stem.—Andheri (Salsette).—No. 154.—Bandora.—No. 51.

Polyporus isidioides, Berk.—P. gilvus, Schw.

This is not the Typical Gzlvus-form, but cannot, according to Mr. Lloyd,
be separated from it. The pileus of Father Theissen’s Brazilian type
specimens are light brown, radially furrowed, passing into yellow towards
the margin ; the margin itself is sharp, not bordered.

In the Indian specimens the surface is of a siena shade with transitions
into darkbrown ; the zones are concentric and the margin rounded, border-
like and golden yellow. As to texture, pores, etc., they agree perfectly
with P. gilvus.

On dead stems.—Khandala.—No. 75 and 160.

Polyporus cubensis, Mont.

According to Mr. Romell scarcely different. Pileus thin, half-cireular,
wood-coloured, concentrically furrowed in the peripheric half, crossed by
radiating furrows; in the central part smooth, clay-coloured. Pores
darker, roundish, ca. 5 to 1 mm. ; sterile margin narrow, lighter.

On wood.—Dehra Dun, U. P.—No. 142.

Polyporus Persoonii, Fr. forma.

Pilei 8-5 cm. in circumference, imbricate, or one parallel behind the

LIST OF INDIAN FUNGI OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY. 149

Vother, reflex, sometimes resupinate; pores sometimes lenzitoid, running
in different ways.

As to the other characters fully agreeing with Father Theissen’s Brazilian
specimens.

On dead stems.—Andheri (Salsette).—No. 131 and 182.

Polyporus umbilicatus, Berk.

According to Mr. Lloyd approaching the European P. lepideus Fr. Pilei
3-6 cm. in circumference, often grown together, but the stipes free. Stipe
central, 4-5 cm. long, 2-3 mm. in diameter, reaching almost 5 mm. towards
the upper end, smooth. Pores 4 to 1 mm.

On Wood.—Compound of St. Xavier’s College, Bombay.—No. 116
and 151.

Polyporus aff. grammocephalus, Berk.

According to Mr. Lloyd different as to the way of growing, otherwise
closely allied to grammocephalus. The differences between the specimens
of Ule’s Mycotheca brasiliensis and the Indian specimens are considerable.
Pileus fan-shaped or semicircular, 3-6 cm. in circumference, with a short
stout stipe. Pileus 4 mm. thick, of which 1-15 mm. belong to the hyme-
nium. Upper surface pretty rough. Pores ca 22—3 to 1 mm., (in Ule’s
specimens 6).

On stems.— Poona.— Aug. 1906.—No. 162.

Polystictus russogramme, Berk.

On wood.—Khandala.—No. 115.

Polystictus occidentalis, 1X1. f. reswpinata.

On decaying wood.—Bandora.—No. 9,

Polystictus occidentalis K1. f. tenuis.

“Ad P. gibberulosum valde accedens, nisi idem.” (Romell).

On branches.—Bombay.—Aug. 1908.—No. 166.

Polystictus floridanus, Berk, forma.

Differs slightly by the brownish-red colour of the hyinenium.

On wood.—Dehra Dun.—No. 173.

Polystictus zonatus (Koen.), Berk.

On branches.—Bombay.—Aug. 1908.—No. 164.

Polystictus sanguineus (L.), Mey.

On stems.—Dehra Dun.

Polystictus leoninus, K1.

On stems.—Anand (Gujarat).—No. 82.—(Collected by Rev. H. Zur-
hausen).

Polystictus zeylanicus, Berk.

On branches.—Khandala.—No. 76.

Polystictus xanthopus, Fr.

On stems.—Simla.—April 1907.—No. 124 and 148.

No, 124: Pileus 33 cm. in diameter, O, 5 mm. thick, reddish-yellow, with

150 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX.

broad dark red concentric zones; stipe central; pores greyish-white, 5-6
to 1 mm. Sterile margin 1 mm. broad, white.

No. 148: Pileus semicircular, 8 em. in diameter, dark golden yellow,
with many narrow zones of almost the same colour; stipe almost lateral;
pores dark bluish-grey, 4-5 to 1 mm. Sterile margin 2-23 mm. broad, wood-
coloured.

Grevillea, vol. 14, p. 78, gives the following synonyms: P. crassipes Curr.,
P. Cupreonitens, Kalchb., and vol. 15, p. 56: P. Katwi, Khr. This species
is widely distributed in Australia and Africa (cf. Torrend in ‘ Broteria,’
1905, p. 218).

Polystictus ? senex, Mont.

‘Forma junior, crassior, obtusa, azona’ (Romell.)

On old stem.—Compound St. Xavier’s College, Bombay.—Oct. 1907—
No. 146.

Polystictus sarawacensis, Berk—Khandala.

Hexagona tenuis, Hook.

On wood.—Khandala (Western Ghats)—April 1907—No. 157—Bassein—
Sept. 1907—No. 135 and 137. 4

Different forms ; pores 5-9 to5 mm.; zones of pileus sometimes almost
disappearing.

Hexagona polygramma, Mont.

On wood.—Khandala (Western Ghats).—No. 152.

Large-pored form of H. tenuis. (cf. Lloyd, Synopsis 1910); Pores 3 to
5 mm.

Lenzites ochroleuca, Lév.

(Hexagona glabra Lév., cf. Lloyd, Synopsis 1910, p. 31.)

On stems.—Bombay, Aug. 1908, No. 163—Khandala, No. 56 and 150.

Various hymenial forms. Dadalea aulacophylla, Berk. Salsette, No. 52.

The faint zones disappear sometimes entirely.

Lenzites repanda Pers.

On stems.—Dehra Dun, U. P., No. 155—Simla, No. 134.

In the latter form storeyed arrangement of the pilei. In the first the
pileus with central stipe.

No. 150 represents a form which differs by the umbrine, much-zoned
upper side of the pileus ; as to the other characters it agrees with the type.
Perhaps another species ?

AGARICACH A.

Marasmius spaniophyllus, Berk.

On branches.—Khandala (Western Ghats).—No. 59.

Xerotus lateritius, B. et C.

On dead branches.—Khandala.—No. 145, 127.

According to Mr. Lloyd probably identical with Xerotus nigritus, Fr.

LIST OF INDIAN FUNGI OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY. 151

[Anthracophyllum nigritum (Lév.) Kalch.| The same species was found
several times in Brazil by Father Theissen.

(Oceurs in North America, Cuba, South America, Australia.)

Xerotus griseus, Berk.—Khandala.

Schizophyllum alneum, (L..) Schrot.

On dead wood.—Poona, No. 172—Bombay, No. 57 and 164.

Lentinus aff. subnudus, B.

On dead stem.—Khandala (Western Ghats).—No. 147.

‘Ex specim. Kew valde affines videntur LZ. subnudus, cesprtosus, Curre-
yanus, manipularis, multiformis, et porte omnes ad L. eretaceum ducendi.’
(Romell).

Pileus up to 9 cm in circumference. Scales well developed in the centre
of the upper surface of the pileus, but gradually disappearing towards the
periphery. Lamellz very narrow, ca. 23 mm. broad, with sharp edge.
Stipe 4-12 mm. in diameter, seems to have been covered with scales. All
the pilei of the dried specimens show deep depression in the centre.
Original colour not known. Pileus and lamelle straw-coloured ; stipe
lighter. Edge of lamellze with a brown shade.

Collybia stipitaria, Fr.

On wood.—Simla, April, 1907.

Lepiota sordescens, B. et C.

On the ground.—Salsette.—No. 54.

Lepiota Badhami, Berk.—Thana.—No. 162.

Spores white, broadly-elliptical, 8-9N/ 6-7 u.

PHALLACEA.

Dietyophora phalloidea, Desv.
On the ground.—Khandala.

HELVELLACEA,

Morchella conica, Pers.

On the ground.—Dehra Dun, U. P.—No. 95.

Spores 26-28/ 12-14 » with thin mucous coate, elliptical rounded,
uniseriate. Asci 16-20 « broad. Paraphyses club-shaped.

HELOTIACEA.

Sarcoscypha sp.

On the ground.—Khandala.—No. 120.

There were only two sterile specimens preserved in alcohol and it was,
therefor, impossible to distinguish the species.

Mr. Rehm makes the following remarks: “ Hymenium totally undeve-
loped ; even the youngest specimens show beautiful hairs, which are long,
colourless, almost entirely thickwalled, scarcely showing a furrow in the
interior, unseptate and pointed.—Approaches Sarcoscypha Racoitze, Bemm.
Rouss. (Sacc. XVI, 713), but, taking their description, cannot be identical

152 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCILTY, Vol. XXL.

with it ; the following show similar relationships : Peziza aluticolor, Berk,
[= Sarcoscypha Colensoi, Berk.—Sarcoscypha melanopora, B. et C. = Peziza
lachnoderma, Berk. (sec. Massee, Linn. Soc. 31, p. 504) |, Peziza semitosta,

iB. et C.[ = Peziza Hainesi, Hl. = Macropodia semitosta, Sacc. VIII, 159
(cf. Durand, Journ. Myce. XII, p. 31) J.”

AMPHISPHARIACE A.

Amphisphaeria khandalensis, Rehm n. sp.

Perithecia applanato-globosa, parum immersa cortice velut annulo
denigrato breviter cincta, levia, nigra, papilla obtusi imstructa, ca. 700 »
diam. Ascifusiformes, p. sp. 120-150 » 8-9 u (sporidiis 2-3-stichis) usque
200 \W 5-6 (sporidiis monostichis). Paraphyses densissime, hyaline,
simplices flexuosze, Sporz fusoideze, utrinque aciculares, fuscze, 1-septa-
te, ad septum vix constrictz, typice ex utraque septi parte guttula una
contigua preeditze, 42-52 \Y 43-5 p.

On bamboos.—Khandala (Western Ghats).—Oct. 1906.

““ Approaches Amphispheria Edamensis, P. Henn. (Sace. Syll. XVI, p. 506),
which, however, has got ‘“‘sporas 50-65 \yv 9-10 », medio constrictas.” Amph.
botulispora (Cke.) (Syll. I. p. 719), too, has larger and broader spores, the
cells of which are unequal.” (Rehm). ;

XYLARIACH AL.

sis a brhinpelahinsas se ER NEG SE Wee <a En

Xylaria dealbata, B. et Br.

On wood.—Khandala.—No. 108.

Xylaria piperiformis, Berk.

On wood.—Bombay.—No. 110.

Hypoxylon vividum, B. et. Br.

Stroma pulvinato-effusum, rubro-cinnabarinum, margine lzetiore miniato,
vix 2 mm. crassum, fere totum peritheciis constans, stromate ferrugineo
basilari parco, contextu fumoso-nigro molliusculo, extus verticibus subpro-
mimentibus nitide leniter colliculosum, haud nitens. Perithecia oblonga
erecta, 1500-1800 p altis, 300-400 » latis, basin versus usque 250 » atten-
uatis, ostiolo minuto pertuso. Ascis cylindraceis, apice rotundatis, p. sp.
100-200 \Y 8-9 uw, desuper in pedicellum delicatum, usque 150 » longam
attenuatis. Sporze recte vel oblique monostiche, ellipticze vel planoconvexe, -
obscure brunnez, continue, pluriguttulate, 15—18 \Y 7—8 wu. Paraphyses
longissimee, hyaline, filiformes, simplices, 1—1, 5 u er.

On bark.—Bombay, 1907.—No. 122.

Camillea bacillum, Mont.

On bark.—Khandala (Western Ghats).—No. 58.

Daldnia concentrica (Bolt.), Ces. et DN.

On stem.—Andheri (Salsette).—No. 112 and 138.

Spores dark brown, mostly plano-convex, 12—15 NY 5—6 uw.

153

NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF SEHORE, CENTRAL INDIA,
WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO MIGRATION.

BY
Caprain ©. H. T. WHITEHEAD.

Sehore is a small cantonment in Bhopal State on the plateau of
Central India. It is situated in a slight hollow surrounded by
mango groves and gardens on the bank of the Siwan Nullah and
three miles west of a low ridge (about 100 feet high) which divides
the waters of Bengal and Bombay.

The surrounding country is gently undulating, broken by occa-
sional rocky outcrops (the highest of which only rises about 450
feet above the plain), and covered for the most part with thin
serub and grass, except to the south, where, 6 miles out, jungle
averaging some 15 to 20 feet in height commences, stretching
thence to the Vindhyas. In this tract Her Highness the Begum
of Bhopal has generously set apart a tiger preserve, known as Lotia,
for the Huropeans of Sehore, the Kolar River drains it, and this is
a paradise for many interesting forest birds.

The soil is a stiff black cotton one and cultivation is not very
extensive, except in the more favoured parts, e.g., around Sehore
and Ashta. Several small streams run through the District,
but there are few tanks except the Big Lake at Bhopal, 20
miles east, the series of small ones around Akodia 40 miles west,
and Ashta 27 miles south-west; fortunately the two former are
easily accessible by railway, and the first with its gently shelving
shore and excellent feeding appears to be specially attractive to
waterfowl, judging by their very late stay there.

August is the only month in which I did not visit the Bhopal

hake. From 20th of February till the 3lst of July I visited it

practically every week.

The annual rainfall averages roughly 50 inches, and mostly
occurs between the 20th of June and the 30th of September. The
climate, owing to the altitude—some 1,700 feet—and the absence
of rock near the surface, is comparatively cool and in winter there

are usually sheht frosts.
20

154 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCLETY, Voll Xo

Instead of just giving a list of the birds, I have divided them
into groups in accordance with Mr. Kinnear’s Migration Circular

as under :—

1.—True Migrants, these number ... 70 (122)
IJ.—Mierants fe ve Leh Sy) (80)
I11.—Partial Migrants ,, of shears . (39)
TV.—Residents ... Me ae aes Zbl (78)
V.—Doubtful, whether Migrants or not. 13 (23)

Motale.. 204 pMotaleer (342)

The figures in brackets are the corresponding ones for the
Kohat District, N.-W. F. P.; these show what a much larger pro-
portion of the birds of the N.-W. are migrants.

The total number of species collected and observed is 294, but
the list is far from exhaustive (especially as regards forest birds),
as I did not have too much spare time to devote to birds during
my stay at Sehore (April 1908 to August 1910.)

The chief points which have struck me are as follows :—

1. The extraordinarily late stay of migratory waterfowl.

2. How certain common birds generally considered resident
entirely disappear during the monsoon, and how certain
others only appear at that season.

3. That some species judging by the records of previous
observers are extending their ranges, e. g., Lusciniola
melanopogon, Merula atriqularis, Anthus richardi, Himnbe-
riza stewarte.

All references are to Oates’ and Blanford’s ‘‘ Fauna of British
India Birds” (abbreviated O. & B.). The numbers before the
scientific names are those used in that work.

Unless noted to the contrary none of any species were observed

between the date of departure and that of arrival, but except

where otherwise stated they remained present between the dates
of arrival and departure, 7.e., were not merely birds of passage.
My best thanks are due to Major H. A. F. Magrath for kindly
correcting the manuscript and to Mr. Ogilvie Grant for promptly,
verifying in the British Museum my identifications of specimens

collected.

NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF SEHORE, CENTRAL INDIA. 155

I.—TRUE MIGRANTS.

362. LocustELLA sTRAMINEA, The Turkestan
Grasshopper Warbler. Put up several in long grass
on January 16th and shot one

367. ACROCEPHALUS AGRICOLA, The Badly Field
Warbler. Common in reed beds all winter

3/7. LUSCINIOLA MELANOPOGON, The moust-
ached Sedge Warbler. Fairly common in reed beds.

407. PHytioscorpus rristis, The Brown Willow
Warbler. Common ; bs Hs :

408. Puytioscopus inpicus, The Olivacous
Willow Warbler. Rather scarce, usually seen
singly or in pairs, but on 3rd April I saw about
twelve in one bush. Though unlike a typical Phyl-
loscopus in habits (vide Oates and Blanford), still
it closely resembles P. tickelli in notes and habits
as well as in colouring, and it is its note which
generally leads to its discovery , has

420. ACANTHOPNEUSTE NiITIDUS, The Green
Willow Warbler. Common until the end of Octo-
ber, not noted later, or in spring om sie

479. LANIUS ISABELLINUS, The Pale Brown
Shrike. Rather scarce =e Sk a

481. Lantus cristatus, The Brown Shrike. A
fairly common winter visitor, date of departure
not noted A 5

528. PASTOR ROSEUS, The ee eee Com-
mon, large flocks pour in as the jowari ripens to-
wards the end of November :

532, STURNUS MENZBIERI, The Indian Sere
Saw one flock on the 12th of December 1908, that
is all oe aa as ae a
561. Sipura parva, The European Red-breast-
ed Flycatcher. Abundant ..

620. SaxICoLA OPISTHOLEUCA, Seri clands Grad
Common : ree a Z Ae

625. SAXICOLA ISABELLINA, The Isabelline Chat.
Common during their stay, date of departure not
noted, but certainly common up till January 16th.

626. SaxicoLa DESERTI, The Desert Chat.
Same as No. 625

Date of Date of
Arrival. Departure.

Jan. 16
Nov. Apr. 17
Dec. Mar. 6

Nov. 22 Apr. 7

Oct. 25 Apr. 3

Sept. 20
Nov. Mar. 6
Oct. 18.

Oct i May 5

Sept. 28 Apr. 15

Oct. 3 Mar. 28

Nov. 7 Jan. 16

Nov. 2 Jan. 16

156 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

Date of Date of

Arrival. Departure.
642. CyanecuLa suxcicaA, The Blue Throat.

Common but chiefly in reed beds .. Ps AU Octiagy Apr
677. Meruba aAtricuLtaRis, Black-throated
Thrush. Only one seen (this is now in the British

Museum) A ae ‘ : Dec. 12 |
795. EMBERIZA BUCHANANI, The Ge Aeched |
Bunting. Common in scrub si oe -:47 Oct 210") \ Apraze

800. EmperrizA Lutrnota, The Red-headed

Bunting. Common probably arrived much earlier. Nov. 24 Apr. 3
826. Moractnta asa, The White Wagtail.

Common, stays well in to April [believe .. . Sept. 30 Mar. 18
883. MotTacILta BOREALIS, The Cree hended

Wagtail. Arrival not noted but flocks of immature

yellow wagtails arrived in last week in September.

SR CAEL II

Only common in March and April .. Bh ae snee May lL ;
835. Moracinta BEEMA, The Indian Blue- :
headed Wagtail. Same as 838 a4 ieee May 1
836. Moractnia FELDEGGI, The Black- neddedl
Wagtail. Not very common ie ae a Nova tow Vier

837. Moracitnta cirrEoLa, The Yellow-headed

Wagtail. Abundant about the reed beds and

marshes aM Sept. 28 Apr. 17
840. ANTHUS TRIV AER, The Tree Pipit. ae

dant. A. maculatus propably also occurs, but with-

out shooting they are difficult to distinguish from

A, trivialis ve hg .. Sept. 20 Apr. 21
845. ANTHUS RICHARD, R ichard’ s Pipit. Only

one met with (this is now in the British Museum).

Perhaps overlooked owing to its close resemblance

to the next species .. ..os Magee
846. ANTHUS STRIOLATUS, _ Blyth’s ‘Pipit. Fairly

common in cold weather. Departure not

noted ‘s ie oy oes ue +. Sepia 6
848. ANTHUS campxEsTRIs, The Tawny Pipit.

Fairly common ae bb Oct. 10 Apr. 3
862. CALANDRELLA BRACYDACTYLA, The Short

toed Lark. Abundant on uncultivated lands .. Nov. 7 Mar. 25

1189. Panpion HatiaEtus, The Osprey. Not

common. Date of departure not noted .. .. Oct. 25 ba
1233. Crrcus mMacrurus, The Pale Harrier.

Common Be ae a sth we .. Sept. 238 Apr. 17

NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF SEHORE, CENTRAL INDIA. 157

Date of Date of

Arrival. Departure.
1237. Crreus anRuGINosuS, The Marsh Harrier.

Very common. MHarriers are not supposed to

perch, but this species is frequently to be seen

_ perched on dead bushes about the Bhopal marsh. Oct. 7 May 14
1241. Burro pEsERTORUM, The Common Buz-

zard. A scarce winter visitor, dates of arrival and

departure not noted . :
1254. Fatco PreREcRINUs, The ipatoine Pal-

con. Occasionally seen about jheels and tanks .. Dec.28 Feb. 20
1350. CorurNIx communis, The Grey Quail.

Common chiefly around jheels. Probably arrives

much earlier and departs later than the dates given. Nov. 7 . Mar. 6
1395. Porzana pusiI~La, The Eastern Ballon’s

Crake. Apparently not common .. Mae Apr. 21
1394. Porzana ManuetTta, The Seanad Guana

Only two or three observed but possibly fairly

common a a #4 us a 2. Nove 10-3" Hebe?
1407. Grus communis, The Common Crane.

Scarce. Not observed on migration
1411. ANTHROPOIDES viRGO, The Deane

Crane. A flock of about 100 frequented the Bhopal

Jheel for a month in the spring... Morera Waren ot
1438. CHEtTrusIA LEUCURA, The White- tailed

Plover. Common about marshes .. AS ee Oeibe i Mar. 20
1454. Noumentivus arquata, The Curlew. Rather

scarce .. we ae 2 es . son NOE AL Apr. 10
1455. Noumenius pumors, The Whimbrel.

Only observed on these two dates, a single one

each time uk July.13 May 22
1456. Limosa BELGICA, The ielagle fled God-

wit. Occurs in big flocks in spring and autumn—

the majority depart early in May but there were

still four on the Bhopal lake on June 12 .. Oct. 25 June 12
1461. Toranus g@LAREoLA, The Wood Shade

piper. Present throughout the year, though none

I think breed—scarcest in July, but even in July

from thirty to fifty remain Ne :
1462. Toranus ocHropus, The Geen Sand:

piper. Abundant... : Be he .. duly 31 June 23
1463. Toranus staGNnatiLis, The March Sand-

piper. Not common. Date of arrival not noted.

158 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XX1,

Only occurs in autumn and spring. Three stayed
on till July 5rd a ue: AY By
1403, Toranus caLipris, The MRedshank.
Common. Three had returned by July 24th and
several more by the 5lst’ .. Eee bbe 2
1465. Toranus ruscus, The Dusky Redshank.
Common ae Be =) oh i
1466. Toranus Gtotris, The Greenshank. At
least two pairs stayed up till July 3lst (the date
of my last visit) and probably did not migrate at
all. Cannot say whether they nested—they cer-
tainly paired as cy, $i a
1468. Pavoncenta puGNAX, The Ruff. Com-
mon, had returned by 3lst July : Bis
1471. Trinca minuta, The Little Stint.
Common but chiefly in spring and autumn. Plenti-
ful up to date of departure .. As Ae ug
1474. Trinea TEMMINCKI. Temminck’s Stint.
Same as No. 1471.
1478. Trinea auprna. The Dunlin. Common
1484. GaLLInNaco ca@LEstis. The Common
Snipe. Common from Oct. 7th up till Apr.

1485. GaLLINaGgo stENURA, The Pintail Snipe.
Always looked out for it when shooting, but only
Saw two which were both shot on 15th January ..

1487. GALLINAGO GALLINULA, The Jack Snipe.
Common but less so than 1484 ue He

1496. HyprocHELIpoN HYBRIDA, The Whis-
kered Tern. Scarce—observed single birds on
these two dates only. . ae ee a

1550. Leproprinus pusBius, Adjuant. Com-
mon from May till August at least.. a af

1574. Boraurus stELLARIS, The Common Bit-
tern. Fairly common in reed beds Wy ay

1579. ANSER FERUS, The Grey Lag Goose.
Xeported to be common along the Nerbudda. Not
personally observed a pe :

1583. AnsEeR iINnpicus, The Barred-headed
Goose. Not common but flocks seen on Bhopal
and Akodia jheels

Date of
Arrival.

July 24

Sept. 24

Oct.

Sept. 3
May 14

Nov. 21

Oct. 25

Date of
Departure.

July 3

Apr. 10

May 1

July 51

Apr. lit

May 22

June 5

May 1

Mar. 13

June 12

Apr. 10

NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF SEHORE, CENTRAL INDIA. 159

1588. Casarca RuTILA, The Brahminy Duck.
Fortunately not very common or BE
1595. CHAULELASMUS STREPERUS, The Gad-
wall. Common up till May Ist, and I believe later.
1599. Marecca PENELOPE. The Wigeon. Not
very common .. i Ht ue De i
1600. Darina acuta, The Pintail. Very com-
mon. The majority left in March and April, but
a flock varying from six to twenty remained on
through May and till 12th June 23 Le
1601. QuERQUEDECULA crRcIA, The Garganey
Teal. Very common in autumn and spring. More
than a hundred remained on Bhopal lake till the
end of June. Three pairs and one odd one re-
mained, stayed throughout July (still there on 31st
the last time I visited the lake). One shot (skin
preserved) on. July 2nd : ie os
1602. Spatuta cLypEatTaA, The Shoveller.
Common up till the end of April. One pair at
least stayed till June 12th y nd
1604. Nerra rnurtina, The Red-headed Po-
chard. Common. Probably arrives much earlier. .
1605. Nyroca FERRINA, The Common Po-
chard. Common bee oe we “ay
1609. Nyroca Fruxiauta, The Tufted Duck.
Common till April—8 stayed in Bhopal Lake till
May Ist and | pair was constantly seen till July
51st
II.—MIGRANTS.
565. ACROCEPHALUS STENTOREUS, The Indian
Great Reed Warbler. Common in November,
December and April—not seen between December
and April : oh 42 e. hs
365. ACROCEPHALUS DUMETORUM, Blyth’s
teed Warbler. Common till the end of October,
especially in gardens—not noted in spring
395. Hypotais RAMA, .Syke’s Tree- Warbler.
Common till mid-November and again in February
and March ; ae Se 5g 35
596. Hyponais caLticata, The Booted Tree-
Warbler. Same as 395

Date of
Arrival.

Oct. 31

Noy. 10

Oct. 7

Oct.

bo
Ou

Oct.

Oct. 27

Dee.

Nov. 21

Nov. 10

Noy. 10

Sep. 20

Oct.

“1

Oct.

“I

Date of
Departure.

May 1

June 12

July 31

June 12
Mar. 20

Mar. 30

July 31

Apr. 21

Apr. 14

Mar. 2

160 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST.

399. Syztvia sERDONI, The Eastern Orphean
Warbler. Fairly common in March

402. Synvia arrinis, The Indian ie
White-throated Warbler. Very common up till
the end of March . ae ay ue

418. PHyutoscopus HuMII, Hume’s Willow-
Warbler. Same as 402

422. AcANTHOPNEUSTE VIRIDANUS, The
Greenish Willow-Warbler. Common ue

428. ACANTHOPNEUSTE OCCIPITALIS, The Large
Crowned Willow-Warbler. Fairly common

495. PERICROCOTUS BREVIROSTRIS, The Short-
billed Minivet. Seen oe in winter but
scarce : f : HS - aS

610. FAM enecoeay: maura, The Indian Bush-
Chat. Common especially on migration oe

618. Saxicona picata, The Pied Chat. Only
twice seen be :

644. Ruvrictnta RUFIVENTRIS, The Indian
Redstart. Very common ee be ae

693. PrrropHita cyanus, The Western Blue
Rock-Thrush. Fairly common. a ¥.

761. Carpopacus ERYTHRINUS, The Common
Rose-Finch. Fairly common particularly in
March and April : az si ;

793. EMBERIZA STEWARTI, The White-Capped
Bunting. Quite common in January in open
grassy jungle .. sf ie oe e ye

804. CHELIDON wuRBIca, The Martin. Only
one pair seen .. ES shi ar ss :

808. Cori~te riparia, The European Sand-
Martin. Common in winter about marshes and
tanks ae ee ee 2,5 3
813. Hirunpo rustica, The European Swal-
low. Fairly common up till the end of April, an
adult seen on May 22nd ue ek

829. Moractnta Pprsonata, The Masked
Wagtail. Abundant :

832. MoraciILLA MELANOPE, The Gees Wagtail.
Abundant

844, ANTHUS SIMILIS, The pits Roce! Pipit.

Fairly common all winter

SOCIETY,

Date of
Arrival.

Oct. 10
Sept. 20
Oct. 9

Sept. 28

Oct. 14

Oct. 7
Sept. 26
Sept. 20 -

Oct. 24

Vol. XXII.

Date of
Departure.

Mar. 25

Apr. 2il
Ape
Wileyes, 17

Mar. I1

Apr. 17

Apr. 15

Mar. 23

May 15

Mar. 1

May 22
Apr. l

Apr 2am

NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF SEHORE, CENTRAL INDIA.

1003. Ivnx rtorquinta, The Common Wry-
neck. Rather scarce “i an ie

1028. Merrors prErsicus, The Blue-Cheeked
Bee-eater. Occurred in huge flocks from the 7th
to the end of October 1909 in company with M.
philippinus about Bhopal Jheel aN

1066. Urura srpoprs, The European Bees:
Common in winter She 4

1104. Cucunus canorus, The lHuropean
Cuckoo. Fairly common in summer Bie

1265. TINNUNCULUS ALAUDARIUS, The Kes-
trel. Very common .

1305. Turtur FERRAGO, The thedhen Turtle-
Dove. Scarce up till March, but very common all
March and up to 20th April.. nth ts!

1446. ANGIALITIS ALEXANDRINA, The Kentish-
Plover. Fairly common—2 pairs observed in

breeding plumage on May Ist
1460. Toranvs

Sandpiper.

HYPoLEucus, The Common
Common iy eft He
The White-eyed

Common up till May and there were still

1606. Nynroca FERRUGINEA,
Duck.
four on the Bhopal lake on June 5th

Date of
Arrival.

Oct. 17

Oct. 7

Sept. 19

Sept. 3

Oct. 15

II.—PARTIAL MIGRANTS.

The Black-headed
A monsoon visitor, very common

508. CAMPOPHAGA SYKESI,
-Cuckoo-Shrike.
in tbe jungle where it nests .. a6 516 a
618. The Indian Oriole.
Very common in summer, the majority leave early
in October.

ORIOLUS KUNDOO,

A very few stay the winter ..

505. STURNOPASTOR CONTRA, The Pied Myna.
Common in winter ahout jheels and up till mid-
May a ne ve

068. CyYoRNIS SUPERCILLIARIS, The White-

browned blue Flycatcher. Only seen in March ..
579. STOPAROLA MELANOPS, The Verditer
Flycatcher. Rather scarce.. ue we
588. ALSEONAX LATIROSTRIS, The Brown Fly-
catcher. Common in the jungle, nests freely. Its

habit of constantly depressing its tail makes
21

June 14

Mar. 1

Oct. 23

Nov. 10

161

Date of
Departure.

Mar. 26

Apr. 7
July 31

Apr. 1

‘Apr. 20

May 1

May 2

June 5

Oct. 10

May 19
Mar. 20

Mar. 20

162 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX1.

recognition easy in spite of nondescript colour,
probably stays much later :

592. CuULICICAPA CEYLONENSIS, The Grey-head-
ed Flycatcher. Abundant

598. TERPSIPHONE PARADISI, The Indian Para-
dise Flycatcher. A fairly common summer visitor
especially along wooded streams

775. GYMNORHIS FLAVICOLLIS, The Y ellow-
throated Sparrow. Abundant up till June. Nests
in March, April and May. Lntirely disappear in
the rains ; a ar

869. MiraFrRA CANTILLANS, The Singing Bush-
lark. Common in winter but vanishes in the rains.

877. AMMOMANES PHOENICURA, The Rufous-tail-
ed Finch-Lark. Abundant till June. Nests in
crevices in the black cotton soil in March, April
and May. None seen in the rains..

879. PyRRHULAUDA GRISEA, The Ashy-crown-
ed Finch-Lark. Another very common lark till
the rains but a very few stay on through July.
Nests in April and again in September :

1026. Meroprs viripis, The Common Indian
Bee-eater. Abundant, except in the rains, and
then it is only found in small parties in the jungle
and along wooded nullahs a :

1027. Merors puHitirppinus, The Blue-tailed
Bee-eater. Occurred in great flocks over the
Bhopal jheel in company with VM. persicus in Octo-
ber 1909 a5 5: Ag v ce

1109. Hrerococcyx varius, The Common
Hawk-cuckoo. A common monsoon visitor

1118. CoccystEs sacopinus, The Pied Crested
Cuckoo. Abundant during the monsoon ,

1120. Eupynamis Honorata, The Indian Koel.
Only too common up till October. One also noted
on December 2nd, another on February 19th

1321. PreRocLuRUS Exusrus, The Common
Sand-grouse. Abundant till June. Nests in
March, April and May i: ee we

1402. GaLLINULA cHLOROPUS, The Moorhen,

common

Date of
Arrival.

Apr. 15

Nov. 12

Apr. 15

Oct. 20

Oct. 10

Sept. 26

Sept. 20

Oct. 7
June 20

June 5

Mar. 24

Oct. 4

Noy. 6

Date of

Departure.

Aug. 8

Mar. 11

Oct. 5

June 16.

May 30

June 16.

June 14

June 16

Nov. 21
Oct. 21

Oct. 13.

Oct, 14

July 2

Apr. 21

7 -
Wy, :

NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF SEHORE, CENTRAL INDIA. 168

Date of Date of

Arrival. Departure.
1405. Furica atra, The Coot. Abundant till

the rains. There were still 30 on July 3rd, only 4

on 10th July and 2 on 31st uy: Y
1422. CurRsorius coROMANDELICVS, The In-

dian Courser. The same as 1405, but none seen

after July 16th sa or ae i ae Oct. 5 July 16
1425. GLAREOLA ORIENTALIS, The large Indian

Pratincole. Common around the Bhopal Lake.

Probably arrives much earlier and departs later. May 1 July 24
1451. Himantorus canpipus, The Black-

winged Stilt. Abundant up till July a5 .. Sept. 26 July 3
1523. PELECANUS PHILIPPENSIS, The Spotted-

billed Pelican. Common on the Bhopal Lake

between these dates .. be ts wi i. dune 23 July 24
1528. Pwatacrocorax Javanicus, The Little

Cormorant. Abundant till July in which month it

Oct. 24 July 31

gradually disappears .. is i ve Oct. 25 July 31
1529. PLotus MELANOGASTER, The Darter.

Common till the break of the monsoon .. wee Ocha G June 23
1541. Isis meLANocEPHALA, The Sacred Ibis.

Same as 1529 .. ae a a mG a Oct. 25 June 6
1544, Puizcapis Fancinenius, The Glossy

Ibis. Same as 1529 .. ss ae Ses ae Octane Zo June 6
1549. XENORHYNCHUS astaTicus, The Black-

necked Stork. Common onthe Bhopal Jheel .. Jan. 20 July 31
1584. SaRcrpIoRNIS MELANONOTUS, The Comb

Duck. Common a: ote # ss 56 AMONG JUS) July 10
1591. Nutropus coROMANDELIANUS, The Cotton

Teal. Very common in places bp : .. Nov. 28 July 31

IV.—RESIDENTS.

4. Corvus macroriynenus, The Jungle Crow. Abundant. Winter
visitor only to plains of N.-W. F. P.

7. CorvUS SPLENDENS, The Indian House-Crow. Abundant.

16. Denprocirra rnuFra, The Indian Tree-pie. Common especially in
jungle.

31. Parus arricers, The Indian Grey Tit. Common in the jungle, not
seen outside.

43. Macutotopus HAPLoNoTUS, The Southern Yellow Tit. Common
wherever trees.

105. Areva CAUDATA, The Common Babbler.

Comt i b.
107. Arcgya matcoumt, The large Grey Babbler. i Peal ae abst

164 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX.

110. Crareropus canorus, The Jungle Babbler. Common everywhere,
especially in gardens.

135. DumEriA HYPERYTHRA, The MRufous-bellied Babbler. Fairly
common.

139. PycroRHis sINENSIS, The Yellow-eyed Babbler. Fairly common.

226. ZOSTEROPS PALPEBROSA, The Indian White-eye. Abundant.

243. AEGITHINA TIPHIA, The Common Jora. Abundant wherever treo!

278. Monpastes Ha#MoRBHOUS, The Madras Red-vented Bulbul.
Abundant everywhere.

327. Dicrurnus ATER, The Black Drongo. Abundant. Summer visitor
only to N.-W. F. P.

328. Dicrurus Loncicaupatus, The Indian Ashy Drongo. Common
especially in jungle.

330. DicruRUs CHRULESCENS, The White-bellied Drongo. Fairly com-
mon in some parts of the jungle and twice seen in gardens.

340. DissrEMURUS PARADISEUS, The Large Racket-tailed Drongo. Not
observed personally, but occurs in the jungle.

374. OnrHotomus sutorius, The Indian Tailor-bird. Abundant, one
of the few birds that regularly eat butterflies and moths.

881. Curisticona cuRSITANS, The Rufous Fantail-Warbler. Common in
grass and reed beds.

882. FRANKLINIA GRACILIS, Franklin’s Wren-Warbler. Abundant
everywhere.

384. FRANKLINA BUCHANANI, The Rufous-fronted Wren-Warbler.
Common in scrub jungle. _

464. Printa soctanis, The Ashy Wren-Warbler. Abundant especially
in gardens.

465. Printa sytvatica, The Jungle Wren-Warbler. Common in thick
scrub and jungle.

466. PrinrtaA 1nornatTA, The Indian Wren-Warbler. Fairly common
in grass and scrub.

469. Lanius tantorA, The Indian Grey Shrike. Common in serub
and cultivation. ;

473. Lanrus virratus, The Bay-backed Shrike. Common everywhere.

476. Lanius ERYTHRONOTUS, The Rufous-backed Shrike. Common

everywhere.
488, TEPHRODORNIS PONDICERIANUS, The Common Wood-Shrike. Com-

mon especially in jungle. Oates (see O. & B.) says that birds of this genus
don’t take insects on the wing or on the ground. I have seen them do
hoth and not infrequently.
500. PrRicRocoTus PEREGRINUS, The small Minivet. Very common.
501. PRricrocorus ERYTHROPYGIUS, The White-bellied Minivet. Not

uncommon in scrub.

NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF SEHORE, CENTRAL INDIA. 165

510. Graucatus mactt, The Large Cuckoo-Shrike. Scarce.

544, TemENucHUS PacopaRUM, The Black-headed Myna. Abundant.

549. AcRIDOTHERES TRISTIS, The Common Myna. Abundant.

576. Cyornis TICKELLI, Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher. Fairly common
along wooded streams.

604. Rurpipura ALBIFRONTATA, The White-browed Fantail Flycatcher.
Abundant everywhere.

608. Pratincota caprata, The Common Pied Bush Chat. Fairly
common especially along telegraph lines. Summer visitor only to N.-W.
ee

629. Crrcomenta FuscA, The Brown Rock-Chat. Common. 1 pair
hatched out 3 broods consecutively in a nitch within 3 inches of a punkhah
rope which was being constantly pulled.

661. THAMNOBIA CAMBAIENSIS, The Brown-backed Indian fobin.
Abundant everywhere.

663. CopsycHUS sAULARIS, The Magpie-Robin. Abundant.

720. Puocreus saya, The Baya weaver bird. Common ; does not assume
summer plumage till July, presumably owing to its late breeding season.

734. UrononcHa MALABARICA, The White-throated Munia. Abundant.

735. UrotoncoHa PuNCTULATA, The Spotted Munia. Scarce.

737. Szrrcrospiza FoRMosA, The Green Munia. Common in jungle.

738. SPoR#GINTHUS AMANDAVA, The Indian Red Munia, fairly common
in grass and scrub.

776. PassER pomesticus, The House-Sparrow. The usual pest.

803. MernopHus mELANIcTERUS, The Crested Bunting. Common es-
pecially in scrub-jungle and about rocky hills.

809. CoriLE sINENSIS, The Indian Sand-Martin. Not very common.

811. PryonoprogNE concotor, The Dusky Crag-Martin. Common.

818. Hrrunpo smirui, The Wire-tailed swallow. Abundant.

819. Hirunpo Fuuvicota, The Indian Cliff-swallow. Abundant.
Breeds almost all the year round.

823. Hrrunpo ERyTHRopyGIa, Syke’s Striated Swallow. Common
among the rocky hills of Bhopal and in the city.

831. MoractnnaA MADERAPATENSIS, The Large-Pied Wagtail. Abun-
dant.

847. -AntTHUS RUFULUS, The Indian Pipit. Common in grass and in
open scrub. This and next species are only Summer visitors to N.-W. F. P.

861. Anaupa guLtGuLA, The Indian Sky-Lark. Fairly common.

871. Mrrarra ERYTHROPTERA, The Red-winged Bush-Lark. Abun-
dant in grass, scrub and open jungle. Still nesting in September.

875. Gauerira pevA, Syke’s Crested Lark. Common.

895. ARACHNECHTHRA aAstIaTica, The Purple Suxn-bird. Abundant,
becomes scarce in July and August. Summer visitor only to N.-W. F. P.

‘

166 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXT.

921. Piprisoma squaLipumM, The Thick-billed Flower-pecker. Fairly
common.

972. Lioricus MAHRATTENSIS, The Yellow-fronted Pied Woodpecker.
Common.

976. Iynerpicus HaRDWICKII, The Indian Pigmy Woodpecker. Scarce.

986. BracHYPTERNUS AURANTIUS, The Golden-backed Woodpecker.
Abundant.

991. CuHRyYSocoLaPTES FEestIVUS, The Black-backed Woodpecker. Oc-
curs in the jungle but is rare.

1019. XANTHOLAEMA HAEMATOCEPHALA, The Coppersmith. Abundant.

1022. Coractas inpica, The Indian Roller. Common.

1033. CrRyLE varia, The Indian Pied Kingfisher. Common.

1035. AxncEpo ispipaA, The Common Kingfisher. Common.

1043. PrLarcopsis cuRiaL, The Stork-billed Kingfisher. Fairly com-
mon. A very close sitter.

1044. Hancyon smyrnensis, The White-breasted Kingfisher. Abund-
ant.

1062. LopHoceRos BirostRis, The Grey Hornbill. Common.

1067. Upvurainpica, The Indian Hoopoe. Common.

1073. CypseLus arrinis, The Indian House Swift. Common.

1086. Macropreryx coronata, The Indian Crested Swift. Fairly
common in the jungle.

1089. CaPRIMULGUS MAHRATTENSIS, Syke’s Nightjar. Rather scarce.

1090. CaprimuLteus mMonticona, Franklin’s Nightjar. Common in
scrub and jungle, easily distinguished from other species by its note pehee,
though this was only heard from mid-April till June.

1091. Caprimuneus asiaticus, The Indian Nightjar. Common.

1095. Caprimuneus indicus, The Jungle Nightjar. Fairly common in
jungle. Its curious cry cuckoo (the u pronounced like the u in luck) is
very distinctive, it is used by both sexes. I have only heard it in the
breeding season.

1129. Taccocta LEsScHENAULTI, The Sirkeer Cuckoo. Fairly common
in grassy jungle.

1130. CrEntTRoPUS stneNSIS, The Crow-Pheasant. Abundant.

1185. PaLmoRNIS NEPALENSIS, The Large Paroquet. Fairly common.

1138. Paunmornis torcuatus, The Rose-ringed Paroquet. Only too
common.

1139. PaLmoRNIS CYANOCEPHALUS, The Western Blossom-headed
Paroquet. Common.

1161. Syrnrum oceLLatuM, The Mottled Wood-Owl. Common. Call—
a drawn out ‘ 0o-waa”’ very distinct, answer cook.

1164. Kerura zEytonensis, The Brown Fish-Owl. Common.

1168. Buso pEencALensis, The Brown Rock Owl. Common.’

——

NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF SEHORE, CENTRAL INDIA. 167

1178. Scors BAKKAM@NA, The Collared Scops Owl. I am not absolutely
certain as to the species of Scops. This one emerges from a thick tree
at dusk—and utters a cry very like the half bark, half howl of a terrier ip
an exiciting dream—the sound resembles “ beo”’

1180. ArHENE BRAMA, The Spotted Owlet. Abundant.

1187. Nzrnox scurunata, The Brown Hawk-Owl. Apparently scarce.

1191. Orocyrs catvus, The King Vulture. Very common.

1192. Gyrs rutvus, The Griffon Vulture. Not common.

1194. Gypgs inpicus, The Indian Long-billed Vulture. Not common.

1196. Psrvpocyps BENGALENSIS, The Indian White-backed Vulture.
Very common.

1197 NeropHRON GINGINIANUS, The Smaller White Scavenger Vulture,
Very common.

1203. AguILA viInDHIANA, The Tawny Eagle. Fairly common.

1205. Aguina mMAacuLATA, The Spotted Hagle. Not uncommon about
jheels.

1211. Serzantus crrruatus, The Crested Hawk-Hagle. Occurs in the
jungle.

1216. Crrcantus Gatiicus, The Short-toed Hagle. Fairly common.

1220. Burastur tensa, The White-eyed Buzzard-Hagle. Our com-
monest bird of prey.

1226. Poxioazrus ICHTHYAETUS, The Large Grey-headed Fishing Hagle.
Occur occasionally on the Bhopal jheel.

1228. Haiastur inpicus, The Brahminy Kite. Rather scarce.

1229. Muitvus covinpa,; The Pariah Kite. Abundant.

1230. Minvus menvanotis The Large Indian Kite. Fairly common.

1232. Hianus ca#ruxevus, The Black-winged Kite. Not uncommon in
scrub and jungle.

1244. AsturR BADIvs, The Shikra. Abundant.

1249. PERNIS cRistaTUS, The Crested Honey-Buzzard. Fairly com-
mon. Found a nest on a bare leafless tree (see O. and B.).

1257. Fauco succEr, The Laggar Falcon. Not common.

1264. Atsaton cHicquERA, The Turumti Merlin. Fairly common.

1272. Crocopus cCHLOROGASTER, The Southern Green Pigeon. Common
especially in the jungle. The Green Pigeon is supposed by Hume (see O.
and B.) never to drink—as I was passing a jungle pool on 27th May last a
C. chlorogaster flew up from it, 5 minutes later another flew down and
drank. On my approach next day one again flew up and three minutes
later 2 flew down and drank simultaneously. This was 6 p.m. (both days),
so if they have a regular drinking hour it is probably earlier, as no others
were seen later.

1292. CoLuMBA INTERMEDIA, The Indian Blue Rock-Pigeon. Commen.

1307. TurtuR suRAtTENSIS, The Spotted Dove. Abundant.

168 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXTI.

1309. TurturR cAMBAYENSIS, The Little Brown Dove. Abundant.

1310. Turrur Risortus, The Indian Ring-Dove. Abundant.

1311. CENoPOPELIA TRANQUEBARICA, The Red Turtle-Dove. Common
especially in the jungle, except during the rains when it becomes scarce.
Summer visitor only to N.-W. F. P.

1317. Preroctes Fasciatus, The Painted Sand-Grouse. In dry
weather keeps to the jungle and thick scrub but in the rains (June to
October) moves into open scrub on high ground and seems to keep more in
flocks then. Drinking hours appear to be twilight morning and evening.
Nests in February and March.

1324. Pavo cristatus, The Peacock. Abundant.

1350. GaLLOPERDIX LUNULATA, The Painted Spur-fowl. Fairly com-
mon in jungle.

1356. CoruRNIxX COROMANDELICA, The Rain Quail. Common.

1357. PrErpicuna asiatica, The Jungle Bush-Quail. Abundant. Put
up a family just fledged on January 16th.

1358. PrErpicuLa arcunpa, The Rock Bush-Quail. Not nearly so
common as the last.

1373. FRANCOLINUS Pictus, The Painted Partridge. Common nests
in April, May and June.

1375. FRANCOLINUS PONDICERIANUS, The Grey Partridge. Common,
_nests from February to the end of April.

1382. Turnix puenax, The Bustard-Quail. Not common.

1400. AmavRoRNIs akooL, The Brown Crake. Common.

1401. AMAURORNIS PHG@NICURUS, The White-breasted Water-hen.
Common. Nests in May and June. Breeding cry Kawak (repeated) very
loud and uttered from thick cover.

1409. Grus anticonE, The Sarus. Abundant. 2 nests with eggs
found on 28th December (see O. and B.). One of the parents was sitting
and on being approached became very excited and danced about in front
and over its nest.

1416. SypHeoris aurnira, The Lesser Florican. Scarce.

1418. Qinicnemus sconopax, The Norfolk Plover. Common in open
jungle and fairly so in scrub. Very noisy after dusk and before dawn.

1429. HypropHasIANUS cHIRURGUS, The Pheasant-tailed Jacana.
Abundant.

1431. SarcogramMus Inpicus, The Red-wattled Plover. Abundant.

1433. SarciopHorus maLaBaricus, The Yellow-wattled Plover. Fairly
eommon in thick scrub.

1447, AiciaLitis puBIA, The Little Ringed Plower. Fairly common.

1488. RostRaTuLa CAPENSIS, The Painted Snipe. Not very common.

15038. SreRNa SEENA, The Indian River-Tern. Common.

1504. SrerRNa MELANOGASTER, The Black-bellied Tern. Fairly common.

NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF SEHORE, CENTRAL INDIA. 169

(1545. Puarauea LEvCcOROopIA, The Spoonbill. Common.

1548. Dissura Episcopus, The White-necked Stork. Fairly common
in jungle.

1552. PseUDOTANTALUS LEUCOCEPHALUS, The Painted Stork. Common.

1554. ARDEA MANILLENSIS, The Hastern Purple Heron. Common in
reed beds and jheels.

1555. ARDEA CINEREA, The Common Heron. Common.

1559. Heropias auBa, The Large Egret. Rather scarce.

1560. Heropias INTERMEDIA, The Smaller Egret. Abundant.

1561. Heropias carzetta, The Little Egret. Abundant.

1562. Busuncus cornomanpus, The Cattle Egret. Scarce.

1565. ArpEota GRayi, The Pond Heron. Very abundant.

1567. Buroripres gavanica, The Little Green Heron. Rather scarce
but occurs along wooded streams.

1568. Nycricorax griseus, The Night Heron. Not very common.

1589. DenpRocycna sJavaNrica, The Common Whistling Teal. Com-
mon, saw a young one not fully fledged on December 5th.

1598. ANAS P@cILORHYNCHA, The Spot-billed Duck. Abundant, a
duck followed by 9 tiny ducklings seen on November 28th.

1617. PopicipEs ALBIPENNIs, The Indian Little Grebe. Abundant,
occurs in big flocks on the Bhopal Lake.

V.—DOUBTFUL WHETHER MIGRANTS OR NOT.

40. Synviparus mopeEstus, The Yellow-browed Tit. Shot one on 17th
October 1909, the only one seen but from its close resemblance to a Flower
Pecker (P. squalidum) it may have been overlooked, confirms Jerdon’s
record (see O. and B.)

389. MercaLurus palustris, The Striated Marsh-Warbler. Flushed
several in reed beds and marshes in September and one in November (shot
1 and sent it to the B. M.)

551. ACRIDOTHERES GINGINIANUS, The Grey Bank Myna. Not com-
mon, only seen in winter.

601. Hypornymis azurEAa, The Black-naped Flycatcher. Only met
with in April in high jungle.

607. RuIPipuRA PECTORALIS, The White-spotted Fantail Flycatcher.
Searce. Not observed at all between mid-October and mid-February.

1383. TurRNIx pDussuMIERI, The Little Button-Quail. Not common.
Only met with in December and January.

1404. PorpHyrio PoLiocEPHALUS, The Purple Moorhen. Scarce, only
noted between September and February.

1428. Merorrpius inpicus, The Bronze-winged Jacana. Common
from early October to May, but only once seen after May 3rd and that
was on June 22nd.

223

1510, Srerna minura, The Little Tern. Only seen in June, it wa s
then in breeding plumage. : <
1517. Ruyncnoes ALBIcoLLts, The Scissor-bill. Only seen in July. of
1526. PHALAcRocoRAXx CARBO, The Large Cormorant. Scarce, probably
resident but not noticed from 10th July till October. ..
1542. InocoTis pPaptLtosus, The Black Ibis. Only met with by a

jungle stream in May.

July.

mbay Nat. Hist. Soc.

B.K Bhide del. J.Green, Chromo |

HABENARIA SUSANNA, Br.

ORCHIDS OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY.

The description of Plate Xl—Habenaria susanne—will appear
in the next number.

KIDs.

i
ry ts)
chy 9

aesey

S|
4)

171
ORCHIDS OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY.
BY
G. A. Gamuiz, F.L.S.
PART OT:
(With Plate X1).

(Continued from page 602 of Volume XX.)

We now finally arrive at the species comprised in Tribe IV,

Ophrydece, of which the general characters were given on p. 433
Mm yvol. XVI).

In the Flora of British India all the Bombay plants comprised
in this Tribe have been aggregated under the generic title of
Habenaria. Dr. T. Cooke, in his recently published Flora of
Bombay, has, however, subdivided them into three genera, and as
his work will probably be the text book for many years to come,
it may be most expedient for us to follow his example.

The characters of his three genera are shortly, terrestrial, tuber-
‘ous herbs, Jeaves membranous or fleshy.

* Sepals subequal and more or less conni-

vent ; petals equal to or shorter than the
Br ESMEE I ae Pas ic ols cis spats Sia s cprasstelotsyiac) seis are cea’ 29. Peristylus.
“* Sepals unequal, the lateral more or less
spreading. Stigmas sessile or subsessile,
confluent or more or less distinct............ 30. Platanthera.
Stigmas more or less distinctly stalked,

Betauape Ace yi COMMUCIV so). 5 4. 2+ -leistin'e ste «si 31. Habenaria.
29. Peristylus.

Terrestrial. Flowers in spikes terminating the leafy stems,
sepals and petals subequal, often connivent, lip continuous with the
column, produced at the base into a short spur, column short ; anther
cells parallel; apex inferior, short and adnate to the base of the
column ; pollinia granular with short caudicles and exserted naked
glands; staminodes lateral, auriculate ; stigma sessile ; rostellum ser-

tulate or tooth-like, situated between the anther cells.

172 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX.

* Spur as long as or longer than the sepals,
subclavabe vin, csngce eke sees eee eae eee eeeee 1. P. Stocksii.
** Spur shorter than the sepals, globose or
ellipsoid.
a. Stem leafy, the leaves scattered or
SulmmbrtCaten cna euces. sheen 2. P. spiralis.
bh. Leaves clustered about the middle of
the stem. Jp shorter than the
sepals, petals white .................. 3. P. plantagineus.
Flowers yellowish-green, sjikes dense,
long. Lip as long as sepals, lateral
sepals mucronate behind below apex 4. P. goodyeroides.
var. affinis.
Hlowers yellow, spikes lax, short, lip |
as long as sepals, lateral sepals not
mucronate below apex .)............ 5. P. Lawii.
1. PrRistTyLus Stocksu, Kranzlin ; T. Cooke, Fl. of Bombay, L,.
p. 710; Habenaria Stocksii, Hook. f. Fl. Br. Ind., VI, p. 158.
Whole plant 6 to 18 inches high, stems slender, with numerous
sheaths on the lower part ; leaves more or less clustered towards the
middle of the stem, variable, 3 to 6 inches long by 4 to 14 inches
broad, obovate or elliptic or lanceolate obtuse, acute or acumi-
nate, usually petioled. Spikes twisted, 3 to 6 inches long, flowers
yellowish, secund, 4 inch in diameter, bracts longer than the ovaries,
ovate acuminate, + to 8 inch long, sepals 1-nerved, dorsal elliptic
oblong obtuse, lateral linear—oblong, at length reflexed, petals
larger, ovate, obtuse, fleshy, ip shorter than the sepals, obtusely
3-fid, claw broad, concave, lateral lobes a little shorter and narrower
than the midlobe, slightly incurved, midlobe oblong obtuse, spur
shorter than the ovary, pollinia clavate, stigmatic lobes clavate,
rostellwum minute, erect 2-fid.
Flowers appear during July and August.
Distribution.—Throughout the Konkan, North Kanara and hills of the
Western Peninsula generally.
2. PERISTYLUS SPIRALIS, A. Mich.; I’. Cooke, Fl. of Bombay, IT,
p. 711; Habenaria torta, Hook. f., Fl. Br. Ind., VI, p. 159.
Whole plant 6 to 18 inches high, stem slender, leafy, often

ORCHIDS OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY. 173

flexuous ; leaves 1 to 24 inches long by } to 2 inch broad, linear-
lanceolate, obtuse, acute or acuminate, coriaceous, sheathing at the
base, the wpper passing into numerous, lanceolate sheaths. Spikes
2 to 10 inches long, lax-flowered, twisted, flowers greenish white,
secund, 3 inch in diameter, bracts + inch long, lanceolate, finely
acuminate, equalling or the lower exceeding the ovary, dorsal sepal
linear oblong obtuse, concave, lateral linear obtuse, falcate, petals
linear—oblong obtuse, lip equalling the sepals, variable, fleshy,
rather longer than broad, claw short, broad, concave, blade 3-cleft
beyond the middle, side lobes narrower than the midlobe, linear
acute, midlobe linear, obtuse, spur small, globose, anthers minute, the
cells parallel, tubes. Pollinia pyriform, cawdicle short, glands oblong,
shigmatic processes short, clavate, rostellum 35-fid.

Flowers appear in July and August.

Distribution.—Throughout the Konkan, Western Ghats.and North
Kanara and Hills of the Western Peninsula, Ceylon.

3. PERISTYLUS PLANTAGINEUS, Lindl. Gen. & Sp. Orchid., p. 300 ;
T. Cooke, Fl. of Bombay, LH, p. 711; P. elatus, Dalz. & Gibs., p.
270; Habenaria Wightii, Trimen, Fl. Br. Ind., VI, p. 162.

Plant about 2 feet high, bituberculate, stem robust, lower part
with loose sheaths; leaves about the middle of ‘the stem 1S to! of
inches long by 2 to 3 inches broad, oblong-lanceolate acuminate,
strongly nerved beneath, closely sheathing at the base. Spikes
4,to 8 inches long, lower part clothed with lanceolate sheaths,
bracts 4 inch long, sheathing, acute, almost reaching to the tips of
the flowers, which are very small, } inch in diameter and densely
crowded, greenish white, dorsal sepal ovate obtuse, 1-nerved, lateral
narrower, petals obliquely orbicular, 5-nerved, lip white, almost
fiddle-shaped, lateral lobes narrow, with small projecting teeth, ~
midlobe rounded, spur small, globular, pollinia pear-shaped, very

eranular, caudicle very short, gland small.

Flowers in August.

Distribution.—Konkan and North Kanara, Western Peninsula and
Ceylon.

4. PERISTYLUS GOODYEROIDES, Lindl, var. affinis, Lindl., T.
Cooke, Fl. of Bombay, II, p. 712; Dalz. & Gibs. p. 270 ; Haben-
aria goodyeroides, Grah.; Fl. Br. Ind., VI, p. 167.

Stem 1 to 2 feet high, stout. Leaves collected about the middle

174 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

of the stem, 6 to 10 inches long by 2 to 23 inches broad, elliptic
lanceolate acute, almost sessile. Spikes dense, 4 inches to a foot
long. Flowers yellowish-green, bracts membranous, lanceolate,
acuminate, from 4 to # inch long, becoming as short as the
sessile ovary upwards, lateral sepals + by 7, inch, oblong obtuse,
mucronate behind below the apex, ann sepal + by =, inch,
elliptic oblong, obtuse, not mucronate, petals as long as but slightly
broader than the sepals, obliquely obovate, strongly nerved, lip
equalling the petals, sessile, usually 3-fid, the lobes very variable,
spur subglobose, zy inch long, anther small, tubes very short,
pollima clavate, rostellum erect, toothed.

Flowers appear during July and August.
Distribution.—Konkan, North Kanara, EK. Himalayas, Khasia and Naga
Hills, Hills of the Western Peninsula.

5. Perristytus Lawn, Wight; T. Cooke, Fl. of Bombay, I,

ie (Ea Dalz. & Gibs., p. 270; Habenaria Lawii, Hook. f. Fl. Br.
Ind., VI, p. 162.

Stem wp to a foot in height, clothed with loose sheaths below the
leaves which are in clusters of 3 to 5 towards the middle of the
stem. These are 24 to 4 inches long by ? to 13 inch broad,
membranous, oblong-lanceolate acute, not sheathing at the base.
Spikes narrow, erect, lax, 2 to 3 inches long. lowers yellow,
bracts less than 4 inch long, lanceolate acuminate, exceeding
the ovary. Sepals all l-nerved, lateral } by 4, inch, oblong obtuse,
dorsal } by 2, inch, oblong obtuse, concave, alate similar, oblong
obtuse, lap $ by {4 inch, claw concave, apex shortly 3-lobed, lobes
subequal, obtuse spur short, globular, anther tubes absent, pollinia
clavate, caudicle absent, glands small, stugmatie processes very short,
clavate, rostellwm short, triangular, acute.

Flowers appear during July and August.
Distribution.—Konkan, Western Ghats, Southern Mahratta Country,

Western Peninsula, Bengal.

175

FURTHER NOTES ON SOME MAMMALS FROM
LOWER SIND.

BY
R. C. WRovuGHTON.

As mentioned in an Editorial footnote to my paper On A Small
Collection of Rodents from Lower Sind in the last number of the
Journal some other specimens, besides those recorded, were included
in Mr. Priestley’s Collection. These unfortunately did not reach me
in time to be published in the above paper but as there are several
interesting specimens amongst them it has been thought worth
while to publish the following list to which is also added some
notes on hares obtained in adjacent districts :—-

Erinaceus blanfordi, Anders.

gis? 17.

The specimens have no parting on the crown and it is possible that after
all jerdeont and blanfordi may prove to be separate species. To settle this
question specimens like these from Rohri, the type locality of blanford, are
a sine gua non.

(39). Felis ornata, Grey and Hardw.

1832. Felis ornata, Grey and Hardwicke. Ill. Ind. Zool. i., pl. 2.

g 41, 42, 43, 44,48. © 40, 49, 51.

A fine series, very constant in essential characters.

(60 part.) Mungos ferrugineus, Blanf.

1874. Herpestes ferrugineus, Blanford. P. Z.S., p. 661. pl. Ixxxi.

6 55, 64. Q 56, 62.

_ These specimens are undoubtedly ferrugineus, Blanf., which was based on
a specimen from Larkhana, Sind. The ochraceous colouring is much ex-
aggerated in the plate accompanying Blanford’s description. The synony-
my of the Common Indian Mungoose, recorded as Herpestes mungo in
Blanford’s Mammalia, is very involved and obscure, but by whatever
name it is known whether mungo, nemo, griseus, or nyula, &e., it is different
from the Sind form, which shows quite constantly an ochraceous tint in its
pale colouring and the ferrugineous tail tip which so markedly charac-
terises it.

(58 part.) Mungos pallipes, Blyth.

1845. Herpestes pallipes, Blyth. J.A.S. B., xiv, p. 346.

3. 53.

176 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXII.

The type locality of pallipes is Kandahar. Itis a pale form of auropunc-
tatus, Hodg., from Nepal. On the material available I have no hesitation in
separating the two, both being constant forms in their respective habitats.
When our Mammal Survey is completed it may prove that the Sind form
deserves no more than subspecific rank.

(72) Vulpes bengalensis, Shaw.

1800. Canis bengalensis, Shaw., Gen. Zool. i., p. 330.

g 45.

If kokree, Sykes, the Dekhan form is separable from true bengalensis,
then geographically the present animal should be most closely allied to the
former but the material available for comparison is so inadequate that I am
not in a position to advance an opinion. A series of typical specimens from
Bengal is a great desideratum.

(74) Vulpes leucopus, Blyth.

1854. Vulpes leucopus, Blyth. J. A.S. B., xxii., p. 729.

Blyth gives no exact locality for his leucopus but speaks of it as “ the
small desert Fox of W. India.” His description is therefore probably a
generalised one. The present specimens do not agree with his description
in several details, but nevertheless it does not seem possible that they
could be anything else. His puszllus from the Salt Range is apparently a
different animal with conspicuous black cheeks. Series of the several
varieties of the Fox inhabiting N.-W. India are a great desideratum and
until they are available it seems to me hopeless to try and unravel the
tangle of Blyth’s leucopus, griffithi, pusillus, &e.

(291) Grypomys gleadowii, Murr.

1885. Mus gleadown, Murray. P. Z.S., p. 809.

3 9 9 in spirit (one presented to the National Collection).

The type locality is Karrachi. It has not been taken again anywhere
since its description by Murray in 1885. Indeed the two original speci-
mens and the present three are so far as I know the only ones to be found
in any museum.

(321) Lepus dayanus, Blanf.

1874. Lepus dayanus, Blanford. P.Z.58., p. 663.

6 84. 2 81, 82,83, 22.2.11. N. B. Kinnear, Thar and Parkar.

Lepus sp.
G28: OU 2ieaSeeble Prater, Viramgaum.
Lepus sp.

Mr. Kinnear’s four specimens from Thar and Parkar are, I believe, un-
doubtedly dayanus. A specimen from Rajputana in the Natural History
Museum Collection obtained by Blanford is labelled in his own handwriting

FURTHER NOTES ON MAMMALS FROM LOWER SIND. 177

“intermediate between dayanus and rujicaudatus. Mr. Prater’s Viramgauim
specimens seem very similar while Mr. Kinnear’s Shamgarh specimen seems
to resemble much more closely the type which represents to me true
ruficaudatus. This last name was given by Geoffray with but a few words
of description to a specimen from ‘Bengal.’ Until a series of typical
Bengal specimens is available with other series linking it geographically
with dayanus it seems to me the riddle of the Indian Hares will remain a
riddle.

178

SOME NOTES ON BIRDS FROM GYANTSE AND CHUMBI
IN TIBET, WITH A LIST OF THE GAME BIRDS
KILLED DURING THE FOUR YEARS, 1906-1909.

BY
Caprain F. M. BaAILey.

Monal (LOPHOPHORUS RHEFULGENS). Tib.—‘‘ Chadang.”

The Monal is found in the Chumbi Valley up to the tree limit
(about 14,000 feet) ; and I found a nest at Lingmotang at 10,000
ft. on the 15th May 1904. They have a habit of whistling in the
early morning, and at this time it is easy to walk through the thick
forest towards the sound and shoot them sitting. I found that
the following was the best way to get sporting shots; two guns
would walk quietly along the road and two men would go through
the forest above, these men whistled if they saw any Monal and
then put them up when they would fly downhill over our heads.
I found that the average weights of birds shot in January were
cocks 5 lb. and hens 4b. 11 oz.

Blood Pheasant ((THAGHNES CRUENTUS). Tib.—‘ Semo.”

The Blood Pheasant is common in the Chumbi Valley. I have
seen it from 10,000 feet up to the tree limit. It is not a sporting
bird, as it seldom flies, and when it does the undergrowth is usually
too thick for a shot. I found that the only way to kill the Blood
Pheasant was to stalk through the thick forest, usually of rhodo-
dendron, which it frequents, and to shoot it on the ground.

I once saw a ragopan, which had been killed in the Chumbi
Valley, and once a Snow Partridge (Lerwa lerwa), but both these
birds must be very scarce.

Tibetan Snow Cock (THTRAOGALLUS TIBETANUS). 'Tib.—
“ Lhapcha Kongmo”’ or simply ‘* Kongmo.”

This bird is to be found in the Chumbi Valley above the tree
limit. It is fairly plentiful at Phari and near Gyantse, and | have
frequently taken nests during June and July at altitudes
between 14,500 and 15,500 feet. The reason why only 13 were
shot in the four years is that this bird lives up on the high hills

SOME NOTES ON BIRDS FROM GYANTSE IN TIBET. les

where Burhel or Ovis ammon are also to be found, and it was
seldom worthwhile to disturb the larger game by firing at Snow
Cock.

Tibetan Partridge (PERDIX HODGSONLA). Tib.—* Rhakpa.’’

The Tibetan Partridge is common at Gyantse, and I have also
seen it at Dotha and Kambu in the Chumbi Valley, just above tree
level. I have taken nests near Gyantse in June, July and the
beginning of August. Two good days? partridge shooting for two
guns near Gyantse yielded 48 partridges and 25 hares (Lepus
orostolus) and 43 partridges and 34: hares respectively. I have seen
them at various altitudes between 13,000 and 15,000 feet.

Tibetan Sandgrouse (SYRHAPTHS TIBHTANUS). Tib.—
“Ka ka ling ma” or “ Ka ka li.”

These birds may be seen in flocks of from 10 to 20 anywhere
north of the Tangla from August to February, and I have once
seen them in May. They appear to have no special hour for
drinking, and are not at all shy, so it is possible to walk up to
within gunshot distance when they are feeding on the bare
plains. On being fired at the flock will fly only a hundred
yards or so, and will allow another shot to be taken in the same
manner. In this way a flock could easily be exterminated, as
they do not'seem to get any wilder. I have seen them at Kamba-
jong and at various places in the Bramaputra Valley, west of
Shigatse. I made every effort to get the eggs of this bird, but
without success.

Himalayan Solitary Snipe (GALLINAGO SOLITARIA).

I have never been able to find a Tibetan name for a snipe, beyond
the ordinary word “ Chubja” which refers to duck and other water
birds. One man told me that snipe were the young of cranes!
The solitary snipe is only seen in winter between the months of
September and February. I once shot one at Gyantse on 28th
March, but this must have been a straggler. Occasionally they
have been shot in the Chumbi Valley. They lie very close and
may sometimes be seen sitting in the mud before they rise.
Their flight is usually shorter than that of the Fantail or
Pintail. I killed 12 in one day, in December, at Samoda,
one of the stages on the road to Gyantse. The earliest bird

180 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXTI.

seen was on 3lst August and the latest on 28th March. I
have never seen the eggs or young birds.

The only other snipe that I have seen are I'antail and Pintail.
Unfortunately no note was made of the numbers of each of these
two varieties. They arrive at the beginning of August, in which
month and in September they are found in the irrigation ditches
between the fields at Gyantse. In August, September and
October, they occur in large numbers on the marshes round Rham
tso (14,700 ft.), the lake passed on the road to Gyantse. So far
as I knowthey do not breed in that locality and I have never
seen them in the Chumbi Valley. The earliest bird was shot on
3rd August 1909 and the latest on 28th October. I once shot
a stray bird on 15th April.

The Eastern Golden Plover (CHARADRIUS FULVUS).

These birds were very plentiful on the marshes at Rham tso, and
many more could have been shot ; but they are not very sporting
birds, and we usually let them off if snipe or duck were to be got.
They arrive at the Gyantse with the Snipe, and are to be seen
there in August and September. ‘The first bird was shot on 11th
August and the last on 29th October. I do not think that they
breed there.

Four green plover (Vanellus vulgaris) were shot, two in October,
one in March, and one on Ist April. A Whimbrel (Numenws
pheeopus) was obtained at Rham tso on 3rd September 1908.
Curlew were often seen on this marsh but were never shot. On
2nd May 1908, a Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa belgica) was killed
at Gyantse. Redshanks (Votanus calidris) are common, and I have
taken the eggs in May, June and July. Stilts (Himantopus
candidus), Avocets (Recurirrostris avocetia), Greenshanks (Totanus
canescens) and many other waders, are seen on this marsh in
August, September and October, after which months both the
lake and the marsh freeze and the birds are obliged to leave.
Gulls (Larus bruneicephalus) and Terns are common near the lake
and are also seen at Gyantse. Two coots (Mulca atrw) were
obtained, one at the beginning of March and the other at the end
of October, but these birds are scarce. From the list below it can
be seen the species of duck which are found in this part of Tibet.

SOME NOTES ON BIRDS FROM GYANTSE IN TIBET. 181

Bar-headed Goose (ANSHER INDICUS).

A description of the nesting of the Bar-headed Goose appeared
on p. 367 of Vol. XIX. The nests are found at Rham tso
(14,700) at the beginning of June.

Brahminy Duck (CASARCA RUTILA). Tib.---“ Angba Serpo.”

I have taken nests at Gyantse (13,100) and at Tuna (15,000)
in May. The nest is found in a cliff, sometimes more than a mile
from water.

The Ruddy Sheldrake is the only duck of which I have
obtained eggs, but I have seen broods of young Mergansers (I.
castor) on the river in summer at a height of about 14,000
feet.

LIST OF GAME SHOT AT GYANTSE AND IN THE CHUMBI
VALLEY DURING THE YEARS 1906-1909.

Black-necked Crane (Grus nigricollis) (1). . ne ana (Celt
Demoiselle Crane (Anthropoides virgo) (1). . ae < 3
Bar-headed Goose (Anser indicus) (1)... Ae .. 644
Ruddy Sheldrake (Casarea rutila) (1)... ahd baka:
Commor Sheldrake (Tadorna cornuta) (1) aa ee 1
Mallard (Anas boscas) n Se ee as ay elie
Pintail (Dajila acuta) Mie sf Loe i). 205
Gadwall (Chaulelasmus strepserus) se aie Peal eis
Wigeon (Mareca penolope) as of abe sees eel
Common Pochard (Nyroca ferina) as bie BS PAS
White-eyed Pochard (Nyroca africana) .. oF ahr AKG)
Tufted Pochard (Puligula fuligula) ae Es ft 26
Red-crested Pochard (Netta rujina) bs aft ei 2
Shoveller (Spatula clyptea) a if a a 4
Common Teal (Nettiwm erecca) .. ae te .. 140
Garganey Teal (Querquedula circia) on ai ao DRE
Goosander (Mergus castor) ae a, ete 5 iis:
Himalayan Solitary Snipe (Galkinago solitaria) x des tl
Snipe (Gallinago colestis § stenura) ae are Ng edi)
Eastern Golden Plover (Charadrius fulvus) ae see lod
Green Plover (Vanellus vulgaris) 3 By oe 4
Tibetan Partridge (Perdix hodgsonie) a ie ee)
Tibetan Snow-Cock (Tetraoyallus tibetanus) ae sped) alles)
Tibetan Sand-grouse (Syrhaptes tibetanus) (2) ne 1 OS

() Killed only at Gyantse and north of the Tangla-
(2) Killed only in the Chumhi Valley .

182 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XX1.

Monal Pheasant (Lophophorus refulgens) .. ai
Pigeon (Columba rupestiis) (1) .. as B ABE 215)
Snow Pigeon (Columba leuconota) (2) : He a 8

The Huropean Hoopoe (UPUPA HPOPS). Tib.—“ U-pu-pi-
shu.”

The Hoopoe is to be seen in this part of Tibet in summer only.
The first bird I noticed one year appeared on 28th March. It
nests at Gyantse (13,100) in June, in holes in walls and cliffs.

The Lammergeier (GYPAETUS BARBATUS). Tib.—* Cha
ko.”

On the 27th April 1908, in a cliff near Gyantse, at a height ot
14,800 feet, a nest was found which contained one young bird; in
the same nest there was a single egg on 17th February 1909.

The Himalayan Rough-legged Buzzard (ARCHIBUTHO
HEMIPTILOPUS). Tib.—“ Cha Kyi.”

A note and photograph of what I believed to be the nest of this
bird was published in Vol. XIX, p. 523; but on comparing the
egos with those of A. hemiptilopus, I find that mine are much
larger. The bird, which was identified in Bombay as 4. hemip-
tilopus, was shot near the nest the day after the eggs were taken
and I believed it to be the bird which I had seen in the nest. I
must however have shot another bird, and my eggs consequently
are unidentified.

The Black-eared Kite (ULVUS MELANOTIS). Tib.—
«< Ping-qyu-ma.”” ‘

Many nests were seen in May in the trees round the villages on
the Gyantse plain (13,100), and one earlier nest on the 17th
April. The nests always contained two eggs.

The Kestrel (FINNUNCULUS ALAUDARIUS).

I took one nest with four eggs in a cliff at Gyantse on the 23rd
of May 1908.

The Osprey (PANDION HALIABTUS).

Ospreys were seen at Gyantse every year in April and May,
but did not nest there. I have also seen one in the Chumbi
Valley.

(1) Killed only at Gyantse and north of the Tangla.
(2) Killed only in the Chumbi Valley.

SOME NOTES ON BIRDS FROM GYANTSE IN TIBET. 185

Rufous Turtle-Dove (TURTUR ORIENT ALIS). Tib.---‘* Di-di-
qu-qu.”

Nests in small trees at Gyantse,in May and August. I have
never taken eges in June or July. This dove does not remain in
the country during the winter.

The Blue Hill Pigeon (COLUMBA RUPESTRIS). Tib.—
« Angoa’’ or ‘ Oron.”

Nests at Gyantse (13,100) and at Kangmar (14,000), in ruined.
houses, from the end of April till the middle of July.

The Lesser Sand-Plover (HGIALITIS MONGOLICA ).

I cannot be quite certain of the identification of this bird. The
nest was taken on the Tangla (15,200) in June.

The Ibis-bill (BIDORHYNCHUS STRUTHERST).

Nests at Gyantse in May and June and algo in the Chumbi
Valley, between 10,000 and 14,000 feet (see note on p. 993 of
Vol. XIX, Journ., Bom. Nat. Hist. Socy.).

The Black-necked Crane (GRUS NIGRICOLLIS). Tib.—
«< Trung drung.”

Thave obtained these eggs from the marsh at Rham tso
(14,700), at the beginning of June. The bird is common at
Gyantse in winter.

The Demoiselle Crane (ANTHROPOIDES VIRGO). Tib.---
“« Chalung.”’

This bird was twice shot at Gyantse on 13th October 1906
and 28th October 1908. It does not nest in this part of
Tibet.

The Raven (CORVUS CORAX). Tib.—“ Oroa.”’

At Gyantse on the 15th February 1909, I found one nest con
taining six eges in a niche of the wall of an inhabited house,
about 15 feet from the ground. The structure was of sticks and
about four feet high, the nests of successive years being piled one
above the other. I also took a nest on the 12th March 1909.
The bird is very common and is the chief scavenger.

The Chough (PYRRHOCORAX GRACULUS). Tib.—“< Kyung
Ka.”

Nests are common in May at Gyantse (13,100), and at Tuna
(15,000), and once I took a nest containing fresh eggs on the

184 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX.

30th July. The Chough also nests in the Chumbi Valley in April ;
one nest was in the roof of the office which I was occupying
daily.

The Black-rumped Magpie (PICA BOTTANNENSIS). Tib.—
“ Kya-ga or Tra-ga.”

This bird nests in trees at Gyantse in May. The nest is a very
common and conspicuous object.

Wadell’s Babax (BARBAX WADELL1).—* Jomo.”

Nests were to be seen in trees at Gyantse (13,100) at the end
of April and in May.

Stoliczka’s Willow-Tit (LEPTOP@CILE SOPHIA).

The nest which usually contains five eggs is found in thorny
bushes at Gyantse, at the end of April and at the beginning of
May.

Tickell’s Willow Warbler (PHYLLOSCOPUS AFFINIS).

Gyantse (13,100).

Nests in low bushes at the end of May and in June. The nest
is placed very low and is often concealed by growing grass.

The Grey-backed Shrike (LANIUS TEPHRONOTUS). Tib.—
SIU RUE

Nests were taken at Gyantse (13,100) and at Kangmar (14,000),
at the end of June and in July. The nest is placed in a tree or
bush. ‘

Gould’s Chat (SAXICOLA MONTANA).

Nests in holes in banks, near Gyantse (13,100), at the end of
May.

The White-capped Redstart (CHJMARRHORNIS LEUCOCE-
PHALUS).

Common in the Chumbi Valley, where I have taken nests at
11,000 feet in June.

The Indian Redstart (RUTICILLA RUFIVENTRIS).

One nest containing four eggs was taken at Rham tso (14,700),
in a hole in a wall, on 2nd June 1908.

The Plumbeous Redstart (RHYACORNIS FULIGINOSUS).

One nest at Chumbi (9,800), on 10th July 1908. The nest
was in an overhanging bank.

The Robin Accentor (ACCENTOR RUBECULOIDES).

SOME NOTES ON BIRDS FROM GYANTSE IN TIBET. 185

One nest was taken at Dochen, at a height of 15,500, on 2nd
July 1908. The bird is common at Gyantse. (See p. 222,

Vol. XX.)
The Rufous-breasted Accentor ( ACCENTOR STROPHI-
Bn US).

One nest was found in alow bush at Kangmar (14,000), on
27th June 1906. .

The Beautiful Rose-Finch (PROPASSERS PULCHERRIMUS).
Tib.---‘ A-u-luk-se.

At Gyantse (13,100) and at Kangmar (14,000) the nests were
common in July and August.

Severtzoff’s Rose-Finch (CARPODACUS SEVERTZOV).

Nidification similar to P. pulcherriumus.

Walton’s Twite (LINOTA RUFO-STRIGATA).

Nidification similar to C. Severtzovi and P. pulcherrimus.

Adams’s Mountain Finch (MONTIFRINGILLA ADAMST).
Tib.---** Ab Je.”

This bird is common at Phari, where it nests at the beginning
of June in the disused holes of the Mouse hare.

The Red-necked Mountain Finch (MONTTFRINGILLA RUFI-
COLLIS).

Nidification is similar to that of M. adamsi. A note appeared
ai pagel ot Vol. XX.

The House Sparrow (PASSHR DOMESTICUS). Tib.--
“ Kang che.”

The House Sparrow is very common and nests throughout the
summer.

The Cinnamon Tree-sparrow (PASSHR CINNAMOMEUS).

Nests were taken at Gyantse in old walls, but unlike the House
Sparrow, not in inhabited houses.

The Sand-martin (COTILE RIPARIA).

I found a great many sand martins’ nests in a cliff at Kham tso
(14,700) on 2nd June 1908.

The Crested Lark (GALHRITA CRISTATUS).

Kala (14,000) Two nests containing 3 eggs each were found
on 30th June 1908.

Elwes’s Horned Lark (OTOCORYS ELWESI).

186 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XX1.

Rham tso (14,700), and Tangla (15,200). Nests are common
in June, and usually contain two eggs but sometimes three.

Brooke’s Short-toed Lark (CALANDRELLA BRACHYDAO-
TYLA TIBETANA).

Very plentiful at Gyantse (13,100), where it nests in May. A
little later in the year, I have found nests at higher altitudes up to
the Tangla (15,200); the latest nest was taken on 10th July
1908.

187

THE IMPROVEMENT IN THE YIELD AND QUALITY OF
INDIAN WHEAT

BY
Apert Howarb, M.A., A.B.C.S., F.L.S., Imperial Heonomic Botanist,
and

GABRIELLE L. C. Howarp, M.A., Associate and some time Fellow of
Newnham College; Personal Assistant to the Imperial Heonomic
Botanast.

I. IntTRopvuction.

In the present paper it 1s proposed to give a sketch of the wheat
investigations in India which have formed a part of the work of
the Section of Economic Botany of the Agricultural Research In-
stitute at Pusa during the past five years from 1906 to the present
time. While the actual results obtained and especially those re-
sults which bear on the Indian wheat trade will naturally receive
most attention in this paper, an attempt will also be made to indi-
cate the scientific methods which have been adopted in prosecuting
these investigations. In this way it is hoped that this paper will
prove of interest both to those particularly concerned with the
trade aspect of wheat and also to the members of a scientific
society who will not be disappointed to find that the results obtain-
ed in applied work must be based on sound biological principles.

It is almost superfluous to point out the great importance of the
wheat crop to India, not only from the point of view of the food of
the people, but also as regards the value of the export trade. Nearly
30,000,000 acres of wheat are grown every year and in favourable
seasons from 8 to 9 millions tons of grain are produced, of which
more than 80 per cent. is consumed in the country. The surplus
forms an important article of trade with Europe. —

The recent investigations on wheat in India date from January
1906 when one of us was asked to draw up a scheme for the im-
provement of the wheat crop for consideration by the Board of
Agriculture in India. This memorandum was adopted by the
Agricultural Department as the basis for future work on Indian
wheat.

188 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX.

Il. Tse AGRICULTURAL SURVEY OF THE WHEATS OF INDIA.

The first condition for the improvement of any crop is the
acquisition of an intimate knowledge of that crop and of its produc-
tion in all its manifold details. In the case of a European dealing
with an Indian crop and with an agriculture essentially different
from that of North Europe, the need for the closest possible study
of the local conditions cannot be over-estimated. In India the
present agricultural practices are firmly established on the basis of
long traditional experience. ‘The wheats at present in cultivation
in this vast Empire represent the survival of types most fitted for
the conditions of the various tracts. Nature has eliminated the
unfit, and the experience of past centuries, handed down by tradi-
tion has taught the cultivator what soils and what tracts are most
suitable for this crop. Varieties of wheat introduced by sea from
other countries, have, in recent times at any rate, had no influence
on the crop and have not been adopted by the cultivators. As far
as can be ascertained no new forms have been introduced by
selection or hybridization as has been the case in Europe and
America. [rom two points of view, therefore, the position is of
particular interest. In the first place, we are dealing with an an-
cient agriculture, in the second, with a crop which has left almost
entirely to natural influences.

The necessity of studying the kinds of wheat now grown in
India needs little explanation. When the crop has been thorough-
ly surveyed the investigator is able to see how far the present
wheats are suitable for local purposes and also for the export trade.
He will perceive where improvements can be made with the great-
est chance of success and in what directions his science can be
most profitably applied.

Fortunately in 1906 when this work was taken up considerable
progress had been made in the various Provinces in collecting and
erowing at a central station most of the mixed wheats from the
various Districts. In the Punjab and in the United Provinces
especially this collection of material proved of the greatest value to
us in rapidly ascertaining the kinds of wheat now grown in the

Plains. At the same time a large collection of Indian wheats was.

THE IMPROVEMENT IN THE VIELD OF INDIAN WHEAT. 189

grown by us at Pusa under dry farming conditions and later on
at Lyallpur on the Chenab Colony of the Punjab under canal
irrigation. In this way we were enabled to begin acquiring first-
hand experience of growing wheat under Indian conditions.
This experience has proved essential to the development of the
work and any success we have obtained therein has been, in
our opinion, largely due to our having taken up the agricultural
side of the work in addition to its more purely botanical
aspect.

It was found that the wheat crop as grown by the cultivators
was in almost all cases a mixture of a large number of varieties
and that the first thing to do was to resolve these mixtures into
their constituents. No useful work can result from dealing with
these mixtures. Some of the constituents may be really excellent
types in all respects, but their agricultural characters and milling
and baking qualities, would be masked by the mass of inferior
sorts making up the bulk ofthe sample. All that an examination
of such samples would tell us is the average quality of all the
wheats of any particular tract.

Two distinct stages are involved in the resolution of these
wheat mixtures. In the first place the various species are
separated into their botanical varieties and this is done by an
examination of the ripe ears in the laboratory. The second stage
in the resolution of the mixtures is the separation of the botanical
varieties (which in the laboratory appear uniform) into what we
have called agricultural types. Ifa large number of ears of the
same botanical variety are sown separately next to next and the
cultures examined it will in many cases be found that they differ
from each other in many field characters such as foliage, general
habit of growth, time of flowering, resistance to rust, standing
power and in yield and quality of grain. These field characters
are not recognised by systematic botany, but they are of by far
greater importance to the cultivator than colour of chaff, etc.
Thus what a systematic botanist would call a pure wheat is often
a mixture of many different kinds. The determination of the
ultimate units of our mixtures can therefore only be done by the
close study in the field of a large number of cultures each starting

190 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX1.

from one ear. Asa rule this involves at least three years’ work
and if there are any accidents a longer period.

This tedious separation of the mixed wheats of a Province into
their ultimate constituents is an example of that drudgery in
scientific work which is so often necessary. As the wheats are
being separated and grown singly their agricultural characters,
rust resistance, yielding power and milling and baking characters
can be studied. At the same time suitable material for selection

and hybridization work becomes available.
Til. lwrerRoveMENT oF WHEAT BY SELECTION.

In order to appreciate the modern methods of selection, which
can be applied to a crop like wheat, which normally self-fertilizes,
it 18 necessary to realise the constitution of an Indian wheat-field
and also the complexity of most of the botanical varieties of
wheat in India. As we have seen the botanical varieties can be
separated into agricultural types differing from each other in field
characters. It is these types which form the raw material as it were
for improvement by selection. The assemblage of individuals
constituting an agricultural type is termed a population and these
individuals may differ from each other in yielding power. If they
do the pure line which has the highest yielding power can be sepa-
rately propagated, and if it is a desirable wheat in all other respects
its selection and separate growth will constitute an improvement.
The essence of selection therefore depends on the comparison of the
offspring of single plants and not on the comparison of the plants
themselves. Once the best pure line in an agricultural type has been
selected it is believed that no further improvement is possible by
this method. All that is necessary is to maintain the improvement.

Applying these principles to the wheats of India, we have been
able to isolate a number of wheats of exceedingly high grain
quality, some of which are being exhibited to-day. Some of these
high quality wheats also yield well, are rust resistant and are
being grown this year on a large scale at a number of stations
in the plains. The best of these will be grown on a much larger
scale and will be distributed to the cultivators in those tracts

which suit their particular requirements.

THE IMPROVEMENT IN THE YIELD OF INDIAN WHEAT. 191

TV. HYBRIDIZATION.

Besides selection there is another method by which the kinds
of wheat grown in India can be improved, namely, hybridization,
or the application of the principles which have been founded on
the work of Mendel. By means of this method, it is possible to
create new wheats combining the desirable qualities of both
parents. Hybridization has greater possibilities than selection,
but on the other hand the process is laborious and time consum-
ing as the production and testing of a new wheat hybrid, cannot
be done under four years.

Hybridization like selection is only possible after the separation
of mixed wheats into their ultimate constituents. In modern
wheat breeding it is desirable to use for crossing only pure lines,
1.@., the progeny of single plants. It frequently happens when
a wheat mixture has been resolved into its constituents that all
the desirable qualities are not found in any one wheat. Thus
some wheats, characterised by high-yielding capacity, may be
defective either in quality, in resistance to rust or in strength of
straw. Others, on the other hand, may possess these latter
characters, but may give poor yields. It is in producing new
wheats, perfect in all respects, that hybridization as a method of
improvement has its value.

Passing over the inheritance of ordinary morphological charac-
ters of wheat, such as the presence or absence of beards, colour of
the chaff and grain, and so on, the characters of special value in
wheats are quality of grain, yielding power, strength of straw and
resistance to rust. It is found in breeding that all these qualities
and their opposites behave as unit characters and pass over as a
whole to the various hybrid generations. For example, when a
rust liable and rust resistant wheat are crossed, the plants of the
first hybrid generation are all rust-liable like one of the parents.
In this generation the rust resistant character of the other parent
is latent or recessive. Rustiness, on the other hand, is said to be
dominant. In the second generation, however, splitting takes
place in the proportion of three rusty plants to one rust-resistant
plant. These latter in succeeding generations breed true as

192 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX.

regards this character. It is possible, therefore, by crossing to in-
troduce the character of rust-resistance into a wheat wanting in
this quality. Similarly such characters as high grain quality,
high-yielding power and strength of straw can be introduced
into a wheat defective in these characters.

Some examples of the use of hybridization in producing new
wheats will give an idea of the value of the process. Two of
the highest-yielding wheats in the alluvium, namely, Punjab Type
9, and Muzaffarnagar are deficient in quality. Some of our Pusa
selections, on the other hand, possess grain of exceedingly high
quality, but their yielding power is only moderate. Suitable
crosses were made between these two high-yielding wheats of
poor quality and two wheats with very high quality but lower
yield. In the third and fourth generations of the progeny of
these crosses, we have been able to select and fix wheats which
possess the high-yielding power of one parent with the high-grain
quality of the other. We thus possess as it were Muzaffarnagar
and Punjab No. 9 with high-quality grain instead of low; and
we have been able to increase the value of their grain by about
eight annas a maund. It is expected that the new fixed wheats
from these crosses will be found suitable for large tracts of the
Punjab and the United Provinces. Some of them are being
grown this year at Cawnpore under canal irrigation by Mr. H..
Martin Leake, the Economic Botanist to the Government of the
United Provinces, and give every proinise to surpass in yield any
other wheats in cultivation there.

Some of the most interesting hybridization work at Pusa

consists in breeding rust-resistant wheats and in increasing the
standing power of the straw. At present the yield of wheat at
Pusa is limited by both these factors. Till we get wheats with
stronger straws, we cannot increase the present yields. It is
also desirable to increase the resisting power to rust.

Out of the large number of wheats grown at Pusa one known
as ‘American Club” received from EHngland proved most
resistant to rust under Indian conditions. Unfortunately,
however, it comes into ear much too late to be used as a parent

and at a period in the hot weather when crossing is the out of

THE IMPROVEMENT IN THE YIELD OF INDIAN WHEAT. 193

question. This difficulty has been got over as follows. Last
spring the wheats on which we desired to cross American Club
were sent to Cambridge and grown by Professor Biffen on the
University farm as spring wheats. While we were on leave in
June, these Indians were crossed on to American Club and other
resistant wheats at Cambridge and the hybrid seeds were sent out
by Professor Biffen in time for sowing at Pusa in October. The
first generation has now yielded seed, and next year the isolation
of new wheats with the rust-resisting power of American Club

will begin.
V. Tse MILLING AND BakING QUALITIES OF INDIAN WHEATS.

Wheats differ to a great extent in the ease with which they are
eround in the mill and also in the amount and quality of the
resulting flour. It is obvious that reliable information on such
matters can only be obtained by actually milling and baking a
sample of wheat. For this reason milling and baking tests are
essential in wheat improvement. In the conduct of this portion
of the work we have been fortunate enough to secure the active
co-operation of the highest authority in the Empire on milling
and baking questions, namely, Mr. Humphries of Weybridge, a
former President of the Incorporated National Association of
British and Irish Millers. Mr. Humphries was mainly responsible
for bringing about the general acceptance of the new form of con-
tract under which Indian wheat is now sold in England and under
which wilful adulteration before shipment has been practically
prevented.

From the milling point of view the desirable characteristics of a
wheat are that it should be free from admixture with dirt and other
seeds, that it should be well grown, uniform in colour and con-
sistency, that it should have a thin skin, absorb a large quantity of
water before grinding, that it should mill freely and allow the
separation of bran and flour to be made without excessive grinding.
From the baking point of view the resulting flour should be of
good colour (preferably greyish white) and should yield stable
resilient dough and large well-shaped loaves.

Some of these desirable qualities are already possessed by many

194 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

Indian wheats, namely, a great capacity for absorbing water in mill-
ing and a high percentage of flour. Their chief undesirable
characters are frequent unevenness in texture and colour and the
want of resiliency in the dough leading to small loaves with very
poor looking crusts and bad flavour. In consequence, Indian
wheats cannot be made into bread by themselves, but have to be
blended with strong Canadian and Russian grades.

In improving the wheats of India for the export trade we have
set before us a somewhat high standard, namely, the production of
wheats at least equal to any on the English Market. Taking into
account all the factors I think we can fairly claim success as far as
the wheats grown at Pusa are concerned. We have succeeded in
erowing absolutely uniform wheats high in nitrogen with firstrate
milling qualities and with high percentages of flour. ‘The loaves
made are of the same class as those made from the strongest:
Canadian and American grades, but are not quite so large as those
given by Manitoba wheat. On the other hand our best Pusa
wheats absorb more water in milling than the Manitoba grades
and give a higher percentage of flour. During the last two years
the new Pusa wheats sent for testing to England have been com-
pared with the best Canadian Spring wheats with what results
will be evident from the ie extract from Mr. Humphries’
last report :—

“The three lots, Nos. 100, 101 and 106 are very beautiful
wheats also. On appearance only there is little to choose between
them. If anything 106 may be the best looking. These three
and Pusa 4 all behave very well indeed in the milling processes.
The flours they all yield are granular, that is to say, they are
bread flours rather than biscuit or pudding flours, and should
be judged by comparison with hard spring wheat flours from
Minneapolis or Manitoba rather than by comparison with
Muzaffarnagars or similar wheats. They are all flours possessing
great potentialities as regards baking value, which can be develop-
ed by proper treatment during milling and baking on the special
lines mentioned hereinbefore. Without this special treatment
they behave very well in the dough and produce loaves of fair but

not great volume, and of firstrate appearance and flavour. They

THE IMPROVEMENT IN THE VIELD OF INDIAN WHEAT. 195

behave like Manitoban good grade wheats produced in a dry season.
That is to say, they like such Manitobans, respond very markedly
to the addition of malt extract and ‘“‘ yeast foods” and the volume
of the loaf can be increased very greatly by the use of the right
malt extract. They seem to be possessed of very good qualities,
capable, under favourable conditions, of yielding extremely good
results.

«JT have not enough of these varieties left to see how they
behave in combination with other wheats, but I believe they would
do very well indeed under such conditions. At any rate, I would,

as a buyer, be prepared to pay substantially more money for them
than for any of the ordinary Indian wheats of commerce.”

Translated into money the improved Pusa wheats are worth
from 8 to 10 annas a maund more than the ordinary wheats of
commerce. When we consider that the annual export trade in
Indian wheat amounted in 1904-05 to over 2,000,000 tons valued
at 18 crores of rupees it is clear that a much smaller general im-
provement than has already been obtained would greatly benefit
the cultivator and the merchant. It is bound to be to the advant-
age of all coneerned to deal in an improved product.

VI. THE CONSUMPTION OF WHEAT IN INDIA.

By far the largest portion of the wheat grown in India is con-
sumed in the country. Anything from 80 to 90 per cent. of
the total crop is used. locally, the balance being exported. The
question naturally arises what wheats are preferred by the people
for their own food. From the point of India this question is more
important than that of the wheats in greatest demand on the
English market. Fortunately for the improver of Indian wheats
the same class of produce best suits the local demands of India and
also the requirements of the Home millers. If we can improve
the wheats in greatest demand in India for food we shall at the
same time fulfill the demands of the trade. There is therefore only
one objective.

During the past four years we have constantly made enquiries
in the villages of the Plains as to the wheats preferred by the culti-
vators for their own food. They invariably show us hard reds or

196 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX.

hard whites and frequently say that the soft whites are deficient
in feeding value. From the chemical point of view their choice is
sound as the hard whites and hard reds are richer in proteids and
therefore better and more sustaining food than the soft whites and
soft reds.

Recently at the Allahabad Exhibition a group of cultivators
interested in wheat-growing were asked to select froma set of
samples the wheats they would prefer for their own consumption.
Without hesitation they selected those which Mr. Humphries had
found to be the best for bread-making in England and rejected
those which only behaved in the tests like ordinary Indians. ‘This
eroup of cultivators are growing next season 50 maunds of the six
best wheats we have so far produced. We mention this circums-
tance to show that there will be no prejudice on the part of the

ryots against the appearance of our improved wheats.
VIJ. IMPROVEMENT IN THE YIELD OF WHEAT.

Great improvements are possible in the yield of wheat in India
by the more skilful use of the means at present at the disposal
of the cultivators. The average yield per acre in the botanical
area at Pusa is more than twice that obtained by the people and
similar results have been obtained in the botanical area of
the Cawnpore Hxperiment Station under canal irrigation. The
average yields at Pusa obtained by crop weighings on quarter acre
plots in 1909 and 1910 is somewhere in the region of 30 maunds
or 2,500 lbs. per acre. These yields have been obtained without,
manure, without rain or irrigation and on land which has been
under wheat continuously for four years. There is no visible
diminution in fertility but on the contrary the land is getting too
fertile and there is a tendency for the wheat to grow too rank and
tall.and to be damaged by heavy winds at the time it comes into
ear. At Cawnpore the results are similar and some of the new
Pusa hybrids there are expected this year to give about 25 maunds
(over 2,000 lbs.) to the acre. We believe similar results are
possible all over the plains and that an increase of at least 50 per
cent. in the outturn is possible in the alluvium in both the rab:

and kharif crops. There are great trade possibilities involved in

THE IMPROVEMENT IN THE YIELD OF INDIAN WHEAT. 197

these matters for the reason that only the surplus production of
wheat and other seeds is exported. Any increase therefore in
the present crops will leave a far greater margin for trade and
might even enable India to undersell her competitors in the seed

markets of the world.
We will now deal with the methods of cultivation and soil

management under which these high yields can be obtained con-

tinuously on the same land.
Hot weather cultivation. The exposure of the wheat lands by

iron ploughs in the hot weather of April and May is, we consider,
one of the chief causes of the increased yield and continued fer-
tility of the wheat land. Hxposure of the land is beneficial in two
different ways. Jn the first place all the early monsoon rainfall is
absorbed by the soil and the loose open surface soil enables water
to reach the subsoil and to be stored up as it were for the next rabi
crop. Ifthe rabi stubbles were properly broken up before the
monsoon in the plains, an enormous amount of the water which
now runs off the hard surface into the rivers, would be absorbed by
the soil. In this way the irregularities of the monsoon would he of
less importance to India and less irrigation water would be required.
The year 1908 was one of very short and badly distributed rainfall
at Pusa, when about 22 inches fell during the whole year. In
spite of this over 25 maunds of wheat to the acre were grown at
Pusa without irrigation and without rain after sowing time.
The cultivators’ crops failed and a famine was declared in the
District.

The second way in which the exposure of the soil in the hot
weather is beneficial is in increasing the fertility of the land. Hx-
posure of the soil to the hot weather acts as if the land had been
manured and the explanatian of this increase in fertility is, we
consider, a bacteriological one. Asis well known the soil is ex-
ceedingly rich in bacteria of many different kinds some of which
are essential to plants in breaking down organic matter for the
production of nitrogenous salts which are taken up by the roots
in the soil water. Besides these useful bacteria other bacteria and
soil organisms sour the soil and destroy the useful bacteria.
Exposure of the land has the effect of partially sterilising the soil

198 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX1,

and in destroying wholesale a large part of the soil flora. When the
rains fall the spores of the various soil bacteria again become
active, but it would appear that the new soil flora is more efficient
than the old from the point of view of the plant.

Small iron ploughs are much more efficient instruments in
exposing the land in the hot weather than the common country
wooden plough. When the cultivators have been taught by
example the real use of these ploughs, a great market is bound to
arise in the plains and another outlet will be found for Indian
steel. The cultivator already practices this to a limited extent and
already appreciates the value of exposing his lands in the hot
season. It will be a comparatively easy matter therefore to teach
him to do this more efficiently than at present and to do it ona
much larger scale with more effective implements.

Conservation of moisture. The next step in managing wheat lands
in the alluvium is concerned with the conservation of moisture.
Besides the hot weather cultivation one or two ploughings with
iron ploughs in the breaks of the early part of the monsoon will
enable more and more water to be taken up by the subsoil. After
the end of July iron ploughs are given up and the wooden country
plough is used instead as this packs the subsoil and also produces
sufficient upper loose soil to take in more water. The beam is
now also used after ploughing to prevent loss by evaporation in
the breaks of the monsoon. After the sowing rains—the last of
the monsoon shower of September—the land is finally levelled
(or harrowed in case it is very heavy land) and left till
sowing time. Sowing is done preferably in the morning behind
the country plough and the land is immediately covered in with
the beam which must be passed over the land several times. After
the wheat begins to tiller the land is rolled once or twice and
nothing more is done till harvest.

The essence of the process consists in absorbing as much water
as possible in the monsoon and in taking steps not to lose it after-
wards. Very little cultivation is done just before sowing time as
at this period moisture is easily lost. The ryot commonly leaves
his preparation for wheat till the last fortnight before sowing and
during the process a large amount of moisture is lost. At Pusa

THE IMPROVEMENT IN THE VIELD OF INDIAN WHEAT. 199

our tilth for wheat is obtained in the hot weather before the mon-
soon and never lost afterwards.

Green manuring. In getting land in a good state of culti-
vation for wheat and in improving its water-holding capacity
we have found green manuring with san hemp the best
method. After a crop of this is ploughed in green in the mon-
soon the land is much more easily worked and less force is requir-
ed in ploughing the land after wheat. If after a few crops of
wheat we find at Pusa that the supply of organic matter in the
soil needs replenishment it will be easy to plough in a green crop
of san and bring the land back again without omitting a single
wheat crop.

The methods: of cultivation and soil management we have
indicated are capable of adoption throughout the plains with of

course any necessary local modifications. We believe if these
methods were carried out a great increase in crop production
would be possible, less water would be required for irrigation and
much more would be got out of the Indian monsoon.

The methods we have adopted are often referred to as dry
farming methods. We prefer to regard them as merely the

application of common sense to crop production in the plains.
VIII. FururE Work.

It has already been shown that both in the yield and quality
of wheat considerable progress has been made at two of the
Experiment Stations in India. New wheats are now available
which, if generally cultivated by the people in the way described
above, would rapidly raise the quality and volume of the wheat
exported from India. All this can be done with the means
within the reach of the people. All that is required is greater
care in cultivation and in the conservation of moisture. In
bringing about these improvements our first task will be the
conversion as it were of the Agricultural Department. itself
after which the active support of the bureaucracy will naturally
follow. At this point the assistance and co-operation of the
wheat merchants themselves will be necessary so that whole

900 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol, XX,

shipments of improved wheats can be made and proper arrange-
ments made for their purchase in India, for their sale in England
and for making known their merits to the English millers. We
have every reason to believe that the merchants concerned will
give their hearty support in these matters and we believe that
before very long the whole weight of the official influence in the
country will be on the side of the Agricultural Department in
placing the production of wheat and other crops on a higher plane

than it is at present.

2013.

A NEW SNAKE FROM THE WESTERN HIMALAYAS.
TRACHISCHIUM QUINQUELABIALIS.

BY
Major F. WALL, I.M.S., C.M.Z.S.

In 1909 I sent to the British Museum a Zrachischiwm from
Muktesar (circa 7,500 feet) which appeared a new species, but
which I preferred at the time to regard as an aberrant 7’. tenaiceps.

Mr. Boulenger in acknowledging the specimen considered it a
distinct species.

IT have now obtained a second specimen which leaves no doubt
in my mind that the species is one hitherto undescribed. ‘This
specimen was obtained from the Naini Tal District, exact
locality and altitude uncertain, but one may infer the latter to
be above 6,000 feet, since a specimen of the Himalayan viper
(Ancistrodon himalayanus) was in the same bottle.

Only one specimen of this genus has ever been recorded from
the Western Himalayas previously, wvz., 1’. fuscum, found by
Dr. N. Annandale in Gilgit, and described by him as a new snake
under the name Ablabes gilgiticus (J. A. S., Bengal, 1905, p. 210).

It appears to me that my new species resembles 1’. tenwiceps
most closely, but differs in having only one postocular and only
5 supralabials. The temporal thus touches but one labial (the
5th), differing from all the other species in which it touches the
5th and 6th. In my first specimen the internasals were completely
separated by the rostral, and the loreal shield found contact with
the internasal, but in the second specimen the internasals are
narrowly in contact, and do not meet the loreal. On the left side
the preocular is partially confluent with the loreal in the second

specimen.
26

Description : Rostral.Touches 6 shields, and may extend back

so as to completely separate the internasals. nternasals.—A pair;
the suture between them ird to ith, that between the prefrontal
fellows. Preefrontals.—A pair; the suture between them subequal
to the preefronto-frontal; in contact with internasal, (postnasal
sometimes), loreal, preeocular, and supraocular. Fvrontal.—Sutures
subequal; breadth twice that of supraoculars, length one-fourth
greater than supraoculars. Nasals.—Two, the nostril pierced
entirely in the anterior. Loreal.—One, sometimes in contact with

the internasal. Preeocular.—One. Postocular.

One. Temporal.
One, in contact with only the 5th of the supralabial series.
Supralabials.—5, the 3rd and 4th touching the eye; the 5th as
long as the three preceding shields. Sublinguals.

Two pairs, the
anterior larger. The posterior touches the 4th only of the infrala-
bials. Jnfralabials.
scales behind. Costals.—13 in whole body length. Ventrals.—141
and 142. Anal divided. Subcaudals.—38 and 39. Colour—
Blackish-brown dorsally, each scale, especially those in the flanks

4, the 4th largest, and in contact with two

rather lighter centrally. Belly nearly uniform white (yellowish ?).
Some sparse mottling occurs in its posterior half towards the
median line and beneath the tail.

My second specimen measured 112 inches, the tail accounting
for 2 inches.

‘PLANTS OF THE PUNJAB.

A BRIEF DESCRIPTIVE KEY TO THE FLORA OF THE PUNJAB,
NORTH-WEST FRONTIER PROVINCE AND KASHMIR.

Colonel C. J. BAMBER, F.L.S.,

Indian Medical Service.

TP OS

(Continued from page 1102 of Volume XX.)

Heres, ERECT, WITH Opposite HxstipuLatEe Lopep LEAVES,

Dipsacus inermis,
Teasel.
DIPSACEa.

FE. B. I. iui. 217.

Himalaya, 6-12,000 ft.

Simla, Mashobra
(Collett).
Changlagalli (Douie).

Dipsacus strictus,
DiIpsacEs.

F. B. I. ui. 217.
Himalaya, 7,000 ft.
Chamba.

Perats UNITED.
FLOWERS SMALL, IN Huabs.

large, stout, rough with stiff hairs, roughest
under the flower heads; leaves 3-12 ins., lower
leaves deeply divided, end lobe largest, upper,
ovate or lanceolate or some divided into three
lobes, shortly hairy on both surfaces, stalks dilated,
united at the base; flowers white, small, many, in
nearly round terminal long-stalked, solitary or
several heads, 1 in. diam., surrounded by 6-8
spreading, leaf-like bracts, bracteoles or scales on
the base of the head (receptacle) concave, abruptly
narrowed in long, fringed, spine-like points, pro-
jecting above the flowers when in bud, calyx
double owing to an epicalyx (involucel), calyx
proper cup-shaped, hairy, 4-angled, 4-lobed on the
achene, epicalyx 8-ribbed, surrounding the achene,
corolla stamens 4,
anthers protruding, stigma linear; achene with the
8-ribbed epicalyx, crowned with the calyx, which

falls off later.

velvety, unequally 4-lobed,

very like the last species, but larger, more of the
leaves undivided, flowers cream coloured, and fewer

heads.

204 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. X XI.

HERBS, ERECT, WITH Opposite ExstiepuLATE Lopep LEAvEs.

Scahiosa Olivieri,
Scabious,

DIPsscez.

By Balen 20;

The Low Hills of
Peshawar (Vicary)
tawalpindi.

Hazara (Stewart).
The Park, Rawalpindi.
Baluchistan (Stocks).

Scabiosa speciosa,
DIPsAcEs.

F. B. Lom. 219°
Himalaya, 7-9,000 ft.
Kashmir

Kagan (Douie).

Bidens tripartita,
Bur-Marigold.
ComMPosIT#.

F. B. I. iii. 309.
Himalaya, 3-5,000 ft.
Dharmpur.

Prrats UNITED,
FLOWERS SMALL, IN HeEADs.

small, annual, branched, hairy, stem leafy ; leaves
2 by + in., narrowly oblong, slightly toothed, or
+ by 2 in., deeply divided into pointed lobes ;
flowers purple, small, in few-flowered small terminal
heads, bracts + n., oblong-lanceolate, surrounding
the heads, calyx of 2 portions, epicalyx (involucel)
1 in. diam., 16-20 ribbed, calyx proper with short
teeth and bristles ; m. barbed, brown, corolla
tubular, 4-5 lobed, all equal, much shorter than the
calyx-bristles, hairy without, stamens 4, style
filiform; achenes crowned by the epicalyx and
calyx-bristles, silky.

medium size, branched, rootstock perennial ;
leaves 2 by } im., oblong, pinnatifid at the base
with small lobes; flowers mauve, small, in many-
flowered large terminal, stalked, radiate heads,
bracts 3-2 in., narrowly oblong, mvolucel 4 in.,
nearly bell-shaped, calyx-bristles nearly black,
corolla with ray 2 in., corolla without ray in the
centre of the flower 4 in.; achenes { in., silky
below, upper 8-ribbed, deeply pitted within the
ribs ; otherwise like the last species.

medium-size, annual, smooth, velvety above ;
leaves 3-5 in., digitately 5-5-lobed, lobes lanceolate,
toothed, terminal longest ; flowers yellow, small in
discoid heads, 3 im. diam. on short, erect stalks,
bracts longer than the flowers, in 2 or 5 series joim-
ed below, outer green, longer than the flowers,
inner thin ; receptacle with narrow flat scales nearly
as long as the flowers ; calyx (pappus) of two barbed
bristles on the achene, corolla-tubes narrow, dilated
at the top, 5-toothed ; style arms hairy ; achenes +
in., smooth, wedge-shaped, barbed along the sides.
bristles very short, two.

PLANTS OF THE PUNJAB.

205

HERBS, ERECT, WITH OpProsITE ExsTIPpULATE LoBED LEAVES.

Bidens pilosa,
CoMPOSIT&.
Beebe. ait) 309:
Var. pilosa proper.

The Plains to 6,000 ft.
Valleys below Simla

(Collett).
Kasauli.

Bidens Wallichii,
Composit”.

Bea. ©. im. 309.
Var. bipinnata.

The Plains to 8,000 ft.

Simla (Collett).
Dewal (Douie).
Dharmpur.

Glossogyne pinnatifida,
CoMPosITz.

TE 184) ES soba al)

The Plains.

crophularia lucida,
ScROPHULARIACE.
F. B. I. iv. 256.

Himalaya, 8-10,000 ft.

Kashmir.

Petras Unirep.
Fiowers Smawn, 1x Heaps.

small, hairy or smooth; leaves 3-5 in., pinnate,
leaflets 3-5, ovate, toothed ; flowers tubular in the
centre, along the edge supplied with white ligules
or rays, pappus of 3 barbed bristles ; achenes linear
rough ; otherwise like the last species.

very like the last species, but the leaves are
twice pinnate, segments cut and lobed variously,

and ligules yellow.

small, perennial, root spindle-shaped, woody,
stem and branches slender, forked, sparingly leafy;
leaves 1-2 in., with the stalk, triangular, divided
into linear, pointed segments, few, often turned
down, leathery, flowering branches 6-12 in., straight,
stiff, grooved; flowers yellow, small, in few small
heads, ; in. diam., arranged in flat-topped clusters,
heads with flowers all tubular or central ones tubular
and outer ligulate, receptacle small, flat, scales
thin, bracts in 2-5 series, $ in. blunt, narrow, joied
below, pappus (calyx) of 2 bristles, rough from
reversed hairs, corolla tubular, 5-toothed, anther
bases blunt, style arms with long hairy tips;
achenes ;-3 in., deeply grooved, black.

STAMENS FOUR.

medium-size, perennial, stout, stems somewhat
4-angled, smooth or glandular, velvety ; leaves 1-2
in., singly or doubly pimnately divided, segments
spreading very unequal, oblong, ovate or lanceolate

margins deeply cut or toothed, horizontal ; flowers

206 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XX1.

HERBS, ERECT, WITH Opposite Exstiputatse Lopep LEavess.

Scrophularia variegata,
SCROPHULARIACE.
F. B. I. iv. 256.

Himalaya, 9-14,000 ft.

Scrophularia scabiosz-
folia,
SCROPHULARIACES.

HB. fiv. 206.

N. West Frontier Hills
near Peshawar

(Vicary, Aitchison).
Chakwal (Douie).

Veronica verna,
Leptorhabdes
Benthamiana,
Pedicularis pectinatas,
Pedicularis tennirestris,
Pedicularis gracilis,

Pedicularis porrects,

Perats UNITED.
StamMENS Four.

small, dingy green-purple in opposite stalked loosely
spreading clusters, forming terminal branching
racemes, bracts linear, calyx 5-fid, lobes half as
long as the corolla, rounded, margin thin, corolla-
tube 4-3 in., broad, very short, lobes 5, two upper
longer than the others, lowest spreading, stamens 4,
lin. unequal pairs, turned downwards, hardly pro-
jecting out, staminode round or kidney-shaped ;
capsule round, few seeded; seeds oblong, deeply

pitted.

very like the last species, but the leaves are less
pinnatifid, being only pinnatifid at the base with
blunt recurved lobes.

one variety like a Scabiosa with a woody root-
stock and many radical pinnatifid leaves and a
scape-like branching raceme, the other very like

Scrophularia lucida, but with very minute flowers

+, in.

see Herbs, Erect, Opposite, Exstipulate, Simple,
Entire.

see Herbs, Erect, Alternate, Exstipulate, Lobed.

see Herbs, Erect, Alternate, Exstipulate, Lobed.
see Herbs, Erect, Alternate, Exstipulate, Lobed.
see Herbs, Erect, Alternate, Exstipulate, Lobed-

see Herbs, Erect, Alternate, Exstipulate, Lobed.

PLANTS OF THE PUNJAB. 207

Heres, ERECT, WITH Oprosire Exstrputare Lopep LEaves.

Martynia diandra,

Tiger or Devils Claw,

PEDALLIACES.

8. B. I. iv. 386.

Himalaya, 1-2,000 ft.

Dunera, Gurdaspur
District

Sesamum indicum,

Verbena officinalis,

Vervain,

VERBENACE.

ibe BL iv. 565. .

The Plains to 7,000 ft.

Simla (Collett).

Phalia in the Gujrat
District.

Kahuta. Murree
(Douie).

Hazara (Barrett).

Leonurus gardiaca.
Motherwort.

LABIATS.

F. B. IL. iv. 678.
Himalaya, 6-10,000 ft.
Narkanda (Collett).

Petrats UNITED.
SramMens Two.

large, rough, stem succulent,[an American weed ;
eaves 5-10 in. diam., round, or angled, thin, long-
stalked, sometimes upper alternate ; flowers 12-3
in., pale pink, showy in axillary and terminal clus-
ters, calyx 4-5 lobed, corolla bell-shaped, and
inflated on one side, somewhat 2-lipped, 5-lobed,
stamens 2, capsule 1 in., woody covered with a soft
coat soon falling off, beaked by strong curved
spines, that catch on to any passing animal.

STAMENS Hour.

see Herbs, Erect, Opposite, Exstipulate, Simple,
Toothed, Corolla two-lipped, Stamens four.

medium-size, perennial, nearly smooth, stems 4-
sided, branching; leaves 2-4 in., variously lobed,
sometimes ovate, toothed, base narrow, lower leaves
stalked, upper sessile, usually divided into three ;
flowers } in., blue or lilac, sessile in long slender
bracteate spikes, branching, 3-10 in. long, calyx
Zs-iz in., tubular, glandular-hairy, 5 minute teeth,
corolla hairy, tube nearly cylindric, longer than
the calyx, lobes 5, spreading, stamens 4, in unequal
pairs, enclosed in the corolla, style short, stigma
round ; fruit of 4 nutlets enclosed in the calyx ;
nutlets 7; m., oblong, 3-ribbed, inner faces with

minute white flaking cells.

large, root stock and stem stout; leaves velvety
to felted beneath, lower 5 by 3 in., ovate lance-
olate or round, toothed or deeply and irregularly
cut into several coarsely toothed lobes, long stock-
ed, upper 1-3 in. narrow, lobed or nearly undivided;
flowers 4 in. long, pink, in many dense axillary clus-
ters forming long terminal spikes, bracts large,
lower stalked, bracteoles spinous, calyx ¢ in., top-
shaped, 5-nerved, 5-toothed, teeth triangular,
spines long, corolla-tube ringed within, 2-lipped,

208 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, XX,

Heres, ERECT, witH OpprosizE Exstipunars Lopep Leaves.
Perats UNiIrep.
Sramens Four.

upper lip erect, hooded, silky, lower spreading,
3-lobed, mid-lobe longest, stamens 4, ascending

under the upper lip, nutlets 4, sharply 3-angled,
smooth.

PETALS NONE.
Galtha palustris, see Herbs, Erect, Alternate, Exstipulate, Lobed.

CompounD LzEavss.

Biophytum sensitivum, see Herbs, Erect, Opposite, Stipulate, Compound.

Bryophylium calycinum, see Herbs, Erect, Opposite, Exstipulate, Simple,
Toothed.

HERBS, ERECT, WITH ALTERNATE STIPULATE SIMPLE Leavus.
Lear Mareins Entire.

Perats UNUNITED.

Reseda pruinosa, small, perennial, curved with minute projections,
RESEDACES. leaves 1-2 in., lower leaves lanceolate, upper cut
HB a aes into linear segments, stipules glandular, minute ’

Hills of the Western flowers very small, nearly sessile in terminal dense
Punjab (Vicary). racemes, bracts awl-shaped, soon falling off, minute,
calyx persistent, sepals 4-7, petals 4-7, stalked,

unequal, much divided, that on the posterior side

with a membrane above its stalk, stamens 10-40,

stigmas sessile; capsule oblong or ovoid, short.

widely open, many sided, seeds many, kidney-

shaped.
Oligomeris glaucescens, small, annual, with a bluish waxy gloss, much
Bui. branched ; leaves 1-2 in., narrowly linear, in tufts,
RESEDACEZ. stipules minute, awl-shaped ; flowers minute, green-
ead bee ite INS TES ish-white in bracteate dense-flowered, terminal
The Plains. spikes, calyx of 4 sepals, petals 2, alternate with
Shahpur (Douie). the posterior sepal, stigmas sessile; capsule very

Baluchistan (Boissier). small, 4-lobed, membranous, seeds many, minute,

shining.

PLANTS OF THE PUNJAB.

209

HERBS, ERECT, WITH ALTERNATE STIPULATE SIMPLE LEAVES.

Portulaca oleracea,

Crotalaria humifusa,

Crotalaria prostrata,
Crotalaria hirsuta,

Crotalaria alata,

Crotalaria mysorensis,
LEGUMINOS&.

Peepa tai: 70.

The Plains to 4,000 ft.
Hazara (Douie).

Crotalaria sessiliflora.

LEGUMINOS#.

ese Lei. @o.

The Plains to 6,000 ft.

Simla, Chadwick Falls
Waterworks Road
(Collett).

Jakku above
Ladies’ Mile.

Hazara (Douie).

the

Lear Marerns Entire.

PrtTats UNUNITED.
see Prostrate Herbs, Alternate, Stipulate, Simple.
see Prostrate Herbs, Alternate, Stipulate, Simple.
see Prostrate Herbs, Alternate, Exstipulate, Simple.
see Prostrate Herbs, Alternate, Stipulate, Simple.

see Shrubs, Alternate, Stipulate, Simple.

medium-size, annual, much branched, covered
with long silky hairs; leaves 1-3 m. long, linear-
oblong, rounded at both ends, thinly silky, stipules

small, linear, persistent; flowers 3-3

4-2 in. long, yel-

low in terminal

and lateral, stalked racemes,
6-9 in. long, bracts lanceolate, leafy, calyx 3-2 in.
long, silky; teeth 5, all long, upper lanceolate,
lower linear, corolla not projecting beyond the
calyx, petals 5, upper (standard) broad, round,
stalked, lateral oblong, shorter, lower two united
to form the keel, equal to the lateral, much curved
in, and beaked, stamens 10, united behind, style
long, abruptly incurved at the end, bearded above ;
pod nearly sessile, twice the length of the calyx,
oblong, smooth, 20-30 seeded.

medium-size, annual, stem unbranched or bran-
ched, silky; leaves 2-6 in., linear or lanceolate,
narrowed to both ends, thick, smooth above,
thinly silky below, stipules bristle-like, very small;
flowers 3 in., blue, rarely yellow, not projecting
beyond the calyx, sharply bent down, lower flowers
often axillary, upper crowded in racemes, 2-20
flowered, racemes 6-9 in. long, bracts and bracteo-
les bristle-like, persistent, calyx 3-3 in. long, brown
silky, teeth all short pointed, upper 2 in. broad,
corolla smooth; pod sessile, smooth, 3 in., seeds
10-15 ; otherwise like the last species.

210 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XXI,

HERBS, ERECT, WITH ALTERNATE STIPULATE SIMPLE LEAVES.

Indigofera linifolia,

Indigofera cordifolia,

LEGUMINOSE.

F. B. 1. 11. 93...

The Plains to 4,000 ft.
in the Chenab} Val-
ley. :

Kahuta (Douie).

Baluchistan (Baker).

Uraria picta,

Uraria lagopus,
Uraria neglecta,
Alysicarpus monilifer.

&lysicarpus hamosus.

Alysicarpus rugosus,

Lear Mareins ENTIRE.
Petats UNUNITED.

see Prostrate Herbs, Alternate, Stipulate, -

Simple.

small, annual, much branched, spreading, cover-
ed more or less with long white hairs ; leaves +-# in.,
ovate, heart-shaped, apex a nearly straight edge,
with a large stiff point, densely hairy beneath,
stipules minute, bristle-like ; flowers 3 in., red,
four to eight crowded together in a sessile cluster,
calyx 5-toothed, tube short, teeth long, bristle-like,
very hairy, corolla not projecting beyond the calyx,
petals 5, upper one (standard) rounded, two lower
ones united (keel) straight, not beaked, spurred on
each side at the base, stamens 10, upper one free,
the others united, anthers tipped with a minute
point, style short, curved inwards; pod } in. long
or less, oblong, cylindrical, beaked, 2-seeded
seeds ovate, yellow.

see Herbs, Erect, Alternate, Stipulate, Com-

pound, Leaflets many.

see Shrubs, Erect, Alternate, Stipulate, Com-
pound, Leaflets Three.

see Prostrate Herbs, Alternate, Stipulate,
Simple.

see Prostrate Herbs, Alternate, Stipulate
Simple.

PLANTS OF THE PUNJAB.

211

HERBS, ERECT, WITH ALTERNATE STIPULAIE SIMPLE LEAVES.

Sida grewloides,
MALVACES.
F. B. 1. i. 323.
The Plains.

Baluchistan (Boissier).

Abutilon graveolens,
Bara banghi,
MaAtLvacE.

He. 11.327.
The Plains.
Bhansi, Gurgaon.

Baluchistan (Masters)

Lear Marcins ENTIRE.

Perats UNITED.

medium-size, grey-felted; with star-shaped

hairs; leaves 4 in. long, oblong-ovate, blunt-
pointed, round-toothed, downy on both surfaces,
leaf stalk shorter than the blade, stipules linear,
awl-shaped, nearly equal to the leaf stalk; flowers
small, 4 in. diam., yellow or white solitary or in
pairs on a common stalk, shorter than the leaf
stalks, calyx of 5 angular sepals, angular-tubular
below, petals 5, united together below and with the
staminal-tube, staminal-tube dividing above into
numerous filaments, styles 7-8; fruit of 7-8 carpels,
carpels wrinkled, bristle-topped and beaked, beaks
converging, seed one in each carpel. The flowers

open at noon.

large, perennial, fresh leaves smell unpleasantly,

branches covered with velvety glands and hairs;

leaves 2-534 in., round heart-shaped, sometimes
lobed, abruptly long-pointed, velvety on both
surfaces, leaf-stalk almost as long as the blade,
stipules linear sickle-shaped, turned back, soon
falling off; flowers large, orange with dark centre,
pink and turned back when old, on axillary and
terminal stalk, as long as the leaf-stalks, and joint-
ed above the middle, calyx of 5 sepals, ovate, long-
pointed, tubular below, densely velvety, petals 5,
broadly heart-shaped, united together below and
with the

above into many filaments, styles 20 or more; fruit

staminal-tube, staminal-tube dividing
of 20 or more carpels, rounded hairy, about equal
in length to the calyx, which is enlarged in fruit,
not bristle-poited, separating from the central
column, each carpel 2 or more seeded, seeds kidney-
shaped. The flowers open in the evening; a fibre
is obtained from the stem; the roots, leaves and

seeds are medicinal.

212 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XXT

HERBS, ERECT, WITH ALTERNATE STIPULATE SIMPLE LEAVES.

Abutilon avicenne,
MALVACES.

Ihedey diet) SP

The Plains to 5,000 ft.
Kashmir.

Plumbago zeylanica,

PLUMBAGINACES.

F. B. I. iii. 480.

The Plains to 5,000 ft.

Giri and Sutlej Valleys
(Collett).

Koti.

Choa Saidan Shah.

Mator near Kahuta
(Douie).

Baluchistan (Boissier).

Polygonum orientale,
POLYGONACES.

F. B. I. v. 30.

The Plains to 5,000 ft.

In swamps.

Lear Marcins ENtTIre.

Prats UNIrTeEp.

medium-size, annual, leafy, softly felted ; leaves
3-4 in., round heart-shaped with a long point, leaf
stalk 3 in. long; flowers yellow, scarcely longer
than the sepals on solitary, axillary stalks 1 in.
long, sepals nearly divided to the base, ovate, short-
pointed, staminal-tube very short, carpels 15-20,
much longer than the sepals, oblong, hairy or
velvety with 2 long spreading bristles, seeds soft
with scattered hairs; otherwise like the last

species.

large, perennial, stems several, rambling, leaves
2-3 in., ovate, short-pointed, smooth abruptly,
narrowed into the stalk, leaf-stalk 2 in., stem-clasp-
ing, stipules round, flat, soon falling off; flowers 2
in. long, bluish-white in bracteate, often branched,
glandular spikes, 4-12 in. long, bracts in., ovate,
short-pointed, calyx 3-3} by 4, in., tubular, covered
with stalked glands, 5-ribbed and toothed, teeth
very short, corolla flat-topped, circular, tube ? in.
long, lobes 5, 3 in., nearly equal, round, spreading,
stamens 5, free from the corolla, opposite the lobes,
dilated at the base, anthers protruded, style 1;
slender with 5 branches above; capsule thin,
enclosed in the persistent calyx, opening trans-

versely near the base, seed one.

Perats None.

large, annual, velvety or silky-hairy, stems
grooved, branches hollow-stemmed ; leaves 6-9 by
2-5 in., ovate or ovate heart-shaped, long-pointed,
grey with hairs, leaf-stalks 1-4 in., sometimes
winged, stipules tubular, short, hairy, ending
abruptly, mouth thin, papery, or dilated, green,
curved back ; flowers large, red, white or green, in
crowded erect or drooping cylindric racemes 2-4

PLANTS OF THE PUNJAB. 213

Heures, ERECT, WITH ALTERNATE SrTIPULATE SIMPLE LEAVES.

Polygonum virginianum,

POLYGONACES.

feeb. Lv. 31.

Himalaya.

Kashmir.

Jhelum River 2-4,000ft.

Pir Panjal Range
7-10,500 ft. (Stewart).

Polygonum glabrum,

PoOLYGONACHES.

feeb. L. v. 34.

The Plains to 6,000 ft.

Simla in ditches (Col-
lett).

Lear Marcins ENTIRE.
Petarts None.

in. long, forming large terminal branched clusters,
bracts hairy, ovate, flat, 3-6 flowers in the axil of
each bract, calyx (perianth) of 4-5 segments,
petals none, stamens 7 or 8, alternating with small
honey secreting glands, enclosed in the calyx,
styles 2, united half way up ; nut round, in. diam.,
flattened with concave faces, coat very thick, black,
shiny.

large, perennial, rough hairy, branches hollow-
stemmed; leaves 4-10 in., broad and tapering
equally to either end, thin, leaf-stalk 3-1 im.,
stipules 3-2 in., tubular roughly hairy, mouth
abrupt, bristly; flowers in very long slender long
stalked racemes, 6-16 in., bracts tubular, bristly,
1-1] in. apart, 2-flowered, bracteoles narrow-
transparent, calyx 4-fid, thin, stamens 5, alter-
nating with glands, styles 2, long, stiff, hooked,
persistent, stigmas undivided; nut oblong, with
rounded ends, flattened, pale brown, as long as the
persistent styles.

large, stem thick, often red, branched; leaves
4.8 in., lanceolate or linear-lanceolate with a fine
long point, minutely glandular or not, stalked
stipules 3 in., tubular, smooth, thin, not fringed;
flowers pink or white in slender erect racemes, 2-4
in. long, forming a terminal branched cluster, bracts
smooth, tubular, tip oblong or rounded, calyx 5-fid,
varying in size, stamens 6-8, styles 2 usually
sometimes 3, united below the middle; nut rounded,
bi-convex, 3-angled with 3 styled flowers, black,
shining.

214 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. X_XTI,

HERBS, ERECT, WITH ALTERNATE STIPULATE SimPLE Luavus.

Polygonum lapathifolium,
or simiense,

POLYGONACES.

F. B. I. v. 35.

The Plains to 7,000 ft.

Martiana, Theog (Col-
lett).

Shahpur District
(Douie).

Polygonum persicaria,
Knot grass,
POLYGONACEZ.

K. B. ik vi 30.
Kashmir (Falconer).
Baluchistan (Lace).

Polygenum minus,

Polygonum stagninum,
POLYGONACES.

12), 1a Mo We ie

The Plains.

Polygonum barbatum,
POLYGONACEA.

F. B. I. v. 37.

The Plains.

Lear Mareins ENTIRE.
Perars None.

medium-size, annual, branched, smooth below,
rough with glands above; leaves 3-6 in., lanceolate
finely pointed, narrowed to the base, glandular,
leaf-stalk short, narrowly winged, upper leaves
sessile, margins, midrib and nerves somewhat hairy,
stipules tubular, not fringed; flowers red, ;4-3 in.
in dense-flowered, erect or nodding zacemes,
1-2 in. long, axillary, or forming terminal
branching racemes, bracts tubular, short, not bristly,
calyx 4-fid, glandular, stamens 6, styles 2, joined
together close to the base; nut round, flattened,
minutely dotted.

very like the last species, but the leaves are
without glands, stipules hairy, fringed, bracts:
bristly, flower stalks smooth, and calyx without
glands.

see Prostrate Herbs, Alternate, Stipulate, Sim-
ple.

small, branched or not, smooth below and hairy
above; leaves 3-5 in., lanceolate or linear-lanceo-
late, long-pointed, velvety with flattened down hairs
on both surfaces, glandular or not beneath, stipules
tubular, with flattened down hairs, bristles shorter
than the tube; flowers white in straight, erect,
stout, or slender, long and strong stalked racemes,
bracts enclose many flowers, rough with long bris-
tles, calyx of 4-5 segments, without glands,
stamens 5-8, styles 3; nut 3-angled, intensely
black.

very like the last species, but smoother, the
stipules more bearded, the racemes long, weak and
slender, the bristles of the bracts shorter and

weaker.

PLANTS OF THE PUNJAB. 2]

HERBS, ERECT, WITH ALTERNATE STIPULATE SIMPLE LEAVES,

Polygonum hydropiper,

Water-pepper.

Pani-maricha.

POLYGONACES.

fe Bl. v.39.

The Plains to 7,000 ft.

Simla, Nal Dehra (Col-
lett).

Hazara (Barrett).

Polygonum flaccidum,

POLYGONACESR.

Ree ls v.39:

The Plains to 4,000 ft.
in wet places.

Polygonum glaciale,
POLYGONACER.

il, 1835 dis ey ZA
Himalaya 8-12,000 ft.
Kashmir.

Lear Marcins ENTIRE.
Prrarts None.

medium-size, annual, stout, smooth, stems some-
times prostrate and rooting at the joints, often
glandular, joints often swollen, branched; leaves
2-3 in., lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, narrowed
to the base, dotted with glands, midrib with minute
hairs, stipules tubular, 3 in., smooth or minutely
hairy with flattened hairs, swollen out near the
middle, fringed with short bristles ; flowers pink or
redin very slender drooping zigzag racemes, 2-3 in.
long, with gaps along the raceme and leafy at
the base, bracts smooth, with or without glands,
tubular, mouth naked or minutely bristly, calyx
of 5 segments, with glands, stamens 6, styles 2 or
3, ununited nearly to the base; nuts minutely
dotted, in the 2-styled flowers circular and flatten-
ed in the 5-styled, 3-angled.

very like the last species, but larger with longer,
broader, and more pointed leaves.

very small, annual, weak, smooth, nearly succu-
lent, branches spreading from the root; leaves 3-3
in., broadly ovate, apex blunt, long stalked, winged
above only, stipules short, smooth, cup-shaped, 2-
lobed or not ; flowers minute, white or pale purple
in sessile or stalked heads 1-; in. diam., stalk
minutely glandular atthe tip, bracts broadly ovate,
blunt, smooth, flat, ealyx 4-5 lobed, transparent,
lobes nearly equal, blunt, stamens 5, no glands,
styles 3, united ; nut minute, closely included in
the calyx-tube, black, striated.

216 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

HERBS, ERECT, WITH ALTERNATE STIPULATE SIMPLE LEAVES.

Polygonum alatum,

POLYGONACES.

¥, B. I. v. 41.

The Plains from
2-10,000 ft.

Simla (Collett).

Polygonum strigosum,

Polygonum sagittatum,

Polygonum alpinum,

POLYGONACE.

Ky Bil) v.49:

Himalaya 7-12,000 ft.

Kulu to Kashmir
(Thomson).

Polygonum polystachyum,

Polygonum tortuosum,

Lear Mareins ENTIRE.
Perats None.

small to medium-size, annual, very variable, the
smaller forms like the last species, but with short
broad-winged leaf-stalks ; leaves in the small form
4-3 In., in the large 1-3 in., broadly ovate, smooth,
rarely hairy, blunt or short-pointed, abruptly or
gradually narrowed into a broadly winged and
sometimes eared leaf stalk, stipules tubular, hairy
or glandular below, not fringed with bristles ; flowers
minute, white, purplish orred in heads, 4-4 in. diam.,
heads in the axils of leaveson stalks, glandular-
hairy at the top, bracts flat, smooth, calyx 4-5-fid,
stamens 6-8, style long with one or two arms,
stigmas rounded; nut enclosed in the calyx,
3-angled, or flattened circular, minutely dotted.

see Prostrate Herbs, Alternate, Stipulate, Simple.
see Prostrate Herbs, Alternate, Stipulate, Simple.

large, rootstock perennial, stem annual, grooved,
pale, smooth or young parts softly velvety ; leaves
3-5 in., lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, long-point-
ed, smooth, short stalked, stipules long, tubular,
loose, upper part soon falling off, not bristly ;
flowers },-1 in. diam., white or pale pink, nume-
rous in terminal crowded broad pyramidal branch-
ing racemes, 12 in. long or more, bracts short,
blunt, flower stalks much longer than the bracts,
jointed close to or further from the flower, calyx
5-segmented, segments nearly divided to the base,
inner segments broad tipped, stamens 8, rarely
less, alternating with glands when present, styles
3;nut1in. long, shining. pale, sharply 3-angled,
longer than the calyx. Aitchison states that it is
eaten raw and cooked, and tastes like rhubarb.

see Shrubs, Erect, Alternate, Stipulate, Simple.

PLANTS OF THE PUNJAB. 217

HERBS, ERECT, WITH ALTERNATE STIPULTE SrmpLEe LEAVES.

Polygonum sibiricum,
POLYGONACEA.

He, Lov: o2.
Himalaya 11-12,000 ft.
Kangra (Edgeworth).

Fagopyrum esculentum,
Buckwheat,

Phaphra, kultu, kathu.
POLYGONACER.

RB. Tv. 55.
Himalaya 5-12,000 ft.

Fagopyrum cymosum,

POLYGONACER.

a: ve ao.

Himalaya 5-11,000 ft.

Simla, in woods (Col-
lett).

Fagopyrum tataricum,

Ugal, kaspat.

POLYGONACES.

iy Be Le vaerbd:

Himalaya 3-12,000 ft.
28

Lear Marcins ENTIRE.
Prrars None.

very small, perennially rooted, stem stout,
branches many, spreading or erect; leaves 1-3 by
4-1 in., narrowly linear, blunt pointed, two pro-
cesses sticking out at the base, leaf stalk thick,
stipules tubular, short, thin and papery; flowers
2; in. long, pink in heads. §-5 in. diam., forming
terminal branched racemes, shorter than the leaves
bracts minute, flower stalks short or long
calyx in five segments, segments broadly oblong,
stamens 5-8, short, with or without alternating
glands, styles 2-3; nut 3-angled, not tightly en-
closed in the calyx, oblong-ovate, black, shining,
equal in length to the calyx. This plant is eaten
by the Thibetans.

medium-size, annual, smooth, branched or not,
cultivated and found as an escape; leaves 1-4 in.
diam., triangular, heart-shaped at the base, short-
pointed, stipules tubular; flowers small, white or
pink in axillary or terminal heads forming stalked
many-flowered cluster, 3-2in. diam., calyx of 5 seg-
ments, segments nearly equal, stamens 8, alternating
with yellow sessile glands, styles 3; nut 7-3 in.,
ovate with 3 sharp angled, much longer than the

calyx.

medium-size, root perennial, branched, slightly
velvety ; leaves 2-4 in. diam., broadly triangular,
sharp-pointed, long stalked, upper leaves, nar-
rower and stem-clasping ; flowers white in racemes,
2-5 in. long, forming long stalked branching race-
mes, flower stalks jointed in the middle, otherwise

like the last species.

very like Fagopyrum esculentum above and also
cultivated, but taller, and the faces of the nut

deeply grooved with rounded angles.

218 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XX.

HERBS, ERECT, WITH ALTERNATE STIPULATE SIMPLE LEAVES.

Rumex nepalensis,
Bock,
POLYGONACES.
BoB St svenoU:
Himalaya 4-9,000 ft.
(12,000 ft. on the
Chenab, Stewart).
Simla (Collett).
Murree (Douie).

Rumex hastatus,

Rumex acetosa,

Rumex vesicarius,

Bladder Dock, Sorret,

Katta mitha, salunz,
chuka.

PoLYGONACES.

10, IBS IL, Wwe Olle

The Salt Range
Trans-Indus Hills.

Baluchistan (Hughes-
Buller).

Phylianthus urinaria,
Huzw'-mani.
EUPHORBIACE.
BAB ivi 20a:
The Plains.

LEAF Mareins ENTIRE.
PETALS NONE.

large, perennial sometimes, stout, branched ;
radical leaves 6-14 by 3-5 in., oblong, ovate-oblong
or triangular-ovate, short-pointed or blunt, base
broadly or narrowly heart-shaped and stalked,
upper leaves not stalked and smaller, uppermost
sessile and lanceolate, stipules tubular, not fringed
soon disappearing; flowers small, green, often
turning red, 2-sexual, in circular clusters at in-
tervals along, nearly leafless racemes calyx of 6

sepals, 3 outer not enlarging, 3 inner

circular
enlarging in fruit, with a tubercle in the centre
and fringed with hooked teeth, stamens 6, styles
3, stigmas fringed, terminal; nut brown sharply
3-angled, enclosed in the three enlaryed hook-

fringed and net-veined sepals.
see Herbs, Erect, Alternate, Stipulate, Lobed.
see Herbs, Erect, Alternate, Stipulate, Lobed.

small, annual, pale green, smooth, branches in
pairs ; leaves 1-3 in., ovate or oblong, base wedge
shaped, rarely heart-shaped or terminating in two
sharp angles, stipules tubular, not fringed, soon
disappearing ; flowers small, pink or white, male
and female separate, in terminal short leaf opposed
leafless racemes, 1-131in. long, flowers on jointed or
unjointed stalks, calyx of 6 circular sepals, inner 3
much enlarged in fruit, thin, 2-lobed at each end,
not fringed, stamens 6, styles 3, fringed, arising
from the angles of the fruit, bent down; nut 3 in.

diam., 5-angled.

medium-size to large, annual, rarely perennial,

smooth, stem and branches angled, angles of

branches, margins of leaves and sepals often

minutely hairy; leaves 3-3 m., in two lines, over-
lapping, oblong or linear oblong, tip rounded or

short-pointed, sessile, stipules target-shaped;

PLANTS OF THE PUNJAB, 219

HERBS, ERECT, WITH ALTERNATES STIPULATE SIMPLE LEAVES,

Phyllanthus simplex,

Phyllanthus niruri,

Sada, huzur-mant,
jeraula,

EUPHORBIACER.

FF. B. I. v. 298.

The Plains to 3,000 ft.

Triumfetta pilosa,

Triumfetta rhomboidea,
Chikti,

TILIACE A.

BB. L.1:; 395.

The Plains to 5,000 ft,
Simla (Collett).

Koti.

Lear Marcins Entire.
Prats None.

flowers minute, green, axillary, nearly sessile,
males and females on the same plant, solitary or
clustered, male flowers, calyx of 6 circular sepals,
stamens 3, rarely 5, more or less united at the
base, female flowers, calyx of 6 oblong sepals,
styles 3, with two hooked arms; capsule 3, in.,
prickly, hard, brittle with three 2-valved lobes,
seeds transversely furrowed. This plant is said to

be used as a diuretic and as a cure for jaundice.
see Shrubs, Alternate, Stipulate, Simple.

small to medium-size, annual, quite smooth,
branched from the base, stem naked below,
branches angular slender leafy; leaves 4-2 in.,
oblong or linear, tip rounded, blunt or sharp-point-
ed, thin, nearly sessile, pale green, often in two
rows overlapping, bluish waxy gloss beneath
stipules minute, awl-shaped; flowers green, very
many, minute, shortly stalked, male flowers soli-
tary, anthers 3, sessile on a short column, styles
ununited, capsule round, hardly lobed, smooth,
seeds with ribs and faint cross lines; otherwise
like Phyllanthus wrinaria (described above) and

with the same medicinal properties.
Lear Mareins ToorHep.

Prrats UNUNITED.
see Herbs, Erect, Alternate, Stipulate, Lobed.

medium-size to large, perennial, smooth, or
velvety ; leaves 2-33 by 14-3 in., broadly ovate, or
4-angled with the lateral angles blunt or heart-
shaped, 3-7 nerved, apex short-pointed or 3-lobed,
toothed, stipules ununited ; flowers } in., yellow in
dense clusters, flower stalks short, buds oblong,
club-shaped, pointed, sepals 5, oblong, concave

pointed, petals 5, oblong, bristly at the base,

290 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

HERBS, ERECT, WITH ALTERNATE STIPULATE SIMPLE LEAVES.

Triumfetta rotundifolia,

Triumfetta annua,
Chikti,

TILIACES.

Tits 183, 115 1 Shay

The Plains to 5,000 ft.
Simla (Collett).

Koti.

Corchorus capsularis,
Jute,

Harrawa,

TILIACES.

FB. 21. 397,

The Plains to 4,000 ft.
(Cultivated or escaped)
Thanesar (Edgeworth)

Lear Marcins ToorHen.
Perats UNUNITED.

stamens 8-15, style thread-like, stigma 5-toothed ;
capsule } in. diam., round or ovoid, white-felted,
prickly, spines 7, in., hooked, smooth, not dilated
at the base, seeds one or two in each cell.

see Shrubs, Alternate, Stipulate, Simple.

medium-size, annual, smooth except for a line of
hairs on one side, which alters at every joint;
leaves 4-5 by 2-3 in., ovate, long-pointed, toothed,
smooth except for a few scattered hairs, long-
stalked, stipules awl-shapped; flowers j in., orange
on stalks, 3-flowered, 4 in. long, opposite to the
leaves, sepals shortly and sharply pointed, petals
nearly equal to the sepals, stamens 10; fruit } in.,
bluish-green waxy gloss, 4-celled, spines long,
smooth, hooked; otherwise lke Zrrwmfetta rhom-
boidea.

medium-size to large, annual, smooth; leaves
2-4 in, ovate-lanceolate, long-pointed, toothed,
rounded at the base, the two teeth furthest back
prolonged into tails, stalk 13 in., stipules thread-
like, as long as the stalk; flowers small, 3 in. diam.
or less, yellow, one or two together on axillary or
leaf opposed stalks, sepals 4-5, petals 4-5, without
glands, stamens few or twice the number of petals,
ununited, style short, stigma cup-shaped ; capsule
1 in. diam., nearly round, depressed at the apex,
ridged, rough with hard tubercles, 5-celled, valves
woody, without cross partitions, seeds few in each
cell, brown, smooth, wedge-shaped. The fibre of
the inner bark forms the jute of commerce.

PLANTS OF THE PUNJAB. 221

HERBS, ERECT, WITH ALTERNATE STIPULATE SIMPLE LEAVES.

Corchorus olitorius,
Jute, or Jew’s mallow,
Banphal, koshta,
TILIACES.

eget. 15397.

The Plains to 4,000 ft.

Corchorus trilocularis,
Kaunti,

TILIACER.

Heep. ..1. 397,

The Plains.

Phalia.

Gujrat Dist. (Douie).
Baluchistan (Lace).)

Corchorus fasicularis,
TILIACE.

Be. 1. 7. 598.

The Plains.

Corchorus tridens,
TILIACES.

at. 1 308.

The Plains.
Baluchistan (Boissier).

Corchorus acutangulus,

TILIACES.

eB: 1.5398:

The Plains to 5,000 ft.

Simla below 5,000 ft.
(Collett).

Reinwardzia trigyna,

Impatiens amplexicaulis,

Lear Marcins ToorHenD.

Prtrats UNUNITED.

very like the last species, but the sepals are
short-pointed, petals longer than the sepals, cap-
sule 2 in., cylindric, beaked, 10-ribbed, 3-6-valved,
valves with cross partitions between the seeds,
beak long, erect, undivided. This plant is culti-
vated as a pot herb and also for its fibre.

very like the last species, but is sometimes
perennial and is indigenous, capsule 2-3 in., 3-4
valved, straight or curved, valves 3-4-angled, with
partitions, rough, beak short, erect and undivided.

very like the last species, but the leaves are
usually smaller, flowers 2-5 on one stalk, capsule
3-7 n., 3 or 4 together, short, nearly cylindric,
valves dawny, almost without partitions, seeds
3-angled, black.

very like the last species, but the leaves are
usually more linear, capsule 1-2 in., crowned by 3
spreading points with tufts of glandular hairs,
valves without partitions, seeds with the ends
abruptly cut off.

very like the last species, but with broader
leaves, capsules 6-angled with three angles winged,
crowned by three more horizontal spreading points
valves with or without partitions.

see Shrubs, Alternate, Stipulate, Simple.

see Herbs, Erect, Opposite, Stipulate, Simple,
Toothed.

222 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY , Vol, XXT

HERBS, ERECT, WITH ALTERNATE STIPULATE SIMPLE LEAVES.

Impatiens scabrida,
GERANIACER.
Ti, 18%, Ie ate, Ae).

Himalaya 7-10,000 ft.

Simla, rare.

Mahasu, common
(Collett).

Murree (Douie).

Impatiens amphorata,
GERANIACES.

HB. Me foe
Himalaya, 5-8,000 ft.
Simla (Collett).

Impatiens Edgeworthii,
GERANIACEA.

IR Bie a6,

Kulu (Edgeworth).

_Into a slender, cylindric, incurved hollow spur 2

Lear Mareins TootHen.

Prrats Ununirep.

large, annual, smooth or velvety, stems succu-
lent, often much branched ; leaves 2-6 in., ovate or
teeth gland-
tipped, sessile or narrowed into a short stalk,
stipules of 2 large glands; flowers yellow, spotted
with brown, 1; in. long without the spur, single on
axillary, usually paired stalks, or on a common 2-6
flowered stalk, 1-2 in. long, stalk of each flower
1-2 in., bracts bristle-like, sepals 8, 2 lateral,
minute greenish, one lower (lip) petal-like, coloured
yellow, broadly funnel-shaped, abruptly contracted

lanceolate, long-pointed, toothed,

in. long, petals 3, one upper (standard) very large
circular with a small green horn-like process on the
back, two lower (wings) with lateral lobes, short,
rounded, terminal, nuch smaller oblong, stamens 5,
anthers cohering above the 5-toothed stigma with
filaments clasping the ovary ; capsule 1-2 in. long,
linear, cylindrical tapering, straight, ribbed, smooth
or nearly so, 5-valved, the ripe valves if shaken
curl up elastically and jerk out the many, scarcely

tubercled, oblong seeds.

medium size, annual, smooth, slender or robust ;
leaves 3-6 in., lanceolate, round toothed, a bristle-
like gland at the point of each rounded tooth, long-
pointed, stalked, stipules of two sessile or stalked
glands; flowers purple, 1-1} in. long less the spur,
in racemes branched or not, or in umbel-like clus-
ters, lip large deep broad, spur 3 in., standard tip
crested, wings white on the lower half; capsule
1-1} in., otherwise like the last species.

very like the last species, but with yellow andred
streaked flowers, bracts broader, lip funnel-shaped
flower main stalks clustered, nearly terminal.

PLANS OF THE PUNJAB.

ho
iS)
Os

Hepes, ERECT, WITH ALTERNATE STIPULATE SIMPLE LEAVES.

Impatiens racemosa
GERANIACER.

HW. B. 1. i. 479.
Himalaya, 5-8,000 ft.
Simla, Fagu.
Narkanda (Collett).

Impatiens laxiflora,
GERANIACES.
1, TBy isan eee

Himalaya, 5-10,000 ft.
Simla, Hattu (Collett).

Impatiens micranthe-
mum,

GERANIACES.

Be Bel. 1. 481.

Himalaya, 6-10,000 ft.

Simla (Edgeworth).

Hattu (Collett).

Changlagalli (Douie).

Impatiens brachycentra,
GERANIACES.
Beebe. 461,
Himalaya, 8-12,000 ft.
Murree (Fleming).

Lear Marcins ToorHen.
Pxerats UNUNITED.

large, annual, smooth, slender, branched; leaves
3-9 in., lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, long-
pointed, round-toothed, teeth or sinus gland-tipped,
leaf stalk 4-2 in., slender, stipules of two sessile
or stalked glands or none; flowers smal], 2 in.
yellow in racemes or umbel like clusters, flower-
stalks slender, 3 in. long, bracts persistent, ovate,
gland-pointed, two upper sepals ovate or oblong
gland-pointed, lower (lip) boat-shaped narrowed
into a slender tapering, nearly straight spur, 4 in.
long, upper petal (standard) not spurred nor winged,
lateral petals (wings) darker spotted, with a long
linear process descending into the spur; capsule

4-2 in.; for other characters see the last species.

like the last species, but the leaves are usually
smaller, leaf stalk longer, stipules always present,
flowers slightly larger ; lateral petals (wings) with-
out the tail-like process, spur longer not straight,
with clubbed tip.

like the last species, but the winged leaf-stalks
are prolonged down the stem, flowers white with
red and yellow spots, much smaller, + in. long, spur
also i in., straight.

medium-size, stem not winged, slender, smooth,
branched; leaves 2-5 in., ovate-lanceolate, round-
toothed, teeth tipped with a glandular bristle, long-
stalked, long-pointed; stipular glands often present;
flowers 1 in. long, white in racemes or umbel-like
clusters in the axils of upper leaves, lip boat-shaped.
spur minute or none, capsule narrow oblong 3 in.,
nearly cylindric, tapering to a point; otherwise like
the rest of this genus.

224 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, XXI.

HERBS, ERECT, WITH ALTERNATE STIPULATE SIMPLE LEAVES.

Psoralea corylifolia,
Babchi.
LEGUMINOSZ.

F. B. I. i. 103.
The Plains.

Malvastrum tricuspida-
tum,

MatbvacEa.

Hee arsine:

The Plains.

Lahore, Delhi,

Rawalpindi. (intro-

duced).

Sida humilis,

Sida spinosa,

Gulsakart, jangli-methi,

MALVACES.
RY Balnes2on
The Plains.

Lear Mareins ToorHen.
Perats UNUNITED.

dotted with
roundish, with

medium-size, annual, branches

glands, leaves 1-3 in., a widely
round-toothed margin, firm, coverd with black dots
above and below ; flowers 4 in., yellow or white,
tipped with purple, 10-30 crowded in long-stalked
head-like clusters, calyx nearly sessile, bell-shaped,
? in., teeth 5, lanceolate, the lowest longest, corolla
projecting a little beyond the calyx, lower petal
keel-shaped blunt, tip slightly incurved, stamens
10, upper stamen united or not with the others in
a tube, style long, thread-like, incurved; pod nearly

round, small, smooth black.

Perats UNITED.

medium-size, branched, covered with simple hairs;
leaves 2 in., ovate-lanceolate, irregularly toothed,
leaf stalk 1{ in., stipules ununited; flowers yellow
on axillary or terminal stalks, 3-4 in. long,
bracteoles 5, narrow, calyx bell-shaped, 5-lobed,
triangular, short-pointed, petals 5, twisted, over-
lapping, longer than the sepals, stamens many,
united below and to the petals, forming a tube,
styles 8-12, stigmas round; fruit of 8-12 dry car-
pels, one-seeded, separating from the central

column, curved with 3 projecting points.
see Prostrate Herbs, Alternate, Stipulate, Simple.

medium-size, perennial, shruby, stems rough with
star-shaped hairs, branches usually armed with
curved spiny tubercle at the nodes below the leaf-
stalks ; leaves 3-2 in., very variable, ovate with or
without a broad apex, apex blunt or notched, base
heart-or wedge-shaped, grey below with star-shaped
hairs, leaf-stalks 3 in., stipules awl-shaped ;
flowers 2 in. diam., white, on solitary or clustered

stalks, jointed near the flower, equal to or longer

PLANTS OF THE PUNJAB. 225

Heres, ERECT, WITH ALTERNATE StipunaTe Simpie LEAVES.

Sida carpinifolia,
Bariara, kareta,
Matbvacez.

F. B. 1. 1. 328.
The Plains.

Sida rhombifolia,
Swet-berela, sahadebi,
Matvacez.

F. B. I. i. 328.

The Plains.
Baluchistan (Lace).

Sida cordifolia,

Kowar, Simak, bariara,
MALvacez.

F. B. 1.1. 324.

The Plains.

Lear Marcins Tooruen.
Perrats UNITED.

than the leaf-stalks, calyx tubular below, sepals 5,
triangular, short-pointed, hairy, petals 5, united
below and tothe staminal tube, stamens many,
united below into a tube; carpels 5, separating
from the central column, crowned each by two long
erect rough beaks, equal to the calyx, seeds one in
each carpel. The roots and leaves are used in
Indian medicine.

like the last species, but without spiny tubercles,
leaves narrower, stipules broader, veined, bristly,
flower stalks jointed near the middle, calyx-tube
nearly round, petals twice as long as the calyx,
yellow, carpels 5-10, wrinkled, beak of two bristles.
Good fibre is obtained from the stems, and other
parts are used medicinally.

like the last species, but larger, leaves squarer
with rounded angles, and tapering at the base,
flower-stalks longer than the leaf-stalks, stipules
longer than the leaf-stalks, carpels 10, beaked with
bristles or not, as long as the calyx.

medium size, annual or perennial, downy with
long hairs; leaves 1-2 in., oblong, heart-shaped,
plunt-pointed, round-toothed, stalk equal in length
to the blade, stipules linear, shorter than the leaf
stalk, soon falling off; flower stalks solitary, upper
very short and crowded, flowers small, yellow, car-
pels beaked with 10 bristles, netted on the sides,
pristles longer than the sepals, covered with stiff
reflexed hairs; in other respects like the last spe-
cies. The flowers in this genus only expand at

noon.

226 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

HERBS, ERECT, WITH ALTERNATE SripuLaTE SimpLe LeEAvEs.

Abutilon indicum,
Kanghi, jhampr.
MatvacEs.

F. B. 1. 1. 326.

The Plains.

Delhi.

Rawalpindi (Douie).

Abutilon bidentatum,
MALvacEs.

He BelsieolO:

The Plains.
Baluchistan (Lace).

Urena repanda,
Hibisens trionum,
Hibiscus solandra,
Hibiscus sabdariffa,
Hibiscus abelmoschus,
hiscus cancellatus,

Pentapetes phoenicea,

Lear Marains ToorHen.
Perats UNITED.

medium-size, annual or perennial, more or less.
downy ; leaves 1-2 in. long, broadly heart-shaped,
short-or long-pointed, coarsely toothed, or nearly
entire, pale and minutely velvety on both surfaces,
stalk longer than the blade, stipules sharply bent.
down ; flowers 1 in. diam., yellow on axillary soli-
tary stalks, longer than the leaf-stalks and jointed
at the top, calyx tubular, 5-lobed, ovate with or
without a hard sharp point, petals 5, spreading,
stamens as in the genus Sida above ; carpels 15-20,
longer than the calyx, with short spreading bristle-
pointed beaks, felted at first, afterwards nearly
smooth, seeds one or more in each carpel, kidney-
shaped, dark brown, covered with minute star-
shaped hairs.

like the last
22-3 hy 2 in., heart-shaped ovate, long-pointed,
round-toothed, downy above and below, stalks of
lower leaves 4-5 in., stipules short, awl-shaped ;
flower stalks 13-2 in., calyx-tube cup-shaped, lobes.
ovate, short-pointed ; fruit 3 in. diam., carpels 20,

species, but perennial, leaves.

smooth, oklong, twice as long as the calyx.

see Herbs, Erect, Alternate, Stipulate, Lobed.
see Herbs, Erect, Alternate, Stipulate, Lobed.
see Herbs, Erect, Alternate, Stipulate, Lobed.
see Herbs, Erect, Alternate, Stipulate, Lobed.
see Herbs, Erect, Alternate, Stipulate, Lobed..
see Herbs, Erect, Alternate, Stipulate, Lobed.

see Herbs, Erect, Alternate, Stipulate, Lobed.

‘
’
E

PLANTS OF THE PUNJAB.

bo
bo
J

Hers, ERECT, WITH ALTERNATE STrpuLATE SIMPLE LEAVES.

Ranunculus hirtellas,
Ranunculus sceleratus,

Ranunculus lztus,
Ranunculus arvensis,

Girardinia heterophylia,

Lear Marcins ToorHen.

Perats None.

see Herbs, Erect, Alternate, Exstipulate, Lobed.
see Herbs, Erect, Alternate, Exstipulate, Lobed.
see Herbs, Hrect, Alternate, Exstipulate, Lobed.
see Herbs, Erect, Alternate, Exstipulate, Lobed.

see Herbs, Erect, Alternate, Stipulate, Lobed.

ALTERNATE STIPULATE LOBED LEAVES.

Reseda pruinosa,

Triumfetta pilosa,
Nichardi,
TILIACES.
Heise L. 1, 394;

The Plains to 5,000 ft.

Simla (Collett).

Triumfetta rhomboidea,

Corchorus acutangulus,

Geranium pratense,
Geranium collinum,

Geranium palustre or
grandiflorum,

Geranium tuberaria,

Prrats UNUNITED.

see Herbs, Erect, Alternate, Stipulate, Simple,
Entire.

medium-size, perennial, branches covered with
soft star-shaped hairs; leaves 3-5 by 1-2 in., ovate,
lower leaves 3-lobed, toothed, covered with star-
shaped hairs on both sides, stalk ? in., hairy,
stipules awl-shaped, bristly, shorter than the leaf
stalk; flowers 2 in., yellow in axillary and leaf-
opposed clusters, main flower stalks hairy, shorter
than the leaf-stalks, minor flower stalks very short,
very hairy, bract awl-shaped, hairy, sepals 5, linear
bristle-pointed, petals 5, ovate-oblong, hairy at the
base, stamens 10 or so, ununited, style thread-lke,
2-5 toothed ; fruit 3 in. diam. including the hairy
hooked spines + in. long, nearly round, 4-celled,
seeds 8, round, dark-brown, flattened on one side.

see Herbs, Erect, Alternate, Stipulate, Simple,
Toothed.

see Herbs, Erect, Opposite, Stipulate, Lobed.
see Herbs, Erect, Opposite, Stipulate, Lobed.
see Herbs, Erect, Opposite, Stipulate, Lobed.

see Herbs, Erect, Opposite, Stipulate, Lobed.

228 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XXT.

HERBS, ERECT, WITH ALTERNATE StipuLate Lopep Leaves.

Peganum harmala,
Harmat,
AYGOPHYLLACES.

F. B. I. i. 486.

The Plains to 5,000 ft.
Kashmir.

Baluchistan (Boissier).

Lourea vespertilionis,
LEGUMINOSZ.

F. B. YT. ii. 154.
The Plains.

Spirzea vestita,
RosacEz.

HB. Lu. 328.
Himalaya, 7-12,000 ft.
Kashmir. ;
Hattu (Collett).

Prtats UNUNILED.

medium-size, root perennial, stem and branches
annual, bushy, smooth, pale-green, leaves 2-3 in.,
much divided, lobes or segments linear, short point-
ed, stipules bristle-like; flowers 4-3 in. diam., white,
solitary, sessile or stalked in the axils of branches,
sepals 4-5, linear, short-pointed, persistent, usually
longer than the petals, petals 4-5, oblong, nearly
equal, soon falling off, stamens 12-15, broad below,
some without anthers, styles twisted, 2-3, keeled
above ; capsule 1-3 in. diam., depressed above, lobed,
splitting into 5 valves, seeds many, angled. A red
dye is obtained from the seeds and different parts
of the plant are used in native medicine.

small, annual, slender, stems finely downy ; leaves
-] in. long, 2-3 in. broad, divided into two equal
lobes, linear, apex of each broadly notched and bris-
tle-tipped, rarely one leaflet on each side making a
compound leaf, side leaflets smaller, obliquely tri-
angular with the point inwards; flowers 4-2 in., in
simple or rarely branched racemes, 3-6 in., calyx +
in., bell-shaped, teeth lanceolate equal to the calyx-
tube, petals 5, standard broad, keel blunt, stamens
10, not all united, style thread-like, incurved; pod
smooth, veined, joints 4-5, and each one seeded, all
included in the enlarged calyx.

medium size, shrubby, root perennial, stems velvety,
very like Meadow Sweet, Spirea Ulmarsa; leaves 2-12
in., irregularly divided into lobes, lateral lobes few
or many, sharply toothed, small, or one or two pairs 13
in. long, terminal lobe 2-6 in. diam., deeply cut into
three to five sharply toothed, long-pointed segments,
upper surface smooth, lower white-felted, stipules
half circular, large, sharply toothed, persistent ;
flowers + in. diam., white in large oblong much
branched terminal clusters, calyx 4-5-lobed, very
small, lobes blunt, persistent, petals 4-5-oblong-
rounded, stamens many, styles many, nearly termi-

nal; carpels many, ununited, woelly, 2 seeded.

229

THE PROGRESS OF THE MAMMAL SURVEY.

In the beginning of March, the Society’s Collector, Mr. C. A.
Crump, was sent to Hast Kandesh. Arriving at Jalgaon on
March 5th, he remained there for five days and did some trapping
in the vicinity of the town. Nothing of any special interest was
obtained, but a fox was seen which appeared to be larger than the
Indian fox (Vulpes bengalensis)* and had a white tip to its tail.
Apparently this must have been the Desert Fox (V. leucopus), a
species according to Blanford confined to the drier districts of
Sind, Rajputana and the Punjab.

From Jalgaon a move was made 8. W. to Parola, where
Mr. Crump went into camp with Mr. A. H. Simcox, I.C.8., from
whom he received much assistance. The country round Parola, being
mostly cultivated with patches of scrub jungle here and there, was
not very productive of specimens, and so, after a short stay, amove
was made on to Bhadgaon on the G. I. P. Railway line and from
there on to Shendurni, arriving at the latter place on March 30th.
Round Shendurni there is extensive cultivation of betel leaf (Piper
betle) in small gardens surrounded by grass ‘tattis,”’ sometimes
about 15 feet high. The gardens are irrigated and make cool
retreats for jackals and cats during the day-time. The cats
(Felis chaus) are very destructive to poultry in these districts and
frequently carry off fowls, before it is dark, within sight of the
owner. The mungoose does not appear to be common in this
part of Kandesh, and hyenas were not met with nor were their
tracks observed. Leaving Shendurni a short trip was made across
the Kandesh border to Fardapur and from there one day was
spent in visiting the Ajanta Caves to obtain bats. ‘Thousands
of bats were found to inhabit the caves, but only two species of
sheath-tailed bats were obtained, and no young were seen. Both
sexes were found in the same cave, but, as a rule, the species were
not mixed. The species were Taphozous melanopogon and 1’.
kachhensis or a species closely allied to it. From Fardapur, camp
was moved back into Kandesh at Jamner, but as the country was
very similar to that which had already been visited, a move was
made to Ghodasgaon, where the country changes considerably .
The Girna river separates the forest land from the cultivated, the

* All scientific names mentioned are merely provisional as the specimens
have not been worked out at the British Museum.

230 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

former stretching to the range which divides Kandesh and Nimar.
The jungle was rather open, but large numbers of Pea-fowl were
to be found. ‘The forests being closed, cheetal were to be seen
in large numbers, and they were very tame. Many were noticed
drinking about 10 a.m. and between 6 and 8 p.m. Sambur, too,
are plentiful, and appear to drink much later than cheetal general-
ly between 10 and 12 p.m. Nilgai, which were very common,
were noticed drinking at all hours of the night, but more especially
between 8 and 10 p.m. Chinkara were seen drinking about mid-
day, and pigs, which were plentiful, appeared to drink just about
the darkening. Many porcupines’ earths were found, but near
Ghodasgaon they had been smoked out by some wandering tribes.
It was noted that most of the porcupine earths had four or five
entrances, two or three being much larger than the remainder,
and that the remains of many chewed sambur and cheetal horns
were to be found lying about in the vicinity.

Mole rats being difficult to trap here, though their workings
were much in evidence, a large number were obtained by digging
out their burrows. A few small rodents, a couple of hyzenas, a
jackal and some bats were obtained at Ghodasgaon, but no mon-
keys were seen, and the natives say they do not visit that part of
the country till after the rains in September.

A move being made to the railway line, train was taken to
Amraoti, and from thence Mr. Crump worked up to Chikalda and
down the Sipna valley to the Tapti river returning to the railway
again at Malkapur on account of the approach of the monsoon.
Chikalda is about 3,600 ft. above sea-level, and is surrounded by
heavy jungle in which sambar, muntjac, four-horned antelope, pig,
panther and an occasional tiger are to be found. A hare similar
in appearance to Lepus nigricollis is not uncommon, but no mun-
gooses were seen, and they were reported as unknown so high up.
The langur, Presbytis entellus, or a rather more brightly coloured
race, is very common, but strange to say was difficult to approach.
The small Bengal monkeys are said to frequent the fort, but only
one was seen, and all endeavours to come across more were of no
avail. A number of mice and rats were caught in the ruins of the
Fort and a few palm squirrels were seen, but they were not at all
common. No flying squirrels or large Indian squirrels were seen
and they are said not to be found there. The results of the Chikalda

-- ae

THE PROGRESS OF THE MAMMALS SURVEY. 231

visit are, it must be confessed, disappointing, as it was expected
that a hill of some 3600 feet would have yielded a rather different
fauna to the surrounding country as is the case with Matheran.

Leaving Chikalda a move was made north to Sembadoh in the
Sipna valley. Fine heavy jungle is found round here, and in the
river there are some good pools. Flying squirrels were fairly
plentiful, but on only one occasion were they seen before dark. As
they sail through the air, they make asort of swishing sound which
ends as they alight on a tree stem with a noise described as
similar to that produced by swinging a piece of sacking against a
wall. While following the tracks of a wounded bear three wild
dogs, two adults and one puppy, were seen and two were obtained.
A few rats and mice were caught and several muntjac and four-
horned antelope were shot.

The total number of skins obtained in Kandesh and the Berars
was about 150, besides one or two birds and a few invertebrates.

Since the last Journal was published, a further sum of Rs. 10,032
has been subscribed, making the total now some Rs. 20,816. This
is not yet however enough to carry out the survey as proposed,
and we hope members who have not already subscribed will see
their way to do so. The Military Secretary to H. H. the Viceroy
has written and informed the Honorary Secretaries that His
Excellency ‘‘thoroughly approves of the scheme the Bombay
‘Natural History Society is attempting to carry out, and hopes
that the results will be successful; *’ and many people at home,
including H. R. H. the Duke of Connaught, have shown their
interest in the scheme by sending subscriptions. It has been
decided to bring out a second collector, as to cover all India,
Burma and Ceylon would take one collector a very long time. The
services of Mr. Shortridge have been secured, and he is expected
out here shortly, and he will at once start to work Southern India
starting at Dharwar. In Mr. Shortridge, the Society have secured
a higly trained collector with plenty of experience of tropical and
subtropical countries. Mr. Shortridge only a short time ago
returned from the British Ornithologists Union Expedition to
New Guinea, and before that had done extensive collecting for the
British Museum in Java and Northern Australia, through the
generosity of Mr. Balston.

2nd September 1911.

232 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vel. XXII.
MAMMAL FUND.
LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS.
Name. Amount,

Rs. A. P.
Amount previously acknowledged - .. | 10,908 15 0)
Anderson, Mrs. J... it os BM 200 0 0
Andrews, G. P. ae oe ae Bs 15 0 0
Ash, H. D. es 30 0 0
Baroda, H. H. Sayajirao, Gaikwad of . a 500 0 0
Battie, ah S. si ae 10 0 0
Beadon, W.R.C. .. one ik - ee all 10 0 0
Beg, Mirza Nazir .. a3 a vt 10 0 0
Bell, E. N. a a ae Pe 15 0 0
Bennett, H. C. Ae ate LAE or 15 0 0
Blathwayt,C. HH. .. Sk Rd us 30 0 0
Boyd, Capt. J. HE. .. 2 Bhi 15 0 0
Bridgeman, Hon. Mr. H. G, oe ae ae 25 0 0
Briscoe, W. F. is Bi ae Pe 15 0 0
Burton, Major R. W. at cas oe 15 0 0
Carmichael, G. , 33 Pi aes 30 0 0
Carter, Major J.B. a Ae 2h 25 0 0
Chico, Re bs ms 25 0 0
Chitty, the Hon. Mr. J ustice C. W. f aes 30 0 0
Congreve,C.R.T. .. f as ay 20 0 0
Cosens, Lt.G.P... J, fs Lys 50 0 0
Cox, Lt.-Col. PR Lee a We a 100 0 0

Cruickshank, W. D. ah “es oe 20 0 On
Dhar, H. H. ‘the Raja of Bs as Lh 500 0 0
Donald, C. H. Ae uf a: 50 0 0
Dumayne, Sir F. G. ae rae - 10 0 0
Dunbar-Brander, A. A. Fe a ow 10 0 0
Dunn, C. W. : Hs as By 15 0 0)
Ellis, E. V. re a6 ey ay 30 0 0
Enthoven, R. E. é ve eo ae 20 0 0
Fenton, Lt.-Col. L. 1D es By f. 25 0 0
Fletcher, T. Bainbrigge oe Ay ie LOS ane 0
Gallie, H. Jal ed ais im af 25 0 0
Gaye, W. C. Las Be a oe 10 0 0
Gibbon, M. C. is on A a 20 0 0
Gore, F. W. Bye Me be nis 5 0 0
Gough, Major H. .. oe a ate 25 0 0
Gregson, Capt. C. D. ae Ve uh 30 0 0
Harter, R. W. : i oe: se 30 0 0
Harvey, Major W. BF, it ie Lh 30 0° 0
Hawley, Capt. W. G. B. ate iP sts 15 0 0
Hayden, H. H. oe ak su as 20 0 0
Howell, E. B. ube ah a ah 15 0 0
Carried over .. | 13,008 15 0

a US

THE PROGRESS OF THE MAMMALS SURVEY.

NAME. Amount.
|

Bese er eae ee
Brought forward 13,008 | 15 0)
Hudson, C. 15 0 0
Hyam, Judah 10 0 0
Hyderabad, H. H. the Nizam of 2,500 | _0 0
Idar, H. H. the Maharaja of . 200 nO 0
Inman, Capt. H. M... is Sp 6 O) 0
Inverarity, J. D. HOOK.) 0
Ivens, J. H. A. NO) ye 0
Jacob, W. R. M. IO iho 0
J ardine, W. E. a0) 0 0
Jeddere- Fisher, H. C. KO © 0
Julius, V. A. PAD Sree) 0
Kemball, H. V. 100, |} 0 0
Kerr, Dr. A. F. G. 2D) ihe) 0
Kerr, Nigel LOM IE AO 0
Kotawalla, Seth Keshrising WG yO 0
Kurundwad, Chief of (Senior) Cae ew 0
Lace, J. H. : 25 0 0
Lamington, Lord 15 0 0
Lloyd, Capt. R. E. AT 3) ed) 0
Logan, R. O. AQ 0
Long, G. R. 2B | a) 0
Lowsley, C. O. Ma HOR ened) 0
Luard, Major C. E. .. DOM an) 0
Macrae, Major J. L.. IQ) 0
Maewatt, Lt.-Col. R. C. LOR en. 0
Macwood, F. M. LOOP RS a0 0
Martindelle, H. E. RO oO 0
Maxwell, R. M. NG 0
Mead, P. J. 25 0 0
Mears, MajorA. . 10 0 0
Mess President, 122nd d Infantry, Quetta 30 0 0
McDiarmid, K. ; 10 0 0)
Millett, G. P. 20 0 0
Milward, R. C. mm 100 0 0
Mitchell, H.H.G. .. 50 0 0
Moule, Capt. H.E. .. 25 0 0
Mullen, JeP: 10 0 0
Newnham, Lt.-Col. A. 25 0 0
Northcote, Lord 150 0 0
Ormiston, W. AO Mere 0
Peters, Lt.-Col. C. T, LO i 0
Pollard, Capt. A. E. St.V. SOshe eal) 0
Pope, oe ae 20 0 0
Purkis, F. C. 10 0 0
Reay, Lord 100 0 0
Rogers, C. G. 25 0 0
Carried over 17,303 | 15 0

234 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXT.

NAME. | Amount.
|
TENS alge eae TPs
Brought forward .. | 17,303 15 0
Saunders, Major F. W. x, 33 oe Gye 0) 0
Sedgwick, 1s ale ie #3 oe 2M: 10 0 0
Sharp, Hon. MTT RV. poten) 8 ce AY 20 0 0
Shipp, W. E. i we Le Ly slaeO 0
Simonds, Capt. M. H. i sh ¢ Digi 0 0
Simpson, J. Hope .. oe = a 32 0 0
Sinclair, R. L. ne e af ye 2o0 le 40 0
Skinner, i. Ri es ie i bk LO ria eg 0
Smales, ©: B. * is oe se 25 Ne a0) 0
Spence, R. A. ae a aie a 20 0 0
Stephens, L. B. ; 4 ae iw 25 0 0
Sulivan, Col. G. D. F. ate Ss ne 30 0 0
Suter, Dr. M. F. a 33 at =e 40 0 0
Symes, Wire: ei ans “is M 15 0 0
Matas ky. J. ae ae ye alte L000 a) 0
Tenison, W. P. ee Bi a ae 15 0 0
Tomkins, Major E. .. sh ae Je 20 0 0
Troup, R. 8. Ps oe 7 A: 10 0 0
Tweedie, A. G. : — eee oe 25 0 O07
Tytler, Lt. -Col. H. ©. M ae rh 15 0 0
Wall, Major F. , a 3 a 10 0 0
Wilson, Lt.-Col. C. H. 1D tae Ae a 25 0 0
Willock, Commander A. R. G., Me a 15 (0) 0)
Worgan, Capt. R. B. Be oD - 10 0 0
(Forrtcn Remirrancys. )
ee
Bailward, Col. A. C. .. sc ged pO
Beddome, Mrs. Jhfil
British Museum Natural History. 100 | 0
Connaught, H. R. H. the Duke of. 3 | 0 |
Cook, Charles 5 | 0
David, Charles 313
Gladstone, H.S. ‘ LO
Poncins, Baron Edmund de AO)
14 Spicer & Sons JES alt
Pym, Francis 6 {13
Stables, Major Alex 2) | 2
Turner, Rowland E. 2170
Tweedy, Sir John 5 | 0
Ward, Rowland 5 | 0
Total ell ee OT EIS. Oi 3 0
Total .. | 20,816 2 0

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.

No. I.—TIGER CALLING LIKE A SAMBUR.

Mr. Seton-Karvr’s interesting account of hearing a sambur ‘belling’ in
close proximity of tigers is very like an experience of mine.

Once at Kamaing in the Myitkyina District, I got kubbar late in the
afternoon thatsome tigers, said to be a tigress and cubs, had got into a herd
of cattle and had killed and mauled a lot of them. I immediately went
out and found that four or five had been killed. I had the carcases
dragged near the only tree, which was unfortunately a bare dead one, and
had a machan built and spent the night in it. Soon after dark I heard the
tigers moving round in the half burnt elephant grass, but they would not
come to the “ kill”. After a time I heard one calling to my right in the
direction of the village, shortly after that I heard a sharp ‘““Sambur-like”
call to my right and slightly behind me; I heard this call at least three
times. A little later I heard an unfortunate cow ery out ; I heard it killed
and the tigers feeding, ( this kill was within 100 yards of my tree). This
cow must have been mauled in the afternoon and left behind when the
others were driven in. Now this “ Sambur-like call ” may of course have
‘been a sambur, but the spot was near a village and must have been very
disturbed in the afternoon, and so would have been a most unlikely
place for a sambur.

In Burma it is a well known fact that tigers often call like a sambur,
this is called by the Burmese “Tit ’’ ing. The above is not the only time

I have heard this calling; on two or three other occasions I have heard.

oO ?

exactly the same call and been informed by the shikaries that it was a
tiger.

I know several other men in Burma who have alsoheard the same call.

In Mr. Seton-Karr’s account he does not say he actually saw the sambur, so

most probably the call he heard was one of the tigers calling to the other.

H. H. HARINGTON, Masor.
Mawnpatay, 14th June 1911.

In the Miscellaneous Notes of the last issue of your Journal there is
included an account of the behaviour of a sambur (Cervus unicolor) in the
presence of tigers near a kill.

Mr. Seton-Karr does not say that he actually saw the sambur hind but
he states that he heard “the sharp clarion call of a sambur hind” and
ends his note with a query “ why did the tigers not molest her ?” I think
the probable answer is that there was no sambur hind to be molested and
that what the writer thought was a sambur hind was in reality one of the
two tigers which he ultimately saw.

236 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX1I.

A tiger frequently makes a noise similar to but slightly higher in tone
than that of asambur. When I first heard this noise and was told by
local jungle people that it was a tiger, I did not believe it, but have since
had proof that a tiger does make such a noise. On one occasion I actually
saw a tigress when making a noise which J at first thought to come from a_
sambur.

The two calls are so similar that even local jungle people cannot always
say whether it is a sambur or a tiger calling, andit is easy to understand
that even so experienced a shikari as Mr. Seton-Karr might be taken in.

JAMES W. BEST, 1.F.s.
Camp Briaspur, C. P.
29th May 1911.

No. II.— YOUNG TIGER ATTACKING HUMAN BEINGS.

At 11-30 p.m. one night in the middle of February some villagers
-came and said a tiger had killed a man and woman in their house and was
still in the house and asked me to come and kill it. I thought the story
was rather queer and, although it was about 5 miles away, I decided to go.

When I got there I found an old woman and a man about 40 years of age
had been badly mauled but were not dead. The door of the hut m which
the tiger was said to be was nearly closed and a big fire lit in front of it.
The hut consisted of four stone walls of about 4 feet and a kutcha grass
root.

I walked round the three walls but could hear nothing and thought it
was a fairy tale that the tiger was inside. On asking what size the ‘tiger
was “ oh bahut bahut burra walla” I was informed. Approaching carefully
towards the door I was greeted by a growl from inside which sounded as if
it came from a large animal. I gota hole made in the roof, big enough to
let my lantern down and then made another low down in the wall,

After looking for a long time I saw the tiger crouched very close to the
ground behind a basket. He appeared big and I let him have 8 bullets.
He never uttered a sound after the first shot, but his position was not
altered, so I did not know whether he was shamming and therefore let him
have the others. I was rather sick to find when he was brought out that he
was only a cub measuring six feet, but it was a lesson as it only shows what.
acub can do. The animal had followed the goats into the house and had
attacked the man and woman, but they scrambled through the door which
closed after them. They are in hospital here, and are in rather a bad state,
the man has a broken arm and a number of wounds and the old woman is
covered with wounds, and it will be touchand go whether she will pull

through.

Muxrtusar, 26th February 1911. H. E. CROSS.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 237

No. U1.—PANTHER AND WILD BOAR.

A rather curious incident occurred to me the other day in a jungle in
this district. I was sitting up over a goat, having seen signs of two pan-
thers (Ff. pardus) in the vicinity.

At about 1 a.m. a panther killed the goat, but the moon had set and it
was too dark to see it, though the black body of the goat was faintly
visible.

Whilst the panther was eating the goat, another animal walked up to
the kill and stood about a yard or two from it looking on. The sound of
tearing and crunching did not stop for an instant, and I came to the conclu-
sion that this must be the other panther whose tracks I had seen.

After a minute or two this animal came towards the foot of my tree and
it was discernible against the whitish grass, I took a shot and brought
it down. It turned out to be a big boar (Sus indicus).

It was apparently in no way disconcerted by the operations of the pan-
ther upon the goat, and the panther cared so little for the presence of the
boar that he never even paused in his meal whilst it walked up to within
two yards.

F. FITZ-GIBBON, Lievr.

JUBBULPORE, 22nd April, 1911.

No. IV.—GOLDEN CAT, FELIS TEMMINCKI, KILLING
BUFFALO CALF.

Through the kindness of Mr. T. Rennie, of the Civil Veterinary Depart-
ment, the Society has received a skin of a Golden Cat killed in Tennasserim.
In forwarding the skin Mr, Rennie writes that it was sent to him by Mr.
G. P. Andrew, 1.c.s., Deputy Commissioner of Mergui, and quotes an
extract from his letter. As very little is known of the habits of this cat
it is worthwhile putting on record Mr. Andrew’s remarks which are as
follows:— :

“The skin of an animal which was speared near Victoria Toint by some
Malays after it had killed a buffalo calf. I am quite unable to identify the
animal, the Burmans, who in such matters are uncritical, call the animal a
“ Cha-Ni ” the Malay word is “ Ri-mao bang sa marah ” the Siamese word
is “ Hau pan deng”. But I gather that all these expressions simply mean
a tiger (or panther ) of a reddish or tawny colour ”’.

BomBay. N. B. KINNEAR.

No. V.-MUNGOOSES IN THE HASTERN GHATS.

Whilst camping this month on Horselykonda, I saw specimens of Her-
pestes auropunctatus, Herpestes smithi, and Herpestes vitticollis. UHorsely-
konda is a small peak in the Eastern Ghauts which runs up to 4,000 feet in

238 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

height and is situated on the borders of Mysore in the Madanapalle taluk of
the new Chittoor District of the Madras Presidency. The peak is well
forested and there was nothing peculiar in finding the Ruddy Mungoose
(H. smithi} there as 1t has a very wide range in the Peninsular. The speci-
men I saw was a peculiarly fine one. It is however not a little remarkable
that the small Indian Mungoose (H. auropunctatus) should occur there as
according to Blanford it is only found in Northern India, not further
South, in the Eastern portion than Midnapur. I saw it in the verandah of
the bungalow in which I was residing running along the bottom of a palmy-
ra bressumer. It seemed quite accustomed to this inverted position about
which, perhaps, there is nothing remarkable in a member of the mongoose
family, but which immediately rivetted my attention. It stopped just in
front of the door of the room I was in and gave me an excellent view. It
was altogether unmistakable and I am quite satisfied as to the species, but
I regret to say I was unable to secure it. I saw the striped neck Mongoose
(H. vitticollis) during a morning walk in the jungle and did not happen to
have a gun in my hand at the time. I happen to know the species having
seen it before on the Western Ghats.

I am aware that this evidence will be found insufiicient to be acceptable
to the Society without the accompaniment of skulls and skins, but it struck
me that were the matter brought to the notice of readers of the Journal it
might induce some few to make closer observations. I think it very likely
that the small mungoose may be found on the hills of the Ganjam, Vizaga-
patam and Salem Districts as well asin Mysore, whereas the striped neck
mongoose may be found in Mysore and Salem, and I would suggest these
as fields for closer observation.

Bewtiary, 27th May 1911. P. ROSCOE ALLEN.

[We have certainly never heard of H. auropunctatus so far south before.
These notes of Mr. Roscoe Allen’s emphasize the great necessity for the
Survey of Mammals which the Society has undertaken—KHps. |

No. VI.—DISTRIBUTION OF THE SLOTH-BEAR (MELURSUS
URSINUS), AND THE INDIAN LION (FELIS LEO).

In reference to the note by Col. Fenton in Vol. XX, No.1, at page 213,
of the Society’s Journal, it is perhaps worth recording that there are at
present no bears in Kutch, nor have I heard of any having ever existed
here before.

As to the Gir Country being suitable for bears, I was told by Hebat, the
Junagadh Shikari, who must be well known to all sportsmen who have shot
in that State, that a couple of bears were some time ago let loose in the
Gir forest, but that they did not long survive, having died from the effects
of swallowing certain wild fruits.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 239

As to lions, they probably did occur in Kutch, not very long—about 80
or 85 years ago. It has been stated in some books on Sport and Natural
History that they were found in Kutch and there are different spots in the
Province known by such names as “ Lion’s Hill,” ‘“ Lion’s Cave,” ete. Also
some of the old inhabitants assert that they have heard of instances,
though rare, of lions having been met with in former times. I questioned
an old Rajput, whom I saw in the districts and who had been keen on
shikar in the days of his youth, if he had seena Lion. This man replied
that he never saw one himself but that he had known people who had. So,
on the whole, there appears to be sufficient evidence to conclude that
lions did occur in Kutch at one time, as they did in Gujarat and in other
parts of Kathiawar, besides the Gir. In Kutch the common term “ Sinh”’
is used for both the lion as well as the tiger, but 1tis more probable that
the animals which, there is reason to believe, existed in Kutch were lions
than that they were tigers.

Ra KG
Buus, 10th March 1911.

P., S.—After I sent my note, dated the 10th March last, my attention
has been drawn by Mr. J.H. Smith to the following note in a book
(Memoir on the Geology of Kutch).

“Tieutenant Dodd says that Burns, writing in or about the year 1830,
mentioned lions, bears, tigers and wolves as to be found north of Bhooj.
none except the latter being now visible ; but that a solitary lion was shot
on the Runn near Bela, supposed to have wandered from Kattiwar.”

Buus, 17th July 1911.

No. VII.—THE BIRTH OF A WILD ELEPHANT CALF.

On Christmas day 1910 my camp was at Kyoukpazat on the Phatashin
stream in the Henzada District. Mr. E. V. Ellis, Deputy Conservator of
Forests, had come over to spend the Christmas holidays with us and to do
a little shooting. During the early hours of the morning we heard wild
elephants trumpeting and making a great noise up the Phatashin stream
and not more than a mile or so from camp, and when we started the first
beat of the morning the elephants were in a little valley just below the
spur on which the guns were posted. The beat proved a blank, for nothing
came out, and although the beaters made a fiendish noise the elephants
did not make off. The next beat wason the next spur and again the
elephants were just behind us. This beat was also a blank. Whilst the
beat was coming along I noticed that the beaters seemed very excited
and kept on saying to one another “let’s catch it after the beat.” So

240 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX],

when they got up to us, I asked what the excitement was about. They
then told me that an elephant had given birth to a calf in the stream and
they wanted to catch the calf, presumably to kill and eat. But as a young
calf was caught and brought to me the year before from a place not four
miles from this place, presumably of this very head, and as I had a deal
of bother over it, not being able to get sufficient milk to feed it on although
Thad bought two cows to supply it with milk. I did not feel like being
saddled with another calf, so told the men that they were not to catch it.
I then told them to take us to the place where the birth took place. This
was in the bed of the Phatashin stream close by, and we soon got to the
spot. The elephant had selected a soft spot in the bed of the stream and
close to the water and dropped her calf there. The ground was a bit cut
up and the Burmans went poking about and soon unearthed a small bag
full of water. After this they crossed the stream which was only a couple
of yards wide (the water part) and dug about in another place where the
ground was turned up, and soon produced another bag, the “after-birth ”
(achin) which was buried about a foot deep in the sand and pebbles. The
Burmans were highly delighted atthe find, so I naturally asked them
what they were going to do with it, to which they replied “why, eat it of
course.”’ They soon had the “after-birth’”’ washed and tied up in their
sheets and were ready to go home and start cooking it, but we were not
done with the beating, so went on and had two or three more beats in
which. we got a barking deer and a great big wild boar which they said
had killed a man on the very spur we got it on not two months before.
The man who was killed had followed up the boar from the paddy fields
and had wounded it with an arrow shot from a cross-bow and on following
it up, the boar charged him. He tried to climb a tree but the boar was
too quick for him and ripped him badly and he died of the wounds after
a few days.

Talking of the parturition of elephants, Lieut.-Colonel G. H. Evans,
Superintendent of the.Civil Veterinary Department of Burma, in his Trea-
tise on Elephants, Elephants and their Diseases, notes on page 96 that
an elephant gave birth to a calf at Pazundaung near Rangoon and that the
Burman attendant stated that the dam ate the “after-birth.” I wonder
if this happens only in the domesticated state or whether wild elephants
eat it too, In the case noted by me the dam certainly did not eat the
“ after-birth” for we found it intact. I have often noticed that domesti-
cated goats, cows, buffaloes and sheep eat the ‘‘after-birth.” I would
be glad if some one would explain the reason of this to me. Does the
dam eat it to clear herself ?

Cc. W. ALLAN,

Henzava, Burma, 26th March 1911. Divisional Forest Officer,

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES, 241

No. VIII.—NOTES ON THE GAUR (BOS GAURUS).

In September 1905 Mr. Aylmer Martin delivered a lecture before the
members of the High Range Natural History Society on the Gaur (Bos
gaurus). Mr. Martin has kindly forwarded the MS. of this lecture to us
and has allowed us to make extracts from it.

Writing of the colour of the head and body Mr. Martin says :—

“ As regards colour, the hair on the forehead and frontal ridge of a
specimen we had alive under almost daily observation at Sothapara for
41 months was slaty grey, black down the front and sides of the face;
the muzzle large and dark slately grey in colour. The greatest spread of
the horns of this specimen was 343 inches.

There are many different shades of colour in a bison’s horns, at the base
a dull slate, giving way, a little further up, to a yellowish tint, which again
turns into a dull greenish colour, getting darker towards the tips, which are
always quite black. The ears are larger in proportion to the head than
those of domestic oxen, and black outside, the rich yellow skin of the
inside showing through ridges of black hair. The eye has been much
discussed and has mostly been described from dead beasts. The Sotha-
para specimen we were careful to make note of, the iris of his eye was a
mottled light brown, and pupils a slaty blue.

He stood 16 hands 13 inches at the shoulder. His body colour slatey
grey onthe dorsal ridge deepening through shades of brown to intense
black on the sides and shoulders, coifee-brown on the hind quarters, turning
gradually to black on the flanks. The hoofs were white, and the legs
white from 2 inches above the knees and hocks outside and from 1 inch
above the knees and hocks on the iszde of his legs.

The hair inside the thighs and armpits was a bright chesnut. The neck
was black and had a large dewlap hanging down to a little below the level
of his knees. I give this description from notes I took from the live
mature animal at the time, and having since examined several bison shot
by myself and others I find that it is accurate enough to pass for them all.
Nevertheless, it contradicts in important particulars the description given
by many well known authorities.”

In regard to the presence and absence of dewlap, colour of eye, &c., about
which there has from time to time been much discussion, Mr. Martin
writes :--

“Sanderson wrote in 1879 his ‘Thirteen years among the Wild Beasts
of India,’ a charming work full of truth and beauty; he is silent on the
dewlap question, but differs from my description in other respects.
Mr. Edward Kindersley, who has shot bison on these hills and elsewhere,
wrote in November 1893 to the Nilyiri News—‘I have never to my know-
ledge shot a dewlapped bison,’ while Mr. A. W. Turner, whose knowledge

242 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, vol. XX,

of game on these hills has never been approached, much less equalled,
told me that all bison had dewlaps. These diametrically opposed obsery-
ations led me to suspect that there might be two varieties of the animal,
one with and the other without dewlaps, and this idea was strongly con-
firmed, when I found to my surprise that the Muduvars on these hills
recognised both varieties and had a different name for each, one meaning
“Cow Cattle’ and the other ‘Buffalo Cattle.’ They even speak of herds
living apart and occupying different parts of the country. Still, the
difficulties in the way of accepting finally, and as a fact, that two different
varieties exist in such close proximity without intermixing, are so great
that I cannot say that my mind is made up on the subject. J must give
you just a couple more references. Long after the question was mooted
Mr. C. E. M. Russell wrote a book in 1910, called ‘ Bullet and Shot,’ in
which he says:—‘ Although, asa rule, a Bison has no dewlap, the first bull
Tever bagged had a well-defined one. Capt. (now Col.) W. (late of the 43rd
O. L. I.) who was with me, and who had shot a very large number of Bison was
greatly struck by the dewlap carried by this animal, a solitary bull with a very
fair head, and he called my attention to rt.’ 1

Mr. Stuart Baker, in an article well worth study, which he contributed
to the Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, Vol. XV, No. 2,
says on page 236, that he considers the dewlap merely an individual
characteristic, and while this may be true, it will be curious if we find
that other characteristics always accompany the dewlap, such as, for
instance, the shape of the horns, and the ram-nosed profile of the
face.

I have dwelt a long time on the subject of the dewlap, because it is
not yet a settled question, and the accepted authorities have still to be put
right in the matter. More particularly it should be noted if dewlapped
bison are ram-nosed, and those without dewlaps straight-nosed, and if
there is any difference in the shape of the horns, or in the breadth of the
skull. Bison should be carefully observed with the telescope, and when
possible with the unassisted eye, before stalking or shooting them, because
the way a beast falls makes it sometimes difficult to see whether the dewlap
18 present or not.

Another much disputed point is the colour of the eye, query,
does it vary? And the ‘white stocking’ has been incorrectly observed
by Sanderson and others. Sanderson indeed makes two mistakes
in one sentence, he writes ‘the legs below the knee downwards, as also »
the forehead, are of a dirty white colour,’ and the beautiful illustrations
in his book bear out these wrong descriptions; the white stocking com-
mences from above the knees as I have already told you, and the forehead
is not of the same colour at all. As regards the size of heads, which will

interest sportsmen more than others, I will not say much because I have

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. ° | 243

written all I know on the subject to Mr. Koechlin, and perhaps it will
appear in connection with the game register he is keeping.

The measurements of the largest pair of horns of Gavaeus gaurus in the
possession of the Bombay Natural History ee, is given in Vol. XV
No. 4, page 706. ;

Since preparing this paper I find that Col. Pollock wrote in the ‘ Zoolo-
gist’ an article in which I see that he did me the honour to quote me,
extensively on the Gaur, his whole article is copied into Vol. XII, No. 1 of
the Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, where some startling
measurements of the Burmese Gaur as compared with the Indian arc
given on page 193.” .

In the jungle close to where Mr. Martin lived for. several years a herd
of about 40 Gaur made their head-quarters and so he had ample oppor-
tunity of observing their habits, which he writes of as follows :—

“ As regards habits, I can only give you my own observations, which are
limited to the High Range, and do not extend even to the Cardamom Hills,
or ghauts. You will find that their habits become modified in the Mysore
_ Bamboo jungles described by Sanderson, and for the Central Provinces
Sterndale gives descriptions. The specimen-hunting American, Hornaday,
describes what he observed on the Anamallays. |

For several years when I lived in the Old Sothapara Bungalow, a herd of
about 40 lived in the jungle opposite, in what is now Gundumallay Estate.
They were very seldom disturbed, and their habits were very regular ; ; they
used to appear in the evening any time after 3 p.m. and graze up the grass,
hills out of sight and return between 6 and 7 a.m. in the morning. But
much depended on the weather ; for, sometimes they would remain out,
much later, and on some occasions I have known them not to return to the.
jungle for several days at a time. They fed mostly on the short grass to
be found at 7,000 to 8,000 ft. above the sea, and also on the course grasses
to be found at the edges of the jungle. Inside the jungle they browsed on,
“ Kurunja ” (Stobelanthes) and bit off the heads of saplings of many sorts,
but more, I think, in idleness than for the sake of food. The Mauritius
and Guinea grass I had at Sothapara was a great attraction to those.
individuals who had once tasted it. Sometimes the bulls were with the
herd and sometimes not ; calves of all ages there always seemed to be, the
young ones being red in colour. The older bulls seemed to wander further
a field than the herd did, but they always were within a few miles. Major
Rodon got a fine 37 inches head which he called ‘Solitary,’ and of course
it was quite by itself when he shot it, but there was only the ‘Gundu’ of
Gundumallay between it and the herd. Mr. Tollemache got a very nice
no-dewlapped bull, with a detachment of the herd which had separated
from the main body as they sometimes did. Mr. W. D. Martin got a 38.
incher up in Benson’s Valley, quite by itself, at a time when we did not

244 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXT.

know quite where the herd was. I got a couple of smaller bulls belonging
to the same herd, when they were quite away from’it. Much has been
written and said about the ‘Solitary Bull’ and some people think that,
any bull found by itself deserves this title. My own impression is that
most of these solitary bulls are really members of a herd within a few
miles, and one is quite certain to meet them with the herd at certain
seasons of the year. What I understand by the Solitary Bull, is the aged
and morose old beast (with horns worn to a stump perhaps), that either
will not or cannot or is not permitted to join the herd. I have known
only one such and he was lame from a damaged hoof, and was shot by a
French Planter called DeFondclair, near Harehatch. There is always
one bull who not only thinks himself to be lord of the herd, but the herd
recognizes him as suchand in certain circumstances he rushes up, to see the
cause of any mysterious alarm.

When I first came to the country I accompanied a friend one evening to
have a look for tracks, and we blundered into a small herd of bison in some
“ Cheppukad ” at the foot of the Shola opposite the Kundale Bungalow,
(there was no such bungalow of course in those days) and we both ducked
down and hid as best as we could, on hearing the stampede around us; in
a short time we became aware of a crashing sound and a snorting beast
approaching us, and my friend Ll. stood up and shot at close quarters
what turned out to be the bull of the herd.

The other time was even more exciting, for my wife and I were out after
ibex, and found a herd of bison on the grass ridge, which. led up to the
ibex grounds on the Kundale Range. The direction of the wind favouring
us, we found an excellent observation place in a cleft between two rocks,
in which grew a small rhododendron tree ; by using both the rocks and the
tree, we were able to shin up the cleft one at a time and get our heads
more or less on a level with the ground on which the bison were lying,
composedly chewing the cud, about 50 yards off. We never knew exactly
why, but we noticed that one by one the bison stood up and took upa
more or less crescent shape formation facing us. J suppose our heads
slowly appearing and disappearing seemed very suspicious circumstance
to them, for after a good gaze in our direction the bull advanced with loud
snorts, pawing up the ground, and tossing up tussocks of grass with his
horns. He actually gave a loud challenge—a prolonged and alarming
‘moo’—quite unlike the grunt of the domestic bull of this country. I had
no thought of firing at him, for I was armed with a ‘450 Express, and only
had with me soft hollow-fronted bullets quite unsuited to meet the frontal
attack this beast made on our position. I should have told you that
another rhododendron was growing with its roots on level with the top of
the rocks, in the cleft between which we were by this time hiding. We
heard the beast ‘go for’ the lower branches of this tree and smash them

ee ee ee ee eee ee ee

ee.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES, 245

up with his horns, after which, with loud snorts he came round to one side,
and as it seemed to me he would soon descend to the same level as
ourselves, and have us at his mercy. I stepped out and faced him at 5
paces, and as he was not quick enough in making up his mind to go, I fired
both barrels into his dewlap, and to my relief he turned and bolted with
the whole herd. We found no blood at all, and I do not know where my
bullets could have lodged. Ihave no doubt these bison imagined they
were being watched by a leopard or a tiger, and not by human beings.

Bison ascended to the highest plateaux, 8,000 ft. above the sea and over
on these hills, and live on them if undisturbed for prolonged periods. In
spite of their shyness and apparent timidity I am quite sure they are
capable of being domesticated at any rate to the same extent as the
‘Gayal’ of Northern India. Some individuals are, no doubt, more docile
than others, as is the case with every cow and every bandy bullock. J
have known bison to feed and drink at all times of the day and night.

About their calls, they make several sounds; along drawn out ‘Moo’
rather like the English short horn, or a low ‘ Moo’ seemingly enquiring as
to the proximity of its neighbours, a rough snort when dashing off in alarm
and several repeated short snorts when challenging, say, a carnivorous or
supposed carnivorous enemy.-

I have known wounded bison to charge, and in one case a Muduvar
nearly stepped on a bull in the Vuttavadi Valley in long grass, and was
gored in the stomach—marvellous to relate he recovered from the horrible
wound.

T do not credit tales of quite unprovoked assault on the part of the

Bison in spite of the above case, where, no doubt, the poor brute was quite

as alarmed as his victim ; it was the result of sudden fright, and not malice
of which I believe this great and noble animal to be incapable.”

No. IX.—THE DOMESTIC BREEDS OF INDIAN SHEEP.

Prof. Cossar Ewart, F.R.S., of Edinburgh and myself are engaged in an
investigation as to the origin of some of the domestic breeds of sheep, a
subject which has been greatly neglected by modern Zoologists, who

- mostly ignore the domestic races. I should be very much obliged if any

members of the Society could supply us with (1) good photographs taken
from living animals of the pure races of Indian sheep, (2) skulls with horns
as large as possible of typical adult rams, (3) a sample of the skin showing
the wool or hair when fully grown. As there has, no doubt, been a great
deal of inter-breeding some local knowledge is necessary in selecting the
specimens. So far as I know at present there are in India the following
distinct species:—(1) the Hunia breed of Nepal with its unicorn variety,
which I believe has been segregated and breeds a proportion at least of

‘246 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

unicorn rams; (2) the big coarse-haired Ladak race commonly used for
carrying burdens; (3) the very coarse-woolled or hairy brown-breed of
Southern India, often kept for fighting purposes ; (4) various races of fat-
tailed sheep originating in the Persian Gulf, probably much degenerated
in India; (5) the black and white Aden breed, and (6) the fine-woolled
Afghan breed of which I know absolutely nothing, except its skin in the
form of a poshteen.

I shall be glad to pay any reasonable expenses entailed in this inquiry,
if any one who is interested will communicate with me. Our difficulties
are increased by the fact that no live sheep can be imported to England

now, except through the Zoological Gardens, and that the Oriental races
seldom live long in this country.

H. J. ELWES.
CoLEsBorN, 22nd April 1911.

[We hope members will help Professor Cossar Ewart and Mr. Elwes in this

inquiry, and we shall be happy to forward any skins or heads for members to
England.—Eps. |

No. X.—WEIGHT AND MEASUREMENTS OF A SEROW.

At the invitation of a friend, I was out shooting the other day on a tea
garden some two miles below the station of Kurseong. We first beat a
precipitous hillside (elevation about] 1,800’) covered with light bamboo and
scrub jungle. The luck was all on my friend’s side, the result of two barrels
and a third to “mak sicca” being a Barking deer (Cervulus muntjac) and a
Serow (Nemorhedus bubalinus), the measurements of the latter, taken by
myself personally, were as follows :—

' Length, tip of muzzle to root of tail .. 5/-4"
Do. do. including tail .. 57-7"
Height at withers .. ai ee Sey
Girth behind shoulder... at ne) oe
Length of horns .. “a af oh tales
Weight 2 ay ts A . .260 lbs.

The above was a female and seemed in first class condition. The flesh
which we tasted we thought somewhat resembled beef.

Lower down in the Balasar valley we were lucky enough to secure a
woodcock, and flushed a second, which however was far too wary a bird to
leave the bamboo jungle, though the beaters did their best to make him
show himself. A Kalij and some other birds ended a most enjoyable little
shoot.

ALEX. M. PRIMROSE.
Loneview, T. E., Punxasari P. O.,
16th March 1911. :

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES, 24

co |

No. XI.— WEIGHT AND MEASUREMENTS OF A GORAL.

My collector yesterday, when out after birds at an elevation of about
3,500! came across a Goral (Cemas goral) (which I take to be a young
male) which he secured. The measurements read as follows :—

Total length (between legs) muzzle to root of the tail .. 412”
Tail without hair a ie be oe ay. Oe
Tail, including hair .. a ae ne ee pap LOSE
Height at withers... a Bs “ ve .. 263!
Girth at shoulder... a aif i ae te 28H
Ear from base at tip .. ay th ee an OU
Elon, nicht)... ft is oF we Me bs gunkonmd
Do. left me 1, He Ae ES nye ARAM OM
Weight a Pe ng ast hs He .. 06 lbs.

A. M. PRIMROSE.
Loneview, T. E.,
Punxaparti P, O., 4th August 1911.

No. XII.—STRANGE MORTALITY AMONGST BLACK BUCK
(ANTILOPE CERVICAPRA).

In Vol. XVIII, Part 2, pages 493-4, some notes appeared under the
heading “ Do wild animals die a natural death.” In these notes attention
was drawn to the fact that, in spite of the numerous herds of buck abound-
ing in certain localities, sportsmen rarely, if ever, found a buck dead, which
appeared to have succumbed to natural causes, nor do they, I believe, meet
with natives who admit having found animals dead without being able to
assign a cause. The following facts may not be without interest. In
December last Colonel Farmer and I were out on some work on the Farm
at Hissar in the Punjab. On our way home one of our Camel Sowars no-
ticed a buck lying stretched out in an open place. On going to the spot we
found a very fine buck lying quite in the open and evidently not long
dead. We examined the carcase carefully and so did the men but we
failed to find any wound or injury. There was a greenish watery dis-
charge from the mouth and nostrils. The animal was in splendid condi-
tion. We hoisted the buck on a camel, brought it in and made a post-
mortem. The lesions, we observed, were those of gastro-enteritis, as if the
result of some irritant poison. The Bir Chuprassis were warned to keep
a sharp look-out in case there was disease prevalent ; some two days after
a doe and fawn were found dead and brought in, we made jpost-mortems
on these animals and the appearances presented were exactly the same
as those seen in the buck. We did not hear of any other deaths, and
there were no cases of sickness or death among the stock grazing over the
country. It is strange that these animals should have presented similar

248 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol, XXI.

post-mortem lesions ; other animals may have succumbed, but we did not
hear of any. There is no question that once vultures become aware of the
presence of carrion, it does not take long for them to dispose of it. We
saw them dispose of the carcase of a fine donkey, in,so to speak, the
twinkling of an eye. The number of vultures which fed on the carcase of
this donkey would have consumed a buck in about seven minutes.

G. H. EVANS,
us Lieut.-Colonel.
Lawore, 21st April 1911.

No. XIII.—LARGE HEADS OF MALAY SAMBAR AND BROW
ANTLERED DEER.

I measured the horns of a Malay Sambar (Cervus unicolor equinus), the
property of Mr. Stile of the Burma Oil Co. at Magwe, and they far
exceed the record mersurements I sent you some time ago (B. N. H.S8.
Jour., Vol. XIX, p. 254). ‘They are: left horn 38”, right horn 373”; girth
10"; tip to tip 19”, brow tine 22”.

I recently shot some thamin (Cervus eldi) in the Prome district and the
largest head measures: left horn 49”; brow antler 17”, circumference 6".

tight horn 413", brow antler 17", girth 6’, Points 6 x 7. Tip to tip 19”,
spread 352”. Height at shoulder 44”.
Will you please tell me what constitutes the record for thamin ?

H. J. DAVIS, Fr. a. s.
Geologist,
Burma O1n Company, Limirep.
YEUANGYAUNG.

[The Sambar head is three inches longer than the previous record and with
much longer brow tines.

According to the Records of Big Game, 1907 Edition, the record Thamin head is—
length 42’, circumference 5”, tip to tip 29”, width inside 24”, points 3 x 2.—EDs. |

No. XIV.—CROW AND ITS FOOD.

In order to study the habits of some carrion-feeding birds, I happened,
in December 1910, to pay a visit to Dhappa, a suburb of Calcutta, where
all the refuse of the town is thrown. While there, my attention was
attzacted by the movements of a Crow (C. splendens), and on close examin-
ation, I noticed that it was feeding on aquatic insects, which it captured
in a very peculiar manner from a large pool of dirty water. It hovered
over the surface, at a height of about 15 feet, with its head down, and
when an insect attracted it, it would plunge into the water, only to rise and
repeat the performance again. The insects were caught with the beak,

and during the downward swoops half the bird’s body used occasionally

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 249

to be submerged in the water. I had a long distance to go that day
and was unable to devote much time to this interesting bird, which seemed
to have adopted a new method of obtaining its food. And what is more,
it was no “prentice hand” at the game. Its whole proceeding was so
like that of a kingfisher, that 1 could not help thinking that this was a
typical example illustrating how a change in the conditions of life may
lead to the development of a new instinct, which, if continued for a sufh-
ciently long period, might, as remarked by Romanes, alter the ancestral
instinct to meet the requirements of a novel environment.

P.T. L. DODSWORTH, F.z.8., M.B.0.U.
Catoutta, 27th February 1911.

No. XV.—NOTES RELATING TO THE HABITS AND NIDIFICATION
OF THE BLACK-HEADED SIBIA, ZIOPTILA
CAPISTRATA, (VIGORS).

The Black-headed Sibia is a common bird throughout the North-West
Himalayas, and is very abundant in the neighbourhood of Simla. It fre-
quents the outer ranges of these mountains between 5,000 and 8,000 feet,
but is most plentiful at about 6,000-7,000 feet. It is a permanent resident
throughout its habitat.

Hill-sides and ravines covered with dense, moist forests, especially oaks
and other large trees, thickly coated with moss, are its favourite resorts. It
is strictly arboreal, keeping generally to high trees, though occasionally it
is to be seen on small ones, and alsoon bushes. It is very active ; con-
stantly moving in and out of the smaller branches, or hopping along the
larger ones. When searching for food, it frequently clings to a twig, and
turns upside down hike a Tit. When alarmed or startled, the crest is
erected, and a harsh danger note emitted.

During the summer months itis usually to be seen either singly or in
pairs, but at other seasons in small parties of three or four. It is a very
noisy bird, and one of its loud shrill, ringing notes, which may be likened
to the syllables “ tiri-reré-réré-ree”’ is to be heard throughout the year.
Hutton has syllabized another ofits notes as “ tittéreé-tittéreé-twéeyd,” the
last, as observed by Scully, “being uttered after a short pause, and in
a more subdued tone.” Major Magrath remarks :—“The note of this Sibia
is a single pretty whistle pitched in a high key, and repeated four or five
times rapidly. Ata distance it sounds like the tinkling of a little silver
bell. When hunting for food, the note is a soft ra%tling chuckle. In
addition tu its characteristic note of a very high pitched and quickly
repeated “ting,” “ting,” “tng,” it has an alarm note like the Thrushes
(Merula), only more rapidly repeated, and not so loud.”

250 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX1,

It is a shy creature, though at times I have noticed it feeding on trees,
growing by the side of public roads, and apparently quite indifferent to the
passers below.

Insects appear to constitute its chief diet, but the gizzards of several
that I have examined, from time to time, contained berries, seeds, and
other vegetable matter. The Rhododendron trees, when in flower, have a
great attraction for these birds, and sometimes as many as half a dozen or
more may be counted on a single tree, eagerly searching for insects, which
are likewise attracted by the flowers. In order to secure these insects, the
birds plunge the whole of their heads into the flowers, and getting the
pollen smeared on to their heads and cheeks, present, at close quarters, a
most comical appearance. Any little stray Tit or Ixulus, which happens to
visit a tree on which these Sibias are feeding, is immediately driven
away in a most pugnacious manner.

References to the habits of this bird are meagre, but I have been able to
collect the following :—

Hutton states:—“ At Mussoorie this bird remains at an elevation

of 7,000 feet throughout the year, but I never saw it under 6,500
feet.”

Jerdon writes : “It is one of the most abundant birds about Darjeeling.
It frequents the highest trees, climbing up the larger branches, and cling-
ing round and below the smaller branches, almost like a Woodpecker or
Nuthatch. Itis often seen alone or in pairs, but occasionally in small
parties, and is constantly uttering its twittering call, often answered by
one at some little distance. Itis very fond of concealing itself in the
thick masses of Epiphytic plants found on all lofty trees in Sikkim, and its
favourite food is the fruit of the Lpiphytie andromede, so abundant about
Darjeeling ; it occasionally, however, picks insects from moss or crevices of
the bark. Ion one occasion saw it at Kurseong, 4,500 feet high, in winter,
climbing up and down the thatched roof of a bungalow.”

Stoliczka in his Ornithological Observations in the Sutlej Valley says :—
“Rare about Kotegurh between 5,000 and 7,000 feet; chiefly frequents
brushwood and low forests; generally feeding on insects.”

Scully in his contribution to the Ornithology of Nepal remarks :—
“Common on the hills round the Nepal Valley, at elvations of from 6,000 to
8,000 feet, but never seen in the central woods ; in winter it is also common
in the upper part of the Chitlang Valley. It principally affects large tree
forest, butis often found in dense bushes on steeply sloping hill-sides; it
is fond of the moss-covered branches of the large trees, to which it occasion-
ally clingshead downwards. In winter it is social, very bold and noisy, its
ery then resembling the scolding alarm note of Pycnonotus pygaus, but
louder and more harsh. In the breeding season, May and June, only single
birds or pairs are seen.”

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES, 251

‘Gammie observes :—‘‘ As might be expected from the bird’s habit of
feeding on the insects on moss-covered trees in moist forests, the nests
were in forest by the side of streams.’

' Oates notes :—‘“Frequents high trees, feeding on fruit and insects.
Found throughout Himalayas from the Hazara country to Bhutan at
elevations of from 5,000 to 8,000 feet.”

Major Walton in his Notes on birds collected in Kumaon, says : “ Very
common, especially on the edge of forest. It has avery loud, shrill song,
which it sings perched upon some conspicuous branch. Besides this, it has
a variety of very harsh notes.”

I think the measurements given by Oates in the ‘“‘ Fauna” for this species
are alittle small. Selecting three Simla specimens at random in my collec-
tion, I find that the length varies from 9°4” to 9:9"; the expanse from
11-5" to 12:6"; the wing from 3:9" to 4°25"; the tail from 4:25" to 4°75";
the brill from gape from 1' to 1:05”; and the tarsus from 1:1” to 1°45”. Of
course the case may be different with a large series of birds from various
parts of these mountains, but judging from the measurements given by
Seully (8.F. Vol. VIII, p- 292) of 18 Nepal birds, it would seem that
specimens from the EHastern Himalayas are, on the whole, slightly smaller
than those found westwards. Hume, however, commenting (Rough Draft, p.
267), on the separation by Gray of the Western bird from the Nepal form
as a distinct species, under Hodgson’s name Sibia migriceps, observed that
the only difference which he could detect was that eastern specimens were
a shade brighter coloured.

The female in this species is the smaller bird.

The mouth is pale fleshy.

In the description of this species, Oates makes no mention of the facts
that the feathers of the head are white shafted for their basal halves, and
that the chin feathers are whitish, or very pale fulvous (more so in females)
passing into the rufous of the breast. Again in the females, the head fea-
thers are sometimes dark sooty-brown. The collar round the wpper portion
of the neck is not drght but pale rufous. The lesser wing-coverts in my
specimens are not rufous, but dark brownish-grey mixed with black; the
primaries are distinctly insinuated towards the tips; and the tertiaries,
besides being pale shafted for their entire lengths, are usually edged with
black on the inner margins.

On three or four occasions, I have had the good fortune to witness the
courtship of these birds, which is rather amusing. One runs, or rather hops,
along a branch, with drooping wings and cocked tail, till it reaches its mate,
and then both birds sit, side by side, with ruffled feathers for a few seconds,
after which this process is repeated over and over again ; the birds eventually
flying off to another tree, and commencing afresh as before. A peculiar sharp
twitter or chuckle is emitted by one of the birds during these antics, but the

252 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

latter all end here, and must presumably be only the “ preliminaries,” for 1
have never yet seen a pair 7m copula. I must not forget to mention here two
other points. The first is that I have usually noticed more than two birds
taking part in these courtships, and the second is that thehens in this
species sometimes appear to court the cocks. On the 25th June 1911 I came
across three birds—a large one, and two small ones—indulging in the antics
already described. The large bird was a cock, and the two small ones were,
I think, hens ; and I must confess that their behaviour gave me the impres-
sion that they were fighting with each other for the possession of the male.
One of the small birds drove the other small one away, and then she
squatted on a branch by the side of the large bird. Just as they got to-
gether, I shot the couple, and on dissection, they turned out, as I suspected,
to be of the opposite sexes. Now the bird that had been driven away was,
as already stated, a small bird, and I think there can be little doubt that
ib was another female. In spite of repeated attempts, however, I failed to
secure it, for had I succeeded, all uncertainty in the matter would have
been removed, still I have no doubt whatever in my own mind that it was
a female, All this behaviour on the part of the hens sounds very unladylike,
1 know, andis at variance with Darwin’s theory of Sexual Selection, to
wit, that among all species of animals there is a competition among the
males to secure females as mates, but I take this opportunity of putting
on record what I think to be true.

Hume states that this bird “lays during May and June, and perhaps
part of July: ” the earliest and latest dates mentioned in his work “ Nests
and Kggs,” (2nd edition), on which eggs were found are :—

Earliest date .. .. lst May =. .. Sikkim: 2 fresh eggs.

atest date... Seen LOblaiednaliv ee .. Naini Tal: this nest was
really found on
llth July “con-
taining two chicks
not a day old.”

My earhest and latest dates are 9th June, (8 semi-incubated eggs), and
“tn August (3 fresh eggs), respectively. I may, however, mention that on
the 9th May I found a nest containing two young ones, about a week or
ten days old. The eggs in this case must have been laid some time
during the third week of April, but this is exceptional. In these parts May
and June are undoubtedly tke months during which the majority of these
birds lay ; most eggs are, however, to be taken in June. In regard to the
breeding time of this species, Captain G. F. L. Marshall notes :—“ Nest
building commences May : Eggs taken at Murree on 5th June, in Kumaon
on 29th June and 3rd July : season ends. ”

These Sibias never breed} in company, and they only rear one brood
annually.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES, 25

The nests are generally built either on trees or bushes on the edges of
forests, though it is by no means unusual to find them towards the middle,
or in the heart of a thickly covered hill-side.

The nests are placed either at the ends of branches, or on one of the
upper forks, or where several small twigs shoot upwards from a horizontal
branch,and no matter what their position,they are, as a _ rule, well
concealed. In fact, they are very difficult nests to find, but the birds
themselves sometimes give away the show by uttering a sharp twitter, if a
person happens to approach too close to the tree containing the nest.
And here I take the opportunity of giving other oologists a “tip.” When
the hen is sitting on eggs, the cock generally hangs about in the vicinity,
and when his loud notes are heard constantly issuing from a particular
tree, it is always best to examine carefully, not only that tree, but all the
other likely ones close by: by observing this, I have been rewarded on
two or three occasions by finding the nests-on the last, I remember get-
ting a beautiful clutch of three fresh eggs.

So far as my experience goes, the trees which are preferred in Simla for
nesting by these birds are either Oaks or Rhododendrons. Only once I
have found a nest placed on a small Holly.

The heights of the nests varied from 8 to 60 feet, but the average of 17
nests was 263 feet.

The nests are neat cup-shaped structures, composed exteriorly of a
layer of moss, in which a good many leaves, strips of bark, and cobwebs are
occasionally incorporated, and lined interiorly with the roots of the
maiden-hair fern and other plants. One nest, which I have in my collection,
is of a very unusual shape: it is something like an inverted cone, and is
7% inches in height. It was placed against the trunk of a medium sized
Rhododendron, and was beautifully concealed by some twigs shooting at
right angles from below it. The drawing below shows the difference in
shape between this nest and that of a normal one.

The materials composing the nests are firmly interwoven together, and
the structures themselves are securely attached to the surrounding twigs.
Some of the nests situated at the extreme ends of branches appeared to
occupy most precarious positions, but I have never yet known one to be
blown down by the wind.

The dimensions of six nests (excluding the abnormal one) were as
follows :—

Diameter of egg-cavity.. m ov

Depth of ditto .. na eA .. varies from 1°75” to 2:2”
External diameter S x DES eA ol toa
Height. . ai a, as An bias Py 3” to 3°5"
Thickness of bottom .. - bigs 3 iM tod6!

Thickness of sides a ie BOK fp Sa OSL GONE noe

:254 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL, HIST. SO CTE Le MOL ONoe

Both birds share in carrying materials, and in building operations. I

have, however, on one or two occasions noticed that the cock brought the
materials, and the hen alone was the architect. Once a site has been

chosen, building operations progress with great rapidity, but I have not

yet been able to ascertain the exact length of time taken by the birds in,

constructing a nest. When the latter has been completed, a very short
period seems to elapse before the first egg is laid.

These Sibias have a peculiar habit of deserting their nests on the least
provocation—merely climbing the tree and only peeping into the nest in
some cases, is enough—and it is, therefore, most difficult to make any obser-
vations. I have been unable to ascertain the time which elapses between the
laying of the eggs, but the hen begins to brood after the first egg has been
laid. She is very wary, and genearlly leaves the nest long before a person
gets to the tree. So far as my experiences go, I donot think that the
cock takes any part in the hatching of the eggs.

The number of eggs varied from 2 to 8. In one nest I found a solitary
chick wriggling out of its shell, and the largest number of young found

in a nest were two.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.

1S)
or
Or

Owing to the difficulties of examining the nests referred to above, lam
unable to give the period of incubation, but I doubt whether it exceeds
14 days.

Both birds feed the young, but there are gaps inmy notes as to how
long the latter remain in the nest. Ihave never noticed them following
the old birds about, but have no doubt that they must do so for some
time like other young birds.

The only reference to this bird’s nest which I have been able to find,
since the publication of the 2nd edition of Hume’s “ Nests and Eggs”
is that by Lt.-Col. R. H. Rattray in his “ Birds’ Nesting in the Murree
Hills and Gullies”” (Journal, Bombay Natural History Society, Vol. XVI,
p. 423). He says: ‘“ The Black-headed Sibia is fairly common. Nests very
hard to find; they are generally high up in a dense fir tree. The nest
is avery neat structure, and generally placed low down in a bough.
Eggs pale blue, in some almost white, spotted and boldly blotched with
red marks like dried blood, and a few subsidiary markings greyish purple.
The birds often give away the nesting site by keeping up a shrill ery.
They desert the nest if the tree is climbed, even when the nest is not
touched by hand. I have taken nests both at Murree and Dungagali.”

On looking through my notes relating to the various nests taken of this
species, I reproduce one, under date 8th July, which is rather curious
“Found a nest on 20th June, containing two fresh eggs, placed at the’
junction of several upright twigs shooting from the horizontal branch of a
small Rhododendron ; exact height from ground 25 feet: elevation 6,000
feet: hen shot off nest. Both nest and eggs removed. On passing this
spot a few days afterwards, wz., on 8th July, I happened to look up at
this tree, and was surprised to see that another nest had been constructed
in identically the same place, and that it contained 3 fresh eggs! The hen
was sitting at the time.”

The eggs of this bird are, perhaps, the prettiest ones I have ever seen
up to this. For a detailed description of them, I would refer the reader to
Hume’s admirable account in his “Nests and Eggs of Indian Birds,” 2nd
Edition, Vol. I, p. 134. ~

In length my eggs varied from °95” to 1:12”; and in breadth from -67”
to -75" ; but the average of 14 specimens measured was 1” x -71".

The weights of 8 fresh eggs were: 72, 75, 60, 633, 66, 62, 65 and 68
grains. Average weight = 66:4 grains.

The weights of 3 semi-incubated eggs were: 59, 56, and 54 grains.
Average weight = 56'3 grains.

P. T. L,. DODSWORTH, rf.z.s., M.B.0.U.
“CaRLTON GROVE, ”’
Simia, S. W., 19th July 1911.

256 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXI,

No. XVI.—A NEW BAR-WING FROM BURMA.

In the Bulletin of the Brit. Ornith. Club Vol. XXVII, p. 9., Major
H. H Warington described a new Bar-wing from Burma as follows :—

Actinodura radcliffet. sp. n.

Adult male.—Differs from A. ramsayz (Walden) in having the forepart
of the head and crest darker ferruginous, the general colour of the upper
parts ochraceous, instead of cinereous olive-brown, and the throat, breast
and sides of the body rich ochraceous ; the abdomen conspicuously white,
and the feathers of the throat have rather conspicuons blackish shaft-
streaks. Iris brown; bill dark brown; legs pale brown.

Total length about 9°7 inches; culmen 0°8; wing 3:6; tail 50; tarsus 1-2.

Haittat—Ruby Mines District, Upper Burma.

Type.— § Ruby Mines District, 24-3-1910.—Obtained by Major H. Delmé
Radclife. Presented to the British Museum (Natural History).

No. XVII.—CURIOUS BEHAVIOUR OF A MYNA.

While in camp in a mango bough last cold weather, I noticed my tame
Myna going through most curious antics. He first bent his tail down
almost perpendicular to the ground, and then putting his head between
his legs rubbed his beak up and down the tail feathers, so vigorously that
he fell nearly head overheels several times. On looking more closely, I
saw that he was picking up one by one the large red ants which live on
mango, and killing them by rubbing them against the stif tail feathers in
the way Ihave described. He killed or maimed a dozen or more in this
way while I was watching him. He did not attempt to eat them.

F. B. SCOTT, Lizvr.

Moussoortn, 19th June 1911.

No. XVIII. NOTES ON BIRDS ROUND RAWAL PINDI.

Cross between Molpastes leucogenys and M. intermedius.

On June 22nd I found a bulbul’s nest in a bush, and seeing that the
sitting bird had red undertail coverts,I put it down as M. intermedius.
But when she left the nest she was at once joined by a M. leucoyenys.
Next day I assured myself that this was the pair and secured both birds,
to find that the hen was not M. intermedius. On comparison with other
specimens, it is clear that the hen herself must be a hybrid—roughly de-
scribed it is of the size and appearance of leucogenys, but the ear coverts
are light brown, and the undertail coverts red tinged with yellow. The
eggs, 3 in number, were partly incubated and small, measuring 2:10 x 1°70,
2°25x1:75 and 2:10x1°65, cmm. respectively. The nest was made of
coarse dry grass, etc., and lined with finer grass, being rather more sub-

stantial than most nests of leucogenys.

i)
Or
x]

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES,

Niltava sundara, Hodgs., at Murree.

In the Fauna, Vol. II, p. 41. The Himalayan distribution of this bird is
given as “from Simla to Assam,” hence it may be of interest to note that
in May and June of this year I found this one of the common birds in the
jungles at Murree. It frequents bushes and the lower branches of trees,
and when one approaches near to its nest, it has the habit of sitting in
one spot and uttering at intervals a dull squeaking note, so that it is hard
to spot. It occasionally spreads or raises its tail. The nests are hard to
find, their sites being similar to those adopted by English Robins when
pbuilding on or near the ground: they are of moss, lined with fine roots or
stems, and the eggs are similar to the lightly marked variety of Robin’s
eges.

I also took on May 30th a fresh clutch of four eggs of Petrophila erythro-
gastra (Vig.) the chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush whose western limit
is given in the “Fauna” as Chamba. The nest was composed entirely of
pine needles and was placed in a small tunnel in a bank. They were
pinkish buff in colour, closely speckled with a darker shade of the same.

H. WHISTLER, °
Indian Police.
Rawat Pinp1, 30th June 1911.

{In Captain Whitehead’s paper on the birds of Kohat, which was reprinted
from the Ibis in the Journal, Vol. XX, p. 182, there are some remarks on a
series of hybrid bulbuls, which are said to be crosses between M. interme-
dius and M. leucogenys. Mr. Whistler’s bird, which he has kindly forward-
ed for examination seems to agree fairly closely with No. 68992 of Captain
Whitehead’s series.

From M. intermedius this hybrid differs in being rather lighter, the
abdomen dirty white and the flanks grey. The ear coverts are a pale
washed out brown and the under-tail coverts are yellowish orange shading
into washed crimson at the tips.

N. B. KINNEAR. |

No. XIX —NOTES ON THE NIDIFICATION OF MICROCICHLA
SCOULERI, (Vigors), THE LITTLE FORKTAIL.

The eggs of the Little Forktail have, so far as lam aware, not hitherto
been taken, and the following particulars in regard to its nidification will,
doubtless, be of considerable interest to naturalists.

_ On the 13th May 1910, while out searching for nests by the side of a

stream in the neighbourhood of Simla, at an elevation of about 6,500 feet,

I came across a pair of these birds, which appeared to be courting, and

while watching them, I saw them twice im copula. Making sure that the
33

258 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XX.

nest was somewhere in the vicinity, i stationed men to watch the spot
for several days, but in spite of a most diligent and exhaustive search,
the nest could not be located, and the birds subsequently deserted this
portion of the stream.

The following year one of iny hunters reported on the 24th April that
he had found a nest of this species by the side of a stream, about three
miles from Simla in a southerly direction, near the Behar village in Keon-
thal territory, and that it probably contained eggs, as the old bird was
sitting hard. On the 26th instant, accompanied by my friend, Mr. W. A.
Hughes, I visited the spot—an ideal haunt for this intrepid little bird.
he water from the stream rushed down a wall of rock fully 125 feet or
more in height, and fell below with a deafening noise in a dense mass-of
foam and spray. Here about 50 feet above us, in a small niche in the face
of the wall by the side of the water, and over which a small slab of stone
projected, was placed the Forktail’s nest. Some moss was growing below
it, and as the sides of the latter were composed of the same material, it
blended admirably with its surroundings. So well was concealment
effected, that it would have been utterly impossible to have discovered
the nest, unless betrayed by the birds themselves; and, indeed, its exact
position had only been determined by watching their movements.

On our arrival, only one bird was noticed searching actively for food along
the slippery wall of rock, and just as we got to the bottom of the Fall, the
other one, apparently alarmed by our presence, hurriedly left the nest. I
had decided that the shooting of the bird (for although by now the iden-
tification was complete, yet I wished to leave no grounds for doubt), should
devolve on Mr. Hughes, and right well did he do his share of the business.
After leaving the nest, the old bird (it turned out subsequently to be the
hen) flew down stream for afew yards, and settled on a prominent stone,
thus affording an excellent shot, and which my friend readily availed
himself of. Mr. E. C. Stuart Baker, F.L.S., F.Z.S., M.B.0O.U., very kindly
identified the skin for me, and unhesitatingly pronounced it to belong to
our bird.

The nest was reached by means of a rope thrown from above, and con-
tained one ege on the point of hatching off, and one young, about a couple
of days old.

The egg measured ‘8’ x °6"; and its weight was 31 grains.

Now, curious as it may appear, among the eggs of the Western Spotted
Forktail (Henicurus maculatus) two distinct types of colouration are gene-
rally to be found in the same nest, viz., those having a greenish-white
ground colour, marked with yellowish-brown (and the majority are of this
type), and those having a dingy pink ground colour, marked with
reddish-brown. The egg of our bird bore a faint resemblance to the latter
type.

bo
Cr
ive}

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.

The elevation of the spot was about 5,500 feet.

Keonthal State, 29th April 1911.—Two more nests to-day: both situated
in niches of rocks by the sides of large waterfalls, and well concealed.
They were only discovered by watching the movements of the parent birds.

Elevation about 5,000 feet.
(a) Could not unfortunately be approached on account of its dangerous

position. It probably contained either hard set eggs, or young ones just
hatched, as the old bird sat very tight, and only left the nest after several
large stones had been rolled down from above the Fall.

(0) Contained 3 eggs on the point of hatching off. Compared with the
positions of the other nests, this one was easy of access, and was not more
than about 12 feet high. The nest, as already stated, was placed in the
niche of a rock, and was completely hidden by a large. quantity of water
which fell continuously over it. So well was it concealed that, although I
was not more than half a dozen paces from it, I could not see it. To get
to their home, or out of it, the birds had invariably to pass through this
dense sheet of water !

The identification of the bird was a most trying experience. On my
arrivalat the spot, [had noticed a bird dart out of the water, but it was
impossible to say with certainty what it was. Fortunately there was a large
boulder just in front of the nest in the middle of the stream, and I took
advantage of this by hiding behind it. The water was up to my ankles, and
my cramped position soon began to tell onme. After afew minutes of
waiting, the old bird appeared on the scene, and one would have thought
that with hard set eggs, she would have got into her nest at once. But it
was not so with the Little Forktail: she had no intention whatever of being
rushed in this fashion, and thus giving away the show. For more than an
hour I was keptin suspense, and was beginning to think that she was not
the owner of the nest. At one time she would flit from rock to rock, at
another, dart into the water after a passing msect. Now she would
gingerly plume her feathers, now sit with them rufiled, and assume a
sort of unconcerned expression—the eggs, although exposed for so long a
time, apparently gave her no cause for anxiety. My patience was nearly
exhausted, and I had almost given up all hopes, when her Ladyship
apparently recollecting that her eggs were getting cold, after a few hops
along the rocks, suddenly darted through the sheet of water, and settled
down into her nest.

The nests in both cases were deep cups, composed exteriorly of moss,
and lined with fine moss-roots, and dead and skeleton leaves: in other
words they were simply small editions of the nest of the Western Spotted
Forktail (Henicurus maculatus). I have at present before me four nests
of the latter, and comparing these with those of our bird, I can find

absolutely no difference whatever, except for size.

960 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

I find a note recorded in my Journals with reference to the nests of the
Western Spotted Forktail that they have, asa rule,a good deal of damp
earth mixed in their bases, and that this apparently helps towards
concealment by keeping the moss fresh and green. The same was the case
with the Little Forktail. When 7 situ the moss composing the external
layers of the nests was quite fresh and damp; by the time they reached
home, the moss had dried up, and began to drop off, and the structures
assumed a shrivelled up appearance.

For purposes of comparison, I give below detailed measanentente of the
nests of the two species of Forktails :-——

mea acne pea Sac
Diameter of egg-cavity .. 3” From 2°25" to 2°4”
Depth of ditto ..| From 2" to 3! 5) | 264 tomes
External diameter .. wale 5" to 5°75" > 06") to Azo
Heisht uk Go) shih EB oso man 4 225" to 35"
Thickness of bottom sa 9" to 1-5" * 67) tomeor
Thickness of sides (average)| ,, Le GOMe ot 4 65" to 1"

| |
The eggs of this find measured °85”x°6"; °83”x°58"; and °83!x*6";
and their weights were 1 @ 31 grains, and 2 @ 33 grains each.

Summing up the results of the two nests, I find that the eggs varied in
length from ‘8” to -85.'; and in breadth from ‘58” to -6”; but the average
measurements of the 4 eggs were °82/'x‘59”; and their average weight
was 32 grains.

In shape the eggs were elongated ovals, somewhat pointed towards the
small end; the texture of the shells was fine, and they had very little gloss,
if any. Their ground colour was almost white, or perhaps very pale dingy
pink, and they were thinly spotted and speckled, chiefly towards the large
end, with reddish-brown. In one egg the spots and specks have a ten-
dency to form an irregular zone.

The number of eggs laid by this species apparently varies from 2 to 3

Since writing these notes Mr. E. C. Stuart Baker, F.L.S., PLS.,
M.B.O.U., informs me that he recorded the finding of this bird’s nest
some years ago both in the “(biv”, and in the Bombay Natural History
Society’s Journal, and that he is under the impression that B. B. Osmaston
also recorded finding the nest in the latter paper. Mr. Baker adds “the

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 261

eggs have been taken by Col. Ward in Kashmir; I think by 8. L. Whymper
in Garwhal; and possibly by Davidson and Col. Wilson in Kashmir, but I
am not sure of these two last.”

P. T. L. DODSWORTH, F.z.s. M.B.0.U.

“CARLTON GROVE” Sima, S. W.,
19th May 1911.

No. XX.—NESTING NOTES FROM LOWER BURMA.

On 13th April 1911 I found the nest of the Tweedale Scimitar Babler
(Pomatorhinus nuchalis). It was placed on a ledge of rock by the side of
the circular road at Thandaung where there is a high cutting. The hill
above is covered with heavy bamboo jungle and the dead leaves falling
have collected on the ledges of the rock. The nest was cup-shaped almost
covered with the dead leaves and was 32” deep by 38” in. diameter (inside).
Ii consisted of dead bamboo leaves loosely rolled round the cup and
wrapped round with narrow leaves of a coarse grass between the layers of
the bamboo leaves to keep them together. Inside dry grass bents and
finished with fine grass. The eggs were 3, measuring 1:01” x°75", a pure
white with a slight glass blunt at larger end. See Vol. XV, p. 519.

On the 19th April I came across the nest of the Bar-tailed Cuckoo Dove
Macropygia tusalia (1312). The nest of sticks was placed on bracken
leaves not far from the ground in dense bamboo and undergrowth. Higher
up the hill, after the undergrowth had ceased, in bamboo jungle consisting
of separate clumps of six, eight or ten bamboos and quite open, I saw a
pad of moss where the bamboo shoots take off in a cluster. On going up a
long-tailed dove flew off. I waited 25 minutes and shot it practically on
the nest. This consisted of a flat pad of moss almost quite hard about
twelve feet up the bamboo. It was difficult to get the egg as I expected
it would roll off every minute as we telescoped the bamboo.

The egg measared 1:26" x°84”, a perfect ellipse and cream tinged with
very faint coffee colour. The bird was the Little Malay Cuckoo Dove,
Macropygia ruficeps (1314).

S. M. ROBINSON.

10, Haupin Roan, Rangoon,

13th July 1911. ,

No. XXI.—SOME WINTER VISITORS TO RAWAL PINDI.

It may be of some interest to record the following birds as having come
to my notice in Rawal Pindi during the past winter. The Wall Creeper
(Tichodroma muraria) has been common in the dry stony nullahs that in-
tersect the country to the south of the Cantonments. I first noticed it on

962 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX.

the 25th October and from that date onwards have seen several. On 21st
March I secured a male just completing the moult in to breeding plumage
at Gujar Khan, some 25 miles south-east of Pindi. In flight they remind
one somewhat of the Hoopoe, so faras shape and manner go. Whilst
climbing they flirt their wings and call often, especially after being
disturbed.

The Reed Bunting (Lmberiza scheniclus) has been numerous at Kunna jheel
and I have also met with it in the nullahs near the R. Sohan, on bare stony
ground interspersed with a few bushes.

Himalayan Goldfinches (Carduelis caniceps) were common for a short time
in February ; they were generally to be met with in Shishain trees border-
ing country roads.

In January and February there were large number of the Blue headed
Redstart (Adelura ceruleicephala) in cantonments, and about the same time
I saw a few white-capped Redstarts (Chimarrhornis leucocephalus) and Plum-
beous Redstart (Rhyacornis fuliginosus) in the rocky nullah of the river Ley,
a short way above its junction with the river Sohan.

I also obtained the following birds :—The Brambling (Fringilla montifrin-
gilla) female, 7th January. The green-backed Tit (Parus monticola), 28th
January, male: a pair seen. The large Cuckoo-Shrike (Graucalus maciv,)
female, 21st February. The Missel Trush (Zurdus viscivorus) male, 29th
January ; male, 19th February. The black throated Accentor (Tharrhaleus
atrigularis) one specimen, 7th February.

H. WHISTLER, Iypian Poxicez,
RAWAL PINDI.

XXII.—SEASONAL MOVEMENTS OF THE HIMALAYAN
GREENFINCH (HYPACANTHIS SPINOIDES).

I had hoped to have been able to reply decisively to Mr. Dodsworth’s
query about Himalayan greenfinches, but owing to pressure of work I have
not been able to do very much this year. I can say, however, that two
years ago there were young greenfinches below Dagshai in May,
and I then came to the conclusion that they had bred at the lower level in
April, and could proceed to higher altitudes to breed in July, as they do in
the Murree Hills. Mr. Dodsworth proved that those birds bred beyond
Simla in July, and I think I am correct in stating they breed at a
lower level in April.

These birds are common all round Dagshai in flocks from November to
March.

R. B. SKINNER, Carr., B.z.
DacsHai, Simi~a Hits.
29th May 1911.

se)

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 26:

No. XXIII.—OCCURRENCE OF HEMILOPHUS PULVERULENTUS,
(TEMM), THE GREAT SLATY WOODPECKER IN THE
NEIGHBOURHOOD OF SIMLA, N.-W. HIMALAYAS.

In the “Fauna,” Birds, VII, III, page 70, the range of this species westwards
along the Terai and base of the Himalayas is given as ‘““Kwmaon or, perhaps,
Dehra Dun.” It may, therefore, be worth recording that late in August
1907, I came across a party of these Woodpeckers, not more than a mile
and a half from Simla, on what is locally known as the “Long road to
Annandale,” at an elevation of about 6,800 feet. There were four birds,
two large ones and two small ones, and judging from the behaviour of the
latter, there seemed little doubt that they had recently left their nest,
and were following their parents about.

It is possible that these Woodpeckers had bred in the neighbourhood ? L
stood and watched them feeding on some pines and low oaks for more than
half an hour. They were not shy, and allowed me to approach fairly close
to them. Unfortunately, I did not have a gun with me at the time, so was
unable to procure a specimen. I have never seen this species here either
' before or since the time mentioned above.

The birds appeared to be moving in a 8. W. direction.

P. T. L. DODSWORTH,
F.Z.8., M.B.0.U
“CARLTON GROVE, ”
Simba, S. W., 14th June 1911.

XXIV.—HORNBILLS DEVOURING YOUNG PAROQUETS.

Some years ago Iwrote a note for the Journal commenting on the
apparent immunity from foes of certain Indian animals. and speculating as
to what causes prevented their unlimited increase. No one came forward
to throw any light on the subject and the point to me still appears a
mystery.

One of the animals I mentioned was the common paroquet, however I
have now discovered at least one enemy of the latter, and as the fact is not
mentioned in Jerdon it may possibly be worth inserting in your notes.

For the last few days my attention had been attracted by some grey
hornbills (Lophoceros birostris) visiting a hole ina large siras tree, in my
garden, and inserting their heads as if to feed young ones, I did not
think this could be the case, however, as I had previously seen paroquets
coming out of the same hole. JI accordingly sent up a boy who reported
that there were young paroquets, but that he could not get his hand in. }

The next day on my return after a morning’s work my man reported that
the hornbill had again been at the hole and had succeeded in extracting a

264 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY. Vol. XX.

young paroquet which it had seized by the head and killed. He had then
driven it off by throwing a stone at it whilst it was proceeding to pull its
prey in pieces.

He showed me the young bird, which bore marks corroborating his

story.
Perhaps this trait may be known to other readers, but it is quite new

to me.
A. NEWNHAM, Lr.-Cot., I. A.
JULLUNDER, 17th Apri 1911.

XXV.—JACK SNIPE IN THE CAWNPORE DISTRICT.

With reference to the description of the Jack-Snipe Gallinago gallinula
and its habits in the May Number of the Journal, would it be of any
interest to you to have my figuresfor the past season of the relative
number of the Jack and Fantail snipes shot by me in this district ?

They are as follows: out of a total of 204 couple 65 couple were Jack. I
think this probably represents a greater proportion than the numbers of
Jack seen would bear to those of the Fantail, as on several occasions large
wisps of the latter went away without being shot at. Still these figures
show that this season at least Jacks were very plentiful in this district.

W. B: SPALDING, Cxrr ee ae
Cawneore, 26th May 1911.

No. XXVI.—NESTING OF THE CINEREOUS VULTURE (VULTUR
MONACHUS) NEAR QUETTA.

When I was quarteredin Quetta some years ago, [had the eggs of this
vulture brought to me on more than one occasion, but I had never myself
procured the egg.

This year having heard from a Pathan that he knew of a nest, I made
arrangements to go out and see it. April the sixteenth wasthe date. I
started early from my bungalow and drove about 14 miles tothe end of
the road, and then took tothe hills walking; after about three hours up and
down hill, we reached the tree on which the nest was placed; this was on old
juniper about 40 feet high and 7 feet through at the foot, and was situated on
the steep hill side about 8,000 feet above sea level; it was in a very wild place
with high cliffs and steep slopes all round it. The nest itself was placed
right at the top of the tree, so that the bird sitting on it was visible from a
long way off. I climbed up to the nest with some difticulty, as the tree was
extremely thick, and when I got toit, I found it by no means an easy task
to see into it owing to its immense size; however, I managed it at last and
then found to my disgust that there was a young bird in it. I should judge

about one week old.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 265

The nest was an enormous mass of sticks, and was lined with smaller
sticks, and strips of juniper bark, with a few feathers ; the material of the
nest would have filled a large cart, the measurements being approximately
3 feet thick at least, and 7 feet across the top, the latter being very nearly
flat. The young bird was about the size of a pigeon and covered with black
down. The nest and surroundings had an extremely strong and unpleasant
musky smell. While I was at the nest the old birds made no attempt to
molest me but circled about high in the air above me.

After [had come down from the nest, one of the Pathans, who was with
- me, said that he knew of a Lammergeyer’s nest further up the same ravine ;
but as it was some way off , I sent him and another man to see if there was
any chance of getting at it, arranging to meet them later on. When I did
meet them I found that on the way they had found another nest
of the Cinereous vulture, also ona juniper tree, and that after some
difficulty, owing to the tree being placed in an extremely awkward
position, half up a cliff, they had managed to get toit; and brought
me one egg from it. The egg was of the usual type, white with rusty
red markings all over it, thicker at the large end ; these markings were
very lightly laid on, and could easily be rubbed off with a wet finger. The
ege was rather hard set. The man who climbed to the nest reported to me
that the bird had come very close to him; but I think like all Pathans he
was only making the most of his exploit.

Not long after the foregoing account was written, at the beginning of
May, I was out on a shooting trip on the same hill, and found two more
nests of this vulture; they were both situated in similar positions to that
already described, at the extreme tops of large juniper trees growing on
the hill side in solitary places, about 8,500 feet above the sea; the first nest
had an egg in it, a very finely coloured one, but it was so hard set that [
could hear the young bird chirping inside it, so I left it; the other hada

young bird init, I should judge about 10 days old.
T. E. MARSHALL, Major, RB.£.
Quetta, llth May 1911.

No. XXVIJ.—UNCOMMON BIRDS IN BURMA.

lt will be of interest to all ornithologists, but especially those in Burma,
to record that on the 29th of May last I procured at ‘“ Thandoung, ”’
situated on the Karen Hills, about 30 miles East of Tounghoo, elevation
about 4,000 feet, a specimen of

The Rufous-belled Hawk Eagle, Lophotriorchis kieneri, No. 1209, F. B. I.—
I shot this bird just after it had swooped and carried off one of a party of
green pigeons I had been watching feeding on a fruit tree in some heavy

266 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX,

forest. The attack of the eagle was extremely sudden; I became aware of |
it by hearing a crash in the tree I had been watching and then hearing some
large bird flapping its wings and free itself from the branches. This struggle
was only momentary, and the eagle flew off heavily with a pigeon in its
talons. It perched but a short-way off and I fired at it, never hoping how-
ever I was obtaining such a rare specimen. This bird has never, I believe,
been recorded from Burma before. I only shghtly wounded it, and1 found
it very troublesome extricating it from some very thick undergrowth into
which it had fallen. It was very ferocious and, of course, catching it by the
hand was out of the question. The Karen who was with me would not go .
near it. However in time, manceuvring witha long stick, [managed and got
it under control, so as I could kill it without injuring the skin, which I have
preserved and will forward it to you, with some other skins I collected at
Thandoung for our museum as soon as the rains are over.

Another interesting fact to record is that

Tickell’s Staphidia (Staphidia strata) No. 218, F. B. L., was found to be
quite common at Thandoung. Very little seems to have been known about
this bird at the time Oates described it. I did not realize how common it
was, as it does not make itself at all conspicuous, and might be easily passed
over for some other bird until a friend, Mr. Justice Robinson, who was with
me in Thandoung collecting eggs, and myself had found about a dozen nests.
Robinson did not know the species to which the nest belonged, but thought
it was Tickell’s Staphidia and set all doubt at rest by shooting
a parent bird, and I later caught a bird in my landing net on her
nest.

IT learnt afterwards that I had not noticed the bird Tickell’s Staphidia
itself, as I had passed it over thinking it was a Tit or Flower-pecker. It
has very much the same habits, going about in small parties and hunting
amongst the leaves and branches for insects and keepmg up a continual
twittering.

This species in Thandoung invariably chose for its nesting place the
banks of paths cut through the jungle, or in one instance I found a nest
about 4 feet from the ground in a hole on the face of deep road cutting.
The nests are usually cunningly concealed, though at times very con-
spicuous ; generally we found them partially concealed behind a clod or
tuft of moss or grass and built into any hole or shelf in the bank, but
usually these holes near the top of a bank were chosen, so that the over-
hanging moss clods, etc., partially concealed it.

The nest is rather massive for such a small bird, being thickly walled
with moss and rather loosely packed. The inside is a neat cup, lined with
very fine grasses and their black stalks so very thin that they have
the appearance of horse hair, obtained, Ifancy, from the smaller clued

ferns.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES, 267
None of the 7 nests I found between: May 14th and_29th contained more
than 8 eggs, and the eggs in all were fresh. One bird began laying on the
2ist May. Nine eggs in my possession’’ measure ‘8 X ‘6 and: are white
speckled with brown but the distribution of the spots varies a good deal.
Some of the eggs have a regular zone of small spots round the larger
end and spotted very sparingly elsewhere," others are spotted uniformly
over the whole egg.
J. P. COOK.
THayetrmyo, 14th June 1911.

No. XXVIII.—FALCON AND GULLS.

The other evening while on the harbour, I ‘noticed a large number of
gulls of the two common kinds here (the sooty and the small grey) flying
in a state of great excitement.

Thinking they were over a shoal of fish, I put a telescope on to them
and was surprised to see that the cause of the excitement was a falcon
of the kind we know here as one that chases the wild pigeons. I suppose
it is either the peregrine or laggar. One of these birds was attacking a
grey gull with the utmost fury and drove it again and again into the
water, where it hovered over the gull with its talons extended as if about
to alight on it. Then the whole army of gulls would sweep down and
carry away the falcon in the rush: the gull that was the object of the
falcon’s attentions would then rise and endeavour to join its companions
and escape but the faleon extricating itself from the crowd repeated his
attacks several times always driving the gull into the water whence he
seemed unable to drag it. The gulls by repeated rushes eventually got
their friend safely off and I saw the falcon fly straight away over the
harbour to Shaik Othman. The two points that impressed one were the
state of utter fatigue and weakness to which the faleon had reduced the
gull by his pursuit, though one knows the great strength and wing endur-
ance power of the gulls. I suspect that being overdriven for pace produced
the distress. The second point was the unerring manner in which the
faleon, when he came out of the scrimmage of gulls went straight for his
victims seeming to know exactly where he should find it. Ihave seen the
same thing when these faleons chase pigeons: their pursuit is relentless,
and I should imagine generally successful; the gull would certainly have
been killed had his companions not swept down on the faleon in the way
they did and had he not been able to take to the water. Is not this a very
uncommon circumstance? I should be glad to know, if such an attack has
previously been observed.

8S. E. PRALL, Lr.-Cot., 1.m.s.
ADEN, August 1911.

268 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL BIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX.
No, XXIX.—NESTING OF THE OSPREY OR SHA-HAWK.,

Some three years ago I found a nest of these birds on Round Island, a
lonely rock about 100 feet high on the seaward side of Aden. I have
however not been able to make out when the rearing of the young takes
place. The weather is too rough to permit of the landing on the rock
throughout the year, so l suppose that like the vultures that breed on the
cliffs here, the young were reared in the monsoon months. ‘his year
however a new nest has been built in the month of December at
least, that is when I first saw it. I enclose a photo* of the rock and the
two nests which are both on the top ridge and built of sticks brought from
the Shumshum valley just opposite. I have never seen more than one
pair of birds at this place, so conclude they are the same; there are several
pairs fishing in and around the harbour and they are so tame that they
will allow you to approach quite close in a boat. From observations made
with glasses in this way and from fish picked up under the nest I note
that when the osprey has taken a fish he places it longitudinally between
his feet on arrival at his perch and commences at the head.

He will often throw the fish away after eating the head only, the small
ribbon fish is one he often catches and to judge from what we have picked
up under the nest throws it away after eating the head. I admire the
discrimination shown as the ribbon fish is a mass of bones and altogether

impossible.

S. HE. PRALL, Lr.-Cot., 1.m.s.
ADEN, August 1911.

* [The photo was too small for satisfactory reproduction.—EDs. |

No. XXX.—EHUROPEAN GREAT BUSTARD IN CHITRAL.

On April 10th Captain R. A Lyall forwarded us a skin of a Great Bustard,
Otis tarda which had been shot by Lieut. Stirling on 30th March. In a letter
accompanying the skin Capt. Lyall remarks “I found that the Chitralis had
got a name for the bird (dio dagh) though it was said to be very rare.” The
skin is that of an immature female with the pectoral band only showing
slightly at the sides and not so distinct in Captain Simond’s specimen.

N. B. KINNEAR.
Bompay, April 1911.

No, XXXI.—WOODCOCK IN KULU.

In Mr. Stuart Baker’s article on the Woodcock, Scolopar rustiewla in
Vol. XX he states on page 15, four lines from the bottom, that: “ the largest

aes

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 269

bag on record for India isthat recorded by A. Graham Young in Hume and
Marshall’s Game Birds of India, 28 years ago. This bag was made in Tos
Forests in Kullu.” Now Mr. Graham Young never said that the bag of 55
cock was shot in the 7os Forests ; all he said was that they bred in the Tos
Forests and descended lower down inthe autumn. (Tos is the silver fir
which grows at an elevation of 8-10,000 feet.

In the winter cock come down to the alder, Koish (or Kosh) groves in the
valley, and there they are shot easily. It is rare for one gun to bag 8 cock
in a day in Kulu now.

; J. COLDSTREAM, t.c.s.
Kut, 10th February 1911.

No. XXXIT.—OCCURRENCE OF SWINHOH’S SNIPE (GALLINAGO
MEGALA) AT MYITKYINA, UPPER BURMA.

The following note may be of interest as a record of G. megaia within
the area dealt with in the Fauna of [British India. The specimen was one
of three snipes shot here by a friend on 5th January 1911 and sent to the
writer, who in examining them recognized this one as Swinhoe’s Snipe.

The following notes were made at the time :—Length 11°75 inches ; wing
5°6; tail 2°27 ; bill 2°78; tarsus 1:35. Tail feathers 20, the eight median
ones broad, six lateral ones on either side, much narrower but not nearly so
narrow as the Pintail’s. Iris chestnut. Legs and feet bluish plumbeous.
Centre of abdomen white. Narrow white tips to primaries and secondaries.
Distance between tip of shortest secondary and that of longest primary 2°6
inches.

F. H. W. VENNING, Carr.
Pyawsez, Burma,
August 1911.

No. XXXIIT.—OCCURRENCE OF THE FANTAIL SNIPE
(GALLINAGO CCELESTIS) IN SIAM.

In the last number of the Journal, in the interesting account of the
Common or Fantail Snipe, forming part of the series of “‘ the Game Birds of
India, Burma, and Ceylon,” by Mr. E. C. Stuart Baker, I notice on p. 552
of the Journal, the following statement—“I have lately received a speci-
men from Siam whence it had not previously been recorded.”

This statement shows how local knowledge may be left unrecorded for
years, in this case probably, on account of its being such common knowledge.
The fact is the occurrence of the Fantail Snipe in Siam must be known to
practically every sportsman who shoots there and there are a good number
especially in Bangkok.

270 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX.

During a three years’ sojourn in Siam between the years 1901-04 I kept
a fairly accurate account of my bags, which I herewith append. I fear I
did not in every case distinguish between Fantail and Pintail, but certainly
on sufficient occasions to show that the Fantail is by no means a rare bird
in Siam. .

Here is the record taken from my game book :—

Locality.

Dec. 9th 1901. 8 Fantail Snipe, 1 Painted Snipe, Augtuug, Siam.
dolGhie 2 ae oe Parudan -
18th ,, 2 ve Petronuloke Pe
22nd _,, 8 o 1 Painted Snipe a 3

BaD yy I is si BS es

Web. 22nd 1902. 1 5 = Prompiram 53

March 24th ,, 9 Fantail and Pintail Snipe, Sawankoloke __,,

Sept. 14th _,, 7 Pintail Snipe, Bangkok 3

ae 2 Othe. 5) a - 2

Fa Soe eli - Bangsue E

PBN. oy, 93 nA Bangkok Ss

Pr certo Pye FAO) . ‘3 is
Oct.) 4th 6 i at

oth} }, 50 5 and 1] Fantail, Bangsue i

so LOG) ee fe and Fantail 3 i

Mitchie eo ‘ Bangkok PA

» 26th ,, 27 Snipe (mostly Fantail) Bangsue es

Nov. srd , 20 ,, (only 5 Fantail) f a

The birds shot in December 1901 were obtained on my way up the
Menam to Petronuloke where I was stationed for nine months, and do not
represent any organized snipe shooting.

In and around Bangkok, especially at Bangsue, two or three stations up
the line, the shooting is extremely good, and not exhausting work, the
ground being chiefly paddy fields either cultivated or waste with only six

inches of water or even less, so that one is seldom more than ankle-

deep in mud and water. Snipe shooting m Bangkok commences about

the second week of September when the Pintail begins to arrive, the Fantail

not putting in an appearance until a month later. I note this agrees

fairly well with the dates given on the two charts A and B included in the

accounts of the two birds.
DO) Wa ase

Saucor, 17th May 1911.

May I ask you to let me know to what species of snipe the enclosed wing
und tail belong. They seem to me to be those of the Fantail snipe, but

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 271

Mr. E. C. Stuart Baker, in his article in the last number of the Journal,
say only one specimen has been recorded from Siam. This bird was one of
several of the same kind shot here on the 27th February last.

W. J. F. WILLIAMSON.
Kinespon, Banaxorn, 5th March 1911.

[The wings and tail sent were certainly those of the Fantailed Snipe (Gallinago
eelestis), but whether they belonged to the race raddei or not, it was impossible to
say.—EDs. |

No. XXXIV.—SNIPE SHOOTING IN UPPER BURMA.

After reading Mr. Stuart Baker’s article on Snipes in the January
Number of the Journal, I should like to send you afew notes of my own on
the movement of birds in the dry zone of Upper Burma. ,

In 1904 on Sept. 13th near Yindaw (Yamethin District) Major G. EK. 1.
Green and I heard snipe crying overhead and looking up saw two snipes
on the wing.

In 1905 I was in England.

In 1906 on Sept. 19th near Tangu (in the 8. EH. corner of the Myingyan
District) when out quail shooting with Mr. F. B. Leach I heard a snipe
cry, and saw a single snipe on the wing overhead out of shot.

In 1907-1908, 1909, I have no note owing to illness and absence. In
1910 on Aug. 16th at Allanmyo (near Thayetmyo) I heard a bird erying
over-head and saw a single snipe onthe wing. In none of these instances
could I shoot or bring the bird to bag ; but in each case my attention was
caught by the unmistakable snipe cry before I saw the bird.

The first and last birds shot in each year, unfortunately I have not
recorded. Fantails and Pintails were—

1906 ..Myingyan District ..March 10th. . Latest.

as Fe i .. Nov. 18th .. Earliest.
WOOT. %. i as ..March 4th ..(Latest, but I put up two
probably Pintails, on a
dry hillside on March

14th).

» «-Pegu District ..Oct. 6th .. Earliest.

1909 ..Myingyan District ..Nov. 25th .. Earliest.
WO) ee #3 be .. Feb. 25th .. Latest.

Bs Thayetmyo District ..Sept. 24th ..Harliest.
£OLL - ze ..Feb. 20th .. Latest.

With reference to Mr. Stuart Baker’s query on p. 557 as to whether
Snipe Shooting is harder in England than in India, I have the followirg
notes on some snipes which I kept under observation in a small swamp im

972 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXI,

Somersetshire in Dec. 1908. There was usually a wisp of 7 birds, which
were abnormally wild and whether I had a gun or not, rose at 80 yards if
J approached them over the frozen ground, but if I walked down over soft
snow or in the ooze of a small stream that ran out of the swamp, I could
usually get within 40 yards, whether with a gun or without. I came to
the conclusion that the hard ground round this tiny swamp acted like the
sides of the basin and transmitted the vibration waves across it. In
Burma I have noticed, too, that snipe will be close for a barefooted native
than for a shooting boot, and are far wilder for a shooting boot on a sémi-
solid kazin (or field-bund) than for the same boot in mud and water.

The English bird is the Fantail, which according to Mr. Stuart Baker
(p. 592) has a more sensitive bill than a Pintail, so that this vibration
theory might explain why the English bird is wilder and also why Pintails
often lie so close when found among dry grass on solid ground. but it
would also remain to be proved whether the Fantail normally rests with
his bill in contact with the water.

I put forward the theory tentatively, and am prepared for destructive
criticism from more experienced sportsmen.

HK. N. BELL.

Attanmyo, Burma, 8th March 1911.

No. XXXV.—THE OCCURRENCE OF A “BOOBY,” SULA CYANOPS
(?) AT CANNANORE.

My compound here ends abruptly in sea cliffs, and yesterday my ser-
vants killed a bird, which I take to be Sula cyanops, as it was sitting on
the ground at the edge of the cliff. It was a young female, and the
following is the description of it:—Length 31, wing 15°5, tail 75, tarsus
2:25, bill from gape 5°25.

Legs and feet, face to behind the eyes, chin and soft underparts of lower
mandible, blue grey, nails of toes white. Biull bluish grey, paling to white
at the tip and along the cutting edges, both mandibles feebly serrated,
upper mandible longitudinally furrowed, irides pale lemon yellow.

Head, neck and upper back white with numerous small brown spots.
Lower plumage, except the sides and thighs, which have afew brawn snots,
pure white, upper plumage from upper back, end the wing covert browu
tipped and edged white, wings blackish brown, tail brown, secondaries
and tertiaries brown, centred black and the basal portion white.

I shall be glad to know what Sula it is, for “Booby” it 1s, and
Booby it was to have allowed itself to be hit over the head with a stick!
I imagine it must have been driven there far out of its usual haunts by

he heavy gales we have experienced lately, and although in splendid

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 273

condition and feather, exhaustion may have been the cause of its falling
such an easy victim,

Ihave not seen any similar birds down in this part before, nor does
Dewar mention the Sula among the birds of Madras.

H. R. BAKER, Masor.
CANNANORE, 20th July 1911.

[From the above description there appears to be no doubt that the bird is a
masked booby, Sula cyanops. An example was caught at the new Docks, Bombay,
in August 1909.—EDs. |

No. XXXVI.—THE OCCURRENCE OF CYGNUS BEWICKI AND
OTHER SWANS IN INDIA.

During the cold weather of 1910-11, the exceptionally cold wave which
occurred in Northern India during the months of November, December and
January had the effect of sending us alarge number of rare visitors
amongst which Swans have been prominent.

No less than four of these—two beautiful skins and two heads—have been
sent me from our Society, together with other rare birds, that I might have
the pleasure of inspecting and noting on them. The most important and
_ interesting of the swans is a beautiful female, correctly identified as Cygnus
bewickt by Major P. C. Elliott-Lockhart, who shot it on the 30th December
1910 near Maidan on the North-West Frontier. He records the length as
3 ft. 9 in. and the weight as 12 Ibs.

To these notes the following measurements should be added:—wing 20:0”,
Bill, from top to cere along culmen 2°18” and to edge of feathering 3°51",
along commissure to gape 3°32"; tarsus 3°32”,

Attention should here be drawn to the fact that Salvadori’s measurement
of the tarsus, 4°8”, as given by me on p. 14 of Vol. XI of the Journal, isa
mistake for 3°8”. I do not think the tarsus of this little swan is ever much
over 4:0” if measured from joint to joint at the side.

A second specimen of Cygnus bewicki was obtained by Mr. Hornsby on the
2nd January ; this is a magnificent male, and hasa bill which upsets all
previous theories as comparative measurements between this and other
species of Swans.

The dates given on the ticket are “Tubi, Campbellpur.” Measurements
after skinning, expanse wing 772”, length wing 21”, length 59”,

The bill of this bird measures no less than 4:2” from tip to edge of
feathering, a full 3’ longer than I have seen in any other spicimen of
bewicki, but the colouring is very typical of that species. The lores
and immediately adjacent parts seem to have been bright yellow when fresh,

deepening to an orange yellow where thiscolour meets the black, This
30

274 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol, XXTI.

latter extends over the whole of the bill in front of the nostrils and thence
back on theculmen to within half of an inch of the cere and along the
commissure up to the extreme gape. The bill in comparison with its
length is decidedly slender, being only in depth at the base. The measure-
ment of the wing now dried is 20-7” and that of the tarsus from joint to
joint 3°95".

The two swans’ heads sent by Major Magrath belong to very immature
specimens of Cygnus musicus, both are undoubtedly birds hatched in 1910,
and are practically still cygnets ; for it must be remembered that swans take
about three years to attain their full size. With the two heads Major Mag-
rath sends the following notes.—“I send herewith the heads, bills and skins
of the heads of two swans shot out of a small herd of seven by Mr. M.
Donlea, Inspector, N. W. F. Police, on the 10th December, near Dheri Mo-
mim, on the Kabul River. The birds, one of which was shown me in the flesh
were Immature. The one I inspected had a greyish brown head and neck,
the rest of the body being white and the legs black. The culmen for more
than half the way down the mandible was of a bright pinkish hue and the base
of the bill and bare loreal space to within about half an inch of the nostrils was
pale fleshy in colour.” (The italics are mine.)

The measurements of the bills of these two cygnets are—from tip
to edge of feathering 3:15" and 3:17” and from tip to eye 4:2” and 4:4”,
width at broadest part 1:24” and 1:22”. In both these birds the pale colour
of the bill extends down the top of the culmen well past the nostrils.

E.C. STUART BAKER,
F.L.S.,,F.Z.S:, M.BeOeue

No. XXX VII. UNCOMMON BIRDS IN THE UNITED PROVINCES.

Common Sheldrake, Tadorna cornuta.—On January 22nd two common
Sheldrakes were seen ona jheel close to the Ganges near Fatehgarh, and
one was obtained some weeks later. On 20th February six were seen
feeding on the edge of an open tank in the same district. According
to Indian Ducks and their Allies this duck is only a rare visitant to
Oudh.

Goosander, Merganser castor.—Two females of this duck were shot on
28th January close to Cawnpore on a jheel which was dry except for three —
or four small pools‘of water. 1 have seen these birds feeding at the mouths
of rivers in North China but never in shallow stagnant water. No one in
my Regiment had ever seen one anywhere before in India.

Great Indian Bustard, Eupodotis edwardsi.—Three birds of this species
were seen near Oraiin the Jalaun district, but none of them were obtained.
They were feeding close to a herd of Blackbuck and in the distance we
took them for buck, as they showed up black and white.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. a 275

A Goose was obtained out of a large gaggle near Handoi. It was prac-
tically black with a speckled breast, small in size, but bigger than and
essentially different from a Sukta. No one was able to name it.

M. A. GUDLESTONKH, Capratn,
41st DoeRas.
Cawnepore, 10th Apri 1911.

No. XXXVIIT.—NIDIFICATION OF THE LITTLE GREBE OR
DABCHICK (PODICEPS ALBIPENNIS).

For the past two years I have been watching several birds of the above
species on the marshy ponds between Grant Road and Mahalakshmi
stations of the B. B. & C. I. Railway, particularly with regard to their
breeding habits as they appeared to be building all through the year.

From the several books I have on Ornithology it appears that ordinarily
May to September are the months in which nests should be found ; but I
have taken three nests outside these months at very wide ‘dates. Hume
says it breeds at very different seasons according to locality. The earliest
dates I find recorded are in Hume’s “ Nests and Eggs of Indian Birds” in
which Mr. W. Theobald remarks: “ Lays in the second week of May ’’—this
was in the valley of Cashmere. In the same work Mr. Davison says it
breeds on the Ootacamund Lake in May. The latest date recorded is by
Mr. H. Wenden who, on 26th October at Goolburga Fort, found a nest
containing five eggs.

I took a nest with five eges on the 3lst March, two of which had not
been long laid, as they were lighter than the others which were the usual
smoky brown. I took another on the 16th November containing four very
fresh eggs, the last of which could only have been laid just prior to my
taking the nest as it was white with a faint bluish-green tinge. But to my
surprise I noticed a pair of birds building in December last, and decided
I would wait till the last day of the month before I took the nest which I
did, and found three much incubated eggs. The nests were of the usual
kind—no construction—merely masses of decomposed weeds apparently
resting or attached to some water-grass, and had a very offensive odour.
Hume says : “I doubt whether the birds sit much during the day...... “g
I almost invariably found the old bird sitting, and when approaching the
nest it was interesting to watch the bird cover up the eggs with that
marvellous dexterity, for which the species of this genus are noted, and
then quietly slip away and disappear into the water, but as I once noticed,
watched what my coolie was doing with its head just above the surface as
a snake’s would be.

JOHN FRY,

Mauim Bompay, 11th April 1911.

No, XXXIX.—RECOVERY OF BIRDS FROM INJURIES,

On 31st December 1909 while snipe shooting, with a friend, I noticed a
Cattle Egret (Bubulcus coromandus) sitting alone on the edge of a swamp.
Other egrets were sitting and moving about, but ata little distance from
this one which appeared to have a stick protruding from its back. Imme-
diately I moved towards the bird, it flew away andits appearance with
a mast erect between its wings was quaint. Thinking the bird must be
suffering, I called to my companion to shoot the bird which he did.

The Karens use cross-bows a great deal and some attain a marvellous
degree of accuracy with them. This bird, however, was in all probability shot
by a fluke while flymg. The arrow was of the usual type used for shooting
at birds and small mammals—bamboo with hardened point. It was some 20!
in length; had penetrated and passed through the abdomen, its exit being
through the sacrum a little above the ischiatic foramina. About 16” of the

arrow had passed through the body, we found that the bird must have

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 277

received the wound long time previously, as it had healed perfectly, the arrow
was more or less firmly fixed ; we took the bird to Rangoon to show to per-
sons interested and to have a photograph taken, after which we plucked it
and found the bird in good condition ; the plumage was clean and bright.

In this connection it is quite astonishing how birds do recover from injuries
Thad a tame Koel (Zudynamis honorata). One night a cat managed to break
into the cage, fortunately the bird made such a noise that a servant came
and rescued it, but not before it had received severe injuries. When I saw
it I wished to destroy it; but the servants implored me to give it a chance,
and they would treatit. The bird recovered. It is interesting to examine
bags of snipe, as one often meets with extraordinary cases of recovery from
fractures, caused by shot, of the femur, tibio-torsal bone, etc.

G. H. EVANS, Lr.-Cot.
Lanors, 18th April 1911.

XL.—HABITS OF THE PYTHON (PYTHON MOLURUS).

In “ Forest Life and Sport in India”—(Hardly- Wilmot)—as to the attack
of the Python on its prey, the Author writes:—“It may therefore well be the
“ case that the blow of a heavy python would be sufficient to stun a passing
“deer until it could be enfolded in the grip of the snake, and that this
“method of hunting may supplement the sudden and more deadly attack
“from overhead. ”’

In reference to these remarks, the following notes are interesting. A few
years ago on one of my many visits to Jamrach’s collecting Depot, in Entally,
Caleutta, Scott, the Manager, showed me with great pride, an enormous
python in a box, length between 21 and 22 feet. LIasked Scott how such
a huge brute was captured? He told me that two of his collectors were in
the Khasyia Hills looking out for captives. One of the men when high
up in a tree making his way to a nest happened to look down and saw this
python hanging from a branch, slowly swinging with its head a few feet
from the ground. The man said he was very frightened and made not a
move. All at once the python became rigid; by and by the bird-nester
heard the rustle of leaves not far off and recognized that it was the foot-
path of his fellow collector, by whistling he was able to signal to him to
give the tree a wide berth. Soon the snake began swinging very slowly,
then it again became rigid, and the light patter of a deer was heard and a
barking deer came in view and within striking range of the python “when
like a shot it was sent flying:” and there it lay almost motionless. In
_ alittle the python get down to the ground and glided over to, and lay on, the '
deer. In ashort time the operation of swallowing began. During the process
of swallowing, the two men made a basket, and when the snake had resigned —
itself to rest, the basket was worked over it and the making of it completed 2

¥78 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX.

over this another basket was made, and in the double basket it reached
Calcutta. The men said they had no trouble in‘getting it into the basket.
W. FORSYTH.
Pen IlrHon Hatt, Newton, N. WAtzs,
15th June 1911.

No. XLI.—REMARKS ON TWO RARE BLIND SNAKES.

In examining the blind snakes (Typhlopede) in our Society Museum, I
have come across two that are worthy of remark.

T. porrectus. (Stoliczka.)

There is a single specimen of this species from Poona, which does not
quite accord with Jan’s figures of the type. Further Boulenger’s descrip-
tion (Cat., Vol. 1, p. 19), judging from this specimen would bear amplifica-
tion.

I would describe it as follows :—Rostral.Not reaching level of eyes.
Nasal.—Not meeting behind rostral; semi-divided, the suture passing to
the 2nd labial. Head covered with shields slightly larger than those on
_ the body. Of those there are 8 in the median line, 9 on either side, the
anterior 2 of the latter (the supraocular and parietal) being rather broader
than the succeeding 5. (Jan shows 4 median and 3 lateral shields enlarged).
Preocular touching 2nd and 3rd labials ; subequal to ocular. Ocular touch-
ing the 38rd and 4th labials. Temporal one (Jan shows three). Costal 17,
{not including the ventral row) in whole body-length. Snout rounded.
Hye black and very distinct (Boulenger indistinct), small, lying beneath the
suture between the supraocular and ocular shields. Length 133 mm.
Breadth 1/58 the total length (Boulenger 1/70 to 1/90). I append figures.

T. mackinnoni (Wall.)

This species has been till now known only from a single specimen collect-
ed in Mussoorie, now in the British Museum. In our Society’s collection
I find one labelled porrectus with no record of locality. It differs from the
type in that the rostral does not quite reach the level of the eyes. In
length it is 185mm, The literal breadth is 1/46, the total length, agreeing

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 279

in this asin other respects with the type. The costals are 17 (not includ-
ing the ventral row) in the whole body-length, not 19 as stated in error in
the original description (Bomb. N. H. Journal, Vol. XIX. p. 805).

F. WALL, Masor, 1.M.s., ¢.M.z.8.
Autmora, 13th March 1911.

No. XLIJ.—ON THE OCCURRENCE OF THE SNAKE DIPSADO-
MORPHUS NUCHALIS (BEDDOME) IN BERHAMPUR ORISSA.

In the records of the Indian Museum (Vol. III, pp. 151, et seg.) I
remarked upon certain forms of Dipsadomorphus hitherto included under
the name D. ceylonensis, four of which combined certain characters, making
it appear that each form deserved recognition as a distinct species.

One of these forms, vz., nuchalis (Beddome) I showed by a series of 16
specimens combined the following characters :—(1) scales 21 (rarely 23)
in midbody, (2) 234 to 251 ventrals, (3) 90 to 108 sub-caudals, (4)
Habitat—Hills in Western India and Nepal.

I have recently had a specimen in complete accord with this type from
Berhampore (Orissa), which is specially interesting, because it links up
the previously known curiously distant habitats. The specimen has 21
seale rows in midbody, 244 ventrals, and 108 sub-caudals. The vertebral
seales are nearly as broad as long. The colour is a darkish grey, and
there are obscure blackish oblique bars costally.

Tt is still further imteresting in tending to support my views, which
Dr. Annandale attacked in the succeeding number of the Journal above
referred to.

As far as I am aware, none of the forms I referred to have been reported
from Hills on the Eastern side of India, so that, whether these forms will
eventually be recognised as varieties of one species or species distinct
from one another, it 1s interesting to know that one form at least inhabits
the Eastern side of Peninsula India. I think it a safe assumption that
the specimen I have just acquired is a wanderer from the adjacent Hills
which are but 8 or 10 miles distant.

F. WALL, Major, I.M.s., ¢.M.z.s.
Atmora, 6th April 1911.

No. XLIII.—IS LYCODON GAMMIEI (BLANFORD) AN ABERRANT
SPECIMEN OF LYCODON FASCIATUS (ANDERSON) ?

I was much interested to see in the last Journal (p. 855) the snake
Lycodon fasciatus recorded from exactly the same locality in the ,Hastern
Himalayas, in which Zycodon gammiei was collected, especially as I have

280 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XX1.

forja long time thought the latter would prove to be an aberrant example
of the former.

The type and only specimen of gammiei is in the Indian Museum, and
when I examined it some years back, I remarked on the great similarity
in colour and lepidosis between it and fasciatus, and was inclined to think
the two would probably have to be united. I was deterred from voicing
this opinion firstly, because fasciatus had never been recorded from the
Eastern Himalayas, and secondly, on account of scale differences. Now
that the first objection to my opinion has been removed, it is worth
enumerating the scale differences noted.

(1) First there is the fact that there are in gammiei 19 scales in midbody
whereas in fasciatus there are 17. (2) The ventrals and sub-caudals in
gammici are in excess of the ranges given by Mr. Boulenger (Cat. Vol. I,
p. 358) for fasciatus. (3) The loreal in gammiei fails to touch the eye,
but in fasciatus it usually does so.

To take the scale rows in fasciatus, they are 17 shortly behind the neck,
and remain so to well behind the middle of the body, then reducing to 15.
In gamnuei they are 17 for about 6 headslengths behind the head, then
become 19 by a division of the 3rd row above the ventrals, and remain 19
till behind the middle of the body where they reduce to 17 and subse-
quently to 15. Now it is no unusual thing to find individuals in many

species that exhibit the same anomaly (as I believe this is) ; the scale rows

for a variable length in the body exceeding the normal by two. I have
seen this in more than one species of Dipsadomorphus, Oligodon and Simotes
in Silybura ocellata Ancistrodon himalayanus and other snakes. The
peculiarity of the scales in gammiei need not therefore deter one from
considering it an aberrant fasciatus.

As regards ventrals and subcaudals, Mr, D’Abreu reports the counts in
his specimen as 214+98, thus according well with those in the type of
gammiei, which Blanford recorded as 2144101. (I however make them
222-4100).

With reference to the third point, Mr. D’Abreu mentions that the loreal
is pointed behind (he says anteriorly, but obviously means posteriorly),
but does not reach the eye. This is the exact condition in the type of
gamnuer. °

I examined the type of gamme: beside specimens of fasciatus, and in
every detail except those referred to above, the two forms seemed to
agree. The colouration is exactly as in fasciatus. I feel very confident
now that gammvei is an aberrant example of /fasciatus, and as it was de-
scribed first, the species should in future be known as gammiei, Anderson’s
name fasciatus being suppressed.

“ F. WALL, Masor, 1.M.s., C.M.z.8.
Aumora, lst March 1911.

Mm = 2
al oe

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. eV 2B il
No. XLIV—DO SNAKES SWALLOW STONES ?

The other day, while examining the insides of a large Tropidonotus pis-
cator, I found a solid piece of mortar, measuring about an inch by three-
quarters and half an inch in thickness. It would appear that snakes like
erocodiles and birds swallow stones to aid their digestion. I would like to
know if other members have noticed similar incidents. ;

EH. A. DABREU, F.z.s.
Naerur, C. P., 27th August 1911.

No. XLV.—REMARKS ON THE GREATER, AND LESSER
BLACK KRAITS (BUNGARUS NIGER,
AND B. LIVIDUS).

Having just received two specimens of that uncommon and local Krait
B. lividus from Mr. D. A. Jacob, 1.F.s., from Jalpaiguri District, I think
some remarks on this species and its near ally B. myer may be of interest.
The lesser black Krait (lividus) was described originally from Assam by Dr.
Cantor in 1839, but its validity as a species was doubted and Dr. Gunther
in 1864 merely conceded to it the rank of a variety of our common Krait
(ceruleus). Later, however, in 1890 Mr. Boulenger restored to it its lost
dignity as a species, and I think most herpetologists will agree with his view.

Until last year it was confused with another very similar Krait which I
described in this Journal* as a distinct species under the name B. niger.

The two, though inhabiting the same restricted area, are easily known
from one) another by the development of the vertebral row and the ranges
of their respective ventral and subcaudal shields.

In lividus the breadth of the vertebrals does not exceed their length, and
in this it differs from all the other Kraits up to date described. Those
shields appear longer than broad, but if accurate measurements are taken
they will be found usually to be as broad aslong. I believe it is a decidedly
smaller snake than niger. It is poorly represented in our Museums, there
being but four in the British Museum; none in either the Indian
Museum nor our Society’s Collection.

’ Both snakes are uniformly black dorsally, with a greyish or bluish sheen
in certain lights. In the young of both there is no preeocular white spot,
nor blotches of white on the occiput as is usual, if not always the case, in
the common Krait (ceruleus). The belly is alike in both being white for
a variable length in front, later becoming mottled with dark plumbeous
especially in the bases of the ventral and subcaudal shields.

I have now examined 12 specimens of lividus, and the details of these are
shown in tabular form for easy reference, and comparison with 19 speci-
mens of niger I have examined.

Peel XX peis3e)
36

282 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXII,

I have the jaws of the largest specimen referred to and a complete skull
of a Jalpaiguri specimen, and the dentition shows fewer teeth in the man-
dibles than in niger, of which I have five skulls. In both species there are
three small grooved teeth in the maxillar behind the pair of fangs. In
lividus the palatine teeth are 9, pterygoid 7 to 9 and the mandibular 12.
In niger the palatine are 9 to 13, pterygoid 8 to 11, and mandibular 15
to 18.

I could gain no information in Assam about the poisonous effects of the
bite of niger, but was more fortunate in obtaining information about lividus.
A planter near Tezpur had a cooly woman bitten by one, and she died
some 12 to 18 hours later. The specimen was killed and kept, and sub-
mitted to me for identification. Jt measured 3 feet 2 inches, and was
much the largest I have seen. No medical details of this case were kept.

unfortunately.
BUNGARUS LIVIDUS.
4 [8
ellis ee
=} .
or z S Ue Habitat.
4 rs Ges
iL Serie 215 | 37 952 | Assam. In Brit. Mus.
2 sean 214 | 38 252 Do. do.
3 aes 212 | 36 248 Do. do.
4 es 212 | 42 254 e do.
|
Del ate ae 215. 30 252 | Madopu. near Tezpur Assam.
Geese 209 | 3% 246 P In St. Joseph’s College,
| Darjeeling.
(il Ve a 2B 36 248 | Tindharia, E. Himalayas.
Boe ace 212 | 38 250 Do.
Sa pea Ra We Five |e BIG Do.
LOn i) ert 212 39 251 | Jalpaiguri District.
i}
Ae a ACen ne SNL eter dl) 257 Do.
WP lo 6 215 | 41 256 Do.

bo
Qo
oo

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES,

BUNGARUS NIGER.

Habitat. |
)

Length
Ventrals.
Subcaudals
Total Vent.
and Sube.

1 224 50 274 | Garo Hills, in Indian Museum.
2 Se 278 | Sibsagar, Assam. In Indian Mu-|
| seum.
5 Sivas Td 225 | 53 278 | Dibrugarh, Assam.
4 3 643 229 54 283 Do
5) or vy) APA We oe 276 Do
6 A Oe! : 216 | 51 267 Do
eens) 682" | 2935) 58. | 276 Do.
Petey a 108” } 221 D5 276 Do.
9 meld 222 51 273 Do.
10 AO! | P ? | Pashok, KE. Himalayas.
11 oe yh 221 ol 272 Do
122| 3 6a | 995| 482} 2738 Do
|
| 13 294) 55 | 281 Do
i

14 ab NY Zreol ani 288 | Pashok or Tindharia, E. Himalayas.

15 eres eet 224 a7 281 i Doe do.

16 5 a 225 | 57 282 | Tindharia, E. Himalayas.

18 ae | 2265 56 281 Do.
|
19 Pe PODGN MAS 279 | Namsang, near Jaipur, Assam.

17 aor 223) 54 277 Do.

F. WALL, Masor, 1.M.s., ¢.M.z.s.
Aumora, 16th June 1911.

No. XLVI.—LARGE COMMON AND BANDED KRAITS.
I send herewith the measurements of what I think must be a record
Krait, variety, Bungarus ceruleus ; it was killed at Hazaribagh last year by
Major F. Stevens, I.M.S., the Civil Surgeon, who kindly sent it over to

284 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXT,

me on June Ist, 1910. I think this is worthy of publication in the Journal.
Length 4 ft. 62 inches ; tail 73 inches ; scale rows 15; ventral scales 215;
sub-caudals (entire) 50; anal entire ; sex male ; weight a little over 12 oz.
First complete double white ring (or bars) commences about 11 inches from
snout. Length of claspers about half an inch each. Colour ordinary
plumbaceous madder brown, white of vent slightly yellowish.

Mr. Hayes, a Mine Manager, killed a Banded Krait (Bungarus fasciatus)
a little while ago some miles from Koderma, HE. I. Ry., which measured
7 ft. in length.

O. A. SMITH, Major, 27th Punsasts.
Koprerma, EH. I. Ry., 19th July 1911.

No. XLVII.—THE DEVELOPMENT OF EMBRYO IN THE EGGS
OF THE OVIPAROUS VIPER, LACHESIS MONTICOLA,
PRIOR TO OVIPOSITION,

I am sending you some eggs I removed from a gravid Lachesis monticola
that was killed in Shillong in July this year. They are specially interest-
ing, because they contain as you will see embryos.

The fact that this viper is oviparous has been known since 1904 when
our Society received deposited eggs containing embryos about six inches
in length from Mr. G. A. Millar, St. Joseph College, from Kurseong. The
observation has been confirmed by the Revd. C. Leigh who wrote a most
interesting article on this snake in the Feld (Ist January 1910). He
mentions therein two clutches of deposited eggs, but though he adds
three records of eggs removed from gravid parents after death, he does
not allude to any of these containing embryos.

The parent snake in my case measured 2 feet 2 inches. She contained
7 eggs, 4 in one ovary, and 3 in the other. These eggs were flattened
where the poles met in opposition, and measured about 12 x Z inches.
When cut open I found an embryo coiled up in a chamber at the side of
the yolk lying just beneath the ovicular membrane. The head was dis-
tinctly observed witha large boss at the back (primary cerebral vesicle).
The eye is distinct, the upper jaw slightly beaked, and the mandibles
much shorther than the latter, and not joined symphysially. The heart is
distinct, and the whole foetus measures a shade over one inch unravelled.
How much longer these eggs would have been retained it is impossible to
conjecture, but it is probable that the embryos may grow larger before the
eges are ripe for discharge.

The condition of the egg and embryo is exactly that recorded by me in
this Journal with regard to the snakes Typhlops diardi, Dendrelophis tristis,
and Dendrophis proarchos. | 3

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 285

I think it is a pity the word ovoviviparous is not used exclusively to
denote this type of egg, retaining the word viviparous for fetal birth, and
oviparous for eggs with no trace of Embryos.

F. WALL, Masor, 1.M.s., c.M.z.s.
Amora, 7th August 1911,

No. XLVIII.—A SPORTING KASHMIR FISH, THE CHEROO—
SCHIZOTHORAX ESOCINUS.

Of the fishes native to Kashmir which remain with us throughout the
year I think this fish must take the premier place. Among European visitors
to the Valley it is known as “ Cheroo,” but the more discriminating gar
hanjee gives this name only to the male fish, the female being known to

him as the “ paket gar.”

The scientific name indicates predatory habits and
as with many other predatory creatures such as hawks, eagles, spiders, etc.,
the females of this species greatly exceed the males in size and strength.
One season at Ganderbhul, where the Sind river debouches from the hills
into the Kashmir valley, I heard of two hen “ cheroo” of over 20 lbs. being
taken with the rod (both full of ripe ova) but I have never heard of a cock
fish being caught over 6 or 7 lbs. weight. The spawning season is from March
to June and it is only at this time of the year that “cheroo” are to be found
out of the lakes and sluggish waters of the Jhelum. Even then they rarely
ascend very far into the more rapid waters of the hill stream but take ad-
vantage of the first covenient gravel beds to deposit their ova. The egg is
about one-fifth or sixth the size of a trout egg and roughly I should guess
the deposit of a hen fish of 20 Ibs. weight to be ever 100,000 0va. Formerly
many more “ cheroo” fell to the rod and line in Kashmir than is the case
to-day and as arule those now caught are taken in the spawning season when
they give little or no fight. Even a big fish foul-hooked is little more than a
log when full of ova and the sport does not attract one. In the autumn
however it is different. Hsocinus isin top condition in November- December
and those who have caught it then spinning or with a piece of duck’s liver
or a frog for a bait can tell of good fights put up and of very palatable
additions to the cuisine. The long pikey head and spotted body are the
most striking characteristics of the fish ;it can usually be recognised by
these but for more exact identification I give the following description from
Day’s Fishes of India:—

“Fin rays D 12 G/8)P. 20, V. 10, A. 7, (2/5) C. 20.

“Length of head 44 to 43 in total length. Hyes. Diameter 6} in length of
head, 2 diameters from the end of the snout and also apart. The upper jaw
the longer; the maxilla reaches to nearly below the front edge of the eye. Lower
labial fold interrupted in the middle. A horny covering to inside of the lower jaw,
Barbels-—The rostral more than half longer than the eye, the maxillary a little

286 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

shorter.—F'ins.—The dorsal as high as the body, commencing slightly nearer to the
base of the caudal than to the end of the snout. The pectoral does not quite reach
the ventral ; the latter which arises beneath the second or third undivided dorsal
ray extends two-thirds of the distance to the anal. Length of base of anal about
three-sevenths (3/7ths} of its height, when laid flat the anal reaches the caudal
which is deeply forked. Free portion of the tail as high at its base as it is long.

Colour.—Silvery with numerous black spots most distinct in the upper half of

the body.

Habitat.—Leh or Ladak and headquarters of the Indus, also Kashmir and

Afehanistan.”

My sporting experience of the fish is limited. On a hot summer day I have
watched small ones of from 5” to 10” sailing round in a clear spring-fed
pool where their every movement could be watched and have played a
small hackle fly on the finest of tackle over them. Presently a fish detaches
itself from the shoal and comes up witha rush, a quick strike and it is either
jerked out of the water away from its companions or has missed the fly
altogether. Inthe former case a little play intervenes before the game begins
again, to be continued till 4 or 5 of the little fish have been taken out. If
the strike is not made at exactly the right moment, the fly is seized and
dropped with such wonderful rapidity that one would be inclined to believe
it had never been touched. The shoal does not appear tobe in the least
alarmed by the loss of its members, and it is more the absence of more
flytakers than alarm that limits the catch.

Some years ago great sport might sometimes be had from house-boats in
Srinagar on an autumn evening after sunset. I can well remember one or
more merry parties on board a house-boat festooned with ducks from the
great Holkarsar jheel. One or two rods were generally in keen hands and the
excitement when a reel spoke was intense. Before dinner time 3 to 6 good
fish were often got safely on board and the delight of a young girl of 13 or
14 when a grand “ cheroo, ” which had been fighting hard on her rodfor 5
minutes, was netted turning the scale at 43 Ibs. will not easily be forgotten.

F. J. MITCHELL.

KASHMIR.

No. XLIX.—NOTE ON DISTRIBUTION OF LETHE KANSA,
(MOORE) AND DOPHLA PATALA, KOLLAR.

Lethe kansa.—Mr. de RKhé Philipe’s note on this species at p. 755, Vol.
XX of the Journal, is not quite accurate.

I had already recorded it as “common in Cheena, Naini Tal, at 8,000
feet and less, so at Nalena, 4,500 feet in April and May,” Vol. XX, p. 134.

Its range in Sikkim too is given in Moore’s Lep. Indica, Vol. I, p. 241,
on the authority of Elwes as “up to 9,000 feet .”’

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 287

Its range in altitude and area is therefore a good deal more extended
than Mr. Philipe supposes.

Dophia patala—Mr. de Rhé Philipe’s puzzle as to distribution can be
readily solved by noting the distribution of its food-plant or plants. In
Kumaun, to the best of my belief, it confines itself to Quercus incana and
Q. dilatata. Mr. Osmaston informs me that neither of these oaks is to be
found East of Nepal.

The oaks of Sikkim are:—Q. pachyphylla, Q. lamellosa, Q. lineata, Q.
genestrata and Q. spicata, and apparently none of these suits its fastidious
taste. It would be interesting to know whether the food-plant of
Dophia taoonana is an oak in Burma more nearly allied to Q. zmcana than to
any of the Sikkim species, that Dophla taoonana and D. patala are synony-
mous Mr. Philipe’s note seems to leave no doubt.

F. HANNYNGTON.,
Catcutta, 2ist May 1911.

No. L.—APPEAL FOR INFORMATION CONCERNING
PAPILIO POLYTES.

This butterfly is mentioned by Bingham (Faun. Brit. Ind. Butterflies,
Vol. II, p. 61) as being dimorphic through most of its range, and trimor-_
phic in the south of India and Ceylon. A search through entomological
literature has failed to produce more than one or two precise references
to the number of forms of female found in any district, though the butter-
fly is usually common, and must often come under the notice of Indian
entomologists. Further in relation to the fact that the polytes and romulus
females of the species “mimic” Papilio aristolochie and Papilio hector
respectively, it would be of great interest to learn to what extent the
mimics and models occur together. Ishould be exceedingly grateful for
any information, however slight, on these points, and in addition I may
perhaps be allowed to mention, that ova or larve of P. polytes would be
very welcome, especially from a locality where only two forms of female
occur. I have recently undertaken some breeding experiments in relation
to the inheritance of the various forms and material from a fresh locality
is exceedingly valuable.

J.C. F. FRYER.
Tuer Roya Boranic GARDENS,
PERADENIYE, Cryton, July 1911.

No. LI.—A NOTE ON POLYOMMATUS BQTICUS.

De Niceville in his “Butterflies of India, Burmah and Ceylon,” Vol. III.,
quotes no less than three distinct descriptions of the larva of Polyommatus

288 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXII.

beticus and himself gives a fourth. The larva as met with in the Hyder-
abad district of Sind differs from all four and is as follows: Head shining
black ; spiracles dark brown; ground colour a dirty flesh colour or crimson
with the following darker crimson markings:—a mid-dorsal line, below
this on either side a series of oblique streaks, one to each segment, running
backwards and outwards to meet a sub-dorsal line, a third line just below
the spiracles. The whole body is covered thickly with short, stiff black
bristles but on the eleventh segment, in the usual situation for the two
pillar-like processes from which the tentacles are thrust forth, are two
bald patches. In some specimens, I examined, these two areas were coy-
ered with a scanty covering of bristles shorter than those clothing the
rest of the body and what was still more interesting, in one particular
specimen, whereas one area (the right) presented immature bristles, the
other was entirely bare. The pillar-like processes were absent in all spe-
cimens examined but the mouth like opening situated in the middle of the
posterior part of the segment was always present. The larvze as one
might expect from this description, were unattended by ants. I attempt-
ed to persuade the larva to secrete the sweet liquid so much appreciated
by ants, by means of tickling them with a camel-hair brush but no
amount of irritation had any effect, and I conjecture the mouth-like organ
is functionless. The larva met with in other parts of India has the pillar-
like processes well-developed and is always attended by ants. Referring
again to De Niceville I see in his preface to the Lycaenidae that he mentions
that these organs were first described by M. Guenée in 1867 from a speci-
men of P. beticus and in his description of the insect observes that no less
than three species attend it. The habits of the Sindh form fully explain
why these organs should have degenerated, for degenerated they
clearly have, the two bald areas representing the sole vestiges of the
organs.

The larvee I examined are winter forms, a period of the year when ants
are more or less dormant in Sindh. The young larve as soon as they
hatch out, eat their way into the bud on which the ovum has been depo-
sited and then close the hole of entrance with fine web, and also prevent the
bud from opening, with other strands which bind the leaves together. The
larvee are thus fairly easy to find by noticing in any panicle of bloom
whether any bud has remained unopened. Hxamination of such a bud
usually results in finding the owner at home. Thus not only are possible
foes excluded but also the friendly ant, who would find it quite impossible
to enter the bud in order to milk the larva. It is significant that two
other larvee, those of Aphnaeus hypogyrus and Tarucus theophrastus belonging
to the same family and which are invariably attended by ants do not breed
in this same district, during the winter months, probably because there are
no ants in the cold season to care for them. It is to be conjectured that

——

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES, 289

P. beticus finding the ants had forsaken it, adopted the new protective
device of sealing itself in the food-buds and that later the pillar-like
processes atrophied from continued disuse.

F.C. FRASER, Caprr., 1.m.s.

HyYypERABAD, Sinp, February 1911.

No. LIT.—SOME DISPUTED POINTS IN THE ANATOMY
OF A COMMON INDIAN EARTHWORM.

In recent years it has become the custom for junior students of medicine
in India to practise the dissection of various animals. It is hoped that
by so doing they will foster a spirit of inquiry which perhaps lies dormant
at present. Itis necessary that the student should have some written
guide to help him in such work, and it is essential that this guide should
be accurate so far as it goes, it should not invite the student to see
things which have no objective existence. I found it necessary to write
such a guide for the use of my students in Calcutta. Dr. A. Powell
had previously written a similar book mainly for the use of students
in Bombay; this book was unknown to me until my own ‘was in
the press.
Among other animals a common species of earthworm, Pheretima posthuma,
was chosen by us both as a type for dissection. AlthoughI did not con-
sult Dr. Powell’s description, I received help from an earlier account of
the anatomy of this species, which was written by E. Perrier. (N. Arch.
Mus. Paris, Vol. VII.)
In reviewing my book for this Society’s Journal, Dr. Powell points out
certain discrepancies between our respective accounts of the structure of
Pheretima, assuming, naturally enough, that my account is inaccurate. J
do not, however, agree with him on the whole.
The disputed points are as follows :—
1. The distribution of the dorsal pores. Are they to be found in every
segment P

2. The nature of the male generative duct. Is it a single or a double
tube on either side P

3. The nature of those organs which I have called cesophageal glands.
Are they excretory organs or have they some other function.

These points may be discussed in order ?

In regard to the dorsal pores, Dr. Powell is quite right. I had
overlooked the fact that they were not present in the (first twelve
segments.

In regard to the structure of the male generative ducts, I find that 1

am right. If one of these tubes be excised and examined under the
37

290 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXTI.

microscope, it will be seen to be double in’ its whole length. Fig. 1 shows

the appearance presented by. an
actual ' dissection, stained and
mounted, and examined under the
low power of the microscope. Fig.
2 shows a portion of the duct as it
is passing through the fifteenth
segment, examined under the
high power. Both drawings were
made with the help of the camera
lucida. Dr. Powell describes this
duct as single. It may be that
we have been describing different
species, or it may be that he has

trusted too much to unaided vision.

In the above mentioned points, the basis of disagreement is clear’: Dr.
Powell has described certain structures as being such and such, while I
have described them otherwise ; but in the third matter for discussion, the
nature of the glands which I have called cesophageal, we stray away from
matters of fact. Since Dr. Powell has not given any description of the
glands in question, I cannot compare my description with his. - There are
certain large glands in the fifth segment which were, I think, first. described
by Perrier. Dr. Powell has not mentioned their form, which is exactly like
that of a bunch of erapes in miniature; nor their colour, which is red; nor
their large duct, which opens into the cesophagus on either side. These
structures are glands with a duct opening into the cesophagus ; this is plain,
hence I spoke of them as the cesophageal glands. I was unwilling to call
them nephric or peptic, or even pepto-nephric, since their function is un-
known. Dr. Powell will surely admit that anyone guessing the function of
a glandular organ might make a mistake, unless he was guided by some

evidence.
He writes in‘the review “ we do not quite appreciate what he describes as
the ‘cesophageal glands.’”” The verb ‘to appreciate’ is used in various

senses; we cannot, therefore, be quite sure of Dr. Powell’s opinion concern-
ing these glands, which he does not quite appreciate. Is he of the opinion
that they do not exist as described by Perrier or does he object to my
agnostiscism in regard to their function. It is not certain that Dr. Powell
has seen the glands in question, for perhaps we have been dealing with
different species, yet he is referring to my description of them when he
says—‘‘ These organs are undoubtedly nephridia.” The excretory organs
known as nephridia in earthworms are minute whitish tubes;how then can
organs which resemble red grapes be nephridia?- But Dr. Powell ‘says
“undoubtedly” they are nephridia.. We may, therefore, suspect that some

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 291

Zoologist of European reputation has said that they are nephridia; at
the word of authority, red appears as white and avoid objects seem tubu-
lar; but how about the perplexed student, who in Bombay, no less than
in Calcutta, is urged to see things as they are?

In Fig. IT is shown an outline drawing
of a part of an cesophageal gland. The
size of the ducts in its relation to the size
of the cesophagus was laid down from the
object with the help of the camera lucida,
it is not exaggerated. Let it be admitted

at once, both by Dr. Powell and myself,
that neither of us know the nature of the substance which pours down
these ducts into the cesophagus ; but as the ducts are so large, we may be
sure that the function is important. Dr. Powell believes presumably that
the substance is some kind of excreta. But what happens to it on entering
the cesophagus,—does it return to the blood in a vicious cycle, does it travel
unabsorbed through the whole length of the intestine, or does the worm
retch and throw it out of the mouth? Considerations such as these prevent
me from teaching my students that these organs are excretory in function,
quite apart from the fact that their actual function is unknown. I do
not deny that nephridial tubes open into the cesophagus; for it is easy to
see that many of them open into the ducts of the cesophageal glands ;
but I still persist in regarding the cesophageal glands as distinct,
anatomically—and most probably physiologically—from the excretory
organs.

Dr. Powell objects to the term used because “the name cesophageal
glands has already been given to well recognised structures of totally
different homology.” It is probable that by throwing together the syno-
nymous terms calciferous glands and cesophageal pouches, which are both
well known, he has come to the erroneous conclusion that the non-
committal term cesophageal glands has been used for something else. I am
quite unable to say whether these glands are homologous with the well
known pouches of the European worm; indeed, it seems that the word
homology has recently lost much of its meaning. If, as many think, we
must give up our dreams of one organ gradually fading into another—for
example, of a nephric organ becoming half peptic, half nephric and
finally wholly peptic—so, accordingly, we must hesitate in using the word
homologous.

R, E. LLOYD, Caprt., t.m.s.
CALCUTTA.

Capt. Lloyd’s text-book says of the vasa deferentia in Pheretima ( Peri-
cheeta) posthuma, “the two ducts of a side come in contact in the 12th

292 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXTI.

“seoment, but do not unite, they pass in close company through several
“segments.”

In a criticism I ventured to question the accuracy of this statement,
which Capt. Lloyd now repeats, suggesting that my criticism was the result
of trusting to unaided vision.

My criticism was based on observations made on six worms specially
dissected for the purpose. In all six, my own vision was aided by a 1”
power of the miscroscope ; in five by laying the dissected duct longitudinally
on the stage ; the sixth by means of sections cut in parafin, further examined
by the 3th objective.

In all the observations my vision was corroborated by that of four
graduates in Biology, two of them tutors of many years’ standing. A
seventh worm has since been sectioned.

In no case have I found two ducts completely separate as described and
drawn above by Capt. Lloyd. In some a slight grooving or “ fluting”
could be seen, but in all cases the duct or ducts were firmly united in a
common outer fibrous (?) coat. In one sectioned worm there was a single
lumen lined by a single layer of epithelial cells. In the other there
were two distinct lumina firmly bound together by a common outer
coat.

This outer coat could in no way be mistaken for part of the body wall
from which in most segments it stands out so freely that, unless care be
taken to fix the section well to the slide, the portion of duct is likely to be
washed away.

In no case could any student dissect or separate the ducts from one
another.

Let me point out that there are two distinct structures attached to the
cesophagus in the anterior (5th and 6th) segments of this worm :—

(a) Capt. Lloyd’s bunch of grape-like glands of which he gives above an
excellent drawing. I acknowledge with pleasure that my attention was
first drawn to them by Capt. Lloyd himself a year or two ago in conversation.

(0) Large tufts of nephridia which require to be dissected away before
(a) can be seen.

I regret that my remarks about the cesophageal glands were so losely
worded. An answer to Capt. Lloyd’s query ‘ How about the perplexed
“student, who in Bombay no less than in Calcutta, is urged to see things
“‘as they are?” will best explain what I wanted to convey.

I had supplied some thirty copies of Capt. Lloyd’s book to my
students.

Every one of these students when dissecting, with the aid of the book,
identified the tufted nephridia as ‘ cesophageal glands.”

Capt. Lloyd’s description is: ‘These are a pair of conspicuous glands
which look like a bunch of red grapes”’.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 293

Had Capt. Lloyd made any mention whatever of the much more
conspicuous “tufts,” there would have been no excuse for the students.

As these “tufts” are more conspicuous, larger, and have to be displaced
or dissected away before Capt. Lloyd’s cesophageal glands are exposed, 1
think the student may well object to the term “conspicuous” as used by
Capt. Lloyd.

The red colour is transitory and only seen in recently killed worms.

My student’s class takes place in the cold weather when the worms have
been preserved in spirit for some time.

The words “these structures are undoubtedly nephridia,’ used by me
in my critique, were not with reference to Capt. Lloyd’s glands. They
follow immediately and obviously refer to “what Powell has described as
mop-shaped or compound nephridia.”

Capt. Lloyd apparently has either not seen these structures or does not
believe they are nephridia. He naively suspects that because some
fancied “ Zoologist of European reputation” has said they are nephridia,
I blindly accept his authority !

I know of no European authority, who has described these particular
elands ; my sole authority is the worm itself in whom I shall trust, even
if contradicted by Indian authorities.

On removing the “ fluff” from the 5th segment, it is seen to be mainly
composed of tubules clearly of a nephridial character. The fluffy
ball in the 6th segment is clearly seen by the aid of a lens to be made
up of a number of strings exactiy like a miniature mop attached to a
common handle.

Under the microscope and with the aid of sections, each of these strings
is seen to be a tubular structure opening into the ccelom by a slightly
funnel-shaped aperture bearing a ciliated epithelium.

The lumen of each tube appears as it bored through the epithetial cells.
These epithetial cells are continuous throughout all the tubules and their
lumen opens into a common duct, the “ handle” of the mop.

I repeat these structures are undoubtedly nephiidia, and answer in all
respects the definition of a nephridium morphologically.

As I have said nothing whatever about their function I fail to see the
relevance of his assumption that I hold any particular beliefs as to the
secretion of these organs or what becomes of it.

A. POWELL.
BomBay, 28th August 1911.

No. LII.—A NATURAL BIRD-LIME.

While walking along an elephant dragging path in the northof Barateng
Island in the Andamans with Sir Henry Farrington, Bart., Deputy Conser-

294 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

vator of Forests a few days ago, we were attracted by the cry of a fully
fledged young White-collared Kingfisher (Sawropatis chloris) lying helpless on
the ground and picking it up, found that its wings and feathers were hope-
lessly together by the glued seeds of Pisonia excelsa, Blume, some of which I
enclose for your inspection. It will be noticed that there is a thick line of an
extremely viscid fluid along each of the 5 angular sides of the nearly eylin-
drical seed of this species, sufficiently sticky to fasten the wing feathers of
a fairly large bird together and to those ofits body. It was with considerable
difficulty that the seeds by which the feathers were stuck were pulled off,
and this was not done without leaving a considerable amount of the sticky
fluid on the feathers and pulling out many of them; had we not come to the
rescue of the bird, it must have inevitably died as it could not have possibly
extricated itself. The bird was not on the path when we first passed along
it, and it was only on our return to camp after being in the forest for about
two hours that we found the bird. It is probable that the young bird had
been reared in the tree and was caught by the seeds as soon as it had
fluttered out of its nest. The tree is a free flowerer, and may account for
the deaths of numbers of young birds annually.

C. GILBERT ROGERS,
Conservator of Forests, Pegu Circle,

Lower Burma.
RanGoon, 138th Apri 1911.

[On receiving the above note, we were doubtful of the identification of the Kine-
fisher mentioned and wrote to Mr. Rogers, who kindly sent usa description!of the
bird, and from that it seems to have been a white-collared Kingfisher, Sazropatis
chloris. As regards the seeds Dr. Willies, writing in Flowering Plants and Ferns
under the head of ‘‘Pisonia” says :—‘‘ The Anthocarp is glandular and is one of the
few fruits which are able to cling to feathers. Forbes states that on the Keeling
Islands the fruits adhere to the feathers of herons in such quantities as sometimes
absolutely to cripple them, or even to cause their death’.’—EDs. |

No. LIV.— NATURAL SELECTION.

At the risk of appearing over-captious, I would ask to be allowed space
in the Journal to traverse a statement appearing on page 848, Vol. XX,
No. 3, in Capt. Lloyd’s note on a ‘ Hyzena with deformed feet.”

The sentence is as follows :—‘“According to the selection theory a species
is not only brought into being by natural selection but after its arrival is
kept constant by the same means ; that is to say, it 1s believed that any
individuals which differ appreciably from the type of the species must die out,
because they are less suited to the circumstances of life than their fellows.”

The italics are mine and denote the words I take objection to. Ido
not think that they present a fair conclusion from anything advanced by

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.

bs
ge)
or

a respectable selectionist. To hold such an opinion argues a belief that
the life of the world has arrived at finality and that all types are perfectly
adapted to their surroundings. This no true selectionist will accept. No
one affirms, as far as I know, that an individual differing from type must
die. That would mean that the variation must necessarily be injurious
and emphatically so. The individual will die if the divergence is a
sufiiciently harmful one. Otherwise it will fail to reproduce itself, or re-
produce in diminishing ratio or simply not transmit the “acquired
character,’ according to the degree in which the variation is prejudicial.

On the other hand, when the modification is beneficial it is likely to
endure and eventually evolve a new species.

It may be pointed out here that it is too often forgotten that there are
two distinct lines in variations leading to evolution : those that are noxious
or beneficial to the individual and those that affect the race or community.
The later case, of course, comes more into play among social and gregarious
animals and many instances will occur to anyone conversant with the
subject of certain traits which, though injurious to the individual, are
sufficiently beneficial to the race as a whole to outweigh the detriment to
the individual.

Loose expressions in regard to Natural Selection are so frequent, and
these are readily seized upon by opponents to throw discredit upon it
that I feel that little apology is needed for at once contradicting a mis-

statement or incorrect inference.
C. E. C. FISCHER, 1.F:s.
CormBaTore, lst March 1911.

No. LV.—IMMUNITY OF ANIMALS TO SNAKE-BITE.

In a recent article in the Indian Feld on the subject of my heading,
I was surprised to find the statement that the mongoose is completely
immune to the effects of snake venom. After consulting our Journal,
articles in which provided the only information to my hand, I wrote a letter
on the subject to the paper in question, the substance of which I have
transcribed for publication in the Journal in the hope of eliciting fur-
ther information on an interesting question.

In the first place, if the mongoose be entirely immune, why should he
occasionally show fear of a cobra, and always, as I believe to be the case,
display great activity in avoiding a bite ?

The Indian Field article does not give the name of the French writer
by whom the complete immunity of the mongoose is said to have been
proved. Professor Calmette, not the least eminent French authority on
snake poisons, arrived at a different conclusion. He found that eight times

296 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX1.

the dose of venom sufticient to kill a rabit proved fatal to a mongoose in
twelve hours; and, as the result of his experiments, concludes :—“ The
mongoose is able to bear without discomfort very considerable doses
relative to its size, but its immunity is not absolute. If it generally
triumphs in its struggles with venomous snakes, it is chiefly due to the
extreme agility with which itis endowed.” It is not quite clear whether
these experiments were made with the poison of the cobra or with that of
the West Indian “fer-de-lance” ( Lachesis lanceolatus): apparently the
latter.

Again Fleet-Surgeon G. W. Bassett-Smith writing in the “ Encyclo-
peedia Medica” in 1902 remarks :—“ The mongoose is remarkably resistant
to cobra poison, requiring from 10 to 25 times as much venom per kilo. as
a rabit, to produce lethal effects.”

It is obvious then that a mongoose’s chance of life, once he is bitten while
greater than a rabbit’s, yet depends on the quantity of venom injected,
being less than a fatal dose for him. It may be of interest to consider
whether the amount of poison injected by a bite from an average
cobra under normal conditions would be more or less than enough for a
mongoose.

Now the minimum lethal dose of cobra poison for a rabit is, according to
the late Major Lamb, 1.m.s., ‘085 millegrammes per kilogramme of the
animal’s weight. Taking the highest estimate of the dose for a mongoose,
25 times the above is 8°75 millegrammes per kilo. If a mongoose weighs 2 ©
kilos, which, I doubt, it follows that 20 millegrammes would be more than a
fatal dose. Now a medium-sized cobra will (again according to Lamb)
yield about 200 millegrammes of venom, while the fatal dose for an average
man is calculated at about 50 millegrammes. We have too good reason to
‘know that the latter dose and more is frequently injected, and it is
probable that a healthy cobra can, on occasion, inject the whole content of
its poison gland at a single effort. Itis, therefore, beyond question that
the danger, to a mongoose attacking a cobra, of receiving a fatal bite, if
fairly struck, is considerable.

It appears then that the undoubted anti-toxic qualities existing in the
blood of the mongoose are not of themselves sufficient to secure more than
a very partial immunity.

Bassett-Smith writes :—‘‘ Elliott believes that the success of this animal
in fighting cobras depends on (1) its great agility, (2) its habit of setting up
its fur, thus deluding the snake as to its vulnerable part. Its immunity is
due to the habit it has of seizing the snake by the head, and often by so
doing, incising the poison-gland with its sharp teeth, causing the venom to
escape and be swallowed by the mongoose; this would also reduce the
possible amount to be injected down the fang. Then there is the inocula-
tion of minute quantities of venom from repeated but ineffectual scratch

“I

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES, 29

bites. In these ways a partial immunity, which is hereditary, is establish-
ed, becoming lost in time if the animals be removed to countries where
cobras do not exist.”

This theory is a plausible one. But there is a stumbling-block. It is
not difficult to imagine a mongoose, by reason of his agility and increasing
experience, surviving a number of encounters at the cost of a few scratches
which the antidote in his blood has prevented fron having fatal effects.
These successive inoculations together with the poison swallowed at times
would tend to increase his immunity, so that an elderly individual might
take a good deal more killing than a comparative youngster.

But can this additional immunity acquired from inoculation be trans-
mitted to the animal’s offspring ? It is the old question of the heritability of
accidentally acquired characters, often affirmed but never proved. Possibly
the mongoose may eventually afford the evidence that has hitherto been
sought in vain. (I offer this suggestion gratis to any advocates of the theory
who may be on the look-out for new lines of investigation. It should be
simple enough. Start a mongoose stud and inoculate each generation up to
the limit: in course of time, if your breed be a good one you should
be in a position to supply all the laboratories in the country with anti-
venine !)

It may be that the fact of the immunising factor being an anti-toxin in
the blood places it in a different category to other acquired characters, as it
would seem possible for the embryo to be inoculated before birth from the
anti-toxic element in its mother’s blood. If so, it is sure to be a well-known
fact, and I have, in the valour of my ignorance, been merely tilting wind
mills. I must take my chance of that!

If this is not the case, however, and we decline in the absence of satis-
factory proof to believe that acquired characters can be inherited, it follows
that we are in entire ignorance as to how the mongoose’s existing inherited
partial immunity originated, though it has doubtless been strengthened in
some measure by centuries of natural selection. From this the further con-
clusion may be drawn that this inherited immunity probably almost cer-
tainly differs in its nature from such additional immunity as the individual
animal may acquire from inoculations during its life-time.

This conclusion is found to be of value when considered in relation to
an important fact, which I have not yet mentioned: I mean the fact of
the highly specific character of snake venoms which appear to have been
established beyond question by the most recent investigations, alike in
India, Australia and America, the consequence of which is that an anti-
toxin obtained from the poison of the cobra, for instance, is absolutely
ineffective as a curative against the poison of krait or daboia—Calmette’s
original belief to the contrary notwithstanding.

Hence it is to be deduced that any immunity which the Indian mongoose

298 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXI,

may acquire from inoculation with the venoms of Indian snakes will afford
it no protection against the bites of distinct species from other parts of
the werld. But it may be the case that the znherted immunity of
whose origin we are ignorant, does possess a more general protective
power.

I am under the impression, which may be mistaken, that the venom of
Lachesis lanceolatus is relatively less deadly than that of the Indian cobra.
If so, it is of interest in this connection to note that Professor Calmette’s
experiments appear to indicate a lessened degree of immunity in respect
of the former species.

As to whether, or how far, the Indian mongoose is, in point of fact,
protected against venomous snakes other than Indian, I have no know-
ledge. He may be quite unaffected by a dose of 10 to 15 millegrammes
of cobra poison or of 3 or 4 millegrammes of the krait’s deadlier prescrip-
tion, but personally I should hesitate to back his chances against a pro-
portionate injection of the venom of, say, the Australian Tiger-snake or
the rattle-snake.

If, however, the inherited immunity of the mongoose is found to be at
all general, as the article in the Indian Field implies, the theory is at once
shown to be impossible, that such immunity was originally due to the
effects of inoculation through successive generations with the venoms of
such snakes only as inhabit the same countries as itself. Unless, indeed,
the father of all serpents inoculated the father of all the mongoose tribe
with a venom containing all the characteristics of all the various special-
ised snake venoms now in existence!

If I have ventured to write rather a long screed on a subject I know
nothing about, it is in the hope of inducing one or two of those who do
know to put pen to paper for the benefit of myself and other dwellers in
ignorance. Can any Members give evidence as to a suggested immunity
to snake-bite on the part of the Felidae ?

I should mention that the quotations I have made from Calmette and
Bassett-Smith are taken from the Society’s Journal, Vol. XI, p. 516, and
Vol. XV, p. 115. Major Lamb’s figures are from articles in Vol XIV,
p. 221, and Vol. XVII, p. 16.

Since writing the above, I have come across a reference which, with
regard to the Felide, may be worthy of note. Major Wall in Vol. XVII
of the Journal, p. 583, quotes Mervyn Smith as stating that “the tiger
slayers in Chota Nagpur poison their arrows with cobra-poison and
set them in traps to be sprung. When wounded, the Tigers go off and
soon die, their movements being watched by the hunters. ”

A. H. MOSSE, CapraIn, 1.4.
Dwarka, 5th May 1911.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 299

. following notes made on the voyage out on the P. & O.SS.

nia ’’ may interest members :— |

7 Birds.

rey Wagtail..19th Mar. 1911 ..23:14 N. 32-H... 473 miles from Port
. . Said.

Quail ,.20th Mar. 1911 ..18°53 N. 39°33E. Flying from W. to

KH. singly at 8 A.M.
against a strong
‘a N. EH. wind.
Hoopoes ..20th Mar. 1911 ..12°34 N. 4639E. At 9 a.m. near
. “Twelve Apostles”
flying from W. to
K.
Dares Insects.
1 atapsilia crocale, 20th Mar. 1911, 17-0 N., 40‘E. About 50 miles from

~ plown away by the N. E. wind blowing at the time. The same “morning
iced a small noctuid moth which also disappeared overboard, but I fail-
to identify it.

F,. HANNYNGTON, t.¢.s.
Catcutta, 14th April 1911.

500

PROCEEDINGS.

MEETING IN BOMBAY.

A meeting of the members of the Bombay Natural History Society took
place on Tuesday, 8th August 1911, at the Society’s Rvoms, Mr. John
Wallace, C.E., presiding. The election of the following 54 new members
since the last meeting was duly announced:—New Members.—Lt. H. F. E.
Childers, Burma; Mr. F. A. Heron, Punjab; Mr. G.M. Carson, New
Guinea ; Lt. F. R. Cosens, Colombo; Mr. L. Aubert, B.A., B.Sc., F.R.G.S.,
Burma; Mr. G. R. Higginson, Lucknow; Messrs. John Bale Sons, and
Danielsson, Ld., London; Mr. Jehangir D. Vakil, Bhavnagar; Mr. HE. D
Chanter, Rangoon ; Mr. H. H. L. Prendergast, Arkonam; Mr. J. Pemberton
Cook, Burma; Mr. R. C. CO. Campbell, Burma; Mr. Motilal Vallabhji
Bombay ; Mr. H. E. Cross, Naini Tal; the Mess Secretary, R. A. Mess,
Roorkee; Mr. F. A. Clift, Burma; Mr. J.C. D. Raper, A.M.I.C.E., V.D.,
Lanowli; Mr. M. Machaya, Bangalore; Capt. H. G. Andrews, Bombay ;
Mr. H. V.O. Donel, Alipur, Duars; Mr. N. Marryatt, Abu Road; Mr
G. EH. R. Slade, Sabarmati; Major N. W. Haig, Mhow; Capt. F. B
Nixon, Mhow; Dr. T. H. Bishop, Kaksey, E. Bengal; Mr. V. A. Julius,
Colombo ; Mr. S. G. Butler, Assam; Mr. R. S. Croup, I.F.5., ‘Dehra Dun ;
Mr. Thrusten Hamer, Ceylon; Mr. 8. R. 8. Congreve, Coimbatore ; Mr. M.
S. Merrikin, Maubin; Mrs. J. L. Panday, Bombay; Mr. G. Mackrell,
Sylhet; Mr. H. Hampton, Rangoon ; Capt. J. W. Pickthall, Rangoon; Mr. F.
Clayton, Nagpur ; Mr. J. Aird, Nilgiris; Mr. A. P. Warburton, Kindat ;
Mr. S. W. Kemp, Calcutta; Mr. F. H. Gravely, Calcutta; Mr. L. B. Firth,
Calicut; Mr. G.8S. Shirley, Rangoon; Mr. N. G.. Webb, Duars ; M-.
J. L. Durant, Duars; Mr. C. R. Peters, Benares ; Mrs. C. T. Wheeler Cufte,
Rangoon ; Mr. D. W. Rae, Kachin Hills; Lt. G. 8S. Smart, R.A., Burma;
Major A. Scott, Pachmarhi; Lt. R. W. Hingston, I. M.8., Bombay ;
Mr. P. B. Joly, China; the Mess President, 42nd Deoli Regiment, Deoli,
rajputana : Lt. 8S. Murray, Satara; and Lt. R. Wallace, Satara.

CONTRIBUTION TO THE MUSEUM.

The Joint Honorary Secretary, Mr. N. B. Kinnear, acknowledged the
follewing contributions to the Museum since the last meeting :—

|
Contributor. Locality. Donor.

A number of bats .. fs ..|Ratnagiri ..|Mr. G.S. Hardy, I.C.S.
2 Thar, Hemitragus jemlaicus, skins|Garhwal ..| 5 J. C. Pickersgill
and skulls. 1 Musk deer Moschus Cunliffe.
moschiferus, skin and skull. 1
Himalayan Black Bear, Ursus
torquatus, skin and skull. |

PROCEEDINGS. 301

Contributor. Locality. Donor.
Hog deer, Cervus porcinus ..|Sind 2a Elev ER thie: iaion of
Cutch.
Oorial, Ovis vignei, skin and skull..|/S8. Persia ..{|Mr. G. B. Scott.
Young Markhor, Capra falconert, Chitral .. (Capt. R. A. Lyall.
skin and skull,
Flying squirrel Petawrista cinde-/Satpuras ..|Mr. A. H. A. Simcox,
rella. CES.
Flying squirrel, Petawrista cinde-\Khandwa ..| 9, J. K. Morton.

rella.

Flying squirrel, Sci ropterus sp. ..|Siam » J. Keddie.

Small Indian Civet, Viverricula|\Saugor » D.O. Witt.
malaccensis.
Leopard Cat, Felis bengaiensis ...\Meerpore,|,, J. HE, Walker.
Bengal.
Toddy Cat, Paradoxurus niger and|Dibrugarh —..|Major W. White.

Jackal, Canvs aureus.
Tickell’s Staphida, Staphida|Karin Hills ..|Hon’ble 8. Robertson.

striata.
European Bustard, Otis tarda. . |Chitral ..|Lieut. Stirling.
Eggs of Small White-throated|Horselykonda ..'Mr. P. Rh, Allen.

Babler, Dumetia albigularis.

Tern, Sterna media ae SHB OL Mebyay yo. ela raber:
Harbour.
John’s Ha_th snake, Eryx johni\Khandesh ..|,, A. H. A. Simcox,
(alive). P LC.8.
Rusell’s Earth snake, Eryz conicus|Santa Cruz ..|Major C. H. Ward.
alive).
Pe enis diadema and Russell’s Jodhpur ..(Mr. H. N. Ward.
Earth snake, Eryx conicus (alive)
Cobra, Nia tripudians .. ..{Shekh-Buddin..|Capt. A. H. Napier.
Cobra __,, # ae ..|Bombay ..|From the collection of
the late Dr. B.
Desai through V. N.
Gorackshaka.
Skink, Mabuia carmata with de-|Bombay ..|Mr. C. C. Stileman.
formed tail.
2 Flying Lizards, Draco .. . . (Siam ..| 4 J. Keddie.
A number of lizards a ..|Almora ..|Major F. Wall, I.M.8.
Several Fish ws ey ..|Mazagon ..|Mr. V. H. Gutleridge.
A number of Butterflies .. .. (Simla ..|Capt. Thornhill.
50 Eggs of the Mugger or Broad|Vihar 2 Mrieba ie ) Cadell:
snouted crocodile, Crocodilus LC.S8.
palustris.
Some Centipeds .. she ..{In exchange ../Indian Museum.

Minor contributions from Miss P. Threlfell, Messrs. H. EH. Standage and
T. Croft, R. W. Harter, S. H. Prater, P. Gomes, W. Walsh, C. E. C.
Dawkins, N. Kerr, H. Navalkar and Capt. W. Cullen.

302 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXI-

INDIAN MAMMAL SURVEY.

The Secretary announced that since the last meeting of the Society,
Rs. 9,000 had been received, making a total of Rs. 19,000 up to date.
Amongst the principal contributors were H. KR. H. the Duke of Connaught
H. H. the Nizam, Mr. Ratan J. Tata, H. H. the Gaekwad of Baroda (2nd
donation), and Lord Reay. He read a letter which had been received from
H. E. the Viceroy expressing his approval and interest in the scheme. He
said, now that the total sum had reached Rs. 19,000 it was proposed to
bring out a second collector and Mr. Millard, who was at home was
endeavouring to secure the services of Mr. G. C. Shortridge (late of the
British Ornithologists expedition to New Guinea). If Mr. Shortridge’s
services were secured he would arrive out here in the beginning of October,
and starting at Dharwar, would work South India and the Hast Coast.
Since the last meeting two more consignments of skins had been received
from Mr. Crump, one from Khandesh and one from the Berars containing
some interesting specimens. Whilst in the Berars Mr. Crump received
ereat help from all the officials, and the thanks of the Society were due to
them for their kindness and the interest they had taken in the scheme.

For the last month Mr. Crump had been in Cutch, where he was
making large collections, and a consignment of skins was expected shortly.
The Cutch collections would be extremely valuable as there were a number
of species peculiar to Cutch, and it would be interesting to see how the
fauna compares with that of Sind and Kathiawar.

H. H. the Rao of Cutch, who has taken a great interest in the survey,
had been assisting Mr. Crump in every way. All the specimens collected in
Khandesh had been sent home and were now being worked out by Mr. R.
C. Wroughton at the British Museum from whom a report was shortly
expected.

Mr. S. P. Agharkar exhibited and made some remarks on a specimen of
a fresh-water medusa (Limnocnida) found by him in the pools of the Koyna
and Yemna rivers.

The following paper on “‘ White Ants and their ways,” was then read by
Revd. J. Asmuth, S.J.

SS ee ee eee

CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER—Contd,).

A New SNAKE FROM THE WESTERN HimaLayas Trachis- _

chiwm poe By Major F. Wall, LMs.,
ars OF THE eae A BRIEF DESCRIPTIVE KEY TO THE
Fiora or THE Punsas, Norta-West -FRontiER PRo-

PAGE.

_ vINCE and Kasumir. Part IX. By Colonel C. J:—

¢. 4 as
TRSAUHAI YSN By TR STD AST ieee let ans Nala tae A 2 al oR ee era

PROGRESS OF THE MAMMAL. SURVEY pnt ails RETIN sie ae oh

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES :—

No. I. Tiger calling like a Sambur. By.Major H. H. Haring-
conwands Ds Wi Bests TR Sie. ease sf. ny, «ie se aise a

II. Young Tiger attacking human beings. By H.E. Cross.
TI. Panther and Wild Boar. By Lt. F. Fitz-Gibbon...

IV. Golden Cat, Felis temmincki, are Buffalo Calf. By |

ING BS eiKinnear.. : 2c eee Pas eee aS, hae

V. Mungodses inthe Eastern Ghats. By P. Roscoe Allan
VI. Distribution of the Sloth-Bear (Melursus ui ee and

ey the Indian Lion (Felis leo). - By R. Khengarji: .
“* VIT. The Birth “of the Wild Elephant Calf. By C. W.

ATV STD IOs te TNE or ER) SE SO AIEE ECs a” os

"| VIII. .Noteson the Gaur (Bos gaurus). By Aylmer F. Martin
IX,- The Domestic Breeds of Indian eer By H. J.

Wlwes,- F-B-Si60. 0h e sce: A deseo esac aban 8s eh Ulecsh a
X.. -Weight and Measurements of a Serow. By A. M.
IP PIMMEOSO ily spootid onde Abd cin scelenigd aa opaC ane AYE rs
XI. Weight and NMogsurewont of a Goral. By A. M.
FERIMATOSE Pet wats ocarstorgsey * “ae ks ae eee Cho, Seco ee

/’. XII. Strange mortality amongst Black Buck . (Antilope

. _cervicapra). By Lt.-Col. G. H. Evans, 1.c.v.p...
XIII, Large heads of Malay Sambar and Brow Antlered
Deora sBykls dsy Davis; Ws GeSimcd aa eaten: coo pear age
. | XIV. Crow andits Food. By P. 'T. L.: Dodsworth, _r.z,s.,
NEON Mego Ura: SOat Aaah Ebr eo De laic5 3 atifion
XV. Notes relating to the habits and niditication of ie
Black-Headed -Sibia, Lioptila capistrata a

By P. T. L. Dodsworth, F.z.s., M.B.0.U.

XVI. A New Bar-Wing from Burma...:.......-........,

XVIL. Curious behaviour of a Myna. By Lt. F, = Scott ..

203

CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBE R—(contd).

MISCELLANEOUS No TES—contd.

XVIII.

XIX.

XX,

XXI,

XXII.

» XXII

XXIV.
XXV.

XXXVI.

XXVIII.
XXVIII.
XXIX.

XXX.
XXXII.
XXXII.

XXXII.

XXXIV.

XXXV.

XXXVI.

XXXVIT.

Notes on Birds round Rawalpindi. By H. Whistler.

Notes on the nidification of Microcichla scoulert (Vi-
gors), The Little Forktail. By P. T. L. Dods-
WOKE, HAS.) MOU ays asics on alg niatels wo ye acl es

Nesting Notes from Lower Burma. By S. M. Robin-

Seasonal movements of the Himalayan Greenfinch
(Hypacanthis spinoides.) By Capt. R. B. Skinner, 8.5.
Oceurrence of Hemilophus pulverulentus (Temm), the
Great Slaty Woodpecker, in the neighbourhood of
Simla, N.-W. Himalayas. By P. T. L. Dodsworth,
ERR MERION. <1 nh. a gwiei dale oh irk pees wee
Hornbill devouring young Paroquets. By Lt.-Col. A.
Newnlvam, TiA.. 02h 2a. w= Goartaclatens eer ae aedeet
Jack Snipe in the Cawnpore District. By Capt. W.
B. SSpalaniey ayes Losec ashe eile er serene ens

Nesting of the Oinerous vulture (Vultw monachus)

near Quetta. By Major T. E. Marshall, n.n...... .

Uncommon Birds in Burma. By J. P. Cook........
Falcon and Gulls. By Lt.-Col. 8. E. Prall, 1.m.s. ..

Nesting of the Osprey or Sea-Hawk. By Lt.-Col.
Sei, Pra ae Sacieniccs su eceee pate aeoeer at seeks tec

European Great Bustard in Chitral. By N.B. Kimnear.
Woodcock in Kulu. By J. Coldstream, I.c.s.........

Occurrence of Swinhoes Snipe (Gallinago megala) at
Myitkyina, Upper Burma. By Capt. F. E. W.
Viernes 29) 08) Phar. ad ota 30 ee eae Fig

Occurrence of. the Pantail Snipe (Gallinago celestis)
in Siam. By D. O. Witt, ur.s., and W. J. F. Wil-
Liamisomes a! sais ed Boke oo PL SRE. Peer

Snipe Shooting in Upper Burma. By E. N. Bell....

The Occurrence of a ‘ Booby”’ Sula cyanops at Can-
nanore. By Major H. R. Baker ......... rae

The Occurrence of Cygnus bewicke and other Swans in
India. By E. C. Stuart Baker, r.u.s., ¥.z.8., M.B.0.U.

Uncommon Birds in the United Provinces. By Capt.
M. A, Gudlestone, 41st Dogras

Ce |

(oq

PaGeE.

257

:
é i

fe XXXIX.

_ MiscetLanrous Nores—contd.
ocx X VIL.

Nidification of the little Grebe or Dabchick (Podicepes
albipents), By John Fry........ ieee eh A
Recovery of Birds from injuries. By Lt.-Col. G. H.
PBI URA sv, COV Dion eoiigral eins erie Mel gene) Ae ay oP pas AP
Habits of the Python (Python molurus). By W. Forsyth
Remarks on two rare blind snakes. By Major F.
Via ITI SO. MABE ayy NC ae Wek UN Mol atk
On the occurrence of the snake Dipsadomorphus
nuchalis (Beddome) in Berhampur, Orissa. By
Nason A Walk vee OGM. ZS, ih 3 tots Waele ees
Is Lycodon gammiet (Blanford) an aberrant specimen
of Lycodon fasciatus (Anderson)? By Major F.
Wer EMS OME OAS Bey J o/h aren y eal ree eae eo Ae NES
Do Snakes swallow stones? By H.A. D’Abreu, F.z.s.

Remarks on the Greater and Lesser Black Kraits
(Bungarus niger and B. lividus). By Major F. Wall,

; : DMS ECE Say Ie wasces (sts fs Wiseenen tale tons A Rade oath ie
XLVI. Large Common and Banded Krait. By Major O. A.

ie RODIN ee SOURIS Mat NL antag tay e) OS top mele wall eealiont :
ih. XLVII. The Development of Embryo in the eggs of the ovipa-
y rous viper Lachesis monticola prior to oviposition.

oe By Major F\Wally-t.wes..C.miz.s: oh ears
a - XLVIlt: A sporting Kashmir Fish, the Cheroo, Schizothoran:
Oe Eesacrmus2) ery, Mkt MENG CHE eV sisi ee ie el ela
: XLIX. Note on the distribution of Lethe kansa (Moore) and
‘ - Dophia patala, Kollar. By F. Hannyngton, 1.c.s..
” L. Appeal for information concerning Papilio polyites. By
Ke es REVOLA asaya Niamey a ceo, Somncd ec Wa iM
a LI. Note on Polyommatus beticus. By Capt. F. C. Fraser,
, ELSE aie tata arin onder nenvoreTounes wy Abt cl ase La ahatetaik
; LIT. Some Disputed points in the Anatomy uf a common
: earth worm by Capt. R. EH. Lloyed, 1.m.s., and A.
% Lea 2} Vote ae Seats is A Ce ee Me id Me Ly
. LIM. A Natural Bird-Lime. By C. Gilbert, Rogers ......
¥ LIV. Natural Selection. By C. E. C. Fischer, urs. ......
a LV. Immunity of Animals to Snake bite. By Capt. A. H.
; sD hs CotsT ts) 2 ano Aa ea Bc ep) Pry edanen
‘ LV1. Natural History Notes from the Red Sea. By F
VARY OROM SOLS. oh eh S ay aks Mea ee)
BPE COP DING Sa SM ld ne Ge oe aie

CONTENTS. OF THIS NUMBER—Condd.)

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THE TIMES PRESS, BOMBAY—8045'11, |

THE

JOURNAL

OF THE

weaY Naruran Hisrory uae

hay He es ; ; i *
Be EDITED BY jJUN 18 941

uk ow. s. MILLARD,
»

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PRINTED AT THE TIMES PRESS.

Gy,

CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER.

Pace.

Tue Game Brrps or Inpia, Burma AND CEYLON. Part V. —

The Great Indiau Bustard (Hupodotis edwardsi) and

Macqueen’s Bustard (Houbara macqueenn). (With Plates

V and VI). By H. C. Stuart Baker, r..s., F.z.8.,
MB OU s Pattee aes laleuinl, LEAP Nath eS RY IE De ead oe
Some New Inp1an Ropenrs, By R. C. Wroughton, F.Z.S.
(Wi ith a Phaiie) igi 7 siya s he Nae kc Ne Sa ie Raia sta
THE Paums or British INDIA AND CEYLON, Ne ae AND
IntropuceD. Part VI. (With Plates XXVI— XXXII,
and text figures 20—23).. By HaBlatter, 89.0 -/0 te 2
THE BomBay NATURAL History Socrety’s Mamma. ou
vey or InpiA. ReEporT py R. C. WrovuGHTon, HZ.8:,
on Conuection No. 1, From Hast KHANDESH aos

Tue Moras or Inia. Series IV, Part III. By Sir George -

‘F. Hampson, Bart,’ F.Z.8., F.B.S! ....... He fe Eo SENT Ea ona
A PopuLAR TREATISE ON THE Coanon InpIAN SNAKES. ‘Park
XVII. The Indian Python (Python molwrus). (With
Plate XVII.) By Major F. Wall, LM.s., 0.M.Z.S. ......
A MonoGraPH OF THE WASPS OF THE Genus Czrceris

INHABITING British Inpia.. Part 1. (With Plates A and

B). By Rowland HE. Turner, F.Z.8., F-E.S.............+-.00:
Tae Common BUTTERFLIES OF THE PLAINS oF InpIA. Part
X. (With Plates D2, D3 and D4). By T. R. Bell, LFS.
Birp NOTES BY THE WAY IN SET: By Mao lek i DE.
Magrath A Aa ei ae ee: Praesidin aM amin ey MRL ACNE OL taK A Iay ON
A List or Inp1an BUTTERFLIES. vee Cee W.H. Evans, R.E.
Some Maymyo Birps. Part Il. By Major H. H. Harington
Notes oN BUTTERFLIES FROM THE NaGa HILLs. Part Il.
( With Plate B.) By Major H. C. Tytler vee ee
Notes on Fuata. ( With Plates A and B). By J.C.
Rershawe B28.) PL BS. Ga ac eet oad wen cen ghana pS ne
THE OOTHECA OF AN’ ASILID. (With. Plates A and B). By
JAC Kershawb 2 SwBEL Sea eisai ey wee cee man ase
Bampitinc Notes on Natural History IN CHITRAL. By
Major F.: Wall) S:09.)C.M.Z.88 (2 Ponce ee

303.

338

343° ow

392

ree
AAT

476

oly:

545
bbe

589

588

607 0m

610

614

ore *s0C “1SILI “YBNI Avawog *uINnor

SECOND INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF
ENTOMOLOGY.

The Second International Congress of Entomology will be held
at Oxford from August 5th to 10th, 1912. Further particulars
will be announced shortly.

The Executive Committee proposes to find for Members of the
Congress lodgings in the town, or rooms in one or more of the
Colleges at a moderate charge ; rooms in College will be available
only for men.

The Executive Committee invites an early provisional notice of
intention to join the Congress, in order to be able to make the
arrangements for the necessary accommodation.

The proceedings of the First Congress are in the Press and will
be published shortly.

All communications and inquiries should be afldrecsed to the
General Secretary of the Executive Committee,

MALCOLM BURR,
c/o The Entomological Society of London,
11, Chandos Street, Cavendish Sq.,
London, W.

BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY.

NEW MEMBERS REQUIRED.

The Entrance fee is only Rs. 10 and the annual subscription
Kis. 15 which entitles members to a copy of the Journal free of
cost and postage.

The Journal at present contains the following series :—

The Game Birds of India, Burma and Ceylon, by BH. C. Stuart
Baker (with coloured illustrations)
A Popular Treatise on the Common Indian Snakes, by Major F.
Wall, I.M.S. (with coloured illustrations)
The Common Butterflies of the Plains of India, by T. R. Bell,.
I.F.S. (with coloured illustrations) ”
The Palms of British India and Ceylon, by Revd. EK. Blatter,
S.J. (with photographs)
besides a large number of articles on other branches of Natural
History, Shooting Notes, etc.

Application for Membership should be made to-—

The Honorary Secretary,
Eombay Natural History Society.
6, Apollo Street,

Bombay.

JOURNAL
OR Ger HE

Bombay Natural History Society.

Marcy 1912. WOn XO. Non 2

THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA,
BURMA AND CEYLON.

BY
E. C. Stuart Baker, F.L.S., F.Z.S., M.B.O.U.
) Parr VI.
(Continued from page 47 of this Volume.)
ERRATA.

In Vol. XXI, No. 1, page 483, two paragraphs containing a
note by Mr. M. M. Currie on the Houbara have by mistake
found a place in my article on Otis tetraw, The Little Bustard.
These two paragraphs have now been inserted in their proper
place in the article on Houbara macqueenti and should be consi-
dered as deleted from that in the former number.

In the key to the genera of Otidide, p. 21, after—
‘“‘' wing under 16"'...Sypheotis” there should be ¢
After—
“a* wing more than 4 length of wing...Sypheotis’’, there
should be ¢.
Genus—HUPODOTIS.

This genus, which contains but one species occurring within our
limits, the largest of our Indian Bustards, can be distinguished at
1

304 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XX1.

a glance from any other by its large size, combined with its black-_
crested crown. ‘The sexes are alike in plumage but the male very
ereatly exceeds the female in size. The genus Hupodotis contains
altogether four species, two African, one Indian, and one, which,
as I have already said, is very closely allied to the latter, Austra-

lian.
EUPODOTIS EDWARDSI.

The Great Indian Bustard.

Otis edwardsi.—Gray, in Hardw. Il. In. Zool. 1. (1830) ; Hume,
Str. Feath. 1, p. 227; Adam, ibid, p. 393; id, ibid, ii, p. 339.

Hupodotis edwardsii.mBlyth, Cat. B. Mus. As. Soc., p. 258.

Hupodotis edwardsi.tJerdon, B. of I. iii, p. 607; Stoliczka, J.
A. 8, Bengal, xli, p. 250; Hume, Nest & Eggs, I. B., p. 557; id,
Str. Feath. 1, pp. 125, 237; Butler, ibid, iv, p. 9; Ball ibid
p. 234; Fairbanks, ibid, pp. 262, 266; Hume& Marsh, Game B. of
I. i, p. 7; Davids & Wend, Str. Feath. vii, p. 87; Ball, ibid, p. 266;
Tweedie, ibid, p. 528; Hume, ibid, viii, p. 111; Wilson, ibid,
p- 490; Butler, Cat. B. Sind, etc., p. 56; id, Cat. B. of South Bom.
Pres., p. 71; Davidson, Str. Feath. x, p..318; Murray, Vert. F. of
Sind, p. 217; Barnes, B. of Bombay, p. 320 ; Oates in Humes N. &
H, 2nd Hdit. ii, p. 375 ; Blyth, B. of India, iv, p. 194; Sharpe, B.
M. Cat. xxiii, p. 325, id, Hand. List i, p. 176; Oates, Cat. Hges B.
M., u, p. 90 ; Oates, Game-Birds i, p. 399 ; Barnes, Bom. Nat. His.
Journal, i, p. 57; Rayment, ibid, ix, p. 107.

Vernacular names.—Ghorar, Kathiawar; Tugdar, Punjab; Gur-
ayin, Hariana; Sohum, Gughuwnbher; Hukna, H.; Serailu, H.
(Nerbudda) ; Bherar, Saugor ; Hum, Mahr.; Mardonk, Maldhonk,
Karadhonk, Karlunk, Deccan; Tokdar of Mahomedan Falconers ;
Gurahna, Sind ; Bat-Meka, Bat-myaka, Tel.; Batta-mekha, Yanadz ;
Gunad, Pardi; Kanal-Myle, Tam. ; Heri-hukki, Arl-kujina-hukki,
Yereladdu Can.

Description, Adult male.-—Crown from bill to nape black with a
certain amount of white stippling near the forehead and with the
nape mixed black and white, remainder of head and neck white,
pure in very old birds but faintly barred with brown or brownish
black, more especially on the upper neck, in young birds. Back,

THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA, BURMA AND CEYLON. 305

rump and upper tail-coverts, together with scapulars, inner second-
aries and lesser wing-coverts deep buff, finely vermiculated with
black; the median wing-coverts are dark greyish or brownish black
generally tipped with white, greater coverts deep grey, edged black
and tipped white ; primaries dark brown becoming more grey on
the innermost ; outer secondaries dark grey, these and the prima-
ries all tipped with white and the inner ones marked with a white
band on the inner web. Underwing coverts white; flanks dark
rey ; tail like the back but more grey and with a broad terminal
band of blackish brown, with the outermost one or two pairs of
rectrices tipped white. A broad black band across the breast
often continuing right round to the hind neck where it divides the
white of the neck from the buff of the back. Undertail coverts
and feathers round vent blackish brown, marked with white and
with white tips; thighs generally much marked with black and
sometimes entirely black ; rest of underparts white.

“The legs and toes are generally yellowish creamy, a little
dingy on the toes; but I have noticed specimens in which the legs
had more of a light fleshy tinge and others in which the pale
yellow had a grey or plumbeous tinge; the irides vary from pale
to light yellow ; the bill is greyish brown to greyish white, dusky
at tip and near forehead, and often a little yellowish below.”
( Hume.)

“ Length 45 to 50 inches ; expanse 86 to 96; wings 24°5 to 29;
tarsi 7:5 to 8°37 ; bill to gape 4:0 to 4°75 ; weight 17 to 22 lbs.”
(Hume).

The middle toe averages about 2°95" in length.

Jerdon gives the weight as up to 28 lbs., but this weight is un-
usual. The heaviest I have received any record of is one shot by
Major A. B. Burton of 264 lbs. and Col. L. L. Fenton gives the
average weight of cocks as 21 lbs.

Blanford in ‘“ Avifauna of British India” gives the weights of
hens as 10 lbs. and of cocks as 25 lbs. to 35 Ibs. and says that
birds of 40 lbs. have been recorded. I cannot trace these records
and there may possibly be some mistakes about them.

The crest feathers are about 2" in length.

806 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

Adult female—The adult female only differs from the male
in being very much smaller, in having the white of the head and
neck less pure and more vermiculated with black bars and in hay-
ing the pectoral band absent or only faintly indicated except at
the sides. Length of wing 18" to 22"; tail 9’ to 10"; tarsus
6:20" to 6:50''; middle toe about 2°5''; bills, culmen 2-20" to
2°35''; from gape 3°00" to 3:20".

Weight from 8 to 11 lbs., running up to 13 lbs., but sometimes
heavier still, as Capt. J. R. J. Tyrell informs me that in December
1905 he shot a female weighing between 14 and 15 lbs. not far from
Dhar in the Bhopawar Agency, C. I., whilst Major Burton records
three hens between 17 to 18 lbs.

The crest feathers are not often as fully developed as in the male.

Young male.—Resembles the female but with buff spots on the
crown, hind neck and upper back.

Nestling.—Covered with down, buff above with black marks on
the head and upper back ; below white or buffy white.

The distribution of the Great Indian Bustard, which is not, of
course, found outside Indian limits, is thus given by Blanford in
the fourth volume of the “ Avifauna of British India.” The
Plains of the Punjab between the Indus and the Jumna, also
HKastern Sind, Cutch, Kattyawar, Rajputana, Guzerat, the Bombay
Deccan, the greater part of the Central Provinces, extending as far
Hast as Sambalpur, the Hyderabad territories, and parts of the
Madras Presidency and the Mysore State as far South as Southern
Mysore and perhaps further South. Stragglers may be found
outside the area specified, as in Western Sind, Meerut and Oudh;
but the Bustard is unknown in Behar, Chota Nagpur, Orissa and
Bengal, on the Malabar Coast and in Ceylon.”

Oates, in his “‘ Game Birds ”’ thus briefly describes its habitat:
‘Tt is found in the Punjab and less commonly in Sind. To the
Hast it ranges as far as the Jumna and approximately up to a line,
roughly speaking, connecting Delhi and Sambalpur in the Central
Provinces. Southwards it is met with down to about the 11th
degree of North latitude.”

Capt. K. L. W. Mackenzie, of the 62nd Punjabis, writes to me
that he shot ‘one of a party of four hen Great Indian Bustard at

THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA, BURMA AND CEYLON. 307

a place called Meja in the Allahabad District, about half way
between Allahabad and Mirzapur. This is considerably further

East than the limits laid down by Oates.”
In “ Stray Feathers,’ Vol. IV., Mr. F. Wilson records the fact

that a few Great Bustard are always to be found in Mazuffernugger
during the cold weather, he, himself, having on one occasion seen a
flock of sixteen. Mr. F. W. Butler in the same volume confirms
this and says that a few are to be found in the district throughout
the year. He also states that ‘“‘ between line of railway and the
Ganges Canal, from near Roorkee to, I believe, Ghaziabad there
runs a broken range of sandhills. Along the tract right and left
of the range the land is high and sandy and here Bustards are to
be found. I cannot positively assert that they extend into the
Meerut District ; but I believe such is the case; and certainly a
bird is occasionally to be seen during the rains in the Saharanpur
District, East of Deoband.”

“Tn 1871 I was in the Mirzapur District. I was told by natives,
and also, I think, by Mr. Pollock, C.S., that both Bustard and
Florican were to be found some miles from the station, along the
Great Deccan Road.”

I have several letters informing me that this fine Bustard is
common in parts of Hastern Sind, and by no means rare in one or
two favoured localities in Western Sind. In respect to Kathiawar
Col. L. L. Fenton writes “It is found throughout the Province of
Kathiawar in suitable localities, which means everywhere except
the Gir Forest and the Barda Hills”? and he adds, ‘‘ Malia on the.
Gulf of Cutch as well as Chotila on the old Rajkot-Wadhwan road
are also good localities for them in the cold weather.”

Very numerous letters from observers and sportsmen who have
been good enough to report to me the result of their experiences,
in some instances dating from the publication of Hume and Mar-
shall’s “‘Game Birds,” add nothing further to the area as given by
Oates and Blanford. At the same time these letters are of
extreme interest as showing that the Great Indian Bustard is in
many parts of India most irregular in its movements and that in
other parts it is merely a seasonal visitor, either for the purpose of
breeding or during the non-breeding season.

808 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX1.

Writing of thirty years ago Col. L. L. Fenton noticed this semi-
migratory habit and speaks of their being especially plentiful in
the neighbourhood of the Rajkot-Wadhwan Road to the N.-W. of
the Province in the cold weather and increasing greatly in num-
bers about Rajkot itself during the rains. Hume deals with this
matter very briefly and merely says “It is to a great extent
migratory, spending one season of the year in one part of the
country, and moving to another to breed. Thus, for instance,
in what used to be called Bhattiana, now the Sind District it is.
extremely abundant during the rainy season, when it breeds;
whereas, during the cold season, it is comparatively scarce.
Further on (p. 12) Hume quotes Davidson to the following effect
‘In Poona and Sholapur it is certainly a permanent resident, that
is to say, that at all seasons a few may be found in all parts of the
Collectorate. I think, however, that more breed in the district
than are to be found there in February or March, and that birds.
come in, in the beginning of rains, to breed and leave when their
young are able to fly.”

The Great Indian Bustard usually associates in small flocks.
In the cold weather two or three cocks or two or three hens may
be seen keeping one another company, but in the breeding season
the parties consist as a rule of an old cock bird with his harem of
two to six or more wives. Sometimes, however, they collect in
large droves. Jerdon says ‘‘I have seen flocks of twenty-five or
more, and a writer in the Sporting Review mentions having seen
above thirty on one small hill.” Mr. HE. James also records that
on one occasion he counted more than thirty birds in a flock and
Mr. 8. Doig found no less than 34 birds feeding together in one
Jamba field. Such flocks as these must, however, be but rare,
though droves of 8 or 10 and upwards are often met with. Major
A. B. Burton informs me that an officer in the Hyderabad
Contingent came across 17 birds together in the Raidan Doab,
and Major R. W. Burton once saw 19 birds at Tuggali, on the S.
M. Railway, Hast of Guntakul, though on the latter occasion the
birds appear to have formed two flocks, one of 6 and one of 13.
Numerous other correspondents have met with flocks of 10 or 12.
On the other hand, solitary birds are constantly met with at all

THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA, BURMA AND CEYLON. 309

times of the year, in the cold season, especially, the birds seem to
be often seen singly, but even during the rains and breeding
season cock birds are often seen alone. These are probably
suffering from compulsory isolation, not having been able to
attract any females and unable to forcibly attach the harem of any
other male. Sometimes two or three such young males may be
seen together in the breeding season, seemingly sympathising
with one another for the absence of female society.

There is still no general description of the habits of the Great
Indian Bustard better than that of Jerdon as quoted by Hume
and others. He writes ‘“‘ The Bustard frequents bare open plains,
erassy plains interspersed with low bushes, and occasionally high
erass rumnahs. In the rainy season large numbers may be seen
together stalking over undulating plains of the Deccan or Central
India. I have seen flocks of twenty-five or more, and a writer in
the Sporting Review mentions having seen above thirty on one
small hill. This writer states his belief that they are never seen
in any district that is not characterized by hills as well as plains ;
but this, from my own experience I would merely interpret that
they do not frequent alluvial plains, but prefer the undulating
country ; for I have seen them on extensive plains, where there
were merely a few ridges or eminences, and nothing deserving the
name of a hill close at hand. Towards the close of the rains, and
in the cold weather before the long grass is cut down, the Bustard
will often be found, at all events in the heat of the day, concealed
in the grass, but not for the purpose of eating the seeds of the
Roussa grass, as the writer above alluded to imagines, rather for
the large grasshoppers that abound so there, and which fly against
you at every few steps you take. During the cold weather the
Bustard frequently feeds, and rests during the day likewise, in
wheat fields. When the grass and corn is cut, and the bare plains
no longer afford food to the Bustard, it will be found along the banks
of rivers where there is long grass mixed with bushes, or the edges
of large tanks, or low jungle where there is moderately high grass,
or it wanders to some district where there is more grass, for though
they do not migrate, yet Bustards change their ground much ac-
cording to the season, and the supply of grasshoppers and other

310 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. X-XI.

insects. The hen birds, remarks the writer quoted above,
generally congregate together during the rains, are very. timid,
and frequently, when a sportsman is pursuing a single one, she
will attempt to seek safety, fatally for herself, in some large bush,
particularly if the gunner turn aside his head, and affect not to see
her at the moment of hiding. The cock-birds at this season feed
a mile or so apart from the hens, and stretching their magnificent
white necks, stride along most pompously. Besides grasshoppers,
which may be said to be their favourite food, the Bustard will eat
any other large insect, more especially Mylabris, or blistering
beetle, so abundant during the rains; the large Buprestis, Scara-
baei, caterpillars, etc., also lizards, centipedes, small snakes, etc.
Mr. Elliott found a Quail’s egg entire in the stomach of one, and
they will often swallow pebbles or any glittering object that
attracts them. I took several portions of a brass ornament, the
size of a No. 16 bullet, out of the stomach of one Bustard. In
default of insect food, it will eat fruit of various kinds, especially the
fruit of the Byr (Zizyphus jujuba) and Caronda (Carissa carandas) ;
grain, and other seeds and vegetable shoots.

“The Bustard is polygamous, and at the breeding season, which
varies very greatly according to the district, from October to
March, the male struts about on some eminence puffing out the
feathers of his neck and throat, expanding his tail, and ruffling his
wings, uttering now and then a low deep moaning call heard a
great way off. The female lays one or two eggs of a dark olive
green, faintly blotched with dusky. I have killed the young, half
grown, in March near Saugor.

“The Bustard has another call heard not unfrequently, compared
by some to a bark or a bellow, chiefly heard, however when the
bird is alarmed. This is compared by the natives to the word
hook, hence the name of hookna, by which it is known to the
villagers about Gwalior. When raised, it generally takes a long
flight, sometimes three or four miles, with a steady, continued
flapping of its wings, at no great height from the ground, and I
never found that it had any difficulty in rising, not even requiring
to run one step, as I have many times had occasion to observe
when flushing them in long grass of wheat fields. On the open

Mi s

THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA, BURMA AND CEYLON. 311

bare plains, it will sometimes run a step or two before mounting
in the air. A writer in the Bengal Sporting Magazine asserts that
he has known the Bustard ridden down, and that after two or
three flights it is so exhausted as to allow ofits capture. I imagine
that a healthy bird would tire out the best horse and rider before
giving in.”

Referring to Jerdon’s remarks on the ‘“ showing off”’ of the
male bird at the commencement of the breeding season, Hume
remarks :—‘‘ The way in which the male expands the throat at,
times during the breeding season is most extraordinary. Twice
I have closely watched the whole process through binoculars.
First the male begins to strut about, holding his head up as high
as if he wanted to lift himself off his legs ; then, after a few turns,
he puffs out the upper part of the throat just under the jaws, then
draws it in again, then puffs it again, and so on, two, three or four
times, and then, suddenly out goes the whole throat down to the
breast, and that part of it next the latter swells more and more;
his tail, already cocked, begins to turn right back, over the back,
and the lower throat bag gets bigger and bigger, and longer and
longer, till it looks to be within six inches of the ground. All the
feathers of the throat stand out, and looked at in front, he seems
to have a huge bag covered with feathers hanging down between
his legs, which wabbles about as he struts here and there with
wings partly unclosed, and occasional sharp snappings of his bill.
From time to time he utters a sort of deep moan, and stands quite
still, and then off he struts again close up to the female, and then
away from her. On both occasions that I witnessed these antics,
the excitement seemed gradually to relax, and no connubialities
resulted. Whether this is usually a prelude to such, or a mere
nautch for the edification of the female, lke the Peacock’s grand
display, 1 cannot tell, but I am inclined to believe the latter.”’

It will be seen from Jerdon’s description, which I have above
quoted, that the Bustard is capable, when necessary, of rising
straight from the ground into full flight, at the same time there is
little doubt that our Indian bird, like the European Great Bustard,
prefers to run a few steps before springing into flight, though the

facility with which it does this is a matter of opinion. Thus Capt.
2

312 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXII.

A. H. Mosse writes :—‘‘ The big Bustard is very slow in rising and
has to take 4 or 5 steps with outstretched wings before he succeeds
in getting up into the air.” Capt. C. Brownlow, on the other
hand, writes ‘‘ before rising from the ground, they ran only a few
steps and rose with apparent ease.’’ When once flushed, it flies well
and strongly, though with but slow beats of the wing, and ata
very much faster rate than those who have not shot at it would
give it credit for. Those who have shot these fine birds soon find,
however, that they fly quite as fast as smaller birds who appear to

go at twice the pace and it is necessary to shoot well forward to
bring them down.

In addition to the moaning call and the bark or bellow described
by Jerdon, Capt. C. Brownlow mentions a third sound made by
these birds. He writes to me about this as follows :—‘I then saw
a flock of six or seven feeding near a small village and managed to
get within some 30 yards or so before they became alarmed and
flew off. Whilst moving about before they were disturbed they
kept up asort of cackle.”

The Bustard is a difficult bird to circumvent, affording as good
sport as any game bird known, and calling forth all the cunning
and patience of the sportsman.

Of course, there are occasions on which the bird’s natural
cuteness fails to keep it in its ordinary advantageous position in the
open and the quantity of food obtainable in high crops sometimes
entices it to itsdoom. Thus, as Mr. J. HK. James records in ““Game
Birds,” ‘‘the largest bag I ever knew was made near Malegaon,
in the Nasik District, when an officer came upon a flock feeding in
a field of Jowari which was above their heads. He walked them
up and shot eight of them as they rose, like so many partridges.”’

So, also, Capt. Mosse remarks: ‘‘Occasionally the Indian Bustard
may, I believe, be put up out of crops like a quail and bagged at
short range. But my knowledge of him is confined to the open
plains where he is ordinarily met with in these parts. He may be
shot in two ways. First by stalking him with a small bore rifle,
though stalking is hardly the correct term, owing to the absence
of cover, which necessitates a perfectly open approach. If this be

conducted with an air of indifference and by an indirect advance,

THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA, BURMA AND CEYLON. 3138

a shot may often be obtained at from 80 to 100 yards. A nearer
approach is rarely possible unless there is some slight cover, grass
or low bushes (for the bird I mean). In that case the Bustard will
sometimes squat down flat, vanishing from sight in a marvellous
manner, but unable to resist the temptation of now and then
raising its head to see where you are. Now is the chance for the
shot gun. Gradually lessen the distance by from 10 to 20 yards,
then turn and run straight in, when, with any luck you may be
able to get in both barrels at a fair range.

Mr. G. Sanderson, also, was apparently more fortunate than most
sportsmen in inducing Bustard to wait for him in scrub jungle
until he could get within shot. He says, vide Hume :—“ The great
Indian Bustard occurs somewhat plentifully throughout Mysore, in
suitable localities, viz., open plains in the vicinity of scrub jungles.
I have seen five feeding together, three commonly. I believe
that the Bustard in Mysore migrates. It is exceedingly wary. Its
note, usually uttered before daylight, is a booming cry, not unlike
a distant shout ; hence it is denominated in Canarese the ‘ bird that
calls like a man’ (Arl-Koogina-Hukk1).

“The Bustard feeds in stubble fields and open plains till about
10 a.m., as also in the afternoon. During the heat of the day it
retires to low bush jungle. I have frequently shot Bustard by
having markers posted upon commanding eminences within a
circuit of three or four miles round their feeding grounds. The
particular habits of the birds are generally well known locally, and
when one has been marked down after its return from its morning
feed, it may generally be walked up, within a few hundred yards
of the place where it alighted. In the scrub jungle they fre-
quently lie very close, and must be carefully looked for. Before I
was aware of this peculiarity, I failed to find several birds. On
one occasion a Bustard uttered its peculiar cry about twenty yards
behind me. It had walked out of a small bush which I had passed
within five yards, and uttered its note when standing on the
ground.”

Similar examples of a confiding disposition in the Indian Great
Bustard must not, however, be expected, though they may be
hoped for, by the man who wishes to bring them to bag. It will

314 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXTI.

be wiser on his part to start with the conviction that he will have
to use patience, perseverance and brains before he can pat himself
on the back as being a wiser bird than the one he is after.

Driving, such as is so often successfully carried out in the
pursuit of the Huropean Bustard, is not often resorted to in India,
and the destruction of our Indian bird is more often accomplished
by stalking and the aid of a small bore rifle. Hven this, however,
is but seldom possible in the truest sense of the word, for the bare-
ness of the country in which the game is found and the general
complete absence of all real hills or elevations prevent any approach
under cover.

In the “‘ Indian Field” 1904, Major R. W. Burton gave an in-
teresting account of a stalk which ended in success. After some
preliminary remarks, he says: ‘ At last the white neck of the
cock Bustard caught my eye some 600 yards away, and in a few
moments, with the aid of field glasses, three others were dis-
tinguished not far from the first and all were busy feeding. It was
most interesting to watch them stalking about in the stately way
they have.

‘¢ Bustard have a keen sense of smell, and as any approach except
down wind appeared impossible, there was nothing for it but to
wait. In the course of half an hour the birds were tending
towards some higher ground on which were a few small bushes. A
detour under cover of a fold in the ground took me, without any
particular precaution, to within 150 yards of these, and a crawl on
hands and knees and elbows, and sometimes on the stomach—all
through sopping wet plough land took me some 80 yards nearer.
Sitting slowly up to see where my friends were, I saw a long white
neck appear round one side of a bush, about 120 yards away,
peering this way and that to see what strange green and brown
beast it could be sitting in the field (my shooting suit was of the
greenish-brown leather mixture, and much bespattered with mud).
I sat like a carved image, as the least movement would be fatal,
and that curious bird actually paced slowly on until 70 yards away
without being able to make me out. Opportunity was taken as
the bird paused for a moment behind a small bush, with long tufts
of grass growing through it, to get the little -310 rifle to bear in

-%
gnc es

THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA, BURMA AND CEYLON. 315

his direction with elbows on knees ready to fire. At last discovery
appeared imminent, so taking careful aim at the lower edge of the
breast I dropped him with a shot through the body. Loud hoarse
grunts of alarm showed me the other birds were not far off, and on
my standing up the last of them flew off from some 150 yards
away.

«« There is no finer bird than a male of the Great Indian Bustard
and the delight in handling the magnificent plumage was mingled
with a genuine feeling of regret—now the excitement was over that
the stately bird would no more stalk proudly his native plains.”

In writing to me he adds that on another occasion he combined
a stalk and a drive with great success.

“Tt was with reliable information of the Bustard being in con-
siderable numbers that Major H. Greany, I.M.S., and myself took
the train for a small wayside station of Tugalli, in January 1896.
Within half a mile of the station we discovered 6 birds feeding
among some stunted babul bushes and arranged for one of us to
stalk and the other to lie up on the chance of getting a shot as the
birds flew on. The stalk fell to my share and resulted in a suc-
cessful right and left with 8. 8. G. at 60 and 90 yards rise, the
other birds going straight over the Doctor who dropped one bird
with 8. 8. G. from his right barrel and merely staggered another
bird, as he had loaded the left barrel with No. 6, shot, being afraid
to fire S. 8. G. from the choke barrel of his best ‘ Alexander
Henry!’ The wounded bird carried on until out of sight, and
we did not succeed in finding him. The three birds secured were
all hens and weighed 17 lbs. to 18 lbs. each.”

Another correspondent, who desires to remain unnamed, sends
me a very interesting account of a two days’ stalk after Bustard,
which shows that success does not always attend even the hardest
worker under the most advantageous circumstances. He writes:
“The Great Bustard has always been an object of admiration to
me, and I have spent many long days after him, sometimes with
the success that makes a man feel above himself for days together,
but more often, I must admit, with the failure that makes a

man feel his smartness to be great depths below the bird he
is after.

316 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XX,

“In April, 1902, I had the good fortune to be stationed at
BR eer Se an ideal place for Bustard in every way. Birds were
remarkably plentiful, and though the ground was mostly very bare,
it was rolling and even hilly in places, so that by taking advantage
of the rises and dips and by making use of the tufts of grass, an
odd Ber-bush or so, or of stones and rocks larger than usual, one
could often carry out a genuine and successful stalk.”

‘Starting early in the morning, indeed, almost before
it was light, I was soon on my shooting ground, but even
at that time the heat was intense and already there was
that shimmer in the atmosphere which foretold of the greater heat,
to come. Lying flat on the top of a stony ridge, the highest point
in the neighbourhood, I brought my binoculars to bear on the
various points of the horizon and was rewarded by seeing no less
than three lots of Bustard, one consisting of eight birds, one of
four and a third of two grand old cock birds. ‘The fewer eyes to
watch me, the greater the chance of getting close, so I decided to
first try for these last two birds. They were a long way off, nearly
a mile, so that for the first few hundred yards no very great
precaution was necessary; moreover there was a crack in the
ground—one could hardly call it a water-course
right direction for my stalk and by stooping low I could make use
of this for a good quarter ofa mile without much chance of being
seen. Before making a start I located the birds as being about half-

which led inthe

way between two stunted Ber-bushes about a hundred yards apart,
and as these bushes were some two or three feet higher than the
heads of the Bustard, they served as admirable marks which I could
keep in view without the risk of trying to see the Bustard them-
selves. Down the water-course I went with success until I arrived
ata place where it was too shallow to allow of my going any
further except on all fours. Here, I wanted a further look for my
game, so getting behind a tuft of grass, I gradually raised my head
—covered with a helmet of the same colour as the stones which lay
scattered in every direction—until I could peer between the
withered stems. Both birds were still in the same place and were
engaged in the most curious antics, bowing and scraping to one
another, although there were no hens visible within miles of them.

THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA, BURMA AND CEYLON, 317

Directly between myself and the Bustards the ground was quite
bare, but a little to my left and some two or three hundred yards
nearer, there were a few bushes and further on again were others
I hoped to be able to make use of. Working my way on hands
and knees up the rain crack, I got directly in line with the bushes,
and after 1 had wiped the streaming perspiration from my eyes,
continued, still on hands and knees, until I got behind their
shelter. Arrived here, I found, I had to make my way in full view
of the Bustards—now about 600 yards away—before I could get
under cover of a big stone, whence I could again make my way
to another clump of bushes. Down I went on my waistcoat and,
yard by yard, covered 50 yards of open, halting for a few seconds
whenever the birds looked my way. At last I got behind the,
stone and had a rest before recommencing another series of painful
crawls which were to take me to within shooting distance of my
game. ‘The two Ber trees shewed up well and kept me on what I
believed to be the correct line, and eventually I stopped under the
shelter of a couple of bushes and some tufts of grass, which I had
estimated to be within about LOO yards of the Bustard and within
easy range for my little rifle. Having rested until my heavy
breathing ceased 1 knelt up, and having mopped my face and
brought my rifle to full cock, peered out. No birds! Kneeling up
a little higher I looked further afield and then saw them strutting
along some 200 yards beyond where they had been when first seen.
Unfortunately, at the same moment one of them caught sight of
me and after a second’s hesitation ran a step or two and then
launched on his wide pinions to be immediately followed by his
companion.

“ It was, however, still early, so waiting for my man to come
up with my flask, I had a good drink and then once more we
searched round the horizon for more birds. There they were, a
flock of 8, probably the same I had seen in the morning, though
they had wandered some distance since then. They appeared to
be in an excellent position from my point of view for a stalk, just
this side of a small rise which would keep them entirely out of
sight until I should arrive within 50 or 60 yards of them. I ac-
cordingly got up and sauntered quietly away in the opposite

318 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX.

direction and so round for well over a couple of miles in a semi-
circle until I had got the hillock between myself and them. I then
walked about a quarter of a mile in their direction stooping lower
and lower as the ground began to rise, until once more I was
forced to go on hands and knees. In this way I got to within
300 yards of the top and was lying flat for a moment or two to
recover my breath when, without any warning, two suddenly
appeared over the crest of the hill coming straight towards me. I
lay absolutely motionless, but it was useless. First one bird and
then the other stopped, stretched out his head and neck, put it on
one side so as to get a better focus, fora moment or two seemed
to doubt whether I was a dangerous object or not and then,
determined I was, they both took to flight accompanied by the
remaining six birds on the far side of the hill.

‘The sun was now high up and the heat intense so I made for
the shade of some village trees, a weary two miles off and there I
fed, drank, slept and read for the next four hours. After the rest
we again set forth and it was not long before we again came upon
some birds, two fine cocks, probably the same two I had tried for
in the morning. The ground was favourable for a stalk and, after
a repetition of the morning’s work on hands and knees, ending
with a crawl on my stomach for the last hundred yards or so, I got
within 120 paces of the nearest cock. My only cover was a few
scattered clumps of coarse grass, two or three feet high, so that I
could not sit up to fire but, resting on my elbows, had to fire as I
lay. Alas! the report of my rifle only resulted in both birds
springing into flight and sailing away unhurt, though followed
by another bullet, fired in despair.

‘No further opportunities to miss or hit occurred and at dusk
I made my way home a disappointed man.

“My next day’s work was as unsuccessful as that already report-
ed, practically all day I was in sight of Bustard but it seemed
impossible to work within shot. Once early in the morning I had
stalked a solitary bird with success and had only a few yards more
to cover when he took it into his head to change quarters and join
a scattered flock nearly the opposite side of the plain. A stalk of
of this flock followed and I was again just congratulating myself

THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA, BURMA AND CEYLON. 319

on success when I blundered on a hen Bustard that was squatted
in some Ber-bushes not twenty yards from me. Of course, off she
went followed by the rest of the flock which I did not again see
that day. Two other stalks proved failures. In the first I could
not get within 300 yards of my birds, and in the second I could
only get just within that distance and a shot, though it raked |
the feathers off the back of what seemed the largest cock, did no

real harm.
“ The following year I was again in the same place in February

and managed to bag 0 fine cocks in one day, though I must confess
that one bird wasa fluke. I had had the usual painful crawl
after a flock and eventually got to within sixty yards of the nearest
bird which I shot through the body and then, to my delight saw
another bird, not by any means in a direct line with it, and some
four or five paces distant, fall struggling to the ground. When I
went up to them the first bird was dead but the second was—as I
afterwards found—only shot through the shoulder of the wing,
quite incapacitated from flying but, as I feared, fully able to
escape my running. Running away, however, was one of the last
things it appeared to think of, and when I came close up to it, it
assumed a most truculent air and actually advanced beating its
unwounded wing noisily up and down uttering its deep cry at
quick intervals. There was no stick within miles of me so faute
de mieux I was obliged to put another shot into it.”

“On the same day I had another most unusual bit of luck,
getting again two birds out of one flock. I had had my first shot
and dropped my bird at about 100 yards distance when the others,
instead of at once taking te flight, actually paused long enough for
me to get a second successful shot. My fifth bird was got in the
middle of the day as we were returning to our starting point for we
came suddenly on it over the crest of a hill, and as its back was
towards us I was enabled to drop down and crawl up the hill and
then kill it with an easy shot at less than forty yards.”

It is probable that this Bustard is not as common now as it
used to be some 50 years ago when Jerdon wrote his ‘ Birds of
India” for 1 doubt if it would be possible for any sportsman to
emulate the gentleman mentioned therein who “ killed above one

320 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX1.

thousand Bustards with his rifle.’ At the same time we must
remember that those were the days when tigers averaged 12 feet
and it was a poor shot who could not get his brace or two before

chota hazri.
Its area of habitat as given by Jerdon is much the same now

as it was then and such notes as I have had sent me shew that
their numbers have not much changed in any particular place
during the last 25 years. Thus in 1879 Hume quotes Mr. G.
Vidal as saying ‘‘ This species is found very sparingly in the
Hastern districts of the Poona and Satara Zillas.” He then goes
on to say that he only saw three specimens in five years in Satara,
but that in Poona there are two or three places where they may
be found yearly. After this Hume quotes Davidson as reporting
it to be becoming yearly rarer in these parts. So that having been
So scarce 32 years ago we should now expect it to be exterminated
yet Lieut. EH. G. Phythian Adams, of the 80th Infantry, writing in
May 1910, informs me he knows ‘“ of its existence in the following
districts: Satara, Poona, Sholapur, where it is uncommon.”

Col. L. L. Fenton, I should note, says that “‘some thirty years
ago Bustard were fairly common in the Sholapur District where
they used to breed. I have also shot them in the Rabinnur
Taluka of the Dharwar District. A few, I also came across in
the Naladgi, now Bijapur District.”

Mr. J. E. James reported it as common in Hume’s time in
Khandeish and Nasik and all my correspondents in that part of
India say that it is so still.

From the Deccan reports are conflicting, but my correspondents
who have gone most carefully into the matter tell me that the
number of birds differ greatly in different years and one writer
adds that it is quite possible for a sportsman who does not know
the district to be there a year and leave with the impression that
the Bustard is but a rare straggler therein, whereas the man who
has lived some years in the Deccan and knows exactly when and
where to look for these grand birds may consider them almost
common.

On the whole, therefore, we may hope that our finest Indian
Game bird is not on its way to extinction and that its wariness

THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA, BURMA AND CEYLON. 321

combined with its open habitat may enable it to survive any
persecution it has, or may have, to endure. At the same time the
Great Indian Bustard requires protection just as much as our
other Game birds do, for it is much sought after by snarers and
bird catchers. JI have had several letters from correspondents
describing the way these birds are noosed in all districts and
all Provinces. The principal way in which they are caught is
that described by Hume, who writes “In parts of the
Punjab, and doubtless elsewhere, the native fowlers are very
expert in noosing them. A small party is described in the middle
of a plain. The fowler, with a blanket folded over head and
shoulders, native fashion, (or at times driving a trained bullock
before him) and a large supply of pegs and gut nooses at his
girdle, circles slowly approaching nearer and nearer, round the
flock. By little indications inappreciable to us, he discovers the
directions in which if slightly and cautiously pressed, the Bustards
will walk. Across the line of march, sauntering slowly backwards
and forwards, and pretending to cut and collect grass the while,
the fowler pegs down rows of nooses. Then, taking a wider
circuit, he begins to approach the flock from the opposite side not
walking at them, but sideways, at right angles to the line he
wishes them to take, passing nearer and nearer at each lap, never
in the least alarming them, but quietly edging and pressing them
towards the nooses. Sometimes he lets them walk right on to the
nooses ; generally when close to them, he drops his blanket, throws
up his arms, and rushes at them. They always in these cases run
a few paces before they rise, and though occasionally all escape,
generally one, often two, and sometimes three or four, are caught
by one or other leg.. The chief skill consists in walking them
exactly across the lines of nooses, which are never, according to
my experience, more than fifty yards long, and usually much less.”

As will be seen by Jerdon’s description this bird is practically
omnivorous; but to the items of diet mentioned by him must be
added rats, mice and similar small animals, young birds and much
vegetable matter, such as the shoots of young mustard, young

wheat, lemon grass, etc.
Two or three writers to me have mentioned this Bustard’s

322 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXTI.

curious taste for snakes and the natives generally give it credit
for being a constant slayer and devourer of those reptiles.

As regards the breeding season of Hupodotis edwardsi it is not
easy to lay down any very definite period. Hume says: “ The
Great Indian Bustard in Upper India lays mostly in July and
August, but the breeding season varies a good deal according to
the rainfall, and we have found eggs as early as the first half of
March, and as late as the first half of September. In Southern
India, according to Jerdon, they lay during the cold season.

“The eggs are placed on the ground, at the base of some bush
or tuft of grass, in a small depression, generaily unlined, often
thinly lined with a few straggling blades of grass. The situation
varies; sometimes the nest is in an open waste, sparsely dotted
with a few herbaceous shrubs, often in the stubble of the giant
and bulrush millets, and still more often in clumps and patches of
high thatching grass, or the dense soft lemon grass so characteris-
tic of the favourite haunts alike of this Bustard and the Houbara.

‘“My impression is, that the birds lay only one egg. But
sometimes two eggs are found pretty close together, and either the
females not unfrequently lay very close to each other, or when a
female does lay more than one egg, she deposits the second some
little distance from the first. Khan Nizam-ud-din Khan has taken
more than a hundred of these eggs with his own hand, and he
never found two eggs side by side. Where, as not unfrequently
happens, two are within a yard or two of each other, he believes
that they belong to different birds, and that this is a fact he has
in one or two cases proved by snaring both females. I have
only myself seen five nests, each containing a single egg. I can,
therefore, say nothing positive on this subject.

«The eggs vary very much in size and shape. They are all
more or less oval, but while some are moderately broad and
slightly pointed at one end, others are long ovals, exactly similar
at both ends, and others again are long and cylindrical, of the
same size and shape as the egg of the great Northern Diver,
figured by Mr. Hewitson; and I have one specimen that, both in
colour, shape and size, might have been the one from which his
plate of the egg of the European Bustard was taken. The shells

THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA, BURMA AND CEYLON, 323

are very thick and strong, closely resembling those of the Sarus
in texture, and like those of this latter species, the eggs very
commonly exhibit pimples and rugosities at the large end, so
much so that, out of sixty eggs now before me, only seven are
perfectly; free from such imperfections. Some of the eggs are
dull and with little gloss, the whole surface being closely pitted
with small pores similar to, but fewer than, those in the Peafowl’s
ege, while other specimens are brilliantly glossy. The ground
colour varies much. ‘Typically it is a sort of drab colour, but it is
often earthy brown, dingy olive green, pale olive brown, pale
reddish brown, and, although rarely, even pale leaden blue. The
markings vary in extent, number and intensity; sometimes they
are pretty deep reddish brown and clearly marked blotches, but
more usually they are pale reddish brown clouds and streaks,
sometimes so faint as to be mere mottlings, and sometimes, though
rarely, altogether wanting. Occasionally, the markings form an
irregular blotchy cap at the large end. !

“ Out of sixty eggs in my collection, no two are precisely alike.
In length they vary from 2°75 to 3:42 and in breadth from 2:05 to
2:45, but the average of sixty eggs is 3-11 by 2°24.”

I have in my collection a very fine series of eggs of this species
taken by Mr. Harrington Bulkley and the times at which these
egos were found extend considerably the period given, as above,
by Hume. The majority were taken in August and September,
but many were taken in October and one in November. On the
other hand 1 have three Deccan eggs taken in June and an egg
from Cutch taken in January. Then I have records of eggs from
Poona in April; Sholapur, April and May; and Guzerat, June and
November. I have, therefore, eggs actually in my collection, or
authentic records of eggs, taken in every month of the year except
December, February and March. I think we may say that, very
roughly speaking, the Great Indian Bustard breeds principally
from August to November, but that many birds breed earlier and
later than this, and that the breeding season varies very much in
different localities, these not necessarily very far apart.

As to the number of eggs laid there is little to add to what
Hume has noted. Undoubtedly the number normally laid is only

324 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

one and the exception to this rule is of the rarest. Ihave, how
ever, in my collection one pair of eggs whichare said to be from
the same bird, but even here I must record the fact that they were
found about a foot apart, in the same small beaten down patch
in a field of lemon grass. The two eggs are of the rich brown
variety and are so exactly like one another in every detail that it
seems probable that they are a pair.

My eggs, though the series is much smaller than Humes, have
a rather larger range of variation in colour, doubtless because
Mr. Harrington Bulkley’s series represents the variations picked
out of a very much greater number which passed through his
hands. Hume calls his eggs in ground colour typically a drab:
I should call mine typically dull pale reddish brown, certainly in
five out of six brown is the dominant colour of the egg. I have
one egg which is a unicoloured sienna brown, and it is only when
held up to the light that the very faint markings can be seen.
Many eggs are a stone grey or drab in general appearance, others
are a yellowish stone colour or olive yellow, a few dingy olive
green and one a beautiful pale sea green. The markings are as
described by Hume, but I have none which could be said to be
boldly marked.

The majority are very highly glossed and very few have no
gloss at all. My longest egg is 3:71" and my broadest 2°35",
whilst the shortest and most narrow are respectively 3:0" and
3°11" and the average of 45 measured is 3°21" by 2:29," my eggs
therefore averaging considerably larger than Humes.

Our Plate of Hupodotis edwardsi is an excellent one, but the
colouration of the back in both male and female is too red and
should be more of a sandy buff. It must also be noted that the
white eye-brow, as shown in the female, is not a sex difference,
but only an individual characteristic.

Genus HOUBARA.

In the species of the genus Houbara the sexes are alike, the female
differing only from the male in being slightly smaller. It is dis-
tinguished from all other Ofidide by the presence of a curious crest
which consists, not of a collection of feathers, either few or numerous

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THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA, BURMA AND CEYLON, 325

massed together, but of numerous isolated feathers, thinly webbed
at the base and completely separated and independent of each other.
There is a thick ruff of black and white feathers on either side of
the neck, and the feathers of the lower neck are also lengthened.

The genus contains but two species, the one, Houbara macqueenit,
inhabiting Central Asia and visiting Northern India in winter and,
the second, Houbara undulata, inhabiting the countries surrounding
the Mediterranean.

HOUBARA MACQUEENII.
Macqueen’s Bustard.

Otis macqueentt.—Gray & Hardw., Ill. Ind. Zool., ii, p.c. 47;
Hutton, J. A. 8. Beng. xvi, p. 786; Blyth, Cat. B. M. As. Soc.,
p- 258; Gould, B. of Asia, vii, pl. 58; Hume, Ibis, 1868, p. 241;
Blanford, Hast Persia, ii, p. 287; Heath, Jour. B. N. H. Soc., vi,
p. 372.

Houbara macqueenit.—Jerdon.,B. of Ind., ii, p. 612; Stoliczka,
J. A.S. Beng. xli, p. 258; Hume, Str. Feath, i, p. 227; Adam,
ibid, p. 393; LeMes, ibid, ii, p. 379; Butler, ibid, iv, p. 9; Hume,
ibid, p. 9; Butler, ibid, v., p. 231; Hume & Marsh, Game B. of
ie, p: 17; Hume, Sir: Peath, vu, p. 67; id, ibid, vill)’ p. 3s
Butler, Cat. B. of Sind, p. 56; Hume, Cat. No. 837; Doig, Str.
Feath, ix, p. 281; Murray, Vert. Faun, Sind, p. 218; Barnes, Jour.
Bom. Nat. His. Soc., vi, p. 12; id, B. of Bombay, p. 321; Sharpe,
Cat. B. M., xxiii, p. 318; Blanford, Avi. B. J., iv, p. 197; Sharpe
Hand.-L. B. M., i, p. 175; Oates, Eggs of B. M., i, p. 89; Finn,
Indian Waders, p. 122; Oates, Game B. India, i, p. 405.

Hupodotis macqueentt.—Gray, Hand-L. B., iii, p. 9.

Vernacular names.—Tilur, Punjab; Talur, Sindhi; Hobara or
Obara. P.

Description—Adult male.—F¥orehead, sides of the crown and whole
upper plumage sandy-buff, very finely vermiculated with black, the
general aspect being sandy; on the mantle and scapulars the black
vermiculations form into fairly definite black bars across the feathers,
but these are absent on the lower back and rump; crest of long,
narrow feathers, white on the basal and black on the terminal
halves; upper tail coverts like the mantle but more rufous. Tail
sandy rufous, the vermiculations almost absent at the base but

326 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XX1.

increasing towards the tip where they are as numerous as on the back
and a little coarser. Four broad bars of grey, the two apical bars
darker, and becoming quite black on the two central feathers,
similar in character to the black vermiculated bars on the back; all
the rectrices, with the exception of the two central ones, tipped
white.

The feathers on the nape are curiously downy and those in the
centre are often without any vermiculations. Sides of the head
whitish buff with black strie ; chin and throat buffy white; fore neck
pale buff, finely vermiculated with black; on the upper breast the
buff changes to a beautiful french grey and the vermiculations almost
disappear ; lower tail coverts buffy white, much splashed and marked
with brown, this colour forming into well marked bars on the outer
webs of the outermost feathers; remainder of lower parts white.
Primaries black, the bases white and the outer webs buff, this colour
being most pronounced on the first primary, the inner webs white
for two-thirds of their length, outer secondaries the same but with
no buff on the outer webs and with the tips white; inner second-
aries like the scapulars; lesser wing coverts like the back, median
coverts the same but albescent; greater coverts with broad, black
sub-terminal bars and white tips; winglet black.

Both males and females have a ruff of feathers starting from the
sides of the neck and, to some extent, from the hind neck, the
latter are sparse and thin, mixed black and white but with the
former predominating ; the feathers at the sides form two long tufts,
the inner are white on the basal halves and black on the terminal
halves which are much broader; outside these the feathers are
‘white, of the same breadth throughout and generally longer than
the broader black feathers, here and there may be seen a few faint
bars of grey or specks of black. The feathers of the sides of the
breast are very full and long forming a continuation of the ruff.

The feathers of the crest may measure as much as 3:2" in length
whilst the longer feathers of the ruff are sometimes well over 7" and
those of the breast up to, or even over, 3”.

In old birds the grey on the breast appears to become purer and
more extensive whilst the vermiculations become fewer and fewer.

“‘ The irides vary from pale to bright yellow.

THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA, BURMA AND CEYLON. 327

«The legs and feet are pale yellow, never clear and bright, mostly
with a dingy or greenish, or plumbeous tinge, at times creamy ; the
bill is blackish or dusky above, paler, usually greenish or yellowish
on gape and lower mandible.

« Length, 28 to 30-25 ; expanse 51°5 to 57-75; wing 15 to 16-1;
tail from vent 8°5 to 10°25; tarsus 3:4 to 3-9; bill from gape 2:3
to 2-4. Weight 4 to 5 lbs.” (Hume).

The measurements of the few males I have measured have been
as follows: wing 14°35" to 16:2", tail 8-5" to 9:5"; bill, culmen 1°35"
to 1:5" and from gape 2°1"' to 2°35" ; mid toe 1:65" to 2:0".

Sharpe gives the measurements as ‘“ Total length about 28 inches,
culmen 1-8, wing 15-7, tail 9-5, tarsus 4:9.” These measurements
are very curious as he makes out the female to be a much smaller
bird, yet gives a longer wing measurement for the female than for
the male. The measurement given for the tarsus 4°9 is probably a
slip or misprint for 3-9.

Adult female.—< Differs from the male in being very much
smaller and in having the crest and the ruff of the neck more feebly
developed, the freckling on the foreneck and lower throat appearing
to be rather coarser than in the male. Total length 23 inches,
culmen 1°65; wing 16; tail 7; tarsus 3-7.” (Sharpe).

My measurements for the female are as follows: wing 13:5" to
15°0"; bill from front on culmen 1:2" to 1:35'’ and from gape
1-8" to 2:2"; mid toe 1°56" to 1:85".

Hume records the measurement as “ Length 25 to 27:5;
expanse 47 to 51; wing 14:25 to 15:25; tail from vent 7:75 to
9°25; 3°15 to 3:6; bill from gape 2:0 to 2:5; weight 2 lbs. 10
ozs. to 3 lbs. 12 ozs.”

Young birds.—‘* Can always be recognized from the adult female
which they most resemble, by the sandy coloured arrow head
markings which pervade the whole of the upper plumage. The
frill is always very small, the crest on the head is represented only
by a few elongated feathers, which are only recognized by
somewhat coarser black freckling and the white of the primaries is
distinctly inclined to sandy buff; in some specimens there is an

indication of a black band on the feathers of the fore neck.’’
( Sharpe ).
4

328 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. AX1,

Distribution.—The Houbara is, so far as is yet known, only a
cold weather visitant to the Plains of India, being found through-
out the Punjab, Rajputana, Sind, Cutch and Northern Guzerat.
Oates defines its Hastern limit as a line drawn from Delhi on the
Jumna River to Baroda, but Hume has recorded having shot one
himself in the Meerut District, east. of the Jamna and doubtless
other occasional birds will be met with as far Hast as this bird. —

Outside India it is found in West Central Asia as far West as
Mesopotamia, whence it straggles commonly into South-Eastern
Europe and more rarely into Northern and Western Europe, as
far as the British Isles, Persia, Central Asia, as far South as
Afghanistan and Baluchistan (throughout the year) and the high-
lands of West and North-West China, breeding as close to Indian
limits as the Persian Gulf and Afghanistan and Baluchistan.

The fact that our Indian Houbara has been so much confounded
with the African bird, Houbara undulata, has prevented many
persons from collecting specimens of the Houbara when met with
on the border lands of the two species and the dividing line
between the two has not yet been satisfactorily worked out. The
B. M. possesses so few specimens of either sort, except, for those
Indian killed specimens of Houbara macqueenti in the Hume
collection, that they do not much help in this respect.

Dresser, in his ‘“ Paleeartic Birds” gives the habitat of our bird
as “‘N.-W. India, Afghanistan, Persia, Central Asia; arare strag-
gler to Hurope and has been met with in Germany, Poland, Finland,
Oland, Belgium, Holland and four times in Great Britain.”
The African Houbara he gives as extending to Palestine and
Armenia.

The Houbara arrives in India as early as the end of August.
Hume records the shooting of one on the 27th of August and
Butler records the arrival on the 30th of that month. The latter
however, says: ‘‘ The end of August is exceptionally early for their
arrival. ‘The main body do not appear until about the first week
in October. A few pairs were breeding at Henjam, Persian Gulf,
at the beginning of April, 1877.” Butler’s record refers to Northern
Guzerat and in the Northern Punjab they are reported to arrive at
much the same time; a few stragglers appear in early September

THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA, BURMA AND CEYLON. 329

but not many are to be found until very late in that month or
early in October.

Their departure takes place in March and early April, though
Doig’s men reported their still being in the Eastern Nara, Sind, in
May and June. Doig also adds that ‘‘a man voluntarily informed
me one day that he had seen the eggs of the Tulloor in the desert
at a place near where my man had seen the birds.”’

Major A. R. Burton informs me that in the Zhob Valley and
the Loralai District they are found from September to March.

This Bustard, like the others of the order, is more or less
gregarious, but never seems to collect in very large flocks. Hume
states that he has put up as many as twenty birds in a flock, but
most of my correspondents speak of seeing small flocks of three to
five or six and I have received no information of flocks as large as
that seen by Hume. Major Burton, in his letter above referred to,
says that the birds were fairly plentiful in the Zhob Valley, but
that he never put up more than eight birds in a flock. On the
other hand birds are found very often either in pairs or alone.

Hume was very successful in shooting this Bustard and he
records, in-‘‘ Game Birds,” that in 1867 he killed no less than
83 birds, 47 cocks and 36 hens, in one week in November. He
writes in his usual interesting manner on the easiest way to obtain
this bird. He says : ‘‘ The Houbara greatly prefers running to flying,
and when the weather is not too hot, will make its way through the
labyrinth of little bushes which constitute its home at a really sur-
prising pace. So long as the cover is low, its neck and body are
held as low as possible, but as soon as it gets where
it thinks it cannot be seen, it pulls up, and
raising its head as high as possible, takesa good look at its
pursuers. Not unfrequently it then concludes to squat,
and though you may have been, unobserved, watching it carefully
whilst it was only watching others of the party coming from an
opposite direction, it becomes absolutely invisible the moment it
settles down at the foot of a bush or stone. Once it has thus
settled, especially if it is hot and about noon, you may walk
past it within ten yards without flushing it, if you walk carelessly
and keep looking in another direction.

380 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXTI.

‘“‘ But it is weary work trudging on foot under an Indian sun
after birds that run as these can and will, and in the districts
where they are plentiful, people always either hawk them or shoot
them from camels.

“Offa camel a large bag is easily made, and as, whilst after
these Bustards, you get from time to time shots at Antelope or
Ravine-deer, Quail, Partridges, and on rare occasions, a Great
Bustard also, it is not bad fun, though rather monotonous, like the
scenery that surrounds one.

“Taking the camel at a long, easy, six-miles-an-hour trot, across
one of those vast wildernesses they affect, you will not be long
before raised high up as you are on camel back, you catch sight
of one or more Houbara feeding amongst the bushes. To them
camels have no evil import ; everybody uses them; none but the
veriest pauper walks, every one rides, and rides camels. The
peasant going out to plough his field rides on one camel
and puts his plough on the other, which, with its nose-string
fastened to the tail of the one he rides, trots along complacently
behind. When, therefore, the Houbara see you coming along
on a camel, they only move a little aside, so as to be out of
your line of march, and you at once begin to describe a large
spiral round them, so that, while appearing always to be passing
away from them, you are really always closing in on them. Some-
times, if the time be early or late, or if the day be cold or cloudy,
long before you are within shot, they start off running, and if you
press them further, ultimately take wing, flying heavily, and soon
re-alighting and running on, never, so far as I have seen, taking
the long flights that the Great. Bustard does, and never fluttering
and skylarking in the air as do the little ones. Generally, how-
ever, if the time be between 10 and 4, and the day bright and
warm, as your spiral diminishes the birds disappear suddenly.
They have squatted. Still you go on round and round, closing in
in each lap, and straining your eyes, usually in vain, to discover
their whereabouts ; suddenly perhaps from under the very feet of
the camel, up flutters one of the birds, and after a few strides,
rises, to fall dead a few yards futher on, as they are easy to hit
and easy to kill. Of course, I suppose a trained camel to be used,

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THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA, BURMA AND CEYLON. 331

otherwise, what with flies, keeping up a perpetual twitching of
every part of the beast’s head, neck and body and a natural
suspicions that you and your gun are up to no good, you will find
it by no means difficult to miss even a Houbara, especially if you
do not remember always so to slew your camel round as to have the
bird well on your left side.

«¢ At the first shot, all the Houbara that are at all close usually
rise, but after shooting a brace right and left, and having them
picked up and slung I have known a third blunder up from within
a few yards.

‘Otten, especially when you are out alone, and after breaking up
a large flock (which it is always best to do) are working a single
bird, you close in, and in until you reach the very bush by which
you last saw it, and yet can find no trace of it. You pull up, as
this generally starts the birds, but sometimes even then nothing is
to be seen. The way they will squat at times on an absolutely
bare patch of sand is astonishing; their plumage harmonizes per-
fectly with the soil, and you will have a bird rise suddenly,
apparently out of the earth, within five yards of you, from a spot
where there is not a blade to cover, and on which your eyes have
perhaps been fixed for some seconds. ‘This is especially the case
about mid-day, when the sun is nearly vertical and no shadow is
thrown by the squatting bird. Sometimes they try another plan ;
they get behind a single bush, and, as you circle round, they do
the same, always keeping the bush between themselves and the
sportsman ; here, unless the sun is quite vertical, their shadow
projected on the ground, apart from that of the bush, is sure, at
certain positions in the circle to betray them, and a shot through
the bush brings them to bag.

‘In some parts cf the country the Houbara greatly affect fields of
mustard and other crops yielding the oil-seeds of commerce, of
which there is a vast variety, known by half a dozen different
names, in almost every province.

‘When these fields are well grown, and are, say, a little higher
than the bird itself stands, exceptionally good sport may at times
be obtained.

“hey cannot run here, the growth is too dense, and a line of

332. JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol, XXI.

guns and beaters, sweeping a large field of this kind into which
a flock has been marked, will often account for the whole party
flushing them like so many Pheasants out of a dense turnip field,
with buckwheat lines, along a cover side.”

Mr. M. M. Currie has sent me the following interesting note
on the occurrence of the Houbara in Ludhiana and Dhera Ismail
Khan. * Bustard,’—1.e., the Lesser Bustard or Obara, commonly
called ‘‘ Tilur’’ in the Punjab, was pretty common in the Dhera
Ghazi Khan where I shot a certain number in the cold weather
of 1908-09. They were most common in the dry tract at the
foot of the Salimans where they seemed to be especially fond
of lying up in a kind of coarse grass locally known as Ghamm.
Later in the year they haunt the fields sewn with oil-seeds (tara-
mira). I have also seen them in the low-lands down by the
Indus. The usual number seen together was three or four, but
once or twice I have seen as many as a dozen together. The
method of shooting most often employed is with camels. The
sportsman dismounts and taking cover behind the camel, continues
to approach in circles till within range when he advances towards
the spot where the bird is lying till he puts it up.

‘The best bag I ever saw made in this manner was by a com-
panion of mine who got six birds one day, whilst I, not so
fortunate, shot but one. It is said to be possible at times to walk
them up in the oil seeds, but I never did so with any success.”

It is perhaps quite as often hawked as shot, though naturally
one does not expect to make as big bags in the former as in the
latter way.

Major Drake Brockman thus describes a day Houbara hawking

near Peshawar.
“Some of the pleasantest days I can remember having passed

in India were spent at Peshawar in the cold weather of 1893 and

1894.
‘‘ Apart from the excellent pack of hounds there and the good

sport we had I think that even more pleasant days were those we
spent out hawking Houbara on the Jamrud Plain in the company
of Mr. Donald, Asst. Commr., and Colonel Aslam Khan, of the
Khyber Rifles.

THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA, BURMA AND CEYLON. 333

«The Jamrud Plain, a few miles out of Peshawar is covered, to
some extent, with low sparse scrub jungle and small boulders
intersected with numerous dry water courses, mostly small, but
some of a considerable width. The road runs right through this
plain and on either side the latter stretches away to the foot of the
hills, where far away—about 10 miles distant—can be seen Fort
Jamrud, situated at the mouth of the famous Khyber Pass.”’

“After an early breakfast we would drive out in the keen
morning air to our rendezvous, some five miles or so out on the
Jamrud road, to which our ponies had already been sent on ahead
to wait for us. Here also Col. Aslam Khan would generally wait
for us, together with a few men of the Khyber Rifles, to act as an
armed escort party and also to be extended in line on either side of
us so that they might act as beaters.

“Having mounted our ponies we would strike off across the
Plain in the direction of the Minitini Fort, the men with the
Falcons—they were Peregrines we usually used for this sport—on
either side of us, andthe remaining sepoys extended as I have
said.

« After going in this manner for perhaps the best part of a
mile, sometimes much less, up would get a Houbara, generally about
80 yards or so in front of our line. -Immediately he was spotted
one of the falcons was unhooded and thrown off, and as soon as he
sighted the Houbara a grand race would begin. The Peregrine,
like an arrow from the bow, would hurl itself in pursuit of its
quarry and we would hasten after both, galloping for all we were
worth, and galloping across the boulder strewn and broken plain
was exciting enough in itself, though it was wonderful the way our
little country-bred ponies kept their feet and got over the ground.”

“« Ride, however, as hard and as recklessly as we could, the two
birds would leave us soon behind, although the Houbara with the

steady beats of the wing seemed to be going comparatively
slowly,”

« At last the Falcon would be within striking distance of the
Houbara, there would be one lightning-like swoop from the former
from far above, and then, if he struck true the tragedy was over for
the Bustard, and riding up we would find them in some small open

334. JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX,

place and the Houbara dead, the hawk still grasping it on the
ground. The men would then come up and secure the Falcon, give
it a tit-bit to eat and then hood it again.”’

‘«* Remounting our ponies and once more extending our line we
would go on in the same way and, if luck favoured us, might
perhaps get another Houbara. Not every time, however, were we
successful, for sometimes the Houbara would succeed in eluding the
hawk once and yet again, sometimes, indeed, escaping altogether.”

‘By the time we had worked across the plain our appetites
would remind us that it was time for lunch so, having selected a
suitable spot with some shade if possible, we would dismount and
partake of the good cold fowl and Pathan rot: provided for us all
by Col. Aslam Khan.”

‘But the winter days soon close in, even in this land of sun,
and, after we had rested, a glimpse at the Western sky showed us
that if we wanted any sport en route it was time we once more got
into our saddles. Accordingly, mounted once more, we would
continue to beat back to the place where we had ordered our traps
to wait for us. If our luck was still in the ascendant we might
get another run or rather flight, but we generally considered that
two birds in a day was a good day’s average. Arrived at the road
we would say good-bye to Col. Aslam Khan and drive homeward,
well wrapped up, for the winters in Peshawar are very cold,
pleasantly tired after a delightful day in the most perfect winter

climate in Northern India.”
“Tam sorry to say that owing to the swift fight of Houbara

and Hawk we were never up quite in time to see exactly what
happened at the kill or to see the hawk actually striking the
Houbara. ‘There seemed to be always a lot of feathers about, and
it looked as if there might have been a bit of a tussle between
the two, but they might also merely have been knocked out of the
Houbara from the force with which, when struck by the falcon, it
fell to the ground. We noticed, too, that the Houbara always
seemed to emit some secretion for there was generaliy a mess of
this around.” | ;

Mr. F. J. Mitchell in epistola also mentions this curious habit of
the Houbara. He writes “‘the Houbara when pursued often rises

Fe aa a

THE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA, BURMA AND CEYLON. — 335

like a Heron under similar circumstances. If he can get immedi-

ately over the pursuing hawk he squirts him with a stinking

gummy (anal) liquid which sticks the hawks feathers together

so that he cannot fly. Sometimes the hawk falls like a stone
when thus squirted and he has to be washed with warm water
before he can fly again.”

This habit seems to be common to the members of this family
most of which pass this offensive fluid when attacked or wounded.

Hume says that sometimes very large bags of Houbara are made,
and that in Pairi District in favourable years ‘‘ any man could
shoot twenty in a day,” and General Marsten, while Superintendent
of Police in the Kurrachee District, shot, I believe, forty-eight
(and some people say fifty-eight) on one occasion.”

As regards the food of the Bustard there is little to add to what
Hume has recorded. ‘They are more or less omnivorous, as are the
other birds of this family, but they are far more vegetarian in their
diet and are not nearly as gross feeders as the larger species. They
will, when driven to it by stress of hunger, sometimes eat small
reptiles, etc., but they do not eat these in preference to green food,
and they are very partial to young wheat and similar crops and are
said sometimes to cause considerable injury to such crops in the
Punjab.

Their flight is more hke Otis tarda and Hupodotis edwardsi than
like Otis tetrax or the Floricans. They progress by slow steady
beats of the wing and cover the ground at avery good pace, and
when being hawked turn, twist, or drop to the ground with
wonderful rapidity. As a rule they run before taking to wing but
can take to flight quite easily without any preliminary walk, and
when flushed in thick crops rise like pheasants and are then easily
shot.

The Houbara breeds in Afghanistan, Baluchistan, Persia and
the Persian Gulf. It has never yet been found breeding actually
within Indian limits, but it is quite possible it may yet be found

to breed occasionally in Sind. H. H. Barnes records: “I feel sure

that a few at least remain to breed, both in Sind and Cutch;
a friend of mine avers that he has seen eggs in the latter place, but

as he did not preserve them, he may have made a mistake, but he is
A

386 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol, XXI.

too good a sportsman not to know a Houbara when he sees one.
Mr. Doig had excellent reasons for believing that the Houbara
bred in the desert between Godra and Renahoe.” Barnes then
refers to Col. Builer’s remarks in Str. Feathers, which are as
follows: ‘‘ Mr. Scroggie, however, who resides at Henjam, im-
parted an important piece of information which I must not omit,
and that is that one or two pairs of Houbara macqueent were
breeding in the Island and that about six weeks before our arrival,
i.é., about the first week in April, a pair (g &@ ) were shot there,
and that he extracted a perfect egg from the oviduct of the female
and put it under a hen to hatch, but that subsequently it was
destroyed by rats. J am inclined to think that the greater number
of Houbara that visit Sind in the cold weather breed in Persia and
Afghanistan.”

The nest, which is merely a depression in the sand or earth,
seems generally to be placed in the open though under shelter of

some scrubby bush or patch of grass, failing these, in amongst
stones or boulders.

The eggs seem to be three in number in a full clutch though
sometimes two only may be laid. Oates thus describes the egg of
this species in the British Museum: ‘The eggs of the Indian
Houbara are elliptical in form and possess very little gloss. The
ground colour varies from stone colour to dull olive-brown, and the
markings are more distinct than is usually the case with eggs of
the Bustards. They consist of spots and blotches of rather dark
brown and pale underlying purple, very evenly distributed over
the whole shell. Specimens measure from 2°3 to 2°55 in length,
and from 1:65 to 1:85 in breadth.”’

Eggs in my own collection answer the above description well,
but I have one clutch of three from the Altai which has the
ground colour a very distinct olive-green, indeed, they are the
greenest eggs I have in my collection of any Bustard. The mark-
ings are rather indefinite as a rule and even the darkest are often
somewhat smudgy in character.

The eggs in the British Museum are dated 25th April, Huphra-
tes Valley, and 15th May and June from Altai Mountains. Eggs
in my own collection from the latter place are dated 12th June

HE GAME BIRDS OF INDIA, BURMA AND CEYLON. 337

4th June and from Afghanistan the 22nd April. Their
ding season would seem to range therefore from very early in
April to the middle of June.
- Our coloured Plate of this bird is both beautiful and correct. The
ude shown thereon is a semi-courting one; when the bird
hes the full frenzy of his passion the tail is thrown back well
the back and the wings are trailed until they touch the
nd, and in some cases the ends of the feathers are elevated and
houlders depressed whilst the wings are forced outwards so
a to form a sort of screen extending on either side of the breast.
he collar on the breast of the bird in the picture is almost
mt and generally shews a good deal more than this.

(Lo be continued.)

338

SOME NEW INDIAN RODENTS
BY
R. C. Wroucuton, F.Z.S.
(With a Plate.)

In working out the specimens collected by the Society’s Mammal
Survey I have found two animals which are unnamed, viz.—a hare
trom Khandesh and a most interesting long-tailed mouse, which I
can refer to no known Genus. Further in the course of com-
parison I have found, in the National Collection, series of
specimens closely related to the common Indian Field-Mouse (L.

ooduga) which require a name. This paper deals with the

descriptions of these three species.
LEPUS SIMCOXI, sp. n.
The Khandesh Hare.

A hare about the size of nigricollis and ruficaudatus, distinguish-
able at sight by its smoke grey nape.

General colour above pinkish buff, much mixed with black,
individual hairs of the middle back white at base (10 mm.)
followed by a dusky ring (4 mm.), remainder (9-10 mm.) pinkish
buff with a short black tip; below pure white; on the lower back
all buffy colouring disappears and the hairs are greyish white with
black tips. Face coloured like the back, cheeks and chin and
commencement of throat pure white, lower throat dark buffy.
Ears drab. Limbs outwardly pinkish-buff. Nape grey. Tail
above blue-black with only the slightest buffy tinge, below pure
white.

I can detect no important constant difference between the skulls
of nigricollis, ruficaudatus and the present species. The nasals in
the present species are narrow and equally broad in their whole
length, but being laterally bent downwards, anteriorly, give the
idea of a sharp pointed muzzle.

Dimensions of the type (recorded by the Collector).—Head and
body 480; tail 89; hind foot 112; ear 105. Skull: greatest length
94: basal length 76; zygomatic breadth 40; greatest length of

JOURN. BomBay Nat. Hist, Soc.

Journ. Bompay Nav. Hist. Soc. |

ES ae Se
ee 8/4 Sex P No |
Culchicus y,
Pate Oz |
Cort. > i
Date as? SEX ze No, fl. 3-13- a

“
Panes friar: Dee

1.06. Vers wah NOGA Pork. j

es ee Meee :

Date che Sb sux B.M. No. {I 3.13.10]
| |

COLLECTOR’s

>
as Date JO. JE “Sex P No.
BO Mtiarchin
Loc. Voflayia Sy leh
SS Deo Cout

SOME NEW INDIAN RODENTS. 339

nasals 38; posterior breadth of nasals 19; apparent width of
nasals anteriorly 12; palatal foramen 23; diastema 28; upper
molar series 16.
‘Hab.—Khandesh (Type from Edalabad.) Alt. 1,000 ft.
Type.—Adult female, B.M. No. 11, 8, 7, 1. Original number
99. Collected by Mr. Crump, 22nd April 1911, and presented
to the National Collection by the Bombay Natural History

| - Society.

t$eN% _

The material available for comparison with rujicaudatus is very
meagre. In the original description of the type from ‘ Bengal’ Is.
Geoffroy describes the nape as ‘roux’. All Hodgson’s Nepal and
Sikkim specimens have a buff nape, and Jerdon describes the nape

ofthe hare of Bengal as “‘ pale sandy rufescent ;” that of nigricollis
is black, so that this character alone suffices to distinguish simcomwt

from other hares of the Indian Plains. It is encouraging to find
this quite distinct new species in the first collection of the Society’s

“Mammal Survey,” and I have much pleasure in naming it after

Mir. A. H. A. Simcox, I.C.S., Collector of Khandesh, who took so

much interest in the work of our Collector in his District.
LEGGADA DUNNI, sp. n.
The Northern Field-Mouse.

A. Leqgada smaller than booduga and markedly differing from that
species by its paler drab colouration.

Generai colour above drab, individual hairs slate-grey for basal
two-thirds of length, remaining one-third buff; below white, in
some specimens the belly is pure white, but in the majority melud-
ing the type, the hairs have short grey bases. Face like back.

_ Tail above like back, paler below. Hands and feet white.

Skull short and broad, as compared with that of booduga, the
anterior cusp or ridge on the front of first molar, characteristic of
Leqgada, plainly marked.

- Dimensions of type :—head and body 58; tail 60; hind foot 12 ;
ear 11. Skull: greatest length 18-5 (20) ; basilar length 15 (16) ;
greatest breadth 9-5 (10); nasals 7 (7-6) ; interorbital breadth 3
(3°4); braincase breadth 8-6 (8:5); diastema 5:3 (6); palatal
foramina 4 (5); molars 3 (8).

340 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX1.

(Note—The figures in brackets are taken from the skull of an
old female obtained by myself at Dharwar and consequently a
topotype of booduga. ) ;

Hab:—Punjab (Type from Ambala.) Alt. 900 ft.

Type:—-Old male. B. M. No. 9, 4, 6, 36. Collected 1st January
1909, by Major H. N. Dunn, R.A.M.C., and presented to the British
Museum. Seven specimens were sent by Major Dunn, from
Ambala, avery even series. The British Museum has also two
specimens collected by Major E. J. F. Birrell, R.A.M.C., at Rawal-
pindi, both these are young individuals, they must be placed im
this species. In the Cutch Collection of the B. N. H. Society's
Mammal Survey a single specimen was obtained, which is also
L, dunni.

CREMNOMYS, gen. nov.

Sole pads 6, sixth, or proximal, elongate as in Hpimys. Fifth

hind toe long, reaching to the end of the first phalanx of the
fourth. Mamme 1-2—6.
_ Skull rather flat; braincase broad, narrowing suddenly anterior-
ly ; bony palate not produced posteriorly behind 3rd upper molar,
mesopterygoid fossa with sub-parallel margins. Molars as in
Millardia.

Type :—Cremnomys cutchicus.
Mr. Thomas recently described in this Journal (XX. p. 996) a
group of three closely allied genera, viz.

Millardia, Pyromys and
Grypomys. The present is a fourth member of this group. The
following comparative table gives at a glance the principal
distinguishing characters of each :—

Millardia. Pyromys. Grypomys. Cremnomys.

Pads of hind foot .. 5 6 4 6
Fifth toe of hind foot short. long. short. long.
Tail .. oe .» medium. short. short. long.
Mamm. Formula .. 2-2=8 4-2—=12 1-2—6 1-2=6
Profile of skull .. normal. arched. normal. flat.
Bony palate .. normal. produced produced normal.
backwards. backwards.
Mesopterygoid fossa normal. narrowed. narrowed. normal.
Upper molars -. normal. normal. 3rd molar normal.

modified.

SOME NEW INDIAN RODENTS. 341:

The following figures show the two characteristic types of palate
formation in this group of Genera (for details see table above).

The figures are double natural size.

CREMNOMYS CUTCHICUS, Wroughton. GRYPOMYS GLEADOW!I, Murray.

T have used, above, the expression ‘‘ bony palate produced back-
wards”’ as a convenient description of the formation referred to, it
is, however, not technically correct; the effect is not so produced
but by the ‘roofing in’ of the posterior nares, by the partial
drawing together of the margins of the mesopterygoid fossa.

The plate is intended to illustrate life-size, representatives of the
four genera. Unfortunately Museum specimens, especially those
prepared by amateurs, rarely reproduce exactly the natural size of
the animal, the body skin being almost always stretched. In the
present case Millardia and Cremnomys are only slightly too large,
and the size of the others may be very fairly correctly deduced
from the proportionate size of their feet.

CREMNOMYS CUTCHICUS, sp. n.
The Cutch Rock-Rat.

In size, fur, and colour resembling Millardia meltada, but at
once distinguishable from that species by its remarkably long tail
and long fifth hind toe.

342 JOURNAL, BUMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

Size about as in Millardia. Fur long, soft and silky. General
colour above ‘ drab’; individual hairs dark slate-grey with buff tips
(a considerable admixture of long all black hairs) ; below pure white ;
face and tail coloured like back; hands and feet pale.

Dimensions of the type :—head and body 117; tail 141; hind
foot 24; ear 20.

Skull :—greatest length 33; basilar length 25; greatest breadth
15:5 ; braincase breadth 14; interorbital breadth 5; nasals 15;
diastema 8-5 ; upper molars 6.

Hab :—Cutch.

Type :—old male, B. M. No. 11, 10, 18, 1. Collected on 20th
July 1911 by Mr. Crump, and presented to the National Collection
by the Bombay Natural History Society.

Mr. Crump obtained over a score of specimens of this fine new
species. At first I was startled by the discovery of such a long
tailed animal ina treeless country like Cutch, but Mr. Crump
notes that the specimens were taken amongst rocks so the adapta-
tion is to rock and not tree climbing. In reference to this I have
chosen the Generic name from the Greek ‘ cremnos’ meaning a
rocky scarp. I have much pleasure in naming the species cutchicus
in honour of H. H. the Rao Kenghaji of Cutch, who takes such a
keen and intelligent interest in Zoology and who has specially in-
terested himself in the Mammal Survey of the Society.

343

THE PALMS OF BRITISH INDIA AND CEYLON,
INDIGENOUS AND INTRODUCED.

BY
E. Buatter, S.J.
PAR Ve
(With Plates XXVI—XXXIT, and teat-fiqures 20—23).

(Continued from page 86 of this Volume.)

LIVISTONA, Rk. BR. PRODR. LI. 123.

(When Richard Brown discovered this genus of majestic and
graceful palms, he dedicated it to one of the great promotors of
English horticulture, viz., Patrick Murray, Baron of Livistone, the
founder of the Botanic Garden of Edinburgh.)

Bl. Rumph. II, 48, t. 95, 96 (Saribus).—Jacq. Fragm. t. 11,
fig. 1. (Latania).— Kunth Enum. Pl. III, 241.—Mart. Hist. Nat.
Palm. IJI, 239, 319.—Griff. Palms Brit. Ind. 127, t. 226 A, B,
CO, D, append. 23.—Miq. Fl. Ind. Bat. III. 57, Suppl. 591—
Becc. Males, I. 84.—Kurz. For. Fl. I], 525—Benth. Fl. Aurtr.
VII, 145.—F. Muell. Fragm. Austral. VIII, 221—Wendl. &
Drude Linn. 39. 192, 226.—Benth. & Hook. Gen. Pl. III, II.
oo, 97.

Tall palms; trunk annulate. Leaves orbicular, flabellately
plicate, split to about the middle into bifid narrow lobes;
petiole long with spinous margins. Spathes many, tubular
sheathing. Spadices interfoliar, long peduncled, erect, fruiting
pendulous, loosely panicled. Flowers minute, hermaphrodite.
Sepals 3, rounded, imbricate. Corolla 3-lobed, coriaceous, lobes
valvate. Stamens 6; filaments subulate, united in aring; anthers
cordate. Ovary of 3 nearly free carpels; styles short, free or
coherent ; stigmas minute; ovules basilar, erect. Drupes 1-3,

344 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XX1J,

globose oblong or ellipsoid ; style subterminal. Seed erect, ventral
face hollowed ; albumen equable ; embryo dorsal.

Species about 17; Tropical Asia and Australia.

CULTIVATION IN KuropE.—The species of Livistona are mostly
stove palms. They grow best in a compost of two parts loam and
one of peat, to which a little sand may be added. Much water is
required throughout the summer. The seeds should be sown in
sandy soil, and placed in a gentle bottom heat. Several species
are admirably adapted for various decorative purposes, and

especially for subtropical gardening.

* INDIGENOUS SPECIES.

LIVISTONA JENKINSIANA, Griff. in Cale. Journ. Nat. Hist. V,
334; Palms Brit. Ind. 128, +. 226 A & B; Hook. Fl. Brit. Ind. VI, 485;
Brandis Ind. Trees 656.

Name.—Toko Pat (Ass.).

Description.—Trunk 20-30 feet high. 6-7 inches in diameter,
rough towards the apex from the adhering bases of the petioles,
with a thick, round crown. Leaves 6-7 feet long, reniform flabelli-
form, greatest breadth 5-6 feet, leneth from the apex of the petiole
3-345 feet, divided into about 70-80, obtuse, bilobed segments, of
which the extreme lateral ones are the deepest, being 18 inches
long, while the central ones are scarcely half that length, under-
surface glaucous cesious. Petiole channelled above, armed almost
to the summit; ligule cordate. Spadices 2-3 feet long, axillary ;
branches a span or a foot long, dichotomous opposite the ends of
the spathes; lowermost branchlets 2-3 times divided, the other
simple. Spathes chesnut-red, sometimes split, concealing the
greater part of the peduncle, scurfy outside, the one next the first
branch 1-14 foot long, 3 or 5 keeled, with a large, oblong, deeply
bilobed, split limb. Flowers small, several together, sessile or rais-
ed on small tubercles, greenish, ebracteate. Calyx short with a
broad base, cup-shaped, with 3 short rounded teeth with membra-
nous margins. Corolla about twice as long as the calyx, divided to

THE PALMS OF BRITISH INDIA AND CEYLON. 345

a short distance from the middle into 3 triangular seoments.
Stamens 6, united in aring. Filament short, setaceous from a
very dilated base. Anthers oblong, versatile. Pollen lanceolar with
one fold. Ovary obconical, yellow, with a depressed, red spotted
apex ; carpels cohering by means of a short, trisulcate filiform
style. Stigma simple. Ovule solitary, erect, anatropous. Drupe
2-1 inch in diameter, reniform globose, slightly attenuate at the
base, of a leaden blue colour, marked on one side with a depressed
whitish line. Seed erect, presenting on the side correspond-
ing with the above line on the fruit, a broad raphe-like line.
Albumen horny, opposite the centre of the above line deeply
excavated ; cavity filled with a spongy substance. Embryo
opposite the excavation or situated in the centre of the dorsal
face.

Haprrat.—Upper Assam: Gubrow Purbut ; common throughout
Assam, but most plentiful in the Nowgong district; Naga Hills.
Sikkim, lower hills and outer valleys.

Uses.—‘‘ This palm is an indispensable accompaniment of every
native gentleman's house, but in some parts it is rare, and the
trees are then of great value. The leaves are in universal use
throughout Assam for covering the tops of doolees (palanqueens),
and the roofs of boats, also for making the peculiar hats, or rather
umbrella-hats (jhapees) of the Assamese. For all these purposes
the leaves are admirably adapted from their lightness, toughness,
and durability.”’ (Jenkins).

CuLTivaTION IN HuRopE.—This palm is a beautiful greenhouse
plant.

LIVISTONA SPECIOSA, Kurz in Journ. As. Soc. Beng. xlii, II,
(1874), 196, 204, t. 13, 14; For. Fl. Il, 526; Hook. Fl. Brit. Ind. VI, 435;
Brandis, Ind. Trees 656.

Names.— Taung tan, Taw tan (Burm.) .

Descrietion.—Trunk 50-70 feet; all parts glabrous; leaves
palmately flabellate, about 6-7 feet across each way, plaited; the
petiole at the base up to an inch broad, armed with strong, sharp,
falcately curved, flattish, blackish spines, the lower spines up to $
inch long and longer by 3-4 lines broad at the base ; sheaths dividing -

346 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

into netted fibres; leaflets all (the lateral ones up to half of their
length, the central ones higher up) connate in a blade, linear,
sharply 2-cleft at the apex, the ribs compressed, prominent, the
veins rather visible and transverse. Flowers small, solitary, or by
2 on a nipple-like, very short and thick pedicel, racemose-spicate.
forming a much-branched, smooth, panicle-shaped, 2-4 feet long
spadix, furnished at the base and along the primary axis with
large, fuscous, quite smooth spathes. Sepals and petals hardly |
line long. Drupes elliptically obovoid, 2 to nearly 1 inch long,
dark blue, smooth, 1-seeded, seated on the short, thick, indurated
perianth, jointed with the nipple-or disk-shaped, very short pe-
duncle. j

Hapirat.—Frequent in the evergreen tropical forests of the
eastern and southern slopes of the Pegu Yoma; Chittagong ; Upper
Tenasserim.

FLowers.—In March and April.

** INTRODUCED SPECIES.

LIVISTONA CHINENSIS, R. Br. Fl. Nov. Holl. 268; Mart. Hist.
Nat. Palm. III, 240; Drude Palmae in Nat. Fflanzenf. II, 3°35.—Latania
Chinensis, Jacq. Frag. Bot. 16, t. ii, fig. 1.--Latania borbonica, Lam.
Encycl. III, 411; Willd. Spec. Pl. IV, 878; Spreng. Syst. Veg. I,
623.—Livistona Mauritiana, Wall. in litt. 1831.—Saridus, Bl. Rumphia
II, 49.

Name.—Chinese Livistona.

DescriPTion.—Stem 20-30 feet high, stout, obscurely annulate.
Crown round, leaves reniformly flabellate, 4-6 feet in diameter,
much plicated and also conduplicate along the centre; segments
50-60, and more, linear-lanceolate, acuminate; the lateral ones
much the narrowest, 2 feet, or 2 feet 2 inches long, their divisions
about 1 foot long. Petiole 6 feet long, 6 inches broad, triangular,
plane above or slightly concave towards the margins, armed from
the base to about the middle with compressed-subulate, horny,
brown spines; at the base a network of brown fibres. Ligule

ovate-trigonous, concave, acute, green. Spadix paniculate-ramose,

Journ. Bompay Nat, Hist. Soc. PraTE XXVI.

Vibe me
Pa mace
TEA aoe

CurnesE Livistona (Livistona chinensis, R. Br.).

THE PALMS OF BRITISH INDIA AND CEYLON. 347

spreading, surrounded at the base and the primary branches by
spathes, glabrous or slightly villous. Peduncle less than 1 inch
thick ; the upper part irregularly divided; the last branches 3-5
inches long. Basilar spathes, compressed, tubular, with the apex
bifid; segments triangular, woody-coriaceous, longitudinally
grooved. Secondary spathes lanceolate, convex on the ventral side,
apex bifid and obliquely open, membranous-coriaceous, villous.
Flowers small, white, of an unpleasant smell, usually 4 together.
Calix subcampanulate, with 3 rounded teeth having membranous
margins. Corolla companulate, larger than the calix, divided
below the middle into 3 cordate, erect segments. Stamens 6,
included ; filaments compressed, united at the base, free in the
upper part, those opposite the petals a little larger; anthers small,
ovate, dorsifixed below the middle, bifid at the base, apex round-
ed; pollen elliptic. Ovary small, scarcely half as long as the
corolla, 3-carpellary, carpels more or less united; ovules erect,
elliptic, one or two usually smaller than the third. Style trigonous.
Fruit-bearing spadix nodding, with sub-secund branches. Berry
usually one, rarely 2 or 3, olive-shaped, oblong, dull-blue, 7 lines
long and 44 wide. Seed oblong, ereyish, on a longitudinal
section reniform, intrant process sub-central; embryo opposite
to this a little below the centre of the dorsal face, looking
downwards.

GERMINATION.— According to Gatin the cotyledonal petiole forms
quite in the beginning a swelling just outside the seed. The radi-
cle remains for a long time the principal root, but later on lateral
roots are developed which, as to their size, equal or surpass
the principal one. The first vegetative leaf is reduced to a
sheath.

Hasitat.—China and Japan.—Cultivated in gardens.

FLOWERS in January and February.

CuLtivaTion IN Inpra.—‘: This is perhaps the commonest and
finest fan palm in Indian gardens. Its grand fan-shaped leaves

gracefully disposed on long petioles, armed with short recurved

spines, and rising from a network of brown fibre, render it very
attractive. The length of the petiole varies with the position of

the plant, being longer in slight shade than in the open. The

348 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX.

palm does well with ordinary border treatment throughout India
if watered freely during dry weather.”” (Woodrow.)

CULTIVATION IN EvROPE.—This palm is quite hardy in Cornwall
and nearly so in many less southern districts. In winter the tree
is satisfied with a mean temperature of 463° F.

Goebel’s analysis of the ash of the leaves gives an idea of the
food required by the palm :

Young Specimen. Adult Specimen.

Silicia cn a ue .. 35,804 36,437
Phosphoric Acid igh oe .. 4,823 5,408
Aluminium and Ferric Oxide Bisa hu OF(5) 85) 6,605
Lime Se ae ra me 6,259 20,9381
Magnesia ir ve A scr lZ060 5,482
Soda He ate Be a 1,679 traces
Potash or a .. 18,434 18,387

DeKerchove had excellent results by adding to the soil 7 parts
of assimilable nitrogen, 30 parts of bone phosphate and 50 parts
of torrefied animal substances.

Many amateur gardeners in Central and Northern Europe have
been sadly disappointed when buying this palm. There are pro-
fessional gardeners who keep this palm inthe hothouse during
summer and the plant, though naturally adapted to the temperate
house, grows rapidly and acquires great beauty. If, after that,
the palm is transferred to the dry drawing room where, besides, the
heat of the soil is wanting, the tips of the leaves begin to wither
and the stalks of the forming leaves become shorter and shorter,
and after a short time no trace of the former beauty is left. If
the Chinese Latania is expected to do well in the drawing-
room, early and careful adaptation to its future conditions is
required.

Uses.—Fans are made of the leaves, and rope of the fibrous
sheaths of the leaf stalks.

ILLUSTRATION.—The photograph reproduced on Plate XX VI was
taken by Mr. Phipson in the garden of the Cama Hospital, Bombay.
The overhanging tips of the segments of the leaves give the palm
a very graceful appearance. Numerous bunches of fruits, which
by their weight bend down the stalks of the spadices, are hiding
the upper portion of the straight cylindrical stem.

THE PALMS OF BRITISH INDIA AND CEYLON. 349

LIVISTONA ALTISSIM A, Zoll. in Tijdschr. Nederl. Ind. Vol. 14,
(1857), 150.—Saribus n. sp. ? Zoll. Verz. p. 78.

DEscriPTIoON.—Stem 80 and more feet high, slender, about 2
foot in diameter, obsoletely annulate, cinerascent. Habit and
conglomeration of leaves similar to that of L. rotundifolia, Mart.
Leaves paJmatifid; lamina cordate-orbicular, a little longer than
broad, undivided at the base, plicate; segments about 80, outer
ones shorter and narrower, 1% feet long and 7, inch broad, divided
for about #? of their length, bifid; lacinize acute with acute sinuses,
intra-radial nerves acutely carinate and thickened near the sinus ;
petiole subrecurved, unarmed, usually about 5 feet long, 2 inch
broad at the base. Spadix recurved, sub-nutant, unarmed, decom-
pound, up to 6 feet long, glabrous, fucescent. Spathe scarcely
1 foot long. Fruit globular, about the size of a small cherry.

Hasirat.—Sunda Islands.

Usses.—The wood is hard like iron ; it is used for rafters.

CULTIVATION IN EuROPE.—L. aliissuna is a very beautiful palm.
Its original home being in the Sunda Islands, it is natural that the
palm does not grow in Europe except in the hothouse. The stem
remains covered for a long time with the bases of the leafstalks.

LIVISTONA SUBGLOBOSA, Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm. III, 319.—Migq.
Anal. Ind. II, 7; Flor. Nederl. Ind. III, 59.—Saribus subglobosus, Hassk.
Tijdschr. Nat. Gesch. IX, 176, 172; Cat. Bogor. 65.—Saribus rotundifolius
Bl. Rumphia II, 49, tab. 96 (quoad folium tantum).

Description.—Petioles elongate, densely armed with spines,
especially in young specimens, leaves suborbiculate, flabelliform-
palmatifid ; segments usually united beyond the middle, - bifid ;
lacinize linear elongate, pendulous. Spadix compound paniculate,
stout. Drupes subglobose, black-violaceous.

HasiraT.—Java.,

LIVISTONA ROTUNDIFOLIA, Mart. Hist. Nat. |Palm. ITI, 241.—
Corypha rotundifolia, Lam. Encycl. II, 131; Willd. Spec. pl. II, 201;

350 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

Spreng. Syst. Veg. II, 138. No. 2; Roem. Schult. Syst. Veg. VII, 2., p. 1309,
No. 2; Hayne, Term. Bot. t. 11, f. 1; Houtt. I, t. 2, f£.2.—Lieuala rotundi-
folia, Blume in litt. et in Roem. Schult. Syst. Veg. VII. 2, p. 1305,
No. 5—Saribus rotundifolius, Blume Rumphia II, 49, t. 95, 96 (excl. folio
tab. 96).

Names.—Wocka (in Termate and Celebes); Saligi, Pohon
Sadang (Java) ; Saribu (Macassar Strait).

DescripTion.—Stem 40-50 feet high, 1-14 foot and more in
diameter, erect or slightly bent, obscurely annulate. Leaves 3-5
feet in diameter, suborbicular; segments between 60 and 90.
united in the lower third; each segment bifid to the middle;
petiole 6 feet long, lower part armed with strong compressed
spines; spines with a conical base, almost $ inch long. Spadix 3-5
feet long, hanging from between the leaves, porphyry-red. Spathes
compressed-cylindric, obliquely truncate. Branches of the spadix
decompound, the last branchlets spreading, 3-8 inches long.
Flowers 3-4 aggregate, small, globose, yellow. Calyx tripartite.
segments broadly ovate, obtuse, concave, keeled on the back.
Corolla tripartite, segments triangular, a little larger than the
calyx. Filaments broadened at the base; anthers subrotund.
Ovary turbinate, trisulcate, 2 carpels abortive; styles connate ;
stigma simple. Berry depressed-globose. Endocarp thin, brown.
Seed globose, ferruginous.

Hapitat.—Malay Archipelago.

Usres.—The cellular tissue of the central part of the stem
furnishes sago (In the Malayan language ‘sago’ means bread or
flour).

CuutivaTion IN Hurope.—This palm is pretty for stove decora-

tion, when young.

LIVISTONA AUSTRALIS, Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm. III. 241 ; Wendl.
and Drude in Linnea XXXIX. 232; Bot. Magaz. t. 6274.—L. mermis,
Wendl. and Drude, 1. c. 229.—Corypha australis, R: Br. Fl. Nov. Holl.
26 £; Spreng. Syst. Veg. II, 138, No. 2; Roem.Schult. Syst. Veg. VII, 2,
p. 1313, No. 11.

Names.——Australian Cabbage Palm. ‘Kondo’ of the aborigi-

nals in Australia.

THE PALMS OF BRITISH INDIA AND CEYLON. 351

DESCRIPTION.—Stem 40-80 feet high, cylindrical, slender, red-
brown, annulate. Leaves in a dense oblong crown; petiole spread-
ing and decurved, spinous on the margins; blade 3-4 feet in
diameter, orbicular, cut to about the middle into 30-50 radiating
slender bifid lobes, the acuminate points of which do not droop.
Spathes 6-10 inches long, lanceolate, compressed, acuminate, rigid-
ly leathery, tomentose. Spadix 3-4 feet long, decurved, much
paniculately branched, the branches and branchlets curved and
slender, quite glabrous, rachis compressed. Flowers minute,
+ inch in diameter, spiked upon the very slender, terminal branch-
lets, green. Calyx of 3 short very broad, obtuse segments. Corolla
of 3 triangular-ovate, fleshy, coriaceous, valvate, subacute petals.
Stamens 6; filaments very broad and short ; anthers subglobose.

Pistillode 3 cleft. Fruit globose, ? inch in diameter; pericarp thick,

erustaceous, granular outside with a smooth buff, obscurely veined

inner surface; remains of stigma evanescent. Seed globose, testa
pale brown, smooth; chalaza a brown, subterminal, large, polished

areole ; albumen very hard, white, not ruminate, with a broad,

sack-like canal passing from the chalaza to the centre, and full

of corky brown tissue ; embryo dorsal above the base.

GERMINATION.—In the beginning the embryo becomes longer and

grows thicker at the base in consequence of the plumule,developing

in the interior of the cotyledonal sheath. The axis of the plumule

‘does not coincide with that of the embryo, as it passes laterally

through the cotyledonal slit. The embryo has the shape ofa

-cupule.

The first leaf is reduced to a sheath, the second shows the limb

‘spread out.

At the base of the first root some lateral roots are developed which

are thin and caducous. Gatin observed in a fourteen months’

old plant the formation of a new lateral root, which was stronger

than the first and destined, in the course of time, to exercise the
function of the principal root.

HasitatT.—The most southern palm of the Australian continent,
reaching the snowy range in lat. 37° 30'S, when its stem attains
80 feet in height, and extending thence along the west coast to the
Tlawarra River, in lat. 34° 45'S.

y
/

352 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

Economic usEs.—The aboriginals of Australia are very fond of —
the growing centre or heart of this tree, which they eat in a raw.or
cooked state. But Mueller says that the value of this esculent was,
not known to them in their uncivilized state.

Leichhardt mentions in his ‘Overland Expedition to Port
Essington ’ that the tops of the palm eat well, either baked in hot
ashes orraw. ‘Though very indigestible they do not prove injurious
to health when eaten in small quantities, but ‘several of my
companions, continues the same author, ‘suffered by eating too
much of the Cabbage-palm.’

The wood, or outer part of the stem is moderately hard and of a ~
light colour. It is occasionally used for walking sticks, slabs for
buildings, or the trunks are hollowed out for pig troughs. The
central portion of the stem, when young and fresh, is said to be
eaten by pigs.

The leaves are used for baskets. The unexpanded fronds
prepared by being immersed in boiling water, are dried, and the
fibre thus obtained is much valued for the manufacture of hats,
which much resemble the celebrated Panama hats.’

CULTIVATION IN HuRopgE.—On the islands of Hyéres in the
Mediterranean Sea (not far from Toulon) this palm may be seen
growing in the open, but suffers a good deal from the strong wind.

It is one of the best known palms for room cultivation and for
the temperate house. It does not suffer from the dry air of the
room and is very little subject to the change of temperature. In
summer it may be kept in the open. In the hot house it attains a
considerable size within short time.

The large rounded leaves are of a beautiful dark green with a
metallic lustre. The leaf stalks, when getting old, assume a
magnificent brownish red colour. The strong lateral spines of the
petiole are almost black and as hard as iron.

Up to 1845 the only way of introducing palms from tropical
countries into the hot houses of Hurope was by means of young

plants. This was not only troublesome and expensive but very

+ Maiden, J. H. The useful Native Plants of Australia, London, 1889, p. 40,
563, 626.

THE PALMS OF BRITISH INDIA AND CEYLON. 3909

often unsuccessful. A lucky chance lead to the discovery that
the seeds of palms retain their power of germination for a long
time.

Allan Cunningham, the famous botanical explorer, wanted to
send some cases of plants from Port Jackson to Kew. When
packing the specimens he told the servants to be careful as to the
drainage of the lower part of the cases. The men, not having at
hand for this purpose either potsherds or pebbles, made use of the
round hard fruits of Livistona australis, covering with them the
floor of the cases. In due time the cases were delivered at Kew,
and Mr. Smith, the Curator of the Gardens, was so anxious to see
the specimens sent by Cunningham that he personally supervised
the unpacking of the cases. He saw the black seeds and noticed
at the same time that the white delicate tip of the embryo had
already broken through the hard shell. The seeds were at once
confided to suitable ground and all the young palms developed
rapidly.

From that time Mr. Smith instructed all the collectors in his
employment to follow the simpler and safer way of enriching the
palmhouses at Kew, viz., by collecting and sending the seeds of
the palms instead of young specimens.

How TO SEND SEEDS TO Hurope.—The method first {adopted
by Smith and imitated very soen by all the travellers has
long since become the general practice amongst gardeners and
botanists.

In order to secure good results, it is first of all necessary to dry
the seeds well. They are then put into a case filled with bran,
soil, and sawdust in order to prevent them from becoming
dried up, because dryness is as harmful to them as moisture.
If packed in this way, they germinate on the way and usually
arrive in good condition. If they do not germinate, they begin
to rot as is mostly the case with seeds that contain oil. ‘he
latter begins to become rancid and the seed loses its power of
germination.

LIVISTONA HUMILIS, R. Br. FI., Nov. Holl. 268, No. 2; Spreng.

ie a
eS

354 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol, XX.

Syst. Veg. IL, 137; Roem. Schult. Syst. Veg. VII, 2, p. 1306, No. 2; Poir.
Encycl. Suppl. III, 482, No. 2; Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm. IIT. 289, t. 109, 110,
J11; Wendl. & Drude in Linnea XXXIX, 231. Benth. Fl. Austr. VIL. ~
146.—L. leichhardtii, F. Muell. Fragm. VIII. 221.

DEscCRIPTION.—Stems 4-15 feet high. Leaves orbicular-cordate
in circumference when fully out, with a radius of about 14 foot,
deeply divided into narrow plicate segments tapering to a fine
point, the thread-like bristles between the lobes varying from
nearly 1 inch to very minute, or altogether wanting ; petiole much
flattened, the acute edges more or less bordered by small prickles,
said to be often intermixed with larger ones even as much as 4
inch long. General panicle very large and loose, the partial ones
between the sheathing bracts pyramidal and 8 inches to 1 foot
long, twice or three times branched, the ultimate branches or
slender spikes 4-1 inch long in flower, often twice that in fruit.
Flowers numerous, in little sessile clusters along the spikes. Inner
perianth-seements scarecly | line long, the outer perianth about
as long with short, broad, rather obtuse lobes. Berry ovoid-oblong,
obtuse, 7-8 lines long, more or less contracted at the base. Seed
oblong, somewhat flattened.

Hasitat.—Australia: Arnhem’s Land, Albert River, M’ Adam
Range, Port Darwin, Port Essington, Liverpool River, Wood
Island.

Uses.—The wood, or the outer portion of the stem, is hard, and
of a light colour. The inner portion is soft and useless.

CULTIVATION IN KuropE.—This palm is a handsome species for

decorative purposes, when young.

LIVISTONA INERMITS, R. Br. Prodr. 268.—Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm.
III, 329, t. 145, 146.—Benth. Flora Austral. vol. 7, 146.

Names.—‘ Cabbage Palm’; ‘ Partridge-wood.’

Derscrivtion.—A moderate sized or tall palm, 14-40 feet high
and 12-15 inches in diameter, with the ovoid-oblong fruits of /.
humilis, but said to differ in the petioles entirely without prickles
and the lobes of the outer perianth more acute.

Bentham has the following note on this species: ‘“‘ I have seen
no'specimen of this palm and Martius appears only to have known

Journ. BomBay Nat. Hist. Soc. PratTE XXVIII.

From left: Livistona chinensis, R. Br. ; Livistona inermis, R. Br. ; Livistona sp. ; Howea
Forsteriana, Bece. (in front) ; Livistona oliveformis, Mart. (at back); Oreodowa regia,
Mart. (in front); Arenga Wighti, Griff. (at back).

THE PALMS OF BRITISH INDIA AND CEYLON. 395

it from Bauer’s drawings which he copied, the general habit being
also represented in Flinder’s Voyage in the view of Sir E. Bellew’s
Island, Vol. Il, p.172. It may prove to be a variety only of L.
humalis.”’

Hasirat. Northern Australia.

Usrs.—The outer portion of the trunk of this tree is very hard,
beautifully marked and takes a good polish. In colour, itis light-
erey, streaked with a darker colour.

IuLustration.—Mr. Macmillan’s photograph, reproduced on
Plate XX VII shows a group of palms growing in the Royal Bota-
nie Gardens of Peradeniya. Beginning from the left the picture
contains the following trees :

1. Livistona chinensis, R. Br., of which only the crown and

the upper part of the stem are visible.

Tivistona inermis, R. Br., at the foot of which is standing a
Singhalese coolie.

3. Ivistona sp., the highest palm with torn leaves.

4. Howea Forsteriana, Becc., the slender but low palm quite
in front with elegant pinnate leaves.

5. Liwvistona olivaeformis, Mart., just behind Howea; the
crown alone is visible.

6. Oreodoxa regia, Mart., to the right of Howea; the lichen-
covered stem and the crown are visible.

7. <Arenga Wight, Griff., quite to the right; only the upper

large leaves can be seen, which rise above Oreodoxa.

LIVISTONA OLIVAFORMIS, Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm. II], 319.—Migq.
Anal. Ind. II, 5; Flora Nederl. Ind. III, 59.—Saribus oliveformis, Hassk.
Tijdschr. Nat. Gesch. IX, 176.

NameE.—Sadang Palm.

Description.—A tree, 15-20 feet high. Leaves palmate-flabelli-
form ; petiole 5-6 feet long, semiterete, glabrous, with recurved
spines at the base, for the rest unarmed, with a whitish tomentum
on the underside when young; lamina usually 43-5 feet long,
consisting of about 90 segments; segments deeply bifid ; lacinize
linear, long-acuminate, pendulous, glabrous on both sides. Spadix

356 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX.

1-3 feet long, paniculate ; primary branches alternate, 5-6, 14 feet
long ; branches and branchlets terete, glabrous. Flowers fascicu-
late, ternate or quaternate. Calyx trifid, corolla tripartite, both
persistent. Drupe sessile, oblong-ellipsoidal (olive-shaped),
shightly constricted at the base, scar of style sub-depressed, 6-74
lines long, 33 lines broad, violaceous-green ; putamen thin, fragile ;
albumen white.
HasiTaT.—Java.

LIVISTONA HOOGENDORPI, Teijsm. ex Teijsm. & Binn. Cat. Hort.
Bog. 71.—André, Illustr. Hortic. vol. 21 (1874), p. 108, 121, +t. 174.—
Saribus Hoogendorpii, Zoll.

Name.—Hoogendorp’s Livistona.

DeEscripTion.—Stem high, erect, showing triangular scars after
the fall of the petioles. Leaves rich dark green, fan-shaped,
suborbicular, 5-62 feet in diameter, divided into 10-12 lobes of
which each has 5-7 sub-divisions, plicate at the base; linear acute ati
the apex, slightly furfuraceous like the uppermost part of the petiole.
Petioles stout, triangular at the base, enclosed in a network of
reddish brown fibres, and trigonous, rounded on the dorsal side,
furrowed on the sides, 34-54 feet long, reddish brown at the base,
passing into olive green; lateral spines in two rows, very stout,
reflexed, 14-24 inches distant from each other, towards the upper
part of the petiole smaller and closer together, tubercled at the base,
sharp pointed, 4-12 inch long.

Hasrrat.—Indian Archipelago.

CULTIVATION IN HuRoPE.—Hoogendorp’s Livistona was introduc-
ed in Europe in 1846. Itis a very ornamental plant for the
hothouse.

IutustRaTion.—Plate XXVIII, reproduced after a photo-
graph of Mr. Macmillan, shows a young specimen of Liwistona
Hoogendorpit growing in the Royal Botanic Gardens of Pera-
deniya.

The stem proper is not visible, being covered by the stout bases
of the leaf-stalks. The latter are distinctly armed with strong
slightly reflexed spines.

Journ. BompBay Nat. Hist. Soc. Pratt XXVIII.

HooGgenporp’s Livistona (Liwvistona Hoogendorpti, Tejsm.).

Ou
be |

THE PALMS OF BRITISH INDIA AND CEYLON. 3

PRITCHARDIA, Seem. et H. Wendl. in Bonpland, IX, 260;
meeo7, 310, t. 15.

(After George Pritchard who explored the islands of the Pacific
‘Ocean.)

Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Pl. III, 928.—Becc. Malesia TAS 6)
Webbia, IT (1907), 200—Calpothrinax, Grisseb. et Wendl. in
Bot. Zeitg., 1879, 147.—Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Pl. ITI, 927.—
Drude in Engl. et Pr. Pflanzenf. II, 3 (1889), 33.

Stem erect, columnar, solitary, unarmed, with annular scars.
Leaves terminal, large, flabellate, orbicular or more or less cuneate
at the base, undivided in the central part, more or less deeply
multifid on the periphery ; the segments more or less deeply bifid,
with or without filaments between the divisions; ligule short ;
rachis more or less elongate. Spadix a doubly branched panicle ;
spathes two or more, complete, imbricate, very large, coriaceous,
tubular in the lower part, open on one side of the upper part.
Flowers hermaphrodite, scattered or spirally arranged on the
branchlets, solitary, sessile on a bracteate pulvinus; bracteoles O.
Calyx tubular-campanulate, 3-denticulate. Corolla very much
longer than the calyx with a short permanent tube and 3 valvate
divisions. Stamens 6; filaments subulate, united at the base, dila-
tate and forming an erect corona; anthers linear, oblong, versatile.
Ovary obovate or turbinate; carpels 3, half-free, united into an
elongate style with common punctiform stigma, with one basilar
erect ovule. Fruit globular or ovoid, with the remnants of the
styles and sterile carpels more or less apical ; pericarp thin, grumous
or fibrous; endocarp more or less woody, often easily separating
from the pericarp. Seed globular, free and erect in the endocarp;
hilum small, basilar ; raphe lightly impressed, occupying a whole
side of the seed; albumen uniform, solid ; embryo opposite to the
raphe above the base or towards the middle.

Species about 10.—Fiji and Sandwich Islands.—The species
described below has been introduced in Indian Gardens.

CULTIVATION IN HvuropeE.—Very ornamental stove palms. They
grow best in a compost of two parts of peat and one of loam and

358 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XX.

sand. A liberal supply of water is essential. Propagation is effect-
ed by seeds only.

PRITCHARDIA PACIFICA, Seem. and H. Wendl. in Bonpl. IX
(1861) 260; X, 158, 310, t. 15.—Seem. Flora Vitiensis, 274, t. 79; in
‘Correspond. relat. the Fiji Isl., p. 70.—Corypha umbraculifera, Forst. Pl.
Escul. 49 et Prodr., p. 88 (ev parte) (non Linn.)

Names.—Viu, Sakiki, Niu Masei (in Viti); Biu (by the Ton

ouese).

DrscrirpTion.—The palm seldom obtains more than 30 feet

in height. Stem smooth, straight and unarmed, at the base from
10-12 inches in diameter. The crown has a globular shape,
and is composed of about 20 leaves. Petioles unarmed, 3 feet

and more long and densely covered at the base with a mass of

brown ‘fibres. Blade of the leaf rounded at the base, fan-shaped,
very large, and when young, as is the petiole, densely covered with
whitish-brown down, which, however, as the leaf advances in age,
eradually disappears. From the axils of the leaves arise flowers,
enveloped in several very fibrous flaccid spathes, which rapidly
decay and have quite a ragged appearance even before the flowers
open. Spadix 3 feet long, stiff and very straight, flowers numer-
ous, minute, hermaphrodite, of a brownish-yellow colour. Fruit
perfectly round, about 4 inch in diameter ; when quite matured, it
has exactly the colour of a black-heart cherry; the mesocarp has
a slight astringent taste.

Hasirat.—Islands of the Pacific: Vanua Levu, Viti Levu,
Tongan and Samoan Islands.

Uses.—The leaves are made into fans, ‘ lri masei’ or ‘ Ai Vin,’ .

which (at Seemann’s time) were only allowed to be used by the
chiefs, as those of the Talipot formerly were in Ceylon. The com-

mon people had to content themselves with fans made of Pan- .

danus caricosus. ‘‘ Hence, though there is not a village of im-
portance without the Sakiki, or, as it is termed in the Samosomo
dialect, which suppresses the letter k, Sati, there are never more

than one or two solitary specimens to be met with in any place,

the demand for the leaves being so limited, that they prove

Journ. BomBay Nat. Hist. Soc. Puate XXIX.

Pritchardia pacifica, Seem. et H. Wendl.

on
=)

THE PALMS OF BRITISH INDIA AND CEYLON. 3

sufficient for the supply. The fans are from two to three feet
across and have a border made of a flexible wood. They serve
as a protection both from the sun and rain ; during a shower of
rain the fan is laid almost horizontally on the head, the water
being allowed to run down behind the back of the bearer. The
leaves are never employed as thatch, though their texture would
seem to recommend them for that purpose; the trunk, however,
is occasionally used for ridge-beams.”* (Seemann.)

CULTIVATION IN EuroPE.—Of all the palms introduced in Europe
there is none that could rival as regards ornamental effect with
this magnificent palm. It was discovered by Seemann on the
Fiji Island and some other isles of the Pacific Ocean.

The regular globular silhouette of the crown of leaves borne on
a straight erect stem gives the tree a very fine appearance. In
the European hothouses the large leaves with long unarmed stalks
are at once distinguished amongst the leaves of other palms.
The gigantic fans are sometimes 5 feet broad and 4 feet
long. Whilst young the leaves are covered with a tawny down
which disappears very soon. The imported seeds germinate
rapidly.

ILLUSTRATION.—We reproduce on Plate XXIX the photograph
of Pritchardia pacifica, kindly supplied by Major Gage. The speci-

men represented is growing in the Royal Botanic Gardens of

- Sibpur, Calcutta.

WASHINGTONIA, H. Wendl. Bot. Zeit. XXXVII, 68.
(1879).

The genus is dedicated to George Washington.

Benth. & Hook. Gen. Pl. II, 923; Pritchardia subg. Washing-
tonia, Drude, Eng]. und Prantl. Pflanzenf. II, pt. III, 35 Gn part)
(1889) ; Baillon, Hist. Pl. XIII, 319 (in part).

Trees, with stout columnar endogenous trunks covered below
with thick pale rind and above with the persistent sheaths of
many dead leaves, long tough roots and a broad terminal crown
of erect, then spreading, and ultimately pendulous leaves. Leaves

induplicate in vernation, alternate, flabellate, orbicular, divided
8

360 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX,

nearly to the middle into many narrow deeply two-cleft recurved
segments, separating on the margins into numerous slender pale
fibres, long-petiolate; those of the first year linear-lanceolate ;
rhachises short, slightly rounded on the back, gradually contracted
from a broad base, their margins concave, and furnished below with
narrow erect wings, slender and acute above. Ligules oblong,
elongated, thin, broad and conspicuously laciniate at the apex.
Petioles broad and thin, plano-convex or slightly concave on the
upper side, rounded on the lower, armed irregularly with broad
thin large and small, straight and hooked spines confluent into a
thin bright orange-coloured cartilaginous margin, gradually enlarged
at the base into the thick elongated broad concave light bright
chestnut-brown vaginas composed of a network of thin strong
fibres. Spadix interfoliar, paniculate, elongated, pedunculate,
elabrous, its numerous branches flexuose and pendulous; spathes
numerous, narrow, elongated, glabrous. Flowers minute, white,
articulate on thickened disk-like pedicels in the axils of ovate
acute scarious bracts, slender and acuminate before anthesis.
Calyx tubular, indurate at the base, gradually enlarged and slightly
3-lobed at the apex, scarious, persistent under the fruit, the lobes
retuse, scarious, erose, imbricated in estivation. Corolla funnel-
shaped, the fleshy tube included in the calyx, half as long as the
lanceolate acute striate lobes, thickened and glandular on the inner
surface at the base, reflexed, imbricated in estivation, deciduous.
Stamens 6, inserted on the throat of the corolla; filaments of the
stamens opposite the lobes of the petals consolidated with them for
nearly + their length and much thicker than the free filaments
opposite the sinuses; anthers linear-oblong, attached on the back,
versatile, pale yellow, 2-celled, the cells spreading below, opening —
longitudinally. Ovary superior sessile on a thick disc, depres-
sed—obovoid, 3-lobed, 3-celled, crowned by an elongated flexuose
exserted white horny style stigmatic at the apex; ovule solitary in
each cell, lateral, erect, anatropous. Fruit baccate, small, ellipsoidal,
1-celled, 1-seeded, short-stalked, crowned with the remnants of the
abortive carpels and of the style; pericarp of 2 coats, the outer
thin, dry, black, and fleshy, the inner membranaceous, dark
orange-coloured, lustrous on the inner surface. Seed free, erect,

"y ‘-

THE PALMS OF BRITISH INDIA AND CEYLON. 361

oblong-ovate, convex above the base flat, depressed in the centre,
marked by the minute sublateral hilum and the broad conspicuous
raphe; micropyle lateral, minute; testa thin, light chestnut-brown,
closely investing the uniform horny albumen; embryo minute,
lateral, the radicle turned towards the base of the fruit.

SPECIES.—58 or 4.

DistrrpuTion.—California ; ? Arizona.

Botanists have been at variance for a long time as to the number
of species belonging to this genus. Some admitted 3, others 2
and many considered it necessary to reduce all of them to one
species. Beccari is ‘of opinion that two species, well characterized,
but both very variable, can be distinguished. In order, to
facilitate the correct identification of the specimens grown in
Indian gardens we shall give a complete description of the species
and varieties as published by Beccari (in Vol. II of the ‘ Webbia,’
p. 187-200), adding W. gracilis, Parish, as a distinct species.

CULTIVATION IN HuropE.—The species of Washingtonia are orna-
mental greenhouse plants. They are easily cultivated in a
compost of rich strong loam to which is added a small portion
of vegetable mould and sand. (Good drainage and ample supply of

water throughout the summer are necessary.

WASHINGTONIA FILIFERA, AH. Wendl. in Bot. Zeitg. vol. 37,
(1879), p. 68'.—Sargent, Forest Trees N. Am. 10th Census U. 5S. IX, 217

@) It might not be out of place to consider the question why we adopt the
specific name “ filifera” of H. Wendl. instead of “filamentosa” of O. Kuntze.
“Wendland’s original species was published as W. filifera; but in his Revisio, Kuntze
(1891) proposed to change it to W. filamentosa on the ground of priority, citing
in support Brahea filamentosa Wendl. in Cat. Haage & Schmidt (1875), Pritchardia
filamentosa Wendl. ex Fenzi in Bull. Soc. Tose. (April 1876). To seek in a trades-
men’s catalogue for a pretext for displacing an established name, requires a lust
for change almost amounting toa mania. But if an appeal to trade-lists is to be

‘made, priority is against the change, for Haave and Schmidt offered Brahea fila-

mentos@ in their autumn catalogue of 1875, but in the spring of the same year
Linden in his list had put the same plant on the market as Pritchardia jilifera
(Fenzi 1876). Pritchardia filamentosa of Fenzi’s paper is a nomen nudum, being
without a word of scientific description or any reference to a published species.
As the proper specific name, filamentosa, has absolutely no standing.” Parish.

362 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXI,

(pro parte ?).—Sprenger in Bull. Tose. Ort. XIV, 319, f. 37.—Beccari in
Webbia, II, 187.— W. filamentosa, O. Kuntze, Rev. Gen. Pl. II, 737 (1891).
—Sargent, Silva N. Am. X, 47, t. DIX (pro parte? )—Brahea dulcis,
Cooper, Smithon. Rep. 1860, 342 (not Martius).—Pritchardia jilamentosa,

H. Wendl. in Bot. Zeitg. vol. 34, 807 (1876); Fenzi in Bull. Soc. Tose.
Ort. I, (1876) 116, cum icone xyl.—Pritchardia filifera, Linden, Il. Hort.
vol. 24, 105 (1877) cumic. xyl.—5rahea filamentosa, Hort. ex 8. Wats. in
Proc. Am. Acad. XI. (1876), 147.—Brahea filifera. Hort. ex W. Wats. in
Kew Bull. (1889) 296.—Brahea robusta, Hort. ex Salomon, Palmen (1887).
151.—Corypha filifera, Wort. ex Salomon, l.c. 151.—Livistona jfilifera,.
Makay and Livistona ternatensis, Hort. ex Salomon l.c. 174.
DESCRIPTION.—Stem rising to a height of 60-70 feet, slightly

thickened near the base, where it measures 24-31 feet in diameter,
then columnar and getting slightly thinner towards the apex,
covered with the dead pendent leaves. Leaves large, measuring’
52 feet from the apex of the petiole to the end of the central
segments. Petiole about as long as the limb, dilated at the base:
into a coriaceous sheath which (in the centre of the crown).
measures about 3 feet from its point of attachment to the point
where the spines begin, more or less 13 inches broad at the apex
and often 4 inch only, much broader towards the base, plain above,
convex below, in the leaves of old plants armed on the margins of
the lower half with small spines which are deltoid, slightly or not
at all uncinate, 4-4$ inch long; for the rest the petiole is free of
spines or shows a very small one here and there ; ligule triangular,
in shape and length like the rachis, with membraneous dry
margins; rachis triangular-elongate, twice or twice and a half
times as long as broad, not coanting the apical prolongation
which projects into the limb. Limb divided to about the middle
into about 80 segments, with long pale filaments between the
segments and on the margins, equally green and glabrous on both
surfaces; each segment deeply two-cleft and the two divisions
arising thereof very acuminate and lacerate-filamentose at the
extreme end; the central segments at the height of the deepest
divisions are 13-14 inches broad, the outer segments become:
gradually narrower and shorter and more deeply divided, the outer-
most segments are only 2-2 inch broad and much shorter than

the others. Spadices very large, arcuate-nutant, longer than the:

oe ey
7 ri

THE PALMS OF BRITISH INDIA AND CEYLON. 300

leaves, with several large partial inflorescences rising from within
the tubular primary spathes ; these secondary inflorescences consist
of several superposed branches, each of which forms a cupressiform
partial panicle, 14-12 feet long, very dense, rising from the axil
of a spathe; this spathe is tubular at first, but later on split
lengthwise, laminar, longer than the respective panicle, 2-1 inch or
more broad, truncate, shortly bidentate and ciliate-barbate at the
apex. ‘The partial panicles are doubly branched and divided into
numerous filiform straw-coloured flowering branchlets which are

4-31 inches long. Flowers in bud lanceolate-acuminate, 4 inch
long and 54, inch broad, obscurely angular; calyx tubular-cam-
panulate, truncate at the base, lobes 3, divided to about the middle,
broadly ovate, denticulate-crenulate, apex slightly furfuraceous-
rubiginose ; corolla twice as long as the calyx, tubular in the lower

fifth, segments lanceolate-acuminate, subaristate, callous-papillose

at the point of insertion of the respective stamen, spreading during
anthesis in that part which is not surrounded by the calyx. The
stamens opposite to the segments thickly fusiform, attached

to the corolla with their lower third ; the stamens alternating with
the segments are terete, subulate, much thinner than the others,
free almost to the base of the corolla; anthers lanceolate-sagittate,
acute, shortly bifid at the apex. (Fig 20.)

‘oe

Fic. 20.—Flowers of Jastingtonia filifera, Wendl.
x 3°5. (After Parish.)
Ovary small turbinate, 3-lobed, abruptly contracted into a

Gliform style. Stigma punctiform, non-lobate: Fruit ovoid, black,

364 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXT,

shining, with fleshy mesocarp, usually ~ inch long and @ inch

broad, surmounted by the permanent, setiform, 4-2 inch long
style. Seed ovate-ellipsoid, equally rounded at the two extremi-
ties, no incavation on the side of the raphe.

Sometimes two carpels are developed and in this case the fruits
are a little asymmetrical.

Hasirat.-—The exact locality of the original home of this species
is still doubtful.

Parish, who made a special study of the history of this species,.
tries to give an answer to the question: ‘* What precisely was the
palm variously known to gardeners and seed-dealers as Brahew
filifera or Pritchardia filamentosa, and to which Wendland gave
the name Washingtonia filifera, and whence came it?”

‘«¢ Wendland had before him a few young trees which had been
grown in the palm houses of Linden in Ghent. It seems certain
that the seeds were brought to Europe by Roezl. They purported
to have been collected in Arizona, near the Colorado River, and
Fenzi (1876) even gives latitude and longitude, which would locate
the parent trees in the neighbourhood of Prescott, Arizona, a
region rather of pines than of palms.

“Tt appears . . . that the only opportunity which Roezl had
of procuring seeds of Washingtonia was during his visit to San
Diego, in December 1869. The notes, however, contain no
reference to this palm. But a visit to any of its desert habitats
would certainly have been an experience far notable to have failed
of record. Nor is it probable that his visit to San Diego, so short
and so diligently occupied in collecting, could have afforded time
for the difficult journey to the desert. The vague and confused
habitat assigned to the palm is itself a sufficient evidence that the
collector, from whom the information must have come, could never
have visited a native grove. It is safe to conclude that the seeds
he sent to Europe came from some of the older cultivated trees at
San Diego, and that his pardonable ignorance of local geography
prevented him from correctly understanding what was told him of

the location of the indigenous groves.”

1 For further information cf. Parish S. B., Roezl and the type of
Washingtonia, in Bot. Gaz. vol. 48 (1919), 452,

“< <<

THE PALMS OF BRITISH INDIA AND CEYLON. 365

Specimens cultivated in Italy flowered towards the middle ot
August and fruited in November.

WASHINGTONIA FILIFERA VAR. MICROSPERMA, Becc.—
Webbia, vol. If (1907), 191; Parish in Bot. Gaz., vol. 44 (1907),
420.

DESCRIPTION.—Stem as in the typical form. Leaves of adult
specimens measuring 5 feet from the apex of the petiole to the
extremity of the central segments. Petiole about as long as the
limb, armed near the base with small dentiform deltoid, horizontal
spines, for the rest unarmed, 13-2 inches broad at the apex ; rachis
much more prolonged into the limb than in the typical form, being
about 3-4 times longer than broad. Spadix 114 feet long with partial
inflorescences, each about 62 feet long; the partial inflorescences
composed of 6-7 cupressiform panicles, the lowest being the
largest, measuring 13-1} feet in length and not differing in any
way from those of the typical form; each panicle similarly pro-
vided with its spathe, which is broadly lnear, 13-2 inches broad
and slightly longer than the respective panicle. Flowers white,
with a strong disagreeable odour, in the bud oblanceolate acuminate,
very little shorter than in the typical form, slightly attenuate at
the base, at the broadest point (towards the upper third) 4-3 inch
broad, not seldom slightly asymmetrical and sometimes more or
less obtusely trigonous, calyx tubular-companulate, truncate at
the base, divided down to the middle or beyond the upper third
into 3 lobes ; lobes broadly ovate or suborbicular, with the margins
slightly imbricate. Corolla undivided and tubular in the lower
fourth; petals lanceolate, acuminate-aristate, slightly concave or
almost plain with the margins superposed or imbricate when in
bud, delicately striate on the outer side, during anthesis horizontal,
very strongly callous-glandular at the base behind the respective
stamen. Stamens biseriate, but all of equal length, those opposite
to the petals united with these in the lower third, stout, fusiform,
subulate at the apex, those alternating with the petals free as
far as the corolla is divided, thinner, terete, subulate and not
inflexed at the apex, for the rest like the others, anthers about

366 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

7
|

+ inch long, narrowly lanceolate, acuminate at the apex but

often very shortly bifid, and this occurs oftener in the stamens
which are opposite to the petals. Carpels 3, very small, free at
the base, forming a body slightly longer than j, mch; ovary
turbinate, obtusely trigonous, trilobed and strongly gibbous above ;
the 3 carpels very abruptly contracted into one filiform trisul—
cate style with one punctiform undivided and not thickened
stigma.

As to the ‘undivided style ’ Beccari does not wish to assert more
than what he saw when examining several flowers, and he does not
exclude the possibility of the stigma opening into 3 lobes ata
certain moment of the development of the flower.

Fruits ovoid, similar in every point to those of the typical form,
but long and short diameter by 54, inch smaller; seeds accordingly
reduced.

Hasirat.—The original home of this variety is as littl known
as that of the type.

CuLtTivaTiIon IN Hurope.—In 1874 Linden brought very young
specimens to Florence. Since then they have been growing in
different gardens in the vicinity of Florence and Viareggio and
have produced flowers and fruits.

There is no doubt that the same variety is cultivated in many
other establishments in Europe and probably also in India, but
they have never been distinguished as such. It is quite possible
that a closer examination of all the specimens now known under
the specific name of W. jfilifera will disclose many other varieties,
and if the number of varieties is increasing, botanists will probably
find it convenient one day to reduce all of them to the old well
established W. jilifera, H. Wendl.

WASHINGTONIA ROBUSTA, H. Wendl. in Berl. Garten Zeit. IL
(1883), 198.—Rev. Hort. 1883, 206 et 1885, 401, f. 73.—Bull. Soc. Tose.
Ort., 1883, 117 et 1886, 301.—Orcutt in Bot. Gazette, IX (1885), 262.—
Becc. Webbia, II (1907), 194.—W. jilifera, (non Wendl.) S. Watson in
Bot. Cal. II, 211, 485.— Washingtonia filifera, Wendl. var. robusta, Parish in
Bot. Gaz., vol. 44 (1907), 420.

THE PALMS OF BRITISH INDIA AND CEYLON, 367

Names.—Desert Palm ; Fan Palm ; Palm Cajion.

The name‘ Desert Palm’ had been given to the tree actually
growing in the Colorado Desert of California, whilst the name of
Washingtonia filifera was given to specimens growing in Huropean
gardens, which were supposed to have been imported from the same
locality in California. Though, therefore, the scientific name of
the Colorado plant has been changed, the popular name must,
nevertheless, be retained. |

DescripTion.—Trunk stout, enlarged at the base, 60-90 feet
high. Petioles stout and until old erect, 34-5 feet long, 4-5 inches
broad at the dark-brown base, and half as wide at the blade;
the upper surface concave, its thin, light-brown margins corneous
and armed for their entire length with stout hooked spines,
acuminately prolonged into the blade; ligule papyraceous, acumi-
nate, lacerate, 4-2 inches long; blades 34-5 feet in diameter, the
60-70 folds deciduously tomentulose on the lower edges, cleft
two-thirds to the base, the margin of the divisions abundantly
filiferous.

Spadices very large, longer than the leaves, nutant with 5-6
large pendent partial inflorescences, each bearing 2-5 separated
thyrses, which are exceeded by their ligulate, chartaceus,
spathoid bracts; flowering branchlets usually 32-4 inches long,
sq inch in diameter, sinuose, glabrous, angular with the solitary
flowers not very regularly inserted. Flowers, when in bud,
$z Inch long, 4, inch broad. Calyx campanulate, truncate at
the base, divided halfway down into 3 lobes, lobes more or
less ovate, very irregularly ciliate-laciniate on the margin. Corolla
much longer than the calyx, divided down to the lower fourth
into 3 segments; petals lanceolate, acuminate-subulate, rather
strongly calloso-glandular at the base. Stamens biseriate, but of
equal length, as long as the petals, the three opposite the petals
with the filaments very stout and subulate at the apex, tuberculate-
ly enlarged at the coherent base and abruptly subulate above;
the other three stamens terete; anthers large, 4 inch long,
narrowly linear-sagitlate, apparently acute or apiculate but in
reality bifid at the apex for almost 3 of their total length.

Ovary turbinate at summit, truncato—rotundate, but neither
9

868 JQURNAL, BOMBAY. NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol, XXI.

excavated nor gibbous; stigma bilabiately 3-parted into 3 short
-lobes. . (Fig. 21.) ; .

bi vai) F1q: 21,—Flowers of Washingtonia robusta, Wendl.
xX 35 (After Parish).

The fruit ovoid, black, shining, with little fleshy mesocarp,
about 2 inch long, and 4 inch broad, terminated by the perma-
nent .setiform. style. Seed. ovate, by £-,4 inch long and
about. + inch broad, very slightly incavato-umbilicate on the side
of the raphe. ae |
. The flowers are copiously nectariferous, and exhale a heavy
odour, disagreeable when near by, but when. diffused somewhat
suggestive, of the perfume of orange blossoms.

_ Beccari sustains the specific rank of this palm on the following

three characters ee . .

_ (a) The lobal filaments of the stamens tuberculately enlarged at
_the coherent base and abruptly subulate above.

(6) The stigma bilabiately 3-parted into. 3 short lobes.

not gibbous.

‘The first two characters,’’ says Parish, “‘ hold in the flowers of
Californian trees which have been referred here, so far as concerns
the few specimens I have examined.» The ovarian character is less
satisfactory.” oe

. Hasirat.—Borders of the Colorado desert of Southern California,
at low altitudes, seldom exceeding 1,100 feet.

THE PALMS OF BRITISH INDIA AND CEYLON. 369

“The ‘distribution of the Desert Palm appears to have been
_deterniined by the boundaries of the great lake which, in the’ not
yery distant part, occupied the central depression of the Colorado
Desert. We may reasonably suppose the shores of this ancient
dake to have been enlivened, here and there, with eroves of stately
‘palms. A few venerable trees still linger near the upper shore
line of this vanished sea, gaunt and ready to perish, and without
; ofispring to succeed them; but the most have retired to the
canons of the surrounding mountains. Here they find congenial
homes along the few and feeble streams, by some scanty spring, or

‘narrow oasis moistened by alkaline percolations. The necessity
ot soil moisture is the governing factor in their distribution.

“The most extensive groves occupy a tract of strongly alkaline
soil along the foothills some ten miles north of Indio, and extend-
ing some of the neighbouring washes. ‘This belt may be considered
the centre of distribution. The finest grove occupies, for a mile
or more the narrow Palm Caiion, on the opposite side of the desert
at the base of San Jacinto Mountain. Here hundreds of fine trees
fill the sandy bed of the stream or cling to the rocky bases of its
steep sides. The older trees are still vigorous, and there are
abundant younger ones of all sizes.

_ “Most of the cafions at the: desert bases of San Jacinto
contain palms. <A few grow im the caiion of the Whitewater,
which is the western limit of the species. Its southern outpost
is probably at Carrizo Creek; a few trees at Corn Springs mark
its northern limit, and none are known east of Frink’s Station.”’ *
.. DURATION OF LEAVES.—The functional life of a leaf is about
one year. How long the dead leaves would remain attached to
the trunk if undisturbed cannot be stated. Parish mentions a
row of trees in San Bernardino over 30 feet high from which the
leaves have never been removed, and the lowest are over 25 years
old and still firmly attached to the trunk.

The thatch of dead leaves makes an admirable protection to the
trunk from the scorching heat and drying winds of the desert,
Unfortunately most trees have been deprived of this mantle. Its

* Parish S. B. A contribution toward a knowledge of the Genus Washingtonia,
in Bot. Gaz., Vol. 44 (1907), 426.

370 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol, XXI,

inflammable material is easily kindled by an accidental fire, and is
an almost irresistible temptation to the passing vandal; but the
most destruction is attributed to the desert Indians, who are said
to burn the dry leaves that they may more easily gather the fruit.
To so burn them was the immemorial custom of the desert Indians
and it has been erroneously alleged that in this they were influenced
by a superstitious motive, viz., the making of an offering by fire to
the spirits of the dead. That any plants survive this ordeal of
flames is strong evidence of the vitality of the species.

Usrs.—The wood of the Desert Palm is light and soft, and
contains numerous conspicuous dark orange-coloured fibro-vascular
bundles. The specific gravity of the absolutely dry wood is
0:5173, acubic foot weighing 32:24 pounds. Trimble’, while
examining this Palm for tannin, was impressed by the sweet and
salt taste of the fresh tissue. Less than one per cent. of tannin
was found, but, as the specimen contained 68-97 per cent. of
moisture, this raised the amount of tannin to 2°73 per cent. when
calculated for absolutely dry substance. The quantity is too small,
however, to give the tree any value on account of its astringency.
Attention was then directed to the sugar content of the specimen
with better results, for the amount found, when calculated for dry
substance, was 15°50 per cent. Since this amount was not
materially increased by first treating the infusion with acid, it was
probably a glucose sugar. The ash in the absolutely dry specimen
was found to be 11-86 per cent., over + of which was sodium
chloride, the actual amount of salt being 3°09 per cent. of the dry
substance of the Palm. The specimen analyzed was a cross-section
of the trunk at the base of the leaves.

The habitations of the desert Indians were mere shelters, but
naturally palm leaves, when easily procured, were utilized in their
primitive construction. Strands split from the leaves were con-
venient for tying, and it is said were sometimes used for the spiral
coil with which they built up their baskets. They were also used
in building the characteristic granaries used by these Indians for
storing the various seeds used by them for food.

nnn EEE TnnETnnEynE
1 Garden and Forest, Vol. IX., (33.

THE PALMS OF BRITISH INDIA AND CEYLON. 371

Of these food supplies the fruit of the palm was an important
part. It was eaten fresh, and also dried for preservation. A
favourite method of preparing the dried fruit was by triturating it
with water in a stone mortar until a pulpy mass, rich in saccharine
properties was produced. ‘The seeds were then separated and the
pulp was thickened with meal made from pounded ‘chia’ (Salvia),
er grass seed, or pine nuts. The bony seed itself was pounded
into meal which Edward Palmer (1878), who seems to have tried
it, pronounces ‘‘not inferior to cocoanut,’’ a statement which
may be accepted with some reservation. The terminal bud also
was baked and eaten. Hach grove was the property of a particular
clan, to whom alone belonged the right to gather the fruit
(Parish ).

CULTIVATION.—The Desert Palm was first cultivated by the
Jesuits in their mission gardens of southern California long before
this region became a part of the United States. It has now
become one of the commonest trees in the gardens and streets of
the south-western part of California, growing rapidly and vigorously
there, as it does in southern Europe, where, in a comparatively
short time, it has attained a large size and produced flowers and
fruits. Two specimens in San Pedro Street in Los Angeles,
believed to have been planted by the Jesuit missionaries, with
stems nearly 9 feet through at the ground, are estimated to be 100

feet high. *

_ Wendland founded this species (1883) on young plants grown
by Van Houtte at Ghent, and its ascribed indigenous source is
evidently wrong, since it was asserted to be ‘the borders of the
Sacramento River.’”’ Van Houtte received the seeds under the
name of the species already known, and under that name their
product was at first sold, until Wendland recognized them as
distinct, and published the name W. robusta.

About this time collectors began to secure palm seed at Palm
Springs, in the Colorado desert. Parish is convinced that this
place was the true source of Wendlands second type, and he
considers it as certain that most of the trees growing there are

1 Kinney in Scientif. American, Vol. 60, p. 263.

372, JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Fol. XX1.

identical with those now recognized in Europe as representing

that species.
GERMINATION.—At the time of germination the cotyladetiel

petiole becomes slightly longer and then plumule and radicle deve-

lop at the same time. At the base of the primary root there. arise:
some thin lateral roots and after some time it is covered. with
rootlets. The radicle remains for a long time the principal root,’

but after the development of several leaves, there arises a new

lateral root which is’ much thicker than the primary root and
destined to take its place in the course of time...

The first vegetative leaf is a mere eee spate se: by. the
ligule of the catyledonal sheath. ° rf a

Insect Enemy.—According to Parish the Desert Palm. is not)

known to be infested by any, parasitic fungus, or to be subject to
any bacterial infection. ‘‘ Its sole enemy ’’, he says, ‘‘is the. larva
of a Bostrychide beetle, Dinapate Wrightii, Horn, the only species

of the genus. .The female oviposits at the base of the living leaves,
whence the larva bores downward throngh the trunk, its continually.
enlarging galleries becoming at length 18 mm. in diameter. :

These are tightly packed, for the most part, with rejected gnawings. |

The larval life of the insect is three or four years, perhaps even

longer. The mature beetle has a length of fully 5 cm. and is the,

heaviest North American coleopter.

“The number of contemporaneous larvee that mig ht inhabit a sin=

gle trunk has been estimated as high as 200 or 300 ; but Mr. W. G.

Wright, who discovered the beetle, and who has assiduously.
investigated its habits, is of opinion that it would probably not:
exceed 50. But even such a horde of huge and voraceous grubs, :
in their comparatively long life, might riddle a whole trunk with.

their galleries. They seem not to work any great destruction to

the groves, however; in fact, the only evidences of their presence .

to the ordinary observer are the exit holes in dead trunks.”

WASHINGTONIA GRACILIS, Parish in Bot. Gaz., vol. 44 (1907), 420

-Washingtonia robusta, Hort. (in California, not of Wendland).
Washingtonia robusta var gracilis, Parish ex. Webbia I, 197."

THE PALMS OF BRITISH INDIA AND CEYLON. 373°

_ Descrietion.—Trunk slender, at least 65 feet high. Petioles,

rather convex on the upper surface, 24-34 feet long, about 4
inches wide at the brown base and 4 as wide at the blade, the:

corneous margins armed with short hooked yellow spines for the

entire length, accuminately prolonged in the blade; ligule papy- :
raceous, narrow, the margin entire; blade 22-34 feet in diame- .

ter, the folds 75-80, deciduously tomentose toward thé base °

beneath, cleft little more than 4 toward the base, not filiferous |

except for an occasional single filament in the sinuses of some of.

the folds.

Peduncles declined, exceeding the leaves; primary divisions }

6-8, .éach bearing 5-10 separated thyrses, which are mostly

exceeded by their narrow, deciduous, chartaceous bracts. Flowers |

nearly sessile. Calix tubular-campanulate, } inch long, the short
rounded lobes lacerate. Corolla-tube } inch long, its lobes erect,

narrowly lanceolate -s, Inch long. Filaments subulate, }

6
| ee
inch long ; anthers versatile, 4 inch long. . (Fig. 22.)

Fig. 22. —Flower of Washingtonia gracilis Parish.
x5 (After Parish )

‘Seeds broadly ovate, 6-7 inch long and $ inch ae
rugose on. the side of the raphe.

This palm is readily distinguished from W. filifera aad its.
varieties by its slender trunk and smaller and less deeply divided _ |

leaves, which are without filaments and on shorter petioles.
Beceari (1. c.) regards this palm as.a variety of W. robusta.

374. JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

It seems to me, however, that Parish is right when he says: ‘It
would be possible, although in my opinion undesirable, to regard
all the Washingtonias as varieties of a single polymorphous species,
but the one now under consideration (viz., W. gracilis) would of
all be the least capable of such comprehension. Without question
floral characters are of greater diagnostic value than those drawn
from foliage or habit; but when the latter are of marked distinc-
tion, and apparently constant, they cannot be refused great
weight.” *

Hasitat.—Probably indigenous in northern Lower California
(Parish).

(Parish’s description is taken from cultivated trees growing in
San Bernardino and Riverside California.)

WASHINGTONIA SONORA, Watson, Proc. Am. Acad. XXIV
(1889) 79; XXV (1890), 136; Parish in Bot. Gaz., vol. 44 (1907), 422.

Washingtonia sonora, Hort. in Webbia II (1907), 198.

Names.—Palma Blanca, Palma Colorada, Palma Nigra (in the
Cape region of California).

DESCRIPTION.—Stem about 25 feet high, 1 foot in diameter.
Leaves glaucous, filiferous, 3-4 feet in diameter, borne on compa-
ratively slender petioles beset on the margins with variously
curved spines, connected by a web of floccose hairs. The spadix is
shorter, more slender, and more sparingly branched, and the
perianth is thinner and more scarious than those of W. jilifera.

This species is still very imperfectly known. Parish says that
it is easily separable from the others by the obtuse juncture of the
petiole with the blade. The leaves of the young plants he was
able to examine were very abundantly filiferous.

Beccari had not had an opportunity of examining flowers of W.
sonore, and he regards it as a doubtful species, which may be a
variety of W. robusta, suspecting that the obtusely triangular
insertion of the petiole in the leaf blade may not prove a con-
stant character.

1 Parish, 8. B., The Flowers of Washingtonia, in Bot. Gaz-, vol. 46 (1908), 145.

THE PALMS OF BRITISH INDIA AND CEYLON. 375

Parish, in the meantime had an opportunity of examining a
few flowers taken from the type specimen of this species, collected
by W. Palmer at Guyamas, Mexico. The flower has the charac-
ters assigned to W. jilifera so far as the filaments are concerned,
the character of W. robusta as to the divided tip of the stigma,
and the markedly lobate ovary of W. gracilis. (Fig. 23).

Fig. 23.—Flower of Washingtonia sonore, S. Watson.
x 5 (After Parish.)

It must not be forgotten, however, that these characters are
drawn from a study of a few individuals only.

Hasitat.—First collected by Dr. Edward Palmer in 1887 “ in
secluded cafions in the mountains about Guyamas’”’ (Watson) ;
“in great quantities, and of great size, in the deep cafions run-
ning into the Gulf of California, far away from Guyamas” (HE.
Palmer); La Paz, in Lower California, and on the opposite side
of the gulf (collected in these localities by HE. Palmer and identi-
fied as W. sonorce by Watson).

“The natives of the Cape region,” says Parish, ‘‘ recognize
three distinct forms of W. sonore. ‘Two of these “ Palma Blanca ”
and “Palma Colorada’’—are distinguished by the white or red
colour of the woody fibre of their trunks. The third—“ Palma
Nigra ”’—-is said to be the smaller tree, growing at higher altitudes,

991

where winter snows are not infrequent.

1 For more detailed information on the genus and species of Washingtonia
we refer to the extensive ‘bibliography’ on this subject by S. B. Parish in Bot.
Gaz., vol. 44, 1907, p. 431—434.

376 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

SABAL, ADANS. FAM. NAT, If, 490.

(Gs Sabal’’ is said to be a native name in South America: -but,.

Adanson who originated the genus, gives no explanation. )

Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm. III, 245 et 319 (excl. S, serrulata), t.

103, 130.—Benth. et Hook. Gen. Pl. it: 922.—Drude in Enel.
u. Prantl, Pflanzenf. I, 37,—Baill. Hist. des Pl. XIII, 313.—Sar-
gent, Silva N. Am. X, 37.—Beccari, Webbia II (1907), 10.—
Sabal et Inodes, O. BR Cook in Bull. Torrey Bot. ce 1901,
529.

Unarmed trees or shrubs, with columnar and il stout or
short annulated endogenous stems ascending while young from a
subterranean thickened descending clavate caudex, clothed above
for many years with the remnants of the sheathing bases of
the petioles of the fallen leaves, and below with light red-brown
rind, and long stout tough roots, which ultimately often form
a great densely matted ball at the base of a short underground
stem. Leaves terminal, induplicate in vernation, alternate, flabel-
late, orbicular, or cuneate at the base, tough and coriaceous,

divided from the apex deeply or. slightly into many narrow two-—

parted long-pointed segments plicately folded at the base, inserted
obliquely on the sides of the rhachis, often filamentose on the

thickened margins, with narrow midribs prominent below, and.,

numerous slender straight veins; rhachises on the lower surface

rounded and broadly winged toward the base, nearly flat and
wingless towards the apex, and gradually narrowed to above the —
middle of the blade of the leaf, thin and acute on the upper.

surface ; ligulas adnate to the rhachises, short or elongated, acute,

concave, with thin incurved entire margins; petioles rounded on

the back, biconcave with a central ridge on the upper side toward _
the apex, their margins acute, unarmed, concave and enlarged |
at the base into elongated chestnut-brown lustrous vaginas of stout .
tough fibres, young leaves lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, gradually .

narrowed. into slender petioles, entire. Spadix axillary, pedunculate

elongated, decompound, at first erect, its rhachis compressed and _
flattened horizontally ; primary branches short and pendulous or, ,

——
te

THE PALMS OF BRITISH INDIA AND CEYLON. © 877

decurved angled or compressed, bearing numerous slender densely
flowered secondary branches in the axils of ovate apiculate scarious
persistent bracts ; spathes numerous, the outer acuminate, enclosing’ :
the spadix in the bud, persistent on its peduncle, becoming hard
and woody at maturity; the second tubular, conspicuously veined,
thick and firm in texture, and scarious oblique at the apex, pro-'
longed on the lower side into a long narrow point, infolding the
base of the rhachis, each branch with its short thin spathe and the .
node of the rhachis below it enclosed in a smaller although other-

wise similar spathe. Flowers perfect, minute, glabrous, white or

ereenish white, solitary on the ultimate branches of the spadix

bibracteolate, in the axils of minute ovate acute persistent bracts.

Calyx tubular, truncate at the base, unequally three-lobed, the

lobes slightly imbricated in estivation, acute. Corolla deeply -3-
lobed, narrowed at the base into a short tube, the lobes ovate-

oblong, concave, acute, in the bud shghtly imbricated below, valvate

at the apex. Stamens 6, those opposite the petals rather longer

than the others; filaments white, subulate, dilated at the base,

united into a shallow cup adnate to the tube of the corolla; anthers

ovate, acute, bright yellow, dorsifixed, introrse, 2-celled, the cells.
free and spreading at the base, opening longitudinally. Ovary

superior, sessile, composed of 3 carpels, 3-celled, gradually narrowed;
into an elongated 3-lobed columnar style, truncate and stigmatic at.
the apex, becoming subbasilar on the fruit; ovule solitary in each;,
cell, basilar, erect, semianatropous ; micropyle superior, extiorse.

Fruit small, baccate, or obovate and gradually narrowed below,

black and rather lustrous, 1 or rarely 2-3-lobed, raised on a short

stout stem adjacent to the remnants of the style ; pericarp separable
into 3 coats, the outer thin, sweet and fleshy, mesocarp dry and

spongy, closely investing the membranaceous inner coat, lustrous.
on the inner surface. Seed depressed-globose, free, erect, marked

on the side by the prominent micropyle, depressed near the

minute basal light-coloured hilum by a shallow pit rugose on the

margins ; testa thin, light or dark chestnut-brown, and lustrous; .
raphe basilar, its branches obsolete; albumen uniform, horny,
penetrated by a broad shallow basal cavity filled by the thickening
of the testa. , Embryo minute, lateral or subdorsal.

378 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XX1.

SPEcIES.— About 20.

DISTRIBUTION.—Sabal is confined to the New World, where it is
distributed from the Bermuda Islands and the south Atlantic and
Gulf coasts of North America through the West Indies to Vene-
zuela. The type has survived from the period when palm-trees
abounded in North America and Europe, and traces of its ances-
tors have been found in the lower eocene of western Europe and
in the lignitic formations of Colorade. During the lower miocene
period a large Sabal-like tree inhabited Europe as far north as 55
degrees, and existed in Italy until the later miocene.*

Usrs.—The large succulent leaf-buds of the arborescent species
are cooked and eaten as a vegetable, although their removal kills
the trees.

Coarse hats, mats, and baskets are manufactured from the leaves,
which also afford durable thatch for the roofs of buildings.

Pieces of the spongy part of the stem are used as a substitute for
scrubbing-brushes, and in the Southern United States brushes are
made with the stout strong fibres of the sheaths of the leaf-stalks.

CULTIVATION IN HuRoPE.—The species of Sabal are stove and
greenhouse plants, or half-hardy. Most of them are highly orna-
mental and thrive well in a light loamy soil. Propagation is
effected by means of seeds, and sometimes by suckers. These
should be removed from the parent plant when about 1 foot long
and, if they have no roots, must in the beginning be carefully
nursed.

SABAL ADANSONI, Guersent in Bull. Soc. philomat. ITI, (1803) 206, t.
25.—Bot. Mag. t.1434.—Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm. III, 246, 319, t. 103, f. 2 et
tab. morph. S.,f. 1, t. Y,f. 4, t. Z II, f. 2, 3, 4.—Pursh, Fl. Amer. Sept. I,
239.—Shecut Fl. Carolinzens. I, 383, No. 1.—Roem. et Schult. Syst. Veg.
VII, 2, 1485.—H. B.Croom in Silliman Amer. Journ. XX VI (1834), 313.—
Chapman, Flora of the South. Unit. Stat., 2nd ed., 488.—O. F. Cook in Bull
Torrey Bot. Club, 1902, 530.—Hasskarl in Retzia, I, 5.—Becc. Webbia II.

1 Lesquereux, Rep- U.S. Geol. Surv. VIL., 112. t, 11., £.3, 3a, t. 12, f. 1 2,
Saporta Origine Paléontologique des Arbres, 118.
Zittel, Handb. Palaecontal. II, 372

THE PALMS OF BRITISH INDIA AND CEYLON. 379

(1907), 20.—Sabal minor, Pers. Enchir. I, 399.—Spreng. Syst. Veg. II, 137.—
Sabal pumila, Ell. Sketch I, 430 (ex Ind. Kew.)—Sabal minima, Nott. in Ann.
Journ. Sc. Ser. 1, V (1822), 293 (ex Ind. Kew.).—Sabal caroliniana, Hort.
Paris. fide Schult. fil. ex Kunth En. IIT, 246.—(?) Sabal taurina, Lodd,
Cat. 1849 ex Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm. III, 320.—Griseb. Fl. Brit. West
Ind. 514.—0. F. Cook in Bull. Torrey Bot. Club, 1901, 530.—Sabal glabra,
Sargent, Silva North Am. X, 88 in nota.—Rhapis acaulis,Willd. Spec. Pl.
IV, 1093, No. 2.—Smith in Rees Cyclop, No. 2.—Ait. Hort., Kew. ed. 2,
V, 474.— Corypha minor, Jacq. Hort. Vindob, III, 8, t. 8.—Murr. Syst. Veg.
ed. 14, 984. Lamark Encycl. II, 131.—Corypha pumila Walt. Flor. Carol,
119.—Chamerops glabra, Mill. Gard. Dict. ed. 8, No. 2 (ex Ind, Kew.)—
Chamaerops acaulis, Mich. Flor. Amer. II, 207 (ex Ind. Kew.).

Names,— Dwarf Sabal; Swamp Palmetto ; Adanson’s Sabal.

DeEscripTion.—A. stemless palm with a subterranean rhizome,
producing a crown of few leaves. Petioles about as long as the
limb and sometime shorter, convex on the underside, broadly
channelled above near the base, slightly or not at all concave
towards the apex; ligule subtriangular, often inequilateral obtuse
or slightly acute; rhachis short, narrowly winged on the margins
near the base, straight ; limb ? orbicular or a little more than half-
orbicular, divided into 20-30 and sometimes 35 segments ; segments
acuminate, rigid, entire or very shortly bifid, separated from each
other in the central part of the limb for half their length or 2 of
the upper part, with a slender and fugaceous filament at the end of
the primary sinus ; central segments usually 14-24 feet long, some-
times even 3 feet, 4-12 inches broad at the height of the sinuses and
in well developed leaves even 2 inches. Spadix glabrous, erect,
narrow, rigid, 2-5 feet long with 5-6, or also 10-12 branches, each
one arising from within a spathe ; axis of spadix 4-2 inch in diameter,
subterete in the upper part and more or less compressed in the
lower, surrounded by several long tubular spathes without
branches; upper spathes tubular in the lower part, acute or
acuminate in the upper; branches born on a peduncular part which
is surrounded by its respective spathe ; the largest partial inflore-
scences (branches) near the base usually 4-6 inches long; and
divided into 8-15 simple branchlets; branchlets more or less.

inches long; sometimes the partial inflorescences are 10 inches

angular, filiform =.-;4, inch in diameter and usually 2-31

long bearing 25 and more branchlets of 4 inches in length and
subdivided into shorter branchlets ; the branchlets of the
fruiting spadix are’ slightly stouter. Flowers inserted spirally
“and without great regularity on the branchlets, provided with
“a bract and a_bracteole, both exceedingly small and apicu-
late, in a well developed bud measuring 3% inch, oblong, more
“or less obtusely apiculate at the apex, when quite open 44-1
inch long; calyx cyathiform-campanulate, divided down to
- the middle into 3 broadly triangular or deltoid and slightly acute
lobes ; petals 14 times or twice as long as the calyx ; petals united
at the base into a short tube, ovate-ellipsoid, concave-cymbiform,
slightly acute, not denticulate on the margins ; stamens all equal,
‘subulate ; anthers small, very broadly cordate-sagittate, almost as
broad as long. Ovary narrowly trigonous-pyramidal -4,-§ inch
long, 3-sulcate; stigma papillose, truncate-capitellate. Fruit
supported by the perianth, perfectly spherical, showing the per-
manent style, when fully ripe 3-2 inch in diameter, black, shining ;
pericarp thin, pellicular; mesocarp very slightly fleshy, brown-
violescent, slightly bitter. Seed globular, a little depressed, with
‘shining surface, about + inch in diameter; hilum eccentric ;
embryo situated towards the middle of one side or a little below

it, penetrating horizontally into the albumen for about } of the

seed. Sometimes 2 seeds are developed and then the fruit is.

didymous; sometimes again one ovule is perfect and the other
incompletely developed; in this case the fruit is more or less

distinctly gibbous at the base.

Hasirat.—In the south-eastern part of the United States : from:

North Carolina southwards to Florida and westwards to Arkansas,
Louisiana and Texas.
Grows in low and humid forests and inundated places, prefers
sandy soil; occurs also on the seashore.
Notre.—Sabal Adansoni is a very variable plant showing great

adaptability to the various conditions of climate and soil. In this

respect it resembles the Indian Pheeniww humilis.

The polymorphism of the Swamp Palmetto.can be observed
especially in the vegetative parts and in the greater orsmaller
number of subdivisions of the partial inflorescences (branches)

‘(‘saany “uosuDpy 1DQDg) IVAYS FUVMC

ri Ses ‘
Nee en a

STS SR IEE tear

. THE PALMS OF BRITISH INDIA AND. CEYLON, . ° 381

_Beceari distinguishes 6 different forms; but it must be remembered
that it is impossible to define them exactly, as all those forms are
united by a great’ number of transition forms. It is, however,
quite probable that a comprehensive study of this palm in its
various localities will reveal the existence of well-defined sub-
species in equally well-defined areas,

These are the forms mentioned by Beccari’ :—

(a) Leaves large, erect ; petioles as long as or longer than
the limb. Spadices 3-plicate-ramose ; last branchlets
very short.

(6) Leaves small or of middle size, patent; petioles much
shorter than the limb. Spadices duplicate: or sub-
3-plicate-ramose ; last branchlets very short. .

(d) Leaves small; spadices simply branched ; branchlets
rather short and rigid.

(e) Leaves small; spadices simply br nade Biatohlate slen-
der, filiform, elongate, usually not numerous.

(7) Spadices simply branched ; branchlets with smaller and
more numerous flowers than usually.

CULTIVATION IN HuRopE.—The Dwarf Sabal is a greenhouse plant
or even half-hardy. In the Mediterranean region it is very often
cultivated in the open. Owing to its extraordinary power of
adaptation the plant grows equally well in the climate of Calcutta,
Peradeniya and Buitenzorg as in that of Florence and Collioure
(3° 32! N. 1.). ,

It is usually not held in very great esteem, because it grows
slowly and produces few leaves. In open places which are exposed
to strong wind the leaves become torn after a short time. It is,
however, not without ornamental effect when grown together
with underwood.

ILLUSTRATION.—Plate XXX was reproduced from an excellent
photograph taken by Mr. Macmillan. !

; + Beccari, O. Le Palme americane della Tribt' delle Coryphex, in Webbia vol. IT,
1907), p. 27.

382 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XX1,

It represents a characteristic specimen of Sabal Adansoni,
Guers.

The petioles channelled towards the ,base, are about as long
as the leaf-blade. The almost triangular ligule is distinctly visible
on one of the left-hand leaves. Some of the segments are entire,
but most of them are very shortly bifid. From between the leaves
there rises a long spadix with about a dozen branches. In the
upper part the flowers have just opened. ‘The specimen is growing
in the Royal Botanic Gardens of Peradeniya.

SABAL PALMETTO, Lodd. ex Roem. et Schult. Syst. Veg. VII, pt. 2,
1487, No, 5.—Mart. Hist. Nat, III, 247.—Dietrich Syn. II, 1201,—Kunth,
Enum, III, 247.—Spach. Hist. Veg. XII, 107.—Chapman, Fl. South Unit.
St, ed, 2a, 438.—Curtis, Rep. Geolog. Surv, N, Car. (1860), II, 64.—
Sargent, For, Tr. N. Am. 10th Cens. U. 8. IX, 217.—Nash in Bull. Torrey
Bot. Club, XXIII, 99.—Beccari, Webbia, II, 32.—Sabal umbraculifera, Mart.
Hist. Nat. Palm. III, 245, t. 130, et tab. morph. T, f. 5 ;t. Y, f. 5, 6, 7; t.
Z, I (excl, syn. Glazeb. et local'.).—Griseb. Fl. West. Ind. Isl. 514.—Inodes
palmetto, O. F, Cook in Bull, Torrey Bot. Club, 1901, 532.— Corypha umbra-
culifera, Jacq. Fragm, Bot. (1809) 7, No. 47.—Corypha palmetto, Walter, Fl.
Carol. 119 (1788).—Corypha glabra, Mill, ex Salomon, Palmen, 150.—
pe EE EE ee

1, Beccari gives the following reasons for his identifying Sabal uwmbraculifera,
Mart, with Sabal palmetto, Lodd. :—

“T have referred to S. palmetto the species of Martius S. wmbraculifera, which
this author founded on Corypha umbraculifera, Jacq. on Linn.). Martius writes
with reference to this palm that it was brought by Jacquin from his journey in
America‘and that it flowered in the Garden of Schcenbrunn. Jacquin, however,
affirms that his C, wmbraculifera came from Holland. Apart from this contra-
diction it is pretty sure that the description as well as the drawings of S. umbra-
culifera published by Martius were taken from the specimen which flowered at
Scheenbrunn. Of this specimen I haveseen a part of the spadix in the herba-
rium of Berlin, corresponding in everything and in the minutest details of the
flower with wild specimens of S. palmetto. Though Martius wrote that his S.
umbraculifera grows in Cuba and Haiti, this statement must be considered as
erroneous, because it was probably founded on the supposition that the palm
described was brought from those regions by Jacquin. The specific name of
Palmetto, Lodd. as reeognized in Roem, et Schult. is certainly older than that of
umbraculiferae Though we are not sure as to the exact date of the publication of
that part of Martius’ work in which that name occurs for the first time, Martius
himself mentions on p. 247 S. Palmetto as one of those species of which he is not
able to say exactly in which point they differ from bis S. wmbraculifera.”

Journ. Bompay Nav. Hisr. Soc. PratE XXXI.

CaBBAGE PaLMETTO or Patmerro Royat (Sabal palmetto, Lodd.).

THE PALMS OF BRITISH INDIA AND CEYLON, 383

Chamaerops palmetto, Mich. Fl. Bor. Am. I, 206 (1803).—Willd. Spec.
Pl. IV, pt. Il, 1158.—Mchx. f. Hist. Arb. Am. II, 186, t. 10.—Pursh, FI.

Am. Sept. I, 240.—Nuttal, Gen. I, 231.—Hlliot, Sk. I, 431.—Spreng. Syst.

a 137.—Croom, Am. Journ. Sec. XXVI, 315—London, Arb. Brit. IV

2532.

‘Names.—Cabbage Palmetto, Cabbage Tree, Pond Thatch, Pond

“Top.

Descriprion.—A tree, with a trunk often 30-60 feet in height

and 2 feet in diameter, broken by shallow irregular interrupted

fissures into broad ridges, with a short pointed knob-like caudex

surrounded by a dense mass of contorted roots, often 4 or 5 feet in

diameter, and 5 or 6 feet deep, from which tough light orange-

- coloured.roots, often nearly 4 inch in diameter, covered with thick

loose rind easily broken into narrow fibres, and furnished with short

slender brittle rootlets, penetrate the soil for a distance of 15 or 20
feet, and crowned with a broad head of leaves which are at first up-
right, then spread nearly at right angles with the stem, and are finally

pendulous. Leaves suborbicular with numerous segments (as many

as 80 in cultivated specimens) measuring 43-42 feet from the

apex of the petiole to the end of the central segment; petiole
apparently a little longer than the limb, robust, at the apex 1-12
inches broad and plain or slightly concave above and convex
below ; ligule lanceolate or lanceolate-acuminate ; rhachis stout
winged at the base on both sides, curved and prolonged almost to
the apex of the leaf. The central apical segments are much
smaller than those in the middle of the sides. All the segments,
included the outermost ones, are deeply bipartite, finely striated
with numerous distinct secondary and tertiary nerves, of the same
colour on both sides ; primary and secondary sinuses provided with

a distinct filament. Spadices forming large compound panicles

as long as, or longer than, the leaves, nutant whilst in flower and

curved-reflexed when in fruit; partial inflorescences forming
secondary panicles of 1-14 feet in length, the upper ones even
shorter, each one divided into 6-10 alternately distichous
branches ; spathes of the partial inflorescences narrowly sheathing,
tubular-infundibuliform, brown and dry in the terminal part, very

finely striate, entire and obliquely truncate where they open,
a

884 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXTI.

prolonged on one side into an acuminate point; branches of the
artial inflorescences (inflorescences of the 3rd order) patent and
arcuate in the lower part, 5-6 inches long, inserted within the
respective spathe and each one having its own small tubular
spathe which is dry, bicarinate on the axillary side, shortly
bidentate or bicornute at the apex; branches angular and giving
off 10-20 flower-bearing branchlets in a spiral arrangement;
branchlets patent and slightly arcuate, simple, filiform, more or less
angular, thin, 54-73 inch in diameter at the base, subulate, 22-4
inches long, arising from the axil of a small broad scarious acute
bract. Flowers arranged spirally and not very regularly, about
30-40 on each branchlet; at the base of each flower a large
scarious acute and apiculate bract and a similar but smaller
bracteole. Flowers in well developed bud about % inch long
and about ;3 inch broad, oblong, obtuse; when open 4 inch
long or slightly longer; calyx shortly companulate, divided
almost to the middle into 3 large deltoid narrowly scarious and
non-ciliate lobes; carrolla more than twice as long as the calyx
tubular in the lower 2, concave-navicular; stamens as long as the
petals ; filaments subulate, anthers versatile, ovate-sagittate. Ovary
including the style measuring about } inch in length; style elon-
gate, columnar, subtrigonous, slightly thicker at the base than in
the upper part ; stigma capitellate. Fruit perfectly spherical, $¢-34
inch in diameter, black and lustrous with the remains of the
style distinctly visible at the base; epicarp thin, fragile, easily
separable from the mesocarp which is slightly fleshy; fruiting
perianth shortly pedicelliform. Seed globose-depressed, regularly
hemisperical in the upper part, 34 inch broad, lght bright
chestnut coloured, flattened at the base and corrugate round
the hilum, which is not very eccentric; micropyle very small ;
embryo situated about the middle of one side, deeply and
obliquely penetrating into the albumen with the point directed
downwards.

GERMINATION.—This process begins with the growth of the
cotyledonal petiole, the radicular end of the embryo breaking
through the seed coat. The radicle continues growing for some

time, but the rate of growth becomes slower at the moment when

THE PALMS OF BRITISH INDIA AND CEYLON. 385-

there appears a lateral emergence which increases rapidly in bulk,
and from which, after some time, the plumule emerges. The
primary root, producing a few rootlets, remains the only one for a
long time. After this the cotyledonal ligule begins to swell and
becomes longer towards the base. From this newly formed body
(called stolon by Karsten’) there arise adventitious roots which are
below the primary root.

FLowErs.—In June (in North America) ; fruit ripens late in the
autumn. |

Hasirat.—This palm inhabits sandy soil in the immediate neigh-
bourhood of the coast, and is distributed from Smith’s Island at the
mouth of the Cape Fear River, North Carolina, to Key Largo,
Florida (26° N. L.) and along the Gulf coast of the mouth of the
Appalachicola River. Often forming groves of considerable extent
on the Atlantic coast, it is most abundant and grows to its largest
size on the west coast of the Florida Peninsula South of Cedar Keys.

«The survival of Sabal palmetto, with its tall columnar trunk
and broad crown of foliage, the most boreal of existing palm trees
in a region where the flora is northern in its predominating types,.
gives special interest to the coast of the south-eastern United States,
where it is the most conspicuous feature of the vegetation.”
(Sargent).

Usrs.—The wood of the Cabbage Palmetto is light, soft, and

pale brown in colour, and contains numerous hard fibro-vascular
bundles which make it difficult to work, the outer rim of the stem,
about 2-inches in thickness, being much lighter and softer. The
specific gravity of the absolutely dry wood is 0:44.04, a cubic foot
weighing 27:45 pounds. In the Southern States the trunks are used
for wharf-piles; polished cross-sections of the stem sometimes
serve for the tops of small tables, and the wood is largely
manufactured into cases. From the sheaths of young leaves the
bristles of serubbing-brushes now often used in the United States
are made in Florida in considerable quantities. T'o obtain the fibre
used in the manufacture, 3-4 feet of the top of the tree, ‘the bud, ’

Karsten. Ueber die Bewtirzelung der Palmen. Linnea, p. 601-608. Halle,
1856-

386 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. X-XI,

as it is technically called, consisting of the closely imbricating —

young leaf-stalks, is cut. off and trimmed down toa diameter of
about 8 inches. In this form the bud is received at the factory,
where the soft edible core, consisting of the youngest leaves, is
removed, leaving a cylinder with walls about 3 inches in thickness.

This is boiled and shredded by machinery specially devised for the

purpose, and when the fibre is dried, it is ready for the brush-

maker. One factory in Jacksonville, Florida, used (1896) weekly

7,000 buds obtained chiefly from the west coast of the peninsula.
As only young and healthy trees are used, and as the removal of
the bud kills the tree, the industry is a wasteful and expensive one,
destined to exterminate the Palmetto. Its existence is also threat-
ened by the use for culinary purposes of the cabbage, or termi
nal bud, which is considered a great delicacy by the negroes of the
‘Southern States of N. America.

Sleeping mats are made from the young leaves, and hats from
the inner portion of the young leaves. ‘They are said to be very
cheap and durable. From the same material fancy baskets are
made, also rope of the young leaves split and twisted.

HisroricaL Note.—The Cabbage Palmetto has played an
important part in the history of South Carolina. On June 28,
1776, a force of less than one hundred Carolinians, under command of
Moultrie, protected by the rude fortification on Sullivan’s Island in
Charleston Harbour, made of the trunks of the Palmetto, repulsed
the attack of a British fleet under command of Sir Peter Parker,
and when the State of South Carolina was organized, the State seal,
which was first used in May 1777, was made to commemorate this
victory. A palm-tree growing erect on the seashore represents
the strength of the fort, while at its base an oak-tree torn from
the ground and deprived of its branches recalls the British fleet
built of oak timber overcome by the Palmetto.1

CuLtivation.—It is remarkable that Sabal palmetto, which
might be expected to be the hardiest of all arborescent palms, has
remained comparatively rare in gardens. A plant has long been

1 John Drayton. Memoirs of the American Revolution, II, 372.

cultivated in the Palm House of the Royal Gardens at Kew and the

THE PALMS OF BRITISH INDIA AND CEYLON. 8

igs)
I

species is said to be established in Ceylon. In California, where
nearly all the palms of temperate regions grow vigorously, it has
not proved a success. It is cultivated in the gardens of Southern
France and the Riviera where the tree is known under the names
of Sabal umbraculifera and Sabal Giesbreghtia.

Beccari recommends the introduction and acclimatization of this
palm in the vast barren marshes of southern Italy and Sicily, not
only because the Cabbage Palmetto is propagated very easily, but
also on account of its economic uses.

ILLusTRATION.—The Cabbage Palmetto of Plate XX XI is grow-
ing at Peradeniya. We have to thank Mr. Macmillan for taking
the photograph.

SABAL MAURITIAFORMIS, Gr. and Wendl. in Griseb. FI. Brit..
West. Ind. 514; Drude in Engl. und Prantl, Pflanzenf. I, 36, f. 27; Becc.
in Webbia II (1907), 61.

Trithrinax mauritieformis, Karsten in Flora, vol. 28 (1856), 244 and
in Fl. Columb. Sp. select. II, 137, t. CLX XII.

Sabal glaucescens, Lodd. ex Mart. Hist. Nat. Palm. III, 247 ? fide Griseb.

_ Name.—Savannah Palm.

_ Description.—Trunk cylindric, columnar, distinctly annular-
_ Gicatricose (the rings 6 inches distant), 60-80 feet high, 12 inches)
in diameter. Leaves very large. Petiole long and comparatively
slender, fugaceously furfuraceo-cinerescent on the lower side, about
14 inches broad, much depressed, flat above in the upper part,
slightly convex on the underside with the margins very acute.
Ligule well developed, 2 inches long ; rhachis considerably elongate
and arcuate. Limb quite elabrous, measuring about 62 feet from
the apex of the petiole to the end of the median segments, rigid-
papyraceous, but thin, green above, distinctly paler and almost
glaucescent below, divided into many broad lacinize down to almost
the lower fifth; lacinie 2?-24 inches broad, with their sides

parallel or slightly divergent up to about 14 feet from the apex ;
here they are once more divided into two lacinie which in their
turn about 8 inches higher up are divided into 2 very acuminate
flaccid points ; the limb, therefore, is three times divided and there

are 3 sinuses; sometimes 2 primary segments are united with °

388 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX1,

each other up to the second sinus; at the lowest sinus there
ends a secondary upper rib, at the second sinus the primary
upper ribs and at the third sinus the primary lower ribs;
the primary segments are consequently 3-costate. Spadices
large, longer than the leaves, with various partial inflorescences
14-14 feet long and forming lax panicles. Secondary spathes
tubular, striato-nervate, prolonged at the apex into a triangular
acuminate point, entire at the mouth or scarcely split on the ven-
tral side even when the fruits are ripe; each partial inflorescence
consisting of 7-8 primary branches of which the lower are divided
into 6-7 branchlets and the upper ones in 3-4; peduncular part of
each branch provided with a special spathe exerted from the larger
spathe and deeply divided into 2 points or subulate horns ; branch-
> og-zs inch thick 22-24 inches ee with
numerous flowers, each arising from the a of: a very small,

lets very angular, filiform

triangular, accuminate bract.

Flowers in bud } inch long, 3, inch broad, oblong, slightly
restricted and acutate towards the apex. Calyx cupular-cyathiform,
divided beyond the middle into 3 triangular acuminate lobes;
carolla thrice as long as the calyx, shortly tubular below. Ovary
conico-pyramidal, elongate, marked with the irregular impressions
of the stamens; stigma capitellate. Fruiting perianth with the
calyx perfectly truncate at the base, petals deflexed, of the stamens
the subulate filaments alone remain of which those opposite the
petals are deflexed and the others erect.

Fruit globose-obpyriform, subresupinate, 4 inch long, perfectly
spherical at the apex where it measures 9,-19 inch, attenuate into
a somewhat asymmetrical base or incurved ; style persistent, about
zz inch long, curved below. Surface of fruit black, shining,
indistinctly and minutely granular under the magnifying glass ;
pericarp finely crustaceous, fragile, dry ; mesocarp almost reduced
to nothing. Seed hemispherical, or with the upper part rotundate
and the lower flattened-undulate; hilum very eccentric, almost
lateral. Surface of seed blackish brown, minutely and not very
distinctly granular under the magnifying glass. Embryo situated
about the middle on the hilar side, obliquely and rather deeply
descending.

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Prath XXXII.

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. THE PALMS OF BRITISH INDIA AND CEYLON. . 389

Hasirat.—In the moist warm forests of the old Republic Colum-
bia (Karsten) ; Trinidad (Grisebach) ; Venezuela (Bot. Gard. of
Buitenzorg).

CULTIVATION IN HuRopE.—The Savannah Palm must be treated as
a stove plant.

ILLUSTRATION.—Plate XXXII represents a group of palms from
the Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya. The photograph is by
Mr. Macmillan.

To the left of the picture there is dense tuft of the Spiny Licuala
(Licuala spinosa, Wurmb.), which we described in the last number
of this Journal on p. 81. The palm in the centre is the Savannah
Palm (Sabal mauritizformis, Gr. et. Wendl.), whilst on the
right there is a small specimen of Livistona chinensis R. Br.

This palm may easily be distinguished by the following charac-
ters: The chief divisions of the leaves have got 3 ribs; the colour
of the undersurface of the leaves is glaucescent; the fruits are
very much narrowed at the base; the seed is provided with a
central-rotundate tubercle and the hilum is considerably eccentric ;
three stamens of the fruiting perianth are erect and three reflexed;
the corolla-lobes are acuminate and not nervose-costulate.

SABAL BLACKBURNIANA, Glazebrook in Loudon’s Gardener’s Mag.
V (1829), 54, cum ic. xylogr.; Roem. & Schult. Syst. Veg. VII, 1488;
Hemsley in Voy. Challenger, Botany I, 70, t. VI—IX (excel. syn, aliquibus)
Becc. in Webbia II (1907), 54.—Sabal palmetto (non Roem. & Schult.)
Rein in Bericht Senckenb. Naturforsch. Gesellsch., Frankfurt a. M. (1873)
150; J. Morris in Bull. Torrey Bot. Club (1885) 72.—Sabal Adansoni (non
Guers.) A. H. Moore, List of Pl. collect, in Bermuda 1906, et exsiccata no
3142 (ex Bece. 1. c.).—Sabal Mocint Hort., Riccobono in Boll. Soc. Ort.
Palermo (1904) 32.—Chamerops excelsa and Chamerops palmetto

_ Lefroy’s List Bermuda Pl. (ex. Hemsl. 1. ¢c.)—Chamerops glabra Jones,

Naturalist in Bermuda, 136 (ex. Hemsl.1.c.) nodes Blackburniana O. F.
Cook in Bull. Torrey Bot. Club (1901) 531.

Name.—Bermuda Palm.

Description.—Trunk stout, straight, columnar, cylindric, grow-
ing more than 40 feet high, 14 feet in diameter, annulate-cicatri-
cose. Leaves of adult plant very large, suborbicular, with numerous

390 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XX1.

seoments ; petiole 8 feet long and up to 22 inches broad in the
upper part, convex below, slightly concave above. Ligule up to
6 inches long, lanceolate, acuminate, with the margins involute.
Rhachis prolonged to close the apex of the limb and strongly
arcuate, with acute sides and winged in the lower part. Limb about:
as long as the petiole from the ligule to the apex of the central
seoments. The apical central segments much shorter and narrower
than the outermost ones; all are long-ensiform and deeply bipar-
tite; segments of the intermediate part of the sides 4 feet long
and 13 inches broad at the height of the sinuses; the primary:
sinuses are at about the lower third and the secondary ones towards:
the middle, with a rather strong filament in each of them.

Spadices shorter than the petioles of the leaves, thrice branched,
with rather dense partial inflorescences; secondary spathes tubu-
lar, narrowly infundibuliform, papyraceous-membranous, dry,
comparatively short, 21-31 inches long, obliquely truncate at
the mouth, where they are prolonged into a short, broad, triangu-
lar, acute or acuminate point, finely striate. Branches divided into |
various simple, flower-bearing branchlets ; peduncular part short,
much longer than the respective spathe, provided with its own tubular.
acutely bicarinate spathellule ; branchlets arising from the axil of
a short, broadly triangular, acute bract, flexuose, 4-6 inches long,
angular, 75-3 inch thick at the base, gradually alternate-subulate
towards the apex, not thickened when fruiting but with the
pulvinuli bearing the fruits slightly tuberculiform. , Flowers rela-
tively large, } inch long when in bud, oblong, rotundate above.
Calyx cupular or shortly tubular, slightly contracted at the throat,
with a broad and fleshy base, divided in the upper third into 3
broadly triangular lobes. Corolla a little more than thrice as long
as the calyx. Stamens inserted a little below the middle of the
corolla, relatively stout, subulate, very acute, acutely carinate along
the median line towards the apex; anthers sagittate, ovate, acute..
Ovary 1 inch long, slightly attenuate-conical towards the apex;
stigma capitellate.

Fruits (comprising the perianth 4-14 inch long and 3-4 inch
broad, obpyriform, with the apex regularly rotundate, alternate to
avather acute and symmetrical base; fruiting perianth small,.

THE PALMS OF BRITISH INDIA AND CEYLON, 591

reduced to the hardened calyx which is not accrescent; remains of
style slender and straight ; surface black; mesocarp fleshy, brown-
violaceous, $-4 inch thick; endocarp reduced to a very thin
pellicle. Seed. of the colour of roasted coffee, globose-depressed,
44-3 inch long and 4 inch broad, with the base flattened and
slightly concave; hilum almost central; embryo subdorsal, de-
scending and penetrating beyond the middle of the albumen. Often
2 ovules are developed and in this case the fruit is perfectly
didymous.

Hasirat.— Bermuda Islands.

UseEs.— Of the leaves of the Bermuda Palm hats, baskets, fans,
etc., are made.

CULTIVATION IN EurorE.—Sabal Blackburniania is one of the
finest species of the genus and is very ornamental in open places
where the tree is allowed to develop freely.

This species is easily distinguished by its large dimensions, by
the spadix which is shorter than the petioles of the leaves, and by

the large obpyriform fruits.

(To be continued. )

BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY’S
MAMMAL SURVEY OF INDIA.

Report By R. C. WRovuGHTON, F.Z.S.

COLLECTION We ee NO ied

Locaity is i ... Hast Khandesh.
DATE eins On sa ... March-May 1911.
COLLECTED BY ... aM. C. As Crump:

As this is the first report on ie Berit of the Mammal Survey,
a few words as to the reasons for, and objects of, the Survey will
not be out of place.

In 1758, Linnzeus published the tenth Edition of his “ Systema
Nature,”’ which, later, was formally accepted by common consent
as the Foundation Stone of Systematic Zoology. A great num-
ber, if not the larger proportion, of the animals included in that
work had never been seen by its author, who described them from
the writings of other naturalists, only accepting however such as
had been figured.

The Linnean ‘‘ Genera’ were almost as wide as what are now
called ‘‘ Families.” For instance, Simia embraced all the monkeys
from the African Chimpanzee to the American Marmoset, while
the genus Mus included such widely different forms as the Guinea
Pig, the Marmot, and the Flying Squirrel, as well as the Rats.

In proportion as communications improved and travelling be-
came easier, more specimens reached European Museums, and
zoologists came more and more to see the necessity for multiply-
ing species, yet nevertheless, under the influence of the accepted
theory of created species, it was not held to be an improbable
thing that a ‘‘species’’ should co-exist in most widely separated
parts of the world.

With the publication of Darwin’s Theory of Evolution it was
brought home to systematists, that further multiplication of
genera and species was necessary.

Turning now specially to Indian Systemic Mammalogy, we find
that during the middle third of the nineteenth century, quite a
number of men were working at the subject on the spot. Horsfield

MAMMAL SURVEY OF INDIA. 393

and Cantor in Malaya, Hodgson in Nepal, Hardwicke in what
is now the United Provinces, Sykes in the Dekhan, Elliot in the
Southern Mahratha Country, and Jerdon in Southern Madras
were all collecting and, to a greater or less extent, working out their
collections. Many others again, such as Hutton, Boys and Tytler
were also collecting, while Blyth in India, Gray at the British
Museum, and others were dealing with the material so collected.
An immense advance was made in the classification of the Oriental
Mammals and indeed all the obvious species were recognised,
named and recorded. The work was all however on pre-Dar-
winian lines, 1.¢e., the written descriptions dealt, for the most part,
only with salient characters and marked differences, very many of
which are now known to be almost generic. Moreover, distances
in those days were enormous and the distribution of literature
slow, and each man worked separately, so that over and over again,
in some cases the same animal, and commonly the same species
of animal from different localities, was described and named by two
or more workers.

In recent years it has been fully recognised that not only is it
necessary to classify the “‘ species,” but that it is equally or even
more important to systematically record geographical variations,
which when sufficiently multiplied may, in the future, furnish data
for the investigation of the problems of variation and distribu-
tion. ‘To this end it is necessary to examine, compare and record
not only well marked and striking differences, but even the most
trivial, provided such are fairly constant.

It will be seen from what I have said above, that the work of
the old systematists is useless to this end. Yet the necessarily
strict rule of priority in nomenclature, without which the confu-
Sion of names would render systematic Zoology absolutely useless,
makes it necessary that these old species should be all re-examined.
The types on which many were based, have been completely lost,
others are buried in Museums where reference to them is almost
impossible, while the residue in the National Collection are either
‘Spirit specimens in which all colour characters have been lost, or
Skin and skull specimens which have been for various periods stuffed
and exposed to the light, &c., until they are of but little more use

394 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXT.

It is clear then, that if any advance in the systematic Mamma-
logy of India is to be made, not only series of specimens of each
animal from each of a great number of different localities, in which
the local conditions differ, arenecessary but especially so from those
localities, whence came the specimens to which names were given
by the workers of the last century.

The only chance of obtaining such series of ‘ topotypes’ is a
systematic collection by an expert giving his whole time and
intelligence to the work. The Bombay Natural History Society.
recognising this, has organised a fund to meet the cost of a
Mammal ‘Survey’ of India. Mr. G. C. Shortridge, who has
already done good collecting work in Australia, Java, Borneo,
&c., has recently left England to take part in this survey. While
Mr. Crump, who was on the spot, has already begun work for the
Society, the first fruits being the Collection from E. Khandesh
with which this paper deals.

It is not expected nor intended that this survey shall cover the
whole field of mammalogy in India. Its object, as I have tried to»
show, is to obtain asolid framework foundation of knowledge on
which to build. The desirability of further collections by private:
individuals will not be lessened but increased, for we shall have
obtained data which will enable us to deal with specimens so:
collected. The observations of Field Naturalists are quite useless,
unless they can be associated with the exact name of the animal
under observation. J am insisting on this point because several
Members of the B. N. H. Society, of which I am myself a Life
Member and also one of the earliest recruits, have expressed.
to me disapproval of. the idea of the employment of paid
Collectors, which they held would take from private individuals.
an interesting hobby, whereas if rightly regarded, it will add
interest to their hobby. I trust that one result of this survey
will be to bring in many recruits to the study of Ae and.
also additional members to our Society.

It has been suggested to me that the preparation sad publica--
tion of provisional reports of the collections made will be waste of
time and money. With this view I cannot agree. If, as I trust,
a fair percentage of members come to take an interest in their

ony St ae
a .

MAMMAL SURVEY OF INDIA. 395

local mammalia, interim lists (even though provisional) should be

useful to them not only as showing what forms have been obtained

in any locality dealt with, but also what forms have not been

obtained. Our Collector, I fear, will not be able to help much with

vernacular names, habits or folklore; here residents can help
enormously by ascertaining and recording such in the Journal,

thus providing material for the Editor when Blanford’s Mammalia

comes to be revised.

In this and any of the following reports which it may fall to my

lot to write, I propose, after careful study of the references, to
discuss and deal with the synonymy given by Blanford in his

Fauna, the first time any species comes to be considered, but shall
not repeat this unless circumstances absolutely require it. Any
undoubtedly new species or sub-species (geographical races) |
propose to describe separately, if possible, in the same number of
the Journal merely giving the name anda reference back in the
‘“« Report.” :
The area in which the present Collection was made lies along .
the border where the Khandesh District marches with the Nizam’s
Territory. (The Bats were taken at the Ajanta Caves actually

within that Territory.) The boundary, for the most part, is a

range of low ghats covered with scrub jungle, the plains above
and below being mostly black alluvial soil, growing chiefly cotton
and jowari, with occasional patches of babhul forest—noticeably at
Ghodasgaum on the Purna River.

The collection is by no means completely representative, it
consists of 152 specimens (including 10 in spirit) which I have
been able to allot to 27 species in 23 genera.

The monkeys are represented by three specimens of the common
Langur. There is no specimen of the common Red Monkey. Of
Bats there are eight species mostly of quite common forms, which
were dealt with in my paper ‘‘Some Konkan Bats’ (Vol. XII,
p. 716, 1899), one, however, V'aphozous kachhensis, Dobson, has not,
I believe, been recorded since it was first found by Stoliczka forty
years ago.

The Insectivores are disappointing, being represented only by 3
Shrews. They are a most difficult group to classify and good

3896 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vo. XXT.

series of them are very badly wanted. Ofthe Tree Shrews (Zupaia)
and the Hedgehogs there are no specimens. Amongst the Carni-
vores the Cats are represented by a fine series of what is generally
known as Felis chaus, a name borrowed from a Caucasian species ;
the Viverride by 3 specimens of the Common Indian Mongoose
and the Dogs by specimens of the Striped Hyzena, the Jackal and
the Indian Fox, the two former seem to be Genera which vary but
little in different localities while the last includes many species ;
Several other species of each of these 3 Sub-Families are no doubt
obtainable in Khandesh. Rodents are more largely represented,
but by no means so fully as one could wish, there being no speci-
mens of several small forms which are gnite common and widely
spread. Among the specimens obtained are some specimens of a:
Hare which is so distinct a species that I have no hesitation in
describing it. ‘Two species were described nearly 100 years ago
from “ Bengal’? and ‘ Malabar’ respectively. In 1867 Jerdon
stated in his ‘‘ Mammalia of India”’ that these two species (ruji-
caudatus and nigricollis) occupied the whole of India from the foot
of the Himalayas to Ceylon (the former in the North and the
latter in the South), the dividing line being the Rivers Tapti and
Godavery. The present collection shows that this view is errone-
ous so far as the Khandesh Hare is concerned. Finally the
Ungulates are represented by specimens of Blackbuck and Chin-
kara; there are no specimens of the Muntjac, Four-horned Deer, or

Mouse Deer.
I trust I shall not be misunderstood in emphasising thus some

of the lacunze in this Collection, which I have done in the hope
that some resident member may make them good.

I think the Society owes a debt of gratitude to Mr. W.S. Millard
and Mr. N. B. Kinnear for the hard work which they have cheer-—
fully put in, in collecting funds for and organising this “ Survey. ”
I wish to offer the Society and them my personal congratulations
at the very promising results yielded by this the very first collec-
tion made, and my thanks for the privilege of being allowed to

work out the specimens obtained.
The Collectors’ notes, when given, will be found in square

brackets at the end of the description of the species.

MAMMAL SURVEY OF INDIA. 397

PRESBYTIS ENTELLUS, Dufr.

The Langur.

1797. Simia entellus, Dufresne. Bull. Soe. Phil., p. 49.

1843. ? Semnopithecus anchises, Blyth. J. A. S. B. XIII, p. 470.

1888. Semnopithecus entellus, Blanford. Mammalia No. 12.

6 40; 2 38, 39. Shendurni, EH. Khandesh.

The National Collection is very badly off for specimens of this group.
There is nothing which can with confidence be labelled entellus, a name
based on a Bengal specimen. As however the species is stated to extend
to Central India, the name must be used for the present. The forms
named anchises and leucopus are from the Mysore table land and the Mala-
bar Coast respectively, and until authentic representatives are available for
examination, we must remain very much in the dark as to the number of
distinct forms in this group.

LyRoDERMA LYRA, Geoff.
The Indian Vampire Bat.

1810. Megaderma lyra, Geoffroy. Ann. Mus. XV., p. 190.

1847. Eucheira lyra, Hodgson. J. A. 8. B. XVI, p. 891. (Gen. nom.

preoccupied.)

1872. Lyroderma lyra, Peters. M. B. Akad. Berl., p. 195.

1891. Megaderma lyra, Blanford. Mammalia No. 169.

2 185, 186. Ghodasgaum, EH. Khandesh. in al. 134. Ghodas-
gaum, EH. Khandesh.

In a paper on the Megaderms (A. M. N. H. XIX, 1907, p. 129) Dr. K.
Anderson and myself established a sub-species caurina. From the material
at our disposal we placed the boundary between true /yra and lyra caurina
at longitude 75°-77°. The present specimens, which are undoubtedly true
lyra, seem to have been taken right on this boundary line.

PIPISTRELLUS CEYLONICUS, Kel.
Kelaart’s Bat.

1852. Scotophilus ceylonicus, Kelaart. Prod. p. 22.

1878. Vesperugo indicus, Dobson. Cat. Chir. B. M., p. 222.

1891. Vesperugo ceylonicus, Blanford. Mammalia, No. 186.

9 77. Ajanta, Haidrabad Dekhan.

As recorded in my paper “‘ Some Konkan Bats” (B. N. H. S. Journ. XII,
p. 719, 1899) this species is quite common all down the West Coast from
Surat to Kanara, and I have taken it at Poona. Itis undoubtedly indicus
Dobson, and it is quite possible that when series from Ceylon are available
for comparison, Dobson’s name will have to be used, ceylonicus being limited
to the Ceylon form.

398 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol, XXI.

PIPISTRELLUS DORMERI, Dobs.
Dormer’s Bat.

1875. Scotozous dormeri, Dobson. P. Z.'8., p. 378.

1891. Nycticejus dormeri, Blanford. Mammalia No. 193.

2 55, 78, Ajanta in al. ¢ 57,58. Haidarabad Dekhan.

The type came from Bellary. Mr. Thomas dealt with this species in his
paper in our Journal (Vol. XI), 1897, and I gave some notes on it two
years later in my paper “Some Konkan Bats” (Vol. XII, p. 718). Later
still I found it quite common everywhere. Its resemblance to other
pipistrelles no doubt caused it to be overlooked in earlier days.

PIPISTRELLUs MiIMuS, Wroughton.
The Southern dwarf Pipistrelle.

1891. Vesperugo abranius, Blanford. Mammalia No. 187 (partim).

1899. Pipistrellus mimus, Wroughton. Journ. B. N. H. 8. Vol. XII,
p. 722.
g 87 (imal.) . . . Bhodwad, KE. Khandesh.

Hitherto only recorded from the Surat District. I have however taken it
above Ghats in Khandesh, and at Poona and as far South as Kanara. It
is probably widely distributed, but owing to its close resemblance to the
common ‘ V. abramus’ (Blanford No. 187) has been overlooked.

ScoroPHILUS KUHLI, Leach.
The Common Yellow Bat.

1822. Scotophilus kuhli, Leach. Trans. Linn. Soc. XII, p. 72.
1891. Nycticejus kuhli, Blanford. Mammalia No. 194 (partim).
6 74, Ajanta, Haidarabad Dekhan.
¢ 94. Bhodwad, E. Khandesh.

The type of kuhli is a quite young specimen of which the type localityvis
unknown. The synonymy in Blanford’s ‘“ Mammalia” entirely disappears,
thus :—

V. temminckt of Horsfield is a Javan animal of which the British
Museum has a fine series, and castaneus, Hors. is Malayan. The
remaining names represent bats which may be placed in 4 groups by
the length of the forearm as follows (F. A. in Awhli is 62) :-—

1831. 8S. heatht. Horsfield, is the 8. Indian form. F. A. 65 and over.

1834. SS. belangeri, Is. Geoff. = 1851, luteus, Bl. = 1851. flaveolus, Horsf.

F. A. 58.

1897. SS. wroughton, Thos. F. A. 50.

The two specimens sent differ very considerably in coloration, but until
series are available, it is impossible to say how much of this variation is
individual, sexual, seasonal or racial.

MAMMAL SURVEY OF INDIA. 399:

[I spent one day in the Ajanta Caves looking for bats. There appear to
be only two species inhabiting these caves as per specimens obtained.
Many thousands find a resting place here, and when alarmed utter shrill
screams and a peculiar croaking noise. The sexes were not apart at this
time, but as a rule I did not find both species in the same cave. There
were no young.—C, A. C.]|

ScOTOPHILUS WROUGHTONI, Thos.
Wroughton’s Bat.

1897. Scotophilus wroughtont, Thomas. B. N. H.S. Journ. XI, 2, p. 275,
6 83. Bhodwad, E. Khandesh.

The type specimen was taken by me in the Surat Dist. Later I obtained
specimens on the Coast and Ghats as far south as the Satara Dist. and
Mr, Coplestone, I. F. 8., took it in Kanara, but this is the first specimen
taken so far from the sea.

TAPHOZOUS MELANOPOGON, Temm.
The Black-bearded sheath-tailed Bat.

1841. Taphozous melanopogon, Temminck. Mon. Mamm. II., p. 287.

1841. Taphozous bicolor, Temminck. |. c., p. 290.

1891. Taphozous melanopogon, Blanford. Mammalia No. 218.

3 62, 63, 71, 2 61, 64, in al. 65, 66, 67. Ajanta Caves, Haidar-
abad Dekhan.

There is not a good collection of specimens of this species in the British
Museum. Within our boundaries it is represented only by two or three
isclated specimens, and a fine series taken by Mr. E. Comber in the
Kennery Caves.

The type locality of melanopogon is the Bantam District in Java. Tem-
minck, however, also described a species Jicolor from Calcutta, but whether
identical or not with the present specimens we need a series from the type
locality to decide.

TAPHOZOUS KACHHENSIS, Dobs.
The Cutch sheath-tailed Bat.

1872. Taphozous kachhensis, Dobson. P. A. 8. B., p. 152.

1891. Taphozous kachhensis, Blanford. Mammalia No. 221.

3 60, 73. 2 59, 70, 72, in al. 69, 75, 76. Ajanta Caves,
Haidarabad Dekhan.

The British Museum possesses only one specimen of this bat, a spirit
specimen, bleached quite white. While there is no doubt of the correct-
ness of this specific identification of these specimens, it may well be that
they are a distinct local race ; this however cannot be decided until a topo-

type series of skin specimens is available for comparison.
13

400 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

PACHYURA SPP.

Shrews.
6 47. Shendurni, E. Khandesh.
© 58. Fardapur, Haidarabad Dekhan.
© 52. Fardapur, Haidarabad Dekhan.

In the present state of our knowledge of the Indian Shrews it is useless
to try and assign names to stray specimens. I have given considerable
study to the small amount of material available, and the only sure result
[ have obtained is that all individuals from the plains of India belong to
the Genus Pachyura, while all Himalayan forms are Crocidura. In the
present case the coloration of the 2 Fardapur specimens is identical, yet
they, I believe, are undoubtedly different species, while No. 47 9g from
Shendurni is the same species as No. 53 9 from Fardapur. This I gather
from the proportions of the body and the size of the teeth.

FELIS AFFINIS, Gray.

The Jungle Cat.

1830. Felis affinis, Gray and Hardwicke. III, Ind. Zool. L., pl. 5.

1832. Felis kutas, Pearson. J. A. 8. B. 1, p. 75.

1836. Felis (Lynchus) erythrotus, Hodgson. J. A. 8S. B. v, p. 255.

1844. Felis yacquemonti, I. Geoffroi. Jacq. Voy., IV, p. 58.

1888. Fels chaus, Blanford. Mamalia No. 41.

2 8. Jalgaum, EH. Khandesh.

3 45,49, 9 41. Shendurni, H. Khandesh.

3 102, 9 95. EHdalabad, EK. Khandesh.
Local name—Lan Billi.

Felis chaus was described from the Caspian Sea. In 1898, Mr. de
Winton studied this group of Cats and recognised 2 subspecies of chaus,
viz., nilotica and furax, from Egypt and Palestine respectively, and affinis
from India. The two former are at once distinguishable by their teeth,
which are much larger and stouter than in true chaus. Mr. de Winton
distinguishes affinis from typical chaus by “its rather longer tail, bright
fox-red ears, and lighter build.” He adds “The skull is narrower and the
teeth are not nearly so heavy.” Ihave measured the upper carnassial in
a specimen from the Caucasus, and find it to be 15 x 7°5.

In two specimens from Persia and Seistan these dimensions are practi-
cally the same, in a specimen from Gangutri, the type locality of affinis,
these dimensions are 13 x 6. In a series of skulls from the Punjab,
Rajputana, Central India, Khandesh, Poona, Nepal, &c., I have not found
one with a larger carnassial than this, while some are appreciably smaller.
There can be no sort of doubt that the Indian form is quite distinct from

MAMMAL SURVEY OF INDIA. 401

the typical chaus, from the Caspian Sea, and I cannot see any advantage
in perpetuating the name chaus for the Indian form.

The type locality of affinis is Gangutri while the type of jacquemonti
came from Kedernath,—Hodgson’s erythrotus is the Nepal form, while utas
was described by Pearson from Midnapur.

Gangutri and Kedernath are so close to one another that we may fairly

_ assume that affinis and jacquemontu are the same animal, most probably its
; range extends to the highlands of Nepal, and thus it is also identical with
: erythrotus. Whether the lowland Nepal form is different from affinis? and
is or is not the same as kutas from Midnapur ? and whether kutas repre-
sents the Madras form? or whether the last is again different? are

questions which must be left to be solved, it is to be hoped, by the later
collections of this Survey.

[SHENDURNI.—The Betel leaf is much grown here in gardens enclosed in
walls of grass tattis frequently 15 ft. high. These gardens, which are almost
incessantly watered by canals and frequently surrounded by plots of bananas,
make excellent and cool cover for Cats and Jackals. I posted myself ina

- convenient spot and had excellent views of the Cats that were driven out,
among which were specimens 41, 45 and 49. When being driven and so
long as there is cover the Cat exhibits no haste or fear but moves with the
utmost stealth and caution, a splendid example of the art of concealment.

_ These Cats live on small birds, rats and also fowls which they will seize
within sight of the owner, as a rule about sunset, and during the day they
lie up in these gardens, in hedges or in trees. They will not leave their
hiding place until compelled—C. A. C.]|

Mouneos muneo, Gmel.

The Common Indian Mungoose.
1788. Viverra mungo, Gmelin. Syst. Nat. L., p. 84.
1792. Viverra nems, Kerr. Anim. Kingd., p. 160.
1812. Ichneumon edwardsi, Geoffroy. Descr. Egypt, p. 139.
1812. Ichneumon griseus, Geoffroy. 1. ¢.
1823. Herpestes frederict, Desmarest. Dict. Sc. Nat. XXIX, p. 69.
1829. Herpestes malaccensis, Fischer. Syn. Mamm,, p. 164.
1836. Mangusta (Herpestes) nyula, Hodgson. J. A. 8. B. V., p. 236.
1841. Herpestes pallidus, Wagner. Schreb. Saug. Supp. IL., p. 311.
1888. Herpestes mungo, Blanford. Mammalia No. 60.
2 9. Parola, E. Khandesh.
¢ 36. Shendurni, EK. Khandesh.
6 54. Fardapur, Ajunta, E. Khandesh,
The type locality of mungo is not expressly stated by Gmelin, but as the
name is based on the Portuguese name of the animal, we may fairly accept
_ the southern West Coast as such.

402 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XX1I.

[SuHenpDuRNI.—Here, as in the other parts of Khandesh that I have visited.
Mongooses appear to be by no means common. My experience of the
Mongoose is that if he is about he will soon show himself running boldly in
the open near native huts and roundstacks. I enquired everywhere and
the local men immediately offer to show me some but rarely succeed and
express wonder that on that particular morning or evening no mongoose
showed himself. Of course it might be that while I am watching one side
of a wall or stack the Mungoose is on the other, but this is unlikely to be
always the case. I have seen several in the neighbourhood and on some
cultivated land about a mile from human habitation.—C. A. C.]

Hyana Hymna, L.
The Striped Hyena.

1758. Canis hyena, Linneeus. Syst. Nat. X., Edn., p. 40.

1780. Hyena striata, Zimmermann. Geog. Gesch. II., p. 256.

1888. Hyena striata, Blanford. Mammalia No. 66.

6 149, 153 ; 2 183. \Ghodasgaum, E. Khandesh.
Local name— Tarras.

Mr. Thomas has recently pointed out (P. Z. 8. 1911, p. 134) that hyena,
L., must be used for striata, Zimm. The type came from the Benna
Monntains near Bunder Abbas in the Persian Gulf. In the absence of a
topotype I have compared this series with specimens from Smyrna, Aden,
and Somaliland, and can find no marked difference. Somali specimens do
not seem to have the dorsal crest blackened to the same extent as the
others. Indian specimens seem to have the teeth a trifle stouter.

CANIS AUREUS, L.
The Jackal.

1758. Canis aureus, Linneus. Syst. Nat. X. Ed., p. 40.

1833. Canis aureus indicus, Hodgson. As. Res. XVIII., p. 237.

1888. Canis aureus, Blanford. Mammalia No. 69.

2 31. Bhadgaum, E. Khandesh.

¢ 56. (imm.) Fardapur, E. Khandesh.

3g 82. (no skull) Jamner, EH. Khandesh.

3g 155. 2 139. (no skull) Ghodasgaum, EH, Khandesh.
Local name— Koela.

Linnzeus’ name was based on a description and picture by Koempfer of an
animal he found on the Benna Mountains in the Province of Lar, 8. Persia.
The Society has only recently been able to obtain two good specimens.
from Bunder Abbas which may be taken as typical aureus. The present
specimens are distinguishable from the typical by skull and tooth charac-
ters, but whether they are so from indicus, Hodgson, cannot be decided

until Bengal specimens are available for comparison.

MAMMAL SURVEY OF INDIA. 403

VULPES BENGALENSIS, Shaw.

The Indian Fox.

1800. Canis bengalensis, Shaw. Gen. Zool. I., p. 330.

1831. Canis kokree, Sykes. P.Z.S., p. 101. ;

1833. Canis rufescens, Gray and Hardwicke. III. Ind. Zool. IL., p. 3.

1833. Canis (Vulpes) indicus, Hodgson. As. Res. XVIII. pt. 2, p. 237.

1837. Vulpes hodgsoni, Gray. Charl. Mag. N. H. 1, p. 578.

1888. Vulpes bengalensis, Blanford. Mammalia No. 72.

¢ 32. 92 30. Bhadgaum, HE. Khandesh.
Local name— Koka.

The present specimens undoubtedly represent Canis kokree, Sykes, whose
type locality was “ Dukhun,” but whether they are separable from rufescens
and true bengalensis there is no sufficient material available to me on which
to decide.

The first and last three synonyms, above, probably represent the same
animal, unless the Fox of the United Provinces is different from that of
Bengal in which case rufescens must be used for the former.

Jatgaon.—I also put up a Fox, reddish in colour and with a very pro-
nounced white tip to his tail, after consulting “‘Blanford ” I presume this
must have been Vulpes leucopus, it appeared larger than No. 30 which was
collected later.

I met Mr. Jenkins (Police Superintendent) here (Fardapur), and he asserts
that he has occasionally in Khandesh observed foxes with the tails tipped
white which bears out my own observation.

[WapGaon AND BHapgaon.—On an isolated hill I trapped a fox and from
the condition of the mammee I judged she had just reared a litter of cubs,
so the “ earth” which had two openings was opened and found to be about
5 feet long, both passages leading to the nest; however, it contained no cubs,
so I had a further look round and found another “ earth’ on the opposite
side of the hill, I concluded this was the bore of the S$ and perhaps where
the cubs had hidden, so trapped and caught one cub. The “earth” had
6 outlets and several runs from 4 to 6 ft. long and all but one converging to
a centre chamber, one run started from the centre and going straight for a
few feet turned sharply into a hollowed out chamber. The earth was
empty except for the remains of a hare.—C. A. C.|

FUNAMBULUS PENNANTI, Wrought.
The Common Five-striped Squirrel.
1891. Sciurus palmarum, Blanford. Mammalia No. 253 (part).
1905. Funamulus pennanti, Wroughton. Journ., B.N.H.S., p. 411.
g 2,38. Parola, E. Khandesh.
? 34, 35. Pachora, E. Khandesh,
2 46, (no skull). Shendurni, E, Khandesh.

404. JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXT,.

Local name— ¢ Kargoota, 2 Kargooti.

I obtained the type of this species in the Mandvi Taluka of Surat, and
at the same time a specimen of palmarum. All the specimens now sent are
typical pennanti, it seems that palmarum, the southern form, runs up further
north in the Konkan than above Ghats.

[SHENDURNI.—Palm squirrels are plentiful everywhere andthe specimen
No. 46 had a nest composed of sticks and grass and lined with cotton
hair and bits of rag. J was watching the movements of these squirrels one
‘day and noticed that they drove all crows from the ground near their
particular tree, but made no attack upon doves which were feeding along
with the crows and moreover the doves made no attempt to move while this.
was going on.—C. A. C.|

TaTERA INDICA, Hardw.
The Indian Gerbil.

1807. Dipus indicus, Hardwicke. Linn. Trans. VIII, p. 279.

1891. Gerbillus indicus, Blanford, Mammalia No. 264 (part).

1906. Tatera indica, Wroughton. A.M. N.H. XVII, p. 497.

3g 1. Jalgaum, E. Khandesh.
6 4, 5, 6, 14, 16,17, 20; 2 11, 12, 13) lb, 18) 2 eamolaresere
Khandesh.
3 22,29; 2 23, 24,28. Bhadgaum, EH. Khandesh.
Q 44, Shendurni, E. Khandesh.
3 80 (imm.) Jamner, EH. Khandesh. Je
2 88 (imm.) Bhodwad, E. Khandesh.
6 100,101. Edalabad, E. Khandesh.
Local name— g Undir; Q Undirr.

The type locality of zzdicus is not exactly known but all Hardwicke’s
names are based mainly on specimens from the United Provinces. Blan-
ford includes cuvier?, Waterhouse, in the synonymy of endzcus, but it is a.
quite well marked distinct species, known only from the extreme south
of Madras (Tinniveli, Madura) until quite recently, when the British
Museum received specimens from Mr. G. 8. Hardy, I.C.S., taken in the

tatnagiri District.

[Gerbilles, as specimens herewith, are very common here. The entrance
to the burrow is as a rule very large and very distinct, paths perfectly
straight, lead from one burrow to another and out towards the feeding
grounds, these must be traversed a great many times every night for the
grass is often completely away. The Bhils dig these rats out regarding
them as an article of food and asthe flesh is rather white and sweet
smelling I have no doubt they are good eating. The burrows I dug out

ig
ci

MAMMAL SURVEY OF INDIA. 405

were circular in design covering a space in diameter from 4 to 5 yards,
jhe runs are in much the same plane as a rule about 12 or 18 inches below
the surface, many terminating in store chambers but containing very little
grain now. Mr. Simcox informs me that during the last famine the Bhils
made a practice of opening up these store chambers for the sake of the
grain stowed away.—C. A. C.]
EPIMYS RUFESCENS, Gray.
The Common Indian Rat.
1837. Mus rufescens, Gray. Charl. Mag. N. H.1., p. 585.
1891. Mus rattus, Blanford. Mammalia No. 272 (part).
@ 19.. Parola, E. Khandesh.
6 25, 27 (imm.) 2 26. Bhadgaum, E. Khandesh.
3 150; 2 106. Ghodasgaum, E. Khandesh.

Without protracted study of material, which at present is not available,
it is impossible to sort out the synonymy given by Blanford under “ Mus
rattus.” The earliest available name for Indian rattus however is rufescens.
Gray, in his description, records that the tail is shorter than the head and
body, a statement which was based ona stuffed specimen in the Indian
House Museum; this type specimen is now in the National Collection and
has been unstuffed and the tail is certainly not shorter than the head
and body. There are specimens in the British Museum from the United
Provinces, and I have taken others at Dharwar which agree quite fairly
with the present series. The most convenient course, therefore, is to accept,
rufescens provisionally as the name of the Indian form of rattus.

Mus muscutus, L.

The Common House Mouse.
1766. Mus musculus. L. Syst. Nat. XII, p. 85.
1891. Mus Musculus, Blanford. Mammalia No. 282 (part).
_ 2 7. Parola, E. Khandesh.

The present specimen is a rather young individual and comes undoubt-
edly of imported stock.

I have not gone into the synonymy given by Blanford which is extremely
complicated ; it will be time enough when we have some series of Indian
forms to deal with.

LEGGADA PLATYTHRIX, Benn.

The Dekhan Spiny Mouse.
1832. Mus platythiiv, Bennett. P. Z.8., p. 121.
1839. Mus saxicola, Elliot. Madr. Journ. L. & 8. X., p. 215,
1854.. Mus spinulosus, Blyth. J. A. 8. B. XXIII, p. 734.
1891. Mus platythria, Blanford. Mammalia No, 289.
3 (imm.) 97; © (no skull) 96. Edalabad, E. Khandesh.

406 J O URNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX.

Bennett’s type specimen was collected by Col. Sykes in “Dukhun,”
probably at or near Poona, savicola, Elliot, from Dharwar, and spinulosa,
Blyth, from Punjaub are probably separable forms. It is unfortunate the
present specimens are such poor ones, a good series from Khandesh would
have been of great value.

LeccGaDa BoopuGa, Gray.
The Southern Field-Mouse.

1887. Leggada booduga, Gray. Charl. Mag. N. H. L., p. 586.

1839. Mus lepidus, Klliott. Madr. Mag. L. and S. X., p. 216.

1851. Mus terricolor, Blyth. J. A. S. B. XX, p. 172.

1852. Mus fulvidiventris, Blyth. J. A. 8. B. XXI, p. 351.

1852. Mus albidiventris, Blyth. 1. c.

1866. Mus beavanii, Peters, P. Z.8., p, 559.

1891. Mus booduga, Blanford. Mammalia No. 287.

9 48. Shendurni, EK. Khandesh.
2 86,90. Bodvad, EK, Khandesh.
3 108, 147,148; 2 103,151. Ghodasgaum, E. Khandesh.

The type of booduga was taken by Elliot in Dharwar District and is
certainly the same as lepidus, Elliot, terricolor, Blyth, came from the same
locality and is also probably identical; fulvidiventris, Blyth, came from
Trincomalee. I took some specimens at Ootacamund which seem to answer
to Blyth’s description, and which are, I think, a variety of Mus musculus ;
alidiventris and beavani came from Calcutta and Manbhoom respectively
and are probably identical, but whether they are distinct from booduga or
not, there is no sufficient evidence to decide. Pending receipt of topo-type
series of booduga with which to compare them I rank them as booduga.
The British Museum has a series of ‘booduga’ from Ahmednagar collected
by the Rev. Mr. Fairbank from which the present specimens do not seem
to differ to any appreciable extent. .

MILLARDIA MELTADA, Gray.
The Soft-furred Field Rat.
1837. Golunda meltada, Gray. Charl. Mag. N. H. L., p. 568.
1839. Mus mettada, Elliot. Mad. Journ. L. andS. X p. 94 (no
description).
1839. Mus lanuginosus, Elliot. l.c. p. 212.
1891. Mus mettada, Blanford. Mammalia, No. 290.
1911. Millardia meltada, Thomas. Journ. Bom. N. H. S. XX, p. 990.
g juv. 85, 2 juv. 89. Bhodvad, HK. Khandesh.
@ 104. Godasgaum, K. Khandesh.
In his original description, Gray gives the type locality as “Inhabits
Bombay,” but in the same paper he also describes Golunda elllioti, and
Legyada booduga, assigning to them the same type locality.

MAMMAL SURVEY OF INDIA, © 407

The use of Elliot’s name and the fact that most of these names are
based upon Kanarese words, shows clearly that the species were based
on Elliot’s specimens, and we may therefore confidently accept Elliot’s
statement that they all came from the “Mulnad,” in Dharwar District.
In Vol. XVII, 1907, I described in this Journal (p. 998) 2 species, combert
and distoni of this genus, from Nasik and Colaba respectively.

I have since been convinced that some of the Nasik specimens, which I
then thought might be true meltada, are nothing of the sort, but are
combert. Both comberi and listont have comparatively coarse, harsh hair,
while true mel/tada has it very silky and soft.

Unfortunately only one of the specimens in this collection is adult,
but itis enough to show that it belongs to the soft haired meltada group
and not to the more harsh haired combert from the adjoining district of
Nasik. Specimens in the British Museum collected by the Rev. Mr.
Fairbank at Ahmednagar show that in that District too, the meltada type
is the representative of the genus.

GUNOMYS KOK, Gray.
The Southern Mole-Rat.
1837. Mus kok, Gray. Charl. Mag.N. H. I., p. 585.
1839. Mus (Neotoma) providens, Elliot. Madr. Journ. L. and 8S. X,
p. 210.
1891. Nesocia hengalensis, Blanford. Mammalia No. 295 (part).
1908. Gunomys kok, Wroughton. Journ. B. N. H. 8S. XVIII, p. 747.
3 10. Parola, E. Khandesh.
G2 ives Loma. BO IA 1S. LO) av, 120 uv, Lae
juv., 124, 125, 126, 127, 128 juv., 129, 131 juv.
@ 109, 110, 115, 121 juv., 122 juv., 130, 132 juv., Godasgaum,
K. Khandesh.

Local name— Mugair.

The types of both kok and providens were taken by Elliot at or near
Dharwar.

I dealt with this species in this journal quite recently (1. c. supra). This
series seems to show no important variation from Ahmednagar specimens.

GOLUNDA ELLIOTI, Gray.
The Indian Bush Rat.

1837. Golunda elioti, Gray. Charl. Mag. N. H.1., p. 585.

1839. Mus golundi, Elliot. Madr. Journ. L. and S. X., p. 94 (no

description).

1839. Mus hirsutus, Elliot. 1. c. p. 2138.

1876. Pelomys watsoni, Blanford. P.A.S. B., X. p. 181.

1891. Golunda ellioti, Blanford. Mammalia No. 299.

Q 42. Shendurni, E. Khandesh.
14

408. JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol, X11.

3 84. Bhodvad, E. Khandesh.

d 146. Ghodasgaum, E. Khandesh.
Gray gives the type locality as “Bombay,” but as I have pointed out
under M. meltada there isno doubt that the type came from the Dharwar
District and golund: and hirsutus of Elliot are true synonyws.

Mus myothrive of ‘Hodgson of which the type is in the British Museum
( a mutilated flat skin) will, when again found, probably prove to be a dis-
tinet species.

Pelomys watsoni, Blanford, is based on 2 specimens “ from the southern
extremity of the Khirthar range, about 50 miles north-west of Kotri.” The
British Museum possesses 2 skin specimens from the Habb Valley, when a
series of topotypes are available it will probably be found that Blanford’s
name must be revived for the Sind form of edoti. The British Museum has
a specimen of coffeus furnished by Kelaart himself which shows that
the Ceylon form is distinct from elliot: ; newera may or may not be the
same as coffeus, but it is certainly distinct from elliott?, The type
localities of coffeus and newera are Kandy District and Newara Eliya
respectively.

HystRix LEucuRA, Sykes.
The Indian Porcupine.

1831. Hystrix leucurus, Sykes. P. Z.S., p. 105.
1835. Hystrix cristata indica, Gray and Hardwicke. Ill. Ind. Zool.
II. pl. 14.

1851. Aystriv zeylonensis, Blyth. J. A.S. B. XX, p. 171.

1865. Hystrivx malabarica, Sclater. P. Z.S., p. 353.

1891. Hystriv leucura, Blanford. Mammalia No. 3515.

¢ 104a, 105 (imm.), 107 (imm.). Ghodasgaum, E. Khandesh.

Local name—Sazl.

Sykes described Jewcura from “ Dukhun.” Good adult skulls of the
common porcupine are a great desideratum, but skins are not of great
value.

[GHopascaon.—lI have done a good deal of tramping to find Porcupine’s
earths but find that all those anywhere near the village have been smoked
out, this is done by a wandering tribe called Jinga Bhui. Damp grass is
ignited and pushed as far in the hole as possible and the aperture then closed
up till the Porcupines are suffocated when a man crawls in and fetches
out the animals. There were none of this tribe near Ghodasgaon at
this time and the Bhils would not do the work. Nearly all the Porcupines’
earths I have seen have had four or five entrances, two or three openings
being very large and the rest much smaller, a great quantity of earth is

MAMMAL SURVEY OF INDIA, 409

thrown up and the entrances are frequently strewn with bones and
dropped Sambur or Chital horns which are much gnawed by the Porcu-
pines. In one case 1 found a Porcupine’s hole in a perpendicular bank
and in order to get to the upper level more easily the animals had dug
a trench, the extraordinary part about it was that the channel had been
dug so clean and square as to give the idea that spades had been used
for the purpose, other pathways had been cut, but with less precision.
I find Porcupines are easily taken in the ordinary Dorset or Gin traps
but the traps I was using, being rather small, the full grown Porcupines
always got away by either bending the trap jaws or by merely pulling
the foot out leaving behind a toe anda good deal of skin which appears
to slide easily from the foot; in one case the entire foot was left in the trap.
Only well padded jaws will hold the young, the skin and bones are so
soft that a toothed trap cuts right through. I found a path well trodden
by Porcupines leading to the river so dug a pit near the water and
watched for several nights. The moon was young and having seen nothing
Lhad to return to camp about mid-night, only to find on the following
mornings that Porcupines had been to drink water after I had left. Later
on I sat up all night and found they came to the water about 3-30 to
4am. but the moon having gone down they were very difficult to see.
I could hear one rattling his quills and could just miake him out with
spines erect looking like a great prickly ball and surrounded by a family
of young pigs. I tried a shot with surprising results for besides slaying
the Porcupine I must have peppered several young pigs for with terrific
squeals they rushed about cannoning violently into each other and with
the old boar and sow, making no attempt at first to clear off. I did not
feel particularly comfortable in my hollow 20 yards away. I have no
doubt the Porcupine was responsible for some of the noise because I have
since found that when hit he squeals very much like a pig. The Shikari
here asserts that the hollow quills in the tail are used for carrying water
to the young.—C. A. C.]

Lepvus simcoxi, Wrought.
The Khandesh Hare.

1912. Lepus simcori, Wroughton. Journal, B. N. H.58., supra p. 338.
9 51. Fardapur, E. Khandesh.
3 98 ;2 99 (type). Edalabad, E. Khandesh.
© 142 ;3137. Ghodasgaum, HE. Khandesh.

This Hare differs markedly in appearance from any other Indian Hare.
The grey nape so different from the black of ntgricolls and the fulvous of
ruficaudatus catches the eye atonce. The blue black scut too is in strong
contrast to the brown of the other two species.

The type No. 99 has been presented to the National Gaileaean

410 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XX1.

ANTILOPE CERVICAPRA, IL,

The Black-buck.
1766. Capra cervicapra, Linneus. Syst. Nat., p. 96.
1850. Antilope bezoartica, Gray. P.Z.S., p. 117.
1891. Antilope cervicapra, Blanford. Mammalia No. 357.
3 91. Bhodwad, E. Khandesh.
¢ i042. Ghodasgaum, E. Khandesh.

GAazELLA BENNETTII, Sykes.

The Indian Gazelle.
1831. Antilope bennettii, Sykes. P.Z.S8., p. 104.
1842. Gazella christii, Blyth. J. A. S. B. XI, p. 452.
1844, Antilope hazenna, Is. Geoffroy. Jacq. Voy. Ind. IV., p. 74.
1891. Gazella bennett, Blanford. Mammalia No. 359.
g 81. Jamner, E. Khandesh.
© 43. Shendurni, EK. Khandesh.
These specimens no doubt represent true dennetti ; Blyth’s christ: cama
from Cutch or 8, Sind and Geoffroy’s hazenna from Malwa. Whether they
are distinct forms I have no specimens on which to base an opinion.

411
THE MOTHS OF INDIA.

SUPPLEMENTARY PAPER TO THE VOLUMES IN
“THE FAUNA OF BRITISH INDIA.”
SERIES IV, PART III.

Sir Georce F. Hampson, Barr., F.z.s., F.E.S.
(Continued from paye 1083 of Volume XX.)

Genus BRYoPHILa. Type.
Pecilia, Schrank, Fauna Boica ii (2), p. 157 (1802), nee.

Bl. Sch. Pisces 1801 .. a .. muralis.
Bryophila, Treit. Schmett. Eur. v (1), p. 57 (1825) .. muralis.
Metachrostis, Hiibn. Verz., p. 204 (1827) £1 .. muralis.
Euthales, Hiibn. Verz., p. 205 (1827) .. i. .. alge.
Cryphia, Hiibu. Verz., p. 205 (1827) .. ih .. receptricula,
Jaspidea, Hiibn. Tent., ined .. He : .. alge.

A, Forewing with the postmedial line ately dentate
or waved.
a. Forewing with the claviform filled in with whitish.
a. Forewing with the medial shade interrupted in
submedian interspace si be .. nilgiria.
6‘, Forewing with the medial shade not interrupted
in submedian interspace.
a, Forewing with the antemedial line oblique .._ albiclava.
6°. Forewing with the antemedial lie erect .. pokophec.
6. Forewing with the claviform not filled in with
whitish.
a’, Hindwing with the ground-colour yellow .. deceptuia.
&. Hindwing with the ground-colour not yellow.
a, Forewing with the cilia chequered white and
blackish.
a. Forewing with the postmedial line incurved

at discal fold i a .. lichenea.
6®. Korewing with the postmedial line not i
incurved at discal fold ae . thterata.
6?, Forewing with the cilia not chequered ae
and black.

a. Forewing ochreous suffused with fuscous.
a*. Hindwing wholly suffused with brown .. modesta.
b*, Hindwing white, the terminal area suf-

fused with brown .. aye re ochrophea,

412 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XX.

b?, Forewing more or less tinged with green or
olive as me 4 .. virescens.

B. Forewing with the postmedial line not dentate or

waved.
a. Forewing with the postmedial line oblique or
slightly incurved below vein 4 oe D2 ROVUUE
b. Forewing with the postmedial line strongly incurv-
ed below vein 4... et y. .. ochrota.

1976. BrYOPHILA NILGIRIA.

1976a. BRryoPHILA ALBICLAVA.

Bryophila albiclava, Hmpsn., Cat. Lep. Phal. B. M. vu, p.
622, pl. 122, f. 11 (1908).

2. Head and thorax white; palpi and antenne blackish ; frons with
black patch ; tegule and patagia edged with black; legs irrorated
with brown, the tarsi blackish ringed with white ; abdomen pale-yellowish
brown. Forewing white with a faint bluish tinge and sparsely irrorated
with black-brown ; subbasal line black, double, waved, extending to inner
margin, with black-brown suffusion before and beyond it on costa;
antemedial line double oblique, waved, the inner line interrupted ;
claviform white defined by black; orbicular and reniform large, white
defined by black except above, the former with black-brown centre defined
by black, round, conjoined to antemedial line, the latter with small black
lunule on inner side of centre; medial area black-brown to the indistinct
curved minutely waved medial line ; postmedial line double, slightly bent
outward below costa, then dentate, excurved to vein 4, then strongly
incurved, the costal area beyond it black-brown with some white points
on costa ; subterminal line black-brown, angled outwards above and below
vein 6, incurved at discal fold to postmedial line, slightly excurved at
middle, then angled inwards at submedian fold and outward at vein 1; a
terminal series of small black lunules; cilia chequered black-brown and
white. Hindwing white tinged with reddish brown ; a faint discoidal spot,

curved postmedial line, and diffused subterminal band ; a terminal series’

of slight dark lunules; the underside white tinged with brown, the
costal and terminal area irrorated with brown, a blackish discoidal spot and
faint curved postmedial line.

Habitat.—Kasumir, Gorrais Valley. vp. 56 mill.

19760. BRYOPHILA POLIOPHZA.

Bryophila poliophea, Hmpsn., Cat. Lep. Phal. B. M. vu, p. 622,
pl. 122, f. 12 (1908).

Head and thorax whitish mixed with olive-brown and irrorated with
black ; palpi blackish, the extremity of 2nd joint white; antennz black ;
tegule and patagia edged with black; tarsi blackish rmged with white ;
abdomen grey-white suffused with brown, Forewing whitish tinged with

THE MOTHS OF INDIA. 413

pale olive-green and irrorated with fuscous ; subbasal line black defined
by white on outer side, oblique, waved, from costa to vein 1, with a small
black spot beyond it in cell and some fuscous suffusion on costal and

- immer areas; antemedial line double, black filled in with white, the lines

well separated and the inner line indistinct, slightly sinuous ; claviform -
pale defined by black, with a short white streak defined by black above
its extremity on median nervure; orbicular, a minute black annulus;

reniform an oblique black bar; traces of an oblique minutely waved:

black line from lower angle of cell to inner margin; the medial area

suffused with fuscous; postmedial line double filled in with whitish,
slightly bent outwards below costa, then minutely waved, obliquely
excurved to vein 4, then strongly incurved, some fuscous suffusion beyond
it on costal area with white points on costa; subterminal line very indis-
tinct, blackish, minutely waved, angled outwards at vein 7 and incurved at
discal fold and below vein 3; a terminal series of minute black lunules :
cilia chequered brownish-white and fuscous. Hindwing whitish uniformly
suffused with brown; a faint discoidal spot and curved postmedial line ;
a slight dark terminal line; cilia white faintly tinged with brown, the
underside brownish white with some dark irroration on terminal area, a
black discoidal spot and somewhat diffused curved postmedial line.
Habitat.—_Kasumin, Chamba, Kardrug. vp. 30 mill.
1978. BRYOPHILA DECEPTURA.
Diphtera deceptura, Wik. XXXII, 614 (1865).
Bryophila postochrea, Hmpsn., Ill Het. B. M. ix, p. 95, pl. 161,
f. 8, (1893).
1975. BRYOPHILA LICHENEA.

1972. BRYOPHILA LITERATA.
1973. BryYoPHILA MODESTA.
1973a. BRYOPHILA OCHROPHZHA.

Bryophila ochrophea. mpsn. Cat. Lep. Phal. B. M. vii, p. 631, pl. 122,
f. 21 (1908).

Head and thorax brownish-white slightly irrorated with brown ; palpi
with blackish patch on 2nd joint; tarsi banded with blackish ; abdomen
ochreous white with faint dorsal brown bands, the ventral surface white.
Forewing brownish-white irrorated with black-brown ; subbasal line repre-
sented by blackish bars from costa and cell with dark marks beyond it
on costa, in cell, and above inner margin; antemedial line blackish
indistinctly double except towards costa, waved, almost erect, a band
of thick dark irroration beyond it; orbicular and reniform with blackish
centres and slight dark outlines, the former small, round, the latter some-
what constricted at middle; an indistinct waved medial line from cell
to inner margin ; postmedial line with small black spot at costa, slightly
bent outwards below costa and incurved at discal fold, incurved and some-

414 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX.

what dentate below vein 4; subterminal line only defined by a band of
dark irroration on its inner side, excurved below vein 7 and at middle
and incurved at discal and submedian folds; a terminal series of black
strie. Hindwing white faintly tinged with brown ; cilia pure white; the
underside white faintly tinged with brown.

Habitat.—Kasumir, Dras. Lup. 24-30 mill.

1974. BryopHita VIRESCENS.

1974a. Bryopnita Ravuna.

Noctua ravula, Hiibn. Eur. Schmett. Noct. f. 461 (1818) ; Staud. Cat. Lép.

Pal., p. 166.
lupula, Hiibn. Eur. Schmett. Noct. f. 573 (1818); Dup. Leéep. Fr
vli., p. 367, pl. 122, f. 6 and Suppl. iv., pl. 69, f. 4; Frr.
Neue. Beitr. pl. 170 ff. 4-5 ; Herr. Schaff. Eur. Schmett.
Noct. f. 86.
Bryophila ereptricula, Treit. Schmett. Eur. (I), p. 66, (1825); Dup Lép. ©
Fr. vii, p. 236, pl. 115, f. 4; Frr. Beitr. pl. 84,
ff, I, 2 and pl. 129; id. Neue. Beitr. pl. 52, f. 2;
Boisd. Icones., pl. 71, f. 5.
troglodyta, Frr. Neue. Beitr. I, p. 102, pl. 52, f. 1 (1833).
vandalusie, Dup. Lép. Fr. Suppl. iv., p. 405, pl. 82, f. 9 (18-42) ;
Herr. Schaff. Hur. Schmett. Noct. f. 569 ; Rmbr.
Cat. Lép. 8. Aud., pl. 6, ff. 1-2.

Head and thorax greyish mixed with red-brown and fuscous; palpi
blackish, white at base; frons with lateral black bars; pectus and legs
whitish mixed with black, the tarsi blackish tinged with white, abdomen
whitish suffused with brown, the crests black. Forewing red-brown with
some dark irroration, some whitish at base of inner margin; the anteme-
dial area and costal area to postmedial line suffused with fuscous and
irrorated with grey, some whitish suffusion beyond postmedial line ;
subbasal line double, curved, from costa to vein 1, above which there is a
whitish patch beyond it; antemedial line double, somewhat inwardly
oblique, and bent inwards to inner magin, the inner line slightly angled
inwards in submedian fold ; claviform represented by a slight brown striga
at extremity; orbicular defined by black, elliptical; reniform with
greyish centre slightly defined by black, and whitish annular slightly
defined by black, constricted at middle; an oblique dark striga from
middle of costa and faint incurved line from lower angle of cell to inner
margin ; postmedial line double filled in with whitish, the outer line imdis-
tinct, bent outwards below costa, excurved to vein 4, then imeurved and
slightly excurved at vein 1; the postmedial costal area blackish with oblique

outer edge, and some grey points on costa; an indistinct minutely waved
brown subterminal line, excurved below vein 7 and at middle; a black
shade before termen from below apex to vein 3; a fine black terminal line ;

THE MOTHS OF INDIA. 415

cilia grey and fuscous with a dark line through them. MHindwing white,
the veins and terminal area tinged with brown; cilia white, tinged with
brown at apex and with slight brown marks at middle; the underside white;
the costa and terminal area to vein 2 irrorated with brown, a small dis-
coidal spot and sineous postmedial line.

ab. 1. ereptricula. Forewing darker, the basal area diffused with white,
the terminal area with diffused white spots towards costa and tornus.

ab, 2. vandalusie. Forewing much greyer; hindwing white in male.
Spain, Asia Minor, Mesopotamia.

ab. 3. Similar, but forewing with the antemedial area rufous. Syria.

Habitat.—Eurore ; Atcerta ; Asta Minor; Syria ; Mesopotamia;
Kasumir, Dana. Exp. 24-30 mill.

Larva.—Kirby, Butt. and Moths. Eur. p. 160; Hffm. Raup., p. 77.

Blue with a black dorsal line and yellowish red lateral stripe defined
below by black. Food plants: Lichens on Walls. 5-6.

1974+. BryoPHILA OCHROTA.

Bryophila ochrota, Hmpsn., Cat. Lep. Phal. B. M. vii., p. 641, pl. 122, f. 27

(1908).

Head and thorax white tinged with brown; 2nd joint of palpi with
blackish patch at sides; tarsi banded with blackish; abdomen ochre-
ous white with dorsal brownish bands. Forewing ochreous white mostly
suffused with brown and irrorated with fuscous, the medial area rather
darker ; subbasal line indistinctly double filled in with whitish and with
some rufous scales on it, from costa to submedian fold; antemedial line
indistinctly double filled in with whitish and with some rufous on outer
line, bent inwards to costa, then minutely waved; claviform with its ex-
tremity faintly defined by blackish ; orbicular and reniform with brownish
centres and slight whitish annuli faintly defined by blackish, the former
round, the latter somewhat constricted at middle; traces of a waved medial
line from cell to inner margin; postmedial line double filled in with whitish,
some rufous on the inner line, bent outwards below costa, strongly excury-
ed to vein 4, then strongly incurved, some white points beyond it on costa ;
traces of a pale minutely waved subterminal line below vein 3; a terminal
series of minute dark lunules defined on inner side by slight pale lunules ;
cilia with a slight whitish line through them. Hindwing white, faintly
tinged with brown; cilia pure white; the underside white faintly tinged
with brown.

. Habitat.—Kasumir, Dras; BELoocuistan, Quetta. Evp. 26 mill.
Genus Jampta.

Type.
Lambia wk, xxvii. 109 (1863) Bie a 2. wnferalis.
Proboscis fully developed; palpi upturned, the 2nd joint reaching about

416 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

to middle of frons and moderately scaled, the 5rd moderate ; frons smooth ;
eyes large, round ; antennze of male ciliated ; thorax clothed chiefly with
scales, the prothorax without crest, the metathorax with spreading crest :
tibize moderately fringed with hair; abdomen with dorsal crests on basal
segments. Forewing with the apex rounded, the termen very slightly
erenulate and somewhat excised from vein 3 to tornus; veins 3 and 5 from
near angle of cell; 6 from upper angle; 9 from 10 anastomosing with 8 to
form the areole; 11 from cell. Hindwing with veins 3:4 from angle of
cell; 5 obsolescent from middle of discocellulars ; 6°7 from upper angle; §
_ anastomosing with the cell near base only.
A, Forewing with two of the terminal points confluent
and forming a lunule at discal fold.
a. Forewing with small wedge-shaped white marks
before subterminal line above and below vein 4.. nocturna
6. Forewing without small wedge-shaped white marks
before subterminal line.

a’, Forewing with pale streaks on veins 6 and 4

intersecting the dark postmedial patch .. harmonica,
ob, Forewing without pale streaks on veins 6 and 4
intersecting the dark postmedial patch .. thuattest.
B. Forewing without terminal lunule at discal fold.
a. Forewiag whitish suffused with grey-brown .. transversa.
b. Forewing with the ground colour bright rufous .. rufescens.

1838a. JAMBIA NOCTURNA.
1839c. JAMBIA HARMONICA.
1866. IAMBIA THUAITESI.
1867. IAMBIA- TRANSVERSA.
1870. IAMBIA RUFESCENS.

Genus JAMBIODES.

Type.
Iambiodes, Hmpsn. Cat. Lép. Phal. B. M. vii., p. 659 (1908). anormalis.
Proboscis fully developed ; palpi upturned, the 2nd joint reaching about
to middle of frons and rather broadly scaled, the 3rd moderate; frons with
large prominence with raised corneous walls at extremity; eyes large,
round; antenne of female somewhat laminate; thorax clothed almost
entirely witn scales, the prothorax without crest, the mesothorax with
small paired crests, the metathorax with decumbent crest ; tibize modera-

tely fringed with hair; abdomen with dorsal crest at base only. Forewing ~

with the apex rounded, the termen evenly curved and slightly crenulate;

veins 3 and 5 from near angle of cell; 6 from upper angle; 9 from 10
anastomosivg with 8 to form the areole ; 11 fromcell. Hindwing with veins

LHE MOTHS OF IN DTA. 417

3°4 from angle of cell; 5 obsolescent from middle of discocellulars: 6-7
from upper angle ; 8 anastomosing with the cell near base only.

2025a. IAMBIODES ANORMALIS.

Genus PARIAMBIA.
Type.

Pariambia, Hmpsn., Cat. Lep. Phal. B. M. vii., p. 660, (1908)... pudla.

Proboscis fully developed ; palpi upturned, the 2nd joint reaching to
about vertex of head and moderately scaled, the 5rd moderate ; frons with
rounded prominence with vertical corneous ridge down middle; eyes large
round ; antennz of male minutely ciliated; thorax clothed almost entirely
with scales and without crests; tibiz moderately fringed with hair;
abdomen with dorsal crest at base only. Forewing with the apex rounded,
the termen evenly curved and not crenulate; veins 3 and 5 from near
angle of cell ; 6 from upper angle; 9 from 10 anastomosing with 8 to form
the areole ; 11 from cell. Hindwing with veins 3:4 from angle of cell; 5,
obsolescent from middle of discocellulars ; 6°7 from upper angle; 8 anas-
tomosing with the cell near base only.

A, Metathorax without white patch; forewing reddish

brown suffused with fuscous .. oe ». pula.
B, Metathorax with white patch; forewing grey suf-
fused with fuscous .. a rae .. unduligera.

2089. PaRIAMBIA PULLA.

Acontia pulla, Swinh., P. Z. S., 1885, p. 456, pl. 27, f. 15.

Pariambia aprepes, Hmpsn., Cat. Lep. Phal. B. M. vii., p. 660 (1908),

2078. PARIAMBIA UNDULIGERA.

Genus AvucHA.

Type.
Aucha, Whlk., xiii., 1137 (1857) as KF .. velans.
A, Hindwing with orange patch below and _ beyond
end of cell.
a. Forewing with the antemedial, postmedial, and
terminal areas strongly suffused with grey .. xectens.
6. Forewing uniform dark brown slightly suffused
with grey.. a0 we Ae 22 velans.
B, Hindwing nearly uniform dark brown oe .. minor.

1664. AUCHA NECTENS.

1663. AUCHA VELANS.

1663a. AUcCHA MINOR.

Aucha minor, Hmpsn., Cat. Lep. Phal. B. M. vii., p. 666, pl. 123 f. 11
1908).

@. Head and thorax dark brown tinged with grey; pectus and legs
greyer, the tarsi slightly ringed with white; abdomen grey-brown with

418 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXT.

a reddish tinge. Forewing dark chocolate-brown largely suffused with
grey; traces of a double curved sinuous antemedial line with an oblique
dark brown shade beyond it from costa to median nervure; orbicular and
reniform absent; an indistinct medial line, oblique from cell to inner mar-
gin ; postmedial line indistinct, brown, dentate, oblique from costa to vein 6,
slightly angled inwards at discal fold, incurved below vein 4, a triangular
red-brown patch beyond it on costal area with some grey points on the
costa; an indistinct waved brown subterminal line; a terminal series of
slight brown spots. Hindwing red-brown with the terminal area dark
brown; cilia pale rufous with a red-brown line near base; the underside
ereyish suffused with rufous except on inner area to the indistinct curved
postmedial line, a slight discoidal lunule.
Havitat.—Bompay, Karwar, Erp. 26 mill.

Genus PoLyPH2=NyISs.

Type.
Polyphenis, Boisd., Ind. Meth., p. 128 (1840). oh .. serricata.
Triphenopsis, Butl. A. M. N. H. (5) 1., p. 163 (1878) seuceneviion
Proboscis fully developed ; palpi upturned, the 2nd joint reaching about
to middle of frons and moderately fringed with hair in front, the 3rd typi-
cally moderate; frons smooth; eyes large,+round; antenna of male
typically bipectinate with short branches ; the apical part serrate; thorax
clothed almost entirely with scales, the prothorax with spreading crest, the
metathorax with divided crest ; abdomen with dorsal series of crests. Fore-
wing with the apex rounded, the termen evenly curved, crenulate; veins
3 and 5 from near angle of cell; 6 from upper angle; 9 from 10 anastomo-
sing with $ toform the areole; 11 from celi. Hindwing with veins 3-4
from angle of cell; 5 obsolescent from middle of discocellulars ; 6-7 from
upper angle ; 8 anastomosing with the cell near base only.
Sect. iv. (Triphenopsis). Antennze of male ciliated.
A, Palpi with the 3rd joint very long and porrect.
1749. PoLyPH@NIS PULCHERRIMA.
Epilecta pulcherrima, Moore, P. Z. 8., 1867, p. 54, pl. 6, f. 3.
Polyphenis largetani, Obuth. Et. Ent. vi., p. 19, pl. vii, f. 4 (1881).
Epilecta opulenta, Butl. P. Z..S., 1885, p. 160.
B. Palpi with the 3rd joint short.
a. Hindwing with the inner edge of the terminal band
strongly incurved at discal fold .. ix in conyeetun
}. Hindwing withthe inner edge of the terminal
band not incurved at discal fold
a’, Hindwing with the inner area brown,
a, Hindwing with dark discoidal striga, the post-
medial line absent BS [M3 as ..diminuta.

THE MOTHS OF INDIA. 419

61. Hindwing without discoidal striga, a slight
postmedial line from vein 6 to inner margin. mepta.
6. Hindwing with the inner area not brown .. dica.
1748. PoLyPHZNIS CONFECTA.
1746. PoLypHZNIS DIMINUTA.
1745. PoLyPHZNIS INEPTA.
1747. PoLyPHENIS INDICA.

Genus AR#A.

Type.
Area, Hmpsn., Cat. Lep. Phal. B. M. vii., p. 688 (1908) .. attenuata.
Proboscis fully developed; palpi upturned, slender, the 2nd joint

_ reaching about to vertex of head and moderately fringed with hair in front,

‘ the 3rd short; frons smooth ; eyes large, round ; antenne of male minutely

ciliated; build slender; head and thorax roughly clothed with hair
and scales mixed, the pro-and metathorax with loose spreading crests ;
tibiz fringed with rather long hair; abdomen with some rough hair at
base, but without crests, the female with long exserted ovipositor. Fore-
wing narrow and elongate, the apex rounded, the termen obliquely curve d
and hardly crenulate ; veins 5 and 5 from near angle of cell; 6 from upper
angle; 9 from 10 anastomosing with 8 to form the areole; 11 from cell.

Hindwing with veins 3-4 from angle of cell; 5 obsolescent from middle

of discocellulars; 6:7 stalked; 8 anastomosing with the cell near base

only.

1971. b. AR#aA aTTENUATA, Hmpsn., Cat. ‘Lep. Phal. B. M. vii., p.
688 (1908).

Head and thorax grey mixed with dark brown; palpi black except in
front ; frons with lateral black bars; tarsi black with pale rings; abdomen

_ brownish grey. Forewing brown tinged with grey and irrorated with black ;

subbasal line black, somewhat dentate, from costa to submedian fold; a

_ black streak below the cell confluent with the lower edge of claviform,

which is narrow and acuminate; antemedial line strong, black, slightly
angled outwards below costa, then minutely waved ; orbicular and reniform
grey irrorated with brown and strongly defined by black, the former round
or oblique elliptical, open above; the discal and postmedial areas more
stronely suffused with brown; postmedial line strong, black, defined on
outer side by whitish, but outwards below costa, then dentate, strongly
excurved to vein 4, then very oblique, some white points beyond it on

costa ; subterminal line diffused, white, angled outwards at vein 7 and in-

wards at discal and submedian folds, at former to postmedial line, with
short black streak beyond it above and below vein 5; a terminal series of
small black lunules; cilia white with brownish line through them. Hind-
wing whitish suffused with brown; a slight brown terminal line ; cilia

420 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX1.

white with a brownish line through them except towards tornus ; the under-
side white irrorated with brown, a blackish discoidal spot and indistinct
curved postmedial line.
Habitat.—Kasumir, Scinde Valley, Goorais Valley. vp. 34 mill.
Genus CANNA.
; Lype.
Canna, Wik., xxxiul. 790. (1865) oa vs te .. pulchripicta.
Proboscis fully developed ; palpi upturned, the 2nd joint reaching about
to middle of frons and moderately fringed with hair, the 5rd short; frons
smooth ; eyes large, round; antennze of male laminate; thorax clothed
with elongate scales, the prothorax without crest; the mesothorax with
paired tufts of scales, the metathorax with spreading crest; the patagia
with upturned tufts of scales at extremity; tibize frmged with long hair;
abdomen with dorsal series of crests, the crest on 4th segment large. Fore-
wing short and broad, the apex rounded, the termen excurved at middle
and excised below apex and towards tornus which is somewhat lobed ;
veins 3 and 5 from near angle of cell; 6 from upper angle ; 9 from 10 anas-
tomosing with 8 to form the areole; 11 from cell. Hindwing with veins
5:4 from angle of cell; 5 obsolescent from just below middle of discocel-
lulars; 6°7 from upper angle; & anastomosimmg with the cell near base
only.
A. Abdomen with the crest on 4th segment formed of long
black scales.
a. Forewing with the-medial band green tmged with
fuscous . oa : or 5 is .. prasimaria.
}. Korewing ahh the a band red-brown .. . malachitis.
B. Abdomen with the crest on 4th segment formed of poe
reous hair Os ob a He sh .. pulchripicta.
1965. CANNA PRASINARIA.
1964. CANNA MALACHITIS.
1963. CANNA PULCHRIPIOCTA. 4

Genus DASEOUH &TA.

Type.
Daseocheta, Warren, Seitz., Macrolepidoptera, pt. 9, p. 11
(CISLUA OEE a . . viridis,
Diphtherocome, Warren, Seitz, Miverslepidoneers aa Sey oe el
(UB) she a mit ‘ .. pallida.

Proboscis fully developed ; palpi upturned, the ond joint reaching about
to vertex of head and fringed with hair in front, the 3rd rather long, naked;
frons smooth ; eyes large, round ; antennze of male typically bipectinate
with long branches to apex ; thorax clothed with long rough hair and hair-
like scales, the pro- and metathorax with spreading crests, the patagia

THE MOTHS OF INDIA. 42]

tufted at extremity ; tibixe fringed with hair; abdomen with dorsal series

of crests, large at middle. Forewing with the apex rounded, the termen

evenly curved and not crenulate ; veins 5 and 5 from near angle of cell;
6 from upper angle ; 9 from 10 anastomosing with 8 to form the areole ;
11 from cell. Hindwing with veins 3-4 from angle of cell; 5 obsolescent
from middle of discocellulars ; 6°7 from upper angle; 8 anastomosing with
the cell near base only.

Sect. IT. (Diphtherocome). Antenne of male bipectinate with moderate
branches, the apical fourth ciliated.

1967. DaskocHATA PALLIDA.

Sect, JZ. Antennze of male bipectinate with short branches, the apical
third ciliated.

A. Hindwing with broad brownish subterminal band .. vigens.

&. Hindwing without subterminal band.

a. Forewing with large quadrate black mark in out-

median mterspace before postmedial line .. brevipennis.
b. Forewing with slight black spot in submedian

interspace before postmedial line... .. fasciata.

1966. DaAsEocHa@TA VIGENS.

1967a. DascocH#YA BREVIPENNIS.

Daseocheta brevipennis, Hmpsn., Cat. Lep. Phal. B. M. viii., p. 27, pl. 123,

f. 21 (1909).

Head and thorax pale blue-green ; palpi black ; antennz brown ; shoul-
ders with black patches; tibize with black spots, the tarsi banded black
and white ; abdomen ochreous white dorsally suffused with ochreous brown,
ventrally black-brown. Forewing pale blue-green, the basal and post-
medial areas suffused with olive-green ; subbasal line represented by
a black striga from costa; a short black streak in base of sub-median
fold, and a curved black streak above inner margin from near hase
to the antemedial line, which is black defined on outer side by white, in-
curved in cell, angled outwards in submedian fold, then incurved and
ending at the streak above inner margin; claviform minute, defined by
some black scales above and at extremity; orbicular and reniform
defined by black and white at sides and with quadrate black patch
between them, the former small, round, sometimes defined by black below;
a black bar from middle of costa and oblique striga from inner margin ;
the medial area with white fascia in submedian fold ending in a quadrate
black spot before postmedial line with spurs above and below from its
imner edge ; postmedial line black defined by white on inner side, bent
outwards below costa, incurved at discal fold, excurved and slightly angled
at veins 4°3, then strongly incurved to submedian fold, and excurved to
inner margin, some black points beyond it on costa, followed by a trian-
gular spot; a series of black points formed by diffused scales towarda

422 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX1.

termen ; cilia with series of black lunules at tips. Hindwing white faintly
tinged with green; a diffused blackish discoidal spot, with diffused band,
from it to inner margin, and traces of a postmedial line at middle and
towards tornus; the underside with slight black streak in middle of
cell diffused curved medial band blacker towards costa and more or less
confluent with the discoidal spot, much interrupted postmedial line, and
series of black points before termen.

Habitat.—Si1xuim ; Trper. Yatong. Evp. 32 mill.

1967). DaASEOCH#TA FASCIATA.

Diphthera fasciata, Moore, P. Z.8., 1888, p. 408, Butl. Tl. Het. B. M.

vil., p. 30, pl. 122, £. 1.

Palpi black, white at tips; head brownish white, the vertex green, the
sides of frons black, the antennze brown, white at base ; tegulee and patagia
blue-green, the dorsum of thorax brownish white; pectus green at sides,
black-brown ventrally ; tibiz green with black marks, the tarsi banded
black-brown and white; abdomen brownish white with a large black-
brown ventral patch. Forewing pale blue-green with some darker suffusion
before the antemedial line and beyond the postmedial line ; subbasal line
represented by a black joint on costa followed by a bar; a very short black
streak below base of cell and an oblique white fascia above a curved black
fascia on inner area extending to the antemedial line, which is represented
by an oblique striga from costa and a line slightly defined on outer side
by white from subcostal nervure to the black fascia above inner margin,
bent outwards at median nervure, angled outwards at submedian fold, then
incurved ; the medial area with white streak in submedian fold with black
point on it at extremity of claviform; orbicular and reniform defined by
black and white at sides with quadrate black patch between them, open
above and below, the former round, a black bar from costa to the black
patch, a point on inner margin and a small black lunule in submedian fold
on inner edge of the postmedial line, which is represented by two black
points on costa and black line defined on inner side by white from below
costa, much nearer termen, angled inwards at discal fold, outwards at veins
4:3, then bent inwards and outwardly oblique to inner margin, a black spot
with white point on it beyond it on costa; cilia with slight black-brown
lunules at tips. Hindwing pale blue-green with some ochreous hair on inner
area; a diffused blackish discoidal spot; the underside with strong black
bar from costa to the discoidal spot and two spots on inner area, postmedial
points below costa and vein 7 and small spots in discal and submedian
folds and above inner margin.

Habitat.—W. Cuina; Punsas, Laka; Sixuim. Erp, 44 mill.

Sect. 1V. Antenne of male serrate and fasciculate.

1968a. DascocHZTA CHRYSOCHLORA.

Sect. V. Antenne of male ciliated.

THE MOTHS OF INDIA. 423

A, Forewing with black postmedial band interrupted

by white streaks on veins 6, 4, 3,2. .. soe =MUSCOSA.
B. Forewing with the postmedial band not interrupted
by white streaks .. ie ad oo @6aiscrbrunnea.

1977. DascocHatTa MUSCOSA.
Bryophila muscosa, Hmpsn. Ill. Het. B. M. viii., p. 72, pl. 144, f. 15 (1891).
Diphthera imray, Umpsn. J. Bomb. Nat. Hist. Soc. xvii., p. 472 (1906).
1968. DasEOCH#TA DISCIBRUNNEA.
Genus THALATHA.
Type.
Thalatha, W\k., Journ. Linn. Soc. Zool. vi., p. 187 (1862) simens.
Proboscis fully developed ; palpi upturned, the 2nd joint reaching about
to middle of frons and moderately fringed with hair in front, the 3rd
moderate ; frons with very small corneous prominence at middle with
raised edges; eyes large, round; antenne of male typically laminate ; thorax
clothed chiefly with scales and without crests; tibie moderately fringed
with hair; abdomen with dorsal crests at base only. Forewing with the
apex typically rounded, the termen evenly curved and very slightly
erenulate ; veins 3 and 5 from near angle of cell; 6 from upper angle ;
9 from 10 anastomosing with 8 to form the areole; 11 from cell. Hind-
wing with veins 3:4 from angle of cell; 5 obsolescent from middle of
discocellulars ; 6:7 shortly stalked or from angle; 8 anastomosing with
the cell near base only.
A, Forewing with terminal series of small black spots.. conjecturalas.
B. Forewimg with terminal series of slight dark striz.. sinens.
1817. THALATHA CONJECTURALIS.
Thalatha sinens, Wik., Journ. Linn. Soc. Zool. vi., p. 187 (1862)
var. nec. 1856.
Bryophila conjecturalis, Swinh. Trans. Ent. Soc. 1890, p. 222, pl.
Valley tia 0):
1816. THALATHA SINENS.
Genus GOENYCTA.
Type.
Goenycta, Hmpsn., Cat. Lep. Phal. B. M. viii., p. 49 (1909). mverguttata.
Probocis fully developed; palpi upturned, the 2nd joint reaching to
middle of frons and moderately fringed with hair in front, the 38rd _ short ;
frons with rounded prominence with corneous plate below it; eyes large,
round ; antennze of female ciliated; thorax smoothly clothed with scales
only and without crests; tibie moderately fringed with hair; abdomen
with dorsal series of crests, the crest on segments 3'4°5 large. Forewing
rather narrow, the margins subparallel, the apex rounded, the termen
slightly excurved at middle and not crenulate ; veins 3 and 5 from near
16

424 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX1.

angle of cell; 6 from upper angle; 9 from 10 anastomosing with 8 to
form the areole; 11 from cell. Hindwing with veins 3°4 from angle
of cell; 5 obsolescent from just below middle of discocellulars, 6°7 from
upper angle ; 8 anastomosing with the cell near base only.

19938a. GOENYCTA NIVEIGUTTATA.

Genus Tycracona.
Type.

Tycracona, Moore, Lep. Atk. p. 95 (1882) .. obliqua.

Proboscis fully developed ; palpi upturned, the 2nd joint reaching about
to vertex of head and moderately scaled, the 8rd porrect, short ; frons with
small rounded prominence at middle; eyes large, round; antennz lami-
nate ; thorax clothed almost entirely with scales and without crests ; tibize
moderately fringed with hair; abdomen with dorsal crest at base only.
Forewing triangular, the apex rounded, the termen evenly curved and not
crenulate ; veins 3 and 5 from near angle of cell; 6 from upper angle;
9from 10 anastomosing with 8 to form the areole; 11 from cell. Hind-
wing with the termen strongly curved; veins 3°4 from angle of cell; 5
obsolescent from middle of discocellulars; 6:7 from upper angle; 8 anas-
tomosing with the cell near base only.

1823. TycRACONA OBLIQUA.

Genus CRANIOPHORA.

Type.
Craniophora, Snell. Vlind. van. Ned. 11, p. 262 (1872) .. ligustr.
Bisulcia. Chapman, Ent. Ree. i. p. 28 (1890) ae i. Uigustin

Proboscis fully developed ; palpi upturned, the 2nd joint. reaching about
to middle of frons and moderately fringed with hair in front, the 3rd
short ; frons smooth ; eyes large, round; antennz simple and laminate in
both sexes; thorax clothed with scales mixed with hair; the prothorax
without crest, the metathorax with divided crest ; tibix moderately fringed
with hair; abdomen with dorsal series of crests and rough hair at base.
Forewing with the apex rounded, the termen evenly curved and slightly
crenulate ; veins 3 and 5 from near angle of cell; 6 from upper angle; 9
from 10 anastomosing with 8 to form the areole; 11 from cell. Hindwing
with veins 3°4 from angle of cell; 5 obsolescent from just below middle of
discocellulars; 6°7 from upper angle; 8 anastomosing with the cell near
base only.

A, Forewing with prominent black fascia in submedian fold extending

to termen.
a. Forewing with the claviform large, defined by black. mxigrivitta.
6. Forewing with the claviform absent .. ne .. fasciata.

B. Forewing without prominent black fascia in submedian

EOLA Ee he Rieke SE A he i .. nubilata,

THE MOTHS OF INDIA.

1820. CRANIOPHORA NIGRIVITTA,
1822. CRANIOPHORA FASCIATA.

Acronycta fasciata, Moore, Lep. Ceyl. iii., p. 5, pl. 144, f. 4 (1884).

Hyboma divisa, Moore, P. Z. 8. 1888, p. 409: Butl. Il. Het.

B. M. vii., p. 45, pl. 125, f. 7

Acronycta nigrostriata, a ee Nass. Ver, xli,, p. 128 (1889).

1711. CranrtoPHORA NUBILATA.
Genus ACRONYCTA.
Type.

Acronicta, Ochs. Schmett. Eur. iv., p. 62 (1815). non deser. /eporina.

Acronycta, Treit. Schmett. Hur. v. (1). p. 5
Hyboma, Hiibn. Verz., p. 200 (1827)
Triena, Hibn. Verz. p. 200 (1827)

| Jocheera, Hiibn. Verz., p. 201 (1827)
Pharetra, Hiibn. Verz. p. 202 (1827
Aretomyscis, Hiibn. Verz. p. 202 (1827)
Microceha, Guen. Noct. i., p. 38 (1852) : Me

_ Megacronycta, Grote, Bull. Buff. Soc., Nat. Sei. i, p. 79 ) as 73)
Lepitoreuma, Grote, Bull. Buff. Soc. Nat. Sci. 1, p. 80 (1873)
Plataplecta, Butl. A. M. N. H. (5) i., p. 195 (1878)

. (1825)

Mastiphanes, Grote, New Check List, p. 25 (1882) non. cdeser.

Viminia, Chapman, Ent. Rec. i., p. 26 (1890)
Cuspidia, Chapman, Ent. Rec. 1, p. 27 (1890)
Pseudopunda, Buti. Trans. Ent. Soc. (1890) p. 672
Tricholonche, Grote, Mitth. Hildersheim, ii, p. 16 (1896) ..
Philorgyia, Grote, Mitth. Hildersheim Mus. iii, p. 17 (1896)...
Apatela, Hiibn. Tent. ined P
Sect. I. (Hyboma).—Thorax clothed Gee: w “ith dallas
A. Forewing with distinct black streak from post-
medial line to termen in submedian fold
&. Forewing without distinct black streak from post-
medial line to termen in submedian fold.
a, Forewing without prominent white spot on post-
medial line in submedian fold :
6. Forewing with prominent white spot on postmedial
line in submedian fold
1818 0.
Plataplecta pruinosa, Moore, Lep. Ceyl. iii, p.

ACRONYCTA ALBIORBIS.
5, pl. 144, f.

leporina.
strigosa.
pst.
alni.
auricoma.
aceris.
fragilis.
hastulifera-
ovata.
pruimosa.
edolata.
pumicis.
pst.
bicolor.
afflicta.
lutercoma.

aceris.

albiorbis.

pruinosa.

runucis.

3 (nec. Guen).

Acronycta albiorbis, Hmpsn., Cat. Lep. Phal. B. M. viii, p. 74 (1909).

Head and thorax white mixed with reddish brown ;

men whitish suffused with pale yellow-brown.

entirely suffused with pale rufous; subbasal line represented

palpi with blackish
mark on 2nd joint above; tegule and patagia edged with blackish ;

abdo-

Forewing white almost

by a_ black

426 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX,

striga from costa; a rather diffused sinuous black streak in submedian fold
from base to the antemedial line which is double, the lines widely separated
towards costa, oblique, waved, with black point on the outer line at sub-
median fold with white streak from it to the medial line; orbicular rather
quadrate, extending to the antemedial line and defined on outer side by
an oblique black striga; reniform large, rather quadrate, incompletely
defined by black except above and with slight dark lunule on inner side of
centre ; a slight dark patch at middle of costa and brownish line from cell
to inner margin angled outwards at vein 1; postmedial line double filled in
with whitish lunules, bent outwards below costa, then minutely dentate,
excurved to vein 4, then incurved, crossed by a black streak in submedian
fold from medial to subterminal lines, some brown suffusion beyond it in
discal and submedian folds; subterminal line found by ill-defined white
lunules ; some slight black striz on termen defined by whitish lunules.
Hindwing whitish suffused with pale red-brown; an indistinct postmedial
line defined on outer side by whitish; the underside white tinged with red-
brown, the costal and terminal areas slightly irrorated with brown, a
brownish patch on middle of costa, slight discoidal spot and diffused post-
medial line, oblique and waved to vein 5, then incurved.
av. |. Greyer and irrorated with dark-brown; forewing with the white
lunules on postmedial line smaller and less distinct. Travancore.
Habitat. TRAVANCORE, Pirmad; Ceyton, Pundaluoya. Z£vp. 3 38; 9
42 mill.
1818. AcRONYCTA PRUINOSA.
Acronycta pruinosa, Guen. Noct. 1, p. 53 (1852); Hmpsn., Cat.
Lep. Phal. B. M. viii, p. 91, pl. 125, f. 10.
Polia soluta, Wik., xxxiii. 723 (1865).
1696, AcRONYCTA RUMICIS.
Noctua runicis, Linn. Syst. Nat. ed. x., p. 516 (1758); Esp.
Schmett. iv, pl. 17, ff. 7-9; Hiibn. Eur. Schmett. Noct., f. 9
Frr. Neue Beit., pl. 548; Steph. Ill. Brit. Ent. Haust., ii
p. 42; Dup. Lep. Fr. vi, p. 241, pl. 88, f. 2; Staud. Cat. Lep.
Pal., p. 133.
Acronycta salicis, Curt. Brit. Ent., v. pl. 136 (1829).
diffusa, Wik. xi, 708 (1857).
indica, Moore, P. Z. 8. 1867, p. 1 47.
turanica, Staud., Stett Ent. Zeit., 1888, p. 65; id. Rom.
Ménm. v., pl. 8, f. 5.
3 alnoides, Grest, Allg. Zeit. Ent., vii, p. 510 (1908).
Sect. IZ. (Triena).—Thorax clothed with hair like scales mixed with a few

7)
2?

scales.
A, Forewing with the orbicular and reniform conjoined
by a black streak.

THE MOTHS OF INDIA. 427

a. Forewing with black streak in discal fold beyond
postmedial line ad 9 ae macima.

6. Forewing without black Fore in discal fold isoual
postmedial line.

1. Forewing without black shade in submedian

a
interspace from base to termen : sce Us
6, Forewing with black shade in submedian inter-

space from base to termen af M). .. rubiginosa.

B. Forewing without black streak between orbicular

and reniform.
a. Forewing with distinct black streak below base of
cell .. Be Pe Lig a .. gastyidia,
b. Forewing without bile streak below base of cell.. dzcolor.
1813. AcRONYCTA MAXIMA.
Acronycta maxima, Moore, P. Z. S. 1881, p. 333 ; Hmpsn., Cat. Lep.
Phaly BoM, viii. pa ll2, plelao, £20:
1813a@. AcRONYCTA IRIA.
Acronycta iria, Swinh., A. M. N. H. (7) iii, p. 1183 (1899); Hmpsn., Cat,
Lep. Phal. B. M. vii, p. 113, pl. 125, f. 22.

6. Head and thorax grey suffused with pale red-brown; palpi white
the 2nd joint with black band; antennz with the basal joint black behind
at tip; shoulders with black streak ; tibie streaked with black ; abdomen
whitish dorsally tinged with brown. Forewing whitish suffused and irro-
rated with pale red-brown ; subbasal line represented by double oblique
dark strizve from costa ; a sinuous black streak in submedian fold from base
to antemedial line where it forks, giving off a slight spur below at middle ,
antemedial line indistinct, double, the lines very widely separated on
costal half; oblique, waved, angled inwards on vein | and excurved above
inner margin, the outer line angled outwards below costa; orbicular and
reniform defined by fuscous, the former whitish with slight rufous centre,
rather oblique elliptical, with a black streak from it extending into the
reniform which has a rufous centre; a diffused oblique fuscous line from
costa to reniform and traces of an oblique sinuous line from lower angle
of cell to inner margin at antemedial line; postmedial line double, black
filled in with white, the inner line incomplete, bent outwards below costa,
then dentate, strongly incurved below vein 4, crossed by a black streak
in submedian fold from well before it to termen towards which it expands,
some whitish points beyond it on costa; the veins of terminal area with
slight dark streak ; faint traces of a minutely waved whitish subterminal line
with slight dark streaks in the interspaces from it to the series of small black
spots on termen and base of cilia, which are white with a slight black
line through them. Hindwing white, the veins tinged with brown, the
terminal area slightly suffused with brown from apex to submedian fold

498 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL AIST. SOCIETY, Vol, XX:

and with a termina: series of slight dark lunules; the underside with
the costal area slightly irrorated with brown, a black discoidal spot,
faint traces of postmedial line with blackish spot in submedian fold and
terminal series of shght dark lunules.
2. Hindwing with indistinct smuous postmedial line and the terminal
area more suffused with fuscous.
Habitat.—PounsaB, Kulu, Sultanpvur. Zap. 50-54 mill.
1819. AcRONYCTA RUBIGINOSA.
Acronycta rubiginosa, Wik., Journ. Linn. Soc. Zool. vi., p. 178, (1862).
Triena denticulata, Moore, P. Z.8., 1888, p. 408; Butl., Ill. Het.
B. M. vii., p. 45, pl. 125, £. 8.
1815. ACRONYCTA GASTRIDIA.
Acronycta aceris, Hmpsn., Moths. Ind. ii, p. 241 (nec. Linn.)
ee gastridia, Swinh., A. M. N. H. (6) xv, p. 5 (1895).

-1821. AcRONYCTA BICOLOR.

Genus SIMYRA.

Type.
Simyra, Ochs. Schmett. Eur. iv,, p. 18 (1816), non. descr. ; .
Treit. Schmett. Eur. (5) ii, p. 280 (1825) .. albovenosa.
Arsilonche, Led. Noct. Eur., p. 70 (1857)... ts .. albovenosa.

Proboscis aborted, minute ; palpi porrect, extending to beyond the
frons and clothed with long hair; frons smooth ; eyes rather small, round ;
antennze of male typically laminate ; thorax clothed with hair only and
without crests ; tibize fringed with long hair; abdomen dorsally clothed
with rough hair at base and with lateral fringes of hair, but without crests.
Forewing with the apex somewhat produced and acute, the termen
obliquely curved and not crenulate ; veins 3 and 5 from near angle of cell ;
6 from upper angle ; 9 from 10 anastomosing with 8 to form the areole ; 1]
from cell. Hindwing with veins 3:4 from angle of cell or shortly stalked ; 5
obsolescent from just below middle of discocellulars ; 6:7 from upper angle ;
8 anastomosing with the cell near base only. ‘

A, Forewing nearly uniform rufous, the costal edge white . albzcosta.

B. Forewing with the costal edge not white.

a. Forewing pale rufous thickly irrorated with rufous .. confusa.
b. Forewing ochreous white syarsely irrorated with
rufous conspersa.

1944. SIMYRA ALBICOSTA.

Stmyra albicosta, Hmpsn., Cat. Lep. Phal. B. M. vii, p. 178,
pl. 127, £. 15 (1909).

©. Head and thorax white, the head, tegul, prothorax, front of pectus
and legs suffused with rufous; abdomen white tinged with red-brown.
Forewing rufous, the costal edge white, the median nervure and veins of

THE MOTHS OF INDIA. 429

terminal half slightly streaked with white; a white spot at base of costa;
cilia tipped with white. Hindwing white faintly tinged with red-brown ;
‘cilia white.

Haiitat—Manvras, Nilgiris. Zp. 40 mill.

1944. SrimMynra CONFUSA.

1949. SimMyRa CONSPERSA.

Genus CETOLA.

Type.
Cetola, Wik. v., 1015 (1855) é . dentata.
A, Forewing with crimson suffusion on costal area to
beyond middle fe . rubricosta.
B, Forewing with fuscous suffusion on costal area to
beyond middle

. dentata.
2348a. CETOLA RUBRICOSTA.
2348, CETOLA DENTATA.
Genus Matopo.
Type.
Matopo, Dist. A. M. N. H. (7) i, p, 227 (1898) .. typica.

Proboscis fully developed ; palpi upturned, the 2nd jointreaching about
to middle of frons and moderately scaled, the 3rd short, porrect ; frons with
large rounded prominence with corneous plate below it; eyes large, round ;
antennze of male typically bipectinate with rather long branches, the apex
simple ; thorax clothed chiefly with scales, the pro-and metathorax with
spreading crests ; tibiz moderately fringed with hair; abdomen with dorsal
crest at base only. Forewing with the apex rounded, the termen evenly
curved and not crenulate ; veins 3 and 5 from near angle of cell; 6 from
upper angle; 9 from 10 anastomosing with 8 to form the areole; 11 from
cell. Hindwing with veins 3:4 from angle of cell; 5 obsolescent from just
below middle of discocellulars ; 6:7 from upper angle ; 8 anastomosing with
the cell near base only.

Sect. IJ..—Antennz of male minutely serrate, of female ciliated.

2672. Maropo cELECTA.

Xylophasia selecta, Wik, xxxii, 646 (1865).
Calophasia lobifera, Moore, P. Z. 8. 1881, p. 358.
Genus DeEtta.
Type.

Delta, Saalm, Lep. Madag., p. 263 (1891) 7. .. stolifera.

Trichorhiza, Hmpsn., Cat. Lep. Phal. B. M. v., p. 13 (1905). petersenz.

Proboscis fully developed; palpi obliquely porrect, reaching to just beyond
frons, the 2nd joint rather broadly fringed with hair below, the 3rd_ short ;
frons smooth, with ridges of hair at middle and above; eyes large, round ;
antennz of male ciliated ; thorax clothed with hair and scales mixed, the

4380 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXT.

tegulee produced to a dorsal ridge above the thorax with divided ridge-
like crest ; tibiee fringed with long hair on outer side ; abdomen with dorsal
crests on basal segments. Forewing with the apex somewhat produced
and acute, the termen evenly curved, crenulate ; veins 3 and 5 from near
angle of cell; 6 from upper angle; 9 from 10 anastomosing with 8 to
form the areole ;11 from cell. Hindwing with veins 3:4 from angle of cell ; 5
obsolescent from just below middle of discocellulars ; 6:7 from upper angle ;
8 anastomosing with the cell near base only.
A, Forewing with the reniform expanding below and ex-
tending to well below angle of cell Ne .. intermedia.
B. Forewing with the reniform small and not extending
to below the cell Ss sts wt asi) Cnn
1941. DELTA INTERMEDIA.
1803. DELTA INDICA.

Genus CHIRIPHA.
Type.

Chiripha, Wik, ix, 200 (1859) <4. .. tnvoluta.

Proboscis fully developed ; palpi upturned, the ond joint reaching about
to middle of frons and moderately fringed with hair, the 3rd short; frons
smooth, with ridge of hair above; eyes large, round; antennze of male
bipectinate with short branches, the apex serrate; head and thorax
clothed with hair and hairlike scales, the pro-and metathorax with spread-
ing crest ; tibiz moderately fringed with hair ; abdomen with dorsal crest
at base only. Forewing with the apex somewhat produced and acute, the
termen obliquely curved, crenulate ; veins 3 and 5 from near angle of cell;
6 from upper angle; 9 from 10 anastomosing with 8 to form the
areole; 11 from cell. Hindwing with veins 3-4 from angle of cell; 5
obsolescent from just below middle of discocellulars ; 6-7 from upper angle ;
8 anastomosing with the cell near base only.

1784. CHIRIPHA INVOLUTA.

Genus CaLoGRAMMA.

Type.
Calogramma, Guen. Noct. i., p. 165 (1852) As .. festiva.
1832. CALGGRAMMA FESTIVA.
Genus PRoDENIA.
Type.
Prodenia, Guen. Noct. i., p. 159 (1815)... Be .. androgea.

1829, PRODENIA LITURA.
Noctua litura, Fabr. Syst. Ent., p. 601 (1775).
histrionica, Fabr. Syst. Ent., p. 612 (1775).
elata, Fabr. Spec. Ins., ii, p. 220 (1781).

ee ee

THE MOTHS OF INDIA. 431

Hadena littoralis, Boisd. Faun. Ent., Mad, p. 91, pl. 13, f., 8 (1833).
Moore, Lep. Ceyl. iii., p. 19, pl. 146, ff. i, a. b. ;
Staud Cat. Lep. pal., p. 184.
ys retina, Frr. Neue, Beitr. v., p. 161, pl. 478, ff. 2:3 (1846) ;
Herr. Schaft. Eur. Schmett. Noct., ff. 144-5.
‘ Prodenia tasmanica, Guen. Noct. i., p. 163 (1852).
» etligera, Guen. Noct. i., p. 164 (1852).
» testaceordes, Guen. Noct. i, p. 165 (1852).
» subterminalis, Wik., ix, 196 (1856).
» glaucistriga, W1k., ix, 197 (1856).
» dechnata, W1k., xi, 723 (1857).
Mamestra albisparsa, W\k., Journ, Linn, Soc. Zool. vi, p. 186 (1862).
Prodenia evanesceous, Butl., Mem. Nat. Ac. Sci. Wash. Rep. Eclipse.
Exp., p. 94 (1884).

Genus SPODOPOTERA.

Type.
Spodoptera, Guen. Noct. i, p. 153 (1852) .. a .. mauritia,
Lulaphygma, Butl. Trans. Ent. Soc. 1890, p. 668 .. . abyssinia.

Proboscis fully developed ; palpi upturned, the 2nd joint reaching
about to middle of frons and moderately scaled, the 3rd short; frons
smooth ; eyes large, round; antennze of male typically ciliated: thorax
clothed chiefly with scales, the prothorax without distinct crest, the
metathorax with spreading crest; fore tibix broadly fringed with
hair on outer side, the mid and hind tibize moderately fringed ; abdomen
with dorsal crest at base only. Forewing with the apex rounded, the
termen evenly curved and slightly crenulate; veins 3 and 5 from near angle
of cell; 6from upper angle; 9 from 10 anastomosing with 8 to form the
areole; 11 from cell. Hindwing with veins 3:4 from angle of cell; 5
obsolescent from just below middle of discocellulars ; 6°7 from upper angle;
8 anastomosing with the cell near base only.

Sect. I.—Antennz of male bipectinate with short branches, the apex
serrate.

1874. SproporreRa PECTEN.

Spodoptera pecten, Guen. Noct. i., p. 155 (1852); Staud. Cat. Lep.
pal. p. 195 (part).
os erica, Butl. P. Z. S.,; 1880, p. 675.
Spelotis uniformis, Swinh., Trans. Ent. Soc. 1890, p. 226.
Caradrina pectinata, Wmpsn., Moths Ind. ii, p. 264 (1894).
Sect. II. (Eulaphygma).—Antennze of male minutely serrate and fasci-
culate.

183la. SpopoprerRa ABYSSINIA.
Spodoptera abyssinia, Guen. Noct. 1, p. 154 (1852).

‘fi — etlium, Guen. Noct. 1, p. 156 (1852).
17

432 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX1,

Caradrina latebrosa, Led. Verz. Zool. Bot. Ges. Wien. 1855, p.
205. pl. 2. f., 11; Staud. Cat. Lep. pal.
p. 195.
orbicularis, Wik., x., 294 (1856) ; Hmpsn. Nat. Hist.
Sokotra, p. 323, pl. xx, f. 26.
preterita, Wlik., x., 294 (1856).
3 insignata, W1\k., x., 295 (1856).
Laphygma procedens, Wik., xi., 721 (1857).
Agrotis infiva, Wik. Journ. Linn. Soc. Zooi. vi., p. 186 (1862).
Laphygma obliterans, Wik., Trans. Ent. Soc. (8) 1, p. 87 (1862).
Spodoptera insulsa, Wlk., xxxii., 648 (1865).
Laphygma imperviata, Wik., xxxii., 651 (1865).
45 retrahens, Wik., Entom. v., p. 126 (1870).

3. Head and thorax ochreous suffused with red-brown; palpi with
black bands on 2nd and 3rd joints near extremities ; frons with lateral black
bars; tegule with black medial line; tarsi black ringed with white; abdo-
men whitish dorsally suffused with brown. Forewing greyish suffused
with brown; subbasal line represented by double black striz from costa
and cell; antemedial line double filled in with whitish, the inner line
indistinct, oblique, waved ; orbicular whitish defined by black and with
slight brown centre, oblique elliptical, open below and connected by a
streak above median nervure with the reniform which is defined by black on
inner side, its centre defined by diffused black; an oblique dark striga
from costa to reniform and waved line from lower angle of cell to inner
margin, angled inwards in submedian fold; postmedial line double filled
in with whitish, the outer line indistinct, bent outward below costa, then
minutely dentate, incurved below vein 4, some pale points with fuscous
between them beyond it on costa ; subterminal line whitish defined on inner
side by fuscous suffussion except between veins 7 and 5, and with slight
dark streaks in the interspaces before it at middle, angled outward at vein
7, recurved and slightly waved at middle and angled inwards in sub-median
fold; the terminal area tinged with fuscous; a terminal series of small
rather triangular black spots; cilia whitish with a fuscous line near base
and some fuscous at tips. Hindwing from semihyaline white; the under-
side with the costa slightly irrorated with brown, a terminal veins of

black points from apex to vein 2.

@. Forewing with the orbicular completely defined by black, the
reniform with fuscous centre and whitish annulus defined by black points
on outer side ; hindwing with dark terminal line from apex to submedian
fold and dark line through the cilia to vein 2.

Habitat.—Sierra Leone ; Lagos; Niceria ; Heypr ; AnaBia ; ABYSSINIA ;
Soxotra; Br. E. Arrica; MasHonatanp; Nata; Carr Conony ;
Mauritius ; Roprigunz; SrvcHentes; Asta Minor; Syria; PALESTINE

THE MOTHS OF INDIA. 433

Persia ; Punsas, Sultanpur ; Sixuim; Bompay, Bandra; Mapnras ; Gooty ;
PuHILiePINEs; Borneo; Java. Exp. 28-32 mill.

Larva.—Ochreous with numerous pale points defined by pale brown ;
dorsal line orange ; subdorsal line represented by a series of orange marks
defined by irregular black lunules above ; lateral line represented by orange
marks, the stigmata black with brown patches above them; head and
thoracic plate red-brown.

Sect. III. (Spodoptera).—Antenne of male ciliated ; fore tibize with very

large tufts of hair and scales from outer side.
A, Hindwing semihyaline white See .. mauritia.
B,. Hindwing cupreous brown .. as .. postfusca.
1831. SpopoPTERA MAURITIA insert (syn.)
Spodoptera acronyctoides. Guen. Noct.1., p. 154 (1852).
1868. SPoDOPTERA POSTFUSCA.

Genus Larayema.
Type.

Laphygma, Guen. Noct. i, p. 156 (1852) .. sia .. exigua.

Proboscis fully developed ; palpi upturned, the 2nd joint reaching about
to middle of frons and moderately scaled, the 3rd short; frons smooth;
eyes large, round; antennz of male minutely serrate or ciliated ; thorax
clothed almost entirely with scales, the prothorax without crest, the
metathorax with spreading crest; tibiz moderately fringed with hair ;
abdomen with dorsal crest at base only. Forewing with the apex rectan-
gular, the termen evenly curved and hardly crenulate; veins 3 and 5
from near angle of cell ; 6 from upper angle ; 9 from 10 anastomosing with
8 to form the areole; 11 from cell. Hindwing with veins 3:4 from angle
of cell; 5 obsolescent from just below middle of discocellulars; 6:7 from
upper angle; 8 anastomosing with the cell near base only.

Sect. J.—Antennze of male minutely serrate.

1829a. LapHyYGMA APERTURA.

Prodenia apertura, W\k., xxxii, 654 (1865).
» synstictis, Hmpsn., Moths Ind. iv, p. 511 (1896).
Sect. IJ.—Antenne of male ciliated.
A, Forewing with the orbicular narrow, oblique

elliptical be Se “oc exempta.
B, Forewing with the orbiculen round or slightly
elliptical .. ais 3% ae iy .. exvigua.

1855a@. LaPHYGMA EXEMPTA.
Agrotis exempta, Wlk., 355 (1856) ; Hmpsn., Cat. Lep. Phal. B. M.
vill. p. 261, pl. 128, f. 24.
Prodenia bipars, Wik., xi., 724 (1857).
+ ingloria, Wik. xv., 1679 (1858).

4384 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXI,

6. Head and thorax grey tinged with red-brown, the head and basal
half of tegule browner ; palpi with slight dark marks at sides of 2nd joint,
tarsi brown ringed with white ; abdomen ochreous tinged with brown. Fore-
wing grey tinged with brown and suffused in parts with purplish red
especially on costal half from medial to subterminal line; subbasal line
represented by indistinct double dark strize from costa and cell; an obli-
que black striga with some purplish red beyond it across submedian
interspace before the antemedial line, which is double, rather oblique,
waved, excurved in submedian interspace ; claviform purplish red rather
incompletely defined by black ; orbicular grey tinged with olive brown and
slightly defined by black, oblique elliptical and with pale bar beyond it;
reniform slightly and incompletely defined by black and with a diffused
blackish mark in centre; the median nervure and veins arising from it
slightly streaked with white-on medial area; traces of an oblique waved
medial line from lower angle of cell to inner margin; postmedial line double,
the outer line indistinct, bent outward below costa, then minutely waved,
angled inwards in discal fold and incurved below vein 4, some pale
points beyond it on costa; a diffused oblique whitish shade from apex
to vein 6, the subterminal line arising from it, whitish, minutely waved,
incurved below vein 3, with some wedge-shaped black streaks before it at
middle, above and below vein 4 extending to postmedial line; a terminal
_ series of slight black lunules; cilia greyish tinged with rufous and with
slight rufous line near base. Hindwing ochreous white, the veins tinged
with brown, the costal area and termen suffused with brown; a fine dark
terminal line; cilia white; the underside with the costal area slightly
irrorated with white, a terminal series of blackish points from apex to
vein 2.

©. Forewing more uniform fuscous brown, without the oblique pale bar
beyond the orbicular.

Habitat.—Gotp Coast; Lacos; Nigeria ; Supan; Br. E. Arnica ;
MozamMBiquE; Ruopgesia; TransvaaL; Natat; ADEN; Mapras, Palnis ;
Cryion, Maskeliya, Haldamulla ; Stncapore ;}QUEENSLAND ; N. S. WaLEs;
W. Austratia; Hawa. Fevp. 26-38 mill.

1855. LapHYGMA EXIGUA.

Noctua exigua, Hubn. Eur. Schmett. Noct. f. 362 (1808); Dup.
Lep. Fr. vi., p. 45, pl. 75, f. 2; Mill. Icones, pl. 75, f. 2;
Staud. Cat. Lep. pal. p. 195.
» Julgens, Geyer, Eur. Schmett. Noct., f. 796 (1838).
Caradrina pygmea, Rmbr., Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1834, p. 384, pl. 8,
f.2; Dup. Lep. Fr. Suppl. iii, p. 321, pl. 29, f. 5.
ms Jjunceti, Zell. Isis. 1847, p. 455.
Laphyyma cycloides, Guen. Noct. i., p. 157 (1852).
caradrinoides, W1k., ix., 190 (1856).

THE MOTHS OF INDIA. 435

Caradrina sebghana, Aust. Le Nat. 1880 p. 212.
venosa, Butl. Ent. Mo. Mag., xvil., p. 7 (1880).
Genus ANTHA.

Type.
Antha, Staud. Rom. Mem., vi, p. 448 (1892) ie -. | Orata.
Anodontodes, Hmpsn. Trans. Ent. Soc., 1895, p. 302; id.,
Moths Ind.,iv., p. 523... rotunda.
A, Forewing with the Heieate present and “with ible
patch above it on costa. ni Ate .. grata.
B. Forewing with the pea absent and without black
patch at middle of costa ns i .. rotunda.

1805. ANTHA GRATA.
Leptina grata, Butl. Trans. Ent. Soc. 1881, p. 172; Staud. Cat.
Lep. pal., p. 183.
Antha pretiosa, Staud. Rom. Mem., vi, p. 448, pl. 7, f. 6 (1892).
21924. ANTHA - ROTUNDA.
Genus AMPHIDRINA.
Type.

Amphidrina, Staud. Iris., iv, p. 293 (1892) a .. agratina.

Proboscis fully developed ; palpi upturned, the 2nd joint reaching about
to middle of frons and moderately scaled, the 3rd short, porrect ; frons
smooth ; eyes large, round; antennz of male typically ciliated ; thorax
clothed chiefly with scales, the pro- and meta-thorax with spreading crests ;
tibize moderately fringed with hair; abdomen with some rough hair at
base but without crests. Forewing with the apex rounded, the termen
evenly curved, crenulate, veins 3 and 5 from near angle; 6 from upper
angle; 9 from 10 anastomosing with 8 to form the areole ; 11 from cell.
Hindwing with veins 3:4 from angle of cell;.5 obsolescent from just below
middle of discocellulars; 6:7 from upper angle; 8 anastomosing with the
cell near base only.

1864. AMPHIDRINA INTAMINATA.

Genus ATHETIS.

Type.
Athetis, Hubn. Verz., p. 209 (1827) .. oe .. furvula.
Atypha, Hubn. Verz., p. 213 (1827) .. 3 .. pulmonaris
Elaphria, Hubn. Verz., p. 230 (1827) . ae .. morpheus.
Hapalotis, Hubn. Verz., p. 254 (1827)... - gutvula.

Nebrissa, W\k., Journ. Linn, Soc. Zool., vi., p. 194 (1862) - - bimacula.
Anorthodes, Smith, Trans. Am. Ent. an xviii. p. 114,
(1891) . ; tarda.
Proboscis fully aeesloneae cee sophie: ‘ia 2nd joint reaching about
to vertex of head and moderately fringed with scales in front, the 3rd

436 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XX1,

short ; frons smooth; eyes large, round ; antennz of male typically ciliated ;
thorax clothed with hair and hair-like scales mixed with some scales, the
prothorax with small spreading crest, the metathorax without distinct
crest; tibiz moderately fringed with hair; abdomen without crests.
Forewing rather narrow, the costa and inner margin subparallel, the apex
rounded, the termen evenly curved and slightly crenulate ; veins 3 and 5
from near angle of cell; 6 from upper angle; 9 from 10 anastomosing with
8 to form the areole; 11 from cell. Hindwing with veins 3:4 from angle
of cell; 5 obsolescent from middle of discocellulars ; 6:7 from upper angle
8 anastomosing with the cell near base only.

Sect, I.—Antenne of male serrate.

A, Forewing with the reniform present.
a. Forewing with series of dark points beyond
postmedial line .. be ae «. externa.
6. Forewing without series of dark points besoin’
‘postmedial line . is 2. cervind.

B. Forewing with the reniform aoe ap .. castaneipars.
1876, ATHETIS EXTERNA.
1802, ATHETIS CERVINA.
1883. ATHETIS CASTANEIPARS.
Sect. JJ.—Antenne of male ciliated.

A, Forewing with the reniform with pale annulus.

a. Forewing with the reniform filled in with black.. delecta,
6. Forewing with the reniform not filled in with
black.
a, Forewing with the reniform constricted at

middle and angled inwards on median ner-

vure .. oe ve aie -. pretexta,
6}. Forewing with the reniform not constricted at

middle or angled inwards on median nervure.

a’.

Hindwing uniform brown . adivisa. ;
6?. Hindwing whitish tinged with HR espe-
cially on terminal area 7 .. ambigua.
B. Forewing with the reniform defined by more or
less prominent white points.
a. Hindwing wholly suffused with brown.

a, Forewing nearly uniform red-brown.

a’.

Forewing dark red-brown); antennz of male
minutely ciliated ae oe .. tnterstincta.

b?, Forewing greyer; antenne of male with
long cilia... ss ae .. longicihata.

6}, Forewing pale rufous or greyish variegated

with deep rufous and brown ee .. fasciata.

THE MOTHS OF INDIA,

6. Hindwing white, the terminal area suffused with
brown.
a’, Forewing with distinct black spot on costa at
medial line,

a’, Forewing grey faintly tinged with ochreous
brown ao a :

6°. Forewing much more strongly tinged with

ochreous brown 2
b'. Forewing without black sae on costa at me-

dial line.
a’, Forewing with dentate rufous marks before
middle of subterminal line mM A

6°. Forewing with slight fuscous shape ioe
subterminal line.
a®? Forewing with the postmedial line excurv-
ed from below costa to vein 4.

a*, Forewing with slight yellowish spot on

outer edge of reniform .. 5h

6*, Forewing with slight white spot on
outer edge of reniform

6°, Forewing with the postmedial line siniehe
from below costa to vein 4,

Gis Forewing with the antemedial line angled

inwards on vein 1 .. a ee

b*, Forewing with the antemedial line not

angled inwards on vein! 4. bd

C. Forewing with the reniform not defined by white

points,
a. Forewing with the reniform filled in with black...
6. Forewing with the reniform not filled in with
black.
a’, Forewing with black spot on costa at medial
line.

a. Forewing ochreous white irrorated with
black, the lines with black spots on
them a Me

6°. Forewing greyish ochreous largely suffus-
ed with fuscous, the lines indistinct,
fuscous oe set

6'. Forewing without black spot on costa at me-
dial line.
a, Forewing with the orbicular 2 small dark
spot .. Saar we

bremusa.

437

himalayica.

Juscicornis.

obtusa.

sincera.

placida.

cognata.

bicornis.

vicina,

flavitincta,

stygia.

4388 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Voi. XX1,

b?. Forewing with the orbicular a black point.. dzmacula.
ce’, Forewing with the orbicular absent .. variana.
1860. ATHETIS DELECTA.
1887a, ATHETIS PRETEXTA. ;
Caradrina pretecta, Swinh., A. M. N. H. (7) xv., p.152 (1905) ;
Hmpsn. Cat. Lep. Phal. B. M. viii., p. 316, pl. 129, f. 23.
Head andthorax grey tinged with brown; palpi blackish at sides except
at tips; tarsi blackish ringed with white; abdomen grey suffused with dark-
brown, the anal tuft of male yellow. Forewing grey-white irrorated and
in parts suffused with red-brown ; subbasal line double filled in with whitish,
waved, from costa to submedian fold ; antemedial line double filled in with
whitish, angled outwards below costa and excurved below submedian fold ;
orbicular, a black point defined by whitish; reniform chocolate brown with
whitish annulus, constricted at middle and slightly angled inwards on
median nervure; a waved dark medial shade ; postmedial line double filled
in with whitish, slightly bent outwards below costa, then produced to
double black points on the veins, oblique below vein 4, some whitish points
beyond it on costa; subterminal line whitish defined on inner side by red-
brown, slightly angled outward below costa and excurved at middle; ter-
minal area suffused with brown; a terminal series of black lunules slightly
defined on inner side by whitish; cilia brown with a waved white line
through them. Hindwing greyish suffused with brown ; an indistinct dis-
coidal lunule ; a terminal series of slight dark lunules from apex to vein 2;
cilia yellowish white with a brown line through them; greyish irrorated
with brown, a large dark discoidal spot, minutely waved postmedial line,
incurved below yein 2, traces of a subterminal band, and a terminal
series of small black lunules.
Habitat.—Assam, Khasis. Evp. 32 mill.
1879. ATHETIS DIVISA.
1863. ATHETIS AMBIGUA.
Noctuz ambigua, Schiff. Wien. Verz. p. 77 (1776); Fabr. Mant.
Ins. ii., p. 148 (1787); Staud. Cat. Lép. pal. p. 197.
» plantaginis, Hiibn., Hur. Schmett. Noct. f. 576 (1802) ; Dup-
Lép. Fr. vi., p. 59, pl. 76, f. 2; Herr. Schaff.,
Eur. Schmett. Noct. f. 381.
Orthosia uniformis, Swinh., Trans. Ent. Soc. 1885, p. 350, pl.9, f. 6.
Caradrina hilaris, Staud. Cat. Lép. pal. p. 197 (1901).
18876. ATHETIS INTERSTINCTA.
Graphiphora interstincta, Moore, Lep. Atk. p. 118 (1883) ; Hmpsn.,
Cat. Lep. Phal. B. M. viii., p. 324, pl.
129, f£. 27.
Head and thorax red-brown mixed with grey, the head paler; palpi
black-brown, greyish at tips; tarsi fuscous with pale rings; abdomen dark

THE MOTHS OF INDIA, 439
reddish brown. Forewing deep red-brown, slightly tinged with grey and
with slight dark irroration ; subbasal line black, curved, from costa to sub-
median fold; antemedial line black, bent inwards to costa and excurved
above inner margin; orbicular a black point; reniform chocolate brown,
rather constricted at middle, with a white point at upper extremity and
two at lower; a. diffused dark medial line, oblique from costa to lower
angle of cell and angled inwards below the cell; postmedial line black,
slightly bent outwards below costa, then with black points beyond it on
the veins, excurved to vein 4, then oblique; submedial line faint, pale,
defined on inner side by red-brown, excurved below vein 7 and at middle;
a terminal series of minute dark lunules; a fine whitish line at base of
cilia. Hindwing reddish brown tinged with grey; a fine whitish line at
base of cilia ; the underside whitish tinged with brown and irrorated with
dark brown, a black discoidal spot, diffused curved postmedial line, and
terminal series of small black lunules from apex to vein 2.

Hatitat.—Sixuim ; Buutan. Exp. 36-40 mill.

1887c. ATHETIS LONGICILIATA.

Athetis longiciliata, Ampsn., Cat. Lép. Phal. B. M. viii., p. 324, pl.
129, £. 28 (1909).

Head and thorax rufous mixed with a few dark brown scales; palpi black
at sides except at extremities of 2nd and 3rd joints; tarsi fuscous with
pale rings; abdomen pale rufous suffused with fuscous except the anal tuft.
Forewing rufous tinged with grey and slightly irrorated with brown;
subbasal line blackish, angled outwards below costa and ending at
submedian fold; antemedial line blackish, oblique to vein 1, then erect ;
orbicular a blackish point; reniform a narrow lunule defined by diffused
rufous, and with slight whitish points round it; medial line brown, rather
diffused, oblique from costa to lower angle of cell, then inwardly oblique
and sinuous; postmedial line brown, excurved from costa to vein 4, then
oblique, with traces of a series of dark points beyond it on the veins; sub-
terminal line yellowish, defined on inner side by brown suffusion, slightly
excurved below vein 7 and at middle; a terminal series of black points ;
cilia with a fine yellowish line at base. Hindwing red-brown tinged with
fuscous ; a diffused blackish discoidal spot; a terminal series of slight dark
lunules; cilia with a fine yellowish line at base; the underside whitish
irrorated with dark-brown, a black discoidal spot, rather diffused curved
brown postmedial line, and terminal series of small black lunules from
apex to vein 2.

Antenne with the cilia rather long.

Habitat.—Assam, Khasis. vp. 36 mill.

1887. ATHETIS FASCIATA.

Graphiphora fasciata, Moore, P. Z. 8., 1867, p. 54; Hmpsn., Cat.
Lep. Phal. B. M., viii, p. 325, pl. 129, f. 29.
18

440 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX1

1857. ATHETIS BREMUSA.
1856a. ATHETIS HIMALEYICA.

Caradrina himaleyica, Koll. Higel’s Kaschmir, iv.,p. 479 (1844),

Hmpsn. Cat. Lep. Phal. B. M. viii., p. 335
pl. 130, f. 6.
5 arenacea, Moore, P. Z.8., 1881, p. 349.

Head, thorax and abdomen grey-white slightly irrorated with brown ;
palpi black, white at tips; antenne blackish except at base; tarsi black
ringed with white. Forewing grey-white slightly tinged and irrorated
with brown; subbasal line represented by a small black spot on costa;
antemedial line indistinctly double, minutely waved, oblique, with black
spot on the outer line at costa; orbicular a brownish point; reniform a
narrow lunule defined by rufous, with some fuscous at lower extremity, two
white points on inner edge and three on outer and a rufous point beyond
it at middle ; medial line with black spot at costa, oblique to the reniform
and sinuous from lower angle of cell to inner margin; postmedial line
indistinct, with black spot at costa, bent outwards below costa, then
minutely waved and with some black points beyond it on the veins, in-
curved below vein 4, some white points beyond it on costa with slight
black streak between them ; subterminal line whitish, defined on inner side
by small somewhat dentate rufous marks, angled outwards at vein 7 and
excurved at middle; the terminal area suffused with fuscous; a terminal
series of minute black lunules; cilia with a fine whitish line at base.
Hindwing white slightly tinged with reddish brown, especially on the
veins and terminal area; cilia white; the underside with the costal and
terminal areas irrorated with brown, a small discoidal spot, postmedial
series of minute streaks on the veins, and terminal series of small black
lunules. d

Habitat.—W. Cutna ; Kasumir, Goorais Valley, Scinde Valley ; PunsaB,
Kulu, Dalhousie, Dharmsala, Umballa; StkHim Tiset, Yatong; SIKHIM.
Exp. 32-36 mill.

1856. ATHETIS FUSCICORNIS.

Caradrina fuscicornis, Rmbr. Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1832, p. 286, pl.
9,f. 5; Dup. Lép. Fr. Suppl. iii. pl 29, f.
4; Staud. Cat. Lep. pal., p. 196.
Noctua kadenit, Frr. Neue Beitr. Schmett. ii., p. 147, pl. 186 (1836);
Fisch. von. Rosl. Schmett, pl. 36, ff. 2.; a. b.;
Dup. Lép. Fr. Suppl. iii., pl. 29, ff. 2, a. b.; Herr.
Schaff. Eur. Schmett. Noct. f. 408; Staud. Cat.
Lep. pal. p. 197.
Caradrina proxima, Rmbr. Faun. And. pl. 18, f. 7 (18389).
variabilis, Bell. Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. 1865, p. 104, pl. 2
flecks

= 3

THE MOTHS OF INDIA. 44]

Craradrina farinacea, Moore, P. Z.8., 1888, p. 411.

1861. ATHETIS OBTUSA.

1862, ATHETIS SINCERA.

1859a, ATHETIS PLACIDA.

Radinacra placida, Moore, Lep. Cey]l. iii. p. 30, pl. 147, f. 4 (1884).

Head, thorax and abdomen pale rufous mixed with greyish ; palpi black,
white at tips; antennez black; tarsi black ringed with white. Forewing
greyish suffused with rufous and with slight dark irroration ; subbasal line
slight, dark, curved, from costa to submedian fold; antemedial line very
indistinct, oblique, sinuous ; orbicular a black point; reniform indistinct
diffused, blackish, constricted at middle, with an ochreous point on its
outer edge and slight whitish points round it ; traces of a dark medial line,
oblique from costa to reniform and sinuous below the cell ; postmedial line
slight, blackish, bent outwards below costa, then minutely dentate, in-
curved below vein 4; subterminal line defined on inner side by blackish
suffusion, minutely dentate, excurved below vein 7 and at middle; a ter-
minal series of black strie. Hindwing white, the apex slightly tinged
with brown ; the underside with the costal area tinged with ochreous, a
dark discoidal point and postmedial points on the veins from costa to
vein 4,

Habitat.—Cryton. Erp. 26-30 mill.

1854. ATHETIS COGNATA.

1865. ATHETIS BICORNIS.

18595, ATHETIS VICINA.

Caradrina vicina Staud. Berl. Ent. Zeit., 1870, p. 118; Hmpsn
Cat. Lep. Phal. B. M., viii, p. 355, pl. 130, f. 28,
Staud. Cat. Lep. pal., p. 196.
$5 belucha, Swinh., Trans. Ent. Soc., 1885, p. 348, pl. 9,f. 2.
» syriaca Stand. Iris. iv, p. 294 (1892).
» Jergana Staud. Iris. iv, p. 294 (1892).

6. Head and thorax ochreous white slightly irrorated with red-brown ;
palpi with black-brown patch at side of 2nd joint; tarsi blackish ringed
with white ; abdomen white. Forewing yellowish white slightly irrorated
with brown, the terminal area suffused with fuscous brown; subbasal
line represented by black strize from costa and median nervure; anteme-
dial line blackish with black spot at costa, oblique, interrupted; orbicular
a small round brown spot; reniform a small lunule defined by blackish;
medial line with black spot at costa, oblique to reniform, slightly sinuous
from cell to inner margin; postmedial line much interrupted, with small
black spots at costa. Submedian fold and inner margin strongly bent
outwards below costa, slightly incurved at discal fold, incurved below vein
4, some yellow points beyond it on costa ; traces of a pale subterminal
line, excurved below vein 7 and at middle ; a terminal series of small black

442 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXTI.

lunules ; cilia brownish with a fine pale line at base. Hindwing white,
the veins of terminal area and termen slightly tinged with brown from
apex to vein 2; a fine brown terminal line from apex to submedian
fold; cilia tinged with brown at apex ;the underside with small apical
brownish patch and terminal series of small blackish lunules from apex to
vein 2.

Q. Forewing with the terminal area hardly suffused with fuscous except
before subterminal line.

ab. 1. Fergana. Forewing more distinctly marked but without the dark
suffusion on terminal area . . . Armenia, W. Turkestan.

ab. 2. syriaca. Darker, the |hindwing wholly tinged with fuscous .
Asia Minor, Syria. :

Habitat.—Spain; S. Russia; AnmEnrA; Asta Minor; Syria; Persia ; W.
TURKESTAN; EK. TURKESTAN; BELUCHISTAN, Quetta. Exp. & 30, 9 32 mill

1859c, ATHETIS FLAVITINCTA.

Athetis flavitincta, Hmpsn., Cat. Lep. Phal. B. M., vili,, p. 356,
plo1s0, £22971(:909):

Head and thorax whitish mixed with brownish ochreous; palpi blackish
at sides ; tarsi black ringed with white; abdomen pale red-brown. Fore-
wing whitish tinged with reddish ochreous and irrorated with brown, the
terminal area suffused with pale fuscous; subbasal line represented by a
black point on costa; antemedial line indistinct, double, with black point
on the outer line at costa, then oblique and slightly waved; orbicular
absent ; reniform narrow, faintly defined by fuscous; a diffused curved
waved medial shade ; postmedial line indistinct, double, with black point
on the inner line at costa, slightly bent outwards below costa, then minute-
ly dentate, oblique below vein 4, some pale points beyond it on costa;
subterminal line indistinct, pale, minutely waved; cilia greyish ochreous
mixed with brown and with fine ochreous line at base. Hindwing white
tinged with brown, the veins and termen brown ; cilia white with a brown
line through them from apex to vein 2 ; the underside white, the costal
area irrorated with brown, the termen suffused with brown from apex to
vein 2.

Habitat—PunsaB, Kulu, Sultanpur. Zep. 32 mill.

1859d. ATHETIS STYGIA.

Athetis stygia, Hmpsn. Cat. Lep., Phal. B. M., viii, p. 357,
pl. 130, f. 30 (1909).

Head, thorax and abdomen brown mixed with grey; palpi blackish,
whitish at tips ; tarsi fuscous ringed with whitish. Forewing grey tinged
with brown and thickly irrorated with dark-brown ; subbasal line brown,
curved from costa to submedian fold ; antemedial line brown, angled out-
wards below costa, then obliquely excurved ; orbicular a small round brown
spot with faint pale annulus; reniform elongate elliptical, brown with a

THE MOTHS OF INDIA. 443

faint pale annulus ; a rather diffused dark medial line, oblique from costa
to median nervure, then inwardly oblique; postmedial line indistinct
dark, bent outwards below costa, then dentate and produced to dark points
on the veins, incurved below vein 4, some pale points beyond it on costa ;
subterminal line whitish defined on inner side by red-brown, almost
straight ; a terminal series of slight black points. Hindwing grey suffused
with brown ; a terminal series of slight dark striz ; cilia with a fine whitish
line at base ; the underside whitish thickly irrorated with brown, a black
discoidal lunule and rather diffused curved postmedial line.
Habitat.—Punsas, Kulu, Sultanpur, Simla, Dharmsala, Kalapani. Evp.
26-36. mill.
1857a. ATHETIS BIMACULA.
Nebrissa bimacula, Wik., Journ. Linn. Soe. Zool. vi, p. 194 (1862);
Swinh., Cat. Het. Mus. Oxon. ii, p. 41, pl. 1,
f. 22.
Caradrina terminata, Hmpsn., J. Bom. Soc. Nat. Hist. xi, p.
444 (1897).
1881. ATHETIS VARIANA.

Genus HyPoPEeRIGEA.
Type.

Hypoperigea, Hmpsn., Cat. Lep. Phal. B. M., viii., p. 422
(1909) ae : F Say tonsa

Proboscis fully sevaloned. ae auceeen, seeds the 2nd joint
reaching about to middle of frons and rather broadly scaled, the 3rd
moderate ; frons with rather small truncate cornical prominence with
slightly raised edges and corneous plate below it; eyes large, round;
antennze of male minutely serrate and ciliated, with a ridge of scaled be-
tween them; thorax clothed chiefly with scales, the pro-and metathorax
with spreading crests ; tibiz moderately fringed with hair; abdomen with
dorsal crest at base only. Forewing with the apex rounded, the termen
evenly curved, crenulate ; veins 3 and 5 from near angle of cell; 6 from
upper angle; 9 from 10 anastomosing with 8 to form the areole; 11 from
cell. Hindwing with veins 3:4 from angle of cell; 5 obsolescent from
middle of discocellulars ; 6-7 from upper angle; 8 an a stomosing with the
cell near base only.

A, Forewing with large white or pale patch at base.

a. Forewing with white or pale curved mark from
middle of costa to apex .. sige . albonotata.
6. Forewing with obliquely placed waite Bhiches ae
middle of costa to apex .. ti he .. leprosticta.
&, Forewing without white or pale basal patch,
2024. HyporrERiGEA ALBONOTATA,

444 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Voi. XX1.

Tatache albonotata, Hmpsn., Ill. Het. B. M. ix., p. 96, pl. 162, f. 22
(1893).
» plumbicula, Hmpsn., J. Bomb. Nat. Soc. xvii., p. 475 (1906).
17l7e. HypopRiGEA LEPROSTICTA.
1874. HyPpoPERIGEA TURPIS.
Acontia turpis, Wik. xii, 794 (1857),
Caradrina discophora, Hmpsn., J. Bomb., Nat. Hist. Soc. xiv., p.
204 (1902).

Genus DYSMILICHIA.

Type.
Phalacra, Staud. Rom. Mém., vi., p. 568 (1892), Nec. Wlk.
Lep. 1866 ne : .. gemella,
Milichia, Snell. Tijd. v. Ent., xli, p. 194 (1898), Nec.
Mieg. Dipt. 1830 an .. gemella,

Dysmilichia, Speiser, Berl. Ent. Zeit., ot 25) Ds 140 (1902). gemella.
Proboscis fully developed; palpi suena short, fringed with hair in
front ; frons with truncate conical prominence with raised edges and cor-
neous plate below it; eyes large, round; antennz of male typically ciliat-
ed; build slender ; thorax clothed chiefly with scales and without crests ;
tibize moderately fringed with hair; abdomen without crests. Forewing
short and broad, the apex rounded, the termen evenly curved and not
crenulate ; veins 3 and 5 from near angle of cell; 6 from upper angle; 9
from 10 anastomosing with 8 to form the areole ; 11 from cell. Hindwing
with veins 3'4 from angle of cell ; 5 obsolescent from just below middle of
discocellulars ; 6:7 from upper angle ; 8 anastomosing with the cell near
base only.
18340. DysMILICHIA CALAMISTRATA.
Tlattia calamistrata, Moore, P. Z. S., 1881., p. 348; Hmpsn., Cat.
Lep. Phal. B. M., viii., p. 428, pl. 138, f. 12.
@. Head and thorax rufous mixed with whitish; tarsi ringed with
whitish ; abdomen whitish suffused with rufous. Forewing deep rufous, a
white point at base; subbasal line represented by a white point below
costa; antemedial line represented by a white striga angled outwards
below costa and white points on median nervure and vein 1; claviform
absent ; orbicular round, white defined by black; reniform figure-of-eight-
shaped, with white annulus defined by black, interrupted at middle ; post-
medial line fine, rufous traversing a series of small elongate white spots
defined by rufous, bent outwards below costa, then minutely waved, ex-
curved to vein 4, then incurved, some white points beyond it on costa ;
subterminal line represented by white striz from costa and inner margin,
hardly traceable between those points, excurved below vein 7 and at
middle ; a terminal series of dark striz; cilia with a slight dark line

THE MOTHS OF INDIA. 445

through them. Hindwing whitish suffused with red-brown ; the cilia white
with a brown line near base and brown spots at tips ; the underside whitish
thickly irrorated with red-brown, a slight discoidal spot and curved diffus-
ed brown postmedial line.

Habitat.—S1xuiM ; Assam, Khasis. vp. 26-30 mill.

Genus PROXENUS.

Type.
Prowvenus, Her. Schaff. Eur. Schmett. i1., p. 240 (1845) .. hospes.
Radinogoes, Butl. Trans. Ent. Soc., 1886, p. 393 .. vn) tenes:

Proboscis fully developed ; palpi upturned, the 2nd joint reaching about

' to middle of frons, and moderately scaled, the 3rd short; frons smooth ;

eyes large, round; antennz of male typically ciliated; thorax clothed
chiefly with scales and without crests, build slender; tibize moderately
fringed with hair; abdomen without crests. Forewing long and narrow,
the apex rounded, the termen evenly curved and hardly crenulate; veins
3 and 5 from near angle of cell; 6 from upper angle ; 9 from 10 anastomos-
ing with 8 to form the areole ; 11 from cell. Hindwing with veins 3-4 from
angle of cell or shortly stalked ; 5 obsolescent from middle of discocellu-
lars ; 6°7 from upper angle or shortly stalked; 8 anastomosing with the
cell near base only.

Sect. I. (Provenus)—Mid and hind tibize of male with fringes of pale
hair on outer side, abdomen with lateral fringes of pale hair on basal
seoments.

1889a. PROXENUS DISSIMILIS.

Proxenus dissimilis, Hmpsn., Cat. Lep. Phal. B. M., viii., p. 431
pl. 133, f. 15 (1909)

Head and thorax brown mixed with grey ; palpi black at sides, whitish
in front and at tips; mid and hind tibize of male fringed with whitish hair ;
abdomen grey suffused with brown, the basal segments in male with lateral
fringes of white hair, the genital tufts’ whitish. Forewing glossy brown
irrorated with grey and dark brown; traces of a double waved antemedial
line ; orbicular a dark point; reniform a small lunule slightly defined by
brown; postmedial line indistinct, double, bent outwards below costa, then
waved, incurved at discal fold and below vein 4, the veins beyond it with
dark streak to the subterminal line, which is greyish defined on inner side
by fuscous, angled outwards at vein 7 and excurved at middle; a terminal
series of black points with whitish points between them. Huindwing white,
the apical area and termen to vein 2 tinged with brown; cilia brown to-
wards apex with a fine white line at base; the underside with the costal
area irrorated with brown except at base, a slight discoidal point.

Habitat.—Japan ; Siku1M, 1,800’; S. Bonnzo; PHiLiprInes. Exp. 24-30
mill.

446 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXII,

Sect. II, (Radinogoes).—Mid and hind tibize and abdomen of male normal.
1889). PROXENUS TRISTIS.
Caradrina tristis, Brem. Lep. Ost. Sib.,p. 49, pl. 5, f. 9 (1864) ;
Hmpsn., Cat. Lep. Phal., B. M., viii., p. 437,
pl. 133, f. 23; Staud., Cat. Lep. pal., p. 198.
Hydrilla lugens, Staud. Rom. Mem. vi., p. 490 (1892).

Head and thorax whitish suffused with pale brown ; palpi whitish, fuscous
at tips ; tarsi with slight whitish rings ; abdomen whitish tinged with brown.
Forewing ochreous white suffused and irrorated with brown, the costal
area whiter ; subbasal line absent ; faint traces of a waved antemedial line;
orbicular represented by a small elongate black spot in cell, the reniform -
by minute black lunules on inner and outer sides; postmedial line very
indistinct, bent outwards below costa, then dentate, incurved below vein
4; subterminal line absent; a terminal series of faint dark points. Hind-
wing white, the veins tinged with brown; a fine brown terminal line; the
underside with the costal area irrorated with brown.

Ab. 1. lugens. Dark.

Habitat.—K. Siperia; Kasumir, Goorais Valley, Nubra. zp. 3 30,

Genus STYGIATHETIS.

Type.
Stygiathetis, Hmpsn. Cat. Lep. Phal. B. M., viu., p. 444
(1909) .. Be £e oh ie Mus.

Proboscis fully developed ; palpi upturned, the 2nd joint reaching to
vertex of head and moderately fringed with hair in front, the 3rd long,
oblique ; frons with short truncate conical prominence with raised edges ;
eyes large, round ; antennze of male fasciculate ; thorax clothed with long
hair and hair-like scales and without crests; tibie fringed with rather
long hair ; abdomen clothed with rough hair and with lateral fringes of
hair but without crests, the claspers large. Forewing narrow, the costa
and inner margin subparallel, the apex rounded, the termen evenly curved,
crenulate ; veins 8 and 5 from near angle of cell; 6 from upper angle;
9 from 10 anastomosing with 8 to form the areole; 11 from cell. Hind-
wing with veins 3°4 from angle of cell; 5 obsolescent from middle of dis-
cocellulars ; 6°7 from upper angle ; 8 anastomosing with the cell near base
only.

1888. STyYGIATHETIs MUS.

(To be continued.)

= a
“S

447

A POPULAR TREATISE ON THE COMMON INDIAN.
SNAKHS.

ILLUSTRATED BY COLOURED PLATES AND DIAGRAMS.
BY
Masor F. Wax, I.M.S., C.M.Z.S.
Part XVII with Plate XVII.
(Continued from page 19 of this Volume.)

As already stated in a previous paper (No. XVI of this Series),
the boas and pythons are grouped together in a single family
(Boide). They agree in possessing rudimentary hind limbs, but
the pythons are grouped together in a distinct sub-family
(Pythonnie) characterised by the presence of a bone (the supra-
orbital) which contributes largely to the roof of the orbit. In the
boas on the other hand the roof of the orbit is formed as in colu-
brines, and most other snakes entirely by a lateral expansion of
the frontal bone. The sub-family Pythonnie comprises seven
genera of which one only, viz., Python is represented in our Indian
Dominions. ;

The genus P ython of which our Indian molurus, and the Papu-
asian amethystinus are the types, includes nine species distributed in
Africa (sebe, anchiete, and regius), Malaya (timorensis, reticulatus,
curtus), Australia (spilotes), Papuasia (amethystinus) and Asia
(molurus and reticulatus). The two latter occur within Indian
limits, and are dealt with in this paper.

!
Python molurus (LINNE).
THE INDIAN PYTHON.

History.—Pythons were well known to the ancients, and pro-
bably it was the Indian molwrus among others with which they
were acquainted. In scientific literature the first certain allusion
to our common Indian species, is by Linné who described it
under the name Coluber molurus in 1766. In 1796 Russell figured
it no less than four times in his first volume (Plates XXII, XXIII,

XXIV, and XXXIX).
19

448 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XX1I. i
4

Nomenclature (a) Scientific.—The name Python came into generic i

use in 1803, when Danderi associated this snake with that known —
to the ancients by this name. |

The word Python seems to be derived from the Pythian Vale, in
the mud of which the fabled monster of the Greeks was supposed
to have been generated after the Deluge. Milton* refers to the
event in the following terms :—

“but st7ll greatest he the midst.
Now dragon grown, larger than whom the Sun
Engendered in the Pythian vale on slime
Huge Python ; and his power no less he seemed
Above the rest still to retain.”

Dr. Brewert says the word is derived from the Greek ‘ puthes-
thai’ to rot, because the monster after being killed by Apollo was.
left to rot in the sun. The scene of the tragedy—Mount Parnas-
sus—was immortalised by the erection of Delphi, the famous shrine
of Apollo.

(b) Hnglish.—It is almost always known to the Anglo-Indiam
as the python, but sometimes is spoken of as the rock snake, by
no means an appropriate name.

(c) Vernacular.—Throughout India it is pretty generally call-
ed “ ajgar ’ the Hindustani for dragon, but has many other local
names.

In Southern India it is frequently called by the Tamils “ periya
pamboo ”’ which simply means “large snake.” ‘ Malai pamboo ”
or ‘hill snake ”’ is also frequently in use by Tamils, and Father
Bertrand, S.J., tells me in some parts the Tamils call it ‘‘ Kaloodai
viriyan ’’ which means ‘ass viper.” Russell mentions “‘ pedda

poda ”’ as the name it is known by in the Ganjam District. This,

am informed, is the Telugu for “large strikers,” ‘poda”’ being
he noun formed from the verb ‘potu’’ (pronounced more like
‘“‘podu”’) to strike. Father Higglin, 8.J., though has it on good
authority that the word is ‘‘ peda’ ahead, and that ‘‘ pedda peda ‘
means “large head,” or “large serpent.’”’ In Mysore the Canarese

name is ‘“ heba havoo” (large snake), but spoken by a native

* Paradise lost, Book X, line 528. et. seq.
+ The reacer’s handbook of allusions, ets.

Journ.Bombay NatHist.Soc. Plate xVIL

J.G.del. J.Green Chromo
THE COMMON INDIAN SNAKES((Wall)

Python molurus non poisonous, nat. suze

‘

THE COMMON INDIAN SNAKES, 449

the words sound more like “ hebbow.”” The Telugu name about the
same part of India is “‘ dasira pam ”’ a very appropriate one for it, as

the python bears on its head three light, often pinkish stripes

exactly like the three white stripes of the Hindu caste mark
worn on the forehead and called by them <“ dasira.”’ I am told
that about Cuddapah it is known as “ condasella.” <‘‘ Conda”’ is

the Telugu for rock. Russell mentions “ bora”’ as one of its names
but I think this is generally applied in Bengal to the Russell’s viper
and not this snake. The two species being of somewhat similar
build are often confused not only by natives, but by Europeans
too.

In Ceylon ali recent authorities concur in stating that the
Singhalese name for it is ‘“ prinbera.”” The famous John Ray*
however says that the name “ anaconda” is Singhalese, and not
South American as one might suppose. His friend Dr. Tancred
Robinson gave him a catalogue of the Indian snakes he had noted
in the Leyden Museum. No. 8 on this list read as follows:—“ 8
serpens indicus bubalinus anacandaia Zeylonensibus, id est buba-
lorum aliorumque jumentorum membra conterens.’’ Colonel Yule+
says he can find no mention of the name anaconda in old South
American literature, and suggests that it is derived from the

Singhalese ‘“‘ anai”’ elephant, and ‘‘ kondra”’ which vanquished.
I have failed to get any confirmatory evidence on this subject
from Ceylon.

The Burmese throughout their Province call it ‘“‘ Sa-ba-ohn.”’

In South China I heard it called “ hiang-zo ” meaning “ aroma-
tic snake,” a name probably suggested by its cooking flesh, since it
is very savoury fare according to Chinese ideas. Swinhoet mentions
the name “ vang ” which is in common use among the Chinese in
the Island of Hainan.

General characters.—The python is an extraordinarily massively
built snake, and its development perhaps the most remarkable
character it exhibits. Its girth relative to its length considerably |
exceeds that of all other snakes, except its own close allies. The
body is thickest in the middle, reduces perceptibly towards the

* Syn. animal-quad. et Serp. 1693, p. 332.
+ Hobson Jobson- t Nat. Hist. of Hainan, 1870.

450 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

head, and the anus. It is rounded in outline, smooth, and if the
snake is in good condition glossy. Themneck is distinct. The
head is very distinctly flattened, has a remarkably long snout fully
four times the length of the diameter of the eye in adults, and a
faint indication of a Canthus rostraks. The nostrils are large,
open, directed upwards and placed high on the snout. The eye is
very small, with an iris finely sprinkled with gold, and a vertical
pupil. The rostral shield and the two first supralabials are deeply
pitted or furrowed, a peculiarity only seen in this genus among
Indian snakes. What these depressions really are, it is difficult
to say, but I have noticed in dissecting out skulls that very highly
developed nerves run through foramina in the maxilla corres-
ponding with these pits and appear to me to ramify subcuta-
neously in them. It would appear from this that they may be
sensory organs. Beneath the chin is a longitudinal furrow, the
mental groove. The tail is short and prehensile, tapermg rapidly
and is about one-seventh to one-eighth the total len eth of the
snake. Above the anus on each side is a carved claw-like process,
the termination of the rudimentary limb, and which is more highly

developed in the male.

Colour and markings.—On the head these vary a good deal
with age, and in all individuals vary much according to whether
desquamation has been recently completed, or is impending. The
ground colour is greyish, whitish, or yellowish in adults, and of-
ten a very pretty shade of pink, in the young especially. There is
a dark streak from the nostril to the eye in the young which
often is completely obliterated in later life. Behind the eye at all
ages is a conspicuous, dark, oblique band to the gape, and a more
or less conspicuous patch below the eye tending to become obscure
with age. On the front part of the lower lip there is often some
fine mottling. On the back of the head and the nape is a large
lance-shaped mark bisected in the median line, but this often fades
so much anteriorly in adults that the similitude to a lance is more
or less effaced. The light bisecting band, together with similar
light bands, one of which passes over each eye-brow—especially
distinct in the young—are very suggestive of the ‘dasira” mark
already alluded to under vernacular nomenclature.

THE COMMON INDIAN SNAKES. 451

Dorsally the body is greyish or yellowish, and bears a series of
large, somewhat roughly quadrate, patches extending from the
neck on to the tail. These patches which are centrally much the
same colour as the ground are well defined outwardly, and broad-
ly outlined with black or blackish, and it is here that those lovely
bluish and amethystine hues are seen in certain lights which
show off the snake to such advantage, and which many an artist in
the Royal Academy has tried, with varying degrees of success,
to depict. Outside this median series of marks is another small
series of a similar character, and outside this again a third some-
times, much less regular and smaller and mixed up with a coarse
mottling extending into the flanks. The underparts are dirty-
whitish, or faintly yellow. Seen in the sun’s rays the iridescent |
effects on the dorsal patches defy alike the author’s powers of
description and the painter’s art of reproduction. Virgil’s* des-
cription however of the snake that encircled the tomb of
Anchises, and which Kennedy has so graphically rendered in
English verse as follows, leaves no doubt, but that it is a python
that is indicated, and as likely as not our Indian species molurus.

“ Searce had he said when from the shrined base a slippery snake trailed
huge seven coils, in each seven folds; and circling tranquilly the tomb
slid o’er the altar; dark blue streaks its back lit up, its scales a sheen of
spotted gold as (when the sun shines opposite) the bow darts from the
clouds a thousand varied hues.”

‘Circling tranquilly ’’ and the comparison of its colours to that
of the rainbow are so graphic that one feels Virgil must have seen
a python moving with the sun glancing upon its scales.

Identification.—The Python isa very easy snake to identify.
The pits in the first two ¢ upper labials will serve to distinguish it
from every other Indian species. Only one other has those
pits at all and this is its ally P. reticwlatus which has the first three
or fowr shields pitted. In case the head has been too mutilated to
be certain of this point, attention should be directed to the costals,
There are only three Indian snakes with the rows exceeding 50 in
midbody, viz., Eryx johni, P. molwrus, and P. reticulatus which are

* Aneid Lib. V line 84, et. seq.
7 Care must be taken not to count the pits on the foremost shield—the rostral.

452 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol, X_XI,

easily separated by the number of ventral shields, 7.¢., from throat —
to vent. In Hryx they are 192 to 210, in molurus 242 to 265,
and in reticulatus 297 to 330.

Dimensions.—It is difficult to say with certainty to what length
the python may attain. It seems probable that many of the great
lengths given by travellers and sportsmen were guessed at, and
the snake not actually measured. The creature is very thick
relatively to its length, perhaps three or four times the girth of a
Russell’s viper of similar length, and five or six times that of a
dhaman (Zamenis mucosus). If a python’s length were judged from
its girth, the estimate would grossly exceed the real measurement.

Specimens of 10 feet are not very uncommon, as will be seen
from the following records, and there is little doubt that it exceeds
20 feet. In this Journal * Ferguson records an 18 foot one from the

_Ashambu Hills, and Major Begbie + one of a similar length killed
near Baksa Duars. Other specimens of like proportions have been
recorded by the late D. Ferguson in Ceylont, and in the Pioneer
from Rajshai (Rajapur).{ I saw the skin of a specimen of the
same length in the possession of Mr. A. M. Harry in Assam.
Mr. Prince of the King’s Own Shropshire Light Infantry shot a
female in the United Provinces in 1906 which measured 18 feet
3 inches. In Land and Water (August 10th, 1866 or 67?) one is
mentioned irom Mussoorie of 18 feet 9 inches. Tennent** refers
to a specimen brought him in Ceylon that taped 19 feet. Another
reported of a similar length was encountered by Captain George
and Mr. Delsuage when shooting in Ceylon. This was captured
and brought to Colombo, and exhibited in 1885 when I saw it.
Jerdon ff saw a 19 foot specimen killed in Travancore, and
Dr. Elmes told me of one he shot in Assam (N. Lakhimpur Dis-
trict) of the same size. A specimen measuring 19 feet 2 inches in
our Society’s collection, shot by the late Maharajah of Cooch Behar

* Vol. X, page 69.

+ Vol. XVII, page 1021.

t Rept. fauna, Ceylon, p. 22.

{ 3rd July 1907

** Nat. His. of Ceylon, II, p. 153.

t7 Journ. As. Soc., Bengal, XXII, p. 526.

THE COMMON INDIAN SNAKES. 453

in Assam was originally reported in this Journal * as a Malayan
python (P. reticulatus). Captain Percival + says he saw one in
Ceylon 22 feet long, and the specimen mentioned by John Ray,
and stated by him to be in the Leyden Museum was, he states, 25
feet (I have not been able to get confirmation of this from Leyden,
but notice that Dumeril and Bibron refer to one in that Institution
20 feet). Hlliot t claims that it grows to a length of 30 feet, and
if this opinion were confirmed I think India could lay claim to the
two largest species of the genus, for reticulatus is also reported to
attain to a length of 30 feet. Within quite recent times (1905) a
specimen of the latter in the possession of Mr. John Hagenbeck
was, as far as could be ascertained, in life 28 feet. The African
species sebae is also a very large reptile which is recorded up
to 23 feet.

The weight of a python is remarkable, the specimen of molwrus
killed by the Maharajah of Cooch Behar, which measured over 19
feet, scaled 200 pounds (over 14 stone). Mr. John Hagenbeck’s
reticulated python just alluded to weighed 250 pounds.

Haunts.—For the most part the Indian python is a jungle in-
habitant. It may be met with in the interior of the densest forest
tracts, or in sparser forest growth such as that which clothes the
rocky slopes of many low hills. Where jungle is not available
it most usually attaches itself to rivers and jheels, especially the
former. In jungle areas it is frequently observed in trees and at
times at some considerable elevation aloft. It climbs stealthily
but well, and having established itself in the branches secrets
itself so well that it is no infrequent event for a monkey to come
within striking distance, and forfeit its life. By means of its
prehensile tail it is capable of suspending itself from branches,
nearly all of its body remaining free, and there is no doubt that
many an incautious animal comes within reach, and is victimised.
Mr. Sharpe, D. S. P., in the Fyzabad District, told me in 1906
that he once climbed up into a banyan tree in dense jungle with
his shikari, who told him that at that season when the fruit was

* Vol. XIII, p. 718.
+ The Island of Ceylon, 1805, p. 311.
t Rept. Brit. Ass., 1870, Trans., p. 115.

454 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXI,

ripening many animals especially deer visited these trees to eat the
fallen fruit. After having been quiet for some time, he noticed
close to him a movement in what he had up till then taken to be an
aeriol root, but which on closer inspection proved to be a python
suspended by its tail, and evidently established there for the
same purpose that had actuated the sportsman. I have heard of
pythons quartering themselves in hollow trees, and frequenting
those on which egrets and night herons roost, to which at night
the pythons stealthily crept and successfully took toll of.

In water this snake is quite at home, in fact it might be con-
sidered semi-aquatic in habit. It swims deftly and strongly,
when its inclination prompts such activity, but is often to be
observed partially or wholly submerged near the bank of a river,
or jheel. As in captivity, it will lie for hours showing nothing
but the tip of its snout, which is pushed out to raise the nostrils
above the surface, and permit breathing. It can remain
beneath the water entirely for many minutes. Colonel Fife
Jookson * says that observations were made at Regent’s Park
which showed that it could keep entirely submerged for half an
hour. I asked the attendant at Cross’ Menagerie in Liverpool
some years ago to make special observations in this direction, and
he told me later that one kept its head below the water for 11
minutes, and remained above 9 minutes subsequently before again
retiring below. Another kept below 12 minutes, and another 15
minutes.

If only partially submerged in water in its native haunts it
keeps so still that any part of the body exposed is likely to be taken
for a branch or root. My informant at Cross’ Menagerie also told
me that one kept in its bath from Wednesday till Sunday of one
week, and often the sloughing period is passed in their tanks, from
which the snake emerges resplendent in its new attire.

It is evidently a thirsty reptile, and in consequence probably is
often impelled towards water for this reason. The dam in Paris
in 1841 after accomplishing her maternal duties, and suc-
cessfully launching forth her brood, drank eagerly swallowing

* Tiger shooting in the Doon and Ulwar, p. 31.

THE COMMON INDIAN SNAKES. 455

some two tumblerfuls of water, and the young too were observed
to slake their thirsts. In drinking it does not fill the mouth, and
throw back the head like birds, nor does it protrude the tongue
and lap, but puts its mouth to the water, and imbibes like a
mammal, the gulping movements of the throat being plainly

visible.
Occasionally the python has been reported at sea, but it is

probable that it has drifted thence on a log, or in the current of a
flooded river. It shows no special affection for the sea.

Habits.—In spite of its cat-like pupil the python is very much
on the alert during the day time, and very frequently when
encountered in its native haunts is found in the act of swallowing
some animal captured in broad daylight. On the other hand it is
frequently on the move at night, for on many occasions where it
has entered a poultry run, its depredations have been committed
under cover of darkness.

Its size, beauty, and placid disposition make it a welcome addi-
tion to the snake charmer’s stock-in-trade, so that scarcely a
member of the fraternity is without one. It is therefore in India
a very familiar creature to everyone. The juggler produces his
specimen with some ostentation from a bag or basket, seeking to
impress the on-lookers, and he trades upon the public’s natural
fears, for if one comes forward too close to inspect the creature, it
is more than likely that the owner affects the greatest alarm for
his safety, as though to foster the belief already prevalent in the
assembled throng that it is to him, and him only that the snake
is a peacefully inclined and harmless creature.

The python in all parts of India where there is an attempt at a
cold season hibernates, retiring for some months to any convenient
retreat, a hollow tree, or hole in a bank, or, in the hills, any
natural crypt or cave of convenient size. In Dibrugarh once I
found one in February beneath a log on the banks of the
Brahmaputra. It was extremely somnolent. ‘Sometimes one
hears of several congregating in the same retreat. In the
Pioneer (19th February 1906) is an account of six pythons being
discovered in a cavity in the bank of a stream in Mysore. One
after another was seized and dragged out and all ranged between 10

2!)

456 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXI

and 12 feet inlength. I have also read of a similar occurrence in
the Himalayas, though I cannot now lay my hands on the reference.
A python was observed in a cave, and the raconteur with his Gurkha
orderlies succeeded in extricating several, three or four, if I can rely
on my memory.

It seems to me remarkable that in Southern India the python
does not hibernate in ‘the Plains, at least Colonel Dawson tells
me it does not in Travancore, and Dr. J. R. Henderson says it
does not in Madras in captivity, yet in Bombay which can lay
no better claim to a cold season, a specimen caged in our Society’s
rooms hibernated for some months. Phipson* made some very
interesting observations on this specimen at this period. Between
the 21st December andthe 13th of April, a period of 113 days, the
snake refused food, and remained in a very sluggish, sleepy
condition. It was noticed that its temperature fell from 82°F.
(which had previously been the normal) to 73°. Two rats eaten
on the 21st December were retained undigested until the 28th of
_ February when they were thrown up. On ordinary occasions
in the hot weather it had been recorded that a similar meal took
about 8 days to digest. Desquamation during these months of
lowered vitality did not occur, an interval of nearly seven months
elapsing between the sloughing periods, though in the rest of the
year this process was observed four times.

The movements of the python are very laboured and slow, in
fact its mode of progression cannot be called anything but a
crawl. This I believe to be due to the very narrow limits of the
ventral shields, to the extremity of which the ribs on which the
creature moves are fixed. The ribs are in consequence very much
bowed, and only about half the body breadth—the middle two-
fourths—are supported, leaving one-fourth overlapping each side.
During progression waves of motion can be seen beneath the
skin following one another in quick succession, corresponding to
the movement of the ribs beneath, and reminding one of a
similar series of wave-like successions seen in the legs of centi-
pedes and millipedes whilst in motion.

Jourl., Bomb. N. H.Soc., Vol. II, p. 166.

ae
a

THE COMMON INDIAN SNAKES. A457

Disposition.—Our Indian python is one of the most lethargic
of snakes, and as such an uninteresting creature in the vivarium.
In captivity it passes the day in lazy apathy, sometimes lying
upon, or partially encircling the branch usually put into its cage,
sometimes convoluted into a heap on the floor, or as frequently
reclining partially or wholly immersed in its bath of water. In any
of these attitudes it is familiar enough to every one who has visited
the reptile house in our various zoological gardens. It is wont to
he for hours together without a movement in spite of the stream
of spectators peering into its cage, and their repeated attempts
usually in vain to rouse it to activity by drumming upon the glass,
flourishing handkerchiefs, and other objects before it. This apathy
many might suppose the outcome of a familiarity which breeds
contempt even in animals that are naturally ofa fierce disposition,
but even in its natural haunts it seems to behave in very much
the same way, exhibiting little if any timidity, rarely rousing
itself seriously to escape, and even when attacked making no
attempt to avenge offence or injury. It thus becomes an easy
victim to those who seek to kill it, or an easy capture to those of
a more courageous and venturesome spirit. Hven the female that
shows such unremitting devotion to her parental duty of incuba-
tion will suffer herself to be captured with her brood of eggs with
little or no remonstrance. In Travancore in 1903 a 15 foot dam,
with eggs as it proved on the verge of hatching, allowed herself
to be boxed, and conveyed to Trivandrum without offering any
resistance. Similarly in Balrampur Mr. Oakes told me that two
large pythons, one a dam incubating eggs, were easily captured
alive and brought in from the jungle, the female continuing her
duties and successfully hatching out her eggs. Six to eight
foot pythons have several times been brought in to me found
basking on a log, or in a boat on the river. These seemingly
allowed themselves to be captured by a coupie of coolies with

little or no attempt at escape, though nothing could have been

easier than one wriggle and ‘a plunge into the water. Father

Dreckman met with one just under 20 pounds in weight when
walking with a friend in jungle. It was seen leisurely crossing
their path. His friend went for its tail, while Father Dreckman

458 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol XX.

negotiated the head, expecting a hard struggle, but except for an
ineffectual snap at his face, the snake allowed its neck to be seized,
and its head to be thrust into a bag, into which the rest of its
body was unceremoniously huddled without remonstrance.
Strength.—It seems very strange that a creature possessing
such a massive and muscular body and such gigantic strength that
it can overpower a leopard with ease, does not show a more aggres-
sive spirit. Few people who have not handled a python in life
can have any conception of the strength at its command. A
brother of mine in the Straits told me he had several times measured
large pythons in life, and that it takes as many coolies as one can
put in the length of the snake to hold it, and even then they were
unable to straighten it properly. Buckland* relates an incident.
which happened off the Coast of Ceylon, where a python effected its
‘footing’ on a ship lying at anchor. When captured it encircled
a water butt on deck, and compressed this so violently that the

staves were contracted so as to allow the middle hoops to fall on —

to the deck.

Food.—The python, as the following remarks will testify, is
practically omnivorous. It feeds on mammals, birds and reptiles
indiscriminately, but seems to prefer mammals of relatively large
proportions.

Its courage and power may be estimated by the fact that it has
been known to overcome and devour a full-grown leopard (Felis
pardus), sustaining but trivial injuries in the encounter. Thus
Major Begbie in this Journalt related the circumstances leading
to the death of a python by coolies, which subsequent dissection
showed had eaten a leopard measuring 4 feet 2 inches from nose
torump. The snake was 18 feet long, and except for seven claw
cuts appeared to have escaped unhurt.

Encounters with tigers also occur, but in the only instances
known to me, the snake had the worst of it. Whether it was the
aggressor in these contests it is impossible to know. Mr. Inverar-
ityt after killing a tiger found some 2 feet 3 inches of the tail

* Curiosities of Nat. Hist., p. 182.
+ Vol. XVII, p. 1021.
t The Great Thirst Land, p. 147.

THE COMMON INDIAN SNAKES. 459

end of apython inthe stomach. Another proof of a similar
encounter is through Professor Von Linston * who found a tape-
worm taken from the intestine of a tiger killed in the United
Provinces, was of a species known to inhabit the python, which it
must previously have eaten.

Many are the records of its having eaten deer. Jerdont mentions
one having eaten a cheetal (Cervus axis). Dr. Elmes told me
that he saw a hog deer (C. porcinus), cut out of a python
killed by a neighbour, and the horns he thought must have been
fully a foot long. The 18 footer that Mr. Harry had killed on
his estate in Assam had swallowed a barking deer whose horns
were four inches or more long. Mr. Copeland had a 15 foot snake
killed on his estate while | was in Assam, which was proved to
have swallowed a hog deer.

The Rev. Cortets, 5.J., wrote to me of a sambur fawn (0. uni-
color) being devoured whilst the dam stood by helpless. Tennent
mentions a chevrotain (Tragqulus meminna) being eaten by one in
Ceylon. Colonel Channert{ recorded one in this Journal that had
killed a langur monkey which lay in its coil at the time of encounter.
The snake proved to be 12 feet 10 inches long. The attendant at
Cross’s Menagerie in Liverpool told me that one of their pythons
got loose, and ate a monkey with the collar and chain that were
attached to it, on which account probably it disgorged its meal
some two days later. In the Pioneer of the 13th July 1907, an
18 foot python, killed at Raj Shahi, was found to have eaten a
jackal (Canis aureus).

In the Philosophical Transactions, a gentleman is reported to
have found a snake on an Island near Bombay lying dead with
the quills of a porcupine (Hystrix leucura) sticking out through its
ribs. We may assume that the snake was a python, as no other
Indian species could swallow such an animal. I have also seen
masses of porcupine quills that had passed in the dung of pythons.
These softened by the digestive juices had been matted into

* Ind. Mus. Ree. II, pt. 1, p. 108.

t+ Jourl. As. Soc. Bengal, XXII, p. 526.
+ Vol. IX, p. 491.

G Vol. XLII, 1744, p. 371.

460 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol, X1X.

masses which were hard to unravel, the quills having regained
their texture after drying.

In The Field of 21st December 1907, Mr. Thwaites relates
having seen a python in Ceylon spring at a hare (Lepus nigricollis)
that was racing by. Ferguson in this Journal* reports an 8
footer at Quilon that had killed a kid.

Birds are frequently preyed upon by this snake. Mr. Thwaitest
mentions a peacock in the coils of a python in Ceylon, and
Colonel Evanst knew one in Burma eat a pheasant (Genneus
lineatus). One when I was in Dibrugarh was killed in the act of
swallowing achicken. Mr. Staunton killed one in Assam that
had swallowed three of his ducks, and another made an unwelcome
visit to Dr. Elmes’ fowl-house, accounting for five ducks, four
fowls, and one pigeon of his stock, all of which had been swallow-
ed, giving the snake a beaded appearance. Dr. Elmes shot
another which he saw lying in a bhil (lake) and found the follow-
ing in its stomach:—two large and two small water rats, and two or
three toads. Reptiles sometimes furnish the repast. Mr. Millard
in this Journal { records one in our Society’s rooms swallowing a,
monitor lizard (Varanus bengalensis), a rat, and two frogs in quick
succession. In its native jungles it sometimes comes into conflict
with other large snakes, for Mr. Donaghey told me that coming
back to camp one day in Burma his coolies produced two snakes
which they said they had discovered fighting, and which they killed.
These proved to be a Python moluwrus, and a hamadryad (Naia
bungarus). They reported that the python had closed its jaws on
the hamadryad and secured it fast. I saw and examined the two
skins. The hamadryad measured 10 feet 34 inches, and the
python 7 feet 11 inches. In the former skin at the junction of
the middle and the posterior third was a rent 34 inches long
corresponding to the python’s grasp. It is impossible of course
to surmise which was the aggressor in the fight, but the python
though smaller was giving a good account of itself.

The most curious meal that I have had reported to me was a
double handful of earthworms, and a handful of the berry called

* Vol. X, p. 69, + The Field, 21st December 1907.
t Bom. N. H. Jourl. Vol. XVI, p. 520. J Vol. XVI, p. 757.

THE COMMON INDIAN SNAKES. 461

by natives ‘‘jaman”. My informant was Mr. J. H. Mitchell, a
planter in Assam.

In captivity the python usually eats heartily and frequently,
accepting anything that is offered, as the following annual bills of
fare will show :—Phipson* says one in Bombay ate 23 rats, 8 hens,
3 crows, and | kestrel. One in Madras} ate 82 jerboas, but would
not touch house rats; another ate 59 jerboas, 8 squirrels and 2
quails ; a third accounted for 37 rats, 21 squirrels and 3 quails.

In Travancore one ate a spotted deer and 11 fowls; another 1
nilghai fawn, 1 hare, 1 rabbit, 13 fowls, and 1 pond heron; a
third ate 14 fowls and 1 crown pigeon; a fourth 2 dogs, 2 hare
wallabies, 2 bandicoots, and 54 fowls, a fifth 4 bandicoots, 19
fowls, and | spotted dove, and a sixth 1 hare wallaby, 1 bandicoot
and 15 fowls.

It not infrequently happens that where two are caged together
both strike at the same animal, and begin to shallow from opposite
ends till their noses meet, when if one does not relinquish its
hold, one gets its jaws over the other and swallows its mate.
This happened once in Regent’s Park and once in our Society’s
Rooms{ when both struck at the same partridge, and similar
occurrences have been reported in other institutions where snakes
are kept.

The young which hatched out in Travancore are reported to
have eaten the rats offered to them.

One sometimes hears of human beings being swallowed by
pythons, but though I have collected several instances of other large
snakes overcoming men I| have no authentic instance of this snake
doing so, but it is amply capable of overpowering the strongest
man. A young EKuropean told me once in Hong Kong that he had
witnessed as a boy with his brothers, a large snake (almost
certainly a molurus) swallow a Chinese baby on Stone Cutter’s
Island in the Harbour. The mother left the child while engaged.

in some work, and the boys were afraid to encounter so formidable _

* Jourl. B. N. H. 8. Vol. II, p. 166. + Kindly communicated to me by Dr. J.
R. Henderson.
t For this information I am indebted to Colonel F. W. Dawson.
4 Jourl. Bomb. N.H. S. Vol. XIV, p. 395.

462 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol XX.

a snake. Major Sealy of the 4th Gurkhas tells me that a reliable
old Gurkha Officer told him that once when officiating at a funeral
pyre, a python emerged from the water hard by, seized the
corpse, and made off with it.

Usually in captivity live animals have until recently been given
to the snakes in various Zoological gardens, but now that it is
known that pythons among other snakes will accept dead food,
the order has changed. The fact that they would eat dead animals
was noted 15 years ago in this Journal by Ferguson* who says
‘they will eat a dead rat, or rabbit, just as readily as a live one.”
He further states that under these circumstances it makes no
attempt to constrict, but proceeds to swallow at once. In
Regent’s Park for some years now, many of the snakes have been
fed entirely on dead animals.t Dr. Chalmers Mitchell, who paid
special attention to this, says it was not noticed that it made any
difference whether the food was freshly killed, warm, or bleeding,
or if dead for sometime. It was uoticed that in many cases the
prey was not taken until night, and this was particularly the case
when pythons took large animals like goats. He further states
that the pythons showed their readiness to feed by special restless-
ness and activity, often leaving the tanks in which they have been
lying previously, and that they are specially alert when they hear

movements in the passage behind their cages, or when the back |

door are moved, and in the words of the keeper ‘‘ they are asking
for food.ft”

The habit of constricting is characteristic of the whole family—
boas and pythons alike. The snake, roused to activity by the
sight of food, advances towards its prey often with quivering tail
and makes a sudden dash at it with open jaws, which are no
sooner closed upon its victim than it throws a coil or two—accord-
ing to the size of the quarry—round it, holding it as in a vice until
its struggles have completely ceased when it relaxes its embrace
and proceeds to swallow it almost always beginning at the head.
Dr. Chalmers Mitchell says ‘“‘ there appears to be no special attempt
to crush the prey, to suffocate it or to break its bones.” If

* Vol. X, p. 69. t Dr. Chalmers Mitchell, P.Z.S., 1907, p. 785, et seq.

THE COMMON INDIAN SNAKES. 463

certainly agree that there is no attempt to crush with the intention
of breaking bones, and so making the mass more easy to deal with,
but if the victim is not suffocated how is it killed? My belief is
that the vigour of the embrace is such that the victim’s chest is
incapable of expansion, and asphyxia results, or what amounts to
the same thing the heart cannot beat against the pressure to
which it is subjected.

In swallowing a small animal the mouth is widely opened, and
the jaws fixed beyond the head of the victim which is easily
engulfed. Prior to the actual seizure of the head, the python
plays about over it with quivering tongue. It does not slaver over
it as is commonly supposed, but the saliva flowing freely under
the stimulus of food wets that part which has been received in the
mouth, so that if the victim has been disadvantageously seized,
and the snake rejects it to make a second attempt, the part of the
quarry previously injested is coated with saliva.

When the animal is large, the snake seizing the head strives to-
fix its teeth as far back as possible over the victim, when, having
got a firm purchase, the Jaws—six in all and all moveable—work
alternately over the head, one or more ata time relaxing their
hold to be pushed further forward and obtain an extended purchase-
while the others retain the hold already gained. The process is
sometimes a tardy one, and if so the snake is frequently observed
to protrude its wind pipe, so that an inch or even two may be
seen beyond the mouth, beneath the mass that is engaged within
the jaws. This extension of the glottis is however not a peculi-
arity confined to the python, for it has been noticed in several
other snakes, colubrines and vipers.

It is popularly supposed that after a large meal, the python lies
torpid, in a condition of satiety, until digestion has far advanced.
I very much doubt if this is the true explanation of the disinclina-
tion of the snake to move under such circumstances, a disinclination
even greater than it displays at other times. I think it is
much more likely that in many cases the snake is so distended
that it is afraid to move on account of internal injuries it may
receive in the attempt. Undoubtedly accidents do occur which

must end fatally. In the case already referred to where a dead.
21

464. JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XX1I,

snake was found, with the quills of a porcupine it had devoured,
penetrating its flanks between the ribs, it is probable that the
injuries were received whilst moving before the quills had softened’
under the influence of the digestive function. A python already
referred to, which was killed by Mr. Copeland’s coolies in Assam,
refused to move from its refuse in the jungle though surrounded
by a howling mob of coolies. After sometime, the sustained
apathy it exhibited stimulated the courage of the men who advanc-
ed by degrees nearer and nearer till they actually probed it with
sticks and bamboos, and made the situation so untenable that the
snake was forced to bestir itself. In trying to get away the
horns of a hog deer, which it had swallowed, penetrated its flanks.
It was finally despatched, and measured 15 feet. The horns of
the deer were about 7 or 8 inches long. Such accidents are not
very uncommon in snakes of all kinds—from over-distension, or
from mechanical causes, the beak of birds, claws of various
animals, etc.,—and J have collected quite a number of incidents of
the kind.

The old traveller’s stories of pythons, boas, etc., swallowing stags
is not borne out by modern observations. I doubt if a python
ever kills any deer with horns it is not capable of swallowing. If
it does then sooner or later it has to relinquish its victim.
The old books that led one to believe that the stag was
swallowed up to its antlers, which projected from the mouth,
and remained in situ till the head rotted off certainly misled
us. The only way in which the body could be retained, and
the head rejected would be by aslow decomposition (not a digestive
process) separating the head at the neck joint, a process that
would probably take several weeks to accomplish, and would exhaust
even a python’s patience. ‘The body of a stag in such a position
would not reach the stomach, and would not be subjected to any
digestive action, for the saliva is inert to animal tissues. Further
I doubt whether the lung could fulfil its function satisfactorily
even with the small oxygen requirements of a snake, when subject-
ed to the great and continued pressure of a carcass like a stag’s.

The digestive powers of a python depend naturally on its gener-
al health. Phipson found that in the hot weather in captivity

THE COMMON INDIAN SNAKES. 465

small creatures like rats and crows were completely digested in
about 8 days. MeLeod* mentions a goat with horns being
swallowed that took 3 weeks to digest.

In a vigorous snake every part of the animal swallowed is
completely digested except epithelial structures such as hair,
feathers, quills, teeth, the beak and claws, the scales of reptiles,
the cornea, or, in snakes, the disc before the eye which is the
analogue of the eyelids in other animals. Ifthe dung is inspect-
ed these structures will be found massed together, and often
retaining in a wonderful degree the relationship occupied in the
animal injested. In sickly snakes, or in those whose vitality is
impaired, when hibernation is approaching, bones will be found
passed in a more or less imperfectly digested state. In the
excrement also may be seen circular spaces which are believed to
be casts from the snake’s intestine. Similar spaces were observed.
in the coprolites, or fossillised dung of the old reptilian monsters—
icthyosaurus and plesiosawrus—by Buckland, who remarks upon
them in his Bridgewater Treatise.

Mr, Kinnear tells me they are frequently asked by visitors to
our Nociety’s rooms, if pythons reject the horns of deer and stags
eaten. I cannot speak positively upon this point, which however
is one that could easily be demonstrated in our Society’s rooms
using goats as victims. I have never heard it suggested that they
disgorge the horns, but this is one of the many points touched
upon in this paper about which I feel many of our readers could
give more satisfactory information than my limited experience
permits me to dilate upon. I believe however that the horns
like other epithelial appendages are passed intact in the dung.

Though we have shown that the python as a rule feeds well in
captivity, sometimes it will refuse food for long periods, and with-
out suffering perceptibly. Ferguson} records one that fasted for
over a year in the ‘Trivandrum Gardens, but changed its skin
more than once, and always looked glossy and in perfect health.
After this fast it ate a white rat, and later again two more.

* The Voyage of H. M.S. « Alceste.”
fT Jourl. Bomb.N. H. Soc., Vol. VI., p. 424.

466 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XX,

Uses.—In the arts, the skin of the python, in common with the
skins of other snakes and lizards, is made up in various ways, as
reticules, purses, letter cases, etc., but for trade purposes it is
but sparingly used owing to the difficulty in procuring skins in
any quantity. Nearly all large specimens are skinned by those
who kill them, the skins being retained as trophies which one
frequently sees adorning the walls of bungalows in this country.
Sometimes these are cut up, and I have more than once seen belts
made of them.

All through the East certain natives regard the flesh of this
snake very highly, and I can quite believe that it may be excel-
lent. The traveller D’Albertis when in New Guinea shot a closely
allied snake to the python (Inosis alberiisii) 19 foot long, which
he tasted when the natives with him had cooked it for their own
purposes. He said that it was “not so bad” though tough and
too sweet, but pronounces the soup made from it as excellent.
Only recently it was reported in the papers that at a fashionable
dinner in Paris, as a novelty, python steaks were served and
reported ‘‘ very good.”’ In Southern China I know it is eaten as
a great delicacy. In Burma the Karens and Burmese both regard
it as excellent fare, and no python met by them is likely to be
spared for this reason. In Travancore Colonel Dawson tells me
the hillmen eat the snake and its eggs too. In Land and
Water (August 10th, 1867) a correspondent says that a gipsy tribe
in the Dun eat pythons, and Mr. Mackinnon tells me that there
is a tribe called Myhras inhabiting the Dun that are ophiophagous.
Many Indian people are snake-eaters, and as such are not likely
to disdain the flesh of the python. Such are the Santhals, who
occupy a strip of country between the Ganges and the River
Baitarani, the Oraons or Dhangars, and Kols of Chota Nagpur,
the Garos of the Garo Hills, Assam, the Nats, a nomadic gipsy caste,
the Chentsus of the Nallamalley Hills, the Kanjars of the United

Provinces, and according to a Mr. Edwin, who wrote to a London |

paper in 1768, the Ceylonese too, and doubtless there are many
others.

These same races attribute all sorts of virtues to the internal
organs and fat. The specimen shot on its eggs near Colombo

THE COMMON INDIAN SNAKES, ; 467

Mr. Jausz told me had all its fat carefully collected for use in cuts
and abrasions, sprains, etc. Colonel Dawson tells me that in
Travancore the fat is used locally for sprains, fractures, bruises and
rheumatism, and internally for leprosy. In Burma the. gall
bladder is prized, and its contents used medicinally. .

Breeding (a) season.—From what is known of the period of
gestation, and the season when eggs are deposited, the mating season
is in December, January and February, the coldest months of the
year when we know that the python, at any rate in Northen India,
is hibernating. We have already seen the effect on the vitality
of the snake during this period, which is reduced to the extent
that the body heat is sensibly diminished, and the capability for
digestion lost. Under the circumstances it is most remarkable
that the inclination for sexual indulgence is retained, and yet this
conclusion is in perfect agreement with that observed by me in
other snakes that hibernate. One must assume that pythons
retire in pairs, and that the female is gravid when the term of
hibernation is spent. In Paris in 1841 the pair that mated were

observed ‘‘in copula”’ several times during the month of January
and February and eggs were deposited in May, i.e., the season
when eggs are laid in India.

Period of gestation.—From the foregoing it will be seen that the
period from mating to the deposition of eggs is about 3 or 4
months. ;

Our Indian python is oviparous* and lays from 8 to 100
eggs, 107 being the largest brood | have any knowledge of. These
are discharged in the hot months, March, April, May and June,
The eggs are usually described as being the size of goose
eggs, but the only accurate measurement I have been able to
procure is from the Director of the Berlin Aquarium who tells me
they are 12 c.m. x 6c. m. (42 x 22 inches), no doubt they vary
somewhat. They are white in colour, soft, and equally domed at the
poles.

After deposition the female coils herself around them, and has
been observed so in captivity, and in a state of nature. As far as

“The African species regius is viviparous.

468 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NA TURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XX.

I am aware she appears to be generally alone during this period, I
have only once heard of her mate being seen anywhere near her,
and I have several records of pythons found lying up with eggs in
jungle and being killed, and with one exception no mention has
been made of another snake being found close at hand. The eggs
are laid sometimes more or less in the open, the dam proving rather
a conspicuous object to the shikari. Sometimes the female retires
into a hole in a tree, beneath a fallen tree or in a termite’s nest,
one in the latter situation having been found near Colombo some
years ago. Several interesting observations have been made during
‘the period of incubation. The dam’s temperature during the event,
which happened in Regent’s Park in 1881, was recorded several
times, and compared with that of a male in an adjoining cage. It
was always rather higher being about 19-4 to 5° Fahrenheit in
excess of the male.* In this case the female having once settled
herself around the egg remained there for six weeks without taking
food, only leaving the eges once for a few hours. In Paris too in—
1841 it was reported that the dam refused food and drink during
the whole period which lasted 58 days. When the young were
hatching she drank about two tumblers of water. Her task ac-
complished it was noted that she took little or no notice of the
young brood.

Period of incubation.—Vhough several pythons have laid eggs in
captivity, in various Institutions, the eggs have frequently beén
sterile, or when fertile for some cause have failed to hatch. In
Paris however in 1841 the incubation was brought to a successful
conclusion, the period being 58 days. The 15 eggs were laid on
the 6th of May, and on the 3rd of July eight. hatchlings emerged
out of the nine fertile eggs. (Giinther, Rept. Brit. Ind., p. 330. I
have seen it stated elsewhere on the authority of Dumeril that

one hatched on the 3rd July, and eight more during the next four
days.)

* P.Z 8.1881, p. 960,

THE COMMON INDIAN SNAKES. 469:

Young.—The hatchlings referred to already, acquired in Tra-
vancore, measured on an average 2 feet 5 inches.* In Regent’s
Park in 1881, the eggs which had been incubated for six weeks
were found to be decomposing, and the contained embryos were
then 11 inches long. The young hatched in Paris in 1841 are
reported to have sloughed in from 10 to 14 days, prior to which
they refused all food.

Growth.—The Travancore brood, it is reported, grew 11 inches in
4 months, and it would appear from this that growth in early life
is more rapid than later, for Colonel Pollock+ states that a speci-
men he had that was 12 feet long when he got it, grew about 3 feet
in 2 years. ‘The smallest incubating or gravid female with which
tf am acquainted was 11 feet long. This was shot on her eggs in
April 1903 near Colombo, and I measured the skin which was in the
possession of a Hurasian lad, an enthusiastic collector and lover of

snakes. It is difficult to say precisely at what age this length

would be attained, but I estimate that the snake would be beginning

its sixth year. I find that most snakes double their length in the
first year of life, so that a specimen 24 feet when hatched would
be 5 feet at the end of the first year. If one allows a growth of
3 feet for 2 years, the rate given above by Colonel Pollock, 11 feet,
would be attained at the end of the 5th year of life. A specimen
in Regent’s Park was 12 feet long when her eggs were laid. After
maturity considerable growth continues for some years in most
cases, but in captivity some examples grow little if at all after
acquiring a length of 12 feet orless. Thus a specimen captive in
Travancore for 12 years 9 months measured but 94 feet when it
died. §

Age.—Very few records.seem to have been made of this in-
teresting matter. Gunther however mentions a python attaining
the age of 19 years in Regent’s Park. It was 4 years old when
acquired, and lived a further period of 15 years in captivity.
The various breeding events known to me are tabulated as fol-

* The Field, 3rd October 1903.
+ Sporting days in Southern India, p. 223.
§ The Field, 16th March 1904.

470 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol, XXTI,

t
2

lows, but I have been most unfortunate in failing to get details of

many events I applied for to the various Institutions concerned..

S : os :
E SE et
cot ep Qa Get
} } :
Bue so sate a Remarks and Authority.
u Pp ° ~~ « ~
2} ae! m qa tel) ’
ou S) oo qa 4
> A = J .
|
Observed “in copula” several times |
Paris 15 M 5 in January and _ February.
1841 ay! Eggs deposited 6th May, 9 hatch-

ed, 8on 3rd July (Ginther, p. 330).

; Eggs deposited 5th and 6th June.
hea er suing mee On July 18th embryos 11 inches
long (P. Z. S. 1881, p. 960).

Madras 1901 8 i” .. |My informant Dr, J, R. Henderson.

° Found in termite’s nest. I examined!
é
Colombo 1903 60 April 11 +} 1 i :

Wien dauen Found in jungle. Eggs hatched, the
Tate 40 a 15° young averaging 2 ft, 5 inches.
(The Field, 3rd October 1908),

Two found at close quarters, ¢ and

Balrampur, U. 107 Hot 5 2 both caged, Eggs hatched.
Provinces. season ; (My informant Mr. M. H. Oakes,!
[2D IS22.)

Dam obtained from Calcutta, Eggs
Manchester | 53 or esi ain laid 5th April, non-fertile. (The
1904 54 P Field 30th April 1904, and 11th

i June 1904)
Found in jungle on 7th March.
March | 18/-3" (My informant Mr. Prince, K.S.L.

U. Provinces! 50 to }

1906 100 Infantry. I saw and measured
the skin).

| Found in open jungle. (My in-

Terai. iP May ® formant Mr. Campbell, Commis-

sioner, U. P).

Sloughing—Many observations have been made in various
quarters on this function, which appears to depend upon the
general state of health and vital activities of the snake. I have
already remarked upon the great reduction in temperature
observed by Phipson in a python in our Society’s rooms, during
the period of hibernation, and with the vitality reduced to such

THE COMMON INDIAN SNAKES. 471

a low ebb that the snake was incapable of digesting its food, it is

‘not surprising that there was a coincident abeyance in the
disquamative process during this period. Specimens in Madras,
and Travancore disquamated during the whole year, and appear not
to have hibernated. In India the python sloughs five or six times
annually as will be seen from the following table of records :—

Bl lala :
Year of | slelalelelslel .
Observa-|-¢ |_. ee a|3 a| 8 a(S (S|. ' Authority.
tion, [SVE/ ESS a e/S/F/5/2)e)s a)! S|
Qy S/SIS/a/9/9);9] 8/0 gy 5/5
SIIEIB 5 [RIO IA (AIS |S ISIS i6 (5
1886-87.|..|..|/27)..|17'. .|27 | 10 .|Phipson, Journal
Bom. N. H.S.
II, p. 166.
1895-96.) . ./26;. 18}... .|-<|E9]..}..|..)..]../2.]../Report, Madras
Mus. 1896-97.
1896-97.}. .}12).. EN 5 FAG ale (eal hca( Do.
|
1897-98.|..| 6 ss S152 i A Boe Moen al ea Do.
|
1900-01.)..|.. 22). .|..)28)..]..]..| 4)../29)..|../Erivandrum. Col.
| Dawson in epis-
tola.
1900-01.}. ./30)..)../26]..].. Do. |
1901-02.|. .|.. ae Nee |. Slat ede 122] eeliKO Do |
OUHO2 Nec lee|s- (2 s( +f] Ol. =| 2 .|21|..|23}..| 6 Do. |
B02 -Oee sel. alsin). -(221-.| Ot. (LE 6 He ah 2 Do
1902-03.).. ..fl4}..]. ./26]. ./19]..; 8)..] 9}.. Do.
WOOZ "OS eoieaes| oct (20 tope 2 T3le (26). Spl: Do.
1909-10.)19). .j12)..) 3)../24)..)..)..)..]..! 2)..1380)..]..|Millard, in epis-
bes tola

* Date uncertain.
Parasttes.—The python like most of its kind harbours many
parasites, among which are :— ;
(1) A cestode or tapeworm (Bothridium pythonis) which may
be found in great numbers in the intestine (duodenum), either
free or attached to the mucous membrane. Professor Shipley
found these in a specimen taken at Neligatta, Ceylon.*

*Spol : Zeylanica, Vol. 1, page 49.
22

472 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. X_X1.

(2) A cestode (Solenophorus megacephalus). Von Linstow ft
found this parasite once in the intestine of a tiger killed in the
United Provinces, which proved that the carnivore had recently
devoured a python.

(3) A nematode or round worm (Ascaris attenuata) which
inhabits the intestine. ‘These were found by Von Linstow ¢ in
a python from the United Provinces.

(4) A nematode referred dubiously by Professor Shipley { to —
Ascaris rubicunda. This was found in the left lung of a Ceylon
python.

(5) A linguatulid (Poocephalus moniliformis) also found by
Shipley § in the lung of a Ceylon python.

(6) Captain Patton, I.M.S., tells me that in Southern India he
has frequently found the python infested with ticks (Aponomma
geryast) which fix themselves to the skin between the scales.

In addition to the entozoa and ectozoa above referred to, this
snake harbours—

(7) A blood parasite (Hemogreqarina pococki) discovered by
Sambon inhabiting the red blood cells.|| The intestinal parasites
may become a serious detriment to the health of their host, and

2. 317.

even cost the snake its life as shown by Ferguson.** He says at
one time all the pythons in one cage in the Trivandrum Gardens,
Travancore, died, and showed on post-mortem examination that
they were infested with round worms which in many instances
had perforated the walls of the stomach and intestines.

Fables.—I have already under nomenclature referred to the
Grecian fable of its antochthonous origin.

Dr. Percival in his book on Ceylon (p. 308) says that ihe
python is reputed by the Singhalese to vanquish tigers, buffaloes:
and even elephants, and it may be this fable that originated the
name ‘‘anaconda,”’ which, as stated under nomenclature, appears to

be a Ceylon word.

7 Ind. Mus. Records, Vol. II, Pt. 1, page 108.
f Loe. cit. p. 109.
{ Loc. cit.
§ Loe. cit-
| P. Z. S., 1907, p. 283
** Bombay N. H. Jourl. Vol. X, p. 69.

THE COMMON INDIAN SNAKES. 473

Tennent * tells me that the Singhalese say that when it has
devoured a meal of uncomfortable proportions, it will drag itself
through two closely adjacent trees with the object of crushing
the contained mass. I put this down as a myth, because a great
distension is in itself prone to tax the abdomen to its bursting
power, and under such circumstances trifling mechanical agencies
would still further jeopardise the integrity of the tissues.

Dr. Davy + says that the Singhalese believe that the ‘“pimbera’’
when young was a tic polonga (Russell’s viper) and had poisonous
fangs, but at a certain age it loses these, acquires spurs (rudimen-
tary limbs), and is then metamorphosed into a python. ‘They

suppose further that the “‘ spurs ’’ are poisonous, and it uses them
in striking its prey. Another belief is that the dam twists her
abdomen during parturition, and the males have then to seek and
mate with female noyas, as though there were no other females of
their own kind with which to mate! Novas I take to be nagas or
cobras. Such a belief seems curious in face of the fact which
must be known to them, one would suppose, that the female
incubates her eggs. Colonel Dawson tells me that in Travancore
the natives believe so in the efficacy of the fat of the python as a
healing agent, that they affirm that if a snake is cut in pieces, the
application of the fat to the raw parts effects an immediate reunion
of them.

Distribution.—Ceylon, Peninsula India from Cape Comorin to
the Himalayas, Assam, Burma, but though apparently not in-
habiting Indo-China re-appears in South China, the Malay
Peninsula and Java.

Tts exact limits in North-West India are uncertain, but Murray
records it from Sind (Joongshai, Jerruck) and the Punjab.
Many of our members should be able to give us information as to
whether it occurs in Kashmir. It seems probable that the Indus
demarcates its limits in this part of India. :

Whilst occurring plentifully in Burma, it is not known from the
Andaman-Nicobar Insular group. As regards the Malayan Penin-

* Nat. Hist. of Ceylon, p. 304.
y An Account of the Interior of Ceylon, p. 82.

474. JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

sula and Java further evidence of a confirmatory nature seems
desirable, since Flower (Jourl. As. Soc. Bengal 1899, p. 655)
reminds us of what is very true, viz., that molwrus is found in local-
ities outside its natural range, often being carried thence by
itinerant Indian jugglers. He records seeing one in Bankok which
enquiry elicited had come with a conjurer from India. Pythons too
are accidentally transported in ships occasionally to regions far
removed from their natural haunts. It is far commoner I think
in the plains than in the hills, but ascends to altitudes up to
about 6,000 feet in the Himalayas, and other Indian ranges.

Lepidosis.—Rostral much bwoader than high; in contact with 6
shields, the sutures made with the internasal decidedly shortest ;
impressed with two elongate furrows or pits parallel to and just
below the superior borders.

Internasals.—A pair, the suture between them two-thirds to
three-fourths that between the prefrontal fellows. Prefrontals a
pair, separated from the frontal by a transverse series of small
scales.“ Frontal—Divided longitudinally, as large or rather
smaller than the prefrontals. Swpraocuwlars.—Rather shorter than
the frontal, rather broader than each frontal half. Parietals.—
None, the frontal being succeeded by small scales. Nasals.—In
contact with Ist and 2nd labials. Loreal region occupied by many.
scales. Hye surrounded by many scales hardly deserving the name
of preeoculars, postoculars, etc.

Supralabials 10 to 18, the anterior 2 deeply pitted as shown in
our Plate. Sometimes one (usually the 6th) touches the eye.
Infralabials 18 to 22. Usually some of the anterior and posterior
are indented with small roundish depressions, but those may he
entirely absent. Sublinguals absent, the mental groove being
bordered by 5 or 6 small scales. Costals two heads-lengths behind
heads 54 to 56; in midbody 61 to 75; two heads-lengths before
vent 43 to 45. On the back the scales are longer than broad, but
in the flanks they enlarge till in the last 2 rows the breadth
exceeds the length. The ‘last row is just one-half the breadth of

This is a curious departure from the usual colubrine arrangement of head

shielding but is also seen in the snake Zamenis diadema.

os }

THE COMMON INDIAN SNAKES. 475

the ventrals. Ventrals—242 to 269, narrow, occupying about the
middle third of the belly. Anal—Entire, as broad as the ventrals;
Subcaudals 60 to 72 in pairs. Russell had a specimen which he
figures (Pl. xxxix, Vol. 1.) in which 36 pairs were succeeded by 28
entire shields, and these by 3 more pairs.

Dentition.—Premanxillary 4 small teeth, a pair on each side widely
separated in the median line. Maaillary 18 to 19. The 2nd to
6th or 8th longest, subequal, the rest gradually decreasing in
length. All more or less obliquely set with points directed
inwards, the posterior almost transverse. Palatine 6, first 4:
subequal, and as long as maxillary, last 2 progressively decreasing.
All strongly inclined inwards. Pterygoid 8 to 10, about as large as
the posterior maxillary, strongly inclined inwards. Mandibular 16
to 19, the 2nd to 6th or 8th longest and subequal, the subsequent '
teeth progressively diminishing. Strongly inclined inwards, the
posterior being almost transverse.

Our Plate is in every way excellent, Mr. Green having in this
surpassed all his previous good work.

(To be continued.)

476

A MONOGRAPH OF THE WASPS OF THE GENUS
QOERCERIS INHABITING BRITISH INDIA.

WITH NOTES ON OTHER ASIATIC SPECIES
BY
Row.anpd E. TURNER, F.Z.S., F.E.S.

So much collecting has been done in India, and so many new
species described since the publication of Colonel Bingham’s
volume on Aculeate Hymenoptera in 1897, that I think a further
revision of some of the genera may be useful. In few genera has
the list of Indian species been more increased than in Cerceris,
owing to the extensive collections made by Colonel Nurse and
Mr. Comber near the Baluchistan Frontier. The result, owing
chiefly to the Quetta collection, is the inclusion of a number of
Paleearctic species in the fauna of British India, the mountainous
regions of the North-West Frontier being really part of the Palze-
arctic region. From a study of Colonel Nurse’s collection it
seems to me that the Palearctic species of Cerceris have reached
Quetta by two routes, firstly through Europe and Turkestan, and
secondly from North Africa by way of Southern Arabia and
Baluchistan. ‘T'o the first line belong C. emarginata, Panz., and
C!, funerea, Costa; to the second C. pulchella, Klug., and C. pruinosa,
Morice. Few of the species, if any, seem to be identical with
those from S. W. Persia. At Karachi on the other hand the
species are mainly Indian, or in a few cases representative of,
but not identical with, Palearctic species; many species are
common to Karachi and Deesa, and doubtless belong to the fauna
of the Rajputana region. As Bingham had very little material
from N. W. India, the number of species of Cerceris given in his
work (24), is almost trebled in the present paper.

I have thought it best to give short descriptions of all the
species known to me, as much too little space is given to details
of structure in Bingham’s work, and Cameron’s descriptions are
very scattered and not convenient for reference, and also very
uneven in quality. Colour seems to be an especially plastic

MONOGRAPH OF THE WASPS OF BRITISH INDIA. 477

character in this genus. In series of sects showing peculiar
local colouration, species of Cerceris are included. In hot desert
regions the usual black ground colour tends to disappear
either through the extension of pale yellow markings or by the
substitution of a pale ferruginous colour. This is the case to a
great extent in the neighbourhood of Karachi and to a lesser
degree at Quetta; the same character also appears in Egypt
and Turkestan. In the wet regions of Assam and Burma the

black ground colour is retained, but the usual yellow markings are

replaced in a number of species by a dull brick red. In the

Shillong district species of Cerceris, Crabro, Odynerus, Humenes,
Oclhioxys and a saw-fly which I have not been able to identify were

_ all influenced in this manner. In Tibet at a high elevation the

usual yellow markings tend to be replaced by creamy white,
Cerceris, Odynerus, and an allied species of saw-fly being again
affected. In Australia also the prevalent orange colour is shown
in the same genera, with the exception of the saw-fly, and also in
other genera of Humenidee, more rarely in species of Sphecoidea
of other genera. But in all countries the extent of the colour
in Cerceris is subject to much local variation, and any key to the
species in which colour is used extensively must be unsatisfactory.
I have therefore based my key on that given by Schletterer for
the Palzearctic species of the group, in which structural characters
are used as the basis, and have also thought it well to add several
plates, which will explain the shape of the clypeus and pygidial
area in different species better than can be done in words.

My thanks are due to Colonel Nurse, Mr. Comber and Mr. O. 8.
Wickwar for the supply of specimens for this paper. I have also
been able to make use of the Rothney collection, now in the
Oxford museum, containing many of Cameron’s types, through
the kindness of Professor Poulton; and also the National Collec-
tion at South Kensington, which contains Smith’s and Bingham’s
types. Mr. Bainbrigge Fletcher has also sent the collection of the
genus from the Pusa collection to me for examination.

I have not described species from the male sex, considering that
as a rule it is inadvisable in this genus to make the male the type
of a new species. In my key to the males it should be remembered

478 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

that in some species the sculpture of the enclosed area at the

base of the median segment is subject to considerable variation.

Key to the Indian species of Cerceris.

FEMALES.

99. Cheeks with a stout spine

Cheeks without a spine ..

Clypeus flat ; pygidial area rite need | to
the apex; the spine on the cheeks very long
and stout a5

Clypeus not flat; pean area 1 Bae slightly
narrowed to the apex; the spine on the
cheeks short or of moderate length

Clypeus slightly concave; the spine on the
cheeks moderately long

Clypeus slightly convex; the spine on the
cheeks short ore oe : or 3

Sides of ventral segments 3-5 with erect plates ;
fifth ventral segment recurved at the apex,
with a triangular tooth in the middle

Ventral segments without lateral erect plates ;
fifth ventral segment not recurved and without
a median tooth ..

Fifth ventral segment fulauneadl at a of is
apical angles into a stout, blunt tooth

Fifth ventral segment not produced into a
tooth at the angles a ss a

Second ventral segment with a raised area at the
base “5 oe

Second ventral opnleuit without ‘a raised area
at the base 2” ‘ : :

Clypeus with a free lamina springing tue fie
base

Clypeus without a free lamina or with the ex-
treme apical margin only free

Mesopleure tuberculate or spinose

Mesopleurz without tubercles

Mesopleurz with two well defined tubercles

Mesopleurez with only one well defined tubercle.

. C. inexorabilis Turn.

C. ephippium
Turn.

C. fletchert Turn..

C. mastogaster Sm

C. funerea Costa,.

var pallidopicta
Rad.

C. violacetpennis:
Cam.

MONOGRAPH OF THE WASPS OF BRITISH INDIA. A479

The two tubercles on the mesopleure close

together, another very indistinct above the

intermediate coxze ae: Bb ws .. ©, dentata Cam.
The tubercles far apart, the one above the inter-

mediate coxz acute and bent forward: .. C., quettaensis Cam,
Clypeus convex, with a narrow triangular

truncation from below the middle to the apex C. pulchella Klug.
Clypeus flattened, the apical half subconcave .. C. spectabilis Rad.

Clypeus truncate at the apex .. t bt 13
Clypeus more or less emarginate at the apex .. 23
Lamina of the clypeus free at the apex - .. CC. melaina Turn.
Clypeus without a free lamina at the apex... 14
Clypeus subconcave from the base Be ie “15
Clypeus not subconcave at the base... 4; 16
Clypeus with a strongly impressed transverse

line before the apex... = ee o> C. combert Turn.
Clypeus without an impressed line he . C. albopicta Sm.

Clypeus slightly convex, not impressed on the
apical half, with a minute tooth on each side
at the apex ag a a4 a .. |) C. boys Turn.
Clypeus impressed on the apical half or above,
the apex not,toothed .. 4: Ay Ms: 17
Enclosed area at the base of the median seg-
ment longitudinally striated from base to
apex a: of! BF 2% Se .. C. fortinata Cam.
Enclosed area otherwise sculptured... a 18
Clypeus narrowed towards the apex, the trun-
cated margin not measuring more than half
the length of the clypeus os sp .. C. novare Sauss.
The truncated margin of the clypeus measuring
much more than half the length of the clypeus 19
Second ventral segment rather sparsely but
evenly punctured, not smooth in the middle

on the apical portion .. aM iis : 20
Second ventral segment smooth in the eae

on the apical portion .. : : 21
Petiole broader than long, not sineibea at ine

apex a : RB} fe us P.) (Cl proted Turn.

Petiole as long as head narrowed at the apex. OC. compta Turn.
Clypeus impressed from above the middle to

the apex ; petiole much broader than long... C. rybiensis Linn.
Clypeus not impressed above: the middle;

bo
bo

petiole not much, if at all broader than wide.
23

A480 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXI,

22.

23.

25.

26,

28.

co
nS)

Apical half of clypeus distinctly concave ;
enclosed area of median segment finely
punctured, with oblique striz in the corners...

Apical half of clypeus flat, not concave; enclos-
ed area of median segment longitudinally
striated on the basal half

Lamina of the clypeus slightly porrect and
free at the extreme apex a: ibd ;

Lamina of the clypeus not porrect or free at he
apex nf ai ve

Basal area of the median segment very coarsely
longitudinally striated .. ct: :

Basal area of the median segment not striated..

The emargination of the clypeus wide and
shallow, not angular a he

The emargination of the clypeus angular

Basal area of the median segment sparsely
punctured ; pygidial area elongate ovate, as
narrow at the base as at the apex

Basal area of the median segment smooth,
striated on the margins; pygidial area much
broader at the base than at the apex

Abdomen as coarsely punctured as the thorax..

Abdomen less coarsely punctured than the

thorax
Basal area of median segment smooth and

shining ; clypeus very widely and shallowly
emarginate on the whole breadth, the angles
produced 40 i ;
Basal area of median pion striated ; the
emargination of the clypeus not extending
over the whole breadth oye x;
The emargination of the clypeus rather wide,
produced into an obtuse tooth on each side..

‘The emargination of the clypeus reduced to a

narrow incision with a tooth on each side
Clypeus with the lamina more or less free
Clypeus without a free lamina ; ‘
The lamina of the clypeus free from oi base..
The lamina free only from the middle or below.
Mesopleurze tuberculate ..
Mesopleurz not tuberculate

C. wickwart Turn.

C. emarginata
Panz,

C. tristts Cam.

C. opulenta Turn.
C. belli Turn.

C. pulchra Cam.

C. pruinosa Morice

29
C. instabilis Sm.

C, abuensis Turn.

30.

34.

36.

38.

39.

40.

41.

MONOGRAPH OF THE WASPS OF BRITISH INDIA.

Lamina much broadened from the a very
widely and deeply emarginate..

Lamina not broadened from the base, Auer
emarginate

Enclosed area at the base of median segment
smooth and shining. . :

Enclosed area longitudinally rugose or striated

Enclosed area of the median segment with a
deep median groove; pygidial area much
broader at the base,than at the apex

Enclosed area with the median groove almost
obsolete ; pygidial area much broader at the
apex than at the base i aie on

Lamina of clypeus widened from the base,
broader at apex than long, shallowly emargi-
nate

Lamina truncate at apex, no broader than long,
not widened from the base ae 2
Lamina broadly incised almost to the base;

enclosed area of the median segment longitu-
dinally rugose a ae
Lamina shallowly and Sere emarginate ; en-
closed area longitudinally striated
Lamina free from the middle or slightly below;
mesopleure not tuberculate :
Lamina free at the apex only; mesopleurz
tuberculate : ‘ ©
Clypeus below the ce more or tee dentate
at the apex : ws ae
Clypeus below the nein truncate at ‘ihe apex,
the lamina truncate

The lamina in the form of a thickened porrect
tubercle, feebly incised at the apex ..

The lamina of the usual flattened form sie
Lamina truncate; two teeth on each side on
apical margin of clypeus ae ee

Lamina slightly emarginate; three teeth at
apex of clypeus .. SE te ae is

481

C. omentalis Sm.

C. saussuret Rad.

var.

chrysothenis Turn.

C. agnata Turn.

C. humbertiana
Sauss.

C. flavopicta Sm.

C. acuta Rad.

C. hilaris Sm.

39
elizabethe Bingh.
40

C, flavoplagiata
Cam.

C. pentadonta

Cam.
4]

C. lattbalteata
Cam.

C, specifica Turn.

482

42,

43.

44,

46.

47.

48.

49.

50.

dl.

53.

JOURNAL, BOMBAY. NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXI,

Clypeus with Several teeth on the apical.

margin .. “3 os es ele dese
Clypeus without tooth on the apical margin ..
The teeth four or five in number, well defined,
not very small .. <- Bic “5 1"
The four teeth almost obsolete, very minute ..

First abdominal segment about twice as tones

ASHDTOAG. ah Uh \ eel g ee uate mea te age tatway oeeateie

First aidorainal segment nearly twice as broad |

as lon® 5 face aoe : ae
Closely punctured; the vlnpene ene to
the QPek). i, 5 <i 1) bee Silt fel res erie Ge ote

Less closely punctured ; clypeus not narrowed
eibHEIMe e200 X paar nae Ao _ ;

Clypeus widely and Beecin einaireinae

Clypeus not at all or only very shallowly emar-
VOTE oj | SC 23 an i 5 3°

Mesopleurz tuberculate ; eaeleesd area of the
median segment finely and closely punctured.

Mesopleurze not tuberculate; enclosed area
not punctured

Enclosed area of median segment longitudi.

nally striated a
Enclosed area smooth and shining

Clypeus strongly convex :

Clypeus very feebly convex or flat

Clypeus produced into a beak-lke prominence
just before the apex ° a

Clypeus with a margined groove from near the
middle widening slightly to the apex

Mesopleurs distinctly tuberculate : :

Mesopleure not at all or very ineinine!
tuberculate —

Apical margins of the aenae recurved and

narrowly produced in the middle
Apical margin of the clypeus truncate

Clypeus truncate at the apex : !
Clypeus very. shallowly emarginate at the
apex

43
46

44
C. rothneyz Cam.

_ C. kirbyt Bingh.
45

C.. downesivora
‘Turn.

.. OC. tetradonta Cam.

47
AQ
C. nebulosa Cam.
48
C. binghami Turn.
C. wroughtonr
Cam.
50
51

C. rhyncophora —
Torn.

C. fastidiosa Turn..
Oe,

C. vigilans Sm.

C. baluchistanensis

Cam.
54

|
4]
;
rf]
d
¢
4
:

we Ah

54,

55.

56.

MONOGRAPH OF THE WASPS OF BRITISH INDIA.

Enclosed aréa of the median’ segment longitu-

dinally striated ..

Enclosed area of the median segment not. stri-. .

ated on the whole surface ;
Enclosed area of the median segment smooth
and shining . ‘ :
Enclosed area of the median segment striated
at the base, punctured at the apex

Enclosed area of the median segment smooth

and shining; mesopleurz very indistinctly
tuberculate

Enclosed area of the median segment shining,
with large scattered punctures; mesopleurs
not tuberculate ..

Mates.

Second ventral. segment with a raised aréa at
the base .. 5; af ih a

Second ventral, segments without a sega ¢ area
at the base

Sixth ventral segment with a ene toot on |

each side at the apical angles. .
Sixth ventral segment without a tooth
Mesopleuree distinctly tuberculate
Mesopleure not tuberculate
Clypeus broadly rounded at the apex
Clypeus truncate at the apex
Clypeus with four minute teeth at the apex
Clypeus without teeth ws
Enclosed. area of the median segment coarsely.
longitudinally striated. . of Sk
Enclosed area of the median segment smooth or
punctured ‘ a a oe
Enclosed area of the madiot segment rather
sparsely punctured wap :
Enclosed area of the median segment smooth
and shining, with a few striz at the apex ..

.. Second ventral segment — evenly punedered)

except on the raised basal area
Second ventral segment not, evenly uence
usually smooth in the middle ..

~~ 488

OF levicozonica

Schlett.

cay9)
C. nurset Turn. |

C. circumeincta

Turn.

C, mellicula
2 urn:

ar C. bolanica Turn.

C. abuensis Turn.
3

. Cy quettensis Cam.

4.
5
8
C. instabilis Sm.
6

C. vischnu Cam.

C. pulchra Cam.
C. novarae Sauss.

‘C. albopicta Sm.

484 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol, XX1.

10.

TEL,

12.

13.

14,

15.

16.

18.

Enclosed area of the median segment more or
less striated BD. amare taraieee be

Enclosed area of the median segment not striat-
ed.. se ole Ay a es :

Enclosed area striated in the angles only, or
with very short strize on the sides

Kuclosed area striated beyond the angles

Enclosed area striated in the angles, punctured
in the middle and at the apex; petiole black;
punctures not very deep

Enclosed area striated in the angles and with
very short striz atthe sides, the middle
smooth and shining ; petiole red; punctures
very deep ws at 2 :

Enclosed area entirely longitudinally striated ;
puncturation of the abdomen coarse and close.

Enclosed area not striated at apex ; punctura-
tion less coarse and close

Enclosed area of the median segments smooth
and shining : a 3h :

Enclosed area of the median segment i Ae

First abdominal segment red, almost twice as
long as broad a -

First abdominal segment black and Bie ie
a little longer than broad ae

Basal area of the second ventral segment very
strongly raised ; the wings infuscated on the
whole apical margin sha a :

Basal area of second ventral segment not
strongly raised ; wings clouded at the apex
only , ; .

Enclosed area of the eae samen very
finely and closely punctured

Enclosed area not finely or closely punctured.

Enclosed area shining, sparsely and not coarse-
ly punctured ; petiole longer than broad

Enclosed area coarsely punctured, petiole
broader than long : te

Sixth ventral segment with a eae spine at the
apicalangles .. on le oe

Sixth ventral segment hone spines .. oe

C. emarginata
Panz.

C. wickwart Turn.
C. fortinata Cam.
C. rybiensis Linn.

14
16

C.. combert Turn.

15
C. pulchella Klug.

C. spectabilis Rad.
C. violaceipennis
Cam.
NZ
C. tristis Cam.

C. protea Turn.

19
20

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

25.

26.

27.

28.

29.

MONOGRAPH OF THE WASPS OF BRITISH INDIA.

Fifth ventral segment with a spine at the apical
angles

Fifth ventral segment without spines
Petiole slender, more than three times as long
as broad a ls oe
Petiole never more than twice as long as
broad ae ar
Median segment strongly punctured

Median segment finely and sparsely punctured.

Clypeus armed with a row of teeth at the apex.

Clypeus without teeth “ic

Petiole longer than broad; the teeth of ae
clypeus minute

Petiole broader than long.. a a

Apical joints of the flagellum longer than the
penultimate, and strongly curved, abdomen
mostly ferruginous

Apical joint of the flagellum no ee Hee
the penultimate ; abdomen black and yellow,
rarely ferruginous on the petiole :

Enclosed area of the median segment shining,
with a median grove, more or less obscurely
punctured ; teeth of the clypeus very small..

Enclosed area of the median segment smooth
and shining, without a median grove ; teeth of
the clypeus not very small

Mesopleurz tuberculate ..
Mesopleurz not tuberculate
Petiole longer than broad

Petiole broader than long

Clypeus strongly concave oe ar

Clypeus not concave

Apical joint of the flagellum ieee oe the
penultimate and strongly curved Ss

Apical joint of the flagellum no longer than the
penultimate, less strongly curved

C. ‘laris Sm.
(himalayensis
Bingh.)

C. mellicula Turn.

22
C. basimacula
Cam.
C. lepcha Cam
23
26

C’. wroughtonr
Cam.
24

C. vigilans Sm.

C. rhyncophora
Turn.

C. humbertiana
Sauss.
27
28

C. bimaculata

Cam.

C. nebulosa Cam

C. nurset Turn.
29

485

-A86 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XX.

30. Penultimate joint of the antennz strongly split
and hollowed beneath for the reception of the.
apical joint at e “6 Mir .. C. ephippium

Turn.
Structure of the penultimate joint of the flagel-

lum normal, ae si is oe se 31
31. Enclosed area of the median segment sparsely

punctured.. we 5 =e oe .. (. baluchistanensis
Cam.
Enclosed area of the median segment smooth. . 32
32. Wings flavo-hyaline ; ground colour of thorax
| ferruginous so ‘ . C. orientalis Sm.

Wings hyaline ; ground Psst of Tones ce C. saussuret Rad.
var. chrysothenus

Turn.
33. Petiole as long as broad or longer Os a 34
Petiole broader than long.. ae a : 36
34, Enclosed area of the median segment are ee
and shining Ee ie at = .. , C. rathneyt Cam.
Enclosed area punctured or rugulose .. 58 3D
35. Clypeus rounded at apex ; enclosed area rugu- !
lose ; almost entirely yellow .. ‘. .. C.sulphurea Cam.
Clypeus truncate; enclosed area punctured ;
black, banded with yellow ae . CC. bolanica Turn.
36. edema finely and rather shallowly Recess
clypeus truncate 2. ae bi .. C. circumeincta
Turn.
Abdomen coarsely and deeply punctured; cly-
peus not truncate 46 se Ae ae 37
87. Clypeus bisinuate at apex | a ane .. C. tetradonta Cam.
Ulan rounded at apex. ae a6 .. C. flavopicta Sm.

Cerceris violaceipennis Cam.

Cerceris violaceipennis Cam. Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. (7) xiii, p. 092,
1904. o.

Cerceris rufoplagiata Chon, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. (7) xv, p. 221,
1905. 6.

Q. Nigra, opaca; clypeo, margine interiore oculorum, carina frontali,
scopo, flagello basi, pronoto, tegulis, scutello, post-scutello, segmento abdo-
minali primo apice, secundo basi, tertio fascia apicali, tibiis tarsisque ferru-
gineis ; alis subhyalinis, costa obscuriore, stigmate testaceo, clypeo lamina
porrecta, subquadrata; mesopleuris, haud tuberculatis; segmento mediano
area basali oblique striata, apice punctata ; segmento ventrali secundo area
basali elevata, area pygidiali late ovata. ;

—

MONOGRAPH OF THE WASPS OF BRITISH INDIA. 487

6. Femine similis ; clypeo albopiloso ; apice late truncato, minutissime
tridentato, nigro, macula basali stot Osta UgIGOR,

Long. 2,12 mm.; 3,8 mm.

©. Clypeus with the lamina porrect, free from the base, nearly as long
as broad, convex and truncate at the apex. Antennz inserted about half
as far again from the anterior ocellus as from the base of the clypeus; the
‘second joint of the flagellum nearly half as long as again as the third.
Eyes almost parallel; posterior ocelli further from the eyes than from each
other. Mesopleure not tuberculate ; first abdominal segment nearly as
long as broad ; second ventral segment with a raised area at the base ;
pygidial area broadly ovate, narrow atthe base, broadly truncate at the
apex, less than half as long again as broad. Finely punctured rugulose,
the median segment and mesopleurs rugose ; enclosed area at the base of
the median segment finely obliquely striated at the base, finely punctured
at the apex. First recurrent nervure received a little before the middle
of the second cubital cell.

6. Asin the female; but the clypeus is convex, truncate at the apex,
with three very minute teeth on the apical margin. First abdominal
segment about one-quarter longer than the greatest breadth. Pygidial
area not much longer than broad, slightly narrowed at the extremities.
Closely and finely punctured. :

Habitat—Khasi Hills. 6,000 ft. August.

I took both sexes at Shillong; the female not having been described
previously. It is remarkable in having the raised area at the base of the
second ventral segment together with the free lamina on uae clypeus of the

female.

Cereerts orientalis Sm.

Cerceris orrentalis Sm. Cat. Hym. B. M. IV, p. 454, 1856. 2 ¢.

Q. Sordide ferruginea ; mandibulis apice, maculaque supra antennas
nigris ; alis flavo-hyalinis, apice infumatis; clypeo lamina porrecta, lata,
apice semicirculariter emarginata; mesopleuris tuberculatis; segmento
mediano area basali nitida ; segmento ventrali SeeamdlD area nee elevata
nulla.

6. Femine similis, clypeo et fronte flavis; clypeo latitudine sesqui
longiore, apice truncato, ante apicem longitudinaliter i 1mpresso.

Long. 2,18-23mm.; ¢,17-18 mm. _

Variat g macula post oculos, pronoto, sogimentedue 2 Coulis 3—6
flavis.

Os Clypeus with a porrect lamina from the base, the lamina nearly
twice as broad at the apex as long, broadened to the apex and deeply and
widely emarginate, depressed beneath the lamina and widely emarginate
at the apex Antennz inserted low down on the front, nearly three times’

488 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXTI.

as far from the anterior ocellus as from the base of the:clypeus, second
joint of the flagellum half as long again as the third. Head large, the
cheeks broader than the greatest breadth of the eyes. Pygidial area half
as broad again at the base as at the apex, gradually narrowed, truncate
at the apex, about twice as long as the greatest breadth. First recurrent
nervure received at the middle of the second cubital cell. Closely but
not coarsely punctured.

dg. Clypeus half as long again as broad, truncate at the apex, a
depressed longitudinal groove from near the middle to the apex. Apical
joint of the flagellum strongly curved, longer than the penultimate ;
antennee inserted less than twice as far from the anterior ocellus as from
the base of the clypeus. Pygidial area truncate at the apex, slightly
narrow from base, less than twice as long as the greatest breadth.

Habitat—Bengal; Madras; Central Provinces; Deesa.

Cerceris saussuret Rad.

Cerceris saussure: Rad. Fedtschenko: Turkestan Sphegid, p. 60, 1877,
3 var. chrysothemis var. n.

©. Ferruginea, clypeo, fronte, et abdomine segmentis 3-5 flavis; alis
subhyalinis, apice infuscatis; clypeo lamina libera, longitudine duplo
latiore, apice emarginata, mesopleuris bituberculatis ; segmento mediano
area basali nitida.

Long. 19 mm.

3. Flavus; vertice, mesothorace, area basali segmenti mediani, seg-
mentisque abdominalibus 3-6 basi nigris; antennis, segmento mediano,
abdominis segmento primo, secundoque basi ferrugineis ; clypeo latitudine
fere duplo longiore, apice truncato.

Long. 15 mm.

@. Clypeus with a free lamina from the base, the lamina short, twice
as broad as long, widely and shallowly emarginate at the apex; the apical
margin of the clypeus below the lamina widely emarginate and clothed
with long hairs. Antenne inserted fully twice as far from the anterior
ocellus as from the base of the clypeus, the second joint of the flagellum
nearly as long as the first and third combined. Posterior ocelli further
from the eyes than from each other; cheeks a little broader than the
greatest breadth of the eyes. Pronotum strongly depressed in the middle,
rounded at the angles. Mesopleure armed with two small tubercles.
First abdominal segment nearly twice as broad as long, slightly constricted
at the apex, second ventral segment without a raised area at the base.
Pygidial area elongate ovate, twice as long as the greatest breadth,
rounded atthe apex. Rather sparsely punctured, closely and coarsely
on the median segment and mesopleurze; very sparsely on the apical
segments of the abdomen; the enclosed space at the base of the median

MONOGRAPH OF THE WASPS OF BRITISH INDIA.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE A.

1. Cerceris vigilans,Sm. @. Front of head.
” ” dy 9 a ” ”

3, Cerceris funerea, Costa var, pallidopicia, Rad. @, Me W
4, Cerceris quettaensis, Cam, @. : is Fe
5. Cerceris pulchella, Klug, Q. - -
6. Cerceris saussurei, Rad, var. chrysethemis, Turn. @. Be
7. ” ” ” 9 » ” 2 . ” ”
8. Cerceris orientalis, Sm. @. 5 te
9. Cerceris pruinosa, Morice. 9 i a
19. Cerceris wroughtoni, Cam, Q. Ss be
11. Cerceris leucozonica, Schlett. Q. es
12. Cerceris rothneyi, Cam. 2. Bs *
13. Cerceris binghami, Turn. Q. i .
14. Cerceris inexorabilés, Turn, 2. ae bs
15. Cerceris tetradonta, Cam. Q. - Br
16. Cerceris nebulosa, Cam. Q. 5 5
17. Cerceris agnata, Turn. Q. eo ;
18, Cerceris ephippium, Turn. Q. y .
19. Cerceris flavoplagiata, Cam. Q. . 6
20. Cerceris flavopictu, Sm. OF a -
21. Cerceris hilaris, Sm. Q. » ”
22. Cerceris humbertiana, Sauss. var. viscosus, Sm. &. ys bs
23. Cerceris kirby, Bingh, 9. » »

24, Cerceris latibalteata, Cam. @. & B

53s

INDIAN FossoRIAL WASPS.

Prate A.

Catherine A. M. Pearce.

MONOGRAPH OF THE WASPS OF BRITISH INDIA

EXPLANATION OF PLATE B.

25, Cerceris vigilans, Sm. @. Pygidial area.
26. 50 ai ” 2 : ” »
27. Cerceris funerea, Costa var, pallidopicta, Rad. 2. Mane =
28, Cerceris quettensis, Cam. Q. 3 »
29. Cerceris pulchella, Klug. Q. 5 n
30. Cerceris saussurei, Rad. var. chrysothemis, Turn. @. as si
32. Cerceris orientalis,Sm. Q. ” es
33, Cerceris pruinosa,, Morice. 9. i. HP
34. Cerceris wroughtont, Cam. &. iH
35. Cerceris leucozonica, Schlett. § . K e
36. Cerceris rothneyi, Cam. Q. Pe a
37. Cerceris binghami, Turn. 9. x ”
38, Cerceris inexorabilis, Turn. 9. ie
39, Cerceris tetradonta, Cam. Q. 4 »
40. Cerceris nebulosa, Cam. Q. . ”
41, Cerceris agnata, Turn, &. e »
42. Cerceris paar Turn. &. » ”
43. Cerceris flavoplagiata, Cam. @. ds »
44. Cerceris flavopicta, Sm, &. or "
45. Cerceris hilaris,Sm. 2. - | ” »
46. Cerceris humbertiana, Sauss. var. viscosus, Sm. 9. _ _
47. Cerceris kirbyi, Bingh. Q. 9 ”

48. Cerceris latibalieata, Cam. 9. ES Fe

Journ. Bompay Nat. Hist. Soc. Prate B.

ovUT
vv 9D
ov oe
T7700
yyoy

Catherine A. M Pearce.

INDIAN FOsSORIAL WASPS.

MONOGRAPH OF THE WASPS OF BRITISH INDIA. - 489

segment smooth and shining, the median groove indistinct. First recur-
rent nervure received at the middle of the second cubital cell.

Ferruginous ; clypeus, front and abdominal segments 3-5 bright yellow.
Wings hyaline, tinged with yellow, a small fuscous cloud at the apex ;
nervures ferruginous.

g. Clypeus nearly twice as long as broad, narrowly truncate at the
apex. Antenne inserted twice as far from the anterior ocellus as from the
base of the clypeus, the second joint of the flagellum longer than the third,
the apical joint distinctly curved and truncate at the apex. Posterior
ocelli as far from each other as from the eyes. First abdominal segment
twice as broad as long; pygidial area with parallel sides, about half as
long again as broad. Head and thorax coarsely and closely punctured,
sparsely on the scutellum ; the triangular space at the base of the median
segment smooth and shining, with a distinct median furrow ; the abdomen
deeply but not very closely punctured. Yellow; the vertex, prothorax,
enclosed area at the base of the median segment and the base of
abdominal segments 3-6 black ; antennz, median segment, first abdominal
segment and the base of the second segment ferruginous. Legs ferru-
ginous variegated with yellow. Wings as in the female.

Habitat.—Quetta (Nurse). June and July.

J am not sure that I am correct in my identification of this species, the
original description being of the male only, and not mentioning details of
structure. The male from Quetta differs from the typical form in having
much of the ferruginous colour replaced by yellow, but otherwise agrees
well with the figure. The type was taken in the deserts of the Sir Daria.

Cercems acuta Rad.

Cerceris acuta Rad. Fedtschenko Reise, Turkestan, p. 54, 1877. 2.

©. Nigra; mandibulis, apice excepto, clypeo, margine interiore oculo-
rum late, carina frontali, seapo, macula post oculos, vertice fascia curvata,
pronoto, mesopleuris maculis duabus, scutello, postscutello, segmento
mediano maculis magnis lateralibus, segmento dorsali secundo basi, tertio,
quarto, quintoque fascia emarginata apicali, segmento ventrali secundo
tertioque, coxisque flavis; flagello, tegulis, abdomine pedibusque ferru-
gineis; alis subhyalinis, apice infuscatis ; venis fuscis, stigmate testaceo ;
clypeo lamina libera porrecta, bilobata; mesopleuris haud tuberculatis ;
segmento ventrali secundo area basali elevata nulla, segmento mediano
area basali longitudinaliter rugoso.

Long, 13mm.

©. Lamina of the clypeus free from the base, porrect, broader than
long, very deeply incised; the apical margin below the lamina produced
into a point. Antenne inserted more than twice as far from the anterior
ocellus as from the base of the clypeus, the second joint of the flagellum

490 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

half as long again as the first. Posterior ocelli nearly half as far again
from the eyes as from each other. Pygidial aréa ovate, almost pointed at
the base, rather broadly truncate at the apex ; first abdominal segment
as long as broad. First recurrent nervure received close to the
middle of the second cubital cell. Closely but not very deeply punctured,
sparsely and shallowly on the abdomen, the enclosed area at the basse of
the median segment longitudinally rugose.

Habitat.—Kangra Valley, 4,500 ft. (Dudgeon).

This differs considerably in colour from the typical form. The clypeus,
however, corresponds well with Radosskowski’s figure, and I have little
doubt that it is identical, Wants He original description is too insufticient
for ECC EbMe ye ;

Cercerts hilaris Sm.

Cerceris ilaris Sm., Cat. Hym. B. M. IV., p. 452, 1856. @.

Cerceris himalayensis Bingh. Journ. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. XII, p. 120,
1898, ¢. (nee Cameron, 1905).

- iCerceris simlaensis Cam. Entomologist, p. 83, 1905, 3.

©. Nigra, clypeo in medio, margine interiore oculorum, macula post
oculos, pronoto in medio interrupto, scutello macula utrinque, postscutello,
segmento mediano fascia longitudinali utrinque, segmento dorsali primo
apice late, segmentis 2-5 fascia angusta apicali flavis;. antennis basi,
segmento abdominali secundo, pedibusque rufo-testaceis ; alis subhyalinis,
apice infuscatis ; clypeo lamina libera, porrecta, longitudine latiore, apice
late emarginata ; mesopleuris haud tuberculatis, segmento mediano area
basali longitudinaliter striata; segmento ventrali secundo area elevata
basali nulla.

3. “Niger ; clypeo, fronte, macula post oculos, pronoto utrinque, tegulis,
postscutello, s segmento mediano angulis basalibus flavo-lineato, segmentis
abdominalibus 1-6 fascia angusta apicali, pedibusque flavis; flagello basi
testaceo ; clypeo latitudine longiore, margine apicali truncato, in medio
valde impresso, segmentis ventralibus 5-6 apice utrinque spino longo
armatis. | j

Long. 9,14 mm.; ¢, 10-11 mm.

9. Lamina of the clypeus porrect and free, broadened from the base,
twice as broad at the apex as long, and widely emarginate. Antenne
inserted twice as far from the anterior ocellus as from the base of the
clypeus, second joint of the flagellum half as long again as the third.
Eyes almost parallel, the posterior ocelli further from the eyes than from
each other. First abdominal segment more than half as broad again as

long ; second ventral segment without a raised area at the base ; pygidial —

area narrowed from the base, twice as broad at the base as at the apex,
twice as long as the greatest breadth, truncate at the apex. Fifth ventral

ve. =r

MONOGRAPH OF THE WASPS OF BRITISH INDIA. .., 491

segment depressed in the middle on the apical margin. Shallowly punc-
tured, the enclosed space at the base of the median segment longitudinally
striated. eyo Ee

3. Clypeus smooth and shining, longer than broad, truncate at the apex,
deeply impressed on the middle of the apical margin, with a minute tooth,
on each side. Apical joint of the flagellum strongly curved, scarcely
longer than the penultimate. Fifth and sixth ventral segments with a;
long spine on each side at the apical angles, the spines of the sixth segment
blunt at the apex. Pygidial area large nearly as broad at the apex. as
long, broadened to the base, truncate at the apex.. Enclosed area at the
pase of the median segment longitudinally striated.

Habitat—Simla (Nurse), 3; N. India (Smith), 9.

I think I am right in treating these as sexes of one species. Bingham.
includes filaris gS in his description of the female, but mentions no.
differences. He also gives Madras as a locality, but I do not know on what.
authority. Ihave seen the type of s¢mlaensis, Cam.

Cerceris humbertiana Sauss.

Cerceris humbertiana Sauss, Reise D. Novara Zool. IT. |

2 Cercerts emortualis Sauss, Reise D. Novara Zool. II.

©. Nigra; primo segmento abdominali rufo-ferrugineo; clypeo, fronte,.
pronoto, tegulis, mesopleuris macula, scutello fascia interrupta, post-
scutello, segmento mediano fascia longitudinali utrinque, segmentis Balk
fascia lata emarginata vel interrupta, segmento quinto, segmentis ven-
tralibus pedibusque flavi; alis hyalinis, apice valde infumatis; clypeo lamina
porrecta, longitudine vix latiore, apice leviter emarginata ; mesopleuris haud
tuberculatis; segmento mediano area basali nitida; segmento ventrali
secundo area basali elevata nulla; area pygidiali apice emarginata.

¢.Feminz similis; segmento primo abdominali nigro; clypeo apice
rotundato, tridentato.

tong. 9 10 mime 574.9 mm.

Q. Clypeus with the lamina porrect from the base, scarcely broader at.
the base than long, slightly widened to the apex and very feebly emarginate.
Antennze inserted more than twice as far from the anterior ocellus as from.
the base of the clypeus, the second joint of the flagellum about one-
quarter longer than the third. Eyes almost parallel, posterior ocelli half
as far again from the eyes as from each other. Mesopleurz not tuber-
culate ; first abdominal segment more than twice as broad as long; second
ventral segment without a raised area at the base ; pygidial area rugulose
almost pointed at the base, widened rather sharply near the base, the sides:
on the apical half very slightly converging, the apical margin broad: and
very shallowly emarginate, the area less than twice as long as the greatest.
breadth. Coarsely punctured ; the enclosed area at the base of the median.

492 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

segment smooth and shining, the median groove very indistinct. First
recurrent nervure received beyond one-third from the base of the second
cubital cell.

3. Clypeus much longer than broad, rounded at the apex and armed
with three small teeth. Apical joint of flagellum shorter than the penulti-
mate and only feebly curved ; antennz inserted about half as far again
from the anterior ocellus as from the base of the clypeus. Pygidial area
twice as along as broad, truncate at the apex, the sides parallel.

Habitat—Colombo, Ceylon ( Wickwar).

Ihave not seen specimens answering to the description of emortualis,
but am inclined to treat it as a variety as Saussure suggests. The ground
colour of humbertiana varies considerably, the black tending to be more or
less replaced by ferruginous which is the normal ground colour in vscosus,
Sm. Bingham treats viscosus as a synonym of humbertiana but the lamina

of the clypeus is much boarder and more distinctly emarginate. I
consider that flavopicta, Sm. is probably a local race differing in the shallow
puncturation, and the much smaller lamina of the clypeus. But for the
present it is better to keep this form distinct. I have only seen flavopicta
from West and North-West India, 2scosus from Bengal and humbertiana from
Ceylon. Bingham, however, gives Assam and other localities in N.-H. India
for jflavopicta, but possibly his specimens may have been incorrectly
identified. The locality Barrackpore for flavopicta is not confirmed by
any specimen now in the Rothney collection.

Cerceris humbertiana Sauss. subsp. viscosus Sm.

Cerceris viscosus Sm. Trans. Ent. Soc. London, p. 40, 1875, 2.

Cercerus rufinodis Sm, Trans. Ent. Soc. London, p. 41, 1875, ¢.

6. Differs from typical humbertiana in the shape of the lamina of the
clypeus, whichis about half as broad again at the base as long. The
usual ground colour is ferruginous.

3. This sex does not differ appreciably from typical humbertiana. The
ground colour is usually black with a red petiole.

Habitat—Bengal.

Cerceris flavopicta Sm.

Cerceris flavopicta Sm. Cat. Hym. B. M. IV., p. 451, 1856, 2 3.

Cerceris sulphurea Bingh. Fauna Brit. India Hymen. I., p. 305, 1897,
2 3 (nec Cameron).

? Nigra ; antennis anoque rufo-testaceis ; clypeo, fronte, scapo, genis,
pronoto, tegulis, scutello, postscutello, mesopleuris, segmento mediano
macula magna utrinque, segmentis dorsalibus 1-4 macula magna utrinque,
quinto facia lata, pedibusque flavis ; alis hyalinis, apice infuscatis ; clypeo
lamina libera, porrecta, apice truncata ; mesopleuris haud dentatis ;

MONOGRAPH OF THE WASPS OF BRITISH INDIA. 493

segmento mediano area basali nitida ; segmento ventrali secundo area
basali elevata nulla ; area pygidiali apice late truncata.

| 6. Femine similis; segmentis abdominalibus fasciis latis flavis ;
clypeo convexo, apice late rotundato.

. Very nearly allied to C. humbertiana Sauss.; but the lamina of the
clypeus is short, as long as the breadth at the apex, slightly broader
at the base than at the apex; the apical margin of the clypeus is
distinctly bisinuate but not tridentate as in humbertiana ; the first abdo-
minal segment is a little narrower, being rather less than twice as broad as
long ; the pygidial area is a little less widened to the apex, which is trun-
cate ; and the punctures are somewhat finer and shallower.

The clypeus of the male is without teeth at the apex.

Habitat—Bombay (Coll, Rothney) ; N. India (British Museum).

The label has been accidentally shifted, or placed on the wrong specimen
originally, in the Rothney collection, which has misled Bingham. The
true sulphurea Cam., is a male and is marked /lavopicta in the Rothney col-
lection, This may possibly be the specimen referred to by Bingham as
sulphurea 3 , but it is so totally distinct from the female described by him
that I can hardly think he would have placed them together. The
specimen of flavopicta in the Rothney collection is from Bombay, and is
more finely and sparsely punctured than the typical form from N. W. India.

Cerceris agnata sp. n.

@. Nigra; thorace dense, abdomine sparse punctato; segmento
mediano area basali nitida; clypeo, fronte, macula post oculos, vertice
fascia transversa interrupta, pronoto, tegulis, mesopleuris macula, scutello,
postscutello, segmento mediano macula magna utrinque, segmento dorsali
secundo basi, tertio macula basali nigra, quarto quintoque fascia apicali,
segmentis ventralibus 2-5 flavis ; antennis pedibusque, posterioribus nigro-
variegatis, testaceis; ano rufo ; clypeo lamina libera, mesopleuris haud
tuberculatis, segmento ventrali secundo area basali elevata nulla; alis
hyalinis, apice infumatis.

Long. 9mm.

Q. Clypeus with a free lamina, which is half as broad again as long
and truncate at the apex. Antennz inserted more than half as far again
from the anterior ocellus as from the base of the clypeus, the second
joint of the flagellum half as long againas the third. Posterior ocellia
little further from the eyes than from each other; the eyes diverging

slightly towards the clypeus. Mesopleurz without tubercles; first
abdominal segments longer than broad ; second ventral segment without
araised area atthe base ; pygidial area narrowly rounded atthe apex
twice as wide at the baseas at the apex, gradually narrowed, twice as
long as the greatest breadth. Head and thorax closely but not coarsely

494. JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Voi, XX1.

punctured ; the enclosed area at the base of the median segment smooth

and shining, with a deep median groove ; abdomen more sparsely and finely

punctured. First recurrent nervure received at one quarter from the
base of tie second cubital cell. oe yen
Halitat—T haung-yin Valley, Tenassarim: ( Bingham). June 1891.

In colour this closely resembles C. kirdyi Bingh. but the clypeus is quite

different. and the thorax is much more coarsely punctured.

Cerceris flavoplagiata Cam.

Cerceris flavoplagyiata Cam. Entomologist, p. 16, 1905, 28

fe) . Nigra ; capite, mesonoto, scutello, antennisque rufo-ferrugineis :
clypeo, fronte, genis, vertice maculis duabus utrinque, pronoto, mesopleuris
maculis duabus, scutello macula utrinque, segmento mediano macula magna,
utrinque, segmento abdominali dorsali secundo basi late, ventrali toto,
segmentis 2-5 apice fascia angusta flavis ; pedibus rufo flavoque
variegatis ; alis subhyalinis, apice infuscatis, venis testaceis ; clypeo iamina
apicali libera, porrecta, apice truncata ; mesopleuris haud tuberculatis ;
segmento ventrali secundo area basali elevata nulla ; segmento mediano
area basali delicatissime punctata. .

Long. 15 mm. ges:

@. Clypeus with the lamina free, springing from below the middle and
truncate at the apex. Antenne inserted about one-quarter further from.
the anterior ocellus than from the base of the clypeus, the second joint of
the flagellum nearly half as long again as the first. Eyes distinctly
diverging towards the clypeus, the posterior ocelli quite half as far again

‘fromthe eyes as from each other. Mesopleurze without tubercles ; first
abdominal segment longer than broad, second ventral segment without a
raised area at the base ; pygidial area rugose,. truncate at the apex, twice
as long as broad, the sides almost parallel. Finely and shallowly punctuc- _
ed, more coarsely on the vertex ; the enclosed space at the base of the
median segment very finely and closely punctured, without a distinet
median groove. First recurrent nervure received just before the middle. of
the second cubital cell.

Habitat—Himalayas.

Cerceris pentadonta Cam.

Cerceris pentadonta Cam. Mem. Manchester Lit. Phil. Soc. (4) IIT., p.
262, 1890, 2. )

@. Nigra; mandibulis, margine interiore oculorum, carina frontali,
pronoto, tegulis, postscutello, segmento dorsali tertio toto, quintoque
dimidio apicali fulvo ferrugineis ; alis fusco-hyalinis, apice magis infuscatis;
clypeo in medio tuberculato, porrecto, tuberculo apice inciso, margine
apicali utrinque bidentato; mesopleuris haud tuberculatis; segmento

MONOGRAPH OF THE WASPS OF BRITISH INDIA. 495:

mediano area basali punctata, in angulis oblique striata ; segmento ventrali
secundo area basali elevata nulla.

Long. 8 mm.

©. Clypeus with a short, stout, porrect tubercle in the middle, the
tubercle notched at the apex; the apical margin of the clypeus below the
tubercle armed with two sharp teeth on each side and a very minute
one inthe middle. Antenne inserted low down, more than twice as far
from the anterior ocellus as from the base of the clypeus, the secend joint
of the flagellum very little longer than the third. Eyes parallel ; posterior
ocelli further from the eyes than from each other. Mesopleurz without
tubercles ; first abdominal segment nearly twice as long as broad; second
ventral segment without a raised area at the base; pygidial area fully twice
as long as broad, almost pointed at the base and rather narrowly truncate
at the apex. Closely but not deeply punctured, more coarsely on the
abdomen than on the thorax; enclosed area at the base of the median
segment very finely and closely punctured. finely striated in the angles
and on the sides. TWirst recurrent nervure received beyond one third from
the base of the second cubital cell.

Hatitat—Barrackpore (Rothney).

This is near C. latibalteata Cam. from which it differs in the form of the
lamina of the clypeus and in the greater length of the first abdominal seg-
ment. It is also more closely punctured.

Cerceris specifica sp. n.

©. Nigra; clypeo, fronte, scapo, linea pone oculos, vertice linea trans-
versa, pronoto, mesonoto macula quadrata, tegulis, scutello, postscutello,
mesopleuris maculis duabus, segmento mediano utrinque, segmentoque
secundo dorsali basi flavis; flagello subtus, segmentis abdominalibus 1-3
. apice late, 4-5 apice anguste, pedibusque partim fulva-ferrugineis; alis
hyalinis, apice infumatis ; clypeo lamina ante apicem libera, porrecta, apice
leviter emarginata, margine apicali sub lamina obtuse tridentato ; meso-
pleuris haud tuberculatis ; segmento mediano area basali nitida; segmento
ventrali secundo area basali elevata nulla.

Long.

2. Clypeus with the lamina porrect from the middle, shallowly emargi-
nate at the apex; the apical margin below the lamina with three blunt
teeth, rather narrow. Antennze inserted less than half as far again from
the anterior ocellus as from the base of the clypeus, second joint of the
flagellum nearly half as long again as the third. Eyes parallel, the poste-
rior ocelli further from the eyes than from each other. First abdominal
segment longer than broad, widest in the middle; second ventral segment
without a raised area at the base; pygidial area elongate ovate, truncate
at the apex and a little wider than at the base, more than twice as long as

496 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCLETY, Vol. XX

the greatest breadth. Closely and rather finely punctured; the enclosed
area at the base of the median segment smooth and shining, with a shallow
median groove. First recurrent nervure received just before one-third
from the base of the second cubital cell. .

Halitat—Kandy, Ceylon (Wickwar). June.

This is quite distinct from humbertiana, Sauss., the lamina of the clypeus
being free from the middle only, and not from the base; and the first
abdominal segment being slender.

A male closely resembling C. lencha Cam. sent by Mr. Wickwar from
Haputale, Ceylon, probably belongs to this species.

Cerceris latibalteata Cam.

Cercerts latibalteata Cam. Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. (7) XIIL., p. 292
1904, Q.

? Cerceris lepcha Cam. Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. (7) XV, p. 222, 1905, ¢.

©. Nigra; mandibulis, carina frontali, margine interiore oculorum,
pronoto, scutello, postscutello, segmento dorsali tertio, segmento, quinto
apice, tarsisque anterioribus fulvo-ferrugineis ; alis fusco-hyalinis, apice
obscurioribus ; clypeo convexo, lamina ante apicem libera, truncata, mar-
gine apicali sub lamina utrinque bidentato; mesopleuris haud dentatis ;
segmento mediano area basali subnitida, in angulis striata; segmento
ventrali secundo area basali elevata nulla.

Long. 8 mm.

@. Clypeus convex, the lamina free from a little below the middle and
porrect, truncate at the apex, the apical margin of the clypeus below the
lamina armed with two well defined teeth on each side. Antenne inserted
twice as far from the anterior ocellus as from the base of the elypeus, the
second joint of the flagellum about one-quarter longer than the third. Eyes

parallel ; the posterior ocelli half as far again from the eyes as from each .

other. Pronotum not depressed in the middle, rounded at the angles,
mesopleurze without tubercles; first abdominal segment broadest in the
middle, as long as the greatest breadth; second ventral segment without a
raised area at the base; pygidial area elongate ovate, as broad at the apex
as at the base, about two and a half times as long as the greatest breadth,
narrowly truncate at the apex. Finely punctured, more coarsely on the
abdomen than elsewhere; the median segment slightly shining and rather
sparsely punctured, the enclosed area at the base minutely punctured,
finely striated in the angles, with a shallow median groove. First recur-
rent nervure received beyond one-third from the apex of the second cubital
cell.

Habitat—Khasi Hills (Coll. Rothney).

This species is very near pentadonta Cam. but differs as noticed under

that species.

MONOGRAPH OF THE WASPS OF BRITISH INDIA. 497

I consider that C. /epcha Cam. will probably prove to be male, but do not
think the evidence is sufficient to place them together. If my surmise is
correct, it is probable that basimacula Cam. which is nearly allied to lepcha,

would be the male of pentadonta.

Cerceris lepcha Cam.

Cerceris lepcha Cam. Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. (7) XV, p. 222, 1905, ¢.

3. Niger; clypeo, margine interiore oculorum, segmento mediano macu-
la apicali utrinque, segmento abdominali secundo basi, trochanteribusque
pallide flavis; pronoto utrinque, tegulis, scutello macula utrinque, post-
scutello, seementisque dorsalibus tertio quintoque fere totis flavo-ochraceis;
alis subhyalinis, apice leviter infumatis; clypeo apice truncato; mesopleu-
ris haud tuberculatis ; segmento mediano area basali subnitida, minutis-
sime punctata; segmento abdominali primo latitudine triplo longiore ;
segmento ventrali secundo area basali elavata nulla,

Long. 7 mm.

6. Clypeus nearly as broad as long, truncate at the apex., First
abdominal segment very slender, three times as long as broad; pygidial
area twice as broad at the base as at the apex. Rather finely and sparse-
ly punctured, more closely and coarsely on the abdomen than on the
thorax or median segment.

Habitat—Khasi Hills, 5,000 ft. April (Pur ner).

As mentioned above, I think this will prove to be the male Jlatibalteata
Cam.

Cerceris basimacula Cam.

Cercert basimacula Cam. Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. (7) XX, p. 87, 1907, 3.

6. “Black; a mark on the centre of the clypeus (obliquely narrowed
above and below, a broad line on its apex, a broad line on the inner
orbits from the antenn, two large oblique marks on the apex of the
metanotum (extending on to the pleurze), the basal third of the abdominal
petiole on the sides, more than the basal third of the second segment, ana
narrow lines on the apices of the fourth and fifth segments, yellow; the
sides of the central and lower parts of the clypeus, prothorax, scutellums
more than the apical third of the second and third abdominal segments,
a line behind the yellow on the -fourth and fifth, and the apical two
segments entirely dark rufous; the apex of the first segment of a paler
rufous colour. Four front legs pale rufo-testaceous ; the tibiz and base of
tarsi yellow; the hind legs similarly but much darker coloured. Wings
hyaline, the radial cellule smoky, the apical cubital cellule of a deeper
smoky colour; the costa and stigma dark testaceous, the nervures black.
Antenne rufo-testaceous, the space yellow below, the eight apical joints
blackish, paler below ¢.

Length 10 mm.

498 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXT.

Sikkim.

Face strongly but not closely punctured; the clypeus more finely and
closely punctured ; there is a short keel in the centre of the latter, with a
fovea on either side. Front and vertex strongly, somewhat closely punc-
tured. Middle of pronotum closely punctured, the sides almost smooth ;
mesonotum somewhat strongly but not closely punctured; the scutellum
is more strongly but not so closely punctured as the latter. Postscutellum
smooth. Metanotum strongly punctured, the punctures clearly separated ;
the area shining, smooth. Head and thorax densely covered with white
pubescence. First abdominal segment of equal width, about four times as
long as wide, longer than the second; the segments strongly punctured ;
the pygidium strongly but not very closely punctured ; the sides rounded,
narrowed atthe base and apex, the latter slightly rounded inwardly.
The whole abdomen covered with longish white pubescence. Hypopygium
depressed at the apex ; the latter has a slight rounded incision.

Allied to C. lepcha Cam.”

Cerceris chizabethe Bingh

Cerceris elizabethe Bingh. Fauna Brit. India, Hymen I., p. 312, 1897, 9.

@. Nigra, rugose punctata, segmento mediano area basali oblique
striata; mandibulis basi flavis; segmentis abdominalibus primo toto,
secundo basi rufotestaceis; antennis, tibiis tarsisque fusco-ferrugineis ;
clypeo apice lamina libera truncata ; mesopleuris bituberculatis ; segmento:
ventrali secundo area basali elevata nulla; alis hyalinis, apice infumatis,.
venis testaceis.

Long. 1] mm.

©. The lamina of the clypeus is porrect at the apex, the apical margin
transverse ; the clypeus short and broad. Antennee inserted more than
half as far again from the anterior ocellus as from the base of the clypeus,
the second joint of the flagellum half as long again as the third posterior
ocelli further from the eyes than from each other; the eyes diverging
towards the clypeus. Mesopleurz armed with two acute tubercles ; first
abdominal segment a little longer than broad; pygidial area more than
twice as long as the greatest breadth, narrowed towards the rounded
apex. First recurrent nervure received at the middle of the second cubi-
tal cell.

Hahitat—Thaungyin Valley, Tenasserim (Bingham). May.
Cerceris ephippiun sp. X.

©. Nigra, luxuriose flavovariegata, clypeo subconcavo, late emarginato
prope angulos acute marginato, genis dente armatis, segmento mediano
area basalis oblique striata, area pygidiali apice truncata, segmento
ventrali quinto apice crasse elevato.

Long. 15 mm.

‘

Ee Le

ee ee ee ee Pe ee a

MONOGRAPH OF THE WASPS OF BRITISH INDIA, 499

Mandibles with a strong tooth on the inner margin near the middle;
elypeus slightly concave, widely and deeply emarginate at the apex, with,
an oblique carina on each side close to the apical angles. Antenne
inserted about half as far again from the anterior ocellus as from the base
of the clypeus, the second joint of the flagellum distinctly longer than the
third. Head very broad, the eyes diverging a little towards the clypeus,
separated on the front by a distance equal to about three times the length
of the scape. Cheeks very broad, exceeding the greatest breadth of the
eye, and armed with a stout acute tooth. Posterior ocelli more than half
as far again from the eyes as from each other. Head, thorax and abdo-
men closely but not deeply punctured, more shallowly on the abdomen
than elsewhere. Pronotum shallowly depressed in the middle; meso-
pieuree armed with two small spines before the intermediate coxz.
Enclosed area at the base of the median segment obliquely striated,
divided by a shallow median groove. First abdominal segment nearly
twice as broad as long, the second segment only half as broad again as the
first, without araised area at the base on the ventral surface. Fifth
ventral segment not margined or raised, without spines at the angles.
Pygidial area twice as long as the greatest breadth, gradually narrowed
and truncate at the apex, nearly twice as broad atthe base as at the
apex. First recurrent nervure received at the middle of the second
cubital cell.

Lemon yellow ; front and vertex black ; an oblique spot on each side on
the vertex, the front below the base of the antennee, produced upwards in
three parallel bands, the middle one reaching the anterior ocellus yellow ;
mesonotum black, with a yellow longitudinal band on each side near the
middle and a spot above the tegule ; the enclosed area at the base of the
median segment black with two small yellow spots; a broad line extend-
ing to the apex of the median segment, the base of all the dorsal abdomin-
al segments narrowly, and a line on the middle of segments 1-4 black.
Flagellum and pygidial area testaceous brown. Wings hyaline, fuscous at
the extreme apex.

Habitat—Karachi (Comber), September and October ; Deesa (Nurse) ; 8.
Othman, Arabia (Nurse). March.

Near C. Komarowti Rad. but in that species there are two tubercles
mear the middle of the clypeus, and the shape of the pygidial area is
different.

¢ Similar to the female, but the clypeus is strongly convex, half as
long again as the greatest breadth and truncate at the apex. Antennz
inserted half as far again from the anterior ocellus as from the base of the
clypeus. Cheeks without spines. Pygidial area more than half as long
again as broad, the sides parallel. The apical jomt of the flagellum is
strongly curved. This species has probably reached the desert portion

500 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Val. XX.

of N. W. India from Arabia, which may be found to be the home of other
Karachi species also.
Cerceris tnevorabilis sp. n.

Q. Flava, capite mesonotoque nigris flavovariegatis; clypeo plano,
emarginato, prope angulos acute carinato, genis dente maximo armatis ;
segmento mediano area basali nitida.

Long. 15 mm. ,

Clypeus short, flat, emarginate at the apex, with an acute oblique carina
on each side near the apical angles. Antennze inserted about half as far
again from the anterior ocellus as from the base of the clypeus, the second
joint of the flagellum almost as long as the first and third combined; the
carina between the antenne rather low, triangularly truncate at the apex.
Head broad; the eyes diverging towards the clypeus, separated on the
front by more than two and a half times the length of the scape ; cheeks
very broad, nearly half as broad again as the greatest breadth of the eye,
armed with a very lorg stout spine. The whole insect closely, but not
very deeply punctured; the enclosed area at the base of the median
segment smooth and shining, divided by a longitudinal furrow. Pronotum

strongly depressed in the middle, subtuberculate on each side; mesopleurze

with two- very small spines in front of the intermediate cox. First.

abdominal segment short, nearly twice as broad as long; second ventral
segment without a raised area at the base; fifth ventral segment not raised
on the margin ; pygidial area granulate, graduaily narrowed from the base,
truncate narrowly at the apex, about three times as broad at the base as.
at the apex. First recurrent nervure received near the middle of the
second cubital cell.

Dull lemon yellow ; front, vertex and mesonotum black: the front below
base of the antennze, produced upwards in three parallel bands, the middle
one reaching the anterior ocellus yellow ; two oblique yellow bands on the
vertex ; two yellow longitudinal bands on each side of the mesonotum ;
pygidial area fuscous. Wings hyaline, clouded at the apex, stigma
testaceous.

Habitat—Karachi (Comber).

This may possibly be C. seravensis Rad. but in the description of that
insect there is no mention of the large spine on the cheeks, which could
hardly have been overlooked. The present species is very near the last,
(ephippium), but the clypeus is narrower, especially on the apical margin,
the sculpture of the area at the base of the median segment is quite
different, the pygidial area is narrower at the apex, and the pronotum is
subtuberculate.

Cerceris fletcher sp. Dd.

2. Flavo-ochracea; mandibulis apice nigris; alis hyalinis, apice

SE ee

MONOGRAPH OF THE WASPS OF BRI TISH UNDA. aQa

infumatis ; clypeo fere plano, apice late emarginato, angulis subporrecto ;
genis dente armatis; mesopleuris minute bituberculatis; segmento
mediano area basali levi, opaca; segmento ventrali secundo area basali
elevata nulla.

Long. 9 mm.

Q. Clypeus broader than long, widely emarginate at the apex; the
emargination near the angles furnished with a slightly porrect oblique
carina on each side. Antenne inserted about half as far again from the
anterior ocellus as from the base of the clypeus; the second joint of the
flagellum about half as long again as the third. Eyes slightly divergent
towards the clypeus ; the posterior ocelli nearly half as far again from the
eyes as from each other. Cheeks about as broad as the eyes, armed with
a short tooth. Pronotum deeply depressed in the middle, rounded at the
angles ; mesopleurzs with two minute tubercles. First abdominal segment
twice as broad as long; second ventral segment without a raised area at
the base; pygidial area broadly rounded at the apex, more than half as
broad again at the base as at the apex, gradually narrowed, about twice
as long as the greatest breadth. Closely and rather finally punctured ; the
enclosed area at the base of the median segment smooth but opaque ;
mesopleurze deeply punctured.

Habitat—Chapra, Bihar (Mackenzie).

In the Pusa Collection.

The colour of the only specimen I have seen is reddish, evidently due to
discolouration by cyanide ; the colour in life is probably yellow or ochreous.
The spine on the cheeks is smaller than in the other two Indian species of

the group.
Cerceris sulphurea Cam.

Cerceris sulphurea Cam. Mem. Manchester Lit. Phil. Soc. (4) UL, p.
AOI1890,S .

6. Stramineus; flagello, vertice macula utrinque, mesonoto fasciis
tribus longitudinalibus pallide ferrugineis; alis hyalinis, apice infuscatis ;
clypeo longitudine aequilato, apice late rotundato, mesopleuris haud
tuberculatis ; segmento mediano area basali punctata segmento abdominali
primo latitudine sesqui longiore ; segmento ventrali secundo area basali
elevata nulla.

Long. 8 mm.

6. Clypeus as long as the greatest breadth, broad rounded at the
apex. Antenne inserted almost as far from the base of the clypeus as
from the anterior ocellus; the second joint of the flagellum about one
quarter longer than the third; the apical joint equal in length to the
penultimate, and very slightly curved. Eyes slightly divergent towards
the clypeus ; posterior ocelli more than half as far again from the eyes as

502 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

from each other. Mesopleurze without tubercles; first segment of the
abdomen about half as long again as broad, second ventral segment with-
out a raised area at the base; pygidial area sparsely punctured, about
half as broad again at the base as at the apex, nearly twice as long as the
breadth at the apex. Furst recurrent nervure received at one-fifth from
the base of the second cubital cell. Closely and rather deeply punctured,
most coarsely on the abdomen; the enclosed space at the base of the
median segment punctured, with indistinct oblique strize at the base.

Habitat—Bombay (Coll. Rothney).

As I have pointed out under C. flavopicta, Bingham’s description of the
female salphurea is taken from flavopicta. 1 doubt if his brief notice of the

male can be meant for the present species.

Cerceris wroughtont Cam.

2. Nigra; clypeo, fronte, genis, scapo, pronoto, scutello, postscutello
mesopleuris macula parva, segmento primo dorsali macula utrinque, secundo
tertioque dimidio apicali, quarto quinto macula magna mediana flavis ;
flagello, segmento mediano macula apicali utrinque, pedibusque testaceis ;
elypeo brevi, late emarginato; mesopleuris haud tuberculatis ; segmento
mediano area basali nitida; segmento ventrali secundo area basali elevata
nulla ; alis hyalinis, apice infuscatis.

dg. Feminz similis; segmento quarto sextoque flavis, quinto nigro ;
elypeo apice late rotundato, dentibus tribus minutis armato.

ons 2G 5 nam:

@. Clypeus short and broad, deeply and very widely emarginate at the
apex, flattened. Antenne inserted about half as far again from the
anterior ocellus as from the base of the clypeus, the interantennal carina
low; second joint of the flagellum nearly half as long again as the third.
Eyes very slightly diverging towards the clypeus ; posterior ocelli half as
far again from the eyes as from each other. Pronotum not depressed in
the middle; mesopleurze without tubercles ; first abdominal segment nearly
twice as broad as long; second ventral segment without a raised basal
area; pygidial area rugulose, large, truncate at the apex, the sides almost
parallel, a little less than twice as long as broad. Head closely and finely,
thorax and median segment more sparsely punctured, abdomen and the
enclosed space at the base of the median segment smooth. Wings sub-
hyaline, stigma testaceous, a fuscous cloud at the apex. First recurrent
nervure received beyond onethird from the base of the second cubital
cell.

3d. Clypeus a little longer than the greatest breadth, very broadly
rounded at the apex and armed with three minute teeth. First abdominal

MONOGRAPH OF THE WASPS OF BRITISH INDIA. 508

of CS ee gee

segment longer than broad ; pygidial area coarsely punctured, large, a little
less than twice as long as broad, the sides parallel. Thorax and median
segment more closely and deeply punctured than in the female; the
enclosed area at the base of the median segment coarsely obliquely striat-
} ed ; abdomen sparsely punctured.

P. Habitat—Nasik, W. India: (Coméer). September.

I have not seen the type, but Cameron’s description is quite sufficient.
Cerceris binghamt sp. n.

Cercerts fervor Bingh. Fauna Brit. India Hym.I, p. 310, 1897, 2. (nec
. ferov Sim.).

@. Niger, clypeo, fronte, macula post oculos, pronoto utrinque, post-
scutello, segmento mediani macula apicali utrinque, segmentis abdominal-
ibus 2-5 fascia angusta apicali, tibiisque anticis et intermediis flavis ;
tarsis anticis et intermediis rufotestaceis ; alis fusco-hyalinis ; clypeo brevi,
late emarginato, lobis lateralibus tuberculatis ; mesopleuris haud tuberculatis,
segmento mediano area basali longitudinaliter striata, segmento ventrali
secundo area basali elevata nulla.

Long. 14 mm.

Q. Middle lobe of the clypeus twice as broad as long, flat, the apical
margin very widely emarginate, not recurved. Lateral lobes of the clypeus
with a small tubercle near the middle. Antenne inserted low down, more
than twice as far from the anterior ocellus as from the base of the clypeus,
the second joint of the flagellum half as long again as the third. Head
broad, the posterior ocelli more than half as far again from the eyes as
from each other. Mesopleurz without tubercles, second ventral segment
without an elevated basal area. First abdominal segment as broad as
long ; pygidial area large, less than twice as long as broad, truncate at the
apex, the sides nearly parallel. Head and thorax coarsely and closely
punctured, the mesonotum reticulate, the basal area of the median segment
longitudinally striated, without a dividing furrow; abdomen finely and
sparsely punctured, the segments not much constricted. First recurrent
nervure received beyond the middle of the second cubital cell.

Habitat—Ataran, Tenasserim (Bingham). February.
This was treated by Bingham as a variety of C. feroxr Sm., differing only
in colour. But in fervor the middle lobe of the clypeus is porrect, with the
‘lamina free at the apex and very broadly rounded ; the tubercles on the
lateral lobes are on the margin, not near the middle; the first abdominal-
segment is much longer than broad, the pygidial area is narrower at the
base, gradually narrowed to the apical margin, which is less than half as
broad as the base. These distinctions are ample for a specific distinction.
Bingham’s description of feov seems to be taken from the present species
and not from true ferow.
26

504 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL BIST, SOCIETY, Vol, NXT

Cerceris nebulosa Cam.

Cerceris nebulosa Cam. Mem. Manchester Lit. Phil. Soc. (4) III, p. 265,
1890, ¢.

Cerceris erythropoda Cam. Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. (7) X, p. 57,
1902, 9.

Cerceris himalayensis Cam. Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. (7) XV, p, 220,
1905, g

Cerceris intimella Cam. Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. (7) XV, p. 221
1905, ¢.

Cerceris assamensis Cam. Entomologist, p. 269, 1905, ¢.

Q. Nigra; clypeo, fronte, macula pone oculos, pronote, segmento —

abdominali primo apice, secundo basi, tertioque apice ferrugineis ; alis
fusco-hyalinis, stigmate testaceo ; clypeo lato, apice semicirculariter emar-
ginato; segmento mediano area basali tenuissime punctata ; mesopleuris
subtuberculatis ; segmento ventrali secundo area basali elevata nulla.

¢. Femine similis; clypeo convexo, apice producto et leviter inciso.

Long. 9,15mm.; ¢, 10mm.

2. Clypeus. broad and flat, bent slightly outwards near the apex and
very widely and deeply emarginate. Antenne inserted low down on the
front, separated from the base of the clypeus by a distance not exceeding
the length of the third joint of the flagellum; the second joint of
the flagellum as long as the first and third combined. Hyes diverg-
ing towards the clypeus; posterior ocelli half as far again from
the eyes as from each other. Pronotum not depressed in the
middle; mesopleurzee with two feeble tubercles; first abdominal
segment broader than long, strongly constricted at the apex ; second
ventral segment without a raised area at the base ; fifth ventral segment
with a narrow longitudinal groove in the middle ; pygidial area elongate
ovate, twice as long as the greatest breadth, very narrowly truncate at
the apex, granulate. Finely and closely punctured, more strongly and
sparsely on the abdomen; the median segment rugulose on the apical
slope, the enclosed area at the base finely and closely punctured ; meso-
pleure striated. First recurrent nervure received just before the middle
of the second cubital cell.

3. Clypeus convex, longer than broad, slightly incised on the middle
of the apical margin. Pygidial areaa little longer than the breadth at
the base, twice as long as the breadth at the apex. Penultimate joint of
the flagellum longer than the apical.

Habitat—Khasi Hills, 6,000ft. June to August.

A fairly common species above Shillong. The extent of the ferru-
ginous colour is very variable. The list of synonyms at the head of
this description is anexample of the careless descriptions in Cameron’s
later papers. A female of this species is also labelled in Rothney’s

—E————————

MONOGRAPH OF THE WASPS OF BRITISH INDIA.

collection as the type male of C. bimaculata, but does not correspond to
the description. A male of another species, marked C. /imaculata type, is.
doubtless the true type.

Cerceris bimaculata, Cam.

Cerceris bimaculata Cam. Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. (7) XV, p. 219, 1905, ¢.
Cerceris canaliculata Cam. Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist.(7) XV, p. 219, 1905, g.
Cerceris cameront Schulz. Spoia Hymenopt. p. 194, 1906.

3. Niger: clypeo, fronte, pronoto, scutello macula utrinque, segmento
dorsali secundo basi, tertio fascia lata apicali, tibiis tarsisque anticis.
ferrugineis ; alis fusco-hyalinis, stigmata testaceo; clypeo convexo, apice
truncato ; mesopleuris subtuberculatis ; segmento abdominali primo fere
sesqui longiore ; segmento ventrali seceundo area basali cievata nulla ;
segmento mediano area basali punctata.

Long. 9 mm.

¢. Clypeus convex, truncate at the apex, a little longer than the great-
est breadth ; antennze inserted at least half as far again from the anterior
ocellus as from the base clypeus ; second joint of the flagellum nearly
half as long again as the third, apical joint scarcely as long as the pen-
ultimate and slightly curved. Hyes parallel ; the posterior ocelli more than
half as far again from the eyes and from each other. Mesopleurze sub-
tuberculate ; first abdominal segment about half as long again as broad ;
second ventral segment without a raised area at the base ; pygidial area
nearly twice as long as broad, the sides parallel. Head and thorax,
including the enclosed area at the base of the median segment, very finely
and closely punctured ; abdomen rather more coarsely punctured ; meso-
pleurz rugose. First recurrent nervure received at onethird from the
base of the second cubital cell.

Habitat—Khasi Hills (Coll. Rothney.)

This species is distinguished from nebulosa,Cam., by the longer petiole.
The type of canaliculata is without the two fulvo-ferruginous spots on the
scutellum, but I cannot see that it differs otherwise, nor does Cameron
give any other difference in the unfortunate paper in which both are
described. He is capable of far better work, as is shown by his paper on
the same genus in the memoirs of the Manchester Society for 1890.

Cerceris mastogaster Sm.

Cerceris mastogaster Sm. Cat. Hym. B. M. IV, p. 458, 1856, @.

Q. Nigra; clypeo, scapo subtus, pronoto utrinque, tegulis, postscutello,
segmento secundo dorsali fascia transversa basali interrupta, tertio quinto-
que utrinque, tibiis tarsisque flavis; flagello subtus, segmento mediano
(area basali excepta), segmentis abdominalibus 1-4, femoribusque ferru-
gineis ; alis hyalinis, apice infumatis ; clypeo lato, truncato, apice dentibus

duobus minutis armato; segmento mediano area basali nitido ; segmento

506 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXT,

ventrali secundo area basali elevata nulla ; segmentis ventralibus 3-5
lateribus cristatis, quinto margine apicali reflexo, in medio dentato,
Long. 14 mm.

?. Clypeus more than half as broad again at the apex as the greatest
length, the apical margin truncate, with two small teeth close to the
middle ; antennze inserted a little further from the anterior ocellus than
from the base of the clypeus ; the second joint of the flagellum nearly
as longas the first and third combined ; posterior ocelli a little further
from the eyes than from each other. Pronotum not depressgd in the
middle ; mesopleurz without tubercles. First abdominal segment as long
as broad ; second ventral segment without a raised area at the base ;
ventral segments 3-5 with a strong erect process on each side; the fifth
with the apical margin recurved, with a triangular tooth in the middle.
Pygidial area elongate ovate, rather narrowly truncate at the apex, more
than twice as long as the greatest breadth, the surface granulate. Strongly
punctured ; the enclosed area at the base of the median segment smooth
and shining, with a few striz atthe base, divided by a shallow longitu-
dinal furrow. First recurrent nervure received before one-quarter from the
base of the second cubital cell.

Hainitat—Madras (W. £iliot).

Ihave only seen the type. The structure of the ventral abdominal
segments is remarkable, and probably is of assistance to the imsect

transporting beetles, perhaps Buprestida.
Cerceris tetradonta Cam.

Cerceris tetradonta Cam. Mem. Manch. Lit. and. Phil. Soc. (4) IIL, p.
261. 1890.

@. Nigra, punctata; clypeo, fronte, genis, vertice fascia transversa
utrinque, pronoto, tegulis, mesopleuris macula, scutello, postscutello, seg-
mento mediano macula utrinque, segmentis dorsalibus 1—5,ventralibus 2—4,
macula transversa utrinque pallide flavis ; segmento primo basi, femoribts-
que ferrugineis ; pedibus flavovariegatis ; clypeo apice truncato, quadri-
dentato ; mesopleuris tuberculo parvo; segmento ventrali secundo area
basali elevata nulla, sezmento mediano area basali nitida.

¢. Clypeus apice bisinuatus; fasciz abdominis fere continue.

Long. 9,9mm; ¢,7 mm.

Q. Clypeus truncate at the apex, with four blunt teeth. Antenne
inserted nearly twice as far from the anterior ocellus as from the base of
the clypeus, second joint of the flagellum half as long again as the third.
Mesopleure with a minute tubercle; second ventral segment without a
raised area at the base; first segment twice as broad as long; pygidial
area broadest in the middle, almost pointed at the base, truncate at the
apex, nearly twice as long as the greatest breadth. Deeply but not very

MONOGRAPH OF THE WASPS OF BRITISH INDLA. 507

closely punctured, more coarsely on the abdomen than on the thorax, the
enclosed space at the base of the median segment smooth and shining,
the median groove indistinct. Wings hyaline, with a fuscous cloud at the.
apex ; first recurrent nervure received at one-third from the base of the
second cubital cell.

3. Clypeus very feebly bisinuate at the apex; apical joint of the.
flagellum feebly curved, shorter than the penultimate; first abdominal
segment a little broader than long ; pygidial area narrowed from the base-
to the truncated apex. The yellow bands on the abdomen are only very
narrowly interrupted and there is no ferruginous colour at the base of
the abdomen either on the dorsal or ventral surface, The flagellum is.
ferruginous.

Halntat— Western India, from Poona to Karachi; Deesa; Abu (Vurse);.
Karachi (Comber).

Cerceris downesivora sp. 1.

2. Nigra; clypeo in medio, fronte, scapo, linea post oculos, pronoto.
utringque, tegulis, postocutello, segmento mediano fascia longitudinali
utrinque, segmentis 2—5 fascia angusta apicali, tibiis tarsisque anteri-
oribus et intermediis flavis; alis subhyalinis, apice obscuris; clypeo-
latitudine longiore, apice obtuse quadridentato; mesopleuris hand
tuberculatis, segmento ventrali secundo area basali elevata nulla ; seg-
mento mediano area basali nitida.

Long, 9,9 mm. :
Q. Middle lobe of the clypeus longer than broad, flat, broadest near:

the base, the apical margin armed with four stout, blunt, short teeth.
Antenne inserted fully half as far again from the anterior ocellus as from
the base of the clypeus, the second and third joints of the flagellum of
equal length. Eyes parallel on the inner margin; the posterior ocelli
further from:the eyes than from each other. Mesopleurze without tuber-
cles; first abdominal segment nearly twice as broad as long; second
ventral segment without a raised area at the base ; pygidial area elongate.
ovate, almost pointed at the base, narrowly truncate at the apex, nearly
three times as long as the greatest breadth. Closely, but not very deeply
punctured ; the enclosed area at the base of the median segment smooth
and shining, the median groove very indistinct. First recurrent nervure
received a little before the middle of the second cubital cell.
Habitat—Pegu Hills (Bingham), April.
“Stores its nest with Downesia brettinghami’
Nearly allied to C. tetradonta Cam., but has the middle lobe of

(Bingham).

the clypeus much narrower than in that species and is more closely

punctured.
The note about Downesia is referred by Bingham (Fauna Brit. India

508 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XX;

Hymen. I. p. 300) to C. elizabethe, but is placed on this species in the
collection.

The markings in the type are discoloured.

Cerceris kirbyt Bingh.

Cerceris kirby: Bingh, Fauna Brit. India Hym. I., p. 313, 1897, 2.

©. Nigra, subnitida, capite punctato; clypeo, fronte, scapo, genis,
vertice fascia, pronoto, tegulis, mesonoto maculis duabus, mesopleuris
macula magna interrupta, scutello, postscutello, segmento mediano macula
magna utrinque, segmento primo abdominali basi et apice, secundo dimi-
dio basali, tertio macula basali nigra, quarto quintoque apice, pedibusque
anticis et intermedus flavis; flagello pygidioque ferrugineis; alis hyalinis,
apice leviter infuscatis; clypeo plano, apice quedridentato ; segmento
mediano area basali nitida, obsolete punctata, segmento ventrali secundo
area basali elevata nulla ; mesopleuris haud tuberculatis.

straight, armed with four well defined teeth. Antenne inserted almost
as far from the base of the clypeus as from the anterior ocellus; posterior
ocelli haif as far again from the eyes as from each other. Pronotum not
depressed in the middle, mesopleure not tuberculate; second ventral
segment without a raised basal area elongate, slightly broader in the
middle than at the extremities, fully two and a half times as long as the
ereatest breadth and narrowly truncate at the apex. The first abdominal
segment is about twice as long as broad. Head closely punctured, thorax
and abdomen microscopically punctured. First recurrent nervure receiv-
ed at one-third from the base of the second cubital cell.
Habitat—Haundraw Valley, Tenasserim (Bingham). September.
Bingham’s description of the colour and sculpture is not inaccurate, but
his description of the form of the clypeus cannot be taken from the type,

to which it bears no resemblance.
Cerceris rothneyt Cam.

Cerceris rothneyi Cam. Mem. Manchester Lit. and Phil. Soe, (4) TI.
p. 251, 1890.

9. Ferruginea; fronte supra antennas, segmento abdominali quarto
pygidioque nigris; clypeo, fronte, scapo, pronoto, tegulis, mesopheuris
macula, scutello, postscutello, segmento secundo basi, tertio macula
ferruginea basali quintoque pallide flavis; pedibus avis, femoribus
ferrugineis ; clypeo apice truncato dentibus 4 minutis armato ; mesopleuris
haud tuberculatis ; segmento mediano area basali nitida ; segmento ventrali
secundo area basali elevata nulla ; pygidio angusto, in medio contracto.

S. Femine similis; vertice, mesonoto, segmentoque secundo apice

nigris ; clypeo apice anguste truncato.

MONOGRAPH OF THE WASPS OF BRITISH INDIA. 509

Long. 2,12 mm.; 6, 10mm.

2. Clypeus flattened, the middle lobe half as broad again at the apex
as long ; the apical margin straight, armed with four minute blunt teeth.
Antenne inserted almost as far from the hase of the clypeus as from the
anterior ocellus, second joint of the flagellum half as long again as the
third. Hyes very feebly divergent towards the clypeus; a very minute
spine projecting over the base of the mandibles; posterior ocelli as far
from each other as from the eyes. Mesopleurze without spines; second
ventral segment without a raised area at the base; first segment a little
broader than long ; fifth ventral segment with the apical margin slightly
produced in the middle and recurved, the segment raised laterally. Pygi-
dial area very narrow, slightly narrower in the middle than at the extre-

mities, rounded at the apex, three times as long as the greatest breadth.

Closely but not coarsely punctured ; the basal area of the median segment

smooth and shining with an indistinct median groove. Wings hyaline,

with a fuscous cloud at the apex, nervures fuscous, stigma testaceous.
First recurrent nervure received at one-third from the base of the second
cubital cell.

3. Clypeus longer than broad, the apical margin rounded at the sides,
narrowly truncate in the middle. Fisrt abdominal segment much longer
than broad ; pygidial area half as long again as the breadth at the base,
slightly narrowed to the apex.

Halitat—Barrackpore ( Rothney); N. Kanara ( Comber).

Cerceris fastidiosa sp. n.

©. Flava; vertice mesonotoque nigro-maculatis, segmentis dorsalibus
rufo-fasciatis ; clypeo convexo, porrecto, apice inter carinas duas trianga-
lariter truncato ; sezmento mediano area basali sparse punctata.

Long. 11 mm. :

Clypeus strongly convex, nearly as long as broad, obliquely depressed
from near the middle, and furnished with two carinv enclosing an elongate
triangular and depressed space at the apex, the apical margin very broad-
ly rounded. Cheeks narrower than the eyes at their greatest breadth;
eyes nearly parallel; second jomt of the flagellum distinctly longer than
the third. Pronotum not depressed in the middle, rounded at the angles;
mesopleurze with two very minute spines. First abdominal segment much
broader than long, subtuberculate at the base on the dorsal surface ; second
ventral segment without a raised area at the base, fifth ventral segment not
raised at the apex. Pygidial area sparsely punctured, more than half
as long again as broad, the sides almost parallel, broadly truncate at the
apex. Closely punctured, more sparsely and shallowly on the abdomen
than elsewhere ; enclosed area at the base of the median segment sparsely

punctured, divided by a very shallowly impressed line.

510 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Voi. XX

Yellow ; a large black spot round the ocelli, mesonotum black with four
broad longitudinal yellow bands, the margins and central line of the
enclosed area on the median segment and a line continued to the apex of
the segment black ; first dorsal abdominal segment, pygidial area and the
other dorsal segments broadly at the base light ferruginous. Wings
hyaline, infuscated at the apex, stigma testaceous.

Habitat— Karachi (Comber).

This species somewhat resembles C. pulchella Klug, but is without the
raised area at the base of the second ventral segment, the form of the
clypeus on the oblique anterior portion is different, as is also the sculpture
of the enclosed area at the base of the median segment.

Cerceris rhynchophora sp. n.

@. Nigra, delicatissime punctata, etiam in area basali segmenti
mediani; clypeo, fronte, scapo, macula magna post oculos, pronoto, tegulis,
scutello, postscutello, segmento mediano macula utrinque, segmentis 1—5
fasciis latis, tibiis tarsisque flavis; alis hyalines, apice leviter infumatis;
clypeo conveXxo, porrecto, nasuto, margine apicali sub rostro bidentatos ;
mesopleuris haud tuberculatis; segmento ventrali secundo area basali
elevata nulla; area pygidiali triangulari, apice acuta.

Long. 10 mm.

@. Clypeus porrect, convex, produced into a noselike process at the
apex, the margin below the process with a tooth on each side. Antennz
inserted about half as far again from the anterior ocellus as from the base
of the clypeus, the second joint of the flagellum less than half as long
again as the third. Posterior ocelli a little further from the eyes than
from each other; the inner margins of the eyes parallel. Pronotum not
depressed in the middle; mesopleurze without tubercles; second ventral
segment without a raised area at the base; first segment twice as broad
as long, the abdominal segments broad and scarcely constricted at the
base. Pygidial area granulate, of an elongate triangular shape, ciliated at.
the sides. Very finely and closely punctured, rather sparsely on the
scutellum. First recurrent nervure received before one-third from the
base of the second cubital cell.

6. Differs from the female as follows: clypeus longer than broad,
rounded at the apex, with three small teeth on the margin, and almost flat.
The whole insect much more coarsely punctured; the basal area of the
median segment shining, finely punctured, with short longitudinal striz at
the base. Abdominal segments constricted at the base; the first segment
about half as broad again as long. Pygidial area as broad at the base as
long, the apical margin truncate and less than’half as broad as the base.

Habitat—Quetta (Nurse). May.

MONOGRAPH OF THE WASPS OF BRITISH INDIA. 511

The female is very near C. ewryanthe Kohl., in the shape of the clypeus
and pygidial area, but seems to differ in the much finer sculpture and the
proportions of the antennal joints.

Cerceris vigilans Sm.

Cerceris vigilans Sm. Cat. Hym. B. M. IV, p. 454, 1856, 3.

Cerceris lanata Cam. Jour. Bom. Nat. Hist. Soc. XVII, p. 1009, 1907.

@. Nigra; margine interiore oculorum anguste, macula post oculos,
vertice macula parva utrinque, segmento primo dorsali macula utrinque,
tiblisque linea, albis; segmentis abdominalibus 2—5 rufo-ferrugineis ; alis
fusco-violescentibus ; clypeo apice anguste producto, recurvato; meso-
pleuris tuberculatis ; segmento mediano area basali delicatissime punctata;
segmento ventrali secundo area basali elevata nulla.

6. Femine similis; pronoto utrinque albomaculato; segmentis
dorsalibus 5—6 infuscatis; clypeo apice late rotundato, dentibus tribus
armato ; flagello subtus ferrugineo, fronte albo trilineato.

Long. 9, 12-15 mm.; g, 9-12 mm.

2. Clypeus a little longer than broad, the apical margin produced in
the middle and recurved, the middle produced into a broad rounded tooth
with a minute tubercle on each side of itat the base. Antenne inserted
more than twice as far from the anterior ocellus as from the base of the
clypeus, the second and third joints of the flagelum equal in length. Inner
margins of the eyes almost parallel ; posterior ocelli half as far again from
the eyes as from each other. Mesopleurze with a small, blunt tubercle ;
second ventral segment without a raised area at the base ; first segment
nearly twice as broad as long; pygidial area elongate ovate, broader at the
base than at the apex, twice as long as the greatest breadth. Closely and
rather finely punctured, the enclosed space at the base of the median seg-
ment very minutely punctured, clypeus sparsely and shallowly punctured.

3. Clypeus very broadly rounded at the apex and armed with three
broad teeth ; apical joint of the flagellum longer than the penultimate and
strongly curved ; pygidial area more than twice as long as broad, a little
broader at the apex than at the base.

Habitat—Almost the whole of the Indian region, excepting Ceylon and
the North-West frontier districts. Bingham’s description of the female
seems to have been taken from a male.

Cereeris leucozonica Schlett.

Cerceris leucozonica Schlett. Zool. Jahrb. I, p. 405, 1887, 2 ¢.

2. Nigra, clypeo, fronte, scapo, pronoto macula utrinque, tegulis,
postscutello, segmentis abdominalibus primo, tertio, quarto, quintoque
fasciis latis flavis; flagello fusco-ferrugineo, pedibus flavis, ferrugineo-
variegatis ; clypeo plano, ad apicem modice angustato, margine apicali

512 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL AIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX.

truncato, segmento mediano area basali basi longitudinaliter striata,
segmento ventrali secundo area clevata nulla; alis hyalinis, apice leviter
infuscatis.

Long. 9 mm.

©. Clypeus a little longer than the greatest breadth, slightly narrowed
towards the apex, the apical margin truncate. Antenne inserted a little
nearer to the base of the clypeus than to the anterior ocellus, second joint
of the flagellum as long as the first and third combined ; the inter-antennal
carina low, not reaching the base of the clypeus. Cheeks narrower than
the greatest breadth of the eyes ; posterior ocelli a little further from the
eyes than from each other. Mesopleurze without tubercles. First
abdominal segment nearly twice as broad as long ; second ventral segment
without a raised area at the base; fifth ventral segment widely emarginate
at the apex, depressed in the middle of the apical half. Pygidial area
more than half as long again as the greatest breadth, gradually narrowed
from the base and almost poimted at the apex. Deeply and coarsely
punctured, more sparsely and shallowly on the abdomen; the enclosed
area at the base of the median segment coarsely longitudinally striated at
the base, punctured between the strize, very finely transversely striated
at the apex, with a deep median furrow.

Habitat—Quetta (Nurse). June.

Described by Schletterer from Hungary and Bulgaria. Typical speci-
mens are without the broad yellow band on the basal abdominal segment.
The entirely black second segment renders the species rather conspicuous
amongst other Quetta species.

Cercerts nurset sp. 0.

®. Nigra, nitida, sparse punctata; clypeo, fronte, scapo, genis, vertice
macula utrinque, pronoto, tegulis, mesopleuris fascia lata, scutello, post-
scutello, segmento mediano macula utrinque, segmentis abdominalibus 1—5
basi anguste nigro, pedibusque flavis, flagello anoque fusco ferrugineis ;
elypeo plano, apice truncato; segmento mediano area basali nitida, im
angulis oblique striata; segmento ventrali secundo area basali elevata
nulla.

Long. 9 mm.

g. Femine similis, capite thoraceque minus flavo pictis; clypeo con-
cave depresso, angulis apicalibus dente minuto armato.

2. Clypeus almost flat, much broader than long and broadly truncate
at the apex. Antenne inserted about half as far again from the anterior
ocellus as from the base of the clypeus, the second joint of the flagel-
lum a little longer than the third. Cheeks not quite as broad as the eyes ;
posterior ocelli about half as far again from the eyes as from each other ;
eyes diverging very slightly towards the clypeus, Pronotum not depressed

|
|
|

MONOGRAPH OF THE WASPS OF BRITISH INDIA. 515

in the middle; mesopleure without tubercles; second ventral segment
without a raised area at the base; pygidial area gradually narrowed from
the base, about three times as long as the greatest breadth and almost
pointed at the apex. The abdominal segments are not strongly constricted ;
the basal segment breader than long. Sparsely punctured, very finely on
the head and thorax, more coarsely, but shallowly, on the median segment
and abdomen ; enclosed area at the base .of the median segment smooth
and shining, with a few oblique striz in the angles. First recurrent
nervure received at one-third from the base of the second cubital cell.

Black ; mandibles, clypeus, front, checks, a spot on each side on the
vertex, pronotum, tegule, an irregular band on the mesopleurz
scutellum, postscutellum, a large spot on each side of the median segment,
abdominal segments 1—5, very narrowly black at the base on the dorsal,
broadly testaceous brown at the base on the ventral surface, and the legs
bright yellow. Wings hyaline, slightly iridescent, with a fuscous cloud at
the apex, nervures fusco-ferryginous.

dg. Clypeus as long as the greatest breadth, broadest in the middle
almost the whole surface occupied by a concave depression of an oval
shape, the apical margin transverse, armed with a small tooth at the apical
angles. Apical joint of the flagellum very slightly curved, not quite as
long as the penaltimate. Pygidial area less than half as long again as
broad, truncate at the apex, the sides almost parallel.

Vertex and cheeks without yellow markings, median segment entirely
black, the thorax with the pronotum, tegule and postscutellum only
yellow ; femora marked with black.

Halitat—Quetta (Nurse). May and June, 52,10.

Cerceris circumcincta sp. n.

Q. Nigra; mandibulis basi, clypeo margine apicali nigro, margine
interiore oculorum latissime, scapo subtus, macula pone oculos, pronoto
utrinque, tegulis, postscutello, segmento mediano macula laterali utrinque,
segmentis dorsalibus 1—5, ventralibus 2—4 fascia apicali, tibiisque axtus
flavis; flagello subtus pedibusque testaceis; alis subhyalinis, apice
infuscatis, nervulis fuscis, stigmate testaceo ; clypeo brevi, apice truncato,
depresso ; mesopleuris haud tuberculatis ; segmento mediano area basali
apice punctata, basi striata ; seemento ventrali secundo area basali elevata
nulla.

3. Femin® similis; clypeo convex, nitido, apice truncato; segmento
mediano area basali subnitida.

Long. 9,10mm.; ¢,9 mm.

Q. Clypeus short, slightly convex, shining, nearly twice as broad at the
apex as long, the apical margin narrowly depressed. Antenne inserted
nearly twice as far from the anterior ocellus as from the base of the

514 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX1.

clypeus, the second joint of the flagellum about half as long again as the
third, eyes almost parallel; posterior-ocelli about half as far again from
the eyes as from each other. Mesopleure without tubercles ; first
abdominal segment fully half as broad again as long; second ventral
segment without a raised area at the base ; pygidial area narrowly rounded
at the apex, gradually narrowed from the base, a little less than twice as
long as the greatest breadth. Very finely and not very closely punctured,
enclosed area at the base of the median segment minutely punctured
at the apex, finely striated at the base. First recurrent nervure received
a little before the middle of the second cubital cell.

dg. Clypeus convex, shining, longer than broad, truncate at the apex.
Antenne inserted only a little further from the anterior ocellus than from
the base of the clypeus, apical joint of the flagellum shorter than the
penultimate. First recurrent nervure received just before one-third from
the base of the second cubital cell.

Halitat—Kashmir, 5-6,000 ft. (Nurse). May.

Cerceris mellicula sp. n.

©. Ochracea; fronte circa ocellos, mesonotoque nigris; prothorace,
scutello postscutelloque flavis ; alis hyalinis, apice infumatis ; clypeo leviter
emarginato, segmento mediano area basali nitida, area pygidiali apice
leviter emarginata,

Long. 9 mm.

Clypeus nearly as long as the breadth at the apex, feebly emarginate
on the apical margin, slightly convex, shining, with a few scattered punc-
tures. Head closely but not deeply punctured, the front below the
insertion of the antanne almost smooth. Eyes parallel on the inner
margin ; second joint of the flagellum distinctly longer than the third ;
breadth of the cheeks equal to about half of the greatest breadth of the
eyes. Thorax sparsely punctured, the scutellum almost smooth ; pronotum
slightly depressed in the middle; mesopleuree with a minute tubercle.
Median segment and abdomen rather closely punctured ; the enclosed area
at the base of the median segment smooth and shining, with a shallow
median groove, which is continued more deeply to the apex of the seg-
ment. First abdominal segment a little broader at the apex than long ;
second ventral segment without a raised area at the base; apical margin of
the fifth ventral segment very slightly raised. Pygidial area half as long
again as the breadth at the base, where it is broadest, nearly twice as long
as the breadth on the shallowly emarginate apical margin. First recurrent
nervure received at one-third from the base of the second cubital cell.
Ochreous ; the front round the ocelli broadly and the mesonotum black ;
pronotum, pleurze, scutellum and postscutellum yellow. Wings hyaline,
strongly infuscated beyond the radial cell, nervures black.

MONOGRAPH OF THE WASPS OF BRITISH INDIA.

cr
—
cr

Habitat—Karachi ( Comber ). October.

With this species I associate, with some doubt a male taken at Karachi
m considerable numbers by Mr. Comber. It is yellow, with the vertex,
cheeks, mesonotum, middle of the median segment and the base of all the
abdomina} segments narrowly black. Clypeus convex, more than half as
broad again as long, narrowly truncate at the apex. Fifth and sixth ven-

tral segments produced into a short spine on each side at the apical

angles. Pygidial area about half as long again as the greatest breadth,
broadly rounded at the apex, the sides parallel. Length 8mm.

The female somewhat resembles C. anneva Kohl., but has the clypeus
and pygidial area much broader.

Cerceris bolanica sp. n.

©. Nigra; clypeo, fronte, scapo, pronoto utrinque, tegulis, postscutello,
segmento abdominali secundo basi, tertio quintoque totis, quarto apice,
pedibusque flavis; alis hyalinis, apice leviter infumatis, venis fuscis;
clypeo apice angustato, emarginato ; mesopleuris haud dentatis ; segmento
ventrali secundo area basali elevata nulla ; segmento mediano area basali
punctata. ¥

¢. Femine similis; clypeo latitudine latiore, apice rotundato.

one, ¢ mim-); G,, 6 mum.

@. Middle lobe of the clypeus as long as the greatest breadth, much
narrowed towards the apex, the apical margin slightly porrect and very
shallowly emarginate. Antenne inserted a little nearer to the base of
the clypeus than to the anterior ocellus, the second joint of the flagellum
only very slightly longer than the third. Inner margins of the eyes
parallel ; posterior ocelli nearly twice as far from the eyes as from each
other. Mesopleurze without tubercles; first abdominal segment nearly
half as long again as broad, second ventral segment without a raised area
at the base; pygidial area elongate ovate. First recurrent nervure
received at one quarter from the base of the second cubital cell. Rather
deeply punctured ; the enclosed area at the base of the median segment
punctured with a longitudinal median groove ; postscutellum smooth.

‘g. Clypeus longer than broad, rounded at the apex; pygidial area
about half as long again as broad; first recurrent nervure received at
two-fifths from the base of the second cubital cell.

In both sexes the third ventral segment is yellow, and the flagellum
beneath reddish.

Habitat—Quetta (Nurse). July.

This is near C. rubeda Jur., but in that species the antenne are inserted
nearer to the base of the clypeus, and the sculpture is much coarser. The
present species may be identical with C. vagans Rad., but the description

516 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. Boe!

of that species is almost worthless for purposes of identification, and there
is no figure.
Cercerts baluchistanensis Cam.

Cerceris baluchistanensis Cam. Ann, and Mag. Nat. Hist. (7) XX., p. 88,
SIU hc

2. Flavo-ochracea ; alis hyalinis, apice et in cellula cubitali secunda
infumatis, venis testaceis; clypeo convexo, latitudine sequilongo, apice
late truneato; mesopleuris bituberculatis; seemento mediano area basali
sparse punctata; segmento ventrali secundo area basali elevata nulla.

¢. Feminz similis; flavus; flagello segmentisque abdominalibus apice
aneguste pallide ferrugineis ; mesonoto, vertice, segmentoque mediano basi
sepe nigro-maculatis; clypeo modice producto, apice truncato; mesopleu-
ris haud tuberculatis.

Long. 9,12 mm.; ¢, 10 mm.

2. Clypeus as long as broad, convex, broadly truncate at the apex.
Antenne inserted more than twice as far from the anterior ocellus as
from the base of the clypeus, second joint of the flagellum less than half
as long again as the third. Eyes diverging very slightly towards the
clypeus; the posterior ocelli more than half as far again from the eyes as
from each other. Pronotum not depressed in the middle; mesopleurie
with two small tubercles ; first abdominal segment more than half as broad
again as long ; second ventral segment without a raised area at the base ;
pygidial area more than twice as long as the greatest breadth, slightly
broadened towards the middle, half as broad again at the base as at the
apex. Closely but not coarsely punctured, most sparsely on the mesono-
tum and scutellum ; the enclosed area at the base of the median segment
very sparsely punctured, with the usual median groove. First recurrent
nervure received at one quarter from the base of the second cubital cell.

g. Clypeus convex, a little longer than broad, shining and very
sparsely punctured, produced and rather narrowly truncate at the apex.
Mesopleure not tuberculate. Antenne inserted about half as far again
from the anterior ocellus as from the base of the clypeus ; the apical joint

of the flagellum strongly curved, a little longer than the penultimate. First.

abdominal segment as broad as long, with a slight depression on the middle
of the apical margin; pygidial area nearly twice as long as the greatest
breadth, slightly narrowed to the apex.

Tn both sexes there is a small fuscous spot on the petiole of the second

cubital cell.
Habitat—Quetta (Nurse). May and June. 3. Deesa (Nurse). August ¢ Q.

(To be continued. )

———— Oey

eS ee

THE COMMON BUTTERFLIES OF THE PLAINS
OF INDIA

(INCLUDING THOSE MET WITH IN THE HILL STATIONS
OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY).

SDSS SIE Manse

Fart XG
Wire Puatres D2, D3, anp D4.
(Continued from page 1136 of Volume XX.)
Faminy—PAPILIONID 4--~(continued.)

Only one genus # us 2a BAP TILILO:

81. Papilio helenus, L., Race Halla, eee (Pl. D3, figs. 26 3, 26a 9.)
Male and female ee: brownish-black to rich velvety black. Fore-
wing with four slender lines in cell from base to near end of cell and outer
internervular hairy streaks of varying width from median area to near
termen, yellow-brown ; these latter giving in many specimens a golden-
brown appearance in certain lights to the terminal half of wing. Hind-
wing with a more or less quadrate white spot in interspace 7, one more
elongate similar spot in each of the two interspaces below, the three
forming a very conspicuous discal white patch with the outer margin
zigzag ; this is followed by a series of intermarginal more or less imperfect
claret-red rings in interspaces 1 to 5 that enclose large, intense black,
oval spots; these rings may be obsolescent in the male or even entirely
wanting in specimens from the damper regions. The number of the rings is
variable also, the tornal one being always present. Cilia black alternated
with white. Undersede: duller opaque black, the forewing generally some-
what less black than the hindwing. Forewing similar to the upperside
but the cellular and internervular streaks formed of scales, not hairs,
greyish white in colour and much more clearly defined, the latter anteriorly
do not reach the terminal margin but form a postmedial band, the upper
streaks in some few specimens reaching the apex of the cell. Very occa-
sionally, in the damper regions, the streaked postmedial band is somewhat
prominently white at base of interspace 7 (between veins 7 and 8) and there
is a corresponding white blurred spot on the upperside of wing. Hindwing:
markings similar to those on the upperside but the upper spot of the discal
white patch crescentic in shape, the whole patch generally narrower and the

5]8 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXI,

spots that compose it divided by black veins ; the inner marginal series of
rings are dull ochraceous-red and only the tornal and the ring in interspace
2 are more or less complete, the rest of the series reduced to a curved sub-
terminal line of lunules from interspace 3 to 7; in addition there is an
inner broad red lunular spot in interspace 2 in continuation of the inner
portion of the tornal ring ; both the lunule and inner portion of tornal ring
traversed by a line of bluish white scales ; the lunule sometimes continued
in interspaces 3, 4 by an ochraceous mark in each to the lower outer angle
of white patch. The uppermost spot of the white patch generally with
some blue scales on the interval between it and the terminal red ring.
The female generally has the rings on the upperside of hindwing and the
markings on the underside larger and bolder. Exp. 80-150 mm.

Generally the average size of a male is 130mm., that of a female about
140mm., the latter generally running a little larger than the former.

Egg.—Nearly spherical, flattened where affixed to leaf. Surface finely
dented, shiny. Colour orange blotched with red-brown pigment. OD:
2mm.

Lava.—The caterpillar is very like that of P. polymnestor in colour, shape,
and markings. The head is round and soiled watery white, hidden under
segment 2 in repose ; exactly as in polymnestor in every way including the
white dorsal line splitting down sides of clypeus. Segment 2 trapeze-
shaped with front margin straight, lateral margins diverging backwards,
the angle between the front margin and them rounded, somewhat thicken-
ed, witheut any tubercle; segments 3 and 4 increasing in width with seg-
ment 5, which is the broadest part of the body ; segments 4, 5 flattened on
top more or less, there being a crest or ridge running along the front
margin of the former, ending laterally in an eye or ocellus, and a less
prominent ridge on the hinder margin of the latter, both curved,
the one convex forwards, the latter convex backwards and with its extre-
mities curving to close to the eye of the more prominent ridge on each
side of the larva, this lower crest continued forward in the lateral region
below the eye as a thinner, yellowish line to the front margin of segment
2, bordering the green dorsal portion of larva from the greyish colouring of
ventral parts ; the surface included between the ridges or crests is nearly
elliptical in shape and shield-like as in polymnestor. 'The shape of body
from segment 6 to anal end is sub-cylindrical, the sides somewhat flat and
perpendicular to the flat ventral surface; the analend is perpendicular to
the longitudinal axis of larva behind a white line between the dorsolateral
tubercles of segment 13 which are nearer the hinder margin of that seg-
ment than the front margin, this white line being continued forward to
join the subspiracular line at front margin of segment 12, thus limiting the
dorsal green colour from the white of the anal clasper-faces, anal flap,
and parts below and behind it, The surface of the larva is velvety and

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THE COMMON BUTTERFLIES OF THE PLAINS
Or INDIA.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE D3.

Fig. 26. Papilio helenus, 1, Race daksha, Hampson. 3
9 26a. 29 , 39 ” ye) 24 Mr) 2

10 URNAL, BOMBAY NAT. HIST. SOC. PLATE D8.

THE COMMON BUTTERFLIES OF THE PLAINS OF INDIA.
Horace Knight, del. Hentschel-Colourtype.

COMMON BUTTERFLIES OF THE PLAINS OF INDIA. 519

smooth looking with a dorsolateral, small, fleshy, white tubercle on segment
13 on the white line ; there are no others. Spiracles of ordinary size, oval,
fleshy light-brown with fine black border and a thicker black line inside
parallel to margin. Colour of larva is a rich grass-green above the sub-
spiracular enamel-white band which starts at base of anal claspers and
runs forward to the front margin of segment 7 quite straight; then,
getting gradually thinner, on to segment 6 where it curves up to the
supraspiracular region, bordering the dorsal green and leaving the
ventral watery smoky grey colour between it and the crest of segment
5 protruding upwards in a triangle into the segmental membrane
between the two segments 5 and 6; this segmental membrane is black;
the anal segment is white mottled with black; the front margin of
segment 2 and its continuation backwards to the crest on segment 5 is
yellow ; the bases of legs and visible ventral portions of segments 2-6 is
watery dark-grey ; there is a dark black-mottled grey broad band running
diagonally across segments 8 and 9, bordered in front by a line running
from above lower anterior corner of segment 8 up and back to dorsum in
front of hinder margin of segment 9 where it meets the one on the other
side; behind itis bordered by aline starting from hinder margin of segment
8 up that margin and then back to hinder margin of segment 9 sub-
dorsally, the band getting narrower on dorsum; segment 10 is grey-mottled
with black behind a light line starting at anterior margin of segment 10,
curving backwards and up to the subdorsal region of segment 10 where
there is a semicircular production of the dark mottling forward on either
side of larva, the dorsal part of the complete transverse band formed by
the markings oneither side being its narrowest part; vertex greyish ; true
legs brownish ; pseudo legs large, thick and fleshy, greyish, marked with
two transverse dark lines. The eye of segment 4 is black with a trans-
verse brown line and a yellow-brown border; the crest is finely veined with
black between the eyes as in polymnestor; the hinder crest is lighter green
with slight white markings and violet loops, also as in polymnestor. The
scent organs are deep flesh-coloured. L: 75mm; B at segment 5: 12mm.
Pupa.—tThe pupa is very similar in general shape to that of P. polym-
nestor. The front part of the longitudinal axis is inclined at an angle of
90°, slightly more than in that species, to the hinder half; the head-
points are perhaps slightly longer as they are certainly stouter and are
perhaps also thrown back very slightly ; the front slope of thorax is quite
perpendicular to the longitudinal axis at that point ; the extremities of the
greatest width of pupa are perhaps more prominent and are somewhat
flattened above and below. The surface is very much rougher, and there
are prominent subdorsal tubercles on segments 8, 9 as well as a smaller
lateral one and indications of such on segments 10,11. Spiracles of seg-
ment 2 indicated by little semicircles on the surface of the segment with
23

520 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST,..SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

the common margin of segments 2 and 3 as bases ; other spiracles oval
light brown in colour with white linear central slit, not small, more or less
flush, The colour is ordinarily green with a similar yellow saddle to that
described for P. polymnestor, If the pupa is against a grey bark orin a
cage then it may be variegated with brown and pink, black and grey, white
and green all together, in which case there is of course no yellow saddle.
L: 45mm; B at segment 7: 19 mm; at shoulders : 6-5mm ; L of head-points,
3mm.

Habits.—The larva, when full grown, generally lives in the
centre of the upperside of the leaf, lying along the mid-rib always
when it is young. Sometimes, when mature, it prefers, like most
other Papilio larvee, the stalk of the leaf or a twig. It is slow in
its halting movements and wanders to pupate. The young larva
is one of those that imitate bird-droppings by the pattern of
colouration and its oily look and somewhat irregular surface. The
imago deposits its eggs, one at a time,-on mature leaves of the
foodplant in shady places in heavy jungle, choosing, as a very
general rule, small saplings with foliage about 10 to 20' from the
ground. Two larvee are often found on the same little tree with
very few leaves left between them at the end of their growth.
The pupation takes place on the underside of a twig or strong
leaf-rib and the loop is rather long, longer than in polymnestor.
The yellow saddle adds greatly to the difficulty of seeing the
pupa from below and it is always difficult to find amongst the
green leaves of the plant where it is formed. The larva wanders
sometimes long distances before turning into a chrysalis. ‘The
imago is an insect of the jungles and hills and regions of heavy
rainfall; it is never found far away from these, but may stray
into the plains along the borders. It flies fast, always seems to be
in a great hurry, even when stopping to hover for a moment over
a flower for food, and is rarely seen at rest. It is fond of the big
jungles and keeps entirely to the protection of trees, often very
near the ground, never seems to bask in the sun and comes to rest
in dull weather on the upper surface of some leaf, often high up
in the tops of trees, with its wings held quite horizontal, the
upper wing drawn down over the hinder one so as to completely
hide,the conspicuous white patch on the latter. It is then not
very easily seen and the position is evidently assumed for the

COMMON BUTTERFLIES OF THE PLAINS OF INDIA, 521

purpose of protection from enemies, particularly birds. P. daksha
is one of the finest butterflies of India in point of size and quiet
beauty ; it is one of the four really large ones mentioned in these
papers and is not likely to be forgotten once seen. ‘The insect is
on the wing all the year round but is commonest during the mon-
soon months. ‘The food plants are rutaceous; it has been bred
on Zanthoxylum Rhetsa, DC.; Glycosmis pentaphylla, Correa ; Citrus
medica, Li. ; Citrus decumana, L.; all more or less evergreen trees and
widely distributed in the Indian region with the exception of the
first ; but there are other species of Zanthoxylwm that are found in
places where Z. Rhetsa is not. P. daksha is confined to Southern
India, the Nilgiris, Malabar and Travancore ; its place is taken by
mooreanus, Rothschild, in Ceylon and helenus L., in the Himalayas
from Mussoori to Sikkim, hills of Assam, Burma, ‘'enasserim,
Siam, China and the Malay Peninsula, both these differing very
little though more or less constantly in small points from daksha.

The figures in Pl. D3 have the ground colour slightly too red,
the fault being greatly accentuated in the lower or female insect :
this latter is altogether too light, females in nature being very
nearly as black as males; the picture must have been painted from
a faded specimen.

82. Papilio polymnestor, Cramer. (Pl. D4, fig. 27 dg, 27a 2 ).—Male upperside:
rich velvety black. Forewing with a postdiscal band composed of inter-
nervular, broad, blue streaks gradually shortened and obsolescent an-
teriorly, not extended beyond interspace 6, very rarely into interspace 7.
Hindwing: the terminal three-fourths beyond a line crossing the apical
third of the cell blue or greyish blue, with superposed, postdiscal, sub-
terminal and terminal series of black spots; the postdiscal spots elongate,
inwardly conical ; the subterminal oval, placed in the interspaces like the
postdiscal ones; the terminal irregular, placed along the apices of the
veins and anteriorly coalescing sometimes more or less with the subter-
minal spots. Underside: opaque black. Forewing with an elongate red
spot at base of cell; the postdiscal, transverse series of streaks as on the
upperside but grey tinged with ochraceous and extending right up to the
costa ;in some specimens similar but narrow streaks in the cell. Hind-
wing with five irregular small patches of red at base, the one nearest dor-
sal margin sometimes wanting ; the outer three-fourths of the wing touch-
ed with ochraceous but generally narrower than the blue on the upperside,
the inner margin of the colour crossing the wing beyond the ¢ell; the

522 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX,

postdiscal and subterminal black spots as on upperside but much larger.
In some specimens this grey area is much restricted, the subterminal spots
merge completely with the terminal and form a comparatively broad black
terminal band. Antenne, head, thorax and abdomen blackish-brown.
Female very similar, but the internervular streaks on the forewing paler,
extended into the cell both on the upper and undersides. Hindwing with
the pale blue of upperside and the corresponding grey area on the under-
side paler, generally more ochraceous along inner margin of the area. In
some specimens there is a diffuse short red streak in base of cell of fore-
wing on upperside. Exp. 131-156mm. A perfect male has been bred
110mm. The females are generally somewhat larger than the males. —

Egg—The egg is light green when first laid but becomes orange-yellow
after some hours’ exposure. It is spherical and 1‘8mm.in diameter; the
surface 1s smooth.

Larva.—The larva is of the same type as that of P. polytes but, of course,
much larger. Head more or less round, large, face rather flat; surface
finely frosted, somewhat shiny, covered, especially about lower portion,
with numerous short, fine, more or less erect, light brown hairs; clypeus
small, equilaterally triangular, the apex rounded, rayed transversely, shiny
watery green in colour; labrum transverse, whitish, shiny, as is also the
somewhat large ligula; colour of eyes glassy white, one or two brown;
antenne and jaws greenish white, both tipped brown; the rest of the head
light green with a pure white line down centre, splitting down each side of
elypeus and forming thus a much larger triangle than the included clypeus.
The body is more or less circular in transverse section, much swollen at
segments 4 and 5, the head is generally hidden from above under segment
2 which is trapeze-shaped, the front margin straight, the sides diverging
backwards from it in a rounded, somewhat thickened angle where, how-
ever, there is no sign of a tubercle (at the angles), the dorsum transversely
convex, the dorsal line somewhat ascendant; the anal end is high, falling
suddenly, nearly perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of larva, from a
slight raised ridge along middle of segment 13 joining the dorsolateral
small tubercles of that segment; the anal fiap, forming the major portion
of this perpendicular hinder slope, is also trapeze-shaped, ending square
and has a triangular, shiny dorsal shield near its extremity ; it is closely
applied to the broad outer faces of the anal claspers and is coloured like
them greyish-white; segment 3 is shaped like segment 2, widening out
backwards and sloping slightly upwards; segments 4 and 5 assume dorsally
the shape of a semielliptical, somewhat flattened shield, the front boundary
of which is formed by a prominent curved ridge, differently coloured to the
rest of the body, stretching along the front margin of segment 4 and
ending laterally in a black ocellus or eye, the hinder limit being a similar
vidge along the hinder margin of segment 5, also slightly curved; both

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pred

THE COMMON BUTTERFLIES OF THE PLAINS
OF INDIA.

EXPLANATION OF PLATE DA.

Fig. 27. Papilio polymnestor, Cramer, g

7 274. 39 99 99 2

JOURNAL, BOMBAY NAT. HIST. SOC. PLATE D4.

THE COMMON BUTTERFLIES OF THE PLAINS OF INDIA.
Horace Knight, del. Hentschel-Colourtype.

COMMON BUTTERFLIES OF THE PLAINS OF INDIA, 523

ridges converging towards each other in the lateral region but not meeting ;
the hinder ridge continued, narrower, as a white line forwards laterally
- along segments 4, 3 to the front margin of segment 2, thus separating the
dorsal green portion of larval body from the watery greenish grey of the
ventral parts; after this shield the body decreases gently in diameter to
the anal end, the dorsum transversely convex, the sides more or less
flattened and perpendicular to the flat ventrum or underparts. The
surface of the body is dull and velvety looking but is covered with’
extremely minute erect hairs when looked at under the lens; there is a small
dorsolateral, short, fleshy tubercle near hinder margin of segment 13,
coloured white-grey, on a similarly coloured, very slightly raised line
which separates the green dorsal colour of the body from the hinder slope,
and this line is continued forwards and down, still separating the dorsal
green from the lateral grey, to join the white subspiracular line at front
margin of segment 12. Spiracles not large, somewhat narrowly oval, light-
brown, bordered very finely black with a broader black line inside and
parallel to their margins. The colour of larva is a fine rich velvety, darkish
grass-green on the dorsal portions with a yellowish shade above the lateral
white line of segments 2-5 and above a pure white, subspiracular band
starting from the base of the anal claspers and running forwards to the
front margin of segment 7 whence, on segment 6, it curves upwards, get-
ting thinner, to lose itself in the supraspiracular region at the front of
that segment, leaving a triangle of ventral colour, between it and the
swollen hinder ridge of the shield of segments 4 and 5, intervening between
the dorsal green as far up as the subdorsal region; indeed, when the larva
is stretched, the segmental membrane between segments 5 and 6 is _ visible
right round the larva and the hinder half of the membrane is jet black
dorsally and dorsolaterally ; the ridge along front margin of segment 4 is
ornamented with a fine, thin, black line running in deep open loops from
eye to eye and finally, bordered posteriorly with white, encircling the black
eye in a forward loop, the anterior part of whichis anteriorly bordered
with yellow ; the eye itself is about 3mm. in diameter, has a dull blue, thin
line transversely across its middle and two contiguous, thinly black-
bordered, small, enamel-white spots above it towards dorsum of larva; in
front of this line of loops and on front of ridge are two parallel, thin, black
lines, more or less interrupted throughout their length, with some six
thinly black-bordered circles let in between them ; the ridge along hinder
margin of segment 5 is, like this other ridge, lighter green than the body-
colour generally, has no black lines but has the surface of the shield
portion of the segment running into its tumidity in little open loops
which do not reach its hinder margin and these loops are all: coloured
violet, fading gradually forwards into the glaucuous green of the whole -
shield; the loops become white towards the extremities of this hinder

524 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XX.

ridge ; besides all this marking there is, on each side of segments 8 and

9, a broad, thinly white-bordered, thickly white-sprinkled band, limited:
anteriorly by the white border reaching, from the front margin of segment,

8 at the subspiracular white band, up and backwards, crossing the common

segment margin 8/9 in the dorsolateral region to meet the posterior.

limiting line in a curve subdorsally (the bands on either side therefore
do not meet over back), this posterior boundary then running down,

parallel to the anterior one, to the subspiracular band at posterior margin

of segment 8; on segment 10 there is a similar white-sprinkled area occupy-

ing the spiracular region on each side, triangular in shape, bordered in. —
front by a white line starting from the front margin at subspiracular band |

and running back to hinder margin in the lateral region, below by the sub-
spiracular line, and behind by the hinder margin of segment; the front

margin of segment 2. is yellowish white; true legs are green; the prolegs.

also greenish with two transverse dirty lines; the anal claspers are whitish;
venter light-green. The osmateria or scent-organsare flesh-coloured. In

some larvee there may be a small subdorsal tubercle in middle of segment,
12, There is generally a small blue subdorsal spot near the hinder margins

of segments 9, 10; on the former in the band and another below; on the
latter. segment the place ef the blue spot may be taken by a triangular
small white patch blotched with blackish; there may be a whitish dot
‘dorsally on segment 4 and a lightish one subdorsally on segment 5. L:
75mm. ; Bat segment 4/5: 12mm.

Pupa.—The pupa is bent back from about the middle so that the longi- -

tudinal axis of the one-half is at an angle of about 80° with that of the

other half; the wings ventrally describe a prominent curve along their line |
of junction and the ends of this curve run straight and evenly to the
points of the head forward and the cremastral end backwards; the dorsal .

outline is correspondingly concave in the middle but convex again in seg-
ments 8 and 9, with segment 7 gradually sloping up to 8 from the bottom

of the curve, segments 6 and 5 forming the lowest part of it, segment 4.

sloping up again towards thorax and, with the hinder half of thorax-

length, in a straight line as far as the thoracic apex, whencethe front half.

of the thorax falls suddenly at an angle of about 100° to the hinder slope
in a slight curve to its front margin, after which segment 2 is nearly paral-
lel, although slightly concave, to the longitudinal axis of pupa at that
point. In lateral outline segment 2 is nearly parallel-sided and in con-
tinuation with the exterior margins of the head-points, but gets very
slightly broader backwards ; the shoulders are somewhat suddenly promi-
nent, after which the pupa is again parallel-sided as far as the constriction
where the body-loop passes; after this the wings (and body) are expanded
as far as middle of segment 7, the greatest breadth there culminating in a

low rounded point ; then the breadth again diminishes rapidly to hinder |

COMMON BUTTERFLIES OF THE PLAINS OF INDIA, 525

margin of the segment, less rapidly somewhat to hinder margin of segment
8 and more gradually to the cremastral end of pupa. The head has two
diverging straight, thick parallel processes, bluntly pointed, triangular in
section, toothed roughly on their inner edges and separated from each
other by a triangular sinus; segment 2 has the front margin nearly
straight with a triangular sinus in dorsal line; the apex of thorax points
forwards and has two ridges, starting at apex subdorsally, running diverg-
ingly backwards to the hinder margin of the thorax where they again
converge, the surface included by them more or less flat; the anal
end has the segments 12, 13, 14 cut away underneath more and more back-
wards so that segment 14 is wedge-shaped, the extreme end quite thin
and concavely curved: the sides are perpendicular and the dorsum flat.
The front of shoulders is somewhat flattened. The wings are produced at
the apices into a triangular point as far as hinder margin of segment 9.
The surface is very slightly shiny, not quite smooth and minutely tuber-
culate on shoulder, head-points the extremities of the extreme width,
the flat dorsal portion of thorax as well as on the saddle ; there is a small
tubercular dot laterally on segment 4 and another in front ; there may be
indications of tubercles on segments 7, 8, 9 and thorax corresponding to
those in P. helenus. Spiracles of segment 2 are indicated by narrow
linear, light brown ovals between the segment margins 2, 3; other spiracles
broadly oval, green, with narrow central brown included ovals ; they are flush,
that of segment 7 situated at the base of the knob at extremity of extreme
width; that of segment 12 blind. Colour ismedium grass-green with a yellow
green “saddle” bounded anteriorly by the hinder margin of thorax shortly
(this hind margin by the way is straight and meets the wing-line in a shallow
curve-angle of about 90°), laterally by the dark-green of wing-expansion
in a straight line to the points of greatest pupal width, and gradually
fades backwards into the green of abdomen; there is blue-grey suffusion
on lateral ventral parts of abdomen, on the sides of segments 11-18 and
along the dorso-ventral border of ventral parts of segments 3-7 on wings ;
there is a brown mark along the line separating the saddle from the dark
green of segment 4; the suspensory hairs of cremaster are brown. The
pupal surface is slightly depressed in the spiracular region of segments 12,
13; there is an indentation just in front of spiracle of segment 2; there is
a white dot at extremities of veins of wings. L: 40mm. over all; B at seg-
ment 7: 18 mm; B at shoulders: 10mm; of segment 3 middle: 65mm.; L
of head-process : 3mm.

The pupa is only green when it is formed amongst green leaves. If it is
formed on a grey branch out of their influence or in a cage in captivity it
may be quite different ; often it is variegated, in these latter cases quite
wonderfully with white and brown and grey and green and black to suit
its surroundings.

526 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXII.

Habits.—The eggs are laid always singly on the top of a leaf and
generally on a leaf of a certain age. The imago chooses a shady
place in the jungles or in a garden, and the leaf chosen is never far
from the ground, that is to say, within about ten feet high and al-
ways on a plant bearing young leaves. The little larva eats the
egeg-shell and shortly afterwards makes a seat of web near the edge
of its leaf upon which it comes to rest. Later on, when larger, it
rests in the middle along the midrib moving, of course, as occa-
sion requires, to anew leaf. When in the last two stages, as
soon as it dens the green coat, it sits on stalks, twigs and bran-
ches, resting with the body stretched, contracting the first four
segments, the face bent down along the leaf-surface. When touch-
ed it emits the flesh-coloured osmateria which smell strongly and
pungently of the leaves of the food-plant. The pupation takes place
suspended from the underside of a leaf-stalk and leaf or from a
thin twig, the loop being moderately long. The caterpillar walks
in a halting fashion, slowly, spinning web from side to side as it
progresses ; it travels all over the plant to eat and, at the end,
changes its resting place pretty frequently. It does not appear to
be much parasitised, though the eggs often suffer in this way. The
imago appears after twenty-one days in the most favourable case,
the time spent in the pupa varying according to the dryness or
otherwise of the weather ; in captivity a pupa will often lie over
for months. The butterfly is very similar to P. helenus in its
habits of flight and choice of localities. It, also, does not, usually,
fly at any height from the ground though it will occasionally rise
to the tops of trees, especially when in search of food; both males
and females are commonly found at flowers. The males may often
be seen drinking on the moist mud on roads or the wet sand in
nallas and rivers at the commencement of the monsoons and in the
hot close days that precede them. The species is one of the most
plentiful in individuals in the regions where it exists and may be
found about at any time of the year. It is however much com-
moner in the hills at low elevations and in jungle country than in
the Plains and is not found in regions of very scanty rainfall.
The flight is powerful and quick and generally straight ahead
though, when alarmed, the insect dodges with great alacrity and is

COMMON BUTTERFLIES OF THE PLAINS OF INDIA. 527

not exceedingly easy to catch with a net. Like all others of its
class, it will come to decoy---a dead specimen pinned on a leaf or
on the ground with its wings spread open---and even to a piece of
light blue paper similarly exposed. The resting position is that
already described for P. helenus, namely, with the wings spread hori-
zontally, the front ones drawn down well over the hindwings so as
to partially hide the striking blue colour; a leaf low down in the
jungle is generally chosen---a leaf in a protected position with others
above to shade it from the sun or cover it from the rain. P. polym-
nestor is found throughout Southern India, the Central Pro-
vinces, Bengal, and, as a strageler from the Plains, Sikkim. Its
place is taken in Ceylon by avery nearly allied species, P. parinda,
Moore, which differs in the extent and shade of the blue markings.
There are others, varying somewhat in markings, but constant
where they occur, confined to Java, Sumatra and Borneo, &c.,
respectively. P. memnon inhabits Java, Nias, Sumatra, Borneo,
&c., and has a tailed as well asa tail-less female. Rothschild enu-
merates four subspecies of this last form from different Malayan
Islands, P. mayo, P. rwmanzovius, Kischsch., P. devphobus, L., P. dewy-
lus, Feld., P. deiphontes, Feld., P. ascalaphus, Boisd., and P. wnomaus,
Godart, some with both sexes tailed, some tail-less or with a short
tooth instead of the tail, are given as inhabiting other Malayan
Islands and New Guinea. The food-plants of the larva are all be-
longing to the Rutacew and it has been found on Glycosmis penta-
phylla, Corr., Atalantia of different species and Citrus decwmana, L.
This last plant is the Pomelo or Shaddock, cultivated nearly every-
where in India. In the forests of Western India, south of Bombay,
the commonest food-plant is Paramigyna monophylla, Wet., a large,
climbing, armed shrub with a simple leaf and a round, green
berry about an inch in diameter which is shortly grey-woolly
when young.

Plate D4 depicts the male and female. Both are again too red,
the usual fault. The female is far too light both as to ground
colour and the blue colouration, in nature the ground colour is
nearly as black as the male.

83. Papilio polytes, Z.—(Pl. D2, figs. 25 ¢ cyrus form; 25a 2 polytes

form ; 250 romulus 2 form).—A polymorphic form.—The male varies slightly
29

528 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXI,

but is fairly constant throughout its range; the female generally with
two forms, in Southern India and Ceylon with three, strikingly different
in appearance.

Male and female upperside black. Forewing: cell and rest of wing with
not very prominent, irrorated adnervular bands of pale, yellowish scales
and admarginal white specks along the termen. Hindwing: a transverse
discal series of elongate white spots in the interspaces 1-7, these spots
divided by the black veins and succeeded by diffuse, ill-defined, sparse
blue scaling (sometimes obsolescent or wanting in most interspaces) on
the postdiscal area; an obscure spot of a deeper black than the ground-
colour at the tornal angle surmounted by a lunule of blue scales. Under-
side similar ; ground-colour of a duller, more opaque black. Forewing
with the cellular and internervular irrorated streaks more prominent.
Hindwing : the discal series of white spots and blue scaling succeeded by
a subterminal, more or less incomplete series of dingy white lunules and a
row of small admarginal spots in the interspaces along the termen; the
tornal spot divided from the blue scaling by an ochraceous line (sometimes
very indistinct). Antenne, head, thorax and abdomen black; head and
thorax anteriorly on the upperside and head, thorax and abdomen beneath
spotted with white ; the last with lateral, white lines.

Yyrus form differs:—male upperside: the white markings larger, more
neatly defined, the tornal spot with an ochraceous short band above it.
Underside: the subterminal series of lunules are complete, well defined,
and vary from white to deep ochraceous-red. Certain specimens have a
subterminal band of white lunules on the upperside also (from the Nico-
bars); others, from the Western Ghats, Kanara, have it of deep ochra-
ceous-red lunules. Female: similar to the male, the subterminal series of
lunules on the underside ochraceous. This is merely a form and every

phase between it and typical polytes is found in Bombay Presidency and

in one and the same locality.

Female, polytes form.—Upperside: fuliginous black on fore, somewhat
darker and velvety on the hindwing. Forewing with broad adnervular pale
lines on disc, narrower in cell, leaving the base of wing from 4 of costal
length to 3 of dorsal margin, and internervular lines and the terminal
margins fuliginous black. Hindwing: apex of cell and elongate marks
from base of interspaces 2-5 white; lower half of interspace 1 dark-red
with blue scales and with a superposed terminal black spot at tornus ;
the red extends into interspace 2 below the elongate white mark (others
have it extending all round the white mark); finally a complete sub-
terminal, transverse curved series of red lunules and admarginal paler
red spots often with a narrow terminal yellowish white line beyond them
in the posterior interspaces. Underside similar ; a complete series of admar-
ginal spots along the termen of the hindwing, the anterior spots white.

THE COMMON BUTTERFLIES OF THE PLAINS
OF SEN IWAY:

EXPLANATION OF PLaTE D2.

Fig. 25. Paynlio polytes, L., eyrus form. 3
250. ay . ., polytes form. 2

25b, S : . romulus form.

JOURNAL, BOMBAY NAT. HIST. SOC. PLATE D2.

THE COMMON BUTTERFLIES OF THE PLAINS OF INDIA.
Horace Knight, del. Hentschel-Colourtype.

COMMON BUTTERFLIES OF THE PLAINS OF INDIA, 529

Antenne, head, thorax and abdomen black; beneath, the abdomen with
lateral rows of white specks. This specimen is typical; but the insect
varies a good deal. Often the cell of the hindwing is uniform black té-
the apex and the number of elongate white marks in the interspaces
beyond varies from 2 to 6; even the two may be sometimes very curtailed
in extent.

Female, romelus form.—Resembles the ordinary female polytes form but
differs as follows :—Forewing crossed from the middle of cell obliquely
to the tornal angle by a broad white band somewhat as in P. hector, the
margins of the band ill-defined; this is followed by an ill-defined, white
patch beyond the apex of the cell. Hindwing with all the discal as well
as the subterminal and terminal markings red, including a round red spot
at apex of cell. The white band and patch are sometimes much sullied
and it varies also in width in different specimens. Exp. 92-114mm; the
male generally under 100mm.

Colonel Bingham mentions two remarkable aberrations of the male, both
from Southern India. In one the upperside forewing had the admarginal
white spots along the termen much larger and extended into interspace 8.
The hindwing had the transverse discal series of elongate white spots
replaced by a series of velvety-black spots darker than the ground-colour
of the wing, bordered on the inner side narrowly, on the outer side much
more broadly, by ill-defined, diffuse, blue scaling ; the black tornal spot in
interspace 1 centred by an irregular deep aalmaceans red-spot ; above
this is a quadrate white spot and in a line with it in interspace 2 isa
similar but narrower white spot ; there is a minute white discal spot in
interspace 5. Underside similar to the upperside, the ground-colour duller ;
the markings on the forewing similar, but the terminal white spots still
larger. Hindwing: a discal series of extremely elongate streaks in the:
interspaces beyond the cell; these streaks are rich ochraceous-red mixed
with white, but turn to pure white without any red in the anterior inter-
spaces ; the streaks in interspaces 1-5 interrupted along their inner halves
by a row of spots of a shade darker than the ground-colour of the wing :
these spots outwardly bordered by diffuse blue scaling. Exp. 98mm.
Procured at Coimbatore, S. India. ;

The other abnormal specimen, also a male, closely resembled typical
specimens but, on the hindwing, the white spots of the transverse discal
series are wanting in interspaces 1-3, 7. This gives the insect a super-
ficial resemblance to P. daksha.

figg.—Spherical; hardly perceptibly rough on surface. Colour pale
orange, opaque, shiny, smudged with pale-brown. D: 1.2mm.

Larva (P\. I, fig. 14).—Is the same as that of polymnestor in shape and

arkings except that segments 4 and 5 are not so swollen; the head is

w instead of green, the crests on segments 4 and 5 are yellow, the

530 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

ocellus black. There are the usual two tubercles on segments 2 and 13,
the former small and triangular pointing sideways and forwards, the latter
smaller, pointing straight backwards. The colour is a rich glaucous green
dorsally, slightly yellowish on the sides; the bands and markings on
segments 7-10 are white, blotched with red-brown or brown, generally
spottedly, the ventrum in brownish white suffused with red-brown or
brown. L: 40 when at rest and the B: 8 mm. at middle, a little more at
segment 4, This is a moderate-sized larva.

Pupa, (Pl. I, fig. 14a.)—Is very similar to that of P. daksha, but the apex
of the thorax is produced into a short square-topped point which is direct
ed forwards and overhangs the front slope. The colour of the pupa is
identical with that of P. daksha both when wild and in captivity. L:
3lmm; B: 12 mm. at broadest part, segment 7; greatest H: 9 mm. at
segment 7.

Habits:—The habits of the larva in all its stages are the same
as those of daksha and polymnestor. The pupation also takes place
in the same manner except that the loop is here perhaps not as
long as in the other two. The caterpillar is seemingly not very
subject to attack by ichneumons though, of course, it suffers
occasionally like all butterfly larve. ‘The imago flies well and
strongly, though it rarely rises far from the ground, preferring
the shelter of bushes and thick places in the jungles and along
hedges, in gardens, &c.; it eschews open ground though it is
found everywhere in India, in the Plains as well as in the
hills, in the densest forest in the regions of heaviest rainfall
and in the gardens of the driest parts of the country. It is the
male that generally attracts attention, darting across a path

and diving into a shady bit of shrubbery or into some thick place.

in the underwood, or stopping for a short moment at some flower
for a passing drink. The females are somehow much less notice-
able. The reason is probably because they keep more to the
shady places, fly slower and are nearly always strictly attending
to the business of ovipositing. It is a fact that they fly much
slower as a practice though they can rival the male in quickness
when necessity arises---when, for example, they are attacked or
frightened. The resemblance of the polytes and romulus form ot
the females of this butterfly to P. wristolochiw and P. hector re-
spectively has been alluded to in these papers before. ‘These last
two swallow-tails have a habit of flying about slowly (pandiyanus

COMMON BUTTERFLIES OF THE PLAINS OF INDIA,. 581

has it too), when feeding in the mornings and evenings, from
flower to flower, sailing along with the wings held over the back at
about 45° to each other at intervals. Itis to imitate these the
better, perhaps, that the females of the present species affect a slower
rate of progression than their males. While the protected insects,
however, feed mostly, as said, in the mornings and evenings,
these others are not addicted to that practice but feed at odd
times throughout the day; they are seen generally in the under-
wood and shady places looking for leaves whereon to deposit their

eggs. The cyrus form of the female is nowhere common in the

Bombay Presidency as far as is known, whereas both the other
forms are equally plentiful. It is probable, indeed, that the form
is nowhere very plentiful throughout the range compared to the
polytes form. The form imitating P. hector—romulus—is found only
in the area frequented by P. hector ; a very peculiar fact. Another
extraordinary thing is that where local forms of P. aristolochic
occur, there the polytes form is also modified in a more or less
similar way. Things go even further than that: in Celebes where
typical polytes males do not exist, being replaced by a constant
similar but aberrant race called P. polytes alcinder, Oberth., the
female is only of one type and that imitates a butterfly of the
P. hector group called P. polyphontes, Boisd., which is only found
in Celebes and some few neighbouring islands of the Gilolo group;

and this although P. aristolochiw exists there. Why? It is

difficult to even guess at an answer.

P. polytes is found throughout British India, including the
Andamans and Nicobars; extending to Siam and the Malayan
Subregion to Celebes; China and Formosa.

The food-plants of the larva are Zanthoxylum Rhetsa, DC. ;
Glyscosmis pentaphylla, Correa ; Citrus medica, L.; Citrus decumana,
L. ; and others of the Rutacee.

The figure 25a on Plate D2 has the fore wings much too red ; the

light parts should be grey or blue-grey. The figure of the male

is very good (fig. 25).

84. Papilio clytia,Z.—There are two forms: one something like a Eupleca ~
core, dark-brown with white bordering marks; the other the same with
broad white streaks between the veins, imitating Danais limniace perhaps ;
and males UB females of both are equally common.

532 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Volv XXX

Male and female, first form.—Upperside : velvety black or soft brown.
Forewing with a subterminal series of outwardly truncate or emarginate
white spots; the spot in interspace 4’ shifted inwards out of line; those
in 6, 7, 8 oblique to costa, the lowest and the upper two elongate ;
this followed by a terminal series of smaller white spots, two in inter-
space 1, one above the other and two in interspace 8; finally, a single
spot between the subterminal and terminal series. Hindwing with a
discal series of inwardly conical and outwardly emarginate, triangular,
elongate, white spots in interspaces 1-5; a subterminal series of four
white lunules in interspaces 2-5, the series continued in interspaces
6 and 7 as transversely oblong, white spots; a prominent, tornal, yellow
spot broadly divided across the middle by a bar of the ground colour. The
cilia touched with white in the interspaces ; sometimes one or more of these
specks on the cilia are broad, prominent and yellow in colour. Underside:
from soft, pale brown to rich, dark, velvety brown. Forewing with the
markings as on the upperside. Hindwing with the markings also similar
to those on the upperside but the terminal margin beyond the subterminal
series of white markings bears a row of comparatively large, very conspicu-
ous, yellow spots, separated from the white lunules by a series of short,
transverse, detached spots of the ground colour. Antennze, head, thorax
and abdomen black ; the thorax anteriorly and beneath, and the abdomen

on the sides, spotted with white.

Male and female, second form (dissinilis, Doubleday).—Differs from the.

first form as follows :— Upperside: forewing: cell with four streaks coales-

cent at base and four spots beyond atzapex, a long streak in interspace

la, two streaks with two spots beyond, which are more or less coalescent —

with them, in interspace 1, a broad streak with an outwardly emargi-
nate spot beyond in interspace 2; similar spots, one at base and one beyond,
in 3; a single similar spot in 4; elongate streaks in 95 and 6, and much
smaller elongate spots in interspaces 8 and 9. All these streaks and spots
cream-white with diffuse edges ; subterminal and terminal markings as in
the first form. Hindwing: markings similar to those in the first form,
with the following differences :—discoidal cell entirely white ; discal white
streaks longer, reaching quite up to the outer margin of the cell and contin-
ued anteriorly to costa by elongate streaks in interspaces 6, 7; two spots
in interspace 8 and a slender streak along costa; the subterminal and
terminal markings as in the first form. Underside similar to the upperside,
the cream-white markings slightly larger, the terminal series of yellow spots
on the hindwing as in the first form. Antennz, head, thorax and abdo-
men with more prominent white spots. Exp. 108-121mm.

The first form is liable to certain variation :—the forewing may have a
third (discal) series of one to five markings; it is then variety casyapa,
Moore ; the forewings may be black with an obvious bluish tint in certain

COMMON BUTTERFLIES OF THE PLAINS OF INDLA, 000

lights ; the white spots of forewings are absent or only faintly visible:
variety papone, Westwood; variety commixtus, Rothschild, was received
from the Khasia hills and had the three series of spots on the forewing of
casyapa very feebly marked with two faint spots behind the cell and a
streak along the dorsum, white; the discal markings often indicated by
white scales, or absent altogether; the hindwing with the apical half of
cell, seven long discal streaks reaching the base of respective interspaces
and a marginal and submarginal series of spots, white as in dissimilis, L.
(From Rothschild’s “ Revision of the Papilios of the Eastern hemisphere,
exclusive of Africa.’’)

There are other races :—lankeswara, Moore, from Ceylon; panope, L.,
from Burma and Tenasserim, extending to Siam and the Malay Peninsula;
Havolimbatus, Oberthiir, from the Andamans. All of these have a dissimilis
form which does not vary much; the last (flavolimbatus) has only the
dissimilis form.

4igg.—This is spherical, waxy looking and often somewhat uneven on the

surface, orange-yellow in colour and about the same size as that of P.
helenus.

Larva.—(PI1. 1., fig. 13).—Is somewhat of the hector type though slimmer,
is more or less cylindrical, thickest in the 5th and 6th segments. The anal
flap is rather long, semi-elliptical in shape, at an angle of 45° with the
longitudinal axis of the larva, with the extremity polished horny-black
and reaching triangularly back to the middle of the segment. The head is
round, flat-faced, somewhat broadly bilobed, shiny black; the clypeus
semi-elliptical, apex rather pointed, centre transversely striate, large ; all
parts black. Segment 2 is hood-shaped, the front margin straight between
two truncated, cylindrical, dorsolateral, fleshy tubercles. Each segment
from 2 to 13 has a central, dorsolateral, fleshy, cylindrical, truncated thin-
nish tubercle or process; segments 2, 3, 4 have a similar, much
shorter subdorsal one; segments 3, 4, 5 have a similar and super-
spiracular one of the same size as the dorsolaterals ; segments 5, 6 and 12
have a small, red, subspiracular tubercle of about half the size of the sub-
dorsals of segments 3 and 4. The dorsolaterals of segment 2 are on the front
margin, the subdorsals are mere knobs behind these and there is an indica-
tion of a spiracular one, small, in front of the spiracle. The body surface is
dull and velvety, the tubercles and front of segment 2 as well as the head are
set with very short, sparse, brownish-red hairs. Spiracles oval, shiny black
with brownish central slits of ordinary size. Colour: velvety black or dark-
green with a dorsolateral row of carmine circular spots, one to each segment
3-11 at the base of the respective dorsolateral tubercles (on the upperside) ;
there is also a similar carmine spot at base on the upperside of the lateral
tubercles on segments 3-6, 8, 9 and 10 (or where the tubercle should be) ;
a similar subspiracular spot on segments 5-12; a cream-coloured dorsal band

584 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

on segments 3-7, narrowing at both ends and flanked by a broad, lateral,
similarly coloured band running from the front of segment 2 backwards to
meet on the dorsum of segment 8, and continued as a dorsal band on to
segments 9 and 10, separated by the segment margins ; the bands do not
meet in the dorsal line of segment 2 which is black but embraces all the
tubercles of that segment which are coloured yellow like it; also a broad,
cream-coloured band on segments 11-14 laterally, beginning in afew spots
on segment 10 (hinder margin) and finishing about the middle of anal flap
on each side of the shiny dorsal extremity ; all the tubercles are black
except those mentioned above as being otherwise ; prolegs shiny black on
their outer faces at extremities, dull black elsewhere; true legs shiny black;
segments 6-10 soiled flesh colour on venter. The osmaterium is light
watery indigo-blue, with the main stem and tips of branches more or less
transparent. L: 55mm; B: 11 mm. without tubercles; L. of longest
tubercles : 4°5 mm.

Pupa (Pl. I, fig. 13a).—The pupa is cylindrical and much resembles a
dead bit of stick, broken off short at the top; or, as it is generally attached
to a branch, a dead stump of a secondary branch, sticking out at an angle
of 45° from the main one. The head end is shaped and coloured so as to
give that impression; the whole is rough and coloured to represent dead
bark. The hinder end is closely applied along the ventral surfaces of
segments 10-13, which are concave beneath to receive the surface of the
cylindrical branch it is attached to by the strong, dorsally convex, trapeze-
shaped cremaster which is again set beneath plentifully with short, strong,
red-brown suspensory hooklets. The whole pupa is more or less perfectly
cylindrical between the bevelled anal end and the “ broken-off ” fore-end ;
it is, however, slightly broadened out in the middle and is very slightly
constricted about sesment 4 where the body-band passes over the surface.
The vertices of the head and frons have their dorsal line inclined at an
angle of 60° to the longitudinal axis of the pupa; segment 2 has that line
nearly parallel to that axis and is rather long, with both margins straight ;
it is flat on dorsum; the thorax rises nearly absolutely perpendicularly
from the hinder margin of segment 2 in its first 3, has the hinder
2 at right angles to this, otherwise parallel to the axis of pupa, or
very nearly so, very gradually running down and back to segment 4 ;
the dorsal line of segments 4 to 14 is quite parallel to the longitudinal
axis; the front declivity of thorax has the surface very rugose with
some deep depressions along the front margin; the part of pupa con-
sisting of the vertex of head and frons is oval in shape, broader than
high, with an irregular rugose surface limited by an irregular ridge behind
in which are two central depressions, one above the other, the anterior one
the larger and deeper; the ventral line from front to segment 10 is parallel
to longitudinal axis; the shoulders are very slight] prominent and rugcse-

COMMON BUTTERFLIES OF THE PLAINS OF INDIA,

Or
co
Ou

The surface of pupa is dull, rugose and pitted all over with slight
tubercular risings to mark the position of the larval processes or tuber-
cles; besides which there is a deep, lateral depression stretching from
just behind spiracle of segment 6 backwards above spiracle of segment 7,
reaching the lateral tubercle of segment 8. Spiracles of segment 2 are
indicated by a circular hole, the bottom of which is lost in darkness ; the
other spiracles are oval, slightly depressed, with a somewhat prominent
central ridge. The colour of pupa is lightish-pinkish-brown, washed with
smoky black, especially on the dorsal parts where it obscures the ground
colour nearly completely with the exception of the subdorsal region of
segments 6 and 7; the flat dorsal portion of segment 2 is light yellowish
brown, this colour extending to the perpendicular face of thorax in places
and to parts of the head surface in front; the wings are dirty whitish
sullied with smoky black. L: 38mm; B: 8mm.

Habits.---The egg is laid on a young leaf or bud and is spheri-
cal, yellow in colour; the surface is rather rough. The little
larva lives on the upper surface of the leaf, seated on a bed of
silk, and is brownish oily-looking, with yellowish and orange-
brown markings. The final colouring is taken on only at the last
moult; the full grown larva sits in the middle of a leaf along the
mid-rib---the younger stages also do this. The larva wanders
before pupation and voids the whole stomach, skin and all, before
actually suspending itself, shrinking much in the process. The
silk with which it manufactures the pad and the body-string
is quite black; the latter is of medium length and the pupa
is fairly rigid from the cremaster upwards owing to the strong
tail-fixing. The butterfly is most plentiful during the monsoon
months and lies over the dry months in the pupal stage; if the
pupa is formed in November it very often does not produce a
butterfly until the April or May following. The full-grown larva
does not seem to be attacked much by enemies, perhaps due to
its warning colours ; the young larva, however, is very lable to
destruction, mostly, it is supposed, by spiders; it is certainly para-
sitised less than any other Papilio larva, The butterfly, as said,
imitates Huplea and Danais limniace in its dark and light forms
respectively ; it even goes so far as to imitate the danaine flight
when disporting itself at its ease. It is, however, one of the

fastest of all the Papilios when it chooses, as when it is alarmed
30

586 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXT.

and wishes to escape danger or when it chases another insect of
its own species in the way of sport. It is fond of circling round
the tops of the hills or peaks in the jungles, well above the trees
and will keep for hours on the wing under such circumstances,
given a warm, fair day in the monsoon months. Half a dozen
or so seem to monopolize a particular hill-top, rarely more; and
then nearly always the dark form ; dissimilis, be it from the fact
that it is, perhaps, the less common form, does not often join
in. It is occasionally present also, but always in fewer num-
bers. The butterflies sail lazily about most of the time,
round and round, in curves and circles, except when every now
and again one takes it into its head to chase another and then
it is that the quick flight is most noticeable. They dart away,
flying often straight up into the sky and are lost to view in a
very short space of time; they fly nearly as fast as the larger
Charaxes, the fastest of all butterflies. Typical P. clytia in both
forms is found in the Himalayas from Kangra and Simla to
Sikhim ; Assam ; Central and Southern India. It is not by any
means a rare butterfly within its limits but may be mistaken for
Eupleea core, coreta or kollari or, in the dissimilis form, for Danais
limniace as already remarked. It rests with its wings closed over
the back like those insects, though sometimes it assumes the
ordinary Papilio position of holding them horizontal, the upper
slightly covering the lower. It is fond of the sun and is’ in no-
wise afraid of facing open spaces; but is confined more or less to
the hilly parts of jungle country. The food-plants of the larva
are all of the family Lawrinew, embracing the Laurels, Cinnamon,
and other aromatic-foliaged trees. Some of the species of trees it
has been bred on are Alseodaphne semicarpifolia, Nees ; Cinnamomum
zeylanicum, Blume ; Litsea chinensis, Lam. (sebifera, Pers.) ; all three
very common in the Bombay Ghats ; the first, a very tall evergreen
species, found occasionally in deciduous forests also but confined
to the western parts of Peninsular India ; the last spread through-
out the hotter parts of India, Ceylon and, through the Malay
Islands, to Australia ; the second: with a similar distribution as the

last except that it is cultivated in the Malay Islands. Cinnamon

COMMON BUTTERFLIES OF THE PLAINS OF INDIA. 537

is easily known by its three-veined leaves and its unmistakeable
cinnamon-smell and is one of the prettiest trees in the evergreen
jungles where its young leaves sometimes light up large areas
with their brilliant reds of all shades from the palest yellow-pink
to the brightest crimson.

85. Papilio paris, Z.—Male wpperside: black, irrorated with dark-green
scales which, on the outer portion of the forewing, coalesce and form an
incomplete, postdiscal, narrow band. Hindwing: the irroration of dark-
sreen scales does not extend to the costal margin and is interrupted
posteriorly by a broad postdiscal area on both sides of which the green
seales coalesce to form narrow diffuse bands; a conspicuous, upper,
discal, shining blue patch occupies the base of interspace 4 and outer
portions of interspaces 5 and 6; this patch is variable in size and in
many specimens extends narrowly below and above into interspaces
3 and 7 respectively, its outer margin is uneven, its inner margin evenly
arched ; a prominent claret-red, largely black centred ocellus at the torna’
angle, its inner margin with a transverse, short, violet-blue, superposed
line; in many specimens an obscure, claret-red, subterminal lunule in
interspace 7. Underside: opaque black ; bases of both fore and hindwings
up to basal half of cell in fore and up to apex of cell in hindwing, with an
irroration of yellowish scales: also present, more obscurely, on the subter-
minal area in both wings. Forewing with a very broad, elongate triangu-
lar, pale area that does not extend to the termen, formed of internervular,
broad, very pale, ochraceous white streaks, short near the tornus, gradually
longer up to the costa. Hindwing: a prominent, subterminal series of
ochraceous red lunules traversed by short violet-blue lines ; in interspaces
1 and 2 and sometimes in 3, these lunules are formed into more or less
complete, largely black centred ocelli by the addition of an admarginal
portion of the red ring. Cilia conspicuously white in the interspaces.
Antenne, head, thorax and abdomen black, the latter three sprinkled with
ereen scales above. Female similar, somewhat paler and duller. Upper-
side: forewing with the green postdiscal band shorter and still more
incomplete. Hindwing with the upper discal patch smaller, often green
and not blue, the red, subterminal lunule in interspace 7 always present
and more prominent than in the male. Underside: similar to that of the
male, but the tornal and subtornal markings generally formed into more or
less complete ocelli. Exp. 106-132mm.

The species does not seem to have been bred. It is found in the Hima-
layas from Kumaon to Sikkim; Nepal and Bhutan; the hills of Assam,
Burma and Tenasserim, extending to China, Siam and the Malay

Peninsula. As itis very common in some of the places where it exists
in the Himalayas it is mentioned here, being sure to attract attention

588 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XX1,

wherever seen. It does not generally come below 3,000’ above sea
level.

86. Papilio tamilana, Moore.—Very closely resembles P. paris, described
above ; but, on the wpperside, the upper discal patch on the hindwing is of
a paler, more metallic blue and very considerably larger ; it extends from
interspace 3 well into interspace 7, from the apex of the cell into
interspaces 3, 4 and 5 and from the middle of interspace 6 much further
towards the termen than in paris. Underside similar to that of paris, but
the transverse, postdiscal, pale band on the forewing is conspicuously nar-
rower and curved inwards toward the costa. Antenn, head, thorax and
abdomen as in paris. Exp. 116-134mm.

Egg.—The egg is rather small for the insect; it is perfectly spherical,
except that it is slightly flattened where attached to the leaf or stalk or
flower bud, &c. It is somewhat shiny, superficially pitted as seen under a
lens; translucent light-green when first laid, soon becoming more opaque
and spotted-blotched here and there with brown-red, which colour has a
subcutaneous aspect. Diameter: 1° 5mm.

Larva.—iIn the first stage, on emerging from the egg, it is very
like any other larva of the polymnestor-polytes group. It is swollen

in segments 3, 4, 5 and has the usual dorsolateral long, fleshy, conical
spined tubercle on the front margin of segment 2 and on hinder margin
of segment 13; a smaller one in middle of segments 3, 4, 5, 12; a
still smaller one in middle of segments 6-11; a supraspiracular, very small
one on all segments except 15 with the exception of segments 3, 4 where
these are as large as the dorsolaterals of the same segments; the dorso-
laterals and supraspiraculars of segment 5 are very little longer than the
corresponding tubercles of segment 3; besides these there is a subdorsal
tubercular spot on segments 3-12 bearing a single, erect hair; there are
also the usual subspiracular, tubercular, hair-bearing spots, as well as one
on the base of each leg or in that position of the legless segments. The
head is roundish, slightly bilobed, flattish on face, set with erect, short
spines all over, shiny black except on vertex where it is greenish-ochreous ;
elypeus rather large, triangular. Colour of body is dark olive-green with
the dorsa of segments 8-11 ochreous, segment 7 whitish, with three in-
cluded spots of body-colour arranged in a triangle and with the white
reaching on to segment 6 laterally ; dorsa of segments 4, 5 greenish-ochre-
ous; all tubercles ochreous, those of segments 12, 15 whiter; the spines of
dorsolateral tubercles light, of subdorsal, supraspiracular and subspiracular
tubercles black. L: 7mm.; B: 1: 25mm.

Qnd stage.—The larva has all the tubercles of the first stage, but the
dorsolateral ones are relatively reduced in size : that is, although the larva
is larger, these tubercles are still the same size; the spiracular spots are
also smaller proportionately ; the subdorsal spots remain about the

COMMON BUTTERFLIES OF THE PLAINS OF INDIA. 539

same but have lost the spines as have also all the spiracular spots with the
exception of those on segments 3, 4,5 which are, however, now covered
with very short, erect hairs. The surface of the larva is covered, not very
densely, with minute, erect, light hairs. The colour is very much the same
as in the first stage except that the head is now green (and without spines
or hairs); the lateral regions of sements 7-10 are obscurely white, spotted
about the spiracular area; the prolegs are whitish; the dorsal white
marking of segment 7 is more perceptible now where it stretches forward
laterally on to segment 6, and there is a dorsolateral streak-continuation
backwards on to segment 8 ; segment 7 has still got the three included spots
of body-colour on the white. L: 9mm. towards end of stage, 10mm. at
end ; B: slightly over 2mm. to 3mm. at end of stage.

3rd stage.—The dorsolateral tubercles of segments 2, 12, 13 still persist,
only actually very slightly larger than in last stage; those of segments 3,
4, 5 are mere tubercular spots; the subdorsals of segment 2 are propor-
tionately the same size as in the first two stages and the supraspiraculars
of segments 3, 4 are not larger thanin last stage; there is no sign of
tubercles on segments 6-11 except just an indication of the dorsolateral
ones. The head is green with a slight brownish tinge, covered with
minute, light-coloured hairs; the eyes are black. The surface of the body
is somewhat shiny greasy-looking and is covered plentifully with erect,
light hairs so minute as to be only just visible under the lens. Spiracles
oval, flush, light brown, of ordinary size. Colour of body is darkish green,
somewhat ochreous on segments 2-5, especially on latter half of segment 5,
segments 12,13 and on dorsa of segments 8-11; a distinct white, sub-
spiracular band from segment 7 to segment 10; the white marking of
segment 7 reaching up as far as dorsolateral line, occupying the whole
width of segment, stretching forward slightly on to segment 6 in spiracular
region and backward on to segment 8 in a dorsolateral short line. L:
13 mm; B: 4°75 mm. when at rest.

Ath stage—The dorsolateral tubercles of segments 2, 13 still persist,
those of the latter much shortened and blunted; those of segment
12 are reduced to tubercular spots; all tubercles of segments 2-5 exist
as in last stage, but are all reduced to spots. Head same as in last
stage except that it is greener and, of course, larger. Surface of body
dull, except for the shiny tubercular spots. Spiracles rather longly oval,
shiny, yellow-brown. Colour of body olive-green spotted with yellow,
especially on hinder half of segment 5; segment 6 brighter green ; seements
12, 18 nearly completely yellow as well as the tubercles; anal flap and
prolegs whitish ; white subspiracular band from segment 7 to anal end with
the spiracular region above it greyish ; marking on segment 7 white, reach-
ing as far up as in 3rd stage, produced forward on to segment 6 as far
as, and including, the spiracle, but not backwards on to segment 8. The

540 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

osmateria are red-orange in colour. There are light-blue spots where
the dorsolateral tubercles of last stage were one to each. L: 20mm; B:
nearly 7 mm. when at rest. The larva stretches, when moving, to 25mm.

Last stage.—All tubercles have now disappeared except those on the
hinder margin of segment 13, and these even are now reduced to very small,
convex, minutely haired knobs; they are situated on the green colour of the
upper parts of the larva, just above a yellow line along the hinder margin
of the segment ; this hinder margin is thickened and is in a plane at right
angles to the rest of larva and overhangs the rather large, broad anal flap,
which is in a parallel plane to it; this flap is whitish in colour with a square-
cut end. The head is nearly round, slightly higher than broad, with a dull
surface covered with minute, semi-appressed white hairs; the clypeus is of
ordinary size, triangular in shape, with a white linear border and rounded
apex ; the colour of head is green, the eyes black, the antenne shiny-trans-
lucent whitish. Segment 2 is trapeze-shaped, the front margin slightly
longer than the sides, the hinder margin longest; the breadth of body
increases rapidly to segment 5/6 where there is a thickening or swelling
along the hinder margin of segment 5, not very pronounced, however ; after
this it decreases gradually to the square end which is practically between
the tubercles on hinder margin of segment 15. The surface of larva is dull,
smooth and soft-velvety looking. Spiracles are of ordinary size, flush, oval,
body-coloured, with white central slit and fine brown border. The colour
of the body is a fine bright grass-green, plentifully speckled with yellow,
especially on the hinder margins of segments 6-15; with a white, supra-
spiracular band from segment 5/6 to anal end ; an indication of a yellow dia-
gonal line from front margin of segment 8 back and up through the spiracle
to the subdorsal region on the hinder margin; below which line the speck-
ling of yellow is absent; on the same region of segments 9, 10 the yellow
speckles are grouped into patches to some extent, suggesting bands; the
segmental membrane between segments 5, 6 is broadly velvety black,
hidden in repose; there is a fine black, supraspiracular line from just
before spiracle of segment 2 running back on to segments 2 and 3, above
which the body is white, but only for ashort space, then yellowish, losing
itself in the green of the dorsal parts; the white is continued back in a
curve over dorsum along the hinder margin of segment 5 (along ridge)
and the green of the dorsum in front of this ridge is speckled white
forwards for the distance of half the width of segment; the front of
segment 2 is yellowish; there is a long, finely black-bordered area along
dorsal line of segment 4, narrow and constricted twice in its length and,
on the same segment, a rather small ocellus or eye with a white central
dot, just above the supraspiracular white band, contained in the hinder-
most and lowest loop of a fine black line running, just along the upper
border of the white band from the front of segment 3, back to just behind

aed

COMMON BUTTERFLIES OF THE PLAINS OF INDIA, 541

middle of segment 4 (where it loops to contain the eye); thence this line
curves up, forming two other loops, towards dorsum to the dorsolateral
region where it bends forward towards head of larva for a short distance
then down towards venter, making a large open loop over the ocellus
and finally runs forwards, parallel to the starting portion, to front margin
of segment 3; the starting point of this fine line is connected with the fine
black line bordering the underside of the abovementioned white band
which, later on, runs along the ridge of segment 5; the part of the body
below this white band on segments 2-5, the belly or venter, the anal flap
and prolegs are all a very light, rather watery-green with a bluish shade in
it. The black band on segmental membrane behind segment 5 is bordered
posteriorly by bluish on the membrane. L: 50mm. when slightly stretched,
less when at rest, more when moving; B: 13mm. at middle of segment 5,
the broadest part.

Pupa.—The pupa is like that of P. buddha, the curve of ventral line being
very strong, so that the line from centre of ventral line of wings to head is
inclined at an angle of nearly 90° to that from the latter point to
cremaster ; in the dorsal line the angle between the corresponding lines
(having their junction in segment 4) is 170°; the thorax is rather short,
convex, the lateral outline of the convexity being a curve less than a
quarter-circle : there is no suggestion of an apical protuberance to thorax ;
the head-points are stout, not long, round-topped and compressed dorsally
and ventrally, divergent, and slightly separated at base ; the lateral outline
of pupa from base of head-points is parallel-sided as far as front margin of
segment 3, broadening out in a gentle curve to hinder margin of segment 4
where the body-loop or suspending-thread is fixed, and still more again to
middle of segment 7 in a stronger curve, whence the outline decreases in
breadth to cremaster ; the dorsal line of abdomen is only slightly curved ;
the dorsoventral edge of pupa from shoulder to segment 7 is rather sharp ;
the constriction where the body-loop comes is laterally strong, dorsally
moderate. The cremaster is that of the ordinary type for Papilio. The
surface of the body is dull, shiny only where the intersegmental membrane
is visible, smooth; under the lens it is slightly rugose. Spiracles of
segment 2 are indicated by a slightly depressed, small, semicircular space
on the surface of segment 2 of a dark-green colour ; the other spiracles are
oval, raised, rather large, green, with curved, light brown-pink, central slits.
The colour of the pupa is rather dark glaucous-green on the wings, light
greenish yellow dorsally throughout, light yellowish green ventrally on
abdomen ; a broad, yellow, dorsal band from cremaster forward to segment
4/5, continued forwards by a brown-pink line as far as front margin of
segment 2 ; dorsoventral edge yellow ; a dark dorsolateral spot on centre of
‘segments 3, 5,8; there is a small dorsolateral depression on segment 2,
L: just over 40mm.; B: nearly 18mm. at middle of segment 7; at

542 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXII,

shoulders: just over 10 mm; at points of head-points: 7mm; H. at apex
of ventral curve: 13 mm.

Habits.—The eggs are laid singly, either on the top of the leaf
or on the underside and always, it seems, on leaves of a certain
age ; sometimes on flower-stalks also. The small larva emerges in
the usual way and sometimes eats a little of the egg-shell; then
makes a silken nest to lie on near the edge on the upper surface of
the leaf; when larger it lies, as is usual with most Papilio larve, at
the point of the leaf, along the midrib, its head directed towards the
stalk ; it rests with the front segments contracted and the head
drawn under segment 2, which makes it look very broad and
humped about segments 4 and 5. It pupates in the ordinary way
after wandering, but it does not ordinarily wander far; the tail
suspension is strong, the hody-loop fairly close. As a general rule,
it retires high up a tree, often among the flower-stems, and the
pupa is always well hidden by overhanging leaves. The imago
emerges within 25 days after pupation and is very active, often
flying if disturbed before its wings are properly dry. It generally
emerges just at day-break. The larve are commonest in the
months of September and October; in fact it is only at that
time of the year that they have ever been found, notwithstanding
much seeking in other months. Fully 90 per cent. of the eggs
are ichneumoned ; the larvee are much subject to attack from birds,
ichneumons, flies, &c. The pupz often die just before the butter-
fly emerges.

This is, perhaps, the finest and most striking of all the butterflies
likely to be met with in the Hill Stations of the Bombay or
Madras Presidencies above 1,000’. It is not found below that
level except very occasionally, neither is it found anywhere in the
plains, not even along the borders. It is a denizen of the thickest
jungles and frequents the evergreens of the hills south of Bombay
city. Its distribution is given as “ South India; Kanara, Mala-
bar; Nilgiri Hills’? by Rothschild, and Colonel Bingham adds
‘Travancore.’ It is plentiful in the District of North Kanara
from the sea-shore (the hills come down to the sea in places)
inwards, especially so in the monsoon months when, in favour-

able places, as many as half a dozen may be seen on the wing at

Or
(ss)

COMMON BUTTERFLIES OF THE PLAINS OF INDIA.

once. The insect is fond of the evergreen jungles as already
remarked and there it delights to fly in the intervals of hot sun-
shine along roads, paths and the borders of clearings ; it rises high
amongst the tree-tops but often descends to within a few feet of
the ground on the edges of openings and summits of hills where
the jungle is more or less scrubby, flying with a rather weak wing-
stroke but in the ordinary Papilio manner, stopping at an occasional
flower to feed, circling round the foliage of shrubs surrounding its
food-plant or diving down into dark nallas over rippling streams to
emerge again into sunshine on the other side. This is true of the
male, but the female, curiously enough, is rarely seen. Curiously
enough, because, in breeding from the caterpillar, rather more
females are obtained than males. Probably the female attends
more diligently to business while the other sex sports about in
the intervals of courtship, ike most inferior masculine creatures.
During some ten years of collecting, only two females were caught
as compared with dozens and dozens of males; and one of these
had only just emerged from the chrysalis for its wings were hardly
ready for flight ; the other was captured sitting on a leaf by the
roadside in the characteristic position with the forewing hiding the
brilliant peacock-blue spot of the hinder one. In those days a
female tamilana was a red-letter event, for the larva had not been yet
discovered. And that was not for want of searching either. The
history of the search and final discovery after twelve years would
afford an excellent example of the difficulties sometimes experien-
ced in learning the life-histories of insects. The food-plant of the
larva is Hvodia roxburghiana, Benth., a moderate sized tree grow-
ing in the evergreen forest regions of the Western Ghats south
of Bombay. It belongs to the Rutacece and the leaf has the
characteristic smell belonging to that family of plants ; the flowers
are small, arranged in many branched bunches from the axils of
the leaves, plenty of them when the tree is in flower at the end of
the monsoon ; the leaf is rather large, soft, divided into three leaf-
lets, the whole with a long stalk. Hvodia as a genus is found
throughout India in the hills and extends through Burma to the

Malayan Region and Australia.
ol

544 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX,

Butterflies that bear a resemblance to paris and tamilana are
some forms of P. bianor, Cram. from China as P. maacki, Men., a
ereen-suffused form of the typically black bianor ; P. polyctor, Boisd.
from Cashmere, Afghanistan and N epaul and its race P. ganesa,
Doubl. from Sikkim, Assam, Tonkin, both with the green-blue
patch on hind wing developed; P. arctwrus, Westw. and P. krishna,
Moore, both from Assam and Sikkim, both very like paris but
having the green patch more circumscribed ; and P. arjuna, Horsf.

from Java and Sumatra.

(Lo be continued.)

* “ae

545

BIRD NOTES BY THE WAY IN KASHMIR.

BY
Masor H. A. F. MAGRATH.

A short trip, much favoured of tourists in Kashmir in July and August,
and one which has perhaps often been described, is that from Pahlgam,
the well known camping resort in the Liddar Valley, to Sonemurg in the
Sind Valley va the Yem Her Pass (14,000 feet). To the field naturalist or
ornithelogist, who undertakes it for the first time, this trip is full of inte-
rest, for, except in the vicinity of the pass, the parts he traverses are
perhaps the most “birdie” bits in Kashmir. Among my various rambles
in Kashmir this year (1911) this was perhaps the most enjoyable.

My leave did not commence till the middle of July and when I arrived
in the Liddar Valley the breeding season was approaching its close.
Owing to the absence of rain or storms of any severity this summer the
season appeared to be a most successful one and young fledglings were
to be seen everywhere. Warblers (Phylloscopt and Acanthopneuste) simply
swarmed in the forests and many other kinds of birds were in great abund-
ance, notably the following species :—

The Crested Black Tit (Lopophanes melanolophus).

The Himalayan Whistling-Thrush (Mytophoneus temminckt).
The Kashmir Wren (Anorthuia neglecta).

The Himalayan Tree-Creeper (Certhia himalayana).
Brook’s Nuthatch (Svtta kashmiriensis).

The Sooty Flycatcher (Hemichelidon sibirica).

The Whitecapped Redstart (Chimarrhornis leucocephalus).
The Plumbeous Redstart (Rhyacornis fuliginosis).

The Dark Grey Bushchat (Oreccola ferrea).

The Indian Bushchat (Pratincola maura).

The Eastern Meadow Bunting (Emberiza strachey?).
Hodgsons Pied Wagtail (Motacilla hodgsont).

The Himalayan Pied Woodpecker (Dendiocopus himalayensis).
The Common Sandpiper (Totanus hypoleucus).

Pahlgam itself is full of bird-life in summer and there were many induce-
ments to halt sol stayed here till past the middle of August. On the
Liddar stream at this place I was fortunate in coming across the Ibis-bill
(Ibidorhynchus strutherst), a bird new to me. There were four or five
frequenting a shingly bit of the river bed below the visitors camping
ground which | felt sure were a pair with a fully fledged brood. If hatched
in May the young would have been, at most, fully grown by the time I met
with them. In habits the Ibis-bill differs little from the Sandpipers and
allied waders, but in some it approaches the plovers. In the evenings they
were often to be seen feeding and probing for worms on the short grass by

the river during which they would run for a few steps and then stop much

546 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XX1,

as the plovers do. When watching them one morning I also noted a
rather characteristic and almost “ cincline”’ habit of wading breast high
into fast flowing water and dipping the whole head and neck under water,
picking up food of sorts from the bottom. The Sandpipers act similarly,
but not in such a dipper like manner and in such heavy water. I was much
disappointed in not hearing any notes from these birds, but if they uttered
any low notes in my presence, these were entirely drowned by the roar of
the stream. On one occasion I thoughti heard a loud monosyllabic
whistle from one of the birds flying down stream, but there were such a lot
of Kashmiris about herding ponies and cattle, an occupation which appears
to necessitate alot of whistling, that I could not be positive the sound
proceeded from the Ibis-bill. Females or at any rate the young do not
appear to have any black on the face.

A little bird not uncommon in the middle Liddar and Sind Valleys this
year and one which I had not noticed, on a previous visit to these parts,
was the handsome Indian redbreasted Flycatcher (Siphia hyperythra). Its
habits are precisely those of its european congener (S. parva) and it has
the same vigorous jerk of the tail above the line of the back.

Another flycatcher, fairly common in the same parts as the last species,
was the Rufous-tailed Flycatcher (Alseonax ruficaudus).

Unlike Musicapa, and Hemichelidon and other genera of the family this
little flycather rarely if ever returns to the same perch after catching its
prey, but flits from branch to branch in doing so. If S. hyperythra flies into
the tree where 4. rujficaudus is hawking the latter drives the former out.

Leaving Pahlgam on the 18th August Liddarwat, the road to which lies
through lovely scenery, was reached in2 easy stages. Half way at Aru
(8,300 feet) I saw a pair of Rufous-backed Shrikes (Lanius erythronotus), a
record elevation, as far as my observations go, regarding this species. I may
here observe that the note of anger or indignation which this shrike is not
infrequently heard uttering from the middle of a thick shrubor tree especially
in the breeding season has recently struck me as bearing a very close resem-
blance to the note of the Corncrake (Crea pratensis) heard in the distance.

At Liddawat 9,500 feet above the sea and 2,000 feet higher than Pahlgam,
the woods were teeming with bird-life. ,

Two interesting species met with were The Orange Bullfinch (Pyrrhuia
aurantiaca) and The Red-browed Finch (Callacanthis burtoni). _

The former is not very uncommon in this part of Kashmir and after
once getting to recognise its notes I became well acquainted with it.
This beautiful little bulfinch has much the same habits as our home “bully,”
and a somewhat similar loud piping call note. A note of communication
kept up while feeding is soft and pleasing, resembling the syllable “tew”
and often changing to a double note like “téwtya” “téwtya.” What was
evidently the song or part of it I heard at Sonemurg. A most distinctive

BIRD NOTES BY THE WAY IN KASHMIR. 547

one, it commences with the aforementioned syllable “tew” uttered in a
loud and melodious tone followed by a rapidly repeated metallic trisyllabic
note like “ tyatlinka-tlinka.” The Orange Bulfinch must be alate breeder
for a male I shot on 19th August had the testes as big as No. 2 shot and J
_ almost invariably found these birds in pairs. On one occasion only was
their a young bird with a pair. Colonel Ward’s Collectors, I believe, took
eggs and found nests late in August. I generally met with this species
just in or on the edges of forests and often feeding on the catkins of the
Himalayan birches. 10,500 feet was the maximum elevation at which
they were seen but they probably wander on occasions up to tree limit.

The Red-browed Finch (Callacanthis burtont) was not uncommon between
9,000 and 10,000 feet at Liddarwat and at the same elevation in the Sind
Valley. The position accorded this genus in the family is somewhat
puzzling to comprehend. In the straightness of the bill and to some
extent in plumage it may have affinities with Carduelis, but in the thick-
ness and heaviness of the former it certainly can have none, neither, as
far as my observations go, has it in habits. To me the latter appear more
akin to those of the Grosbeaks. It hops about the forest undergrowth
picking up seeds in just the same assiduous manner as The Black and
Yellow Grosbeak (Pycnorhampus icteroides), But from Pycnorhampus as
well as Carduelis and unlike most other members of the family it differs
in being, as far as I have noted, solitary or non-gregarious, for I invariably
met with these finches in pairs or singly. Forest and often dark forest
appears to suit their tastes and in such situations I generally found them
feeding on seeds of a succulent undergrowth and not particularly resenting
my presence. When startled they flew into the nearest tree and remained
not at all shy, eyeing one inquisitively.

A bird shot at Liddarwat on 20th August had the testes as big as No. 2
shot. This was one of a pair, and the behaviour of the female on her mate
being killed, was precisely that of a female crossbill (Loxia curvirostra
scotica) which lost her mate in similar circumstances in Scotland last year.
She hovered over the spot reiterating a loud and very plaintive double
note resembling the syllables “twéeyeh’ (the Ist syllable pitched highest)
and following me for some yardsin the branches overhead after I had
picked up and carried away her dead mate.

The ordinary call note of this species is aloud and pretty “twee,”
occasionally a loud double song note like the syllables “ itth-eh ”’ (the second
pitched a3 tone higher) is uttered. At Sonemurg one day after watching
and listening to a male, who shortly disappeared among the branches, I shot
a missel thrush (Turdus viscivorous), which not being kille doutright, uttered
loud screams as it fell fluttering down the forest hillside. Immediately a
Red-browed. Finch, undoubtedly the one I had been observing, together
with another, probably its mate, appeared in a tree overhead and both utter-

548 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol XXII.

ing the “ih-eh” note—a denunciation which made me feel duly contrite!

In flight this finch reminds one of Zoava, The freshly killed female has
the supercilium a bright orange yellow, borders to the anterior feathers
of the occiput, dull orange yellow and the forehead a dingy yellow.

Striking up north-west from Liddarwat to the Yem Her Pass the hill-
sides are devoid of trees, but the open slopes from 10,000 feet and over are
carpeted with flowers of various kinds and hues, docks, thistle and weeds,
etc. Among this luxurious and knee-deep herbage large parties of Tickell’s
Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus affinis) were to be seen feeding on the
numerous small flies and aphides adhering to the plant heads.

From 11,000 to 13,500 feet. The Blue-fronted Redstart (Ruticilla frontalis)
was not uncommon. This Redstart appeared partial to rocky moraines
near streams. It does not shiver* the tail, but flirts it vertically once or
twice like Chimarrhornis leucocephalus, though not so vigorously as the latter.

A greyish robinlike bird seen in the distance on a moraine was, I have
little doubt, a Himalayan Ruby throat (Calhope pectorals).

The presence of the Grey Wagtail (Motacilla melanops) at 12,000 feet
and over surprised me. This graceful wagtail was ubiquitous and abun-
dant in Kashmir this year. A habit of the species, noticed both in
Scotland and the Himalayas, is feeding, at times, in woodland and dry
places often some hundreds of yards from water.

Below the Yem Her Pass, on the Liddar side, the stream issuing from a
small glacier runs over a flat stretch and has formed a marshy tarn, Off
this at 13,500 feet I put up a small wisp of green sandpipers (Totanus
ocropus) and a greenshank (7. glottvs).

Numerous Marmots (Arctomys caudatus) had their burrows in the hill-
sides round this tarn and the shrill criest and strange aspect of these big
rodents were a source of vast excitement to my terrier.

Once over the Pass the track after a steep drop runs along bare but
grassy hillsides and then descends through beautiful forest to the Sind
Valley. In the forest I found the Spotted Nutcracker (Nucifraga multi-
punctata), common as indeed it was all along to Sonemurg. This bird,
contrary to the impression it first gave me in the Hazara Hills, is not at all
shy, and is often most inquisitive. The note is harsh and magpie-lhke and
could be well imitated by two or three rapid twirls of achild’s wooden toy
ratchet. It usually affects forest, though I have seen a pair well in
the open. It however has to come into fairly open parts to feed on the
walnuts that grow along the Sind river and to which it is partial.

* The only species of this subfamily that I am acquainted with that vibrate the
tail are Ruticilla phemicurus and R. rufiventris. It would be interesting to have
a list of the members of the Ruwticilline which shiver or vibrate as opposed to
flirt and wag the tail.

+ It can hardly be correct to talk of the Marmots “ whistle’ as so many writers
do. A whistling Mammal, apart from man, somehow does not sound congruous !

|
:

BIRD NOTES BY THE WAY IN KASHMIR. 549

Sonemure—A bit of Woodland.

At Sonemure* (9,000 feet) the scenery, in this most delightful of
summer camping resorts, was charming and impressive. Bird-life was
abundant, and as usual young birds of the year were much in evidence.
A feature of this bird-life was the chough (Graculus eremita), a handsome
member of the corvide with its blue black plumage and brightly coloured
bill and legs. Its caw is jackdaw-like, though squeaky, and various shrill
squeaky notes are uttered that can be heard at a great distance. Often
these notes produce a curious effect, especially when uttered in the air,
for they deceive one into imagining that they proceed from some bird in a
bush close by till one discovers that some black specks high in the blue
are responsible for the sounds. When the breeze is strong—(in Sonemurg
breezes often are strong)—the chough is fond of gambolling high in the air.

The Jungle Crow (Corvus macrorhynchus) also occurs in some numbers,
but it was noticeable that, when occasionally it fed in flocks on the open
“Murg” like rooks, the Chough, which does the like : jaa never
associated with the crows.

Once I saw a flock of Jackdaws (C. monedula) on the “ Murg,” a high
elevation for this species as it is low for the Chough in summer. But the
Jackdaw becomes a great wanderer after the young are fledged in the

* For the benefit of those who do not know Kashmir, I may state that the
word “ Sonemurg” means ““ The golden Meadow.” The name probably originated
in the mind of some poetically inspired Kashmiri, who was impressed by the
profusion of yellow ranwncule (species of butter-cups) and ragwort which covers the
open downs or “ Murgs” between the edge of the forest and the river in summer.

550 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXT.

vale of Kashmir, where it breeds so abundantly, and flocks proceed to

considerable elevations up the mountain valleys.
Though mountain torrents pour down from numerous glaciers round

Sonemurg, it was surprising in what appeared such a suitable environ-
ment, not tofind. The Western Spotted Forktail (Henicurus maculatus),
possibly the bird had descended to lower elevations after breeding. The
only representative of this group seen was The Little Forktail (Microcichla
scoulert) and of it only a single pair were observed on one occasion.

An example of Hodgson’s Shortwing (Hodgsonius phenecuroides) seen one
day was another species new tome, The way this bird cocks its long tail at
an acute angle tu the body makes it look like some overgrown wren, but its
habits, otherwise, unmistakably proclaim it a member of the Crateropodide.

Jerdon’s Accentor (Tharraleus jerdont), a handsome little bird, was not
uncommon. This and the preceding species are skulkers in thick under-
growth, though the former is the worst delinquent in this respect.

Red-fianked Bush-Robins (lanthia rujfilata) were numerous, especially
young birds, as also at Liddarwat. A ready means of identifying the
young, in places where this species is likely to occur, is by their habit of
flirting or rather flicking the tail from the line of the back downwards,
never elevating it above that line. This little bird has a ruticilline scolding

note and is a true robin in habits.
It was homelike observing the Missel Thrush (Turdus viseivorous) in such

numbers. This Thrush, as doubtless other observers have noted, becomes
quite gregarious after breeding time, and during the autumn months.
Flocks of 20 birds or more were not uncommon, both here and in the Liddar
Valley. I have noted the same thing in Scotland and Ireland at this
season. One flock in Sonemurg was in the habit of visiting a certain spot,
on a mountain stream running through forest, for bathing purposes, and for
several days in succession one could always count on finding the birds at

their ablutions if the place was visited about 6 p.m.
One day while crossing a snow slope, below a glacier at about 11,000

feet, a pair of wagtails alighted on the snow beside me. I noted them down
as “masked wagtails”’ (Motacilla personata), both being grey on the back,
though they may have been M. hodgsont in immature plumage, as this wag-
tail occurs on the “ Murg”’ lower down. These two species in winter and
immature plumage are terribly difficult to separate. Im any case it was a
curious spot to meet with a wagtail of either species.

Higher up I was surprised to find the Kashmir Martin (Chelidon
kashnuriensis) hawking over the snow. The birds evidently were, or had
been, breeding in the cliffs around. A cold forbidding spot for the purpose

for such an usually confiding species.
In my rambles above tree limit at 11,000 feet and over, I had hoped to

meet with, especially ‘at the time of year, more than one species of
Mountain Finch, but the only species observed here and in the Liddar,

RIRD NOTES BY THE WAY IN KASHMIR. 551

was Stolickzka’s Mountain Finch (ringillauda sordida). Vhe young of
this species are much handsomer than the adults, the head being dark
ehestnut, the feathers of the mantle, scapulars, and wing coverts dark
centred and bordered by rich fulvous. The irrides are apparently a nut

’

brown or hazel not “carmine”’ as in the adult. This lark finch has a very

sparrow-like chirp. It was common from 9,000 to 13,000 feet.
The White-Capped Redstart (Chimarrhornis leucocephalus), as before

mentioned was noted as abundant, but more especially was this the case
along the Upper Sind and its tributaries around Sonemurg. The “ Fauna”
hardly lays enough stress on this handsome redstart’s aquatic habits. As
Dresser puts it in his “ Manual of Palaearctic Birds :” ‘The White-Capped
tedstart in its general habits has much in common with the waterousel .”

Glaciers, Sonemurg.

The Brown Dipper (Cinclus asiaticus) always afforded me intense pleasure
in watching its aquatic performances. The seething turmoil of water this
dipper will face, thrashing its way below the surface and appearing a foot
or two higher up than where it dived is truly marvellous. Even this
redoubtable diver is sometimes carried away by the stream. But it seems
to be able to cling like a limpet to the first boulder it is brought in contact
with, on to which it quickly scrambles out of harm’s way, bobbing serenely,
and seeming to relish these little escapades.

Returning to camp one evening a pair of Goldfinches (Carduelis caniceps)
flew into a tree close by me and thence descended to drink at a stream
The only examples of this species seen in Sonemurg, though lower down.
the Valley they were commoner.

The loud “ Treeka,” “‘ Treeka,” note of the black and yellow Grosbeak

552 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX1J.

was often to be heard in the forests, though the birds seldom showed them-
selves. The note of this species is not always a safe guide as to the birds
abundance or otherwise, as one bird can make enough noise for 20 of

another species.
Compared with Hazara this Grosbeak was not common.

On the lower “ Murgs ” sparse crops of pulse and barley are cultivated.
Here buntings and finches congregate in considerable numbers to feed,
aud here, I came across three examples of the common sparrow Passer
domesticus—a bird it never gives me pleasure to meet with—but as the Sind
valley lower down is cultivated to within eight miles of Sonemurg, the spar-
row’s presence in summer is perhaps not surprising even at this elevation.

I may here remark that two races of Passer domesticus are observable in
Kashmir. One the common sedentary sparrow of Indian towns and
villages, the other a migratory race that breeds up to 6,000 or 7,000 feet in
the N.-W. Himalayas, the hills of N.-W. F. Province, Afghanistan and
perhaps further west, and that winters, I imagine, in the Central Provinces,
Dekhan, and may be, further south. This migratory race in its northward
migration follows the ripening of the crops in the Punjab and N.-W. F.
Province, and as Capt. C. H. T. Whitehead has shown in his paper on “The
Birds of Kohat and Kurram ,” appears in association with .Passer hispanio-
lensis and Pastor roseus, the enormous flocks comprising these three species
doing devastating damage to the corn crops ex route. It is this migratory
race which is so strongly represented in Kashmir in Summer. It differs
from the village sparrow in being more richly coloured, the back and
scapulars being bay rather than chestnut, and it is, I think, a slightly
larger bird. It generally breeds in holes in chenaars and willows and
often at some distance from villages, though it avoids forests, being
replaced therein by the chestnut headed sparrow (Passer cinnamoneus).

Before I left Sonemurg on 3rd September migration, though not strongly
marked, had set in. The following species, evidently on their passage
down from higher, colder and more northerly regions, were observed. —

A blue throat (Cyanecula), species not determined as, owing to the thick
cover in the crops, the bird would not give me a chance to shoot it.

The common Rose Finch (Carpodacus erythrinus), common.

The Red-headed Bunting (Lmberiza luteola) a few.

The Tree Pipit (Anthus trivalis) abundant, and the only Pipit, as far as
I could see, in the place. I should have expected to meet with A. macu-
latus rather than with this species, especially in such numbers.

‘The shooting season was now about to open, and the “call” of snipe, duck
and chikor was insistent, but it was not without regret that I bid farewell
to Sonemurg, its birds and scenery, to follow more exciting, if less interest-
ing pursuits in the vale of Kashmir below. JI hope to revisit these parts,

next time in the breeding season.

553
A LIST OF INDIAN BUTTERFLIES.
BY

Carr. W. H. EVANs, R.B.

During the last few years a good deal has been written on the
buttertlies of India including several works of great importance ;
unfortunately the views of the various authorities are at variance
on many points and in order to arrive at a correct conclusion it is
often necessary to search through numerous publications in different
languages.

Nothing original is claimed for the list here produced ; it is the
result of many days spent at the British Museum, some thirteen
years of assiduous collecting in nearly every part of India and a
careful study of all that has been published during the last 20 years
on the butterflies of India and neighbouring countries. <A
Government servant cannot of course devote as much time to a
subject of this nature as the man of leisure or the professional
naturalist is able to, but I think it only fair to claim that one who
has watched insects in their natural state can often produce
evidence regarding them that is out of reach of the man who only
sees the same insects in a cabinet.

I have no doubt that this list is far from perfect and I hope that
Indian collectors will point out any errors as well as communicate
the results of their experience in the Society’s Journal. A good
collection at Bombay would be of great assistance to collectors ; the
Society requires specimens, with dates and localities, of practically
every form from every part of India. Separately printed lists with
the remarks and synonyms omitted can be obtained from the
Honorary Secretary ; the list ought to prove of assistance in label-
ling collections, making exchange lists, etc.

The more important sources of information on Indian butterflies
are as follows :—

Gi) De Nicéville’s ‘“ Butterflies of India, Burmah and Ceylon”
published from 1884-1890, and completed to the end of the
Lycenide. ‘This was for some time the standard work and
even. now its wealth of detail renders it of the greatest use to

554

JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXT.

a student; since its publication, however, many new species
have been discovered, certain changes of arrangement due
to increased knowledge have been found necessary and

the system of dividing species into local races has beem

matured.

(ii) Moore’s *‘ Lepidoptera Indica” begun in 1890 and com-

pleted by Col. Swinhoe nearly to the end of the Lyczenide-
It is a magnificent work, each insect being fully deseribed
and figured ; its price unfortunately puts it beyond the reach
of most collectors in India. The general arrangement is
similar to that adopted by De Niceville, but in details there is
a great difference; large comprehensive genera are split up
into several new genera and in many cases numbers of new
species are formed out of what had previously been regarded

as a single variable species.

(ii) Bingham’s “ Butterflies * (Fauna of India), the first two

volumes to the middle of the Lyczenide issued in 1905 and
1907; the third and fourth volumes being completed by
Mr. H. Druce. Drastic, perhaps too drastic, treatment is here
meted out to many of Moore’s genera and species; many

hitherto supposed species are placed as local races or sunk —

as synonyms or mere varieties.

(iv) Seitz ‘* Macrolepidoptera of the World” by various German

naturalists, begun in 1906; the paleearctic portion is com-
pleted, the Indo Malayan section has got as far as the begin-

ning of the Nymphaline, the Papilionide, Pieride, Danainz

and Satyrinz being completed. This is an excellent and —

reasonably priced work of reference with a coloured figure of
nearly every species; the descriptions, however, are very
meagre. ‘The numbers of actual species are considerably
reduced but many new local races and varieties are introduced
while in many cases names have been given to seasonal
forms. The general arrangement differs somewhat from that
adopted by English authors.

(v) Elwes and Edwards ‘‘Revision of the Oriental Hesperiide,”

1896, based on Watson’s “Key to the Indian genera of
Hesperiide ” issued shortly before. This monograph ‘gives

a ee ee ee

A LIST OF INDIAN BUTTERFLIES, 504

keys to aid in the identification of species and results of the
study of the male organs.

(vi) Other important works are :—

(a) Rothschild and Jordan’s “‘ Revisions ” of the Oriental
Papilios and Charaxes (Nov. Zool., 1895 and 1896) based on
the male organs; the principle of denoting a local race by
a second name is here introduced.

(b) De Niceville’s “‘ New and little known Indo Malayan
butterflies’ appearing in this and the Asiatic Society’s
Journal from 1889 to 1901.

(¢) Bethune Baker’s ‘Revision ofthe Amblypodia group, ”
1903, based on the male organs.

(d) Chapman’s ‘Review of the genus Lycznopsis ”
(= Cyaniris), 1908, based on the male organs.

(e) Verity’s “‘ Rhopalocera Paleearctica,” a French work
with good figures and plenty of detail; at present only the
Papilionidee and Pieridz have been completed.

In this list an attempt has been made to correlate the works of
Seitz, Bingham and Moore on the basis described below.

The general arrangement given by Bingham has been followed.
Seitz differs in placing the Papilionidz and Pieridz first. Moore
and Seitz have further subdivided some of the sub-families into
groups, but as these groups are often more artificial than natural
and run into each other, there seems to be no advantage to be
gained by their employment. Theclinz is restricted to the Thecla-
Nerda group and Deudorigine introduced for the rest of
Bingham’s “ Thecline : the Lycenid sub-families are not very
satisfactory. Ismeninee is here used for the Ismene group is the
Hesperiidee.

The most natural arrangement of genera is in the form of a
venealogical tree and consequently a linear method can never be
satisfactory. Bingham’s order of genera has been followed with
the exception of the Satyrine, where Seitz’s arrangement has been
adopted ; the position of Cethosia and a few other genera have
been changed. Aphnzus has been placed next Chrysophanus, as
in Paleearctic territory these two genera are closely allied. The

Deudoryx and Camena groups have been brought together.

556 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol, X_XI.

As regards the genera themselves Bingham and Seitz agree
fairly well and where they differ, Seitz, who reviews the butterflies
of the world, has usually been followed. Many of Moore's genera
have been used as sub-genera; genera are thus rendered more
comprehensive and natural groups within them kept separate.

The word ‘‘species’’ has been a source of much contention and
Bingham substituted the word “form” for it, an indefinite term
meaning anything from a species to a slight variety. The matter
does not seem to present any great difficulty as long as it realised
that a local race may develop into a species and eventually into a
genus, that no hard and fast rule is laid down and that this
development may be encountered at any stage. For ordinary
purposes a species may be defined as a group of individual forms
that resemble one another more or less and are capable of freely
interbreeding with one another but normally refuse to breed with
any other species.

A species spread over a wide area may develop into a number

of more or less well defined local races and more especially so if

geographical obstacles intervene. Migratory species like the
Catopsilias and Polyommatus boeticus are always intermixing, thus
preventing the formation of local races. Weak flying hill species
separated by intervening plains are almost certain to develop into
races and perhaps eventually into new species; thus the Nilgiri
Colias is a race of the Himalayan Colias lativitta which itself is a
race of the Huropean Colias hyale.

A local race may eventually develop into a species, but when a
race actually becomes a species it is impossible to say. Many
entomologists affirm that if the male organs of two forms are alike
they are conspecific and vice versa, if the male organs differ they
belong to two species; this does not seem to follow necessarily and
the only real test would be to put several individuals of one race
with several individuals of another race and watch if interbreeding
occurred. In many instances grading between races is apparent
where the boundaries of their respective areas meet, but where
some geographical obstacle intervenes this is impossible,

It is assumed here that where two forms inhabiting separate
areas resemble each other fairly closely, though differing in certain

A LIST OF INDIAN BUTTERFLIES. 557

respects, they are races of the same species : also no two local races
can fly together. This latter statement was not accepted by Col.
Bingham, who, for instance, placed Ypthima ceylonica as a race
of hiibneri, in spite of the fact that they fly together and that, as
had been pointed out by Hlwes, their male organs differ. Dr,
Chapman also considers that Cyaniris huegeli and ceelestina are
conspecific, though flying together, as their male organs are alike :
of course, this may be a case of dimorphism and the question can
only be settled by breeding experiments.

There is at the present time a tendency to multiply local races,
and the difficulty is to know where to stop: often in mountainous
districts, forms from neighbouring valleys differ and a change of
elevation may produce a marked effect. Where sufficient material
has been available in the B.M.,I have carefully investigated the
merits of every local race described up to the time of writing:
where there was no visible difference to be detected the race has
been sunk as a synonym.

A species or race is subject to variation in a number of ways as
follows :— 1

fa) Seasonal forms due to climatic changes during the year.
In some species the differences are very small, in others as
Hrebia annada there is a sharply marked change, while in
others again as Terias hecabe, though the extreme forms are
very different, yet intermediate forms connect them by an
almost insensible gradation. ‘T’o name seasonal forms, as done
by Seitz, seems a mistake: it would be better to designate
them as d.s. f. and w. s. f. (dry or wet season form) or f. vern.
and f. aest. (spring or summer form).

(6) Dimorphs occur in a few species being oftener confined to
the female sex. True dimorphs are frequently occurring forms
unconnected to the normal forms by intermediates. They are
best designated by a Latin name with the prefix “d” and

also “‘ g”” or “* 9” if confined to a particular sex.

(¢) Varieties are forms frequently occurring with the normal
form, differing from it.in certain particulars, but connected
by intermediates. What varieties should be named is a

standing casus belt among entomologists. With highly

558 ‘JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXT,

variable species as occur in the genera Kallama and Melanitis

it would be ridiculous to name every variety and the same

might be said of Terias hecabe and Charawes hieraw. To

ignore all varieties would be wrong, but where the limit is to —

be placed must always remain a matter of opinion. In this

list well marked varieties of species that are not inordinately —
variable are included and designated by the prefix “v,” the —

sexual sign being added where necessary.

(¢) Hybrids are rare in nature, though of not infrequent
occurrence in the genus Colotis : they are not, as a rule, worth
naming, and the only one given here is Colias chrysodona,
generally regarded as a hybrid between C. erate and fieldit.

(¢) Aberrations are due to some abnormal condition and are of
infrequent occurrence; they differ more or less from the
normal form and are not connected with it by intermediates.
They are not worth naming though in many cases this has
been done.

In the past many a new species has been described from a
single specimen with unfortunate results: it would be better, as a
rule, to consider any possible new form as an aberration until more
specimens are obtained : it should then be considered whether it is
a variety or seasonal form of an already known form flying in the
same district : next the question of it being a local race of a species
in some other area should be investigated ; only when these steps
have been completed should the possibility of it being a new
species be considered.

A full synonymy has not been given except for the Hesperide ;
changes of nomenclature, etc., are pointed out in the notes.
Some new forms about to be described by Maj. Tytler have been

included.

The following new sub-genera, species, races, etc., have been
described. :-—

Satyrus hibneri moore’. Ypthima (shania.)
Mycalesis perseoideskhasia. M. visala orcha. M. lepcha watsoni.
Apatura ambica chitralensis. Sephisa chandra 2 d. chandrena and Q v. albina,
Euthalia garuda diversa. Neptis columella kankena. Neptis melba, Argyn-
nis hyperbius hybrida. A. jainadeva pallida. A. aglaia ashretha. Melitza
sindura balba. M. trivia mixta. Papilio polytes @2 d. stichioides. Papilio

.
be
.

A LIST OF INDIAN BUTTERFLIES. 559
(Mimbyasa). Aporia nabellica hesba Pieris canidia canis. Colotis amatus,
© d. albina. Lyceena orbitulus wali. Lycena (Tiora § Bryna), Lycena
sebrus shandura. lL. devanica gracilis, Lyceenesthes emolus ftopa.
i. Tlerda androcles zidis. Arhopala ganesa watsont. Parnara (Milena).
.: : List OF ABBREVIATIONS USED FOR LOCALITIES.
As. = Assam.
An. = Andaman.

Bhut. = Bhutan.

B. = Burma.

Bal. = Baluchistan.

C. = Ceylon.

Chit. = Chitral.

Centr. = Central India.

C. P. = Central Provinces.
Him. = Himalayas.

I. = India generally.

Kash. = Kashmir.

Kan. = Kanara.

Kum. = Kumaon.

Lad. = Ladak.

L. B. = Lower Burma.
Muss. = Mussoorie.

N. 1. = North India.

Nil. = Nilgiris.
. Ni. = Nicobars.

Sik. = Sikkim.

S. = South India.

8S. B. = South Burma.

Ten. = Tenasserim.

S. Ten. = South Tenasserim.
W. H. or W. Him. = Western Himalayas.
E. H. = Eastern Himalayas.
Up. B. = Upper Burma.

Up. As. = Upper Assam.

Trav. = Travancore.

Genus.

NYMPHALID &,

Hestia

Danais

560 JOURNAL, BOMBAY

& Subgenus. Species. Race.

DANAINA,

.. (Hestia) jasonia,

wa.

malabar i¢ a,
M

kanarensis,M.

agarmarscha-
na, Fd.

arrakana,
Fruh.

hadeni. W.M.,
& Den.
margherit a,
Fruh.
cadelli, W. M.
& De N.
(Nectaria) .h yperm-linteata, But.
nestra,
(Radena) ,. similis

-. Vulgaris, But.

expro m pia,
But.

nicobarica,
W.M. & DeN.

(Parantica). aglea, Or.

melanoides,
M

melanoleuca,
M.
erys -» agleoides, Fd,

(Ravade-aspasia,

bra). Fab.
(Chittira)..fumata, BAIS
But.
nilgir ie n- were
sis, M.
melane us, ao06
Cr.
tytia, Gray. 2
(Tirumala). gautama,M. =3100
gautamoides,
Doh,
limniace, oc.
Cr.
melissa ., Sseptentrionis,
But.
dravidar um,
Fruh.
musik anos,
Fruh.

{Salatura).. plexipp us,
L

melanip- indicus,Fruh

pus.
nesippus, Fd.

chrysippus, Seki
L.

(d. dorippus,
Cr.).

(v. alcipp o i-
des, Cr.)

NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX1.,

Locality. Synonyms, &e.
(OP Iae te ear pean Serre
Ss.
Kan, eit te
Ten. Bsa oo
Arrakan,

Up. B.

Basseinil ik == .eeee

Up. As.

An.
S. Ten.
B.
C.
Ni.
8. C.
Kash.—B, Fruh as grammica,
, But., usually put
as=aglea. Fruh
separates Ten.
race aS phor-
mion.
An
B. Ni. Fruh ‘ eryx=agle-
oides.”’
S.B. =crocea, But.
C,

Sik.—B. =plateniston,Fruh
(‘‘melaneus, Chi-
na’’), !

Kash.—B. Fruh “W. Him,
race=sita koll.’’
B.
Ni.
I. B. C. Ni. Fruh separates C,
race as mutina.
N. I. B.
5.
C.
I. B. C. Ni. nepalensis, M. a
cas ab.
Beng.—B. hegesippus, Cr.,
Malay Peninsula.
Ni.
I. B. C. An.
Ni.

aleippus, Cr., Afri
ca,

Notes.

Fruhstorfer’s arrangement has)
been adopted for the Danaing, —
afew more of Moore’s sub-

“genera having been used in
Euplea,

Arracana is a good race interme- —
diate between agarmarschana
and cadelli ; margherita I haye
not seen, but Upper Burma
specimens are arracana, ri

DeNiceville gives Ideopsis deo-
psis (Gamana) Daos, Bdl,, from
India stating that it has been
bred on the Tenasserim coast;
no author since has included it |
amongst the Indian butterflies,

{Penoa)

rois),

3 (Isamia)

{Stictoploea) coreta,God.

({Lrepsic h- mulciber,

(Calliploea).

(Euploea) .. corus, Fd..

A LIST OF INDIAN BUTTERFLIES,

Species. Race,

DANAINE:,—contd,

mode sta,
But,

camaralz a-
man, But. bremeri, Fd.
erameri ..

frauenfeldii,

climena ,, Scherzeri,k'd.
core, Cr. o» eee
vermiculata,
But.
ae

asela, M.
godarti, luc. ae

(d. layardi,
Druce).

andamanen-
sis, Atk..

. aleathoe. ., double da yi,

zesatia, Fruh,
deione, Wd. see

limborgii, M,

menetri es i,
:

montana, Ed.

harrisi, Fd.

hopei, Hd. ..

Cr. me
kalinga, Doh.

mazares . ledereri, Fd.
pheebus, But.
viirina,F'ruh,
ut.
marga rita,

eoee

roepstorfii,
M,

Locality.

Ni.

I. B. An.
Him. foot-
hills.

Cc.
As.—B.

An.
Sik-Up. B.
S. B.
Sik,-B.
Up. Ten.
S. Ten.
S.

Cc.
As.—B,

Sik.—As,

Simla-B.Ni.

Jaypur.
Ten.

5.B.

-. Midamus ,, Splendens, E, Kum.-N,

Ten.
Ten,

An.

561

Synonyms, &e. Notes.
? Indian race = oli-

racea, M. ¥. :
=esperi, Fd. bise- Regarding frauenfeldii, this

riata, M.

=camorta,M; simu-
latrix, W.M. &
De N.

nicevillei, M. a cas
ab.

defigurata, Eruh,
an ab.

=subdita, M.
aleathos God: Amb-

oina.

arida FHruh, Ruby
Mines, a d, sf.

=coreoides, M,

eossee

=adamsoni Mav,
brabma, M,

name was given ‘to an insect
said to have come from Cey-
lon; esperi and biseriata were
described as two exactly simi-
Jar insects from the Nicobars,
the former having and the
latter lacking the Male brand.
Fruhstorfer following De Ni-
ceville (J. As. B. 1901) places
them all under frauenfeldii.
An exactly similar case in
‘every respect is presented by
scherzeri, camorta and simul-
atrix and I have here united
them all under scherzeri.

harrisi isa very variable form
and hopei is not a very satis-
factory race ; however Sikkim
specimens always have the
forewing discal spots well de-
veloped, while in the Eastern
form these spots are often
absent,

562 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX1I.

Genus. Sub-genus.

NYMPHALIDA,
—conid.

Huploea (Salpinx)..
—contd.

(Danisepa).

NYMPHALIDA,

Pararge .. (Lasiom-
mata).

(Pararge).

(Chonala)..

Rhaphicera S050
4

Melanargia. ooo0

Orinoma, mo00

Satyrus .. (Pareneis).

(Aulocera).

Species. Race. Locality. Synonyms, &e. f Notes.
DANAIN®.—contd, i,
leucos tiec- novare. Fd. B. Ni. =leueogonys, But. klugii is an extremely var
tos. form and there are cert

many more unnamed
named varieties of this s.ec
Leucostictos seems a disti
species, the hindwing is
pale presenting a great cont
to the forewing ; also all -
spots are conspicuously b

¥ a tinted.
klugii, M... 600 Sik.-B.
crassa, But.» 5.B.
kollari, Fd... Sik.-8.
sinhala, M. .. Cc.
diocl et i a- eee As,-B.
nus, Fab. i
ramsayi, M.. Sik.
SATYRINZ,,
macra bi schakra, Koll, Chit.-Sik, aiutarsie’s Fruhstorfer’s arrangement ;
Satyrine has been adopte
' has the advantage of bring
together the palearctic ge
and the sequence seem
natural. Seitz has been ‘
: : ed for the genus Satyrus,
menava, M, ate Bil.-Kash. = meroides, Kd.a D
, cas var,
moe rula, eevee Chit.- Kum.

Fa.
eversmanni cashmirensis, Chit.-Kash,

: Sik.-Bhut. usually in lethe,
but better here,

masoni, El,

satrieus, eal Sik,-As.
Db.
moorei, sete Simla-Sik,
But.
halim ede, n000 E Up. B.
Meén, ;
dam aris, aa Kangra.- B.
Gray. f.
pum ilus, Deters W.Him. ' pumilus and bicolor are o
Fa. ous above, the latter with
bicolor, Seitz Sik.(Chum- alstateters very broad dark outer mar
bi). ; palearcticus is a dark bre
; insect with a prominent
discal band as in Aulocer
paleear ct i- sikkimensis, Sik,
cus. Std. 4
brahminus, Abas Chit.-Sik, = scylla, But., We- True brahminus is in the B
Blanch, rang, Lang, from Sikkim; scylla f
Kumaon is merely a sn
varietal form; brahminoide
a separate species and d
from brahminus in complet
lacking the preapical ocel.
on the underside of the i
wing; it only differs
sibyllina, Leech,from Thibt
. : in having the bands wider.
Sibyllina . brahmin o i- Sik.(Chum- a
. des, M. bi.)
Swaha, SAGs Chit.-Sik.
Koll.
padma, Saisie Kash,-Sik. . sislcipelsidaaee .padma flies with loha in Sik!
Koll. i and differs in the males co:

tantly lacking the 2 white spo
internal to the preapical o
. . lus on the forewing above, —

A LIST OF INDIAN BUTTERFLIES,

Genus. Sub-genus. Species. Race. Locality. Synonyms, &¢. Notes
m
| NYMPHALIDA SatyRINm,—contd.

—contd.

: , : Nee Chumbica isa small race of
ae ce S ee rap Dons Se eno loha, which does not have the
eect i band on the eee ane

abi . Sik, (Chum- eters continued to the dorsum, also
Se ae te this band on the underside in
the females is narrow and
sharply defined.
sarasw ati, cece Chit.-Sik.
Koll,
(Karanasa), hubn eri, AAA Kash.-Lad, = cadesia,modesta, hiibneri is a very variable form,
: Fd. M, Chitral specimens, called
leechi by Moore, are larger
with deeper bands and the
ocelli on the forewing above
have prominent white centres.
Leechi. Groum from Samark-
and was described first : it is
a much smaller and paler
insect. I propose to call the
Chitral race moorei as leechi
must be abandoned.
I have omitted semele difiusa,
But., of which the only known
specimen, now in the B. M., is
marked ‘‘ locality doubtful.”
moorei, Hiv... Chit. = leechi, M. (nec.
: Groum).
digna, Mayr. pane Chit.-Kash.
actzea .. pimpla, Fd... Bal-Lad.
Nytha) ..parisa tis, 3580 Bal.-Chit-—= macropthalma,
Koll. Kum. Evers.
(Philareta), heydenrei- sha ndura, Chit.
chi. Mav.
persephone,
Hiib. 5009 Bal.-Chit. hanifa, Hard,
spring form? —
(Humenis). mniszechii. baldiva, M.., Spiti, Ku- enervata, Std.
nawur.
lehana, M, .. Chit-Lad,
theleph a s- eres Bal.
sa, Hiib.
Epinephele. (Maniola),. daven d ra, ees Whites ee H. davendra and latistigma have
M, rkand. two lower diseal ocelli on the
hindwing below, while _bre-
vistigma has only one; latistig-
ma has the male;brand much
stouter than in davendra,
while the discal line below is
inconspicuous, tenuistigma,
Kojak, male, is an ab. of
latistigma resembling daven-
dra,
brevistigma, Balt-Lad.
M.
latistigma, M, Bal. =tenuistigma, M.
narica, 48053 Bal.
Hiib.
cheena, M. 4500 Chit-Nep.
lyczon ,, interposita BBS ewe f= avitecte pulchella ana pulchra are sepa-
Hyrsch. rate species flying together ;

pulchella is ochreous, female
as male, and often bearing a
lower ocellus on the forewing
above; pulchra maleis dark
brown, female ochreous with
base much darker, the dark
area being defined by a dark
angled discal line,

564 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY,
Genus. Sub-genus. Species. Race. Locality. Synonyms, dc.
NYMPHALIDA—cont. SATyYRINS —contd,
Hipinephele (Chorto b i- pulche I La, monste Chit-Lad.

—contd. us). Fd. " De Mae
pulchra,F'd. eats Chit-kum. = neoza, Lang.
coenon y m- Reis: Kash. = maiza, goolmur-

pha, Fd. ga, Lang.
Cenonym- (Lyela) ...myops .. macmaho ni, Ball. cesces
pha. . Sw.
Brebia .. {Paralasa).. -mani, DeN. Aape Chit-Lad.
Kalinda, M, eevee Kash-Kum,
shall ada, eects Chit-Muss,
Lang.
Callerebia) daksha, M. wees Kash.

nirmala, M.

aooe

Saxicola,

Ober.

annada, M. =)

orixa, M.

scanda,
Koll.

(Dallacha). aye iva, erie
(Hemadara) pares ingha, area

Ypthima.. (Shania) .. Hee alia,

eN.

(Nadira) .. bolanci c a.
Mar.

chenui.

(Kolasa) .. <
Guer.

ypthimoi ,
des, M.

{Ypthima) iarba, DeN. wens

hubneri, ite
Kir,

Kash-Kum. = intermedia,
cashapa, M,
Chit,

Kash-Bhut. W. S.

But,
». As-up B.

Kash-Kum,
Kash-Kum.
B

N. Shan St.

Bal.
Ss.

Palni,Trav-
hills.

Manipur.

e@evace

I. B.

kashmira, M. Kash-Kula

. = hybrida,

As ceylonica and hibneri fly

Vol. XX.

Notes.

C. macmahoni resembles a, 8
Erebia and is unmarked
cept for a single blind og!
ous, ringed ocellus on the ;
wing : myops, Std. from
has some spots on the
wing below.

Seitz gives ‘*Hrebia saxic

sect found at 6C00' and

undoubtedly a race of nirm
differing from it in be
more uniform below and o
bearing on the hindwi
Single very small ocellus,
rely surmounted by min
white spots. An aberr,
of this insect was deser
and figured by De Nicevi
under nirmala in J.B.N.

XIV, 236. ;

A new sub-genus for megalia
DeN, seems necessary an
propose the name Shani
iarba is doubtfully placed
the sub-genus Ypthima,

together they are best regard:
ed as separate species,

5 . &

"5 ais

A LIST OF INDIAN BUTTERFLIES.

Species. Race. Locality.

SaryRinm.—contd.

im a( Ypthima ) ceylonic a, Ban Beng-S.C.
a,

Hew.

asterope .. mahratta, M. N. & centr: Ast
iis 18h

inica, Hew. Oot N. &Centr.I.
lycus, DeN. ctsee Khasi.
lycoides,Wat. Up B.
watsoni. M. siesta B.
nareda. SaoG Kash-Kum.
Koll. ;
newara. M. shoo Sik-As.
sarcoposa, B.
Fruh.
philomela, + 8.
Johan,

indecora, M. Kash-Kum.

baldus, ste I. B.
Fab.
affecta ta , BOoU As.
El Ed.
similis, El bag 8. B.
Ed.
sobrina, El. raters S. B.
Ed. ;
methora, . ste Sik-B.
Hew. - “7: -
persimilis, Hl Manipur.
Ed.
dohertyi. cued S. B.
M. !
savara, Gr cous B. hills.
8s. ;
sakra, M. o- mieisi= Sik.

nikaea, M. .. Kulu-Kum.

austeni, M. .. As-B.
avanta, M.. = «sie Kash-B.
cerealis, Wat. B (Myingy-
an).
striata, Nilgiris.

Hamp.
singala, Fd... Centr. I-C.

seylax , Boot Sik-up B.
Hew.
saitis, Hew. rarer 8.
medura .. falcipennis, Kash-up B.
W.M.&DeN.
rotundata, sleheie 8. B.
DeN. A
angularisS, — e+. B.

argentina.. ines, Fruh. .. Ten,

Synonyms, &ce.

=tabelia, Mar.

565

Notes.

I believe that the species affec-
tata, etc., placed near baldus
and methora will eventually
be found to be races of one or
the other of these two forms
in spite of the differences in
the male organs, especially in
view of the fact that Elves
found the male organs of hiib-
neri, ceylonica, kashmira, jo-
cularia and a hubneri from
Sik all different. Undue
importance is often given to
minor differences in these
organs,

overlooked by Moore and Bin-
gham.

Fruh gives matinia as a pale race
from N.W. India,

566

Genus. Sub-genus

NYMPHALIDA,
—contd,

Ragadia . SHAS

Lethe ee (Lethe)

(Dionana)
37
ape
(Nemetis)

(Debis)

JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Voi. XX1.

: Species. Race.

SATYRIN a. —contd.

crisilda,
Hew.

critolaus,
DeN.

erito, DeN. Beats

. euTOpa,
Fab.
nudgara,
Fruh.

dry petis, tamuna, Doh.
Hew.

dyrta, Fd..

nilgiriensis,
Guer.
daretis, aes
Hew.
insana,Koll
dinarbas,
Hew.
brisan da, anes
DeN.
confusa, S005
Aurivill.
- gambhara,
Fruh.
-. Margaritae, S305
El

naga, Doh..

boy Oe Bh 5 S005
Fab.
tritoge nia,
Fruh,
ESO O UE Lexa. 38
Hew.
mekara, M. go05

chandica ,

distans,
But.
Kansa, M ..

ease

zeugit ana,

Fruh.
serbonis,
Hew.
satyavati ,
DeN.
vind hya, oaRo
Fd.
dynsate, bose

Hew.

todara, M. oo

Kash-B. = rohria, Fab.
: what had usually been ¢:
Nah dyrta, Fd., should be r
Fab., and the insect know
4 rohria he renamed con
Bingham followed him
Seitz and Fruhstorfer
not and have put confusa_
synonym of rohria. AsB
gham only appears to
followed Aurivillius. I
used dyrta but I think confusg
ought to be used for what mos
Centr. 1-C, Fruh. separates the apenas ne 2/2250"
Ceylon form as
Cc. yoga.
Chumba-
Kum.
Kum-As.
-Bhut-As, This seems a good
species.
Simla-Sik. = rohria, Auct, ;
nec. Fab.
As-Up B.
Bhut.
Up As.
B.
Ten. I have not seen
this. ; ‘
Sik-B.
Sik-B. Fruh. separates the
As-B. race as
zuchara.
Sik-B. . Fruh. separates the
As-B, race as fla-
none.
Sik-B.
Kum-Sik.
As.B. Fruh. separates the
Ten. race as Vaga,
Fruh.
Sik-As.
Sibsagar. ie
Sik-B. Fruh. separates the
; Ten, race as lad-
esta.
C,

Notes.

Locality. Synonyms, de.
@aeH= Deny) yooneet eee Fruh places critolaus and cri
as races of crisilda, "
Ten.
Bhut-As.
Lie = niladana and ra- Fruh. confines europa to the PI
galva, Fruh. lippine;,etc., giving nilad
An. the North Indian and rag
as the South Indian race.
Ni.

S. Oriss.
Cc.

Aurivillius in 1897 stated

Sub-genus. Species. Race.
SATYRINE.—=contd,
phe (Tansima).. verma,Koll, S000
. Sintica,
Fruh,
(Rangbia).. gulnihal
¢ oe DeN. :
peguana, M...
scanda, M..
bhairava,M
latiaris,
Hew,
perimele,
Fruh,
(Sinchula)., vaivarta, ane
Doh.
sidonis,
Hew,
nicotelia,
DeN.
siderea,
Mar.
nicetas,
Hew.
maitrya,
DeN.
visrava, M. aa0s
(Kerrata).. tristigmata,
lyncus, :
DeN.
(Zophoessa) atkinsonia,
Hew.
jalanrida,
DeN. ‘
elwesi, M. ..
meelleri, Hl. 3500
kabrui, SOSt
Tytier.
baladeva,
asia, Fruh ..
ramadeva, 9000
DeN.
andersoni, cone
Atk.
goa. para.M. sees
narkunda,
Fruh,
sura, Db... sone
. dura, Mar.
gammiei, M..
(Blanaida). bhadra. MW sr00

A LIST OF INDIAN BUTTERFLIES,

Locality. Synonyms, etc.

Kash-Kum,

Sik.-B. .. Fruh. separates the
Ten, race as ste-
nopa.

Bhut.-As.
B.
Sik.-As.
Sik.-As.
Sik.-B.
Ten, .. Specimens from

the Naga hills re-
sembe his race
somewhat,
Kulu-Kum.
Kum.-As,
Sik.
Sik.-B.
Kulu-Sik.
Sim a-Sik,
Sik.-Bhut.
SiRsee ang a idnetarseuettate
Sik.
Sik.-Bhut.
Kulu-Kum.
Sik.
Sik.

Naga H. .. This new species is

short.y to be de-
scribed by Maj.
Tytier,
Sik.
Garhwal-
Kum.
Sik.
Bhamo,
Kum.-As.
Simla.
Sik.-B.
S.-B.

Bhut.

Sik.-B. =khasiana, M,

Notes,

Seitz records a specimen of L.
callipteris from Kashmir but
there seems a good deal of
doubt about the locality.

Seitz gives L. bhadra and sepa-
rateiy L. armandii kKhasiang
from India; bhadra was des-
cribed from the dark wet sea-
son form and armandii from
the paie dry season form in
China; khasiana is undoubt-
ed.y a seasona’ form of bha-
dra and armandii is the local
yace from China,

568
Genus. Sub-genus. Species. Race.
NYMPHALIDA SATYRINZ—contd.
— contd.
Lethe (Blanaida) pulaha. M. sialere
—conta. contd.

pulahoides,M

muirheadi. bhima, Mar..

yama, M...
yamoides, M.
Neorina ..(Neorina).. hilda, Wd.

archaica,
Fruh.

(He r mia-chrishna ,.
nax).

patria .. westwoodi,M.

Coelites .. 6500 nothis

e. adamsoni, M.
epiminthia. binghami, M.

Myealesis.. (Virapa) -.anaxias. ono
Hew.

radza, M.
manii, Doh..

adamso n i, s06c

Wat.
anaxoides ,

4 Mayr.
(Gareris) .. francisca... sanatana, M..

(Sadarga) .. gotama ..charaka, M..

Suralaya) . orseis,Hew.

JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST.

Locality. Synonyms, &c.
Chumba-
Kum.
Sik.-B.
B. muirheadi, Fd.,
China.
Kulu-Kum.

Sik.-B.

Sik,-As.

Ten. chrishna,W4d. Java.
As.-Ten, patria, Leech,China
Bhamo. nothis, Bdv., Siam

Ten.

Sik.-B.-S. Fruh. separates the
Burma form a5
smate.

An.

Ni.

Up.B.

5. B.

Kulu-B. Fruh. separates the
Burmese form as
gomia.

As.-B.

Naga H.- Fruh. separates the

Ten. Indian form as
i nautius, But.
(Calysisme) perse us, 1H 185) (0h : slbenrs
Fab.
mineus. L. NI.-B.Ni. =nicobarica, M.
polydecta. Cr. Centr I-
8. C.
porscoies. Sa06 B. =intermedia, M.
khasia, Hv... Khasi
Hits.
igilia, Fruh. Pachmarhi-
Myvore.
subdita. M... Ss Gs
visala, M.... Haas Kum-B. Frith. separates the

Centre I.
& Madras.

Ten. form a3 noo-
visala.

SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

Seitz uses Neope for a ge ni

Notes.

DeN. stated that this name »
preocepied by bird; and yp
posed Bianaida instead.

I have placed subdita, M
-race of perseoides ; they
have a very 3imi.ar mal
on the forewing be ow
gham described a simi.ar
from Mysore which Fru
fer hat named igilia: I
the 3ame insect exact y
Pachmarhi. I a.so have
specimens from the Khasi
(w. & d. 3. £.) which
to this species : they a:
ger and brighter than
other form3 of perse
and are very clote to Vv
bit the mave brand i
and pa'e brown a3 in
des. not ‘ong and silvery a
visa.a: I propose to call
form khasia.

A LIST OF INDIAN BUTTERFLIES. 569

Genus. Sub-genus. Species. Race. Locality. Synonyms, &e. Notes.
“NYMPHALIDAS SarvRinz.—contd,

) —contd,

fyealesis (Calysisme) visala, MM. orcha. Hy. .. Palni, Ani- In the B. M. are several speoi-
—conid. —contd. —-contd. ma, ais mens of visa'a from the Ani-
LA Hille, ma'ais and I have others from
: the Painis which Jiffer const-

b ant y fromthe Northern visala
h these specimens belong to an
y intermediate form, some were
caught in September and others
. in February. The maie brand
isasin visala, the wings are
not so pointed, under the ocelli
are sma.ler and never quite
obso ete; in the drier forms
the ‘ower ocellus on the fore-
wing be.ow shows up as a very
prominent white spot: the
white discal line is much dif-
fused outwards. I propose to
eall this form orcha,

andamana. An,
M.
evansii. acod Manipur. This new species
Tyt. will short.y be
described by Maj.
Tytler,
rama. M. .. Seige Cc.
(Telinga).. Oculus, eth Palni.Tray.
Mar. Hills.
a @o 1 phei. Mel Nilgiri,
Guér. Mangalore,
(Pachama).. mestra. dou Bhut‘As, Fruh, separates the
Hew. Bhutan ferm as
vetus.
suavolens. aes Sik.-Up B.
WM and :
DeN.
(Samanta). nicotia. see Muss. B.
Hew.
nudgara. Ten.
Fruh.
misenus. coe * Sik-As.
‘ DeN.
heri.M .. eeee Kum-Bhut,
malsara. M. Ges Sik..B, placed asa race of Malsara and lepcha are usually
mamerta,Cr. considered a3 races of one
(="mineus) by species, they, however, occur
Fruh, together in the Naga Hills,
Manipur and Upper Burma.
Watson (in J.B.N.H.8.X.) said
‘*malsarva and lepcha seem to
meet and mix in Chindwin.”’
Major Tytler has sent me a
good series of both forms from
Manipur and I am convinced
that they are separate species.
The Eastern form I propose to
eail watsont, it differs from the
Western form in a.ways having
lupperand 2 (not1) lower
ocelli on the forewing above.
lepcha. M.. 5909 K a} u-
Kum,
bethami, M... Pachmarhi
davisonii, M. Patni H.
watsoni, Ev., As.-Up. B,
(Kabanda).. aealsarids, sabe Cash-As.
ut
(Nissanga).. patnia, M. coe CG.

junonia, Bat. S.

JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXTI._

: 570
Genus. Sub-genus. Species. Race. Locality.
NYMPHALIDA. SatyRinm—coutd,
—contd.
Mycalesis, (Culapa) .. mnasicles.. perna, Fruh.- §.B.
—contd,
(Myrtilus) mystes, Up, B.
DeN.
(Loesa) ..oroatis ..surkha, Mayr. Ten,
(Orso tri-meda, Fab. NI, B.
cena)
mandata, M. S.C.
Melanitis.. leda Sa tiperverntey (Obisoe! iy 1840p
phedima .. bela, M. Kash.-B.
bet hami. Pachmarhi.
DeN,
varaha, M. .. Ss.
tambya, M... Cc.
zitenius. KH, Kum.-B.
Herbst. : ;
e
auletes,. Ten.
Fruh,
gokala, M. . Ss,
kalinga M... Godaveri.
Cyllogenes. surade Vv 2. Sik,
janete, . Bhut. As.
DeN.
Parantirrh- pay marshallii . Trav.
ae W. M.
Anadebis .. (Anadebis). Euaaehela) ie Sik.-Up. B,
(Zethera) .. diadernoi- Ten.
; des M. : :
Hlymnias.. (Elympias). hynermnes- undularis, Muss-Up,
tra. Drury. B.
tinctoria, M.. B.
caudnta, But. Ss
frateina M.. G
eottonis, Any
Hew.
obnubila, Ss. B,
BY.
panthera .. mimus, W.M, Ni
& DeN.
dara .. dedalion, B.
t Den.
(Melynias), singhala,M. ave 5. (Gh
pealii, ada As.
nesaea. timandra, Sik,-As,
Wal.
cortona, B.

Fiuh,

Synonyms, &c. Notes.

Orsotricena is usually put
separate genus, but -
seem more convenie
it as asub-genus of
as DeNiceville did,

®ruh. separates the
West Hima ayan
form as ga kissa
and the Tenasse-
rim form as ga-
napati.

Gokala is undoubted]:
zitenius; of kaiing
ony one specime
M., which is inter
tween gokala and zi

Caudata is usually pla
separate species, but
to have no more righ
considered so than h
na

bosbes

dara, Dist. N.
Borneo.!

A LIST OF INDIAN BUTTERFLIES.

Sub-genus. Species. Race. Locality. Synonyms, de.
TMPHALID A. SAaTYRINE-—contd.
—contd,
mnias. (Melynias) malelas, Sik.-B.
—contd. Hew.
nilamba, Kum.
Fruh.
saueri, Dist. Ten.
patna, Wa.. Kum.-As.
patnoides, M. Bas
(Mimadeli- vasudeva, Sik.-As. =thycana & deva,
aS), UIE cS
burmensis,M. B.
(Bruasa) .. penanga .. chelensis, As.-B. penanga, Wd., Ma-
i DeN. lay Penin.
(Agrusia).: esaca, Wd.. ni A Mergui. = andersonii, M.
MORPHINE.
eee arcesilaus, ik.-B.
Fab.
eumeus .. incerta, Stdg. S, Shan
St.
assama, Wd.. As.
faunula .. faunuloides, Up. B.
i DeN.
anor busiris, Wd. cscs Ten.
Sa lueipor, Ten.
Wa.
diores, Wd. Sik.-B.
inves aliris intermedia, B. pseudaliris, But
Croweay. Maiay Penin,
58 camadeva, afte Sik. :
wa.
nicevillei, AS.
Rib
camadevoi- Wipsky.
des, DeN. 3
nourmahal, Pte Sik. Naga
Wa. Hills.
nurinissa, Bhut.
DeN.
howqua .. sparta, DeN. Manipur.
louisa, Ss. B.
WM. ‘
amethystus masoni, M. S. Bs eveceece
doubleday:, Ten.
wa,
e nathusia, (Amathu- phidippus, B. Travan-
ny sia.) Joh. core.
andamanen- An,
sis, Pruh.
(Amathuxi- amythaon, Sani Sik.-B.
dia.) Db.
mona des lena, Atk. B.
amathusia, Sik -As.
ie Hew. a é
Discophora celinde .. ponucentalt®, Sik.-B.
; Std.
andamanen- An,
sis, Std.
deo, DeN.. aera Up. B.
lepida, M.. S006 8. C.
tullia indica, Std- Sik.-B.

Kan.

Notes.

Zeuxidia doubledayi hag not
been included by Moore and
Bingham, but DeN, recorded
it in J.B.N.H.S. XII, 329, from
Tenasserim.

572
Genus. Subgenus. Species. Race.
NYMPHALIDZ, MORPHINE, =<=contde
—conta.
Enis cao) eece euthymius ecco
nispe a na .
cycnus, Acée
wa.
NyMPHALINE.
Charaxes.. (Haridra).. psaphon, eoce
Wd.
imna, But.

polyxena ., hierax, Fd.

(v. hipponax,
Fd).

JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY,

Tocalaty. Synonyms, L&C,

Ssik.-B,
Sik.-B.

tessellata, M., a sea-
sonal form.

Beng.-S.
Sik.-B.

Naga H, \

hemana, But. Muss-Kum.

naganum,
Tytler.
aristogiton, soc
marmax, Serie
wa
kahruba, Siete
durnfordi. nicholi, Gr.8.
distanti,
Hon.
fabius,Fab. S00
sulphureus,
Roth.
Eulepig ee (Eulepis).. athamas, ADE
Drury. 3
agrarius, Sw.
arja, Fd. .. cee
schreiberi,, a3Samensis,
Roth.
wardi
jalysus, Fd. sioteta

.. Sandakanus,
Fruh.

moori

(Murware- delphis, Db.
da).

concha, Wd...

dolon, Wd. aie

centralis,
Roth.

grandis,
Roth.

Sik.-B. —desa and adam-
soni, M,
EK. Kum.-B.
Kum.-B.
8. B.
Ten,
I.8.C. raidhaka, Rh‘* Phi-
lippe, is a cas ab.
Naga H.,-B,
N.1.-B. Riber rejectsEHule-
pis for Eriboea,
8. C.
Sik.-B.
As.-B. mctaielatetets
5.
5.-B.
As.-B. — marginalis,Roth.
5. f. or var.
As.-Up. B.
6.-B.
W.-Him,

Sik.-As, Fruh separates the
Assam form as
magniplaga.

Shan St.

Rothschild and Jordan's ‘*-Ry
sion’’ of this groupin No
tates Zoo.ogis has been {
lowed.

The numerous varieties of-«h
rax do noi seem to be wo
retaining ; hierax can be
for the band ess forms —
hipponax for the bandedf
The form naganum dese
by Maj. Tyt.er seems eo
and confined to these
on y; a3 no o‘her form o re
with it, I think it is best tre
ated a3 a Separate race.

Bingham unites these race
schreiberi since one speci
from A3zsam agrees with
ra specimens, ignoring
differences pointed ous by
Rothschi.d and Jordan based
on Jong series.

Genus. Subgenus. Species.
_ NYMPHALIDZ.
bs —tontd.
Eu le pis. (Murware- nepenthes,
—contd, da).— conid, G.S8.
eudamip-
pus, Db.
Holoyra oe hemina,
Hew.
Dilipa morgiana,
i wa.
Apatura .. (Apatura).. ambica,
Koll.
ilia
(Mimathy- chevana,M,
ma).
(Chitoria).. sordida, M.
(Dravira).. uiupi, Doh,
pallas ae
(Eulaceura) osteria, Wd.
(Narsenga). parvata, M.
(Rohana) .. parisatis,
God.
Herona marathus,
Hestina sane nama, Db.
Parhestina. persimilis,
Wad.
mena, 30
Euripus . eene halitherses,
Db,

Race.

NYMPHALINZ.— contd.

nigrobasalis,
Lathy.

chitralensis,

seen

florenciz,
Tytier.

camiba, M...

angustata, M.
andamana,

zella, But. ..

nicevillei, M,
jermyni,
Druce.

A LIST OF INDIAN BUTTERFLIES,

Locality. Synonyms, &¢.,

Shan St.
Kum.-B,
Shan St.
Sik.-B.
Kulu-Up.B. eetelesiare

Note.

Kash,.-Ten, bhavana.M.,may be The Chitral form of ambica de-

@ variety or a
seasonal form.

Chit.

ve
-. here, Fd. .. N. Shan St,

Sik.-Up. B,

Sik. B.
Up As. fulva, Leech, is a
race of this.
Naga H,
Ten.
Sik.-As,
Kum.-Ten.
S.C.
Sik.-Up. B.
S. B.
An.
Muss-B. melanina,” Fruh,,
& me.anitic ab.
Sik.-As. I have an ab. of
this all black.
Si m 1 a-
Kum.
Chumba, :
Muss, ? a separate ~pecies,
Sik.-M,
liastus, But.
(female d.
alcathosoi-
‘des, DeN.)
(iemaie v. . nyctelius, Db.

cinnamo-
neus, M.)

serves aname, chttra'ens’s ; it
is much larger,on the forewing
be ow the round spot in 2 is
absent ; the ma.e has a white
spot on the costa of the fore-
wing above; the female has
the white submarginal spots
very large and diffused. The
differences in markings may
be inconstant but the differ-
ence in size is very striking,

female_isa, M. ha- Euripus halitherses has two di-

morphic fema es; the first may
be caiied ha itherses ( = isa
M . hasiartus, But.) and has a
white band on the forewing
wi h more or (ess white on the
hindwing; the second (= a ca- '
thoeoides, DeN.) has no white
on the forewing, the hindwing
is more or jess white and often
bear submarginal spots. The
form cinnanioneus, M , is mere-
ly a variety of a‘cathceoides
and differs in having some
white on the dorsal margin of
the forewing, while the whole
of the outer half of the hind-
wing is white,

574 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXI,
Genus. Subgenus. Species. Race. Locality. Synonyms, &e., Notes.
NY MPHALIDA, NyMPHALIN®.—contd.
—contd.
Euripus(Rohana.) consimilis, talere Dun-B.
—contd. — contd, wd.
meridionalis, S.
WM.
funebris, Naga Hills, Gptained by Maj.
Leech. ‘China. Tytie
Sephisa dichroa, Chit -Kum.
Kou.
chandra,M, Kum.-B, eesere Sephisa chandra has 3 forms
fema'e. viz., I. uniformly da
= chandra ; II with the
wing white =albina, nov.

e Iii with a white pre
band on the forewing,
hindwing being dark = cha
rana, nov. Whether th
forms should be looked up
as varieties or dimorphs see}
doubtful,

(female
chand-
rana, Kv.)
(female v.
albina,
Ev.)
Stibochio- nicea, Kulu-B.
na. Gray.
subucula, Karen H.
Froh
Dichorra- nesima- boo Kulu-B.
: Bie i chus, Bdl.
Neurosig- doubiedayi,
ma. wa. Sik.-Up. B. «Siva, Wd: female N.nonius was described by De
=fraterna, M. in Ann, N. H, XVII, 396 ( 189
and De N. pointed out in J
N.H, S, XII, 329, that Mo
had overlooked it : Bing m
also omitted nonius.
nonius, DeN. S. B. j
Abrota ganga, M... Sik. Stichel unites ganga and col
nis but Fruhstorfer aa
: ee _ separates them, ,
confinis, Sik.-Bhut, ~ Jumna, M. and +
Fd. mirus, Fab.
Adolias dirtea,Fab. B. Fruh. separates
e.eanor. S.Burma 4
and pardalis, M.
Mergui.
khasiana, Sw. As.
eleanor, Sha StH Nea oewcodat Moore is followed as regards
Fruh. name Adolias for dirtea, et
Bing. uses Symphaedra, h
used for nais as done
§ Moore.
pardalis, M. Mergui.
eyanipar- Sik,-As. Bing. as race of
dus, But, dirtea. :
Euthalia .. (Bassarona) teuta, Db. Sik.-B. —ira, M, ? the race Bing, separates Dophla for w
from 8.B. DeNiceville called the |
teutoides, M. An. section of Euthalia.
recta, DeN. As.-B.
Bing, as race of
goodrichi, Ss. Ten. feufa.
Dist,
gupta, DeN. B.

A LIST OF INDIAN BUTTERFLIES.

Genus. Subgenus. Species. Rase. Locality.
| NYMPHALID. NyMPHALINE.—contd.
—contd.
Buthalia. (Labranga). durga, M. Sik.-Bhut,
—contd. F
duda, Std. Sik.-As.
(Limbura).. nara, M. .. Sik.-As.
(Mahalda).. sahadeva, eet Nep.-As.
M.
narayana, 3B. (Ruby
j Gr. 8. & Kir. Mines.)
| iva, M. .. sistas Sik.-As,
} (Zalapia) .. patala, S008 Chamba-
; Koll, Nep.
taooana, M... S. B.
(Dophla) .. evelina, 50605 Cc.
Stall.
1audabilis,, Ss.
Sw.
derma, - Syl.-B.
Koll.
(Rangara).. dunya, Db. c S. Ten.
(Cynitia) .. cocytus, velar B.
Fab.
lepidea, ister Kum-B.8.
But.
andersoni, M, Ten.
(Saparona). cibaritis, As An. Ni,
Hew.
(Haramba).appiades , feats Sik.-Up. B.
Men.

sedeva, M. .. As.-Up. B.

adima, M,
B. (hills).

julii, Bou- Ss. B.
gain.

Sik.-B
jahnu, M.. erie
Nep.-B
(Chueapa).. franci,
Gray.
(Tasinga).. anosia, M.. Sik.-B.
(Nora) .. kesava, M.. Sik.-Up. B.
rangoonensis, S. B.
Sw.
(Kirontisa). telchi nia, Sik,-As,
Meén.
(Huthalia),. phem i us, Sik,-B.
Db.
zichri, But, Beers S. B.
bingha m i, ie ice Ten.
DeN.
lubenti n a, Sa05 Dun. B.
Cr. Centrl,
1.8.C.
garuda, M.. NGG 13%

Synonyms, &e.

Seitz — ‘durga.

.. Khasi-Up. =khasiana, Sw.

575

Notes.

In spite of all that has been
written, I believe that sedeva
and adima are well defined lo-
cal races of appiades: adima
only occurs at high elevations
while sedeva is only found at
low elevations.

576 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX1,

Genus. Subgenus. Species. Race. Tocality. Synonyms, &c .
NYMPHALIDA. NYMPALINE.—contd.
— contd.
Buthalia (Euthalia ) diversa, Ev. 8. C. eleeslelatete
- contd. —contd. :
acontius, An.
Hew.
vasanta, M. ence (OF coccce
jama, Fd. .. ocod Sik.-B.
apica lis, wise As.-B.
Voll. te
eriphyl a e, swale As.-Ten. hig is a distinot
DeN. species.
kanda, M. . . Ten.
nais, Fors- nae Him.-£.C.
ter.
Parthenos. ecee — gainbrisius, cece Hi. Beng.-B.
Fab. An. Ni.

Liminitis .. (Moduza) .. procris, Cr.

(Parasarpa) zayla, Db. .
(Sumalia)..
zulema Db.

daraxa, Db.

Najas) . trivena, M.

(Auzakia).. danava, M.
( Bhagadat- a us t enia,
ta.) M.
oe martha.
Fao,

Lebadea ..

Pantoporia. ( P a ntopo- nefte
ria.)

selenopho-
ra, Koll.
zeroca, M..
cama, M. ..
kresna, M..

dudu, Wd.. acne

.inara, Db. .. Sik.-Up B.

(V. apicalis,
M.)
virens, M. .. s.
cyaneus, M..
I. B.

anarta, M. ..

calidasa, M. C.-

Sik.-B,
Kum.-B.
Kash-Muss.
ligyes Hew. . Chit.-Kash.
Muss-. Up.
B.
Cach.-As.
As.-B.

eee
cee

ismene, Db,. Sik.-Bhut.

attenuata, M. Ten,
oriss. S.

asita, MM... 8. B.
nivifera, But Mergui.
rufuia, DeN. An.

Muss.-B. 8.
Boies Kum.-B.
Sate Musz.-B.
As. B.

The two forms
intergrade ji
Kashmir,

eeereere

Notes.

I propose to call the Sout
form of garuda, diversa: thougl
the maie is very much th
same, the fema e differs in th
foowing respects: there
always 5 white spots on &
forewing and the apical spo
always seem to have an out
ward tendency whereas in ¢
Ne forin these apical spo.s }
an inward tendency b
often joined to the inner d
spots. On both wings the t
er area is prominent.y paler re

Binghain P aces 5

eEnee in Cey.on and do
intergrade.

Liminitis is here extendedsto
include the closely allied g&
nera Moduza and Auzakia.

Pantoporia is here extended to

inc. ude the genus separated | by
Bingham as Athyma,

a.
Bpenus.

A LIST OF INDIA

N BUTTERFLIES. 577

Sub-genus. Species. Race. Locality. Synonyms, &e. Notes.

_NYMPHALID2. NYMPHALINE.— contd.

" —conid.
2g foporia, (Tatisia). .. kanwa., M. As.-B.
—contd. .
=. ( Parathy - sulpitia,Cr. BY
4 ema.)
4 (Kironga).. ranga, M... Sik-B, 8.
g abiasa, M... es Mergui.
3 Condocha- 0 BP salina, 3000 Kash.-Kum.,
ie: tes. Koll.
¥ orientalis, Hl. Sik.-B.
4 (Aihyma).. perius. L... nei ifs 184
j (Tacola) ..lavryimna, Ten.
i Db.
(Tacorae). aS3ura, M... Kulu.-B.
idita, M. Mergui.
. ( C hendra- pravara, M. slbieia Cach.-B.
, na.)
(Tharusia). jina, M. .. peta Nep.-Sik.

Weptis ..(Neptis) .. hylas . varmona, M.. I.C.(plains). cunnoms L. Chi- Rahinda is here placed as a sub-
genus of Neptis; heliodore
forms a connecting ‘link.

.astola, M. .. Him.-Up.B.
(hills).
adara,M. .. S. B. Ten.
andamana,M, An.
nicobarica,M. Ni.
soma, M. .. Serre Muss. B. Stichel & DeN, as
nandina, M.
clinia, M. .. An. =mananda, M,
hampsoni, M. Nii.
kallaura,M.. WN. Kan.-
ee Trav.
yerourii, we Kash.-Up.
But. B.
mahendra, Chit.-Kum.
M.
nata, M. B.
(Andrapa- magadha, B. ececees- The races of columella given
na). Fa. here seem wel! founded ; from
the Nicobayrs there is 1 female
in the B. M. for which I pro-
pose the name kankena; it is
considerab_y Jarger than the
continental forins and below
differs consideraby, all the
white marking: especia ly the
marginal onet being more de-
veoped; the lunuar band
beyond the submarginal band
on the hindwing forms @ series
of deep crescents.
columella, khasiana, M.. Bhut.-Up
Cr. B.
aoe Dun.-Up.B.
nilgirica, M.. Cenér.-8.
martabana, B.
kankena, Ev. Ni.

578

Genus.

JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XX1.

Sub-genus.

NYMPHALIDA-
—conid.

Nepticg,
—contd.

(Andrapea-
na )—contd.

(Bimbisara)

(Stabroba-
tes.)

(Lasippa) ..
(Rahinda)..

Species.

NYMPHALINE.—contd,

jumbah, M.

cartica, M..

sankara,
Koll.

harita, M..

vikasi Ae

ebusa, Fd..

manasa, M.

melba, Ey.

narayana,
M.

zaida, Db..

ananta, M..
radha, M..
ananta, M..
mniah, M...

viraja, M..

heliodore,
Fab.

hordonia.
Stoll.

Race. Locality, Synonyms, &e. Notes.

GOs6 Beng.-S.C.
S.B.-An.
a56 Sik.-As.

‘
nashona,Sw.. Khasi.

burmana,° B.
Den.
iin Kash.-Kum,. ante The form quilta is not a vel
satisfactory one; sankara gra
quilta, Sw... Sik.-B. duaiy changes from the West
ern Hima ayas to Burma an
it is difficu:t to define th
limits of any particular race
the Burmese form differs jus
as much from the Assam forn
as the :atter does from the W
.Hima.ayan form; in Sikkin
. typical sankara and quilt
nar, DeN. .. An. occur.
Anse E.Beng.-B.

pseudovikasi, Kum.-As.

anjana, M. «. Ss. B.

Bae NNT owe eas eee There are 3 specimens of ebusa
a Phiippine iniect,in the B
M. from the Nicobars.
fuliginosa, M. Ten.

eutels Sik. =nyctea, DeN. .. The type of manasa remain
; unique and I am convincet
that nyctea is inseparabl

from it. There is a Neptis

in the B. M. from Sikkim an

Ihave 2 others caught ther

with nyctea, which I propos

to call melba ; above it is simi

lar to narayana but the spot ai

base of 3 is missing on th
forewing : be'ow it is pale och

reous marked a3 narayana bu

wing and the apical margins :
the forewing are obsolete, The
type of meiba is in the B-M
Sik. ’ >
Sear Kulu-Kum.

nana, DeN .. Sik.-Bhut.

asterastilis. Up. B.
Ober.
Boe Murree-
Sik.
Chamba-B.
Kum.-Up B,
ore Chamba2-B.
alerete Sik.-As.
nolana.Druce. B.
Aeon Kum.-B,
Orissa, S.
Cach.-B.
iB: Mec nee Mr. Bell, in |N. Kanara, has
found that hordonia has —
forms of larva possibly repre:
senting 2 separate species.
sinuatia. M .. Sh

A LIST OF INDIAN BUTTERELIES,

579

my Genus. Sub-genus. Species, Race. Locality. Synonyms, &c. Notes.
o, NYMPHALIDZ. NYMPHALINE —contd,
: —contd.
N eptis. (Rahinda). cnacalis, ters An,-Ni-
— —contd, —contd. Hew.
{ peraka, eeee As.-B.
But.
dindinga, alates S. B. seems to be a dis-
But. tinct species.
aurelia, wares As,-B,
Std.
assamica, ptetare AS,
Oyrestis .. (Cyrastis).. thyodamas, foce i. B.
Bdl.
andamanica, An.
Wh & DeN. :
nivea .» Mivaiis, Fd,., B. nivea, 2Z.S,, Malay
Penin,
tabula, ons Ni,
" DeN. i
(Ansithra)... periander, 3006 Mergui.
Fab.
binghami, Ten.
Martin, :
cocles, Fab, bee . Sik.-B., =natta, Sw, .. The forms of cocles appear +o be
Godaveri. seasonal,
andamanica, An.
WM. & DeN,
(Chersove- peraka, none Ten.
Sia. Dist. eae 5
risa, Db. .- Kum.-B. cee Cyrestis is here extended to in-
ciude the closely allied Cherso-
nesig.
rahria .. rahrioides,M. Ten. quite separate
from risa,
Junonia os ste iphita, Cr., A680 I. B.C
lemonias, Plaiers Igy 183, (0,
tL
hierla,Fab. oueo i. B.C.
orithyia, Ul. ayes I. B.C.
atlites, Joh, aerate I. B.C,
almana, L, tetale I. B.C,
Vanessa 9 (Vaness2).» cardui, L.. 5009 I. B.C.
indica, Acad N. 1.-B.
Herbst.
nubicola, Ss. C.
& Fruh. ;
(Kaniska).. canace,Joh. Chit.-B. 8,
haronica, M- Cc.
(4 w vanes- antiopa, L. eeee Sik.-Bhut.
$3. : o
aes »» oashmiren - 3200 Chif.-Sik. Aesadace Stichel puts rizana and ladaken-
sis, Koll, SiS a3 races of urtics, but they
seem to fly together : he puts
cashmirensis separate, stating
that its larva is different.
urtice. .. vizana, M. ... Chit-Sik,
O550 Kash.-Sik,

ladakensis,
M

(Hugonia)... xanthome- aes Chit.-Kum, =fervescens, Stich, Stichel gives xanthomeias ferve-
las, and fervida, scens, Stich. and polychloros
Stdiss. fervida, Stdfss. as both from
India: I do not think there
is more than one form occur-
' ring in India, inseparable from
xanthomelas,
(Polygonia}. v, alb um,,

Chit-.Kash, =vau-album,Wv.
Fab.

580
Genus. Sub-genus. Species. Raee. Locality.
HYMPHALIDA NyMpPHALINZ—contd,
—rontd.
Vanessa Polygonia c. album... in t erposita, Bil.-Chit.
—contd. ~ contd. Stoll.
cognata, M,.. Kash -Kum.
agnicula, M. EH. Kum.-
Bhut.
Araschnia. prorsoides.. dohertyi, M Manipur.
Naga H.
8 y m bren- hippocius.. lucina, Cr... SimaB.
thia, B. ghats.
hypselis .. cotanda, M... Kum.-As,
sinis, DeN... Ten.
brabira, M. cere Kash.-Sik.
niphanda, Sik.-B.
M. s
(v. silana,
DeN.)
Prothoe. .. (Prothoe).. francki .. angelica,But. Ss. B.
regalis, But, Up As,
(Agatara).. calydonia.. be1lis ama, Ss. B.
Crow.
Rhinopalpa polynice ..birmana, Cash.-B.
Fruh
Yoma .. Cia sabina ., vasuki, Doh. B
Hyp olim- hood bolina, L..>» Sa00 I. B.C.
nas.
mis ippus, S800 Ue, 1s (Gh
(female d.
inaria, Cr.)
(fema2e v.
aicippoides,
: But).
Penthema.. AEE lisarda, Db. oo. Sik.-Up. B.
darlisa, M.. aletsie Ss. B.
b i nghami, G005 Ten,
WM. : :
D o leschal- ale bisaitide .. coutinentalis, Sik.-B,
lia. Fruh.
m al abarica, Ss.
Fruh.
c ey!onica, Cc.
Fruh.
pratipa, M... Ten,
an damanen- An,
sis, Fruh,
Kallima. Sac inac hus. 3006 Kum.-As,
Centr. I
huegeli, Koll. Kash.-Muss
limborgi, M.. B.
horsfieldii, atts 5.
Koll.
p hi larchus, Cc.
wa.
alompra. M.. B.

JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XX1,

Synonyms, &e.

=tibetana, EL

=Ehasiana, M.

hy pselis, God., Sinis, DeN., was originally des-

Jva.

Fruh.separates the
Sikkim form as
sivokana, M.

Bingham. as 2 raae
of niphanda

female —diocippus,
Cr.

= wardi, M.

-- Fruh. confines lucina to China

Notes.

and gives
Indian form

khasiana as the

cribed a: the Indian race of
hyptelis ; Fruh. separate; the
Assam form as assama, Prub.,
and gives sinis from Ten, |

‘

There is not sufficient material
in the B. M. to judge whether
these races are worth retain-
ing.

Argynnis e» (Acidalia).. hyperbius,
Joh.

Sub-genus.

NYMPHALID
v - contd.

irrochroa, (Ducapa) .+ fasciata Fa.

(Cirroch-
roa.)

(Argynnis), childreni,

majia, Cr...

Kamala, M.

A LIST OF INDIAN BUTTERFLIES.

Species. Race. Lecality.
NYMPHALINE= contd,
kny v otti, sis Sik.-B.
DeN.
al bofascia- esiee An.
ta, M.
ciarissa, oe Ten
Bd.
erota, F'ab.. c560 Sik.-B.
saloma, Sw... 8.
asela,M. .. Cc,
pallida, Std.. An.
sinha, Koll. eles Muss3.-B.
Oriss.
phalanta, 0506 9006
Drury.
alcippe .. alcippoides, Sik.-B. S.
M. An.
ceyionica, C.
Manders.
fraterna, M.. Ni.
erymanthis.lotis, Sulz. .. Muss -B.
Ni.
andamanica, An,
M.
maja, Fruh.. 5.
placida, M. .. Cc.
BOO Ten.
bajadeta,M. tee S. Ten,
nicobarica, Ni.
WM. & DeN.
thais, Fab.. eee S.
lanka, M. .. Cc.
sury2, M... ators Ten.
mithila, M. S000 Sik.-B
anjira, M. .. An.
aor1s, Db... nists Sik,-Bhut,
jiraria, Sw... As.
olivacea,DeN. B.
AcaS Chit -Up B.
Centr. I.
hybrida. Ev.. Nilgiris.

castetsi, ober. Palni, Trav.

taprobana, M.

Gray.

gakontala,

Koil.

eeors

csee

Hiils
Cc
Kum.-Up B.

Chit.-Kum,

Chit , Gil-
git.
Chit.-Kum.

Synonyms, dc.

— pura, Sw. ; circe,
Faw,

hardly worth sepa-
rating

erymanthis, Drury,
Ma.ay Peninsula;
nicobarica, Fd.,
not separate.

—flavobrunnea,Cr.,

== niphe, L.

581

Notes:

The Nilgiri form of hyperbius
seems to deserve 2 name and I
propose hybrida; the male is
simiiar to the Paini male in
having the veins of the fore-
wing diated, but the female
resembles the female of normal
hyperbius, though smaller and
paler,

582
Genus. Sub-genus. Species. Race. Locality.
NYMPHALID& NyMPHALINE— contd.
—contd,
Avgynnis (Argynnis) laodice . rudra, M. ee As.-Up. B,
—contd. — contd.

aglaia ais

ashretha, Ev Chit.
.. jainadeva, M. Chit,-Kum.

Lad.

adippe
pallida, Ev...
(Rathora).. lathonia .. isscea, Db, .. Chit.-Up.B.

(Boloria) .. gemmata, e900 Sik.
But,
altissima, Sielels Sik.-Bhut.
EL.
mackinnoni, Muss.
DeN.
jerdoni, 5000 Kash.
Lang.
chitralensis, Chit.
M.
pales .. Sipora, M. Chit.-Sik.
generator, N. Kash.-
td. Lahoul.
hegemone, Chit.-Lad.
Std. ;
clara, piaiele Garhwal.
Blanch.
manis, Fruh Sik.
Melitwa . (Mellicta) . sindura,M. cece Lad.-Kum.

balbita, M... Kash.

balba, Ev. . Chit.

ikkimensis, Sik

JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Viol. Roe

vitatha, M,.. Chit.-Kash.

j
4

Synonyms, &e. Notes. |
|

The Ladak form of jainadeva —
separate as pallida. It is muse
paier and smaller than jaina
deva.

seeneene

Vitatha is the name for the smal
pale form of aguaia occur
ring at high e1evasions ( 10.00(
to 14,0CU/) in Kashmir and Chi
trai. In the va ceys at the
Southern end of Chitrai, parti -
cu.ariy in the Ashreth Valley
occurs a large form with ¢
bright fulvons male; the fe
mae is darker and in som
cases is entirely covered wit
dark purp.e sca es (figured bi
DeN in J. B.N.H S., XIV
236) Ipropote the name ash ©
retha for this form; if occur —
at about 6,000 to 8,000 feet.

ween eee

The Indian form of hegemone |
differs from Centra! Asia spe:
cimens but 1s there are only d
specimens n he B. M, its se-
paration is not justified. j

balbita from Kashmir is a much
larger and more briliiant race
than sindura or sikkimensis.
the Chitral form ig a3 briliiant
a3 balbita b1t is much smaller
and the discal band is more
compiete : I propose to call it
balba,

A LIST OF INDIAN BUTTERFLIES. 583

Sub-genus. Species. Race. Locality. Synonyms, de. Notes.
NYMPHALID& NYMPHALINE—contd.
—conid.
(Melitaea) .didyma .. chitralensis, ChE wi ac ae The small Melitea found in N.
M. W. India, though variable,

should stand as persea: the
Chitral form,found at all eleva-
tions I call miata, it is far more
variable and usually more
brightly coloured than persea.
As mixta and chitralensis fly
together and undoubtedly be-
long to separate species they
cannot both be races of didy-

trivia +» persea, Koll.. Bil,-Punj. =dodgsoni, Gr. S, ; me
: robertsi, But.
mixta, Ev... Chit,
Saxatilis .. pred onay CHiESMy My Fer Some years agoI sent Col. Bin-
Christ, gham several specimens of a

Melitea from Chitral which
he identified as saxatilis shan-
dura Christoph : similar speci-
mens have been arranged by
Elwes in the B.M, as maracan-
dica with a note “near fergha-
na,aill are probably varieties
of saxatalis.”? Seitz makes no
mention of shandura and I
have been unable to trace
Chri‘toph’s description, but
as my specimens were caught
inthe neighbourhood of the
Shandur Pass I presume that
they are identical with the
form described by Christoph.

ee qo08 ilythia, hele Centr. I. §.,
Drury. C
da ee ariadne, a5on To BACe
= Joh,
merione, 6000 N.I. B.
Cr. Centr. I.
taprobana, Sees
Wad.
AAR castelnaui, 2d05 Ten.
Fad.
horsfieldii., glaucescens, B.
DeN.
andamanica, An.
DeN.
sa06 wedah, kava UGS, | Bueeucud Bingham places Cethosia bet-
Koll. ween Cynthia and Atella: Seitz
care buddha, M. eisvets Murree, puts it ina “tribe” by itself, viz.
Kulu. Heliconidi after all the Nym-
gautama, M.. Sik, phalidze just before the Acrex-
brahma, But As. idi; it seems better placed
near the Acrainze than any-
sudassana, BHOO B. where else.
Mel.
road eyane, Dru- noes Muss-B.
ry. Oriss,
hypsea .. hypsina, Fd. Ss. Ten.
biblis, Dru- 5ons Sik.-B. thebava,Gr. S. an
ry. ; ab,
(female vy,
viridiana,
Fruh,)
nico barica, Ni.
an damanica, An

Stich,

584
Genus. Sub-genus.
NYMPHALIDAi
—coneld.
Cethosia
—contd.
Pareba .. saibo
‘Telchinia .. S950
Libythea .. 2H
NEMEOBIDA.
Dodona .. sees
“Aemeras .. Sin hd

LO: Tp@) UE: ees

Abisara —.

else

JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST,

Species. Race. Locality. Synonyms, &e.
NyMPHALIN= —coneld.
nietneri, On do Cc.
* mahratta, M. 8.
ACRHINE.
vesta, Fab. mevere Chamba-B.
viole, Hub. Eeaale Als (Ch
LIBYTH EINE.
eeltis, coco Chit.
Fuess.
lepita, M. .. Kash.-Up.B.
lepitoides, M. og 5 gdoodane
myrrha ..rama,M. .. Kulu.-B. Myrrha, God. Java,
S.C. Fruh. separates
the N. form as
sanguinalis,
rohini,Mar. AS. 2 vace of narina,
: God. Amboina.
libera, DeN. . B.
geoffroyi .. alompra, M.. Ten.
(v. hauxwelli,
DeN.)
durga, Koll. Kash.-Nep.
dipoea,Hew. Kulu.-As.
dracon, Shan St.
DeN.
eugenes, Murree-As.
Bates.
egeon, Db. Kash.-As.
ouida, M... Muss-Up. B.
adonira, ING Wide, | aaedondlc
Hew.
deodata, B. = binghami, M., &
Hew. : angela, Gr. 8
longicaudata, AS.
DeN.
flegyas, Cv. Muss-B,
eonfucius, Ten.
Fruh.
burnii,DeN 690 Up. B
thuisto, Ss. B.
Hew.
haquinus.. fasciata, M... B.
fylla, Db... Muss.-B.
n @ ophron, Nep.-B.
Hew. q
chala. DeN. Sik.-As.

(io

be continued ).

SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

Notez.

The 2 forms of myrrha are us
ly united and doubtless this
correct, but the wide ban
form prevails in N. Indi
the narrow banded form
Ceylon: the forms may be §
sonal.

Longicaudata grades: th
‘deodata and binghami to
la: the material in the B.
very limited but I do not tk
that the last two are more t
seasonal forms of deodata.

585

SOME MAYMYO BIRDS
BY
Mayor H. H. Harineton.
Part II.
(Continued from page 1011 of Vol. XX.)

No. 25. Garrulus leucotis, Hume.—(The Burmese Jay.)

On the 10th April I visited the spot where last year I had been so fortu-
nate with the Jays, andfound the Colony still established in their old place ;
last year’s nests being still there, and six new ones, I was unfortunately a
few days too early as most of the nests only contained one or two eggs.
Two nests were placed on stumps 3 and 4 feet from the ground, and eleven
paces apart. I again visited my “Jay farm” onthe 24th and was suc-
cessful in getting some more eggs. Although I explored the jungle round
Maymyo I never came across another colony; only finding single nests.
Owing, no doubt, to the early rains this year, the Jays began nesting
sooner than last year, when most of my nests were found in May.

No. 176. Mixornis rubricapillus, Tick.—(The Yellow-breasted Babbler.)

I did not see this noisy little bird actually in Maymyo itself, but on the
5rd May at Wetwun I found two nests with two and three incubated eggs.
It is very partial to bamboo jungle, and if the locality is suitable its mono-
tonous ‘“ Chuk, Chuk, Chuk’” is generaily to be heard.

No. 290. Otocompsa flaviventris, Tick.—(The Black-crested Yellow
Bulbul.)

I did not come across this handsome Bulbul in Maymyo, but a few miles
out on the Thondoung road and again at Wetwun it is very plentiful.

No. 515. Oriolus tenwirostris, Blyth.—(The Burmese Black-naped Oriole.)

This is the only Oriole I noticed round Maymyo, where it is extremely
plentiful, many nesting in compounds. I found five or six nests both with eggs
and young, and would probably have found more if I had tried, as they are
extremely partial to nesting under the protection of Drongos of either kind.
I noticed this more particularly in compounds, where if there happened to
be a King-Crow’s nest and any Orioles were heard in the vicinity, it was
almost a certainty that their nest would be near that of the Drongo. Out-
side my gate I found both the Oriole and Red Turtle Dove (CE. tranquebarica
nesting in a tree next to that in which a pair of King-Crows (D. ater.)
had theirs. As a further illustration a friend told me that he had a King-
Crow’s nest near his house, and on hearing an Oriole calling in the garden
I said most probably the nest would be near that of the King-Crow, and
sure enough on going to the clump of Oaks out flew an Oriole and we
soon spotted the nest suspended a good bit below that of the King-Crow. |

586 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

Last year I found a number of . tranquebarica nesting in the proximity
of nests both D. ater and cineraceus.

On my return to Mandalay I found a nest of (O. tenwrostis) in my com-
pound containing two eggs, which were unfortunately on the point of hatch-
ing, and also noticed many other birds about. The majority of nests were
placed from ten to twelve feet from the ground, one was, however, a good
twenty-five feet up. The eggs are of the usual Oriole type, being very pink
when fresh, becoming a dull white when well incubated. Average of six
eggs 1:15 x °86. Largest egg 1:2 x °88, smallest 1:12 x -86.

No. 935. Pitta cucullata, Hartz.—(The Green-breasted Pitta.)

Mr. T. Hauxwell caught one in his house and kept it alive sometime,
feeding it on werms which it ate greedily.

No. 1178. Scops bakkamena, Penn.—(The Collared Scops Owl.)

On the 27th March I found a nest containing 3 incubated eggs and
secured the parent bird.

No. 1183. Gilaucidium cuculoides, Vig.—(The Large Barred Owlet.)

Plentiful, heard and seen on several occasions.

No. 1212. Sprzaétus limnaétus, Horsf.—(The Changeable Hawk-Eagle.)

Mr. Hauxwell procured a nest containing one young bird of this species
and is bringing it up. I found the nest of either this or another Hawk-Kagle
containing one young bird, which was left until it should get larger, but
on my next visit I found the tree containing the nest had been blown
down during one of the many storms we had this year at Maymyo. On
two occasions when out with Mr. Hauxwell we saw what we took to be a
pair of Black Eagles (Ictinaétus malayensis) but could find no signs of their
nesting.

No. 1221. Butastur liventer, Temm.—(The Rufous-winged Buzzard Eagle.)

Although this bird is fairly plentiful round Maymyo, I was only
successful in finding one nest on the 15th April; this was an untidy affair
placed on an overhanging bough and contained two fresh eggs. The
habits of B. iventer in the Shan States seems to be totally different to
those given in the Fauna of India for birds in Lower Burma, where they
seem to be found in cultivated and open country, in fact having all the
habits of the White-eyed Buzzard-Hagle (B. teesa) in Upper Burma. In
the Shan States it seems to prefer open forest land and in Maymyo to be
very partial to oak jungle. Itis avery conspicuous bird with its bright
chestnut upper plumage, and almost white underparts. B. teesa was seen
in the open country to the west of the railway station.

No. 1251. Baza lophotes, Temm.—(The Black-crested Baza.)

On the morning of the 29th April, whilst birds nesting near the banks of
the river at Wetwun, my attention was attracted by the noisy clamouring
of a pair of Baza, who kept flying round a clump of trees, and settling side
by side ona dead bough where they continued calling and raising their

—S ee

SOME MAYMYO BIRDS, 587

crests, so it was clear they had a nest somewhere near. The cause of the
disturbance seems to have been a troop of monkeys in the jungle below,
which on our approach disappeared. Soon after this the birds quieted down,
one going into the next tree where it settled on the nest, which was placed
near the extremity of a branch, quite a hundred feet above ground, looking
very like a large King-Crow’s nest. I sent my Burmans up the tree to
see if anything could be done; they fortunately managed to get above the
nest and reported two eggs, also saying owing to the thinness of the
bough it would be impossible to reach the nest; we then returned to the
village to try and make arrangements. One of the Burmans produced a
piece of black sticky bees’ wax, and proceeded to demonstrate his plan, by
picking up with the aid of the wax a large hen’s egg at the end of a long
bamboo. Our plan was then to use an old cap placed at the end of another
bamboo as a receptacle which was to be placed alongside the nest, the
eggs to be then lifted carefully into it. On our return the bird was still
to be seen sitting on the nest ; and after a little more practice with the
hen’s egg, the men went up the tree, whilst I anxiously waited below. The
plan turned out quite a success, and both eggs were brought safely down.
The next step was to procure one of the parent birds. This could easily
have been done while the men were up the tree, but after the eggs had been
taken both birds disappeared. One however (male) returned and was
bagged for identification purposes. The Burmans reported the nest to be
about a foot in diameter and lined with green leaves. The eggs which
were well incubated are a dull chalky white and measure 1°5x1'3 and
1:48 x 1-25.

I think that B. lophotes is fairly plentiful in this part of the Shan States,
as I saw one at Thondoung one evening sitting on a dead branch of a tree,
and last year on the march up to Maymyo I saw a pair of birds in the
jungle near where the Zig-Zag mounts the Ghats.

588

NOTES ON BUTTERFLIES FROM THE NAGA HILLS.
BY
Masor H. C. TytTLer, 17TH INFANTRY.
(With Plate B.)

Part Il.
(Continued from page 65 of this Volume.)

Famity—PAPILIONID Ai.

188. Armandia lidderdali, Atkinson.—Males not uncommon, females
rare, at 5,500 ft.—7,000 ft. during the latter half of August, September
and the first half of October. The first specimen was obtained on 19th
August and the last on November 10th. Perfect males were only obtainable
till about 20th September, after that the majority of the specimens were
damaged. Most of the females taken were perfect. ‘The butterfly though
not uncommon is rather local and keeps to the higher ridges. Many
specimens were captured on a white flowering tree which comes into
blossom towards the middle of September. Two females after capture
laid eggs which were yellow and appeared very small for the size of the
insect. The flight is graceful and the insect is not difficult to capture
when it occasionally comes down to within reach of the net, but as a rule
it keeps high up amongst the tree tops.

189. Leptocircus curius, /ad;.—Taken commonly throughout the year
at low elevations.

190. Leptocircus meges, Zincken-Sommer. Race, indistineta, n.—This
differs from the Burmese form Z, virescens, Butler, and typical Z. meges from
the Philippines in having on the underside of the hindwing the tornal area
much greyer and the three white transverse bands blurred and not clearly
defined.

Taken not uncommonly at 4,000—5,000 ft. from April to October and
single male at Gaspani, 1,700 ft., in July.

191. Teinopalpus imperialis, Hope.—Many males taken at 7,000 ft.
in September ; no females were seen.

192. Papilio cerberus, Fedder.—Not uncommon at the foot of the hills
from March to August.

193. Papilio seacus, Felder—Taken sparingly at the foot of the hills
in March and June and at 7,000 ft. in August.

194. Papilio aristolochize, Fair.—A few specimens taken at the foot
of the hills in July and August and December.

NOTES ON BUTTERFLIES FROM THE NAGA HILLS. 589

195. @apillo astorion, Westw.—Taken sparingly from March to
November at the foot of the hills and at Kohima.

196. Papilio aidoneus, Doubleday._Rather rare; three males taken
at the foot of the hills and at Kohima in February, August and September.

197. Papilio philoxenus, Gray.Taken commonly from April to Octo-
ber from the foot of the hills up to 7,000 ft. The variety po/ymitis was not
met with.

198. PaPilio dasarada, Moore.—Two males taken at low elevations in
April and November and a female at Kohima in October.

199. FaPilio demoleus, Z.—Specimens taken at the foot of the hills
from June to November.

200. Papilio helenus, Z.—Common ; small cold weather forms taken
at the foot of the hills in February and large summer forms at 5,000—7,000
ft. from July to November.

201. Papilio agenor, Z.—Taken sparingly at low elevations from
March to November. Female forms dbullerianus, Rothschild, and alcanor,,
Cramer, were obtained.

202. Papilio protenor, Cramer.—Males common; small cold weather
forms taken at the footof the hills in February and March, large rainy
season forms from the foot of the hills up to 6,000 ft. from June to Sep-
tember. Females rather rare. ;

203. PaPilio rhetenor, Westwood.—Small cold weather forms taken at
the foot of the hills in March and April; large wet season forms taken at
5,000—6,000 ft. in September and October. Females very rare.

204. Papiliochaon, Westwood.-A single small cold weather form
taken in February and several large wet season forms in August, all at low
elevations.

205. Papilio Polytes, Z.—Common at the foot of the hills throughout
the year and a few at 4,000 ft. in July and August; the female form cyrus
Fabr., is decidedly rare.

206. Papilio castor, Westwood.—Males not uncommon at low elevations
from July to September. A single female was taken. ;

207. Papilio agestor, Gray.—A single specimen taken in my garden at
Kohima in May; several more were seen. I believe this form has not been
recorded further west than Nepal but Captain Graham showed me a speci-
men in his collection which he informs me he captured himself at Simla.

208. Papilio clytia, Z.—The clytia form was not obtained, but the
dissemmlis form was not uncommon at the foot of the hills from February to
June.

209. Papilio telearchus, Hewitson.—Two males taken at Tamlu, 1,500—
3,000, ft., and a male at Michuguard in August.

210. Papilio danisePa, Butler.—A single male of this beautiful and rare
form taken at Tamlu in September and two more at Michuguard in June.

590 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXII.

211. Papilio elephenor, Doubleday.—Six males of this rare form were
obtained at Tambu in August and several specimens near Michuguard in
February, March and April.

212. Papilio triumphator, Friihstorfer—Taken rather commonly at
the foot of the hills and up to 7,000 ft., from February to October.
The cold weather forms taken in February and April are very
small.

Ab: maz, n.—Several curious aberrations of the cold weather form, taken
in February and April, have the patch on the hindwing brilliant green
instead of blue.

213. Papiliobaris, L.—Very common throughout the year from the
foot of the hills up to 6,000 ft. Specimens of the spring brood taken in
February and March are much smaller than the summer brood and have
the bright patch on the hindwing slightly greener.

214. Papilio Krishna, Moore.—A battered specimen taken by Doherty
(fide Elwes). I have not met with it in these hills but have taken many
specimens in the adjacent hill of Manipur at 8,000 ft.in May.

215. Papilio arcturus, Westwood.—Not uncommon at 4,600—7,000 ft.;
July to October.

216. Fapiliogyas, Westwood.—Males not uncommon at 5,000—6,000 ft.
from July to October. No females were obtained.

217. Papilio sikhimica, Heron.—Two males taken at about 2,000 ft. in
April; one of these is a curious aberration and has on the forewing the
fourth transverse black band from the base quite wanting and the second
band broken in the middle.

218. Papilio alcibiades, Fatr.—Very common at the foot of the hills
from May to August, a few were also taken in March and April. Neither
Moore nor Bingham mentions the difference in the seasonal forms which is
well marked. The early spring brood taken in March and April is smaller
than the summer brood and has the markings much lighter; Bingham’s
description of alcibiades applies well to this form. The summer brood taken
from May to August is larger and darker than the spring brood and has
the terminal black margin on the forewing produced to vein 1, and sometimes
beyond it touching the dorsum; the post discal band, which in the spring
form never touches the marginal band and stops at vein 3 or before it, is
prolonged and joins the marginal band at vein 2 or sometimes at vein 1,
thus completely enclosing the submarginal greenish white band, approach-
ing in this respect typical antiphates, Cr.

219. Papilio antierates, Doubleday._Appears to be single brooded.
Common at the foot of the hills in April and a few specimens were also
taken in May.

220. Papilio azion, Felder.—Not uncommon ; taken at the foot of the
hills from April to September.

a
BUTTERFLIES FROM THE NAGA HILLS. | q
EXPLANATION OF PLATE B. a ;
Bie: 1, Wma usta, Distant oo. ]
Pee eysapannel Ore viulstitery Iason ith SON 7
> do.) lerda) kohimensis, ms.) oe 7
» 4. Tlerda viridipunctata, de. N. Race Kala, n. g.
Be alan algal auaesipi sie
> 6. Lampides elpis, Godart. ab: Chinee, nov. 4
> 7&8. Phengaris atroguttata, Oberthiir ©. Upper and 4
underside. ‘

JourN. Bompay Nat. Hist. Soc. PLATE B.

Nacsa Hint BoTtERFLIES.

NOTES ON BUTTERFLIES FROM THE NAGA HILLS, 591

221. Papilio chiron, Wallace.—Not uncommon near Tamlu in August ;
a male also taken near Michuguard in April.

222. Papilioagamemnon, Z2.—Common at the foot of the hills from
February to August. A single specimen taken as high as 5,000 ft.

223. Papilio cloanthus, Westwood.tNot common, a few specimens
taken at 1,700 ft. in March and at 5,000—6,000 ft. from May to September.
The spring brood taken in March is much smaller than the summer brood.
Specimens from these hills are somewhat larger than those from Garhwal
in my collection.

224. Papilio sarPedon, Z.—A very common butterfly; taken at the
foot of the hills in February, July and August and at Kohima from July to
September. The spring form taken in February is smaller than the
summer form and has the blue bands on both wings somewhat broader.

225. Fapilioxenocles, Dowbleday.—A few specimens taken at the foot
of the hills in May and August.

Faminy—PIERID A).

226. Delias descombesi, Borsduval.—A few specimens taken at 1,500—
4,600 ft. in August and September.

227. Delias aglaia, Z.—Very common at the foot of the hills and at
Kohima in February, March and July to November.

228. Deliasthysbe, Cramer.—Taken rather sparingly from the foot of
the hills up to 5,000 ft. in February and August to November.

229. Delias agostina, Hewitson.—Not uncommon at 1,700—5,000 ft.
from July to October.

230. Delias ithiela, Butler.—Very common at 4,000—7,000 ft. in August
and September ; a few specimens also taken in October.

231. Prioneris thestylis, Dowbleday.—Males common, females uncom-
mon. Dry season forms taken at the foot of the hills in April and at
Kohima in October ; wet season forms taken from the foot of the hills up
to 5,000 ft. from May to October.

232. Prioneris clemanthe . Douwbleday.—Not uncommon at Tamlu in
_ August. .

233. Aporiaagathon, Gray.—A single male taken near Phiphima,
4,000 ft. in May.

234. Pieris brassicze, 1.—Rather scarce ; two males and three females
taken at Kohima in February, August and October. They do not differ
from specimens from the N.-W. Himalaya except that in the female the
discal spot on the forewing is joined to the black apical band by veins 3
and 4 being bordered with black, the area thus enclosed is powdered with
black scales. I believe this butterfly has not been recorded further east
than Bhutan.

235. Pieris naganum, Moore.—A single male of this rare butterfly was

592 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Volt. XXT.

taken by my collector in March between Kohima and Nichuguard, prohably
at the former place itself ; unfortunately the exact locality was not written
on the envelope.

236. Fleris eanidia, Sparrman.—Abundant throughout the year from
the foot of the hills up to 6,000 ft.

2537. Pierismelete, Ménétriés.—Rather uncommon, a few specimens
obtained at 5,000—6,000 ft. in February, August and November.

238. Huphina cobia, MW allace.—A single male of the intermediate form
taken in April and two males of the dry season form (H. dapatha) taken in
February. The wet season form was obtained in the neighbouring State

of Manipur in August and September ; all at low elevations.

239. Huphina nadina, Lucas.—A few specimens of both sexes taken
at Kohima and Tamlu in August.

240. Ixias latifasciata, Butler—Common ; a very variable form. Two
extremely small dry season forms with no black on termen of hindwing
taken in February at the foot of the hills; typical wet season forms taken
from September to November and intermediate forms in December at
2,000—6,000 ft.

241, Jd&ppias nero, Habricivs.—Not uncommon at low elevations ; males
taken in April, June, July and October. The colour is very variable, in
some specimens it is orange, red and in other vermilion red.

242. f&prias hippo, Cramer.cCommon at the foot of the hills up to
5,000 ft.; April to October.

243. Ppias lalage, Dowbleday.cRather common throughout the year
from the foot of the hills up to 6,000 ft. Extreme dry season forms taken
from January to March, large dark wet season forms from June to October,
and intermediate forms in October and November.

244, APPias albina, Boisdwval.—Rare ; a single male taken at the foot of |

the hills in April and a female of the wet season form at Kohima in August.

245. CGatopsilia crocale, Cramer.—Not uncommon; a few specimens of
typical crocale taken at the foot of the hills is May and the form catzla
taken from March to May and again in November.

246. Catopsilia florella, Fat:.—Common at Michuguard in February.

247, Dereas lycorias, Doubleday.—Recorded by Mr. Doherty as being
rather common in June and disappearing in July (jfide Elwes). I only
obtained a pair, one in July and one in October.

248. Colias fieldi, Ménétriés—Common in the Zulla valley 6,500 ft. in
November and near Kohima July to October.

249, Terias venata, Moore.—Rather common at Kohima, August to
October.

250. Terias lipythea, Fadricius—A few specimens taken at Kohima
from February to August; not very common. Dry season forms taken
in February have the cilia and edges of both wings pinkish.

en ee = ee

ee eee a ee ey ee ae

NOTES ON BUTTERFLIES FROM THE NAGA HILLS. 593

251. Terias laeta, Boisduval_—Very common at Kohima; dry season
forms taken from January to May and again in November, wet season
form taken in October.

252. Terias hecabe, Linn.—Very common throughout the year.

253. Terias silhetana, Wallace.—Not uncommon, August to November,
at Kohima.

254. Hebomoia glaucippe, Z.—Common at the foot of the hills up to
2,000 ft. from February to November.

255. Faroronia avatar, Moore.—A single male tale at 2,000 ft. in
July and several males and three females at 5,000—6,000 ft. in August
and October.

Faminty—LYCAINIDA,

Sub-family—GERYDIN |.

256. Gerydusirreratus, Dirwce.—Recorded from the Naga Hills (fide
Bingham).

257. Allotinus drumila, Mocore.—A single female taken at Jaspani
1,700ft. in February.

258. Allotinus muitistrigatus, de V.—Taken by Doberty (jide Elwes).

Sub-family—Lyc enn &.

259. Unausta, Distont.—P1. ii, fig1 ¢,2 2. Originally described from
Malacca and has not I believe been previously recorded from within
Indian limits. Four males were taken at Gaspani, 1,700 ft., in November
and afemale in February. I give a description of the female which is
undescribed.

Upperside: Forewing, costa, apex and termen reaching the dorsum
broadly dark brown, remainder of the wing sky blue; hindwing pale
brown with a slight irroration of blue scales on the disc. Underside, pale
silky buff; forewing unspotted; hindwing a small costal spot in inter-
Space 7 and a small spot at the tornal angle, a sub-marginal row of pale
fuscous spots hardly discernible. Expanse 1:02 inches. The absence of
the spots, in the female, which are so conspicuous in the male may be due
to seasonal causes as the specimen was taken in the height of the cold
weather. The spot at the tornal angle of the hindwing in the female is
absent in the males taken. In the plate there is a spot on the forewing of
the female which is a flaw in printing.

260. Pithzcops hylaz, Mabricivs.—Very common at Gaspani in Feb-
tuary and March.

261. NeoPithecops zalmora, Buticr.—A single specimen obtained at
1,700 ft. in July.

262. Taraka hamada, Druce.—A single specimen taken in October
4,000—5,000 ft.

594. JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXT,

263. Mejisha malaya, Horsfield.—Two specimens of the tailed form
taken at the foot of the hills in April and May.

264. Phengaris atroguttata, Oberthii.—Pl. ii., figs. 7,8 9. A single
specimen of this beautiful species was taken by my collector at Yakama
about 5,000 ft. either at the end of October or the beginning of November.
A good number were taken by Doherty in the Kutcha Naga country from
6,000—8,000 ft. elevation.

265. Cyaniris marginata, de V.—Taken sparingly at Kohima from
September to November.

266. Cyaniris albocaerulea, WMoore.—Rather rare, a few males taken
from August to November at 5,000—6,000 feet.

267. Cyaniris transPecta, Moore.—A single dry season male taken at
Kohima in May; also a few specimens of both sexes of the wet season
form from August to October.

268. Cyaniris puspa, Horsfield.—Very common; dry season forms
taken from November to February and wet season forms from June to
November.

269. Cyaniris placida, ve N.—Many males taken at 5,000—6,000 ft.
from July to September.

270. Cyaniris diluta, Moore.—Very common at 5,000 ft., September
to January.

271. Cyaniris jynteana, Moore.—Very common, The seasonal forms
vary considerably ; typical wet season forms taken from June to October ;
intermediate forms from October to January and dry season forms from
November to May. :

273. SBothrina chennelli, de N.—This has previously been placed under
the genus Cyaniis. Colonel Swinhoe pointed out to me that it differed
from true Cyaniris in having veins 11 and 12 anastomosed ; in Cyamris they
are free.

Not common, a few specimens taken at Kohima in February and _
October.

274. Zizera maha, Aolla.—Common throughout the year from the
foot of the hills up to 6,000 ft.

275. Zizeralysimon Hiibner.—A single specimen taken at 2,000 ft.
in April.

276. Zizera otis, Fabr.—Taken commonly at the foot of the hills in
February, April and November.

277. Lycaenesthes emolus, Godart.—Males not uncommon at low
elevations from March to November. A single female was obtained at
Kohima in October.

278. Lycaenesthes lycaenina, Fe/der.—A single male at 1,700 ft. in
October, and several males at N ichuguard during the same month.
279. Talicada khasia, Druce.—This is a well marked race of 7. nyseus,

NOTES ON BUTTERFLIES FROM THE NAGA HILLS. 595

Guérin, very common at 6,000 ft. during October, a few also taken in
September, November and December.

280. Bveres argiades, Pal/as.—Taken sparingly from August to Nov-
ember and again in February. This form varies much in size.

231. Everes parrhasius, /air.—A single specimen taken at Kohima in
November and many specimens at Michuguard in October.

282. Everes kala, de N.—A couple taken at Maothana, on the Mani-
pur frontier, 6,000 ft. in November, and many specimens of both sexes at
Yakama from July to September.

283. Nacaduba macrophthalma, fe/der.—Four males and a female
taken from July to November from the foot of the hills up to 5,000 ft.

284. Nacaduba bhutea, de N.—Taken sparingly at low elevations
in March, April and November.

285. Nacaduba dana, de V.—Two males in August and October at
4,000—6,000 ft. and several males at the foot of the hills in February.

286. Nacaduba atrata, Horsjield.—Males not uncommon at Kohima’ in
June and August, females rare ; a single male also taken at 1,700 ft. in April.

287. Nacaduba prominens, Moore.—Two specimens in November, at
1,700 ft. This may be only a seasonal form of MW. atrata from which how-
ever it can easily be distinguished by its more pointed wings and the
markings on the underside being less pronounced.

288. WNacaduba nora. Felder.—Taken sparingly in March at 2,000 ft.
and at Kohima in August.

289. Nacaduba noreia, elder.—A female identified by Colonel
Swinhoe as belonging to this form and figured in Lep. Ind. pl. 659, fig. 2a
was taken at Kohima in November ; seven males also taken at Gaspani
during the same month.

290. Nacaduba coelestis, 7¢e V.—'Taken by Doherty in the Naga Hills
but I have not met with it.

291. Nacaduba hermus, Felder.
June and August and a single female in August at 7,000 ft.

292. Lampbides bochus, Cramer.—Common from the foot of the hills up
to 4,600 ft.

293. Lampides cleodus, /e/der.—Rare, a single male of the wet season
form taken at 1,700 ft. in October and a male of the dry season form at
the foot of the hills in February.

294. Lampides conferend:, Butier.—Not common, taken at the foot of
the hillsin November and February.

295. Lampides celeno,; Cramer.—Fairly common at the foot of the hills
in April, October and November.

296. LamPides elpis, Godart.—Very common from the foot of the hills
up to 5,000 ft. throughout the year. A very variable form which can how-

A few males taken at Kohima in

ever be divided off into four well marked groups.

596 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXII.

(a) Typical wet season forms with the underside grey brown taken from
April to October.

(6) An autumn form very similar to the wet season form but with
markings on the upperside of the hindwing fainter and the colour of the
underside pale brown taken in October and November.

(c) A winter form, smaller and paler than the autumn form, colour of
the underside yellow brown with all the markings very faint and orange
patch near tornus of hindwing almost absent, taken from November to
February.

(d) A fourth form taken from November to April is very small and has
the black on the termen of the forewing reduced to a thread and markings
on the hindwing obsolescent ; on the underside it is exactly like the wet
season form in having the ground colour grey brown and the orange patch
near the tail of the hindwing well marked.

Ab., chinee nov. pl. il, fig. 6.

This curious aberration of form (d) has the markings on the underside
more or less ringed and those near the dorsum of the hindwing absent.
A single specimen taken at the foot of the hills in April.

A male of form (0) has the colour of the upperside pure sky blue with
no tint of purple as in typical forms.

297. Catochrysobs strabo, Fabricius —A few specimens taken at Kohi-
ma, August to November, and at the foot of the hills, October to January.

298. Catechrysops lithargyrea, Moore—A few specimens taken at
Kohimain July and at the foot ofthe hills in Apriland May. A very small
and pale extreme dry season form male with markings on the hindwing
almost wanting was obtained at Kohima in February.

299. Tarucus plinius, Zd7.—A single female at Kohima in August.

300. Castaliusananda, de N.—A single male at the foot of the
hills in March.

301. Castalius rosimon, #at:.—Common at the foot of the hills

throughout the year.

302. Castaliusethion, Doubleday and Hewitson.— A few specimens taken
at Kohima in October and at Nichuguard in July.

303. Castalius elna Hew2tson.—Taken sparingly at the foot of the hills
from March to July.

304. Folyommatus boeticus, Z.—Very common at Kohima, October
to February, and at Michuguard in April.

Sub-family—CureEriaz,

305. Curetis bulis, Doubleday and Hewitson:—A single male taken at.
Michuguard in May.

306. Caretis dentata, Moore.—Common at the foot of the hills. April
and May.

NOTES ON BUTTERFLIES FROM THE NAGA HILLS, 597

307. Curetisangulata, Moore.—Very common at Kohima from August:
to November, a single specimen also taken at Gaspani in November. There
are three well marked seasonal forms.

(a) Wet season forms taken in August and September are very dark
and have the basal area of the hindwing blackish.

(6) An autumn form taken from September to October has the red
rather paler and the black at the base of the hindwing reduced to a streak
between veins 7 and 8.

(ec) Dry season forms taken in November have the red richer and ~
darker than the autumn forms and no black at the base of the hindwing.

The above three forms are fairly constant, only a few specimens out of a
large series were found to be intermediate.

308, Curetis discalis, Moore.—Taken commonly at the foot of the hills
from April to July ; also a single specimen at 5,000 ft. in August.

Sub-Family—Portrian#.

309. Foritia geta, Fawcett.—Four males taken in September and two
in October near Kohima at about 4,000 ft. My native collector also sent
me three females from Manipur.

Sub-Family—ARHOPALIN#.

310. Surendra duercetorum, Moore.—Not uncommon ; taken at the
foot of the hills and at Kohima from April to August.

311. Arhebala Pirithous, Moore.—A male at 1,700 ft. in November and
another at Nichuguard in February.

312. Arhobala oenea, Hewitson.—A single specimen at Nichuguard in
February.

313. ArhoPala agaba, Hewitson.—A male taken in July and another in
September at 5,000 ft.

314. Arhopala bazaloides, Hewitson.—Two females taken at Kohima
in October and November.

315. Arhobala singla, de V.—Common; a couple of males taken at
the foot of the hills in April and many specimens of both sexes at Kohima
in January and February and also from July to November. Many speci-
mens obtained were deep blackish purple and these I at first believed to
be A. bazalus, Hewitson, but on shewing them to Mr. Bethune-Baker he.
identified both forms for me as A. singla.

316. Arhopala fulgida, Hewitson.—Six specimens taken at Gaspani in
July and November.

317. Arhopala arbegal, Doherty.—Two specimens identified by Colonel
Swinhoe as belonging to this species were taken in Gaspani in November.

318. Arhopala diardi, Hewitson.—Taken by Doherty in the Naga
Hills. I have received it from the adjacent State of Manipur where it is:

not uncommon.

598 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XX1.

319. Arhopala hellenore, Dohkerty.—Males taken commonly in my
garden at Kohima from June to August and two females at 1,700 ft.
in February and November. Both sexes seem to be very common in
Manipur.

320. Arhopala paramata, de N.—Two males taken in February and
June at Gaspani and Nichuguard.

321. Arhopale perimuta, Moore.—A female taken at Gaspani in April.

Sub-family —THECcLIN&.

322. Zephyrus duma, Hewitson.—A couple of worn males taken above
Kohima at 7,000 ft. in September.

323. Zephyrussp.2 A single female of a form very near to Z. syla
taken at Kirbari in the Zulla valley, 6,000 ft., in November.

324. Tlerda epicles, Godart._-Common at Gaspaniin October and at
the foot of the hills in June and July, a single male also taken in February.

325. Llerda kohimensis, n. sp., Pl. ii., fig. 3. Male. Upperside: fore-
wing, costa narrowly apex and termen broadly blackish brown, the remain-
der of the wing dull purple, this colour filling the cell and basal third of
inter-space 6 and reaching the dorsum; hindwing, costa and termen
broadly blackish brown, the remainder of the wing dull purple, three red
lunules on the black terminal margin near the tornus, the upper one
small and sometimes wanting.

Underside : forewing ochreous yellow, termen with a red marginal band
commencing narrowly just below the apex and widening gradually as far as
vein 2 and then continued to the tornal angle by a black streak bordered
on both sides with white, another white streak above it on the inner margin
of the red terminal band in interspace 2; a post discal series of blackish
streaks in interspaces 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 very faint and sometimes wanting
in the upper three; hindwing, ochreous yellow with a red terminal band
powdered with white scales and bordered inwardly with white lunules
with dusky edges and outwardly by a white line followed by a black thread
both interrupted by the veins, the inner edge of this white line is bordered
with a row of black triangular spots ; a black spot in interspace 7 near the
apex, one in the cell and another below it in interspace 1 and also one
near the tornal angle; three post-discal white spots in interspaces 2, 4 and
5 the lower one the largest.

Cilia, black with a little white between the veins.

Antenne, black ringed with white.

Female: Upperside blackish brown; forewing with a large post discal
orange spot; hindwing with a terminal series of red lunules reaching the
apex. Underside: asin male but somewhat paler and duller ; hindwing
without the subapical black spot.

Expanse 1°24 inches.

NOTES ON BUTTERFLIES FROM THE NAGA HILLS. 599

The male differs from J. epicles in having on the upperside the purple
coloration more extended, covering nearly the whole of both wings, and of
a duller shade ; on the underside the yellow is purer. The female only
differs on the upperside in having the red discal patch larger but as I
secured only a single specimen of this sex this may not be constant; on
the underside it is paler and duller. Mr. Bethune-Baker who kindly
examined the genitalia for me writes :— i

“T do not think they are the same (i.e., Z. epicles and I. kohimensis).
The harpagines (clasps) are practically similar but the other parts have
distinct differences. The tegumen of yours has its lateral lobes quite twice
as broad and they are somewhat curved and have conspicuous tubercles
from which the hairs arise ; whilst the falces (hooks) are angled about the
middle ; in epicles the hooks are narrow and straight and the tubercles quite
inconspicuous, whilst the falces are evenly curved exactly like a sickle.
In yours the edeagus (penis sheath) is much longer and much more slender
than in epicles ; and again the cingula (girdle) is inclined strongly forward
whilst in epzcles it is nearly erect.”

Fifteen males and one female were captured at 5,000—7,000 ft. from
September to December. It is not nearly so common as J. epicles and
‘flies at a much higher altitude.

I was at first inclined to think that this might only be a well marked
local race of J. epicles but the differences in the genitalia point to it being
quite distinct from that species.

326. TIlerda androcles, Doubleday and Hewitson.—Taken commonly at
4,600—7,000 ft. from August to November. This is the commonest Ilerda
in these hills.

327. Tlerda viridipunctata, de V.—Race kala, n. Pl. ii., fig.4. Under
the above name I separate the form of I. viridipunctata found
in these hills from the typical form found in Sikhim and the N.-W,
Himalayas. On the upperside it differs in having the green powdery patch,
which is so conspicuous in the typical form, reduced to a mere
sprinkling of scales, hardly discernable in some specimens, giving the
insect a very black appearance ; these scales are also greener than in the
typical form.

Mr. Elwes records it as being common in the Naga Hills at 6,000 ft. and
above. I only obtained it in November at 5,000—6,000 ft. when it was
rare Owing probably to the lateness of the season.

328. ilerda brahma, Moore.—Very common at 5,000—7,000 ft, from
August to November ; a few specimens which are somewhat smaller were
taken in March at 4,000 ft.

Aberration hybrida, n.

Very similar to typical I. drama but differs in the colour being brassy
green and the terminal red band on the hindwing narrower.

600 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XX1,

I have placed this form as an aberration of J. brahma but it may be a
hybrid or even a distinct species. In colouring it is intermediate between
I. androcles and I, brahma. I obtained two specimens, one taken by
myself at 4,400 ft. and another taken by my collector at 7,000 ft. In
the de Niceville collection, now in the Calcutta Museum, there is a speci-
men of this form, placed amongst Jlerda viridipunctata which may be one
of the two sports or hybrids referred to by him in his “ Butterflies of
India, vol. iii, p. 330” and which he thinks may possibly be a hybrid of
I. brahma and TI. viridipunctata ; if this form is a hybrid at all it is more
likely to be one of I. brahma and I. androcles as the extent of the
coloring and the character of the scales agrees with these two species
whereas in I. viridipunctata the colour is restricted and the scales have a
powdery appearance, and these characters would to a certain extent be
indicated in the hybrid while they are not in the present form.

329. Camena ctesia, Hewitson.—Common at 5,000 ft. from July to De-
cember, two males also taken, at the foot of the hills in May and July.

330. Tajuria maculatus, Hewitson.—A single male taken at Gaspani in
March.

331. Tajuria illurjis, Hewitson.—A single male at 5,000 ft. in Sep-
tember.

332. Aphneeus syama, Horssicld.—Very common at the foot of the
hills. Rainy season forms taken from August to November and dry
season forms in November and March.

333. Aphneus lohita, Horsfield—Common at Kohima and up to
7,000 ft. from June to October ; also a few specimens obtained at the foot
of the hills from February to July.

334. Aphneus khurdanus, Moore.—I do not know if I have identified
this insect correctly ; the male is like A. zetis but without any orange spot.
The female is a good deal larger than the male and has a Y shaped red

post discal patch and has the basal area of the forewing speckled with

bluish grey ; these scales also appearing sparsely on the dorsal half of the
hindwing, being most numerous near the tornal angle. ;

335. Aphnaeus sp. Pl. ii., fig.5.—Four males of an Aphneus were taken
between 4,000 ft and 6,000 ft. in September and October which do not
quite agree with any form in the “ Butterflies of India.” The underside
agrees with the description of 4. sunt but the upperside has no red discal
spot. Mr. Elwes in P.Z. 8. 1892, p. 688, describes and on pl. 43 (6) figures
afemale Aphnaeus from the Karen Hills which agrees with my males on the
underside and in the coloring of the anal lobe on the upperside, and
appears to be the female of this form. I showed it to Colonel Swinhoe who
pronounced it to be 4. peyuanus, Moore ; de Niceville seems to think 4.
peguanus=A. syama and is the dry season form of it.

Whatever the present form is, it certainly is not the dry season form

:
:
|

NOTES ON BUTTERFLIES FROM THE NAGA HILLS. 601

of A. syama which I took commonly and from which it can be at once dis-
tinguished by the deeper colour of the blue on the upperside and on the
underside by the hook shaped streak in the cell. The forewing is also of
a different shape and more pointed. The two insects when placed side
by side look totally different.

336. Aphnaeus rukmini, de V.—A single male taken at the foot of the
hills in April.

337. HyPolyzecna erylus, Godart.—Males very common at the foot
of the hills from March to November. Females rather rare.

338. Chliaria othona, Hewrtson.—Three males obtained at the foot of
the hills from March to August.

339. Chliaria kina, Hewitson.—Three males taken at Kohima in
October, also four males and two females bred from larve. I give the
transformations from larva to imago.

At Kohima on 25th September 1909 an orchid, Vanda cerulea, was brought
tome. On it feeding on the flowers were seven larve. On 27th and 28th
four larvee left the flowers and descended to the leaves of the orchid where
they lay quietly on the upper surface of the leaves, three on one leaf and
one on another; here they lay without moving till they pupated which
two did on morning of 29th, one on the evening of the same date and one
on the morning of the 30th. Two more left the flowers on 30th Septem- .
ber and Ist October and pupated on the flower stem at its base close to the
leaves. The seventh died.

The positions chosen seemed to be immaterial as some had their heads
downwards and some up.

Larvee when full grown were about ‘64 inches in length and of the usual
onisciform shape. Colour pale green with dorsal spiracular, super-spiracular
and sub-spiracular reddish mauve bands, all with the exception of super-
spiracular coalescing near 11th and 12th segments; the dorsal band could
be distinctly seen to expand and contract with the breathing. 11th to
14th segments entirely reddish mauve. Head pale greenish yellow with
black eyes and when at rest drawn in under 2nd segment. Spiracles
black ringed faintly with yellowish; prolegs tinged with reddish mauve ;
four dark dorsal dots on 2nd segment; a gland on dorsum between 11th
and 12th segments exuding a crystal liquid eagerly sought after by at-
tendant ants ; the ant tickles the larva until it exudes a drop of liquid
which it immediately drinks up. The whole of the upper body covered
with short dark hairs.

Whilst preparing for ‘transformation to the pupal stage the reddish
mauve colour of the larva diminishes in intensity and when the larval skin
is cast off the colour of the pupa is pale green with the mauve stripes
showing faintly. The pupa les flat on the upper surface of theleaf or on
the side of the raceme to which it is attached by the cremaster to a

602 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XX1.

silken pad previously spun and is held in position by a fine thread round
the 5th segment attached to the leaf on both sides of the body.

The pupa which has a decided dip between the thorax and abdomen is
about °43 inches in length. By degrees the colour of the pupa changes and
just before the imago emerges it becomes dark-brownish green. One imago,
a male, emerged on 11th October, another male on 12th, a third male and
two females on 14th and a fourth male on 16th.

340. Zeltus etolus, od7.—Very common at the foot of the hills up to
1,700 ft. from March to November; females rather rare, only three being
obtained.

341. Cheritrolla trunciponnis, de NV.—A single male taken on a peach
tree in my garden at Kohima on 21st November.

342. Cheritra freja, Fubricius—A male and two females taken at
Gaspani 1,700 ft. in August and November.

243, Ticherra acte, Moore.—Two females of the dry season form taken
at Nichuguard and Gaspani in February and two females of the wet season
form in July and October.

344, Catopecilma elegans, Druce.—Two males taken at Gaspani in
March.

345. Loxura atymnus, Cramer.—Common from the foot of the hills
_ up to 1,700 ft., April to October.

346. Gasada tripunctata, Hewitson.—Rainy season forms taken in
May and June and dry season forms in November and December.

347. Deudorix epijarbas, Moore.—Two females taken at 5,000 ft. at
the end of October and the beginning of December.

348. Rapala schistacea, Moore.—Taken not uncommonly in my wale
at Kohima in October and November.

349. Rapala varuna, Horsfield.—A single female taken at Nichuguard
in June.

350. Rapal buxarla, de V.—I am not sure if I have identified this

form correctly. It closely resembles the next form with which it flies, from
which however it can be distinguished on the upperside by entirely lacking
the orange spot and by the blue of the discal area, which is of a slightly
different shade, not entering the cell; in all specimens of A. nissa taken in
these hills the blue enters the cell. On the underside the transverse bands
on both wings are narrower and straighter.

351. Rapala nissa, Aoliar.—Very common at Kohima throughout the
year. Cold weather forms taken from December to February are much
smaller than the wet season forms and have a purple sheen on the under-
side ; the orange spot on the forewing is much larger and the spot above
the tail on the underside of the hindwing is very small. This eastern
form of &. nissa differs from the N.-W. Himalayan form in being larger
and having the blue colouration on upperside richer and deeper. The

.
|
:

NOTES ON BUTTERFLIES FROM THE NAGA HILLS, 603

colour on the underside in the wet season forms is a richer yellow brown
which in the dry season forms is suffused with reddish purple.

352. Rapala jarbas, /odr.—Rather common at Kohima and Gaspani in
October and November.

353. Rabalaxenophon, /aii.-—A single male taken at Nichuguard in
February.

354. Bindhara phocides, Fatr.—A male was taken by Doherty. A
single female was taken by my collector at 5,400 ft. in August.

355. Virachola perse, Hewitson.—A single male taken at Gaspani in
» October.
356. Sinthusa virgo, Elwes.—Mr. Doherty obtained a female.

Famity—HESPERIAD AS.
Sub-family—HazsPerianz.

357. Celenorrhinus pero, de N.—Taken by Doherty.

358. Celzenorrhinus pulamaya, Moore——Three specimens taken at
5,000 ft. m August.

359. Celenorrhinus aspersa, Leech.—Not common, taken at 5,000—
7,000 ft. in August and October.

360. Celznorrhinus sumitra, Moore.—Obtained by Doherty.

361. Celenorrhinus leucocera, Kolla.—Three specimens taken in
September.

362. Oelgnorrhinus maculicornis, #/ and Hd.—A pair taken at Kohi-
ma, 4,000—5,000 ft.

363. Celenorrhinus chamunda, Woore.—A single male taken at 7,000
ft. in September.

364. Celzenorrhinus aurivittata, Moore.—Taken by Doherty.

365. Sarangesa dasahara, Moore.—Several specimens taken at Gaspani
and Nichuguard in October and November.

366. Coladenia dan, Fudriciws.—A few specimens taken at Kohima in
September and October and commonly at Nichuguard in the latter
month.

367. Coladenia agnicides, El. and Ed.—The type was obtained by Do-
herty in the Naga hills ; it must be very rare.

368. Satarupa phisara, Woore.—Two males at Gaspaniin February and
March.

369. Tagiades Ehasiana, Moore.—Several specimens taken at the foot
of the hills in October. .

370. Tagiades menaka, Voore-—Taken commonly, May to October,
from the foot of the hills up to 5,000 ft.

371. Tagiades attieus, Pabricius.—Two specimens taken in July at the
foot of the hills.

372. OdontoPtilum sura Moore.—Common at the foot of the hills in

604 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX.

March, April and October; a single specimen also taken at 5,000 ft. in
August.

373. AstictoPterus olivascens, Moore—Two males taken at Kohima
in August and a female at Nichuguard in July.

374, Astictopterus henrici, Holland ?—I am not sure if I have identi-
fied this species correctly. A single specimen taken at the foot of the
hills in April agrees fairly well with Elwes’ figure, T. Z. 8S. Vol. XIV, part
4, plate XVIII, figure 16, but has only two dots on the forewing and the
apices of both wings are very much pointed.

375. Sancus pulligo, Madiie.—A single male taken at Nichuguard in
February and both sexes taken in large numbers in October and November.

376. Suadaswerga, de N.—Two specimens obtained at Nichuguard in
March.

377. Tambrizsalsala, Moore.—Very common at the foot of the hills
in October.

378. Ochus subvittatus, Moore.—Very common at Kohima and at the
foot of the hills from July to October.

379. Ampittiamaro, Moir.—A single specimen taken at Kohima in
September.

380. Aeromachus stigmata, Moore.—Two males and a female taken
at Kohima in August and many males in September.

381. Aeromachzs kali, de N.—Five males taken at 5,000ft., July
and September.

382. Sebastonyma dolopia, Hewitson.—Two specimens taken in June
at Nichuguard.

388. Pedestes pandita, de V.—Many specimens taken in August and
September at Kohima.

384. Hyarotis adrastus, Cramer.—Taken at Nichuguard in March.

385. Arnetta atkinsoni, Moore.—A few specimens taken at the foot of
the hills in March, May and August.

386. Scobura cePhaloides, de N.—Taken by Doherty.

387. Brionota thrax, Z.—A pair taken at Kohima in August and Octo-
ber. One of these was taken in my bungalow after dinner and evidently
came in attracted by the light.

388. EKerana diocles, Moore.—A few specimens taken at the foot of
the hills in March, July and October.

389. Plastingia margherita, de V.—Taken by Doherty.

339a Fithauria stramineidennis.— WV. WM. and de N.—Two specimens
taken at the foot of the hills in March and October.

390. Fithauria murdava, JM/oore.—A single specimen taken at Nichu-
guard in June.

391. Notcerypta feisthamelii, Borsduval.—Common at Kohima, August
to December ; a single specimen taken at Gaspani in March.

NOTES ON BUTTERFLIES FROM THE NAGA HILLS, 605

392. Notocrypta restricta, Moore.—Common at Kohima, August to
October, and at the foot of the hills in March.

393, Udasbes folus, Cramer,.—Taken commonly at Kohima in August.

394, Augiades siva, Moore.—A single male taken at 5,000 ft. in
September,

395. Telicota bambusae, Moore.—Taken commonly at the foot of the
hills in February, March and July.

396. Telicota dara, Koliar.—Common from the foot of the hills up to
5,000 ft. throughout the year.

397. Telicota maesoides, Butier.—Taken commonly at Gaspani in
February and March.

398. Halpe zema, Hewitson.—Three specimens taken in March, June
and October.

399. Halde hyrie, de N.—Taken by Doherty.

400. Halbe sikhima, M/oore.—Taken by Doherty.

401. Halpe honolea, Hewitson.—Taken by Doherty.

402. Halbe separata, Moore.—Four specimens taken in August.

403. Farnara oceia, Hewitson.—Two males taken at the foot of the hills
in February and November.

404. Parnara sinensis, Madille.—Taken commonly from the foot of
the hills up to 5,000 ft. in January, March and August.

405. Farnara Eumara, Moore.—A single specimen at Gaspani in Feb-
ruary.

406. Parnara pagana, de V.—A single specimen at Kohima in August.

407. Parnara guttata, br. and Gr.—Taken at Kohima in August but
not commonly.

408. Parnara contigua, Madille.—Very common at the foot of the
hills in February and March.

409. Parnara eltola, Mewitson.—Very common at Kohima, and the
foot of the hills, March to October.

410. Parnara bevani, Moore.—Taken commonly from the foot of the
hills up to 5,000 ft., January to October.

All. Parnara assamensis, 1”. MW. and de N.—A few specimens taken at
the foot of the hills im April, May and November and at 4,000—6,000 ft. in
April and October.

412, Ismene jaina, Moore.—Several males taken at 5,000 ft. in August
and September.

413. Zsmone harisa, Moore.—Two specimens taken at the foot of the
hills in March and October.

414. Ismene vasutana, Moore.—Common at Kohima, August to Octo-
ber.

415. Ismene amara, Moore.—A single specimen taken at Nichuguard
in June

606 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX1,

416, Ismene gomata, Voore.—A single specimen taken at 6,000-ft, in
October.:

417. Hasora badra, Moore.—A single specimen taken at Nichuguard in
October. . :

418, Hasora chabrons, Plotz.—Taken at the foot of the hills in May
and November and at Kohima in September.

419. Hasora chromus, Cramer.—A single male at Nichuguard in May.

420. Hasora chuga, Hewitson.—Taken by Doherty.

421. Bibasis sena, Moore—A pair taken at Kohima in September and
November and a male at Gaspani in October.

422. Badamia exclamationis, /vir.—Not uncommonat Kohima, August
to November.

423. Rhabalocampta benjamini, Gverin.—Several males and a single
female taken at Kohima from July to September. One of the males has
the same bluish colour as in the female.

ee ee ee

JouRN. Bompay Nat. Hist. Soc.

Fic. 1.—a=dorsal; b=side; c=ventral view of ¢

Fic. 2.—Nymph of Geisha distinctissima after fo

Fig. 3.—a=looking on exterior of portion of cutic

a q
Fic. 4.—Nymph of G. distinctissima with Dryinid

Fic. 6.—Adult female of Salurnis marginellus.

Descruption of Plate A :—

of Salurnis mrurginellus, Guerin; d=trans
section of egg in ovary ; e=underside of por
of leaf in which three eggs are laid; f=tr
verse section of egg in leaf; g=ventral vier
egg, taken out of a leaf.

moult ; view of end of abdomen above: wf=v
field ; wp=wax-pit.

wax-field of Neomelicharia furtiva, Melich
wp =wax-pit; b=section through the wax-fi
wg =wax-glands; wp=wax-pits; hyp=h
dermic cells; cut = cuticle; c = looking
exterior of portion of cuticle of wax-fiel
Geisha distinctissima ; d=looking on exteri
portion of cuticle of wax-fields of Sab
marginellus ; e=one of the dorsal wax-pits

Geisha distinctissima, showing wwas-spicwles
re-forming after being wiped off. k

parasite under right wing-pad.

(All the figures are much magnified.)

607
NOTES ON FLATA.

BY
J.C. KERSHAW, F.Z.S., F.E.S.
( With Plates A & B).

Three species of Poekillopteridee or Flata are here discussed,
viz.:—Salurnis marginellus, Guerin, and another rather larger
species, Geisha distinctissima, Walk., both from South China; also
Neomelicharia furtiva, Melichar, from North Queensland. Both
Geisha and Salurnis feed in all instars on many plants, but their
_ favourite foodplant is Xanthorylum nitidum, D. C., N. O. Rutacee,
an exceedingly common and very prickly half-climbing shrub.
One species is also fond of the small tree Heptapleurum octophyllum ;
Hance, N. O. Araliacee.

The female of Saluwrnis marginellus is provided with a pair of
hard, chitinous saws (s, fig. 5) with which she cuts a slit in the
undersurface of a leaf, or in the bark of stems. An egg is then
inserted in the slit (e, fig. 1) together with a little colleterial fluid,
so that the leaf tissues adhere firmly to the chorion of the egg.
No white matter or wax is deposited on the embedded egg, but
avery tiny portion of which is visible through the slit in the
leaf, and then only witha lens. The eggs produce very slight
protuberances’ on the leaf surface, and are laid singly, though
sometimes two or three may be found in different parts of the
same leaf or stem. The length of the eggs is about 1-4 mm.

Whilst in the ovary the eggs are circular in transverse section,
with four deep longitudinal invaginations of the chorion on the
dorsal surface, showing on the exterior of the egg as narrow lines,
and working out to nothing at head and tail (a, b, ¢, d, fig. 1).
When the egg is laid, however, it becomes in transverse section
shallow and exceedingly broad, and with the expansion of the egg
these invaginations totally disappear (g, fig. 1). The portion of
the chorion which forms the long, narrow lid, and faces the slit
in the leaf, is of different sculpture to the rest of the egg, which
is impressed by the ovarian epithelial cells with the usual more

or less hexagonal reticulation. The object of this curious provi-
39

608 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX,

sion for expansion seems to be to allow the egg, after being laid in
the slit in the leaf, to expand sideways into the cavity and thus take
up less space in the slight thickness of the leaf : besides allowing the
cut edges of the slit to close upon and protect the egg (f, fig. 1).

The nymphs are broad and flat and, except for the growth of
the wings, very similar in all instars; they are chiefly of a dull
white. Their powers of jumping are highly-developed and they
can spring great distances, even when recently hatched. The
nymphs usually feed on the underside of fresh leaves, or on the
stems of new shoots. Those of both Geisha and Salurnis emit a
white, waxy material in great quantity ; but whilst the nymph
of the larger species lives almost covered by the white, flocculent
material, the nymph of S. marginellus extrudes most of the matter
in two long streamers from the anal segment. Some of this
white substance instantly dissolves in spirit and melts with heat,
and is of a waxy nature, but a large part consists of hollow
filaments or hairs, much broken and interlaced, insoluble in either
spirit or potash ; apparently much resembling in chemical nature
the wax-hairs which project from the anal segments of certain
leaf-hopper nymphs.

In the nymph of Geisha there are ten small circular wax-pits or
fields (wp, fig. 2), five on either side of the seventh abdominal
seoment, showing yellowish when the wax is removed. Only
three of these wax-pits appear on each side in fig. 2, the others
being below but in the same line. I, whilst the nymph is living,

the wax is brushed away from these pits, the wax-spicules are seen

forming again immediately, and enough is soon emitted to again
more or less cover the insect (f, fig. 3). But there are much
larger wax-fields on the end of the abdomen in both species, as
shown at w. f. fig. 2., which represents a nymph of Geisha after
the fourth moult. The cuticle of these wax-pits and fields is
curiously fretted and pierced for the innumerable tiny unicellular
wax-glands (fig. 3). These glands are modified and enlarged
hypodermis cells; secreting the wax through the fretted areas of
the cuticle (a and b fig. 3, from nymph of Australian species). In
some species of Flata this fretting is rather rough and simple; in
some it is highly ornate and intricate: most species have at least

i
4
‘
4

JourRN. Bompay Nat. Hist. Soc

“6
SS ee J
a > ’
a y,
2H

SSS =
: —S
.
Sa
Pas

>
= S
==

—
ZF

2a
ae.

ee
os

PLATE

Description of Plate B:—
Fig. 5.—A=end view of end of abdomen of Salwrnis
margmellus.
B=side view.
C=view from underside.
D=two views of the “‘ saws.”
a=anus.
S=saw.

Fic. 7.—Neomelicharia furtiva.
1=EKgg-batch on leaf.

Z2— Egg.
3=Adult female.
(All the figures are much magnified.)

NOTES ON FLATA. 609

two different patterns of fretting on the same individual, and even
on the same wax-field, as shown at e, fig. 3; and again the
frettings on the cuticle of the anal areas differ from that of the
wax-pits on the dorsal segments (c and d, fig. 3). The glands
themselves, however, all appear to be of the same type, though
differing much in size. The wax-glands of the Chinese Candlefly,
(Pyrops candelaria), a large Fulgorid, are very similar to these Flatid
glands. It will be seen from fig. 3 that each little pit im A and
B has but one gland discharging through it; whereas in CU and D
each area has four openings for glands, which, however in this
instance, are much smaller; they are, moreover, practically
divided off from one another, as shown.

The nymphs of Geisha and Salurnis, which may happen to be
hatched late in the Autumn, rest during the dry season, feeding
but little; and often creep for shelter from cold between leaves
secured together by spiders, ants or lepidopterous larve. These
nymphs moult to adults at the beginning of the wet season. The
Flatas are nocturnal, usually remaining motionless on a leaf or
stem during the day, but becoming active and flying about at

- dusk and during the night, when they couple and oviposit. These
two species of Geisha and Salurnis are, as a rule, solitary, though
several may sometimes be found on the same bush. The nymphs
of the larger species are much infested by a Dryinid parasite,
which appears as a black, circular, flat sac beneath one of the
wing-pads (fig. 4) ; but it is not uncommon in South China to find
a parasite under each wing-pad.

The Australian species of Flata here mentioned—Neomelicharra
furtiva—is gregarious, and has thecommon Flatid habit of many
individuals sitting in line close together along a twig or branch.
This species oviposits in quite a different manner from Salurnis
marginellus, since it lays its eggs in a large batch on the surface
of leaves, often on the upperside, and the batches are usually
thickly covered with the white waxy matter. The female is not
provided like Salurnis with “‘saws’”’ for cutting leaf tisstes. This
Flata is a pest on orange and lemon trees in Queensland, which
are often loaded with the insect in all instars during the wet
season.

610

THE OOTHECA OF AN ASILID.
BY

J. C. KERSHAW, F.Z.S., F.E.S.

(With Plates A and B).

The ootheca of this Asilid* (Promachus, sp.), which 1s very com-
mon in Kwangtung Province, S. China, is affixed to the upper
end of long, coarse grass-stalks, the bare ends of twigs of woody
herbs and such-like situations, usually two or three feet above the
ground. Where the flies are numerous—along hedge-rows on the
outskirts of woods and patches of vegetation—these ege-cases may
be found in dozens during May and June, the flies constructing
them having emerged about the end of April. The male is easily
distinguished from the female (even on the wing) by the patch of
pure white hairs on the dorsal surface of the end of the abdo-
men ; the total length of the fly is about one inch, and the 92 is
usually the larger. When about to couple—the 9 generally sit-
ting quietly on a leaf or twig—the g hovers for a few moments
like a Syrphid, about afoot above and a little in front of and facing
the 9. He then suddenly darts down on her, and coupling is
immediately effected. They. remain in coitu several hours, end to
end, the 2 often feeding meanwhile, as is the habit of the Asilide.
There are one or two smaller species in Kwangtung, probably of
the same genus, which construct similar but smaller ege-cases.

The species here noted was observed making its ootheca in the
middle of May, on the underside of a stout tendril of a shrub
about four feet from the ground. The insect hung on the under-
side of the twig and curved the tip of the abdomen (Plate A, fig. 1),

emitting a whitish, waxy-looking colleterial fluid and moving the

* The fly is perhaps undescribed ; it is not yet in the collection of the British
Museum, to which, however, the specimens alluded to in this paper will be
presented. “Ihe male has a conspicuous white tuft on the dorsum just before
the genitalia; the legs are black, except the yellow tibie. This character
distinguishes the species from P. yessonicus. Though this is a most ordinary
looking Asilid and appears to be very common, there is nothing very near to it
in the British Museum collection.—D. SHARP.

Journ. BomBay Nat. Hist. Soc. PLATE A,

\
br
=

HSU Si}
SIM, a Lis S/d AEF —
YR NAS
\ i) as ia

Vv
(
\
Ny

VZ
ox
a

"a
inf KR
-
\
B
{
Es
L
ING

NS ;
= f:
CO
\ iy; ASS —=
K [lyn oo Se
SS F:

Tur OOTHEGA OF AN ASILID
(much enlarged).

Fic. 1.—@ constructing ootheca, which is nearly finished.

Fig. 2.—Transverse section of ootheca. CM = colleterial matter, forming outer covering.
T = twig on which ootheea is built.

Fig. 3.—Side view of eggs, the outer covering having been mostly dissolved away with
benzine.

Fic. 4.—Larva just hatched.

1 7 1 ? ey edie
‘ \ veh i
' ‘ ‘ i a7
NS he Se Oe i ae
oe F
? oe ee, cu st |
y it i M se i ,
iN 4,
N aie a 4 ‘Toe
’ [ i ane
: Oh cael
' * . : ae, 7 ;
. Fe ah! =
; ey ‘ } me is io ae
é wa ee Te
' = a’ ‘| yal Sy
} lew. fi
x : (| i + he
gy sate f
; AE 7 2 Sa
Nii 1
i ‘
i)
j mY
i
h
- 5 ‘ n eae
. aig, ‘ Ul ‘ une
y : ex
a - . ga ‘
y 5 4
’ f
r f a
an “ Feat
oy ”
2 . ee te
“
rs .
‘
$3 i i
z
. % an .
, 2 eS
‘ i
' 4 e

» THE OOTHECA OF AN ASILID, 611

abdomen-tip round and round the circumference of the ootheca
now and then stopping this movement to prod over the surface
except around the edge—when it was probably ovipositing, but the
abdomen-tip, as in the case of a Mantis forming its ootheca, was
concealed by the colleterial matter. In plan the ootheca is rough-
ly a pointed oval, in transverse section roughly circular, and the
pointed end is the part of the ootheca first formed ; the large end,
which is more or less flat, is finished off by the insect working the
abdomen-tip around the ootheca from the circumference gradually
to the centre, where the colleterial matter is broken off, leaving
a small knob or protuberance. About an hour after its construc-
tion, the egg-case is firm on the exterior and, although more or
less moulded and wrinkled where the eggs happen to be near the
surface, is smooth and of a waxy-white with a slight gloss. The
ege-case occupied the insect about an hour in the making, and
it then flew away. The ootheca of this species varies much in
size according to the number of eggs contained: this particular
example was three-eighths of an inch long and three-sixteenths
broad and deep at its greatest girth and depth. The eggs are
usually laid in two tiers, but with fewer in the upper tier (lower
tier in the natural position of the ootheca), as shown in Plate A,
igs. 1, 2and 3. They are slightly cemented together and to the
twig by the natural secretion of the ovaries. Outside the eggs,
and covering them entirely, is the thick wall of colleterial
matter (Fig. 2, C.M.) ; the eggs are excluded whilst a supply of
colleterial matter is kept up over the exterior eggs, so that they
are not visible whilst being deposited. They are laid in rather an
irregular manner, as may be seen in Fig. 3, where the outer cover-
ing has been partly dissolved away with benzine, exposing the
egos. The outer covering is not hard and horny chitinous matter
like the egg-cases of some species of Mantis, but is moderately firm
and microscopically porous, owing to included air-bubbles, some-
what like the spongy outer wall of some of the less specialised
Mantis oothece. These Asilid egg-cases, however, often resist the
weather for several months after the larve have hatched out.

The colleterial glands of the @ are two long colourless tubes,

612 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. Be.

about four times the length of the abdomen, of very even diameter
except just at the distal ends, where they taper and end blindly.
They open separately but close together into the dorsal wall of the
vagina, just behind the spermatheca. The glands pass upwards
over the oviducts and forwards to the anterior segments of the
abdomen, coiled up and lying on each side of the intestines. When
the insect is about to oviposit the glands are of a pale yellow. The
ovaries (ov, Fig. 5) shown in the figure are small, the eggs in this
specimen not being matured. In their natural position the three
curved ends of the spermatheca (SP) are bunched up together-
The distal ends are purplish or reddish. There are four rectal
glands (RG) like the finger-tips of a glove, which project into the

interior of the rectum (R), the tips pointing towards the anus.

Tracheal branches from the stigmata are attached to the bases of
the glands, and capillaries penetrate to the tips thereof. These
trachez partly serve to retain the rectum in position. There are
four long urinary tubes (UR). The colleterial matter taken from
the glands of a freshly-killed fly ready to oviposit, is pale yellow and
viscid. Spread on a slip it dissolves entirely in 10 per cent.
potash ; on the potash evaporating the matter is re-deposited as a
semi-opaque film, which easily disintegrates. The fresh material
spread on a slip soon dries as a pale yellow translucent film, hard
and brittle. After exposure to the air, it is much less easily soluble
in potash. Probably the whitish appearance of the completed
ootheca and its greater resistance to solvents is due to its aérated or

porous condition, since the action of the atmosphere certainly’

causes some chemical change in the colleterial matter.

The eggs are smooth, whitish and shiny; the number in the
ootheca was not counted, but it was certainly over fifty. They
hatch in six or seven days, and most of the larvee emerge simul-
taneously in a regular rush, though stragglers keep on emerging
for two or three hours. ‘They immediately drop to the ground and
commence burrowing into it, or descend by the numerous crannies
and fissures. The newly-hatched larva (Fig. 4) is smooth, whitish
and shiny, with a few hairs on the anterior and posterior segments:
I was unable to rear the larve, but they probably feed on sub-
terranean coleopterous larvee.

JouRN. Bompay Nat. Hist. Soc. PLATE B.

THE OOTHECA OF AN ASILID
(much enlarged)

Fic. 5.—Abdomen of @ opened dorsally, showing colleterial
glands, &c. CG=col'eterial glands. OV =ovaries.
OV D=oviducts. SP=spermatheca. U R=urinary
tubes. R=rectum. RG=rectal glands. !=ileum.

THE OOTHECA OF AN ASILID. 615

HXPLANATION OF FIGURES.

Fig. J
Q constructing ootheca, which is nearly finished.
Fig. Q.
Transverse section of ootheca. CM = colleterial matter, forming outer
covering. T = twig on which ootheca is built.
Fig. 3.

Side view of eggs, the outer covering having been mostly dissolved away
with benzine.

Larva just hatched.

Abdomen of Q opened dorsally, showing colleterial glands, etc. CG =
colleterial glands. OV = ovaries. OVD = oviducts. SP = spermatheca.
UR = urinary tubes. R = rectum. RG = rectal glands. I = ileum.

All the figures are much enlarged.

614

RAMBLING NOTES ON NATURAL HISTORY IN CHITRAL.
BY
Masor F. WAtt, I.M.S., 0.M.Z.S.

During my year’s residence in Chitral I had considerable leisure to
devote to natural history objects. In the main my attention was devoted
to butterflies, but in their pursuit I had opportunities of observing many
other objects, and the following excerpts from my note books may be of
interest to others who may be garrisoned there in years to come.

MAMMALIA.

JACKAL (Canis aureus), Linné.—I was asked by Mr. Kinnear to try
and get specimens of this among other Mammals, but when I came to
question the officers who went out after big game, I found no single one had
ever heard it. Mr. Keppel made enquiries for me among the Chitralis, and
was told that jackals are known in the Valley in which Arandu is situated,
but do not come up as far north as Mirkani. It would seem then that they
only just enter the south of Chitral Territory, and it is probable the
Lowarai Pass is their proximate Northern barrier.

Wuirrnean’s Sroat (Mustela whiteheadi*), Wroughton.—Under the

misnomer Patorius erminea I referred in a previous Journal (Vol. XX,

p. 514) to a specimen of this little known animal killed in Chitral.

Common Otter (Lutra valgaris), Erxleben.—Our British Otter is not
uncommon. I saw the skins of 3 or 4 specimens, one quite freshly stuffed
in the usual Chitrali method with grass. Its grizzled coat, and the angular
posterior edge of the rhinorium I presume leave no doubt in diagnosis. |

THE sMALLER KasHMirn Ftryinc-SquirrEeLt (Scvuropterus fimbriatus),
Gray.—Three or four skins of this flying squirrel were brought to
me. The Chitralis said they were not uncommon and lived chiefly in
walnut and apricot trees. They also said that they nest in holes in
trees. They call it “ jungli khalao,” or “wild rat.”

Brack Rar (Mus rattus), Linné.—The common rat in Chitral in and
about buildings is this species.

Perstan Hovuss-Movuss (Mus bactrianus), Blyth.—The Persian mouse
is the species inhabiting the Fort at Drosh. I caught several, but no
other species.

* Described in this Journal, Vol. XVIII, p. 882-

RAMBLING NOTES ON NAT, HIST, IN CHITERAL,

615

ArgHan Hare (Lepus tibetanus), Waterhouse.—Hares were not very

plentiful, but a few came to bag on our day’s out chikor shooting. The

species is the Afghan hare.

OoriaL (Ovis vignei), Blyth.—The Oorial is common. The best heads

entered in the game book in the Drosh Mess are as follows :—

Year. Length. | Sportsman.
|
1900-01 30” Major Leslie, R.E.
ay 32" Lieut. Rice.
1902-03 31" » Money.
1905-06 303” » Robertson-Glasgow.
af a2 | Captain Knollys.

Himatayan Ipex (Capra sibirica), Meyer.—The following are the best

heads that Chitral has furnished of the Ibex :—

i
Year.

1903-04
1907-08

| Length. Sportsman. |
463" Major the Hon’ble Bruce.

| 463" Captain Nicolay.
45" Picked up.
A734" Lieut. A. G. Stone.
454" » A. G. Stone.
453" » . T. W. McCausland.
47" Captain Keppel.
454" » .T. W. McCausland.
47" » Keppel.
47" » Keppel.

616 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.
Marxuor (Capra falconert), Hiigel.—The best heads entered in the game

book are as follows :—

Year. | Length. Sportsman.
1898-99 | 56" Captain Rose.
1899-00 502" o Cooper.

5 622" a Gurdon.
1900-01 51” Lieut. Rice.

573" Picked up.
1901-02 512” Major Leslie.

_ 502” Captain Bradly.

53 552" Picked up.
1902-03 50” Captain Kennion.
1904-05 | 502” Lieut. Young.
1906-07 oe 74 Burton.

” 513” om Carruthers.
1907-08 51” fe Toppin.

» 50” Captain Nicolay.
1909-10 50” Breve Pemberton.

” 523" Captain Lyall.

The usual variety of horn is the Pir Panjal. The head secured by
Captain Rose in 1898 (Figure B) seers to me as near to the Cabul variety
as the Pir Panjal. More than one head (as seen by photographs) has been

shot with the horns very dissimilar. Figure A shows one shot by Lieut.

RAMBLING NOTES ON NAT, HIST, IN CHITRAL. 617

Rice in 1900-01, in which the right horn is of the Astor type while the left
is of the Pir Panjal type.

A,
)
Pe case
Lay
(rf
5
/
#
y
}

Capra falconeri,

AVES.

In Volume XIX, p. 901, of this Journal, Captain Perreau gave a list with
notes of the birds of Chitral. Iam able to add a few species to this list
which I have marked with an asterisk.

THE GREENISH WILLOW-WARBLER* (dAcanthopneuste viridanus), Blyth.—
I found this among the bag made by two urchins with stonebows. The
measurements were: Length 4:5”, wing 2°3”, tail 1:6”, gape -48” and
tarsus °75”,

CENTRAL-ASIAN StarLine (Stwrnus porphyronotus), Sharpe.—Captain
Perreau was in doubt as to the species of starling he saw in Drosh.
Isaw many flights in early November, and on the 5th shot two which I
identified as this species, and a skin sent to our Society was acknowledged
as such. I saw flights of starlings again late in February flying North, but
halting in Drosh.

Paradise Fryearcurr (Terpsiphone paradist), Linné.—I saw a single
specimen in black and white plumage in Drosh on the 24th April.

Common Pisp Busu-Cuat (Pratincola caprata), Linne.—I noted this
common in April on the farm in Lower Drosh.

Tue Inpian Busa-Cuar (Pratincola maura), Pallas,—I saw a!few pairs on
the farm in Lower Drosh in March.

Repwines (*Zurdus chacus), Linné,—Captain Perreau says he is nearly
sure he saw this bird near Drosh in February. I saw many on the farm at
Drosh in February and March and shot one on the 23rd of March to make
the point certain.

618 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XX1.

Brown Diprer (Cinclus asiaticus), Swains.—Captain Lyall told me he
found a nest of the dipper on the 2nd of February in Kesu Nullah.

Hovusrt Sparrow (Passer domesticus), Linné.—This species forsook us
for the winter, leaving only the tree sparrow (P. montana) as abundant
asin the summer. I noticed the common sparrow back again in the Fort
in early April.

Pint Buntine (Emberiza leucocephala), Gmelin.—I found several nests
about Madaglasht (10 to 11,000 feet) in June and July.

Crac-Martin (Ptyonoprogne rupestris), Scopoli.—The first I saw were
flying about in all directions on the 27th of March. The last were
observed flying North in large numbers even till well after dusk on the
16th of May.

Sanp-Martin (Cotile riparia), Linné.—I noted several hawking about
the river near Kesu on the Ist of May.

Evrorean Hooron (Upupa epops), Linné.—I saw these species in the
summer up to fully 12,000 feet, and it was breeding well up to
11,000 feet.

Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus), Linné.—I heard the cuckoo first on the
8th of May. I chased a company of at least six on my pony all flying
south on the evening of the 16th of May. Each separately fluttered out
of the wayside trees and hedgerows, to perch a hundred yards or so further
on, and repeat the flight as I passed by.

Himatayvan Grirron (*Gyps himalayensis?), Hume.—A large vulture
is fairly common in Chitral which I suspect is the above species. It is
in flight just like a large edition of the next species, but is much too
large to have been confused with that species. I saw it in the winter about
Drosh always flying very high. In the summer above MadaglashtI saw them
many times, and on more than one occasion congregated on the carcasses
of goats, etc.

EeypriaN VuLTURE (Neophron percnopterus), Linné.-—-Captain Perreau
mentions this in the summer, but I saw it not infrequently in the
winter.

Meruin (*4salon regulus), Pallas ——Among the Mehtar’s hawks I saw
a specimen of this hawk in very fine plumage. The attendant inform-
ed me it had been reared in the country.

Larce Kerner (*Herodias alba), Linné.—Captain Lyall sent me a skin.
He bagged one of three seen on the Ist of May.

Grey Lac Gooss (*Anser ferus), Schceff.—I do not think I could have
been mistaken in the identification of this goose, though none was brought
to bags Geese were frequently heard at night flighting by, and I several
times saw flocks that I took to be this species. In Malakand years ago at
about the same time of year I remember more than one being shot.

RAMBLING NOTES ON NAT. HIST. IN CHITRAL. 619

BrauMiny Duck (*Casarca rutila), Pallas.—I saw three Brahminy duck
flyme north on the 17th April, and a large flight containing over 70 on the
25th. I saw one or two settled on the banks of the river at Drosh.

GapDWALL (*Chaulelasmus streperus), Linné.—A few shot in March.

Rep-crestep Pocuarp (*Netta rufina), Pallas.—Many seen, and a few
shot in March.

Pocuarp (*Nyroca ferina), Linné.—I shot one on the 27th March.

Wuitt-evep Duck (* Nyroca ferruginea), Sharpe and Dresser.—A few
shot in February and March going north.

Smew (* Mergus albellus), Linné.—A party of four were seen after the
very severe snowstorm in January. Three of these were brought to bag
on the 29th of January.

REPTILIA.

The reptiles of Chitral formed the subject of a separate paper which has
already appeared in this Journal.*

PISCES.

Oreinus richardsont.—I sent home specimens of the fish called by every
one “ Snow trout”? to Mr. Boulenger. It appears that these are not trout
at all but a species of a different genus.

ANNELIDA.

Gordius zorattarti (Camerano).—On the 28th of March in very cold
weather a specimen of this wire worm was found in the mule trough in
Lower Drosh. The Chitralis firmly believe that it falls with the rain. I
heard: of others being found in the snow about the time when rain was
falling. I sent this to Professor Camerano at Turin who identified it, and
told me little or nothing is known of its habits. The type was found near
Darjeeling. Ihave had specimens sent me from Shillong in the Khasi
Hills, Assam, from Dibrugarh in Upper Assam, and found a specimen my-
self this year in my compound at Almora on the 2nd of January on a very
cold day whilst sleet was falling. This last, the largest I have seen,
measured 192 inches, and was the calibre of a fiddle string.

LEPIDOPTERA.

Papers have already appeared in our Journal on the butterflies of
Chitral contributed by Captain W. H. Evans, R. E.+

To the species referred to in these papers I can add three, the identi-
fication of which has been confirmed by Captain W. H. Evans.

Argynnis pales.—I found this fairly common at about 138,000 feet on
slopes above Madaglasht, at the end of July and beginning of August,
.in company with A. jerdoni var. chitralensis. On the last day of July on
the Doki Pass at about 14,000 feet where species were very limited, I

* Vol. XXI, page 132. f Vol. XIV, p. 666 and Vol. XX, p. 423.

620 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

came across this in great numbers on a steep stony shale slope. I captured
about sixty in a couple of hours, on an otherwise uneventful day.

Lycaena jaloka.—This species was very abundant on a small patch of
stony ground in July above Madaglasht at about 12,000 feet. The females
were less numerous than the males. It was extremely local and confined
to about an acre, and I never saw another specimen, except a solitary
one at the foot of the Doki Pass at about the same altitude on the 31st
July.

Preris kreupert, race desta.—Of this species I obtained but half a dozen
specimens in June in the Lutkoh valley at about 6,000 feet elevation.

PSYCHODIDA.

Phlebotomus pappatasii and P. babu.—I collected sand-flies in the Fort
at Drosh, and submitted them to Dr. Annandale for identification. Two
species were found prevalent, and one or both are believed to be the
transmitting agents of that disagreeable fever so common in Chitral which
is variously known as Drosh fever, Chitral fever, Sand-fly fever, phlebe-
tomus fever, pappateci fever, etc., etc. They haunt the dark corners of
rooms, getting behind shutters and doors, and bite freely at night.

CULICID A.
Two collections of mosquitoes made by me unfortunately come to grief
in the post, so it remains for another to trace the species on which we are
dependent for malarial fevers in the Chitral Garrison.

FILICES.

Ferns were extremely poorly represented in species. At the level of
Drosh, up to about 6,000 feet I only saw three species, though I frequently
went in search of them. About Madaglasht during my excursions after
butterflies I frequently went out of my way to investigate the ferns, but I
do not think I ever saw more than three species.

Cystopheris fragilis (Berah).—A fern which I took to be the bladder fern
was quite common about Madaglasht (10,000 feet and over).

Cheilanthes szoritzii (Fisch and Meyer).—A species of Cheilanthes was
very common about Drosh which I think I am not mistaken in referrmg to
this species.

Adiantum cappillus veneris (Linné).—This was common everywhere,
where damp enough, at low elevations. ;

Hemidictyum ceterach (Linné).—The Scale fern flourishes, and is abun-
dant about Drosh at elevations up to at least 6,000 feet.

Asplenium trichomanes (Linné).—I found this plentiful all about
Madaglasht.

Asplenium septentrionale (Linné).—The forked Spleenwort grows
abundantly in the vicinity of Madaglasht.

621

SOME BIRDS AND BIRDS’ NESTS FROM
HAKA, CHIN HILLS.

Caprain F. EK. W. VENNING.

The following short list of such birds and birds’ nests as I was
lucky enough to find at Haka is forwarded with the hope that it
may encourage some one else to observe the very abundant
bird life in that happy spot from which, to my regret, I have now
been transferred. Most of the skins obtained were sent to Major
H. H. Harington who took them’ home with him and identified
them for me and my thanks are due to him for his valuable advice
and encouragement to my first efforts in ornithology, and for his
remarks on these notes which I have interpolated in the places
where they apply, putting them in square brackets followed by
the initials H. H. H.

The numerals and nomenclature are those of the “ Fauna of
British India.”’

CORVIDAi.

CORVINA.

(4) THE JUNGLE CRow, Corvus macrorhynchus.—Called by the
Chins “Ak” (like the English word ‘“ Ark”) or more parti- _
cularly ‘‘ Klang (mountain) Ak,” the monosyllable being a very
good representation of the bird’s call. Very common, but I found
no nests. The elytra and other hard parts of dung beetles were
found in the stomach of one.

(12) Tue ReEpD-BILLED BLuE Macpir, Urocissa ocewpitalis.—Plen-
tiful, generally to be seen going about in families of six or eight
which always attract attention by their harsh scolding. One
brought alive by a Chin. No nests found. Perhaps U. flavivostris
also occurs. .

[Recorded by Col. Rippon from Mt. Victoria. There is also a
skin of his from the same locality of U. flavirostris—H. H. H. |

PARINA.

(34) GREEN-BACKED Tir, Parus monticola.—Very common. 'T'we

622 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXI,

nests of this species were found by me. The first was found on
the 3rd May 1910 and was placed in a small hole just below the
branch of a wild pear tree (Pyrus pashia). The hole was about
six inches long running horizontally into the tree-trunk. The
nest consisted of a thick pad of moss interwoven with fine hairs
and wool. The eggs were five in number measuring from -66 x -52
to 64x51, and were pale pink with some pale brownish red
blotches scattered round the larger end chiefly. The second nest
was found on 7th May and brought in by a Chin, who brought
the bird with it, and said he found it in a hole in the ground.
The nest was composed of moss and hair (? goat’s). There were
five eggs, rather paler than the last with the spots more generally
scattered over the whole surface. These measured from 68 x -54
to -66x-:53. In the former case the eggs were in an advanced
state of incubation.

[Also got by Col. Rippon at Mt. Victoria. Very interesting
how many of the Himalayan and Indian birds turn up in the
Chin Hills and Aracan.—H. H. H.|

(36) Humer’s Rep-HEapED Tir, Aegithaliscus manipurensis.

Fairly common, but in spite of days of careful watching I never
found the nest. The tarsus measured -65 in., not ‘35 as given in
the ‘ Fauna.”’

[Recorded by Col. Rippon from Mt. Victoria.—H. H. H.]

CRATEROPODIDA.

CRATEROPODINA.

Babax victorre (Rippon).—One nest found by my wife on
13th April. The nest was an open cup composed of dead leaves
and thick grass stems lined with fine root fibres placed about two
feet above the ground between the stems of a small thorny bush
at the head of a little swamp. The interior diameter of the nest
was 33 inches with a depth of 14 to 2 inches. When found there
was only one egg but a second was laid on 14th, after which the
bird was continually on the nest till the 18th when the bird was
shot and the nest taken. Eggs opaque turquoise blue 1:2 x -86
and 1:19 x -83. The bird was very difficult to see after it had
once left its nest, and skulked in the thickest bushes.

BIRDS’ NESTS FROM HAKA, CHIN HILLS. 625:

[Discovered by Col. Rippon at Mt. Victoria. Description in
the B. B. O. C., Vol. XV, p.97. This is a much larger bird than
B. yunnanensis from Bhamo. This is the first record of its nest
and eggs.

N. B.—Babax lanceolatus was reported in the J. A. 8. B., Vol.
LXXI, part IT, no. I11/02 by Lieut. H. Wood, R. E., and F. Finn
as having been got in the Chin Hills. ‘his must be amistake
and the bird wrongly identified and it would be advisable for the
Calcutta Museum to have the skin properly identified. It gives a
wrong locality for B. lanceolatus which so far has not been recorded
I believe from Indian limits—although I believe it is the same
bird as B. yunnanensis the only difference being the cheek stripe
which in one is dark chestnut, in the other black.—H. H. H. |

(83a) Trochalopterum holerythrops (Rippon).—Two specimens
shot on 28rd July 1910 and a few others seen. Has a very pretitiy
mellow whistle. .

(98) Manipur Srreakep LavuGuinc-Tarusy, Trochalopterum
virgatum.—Three nests found. In each case the nest was situated
low down in a clump of thatching grass and was a large loosely
built cup-shaped structure of dried grasses with a leaf or two work-
ed in and lined with some loosely laid-in grass roots and feathery
grass tails. ‘The measurements were roughly 24 inches deep by 3
to 34 inches diameter internally. One bird was netted on its nest
on 17th April, one was shot as it left its nest on 22nd April, and
the third was allowed to go as its nest was found to contain a
young bird and an addled egg on 30th April. The eggs were
pure greeny blue, the colour one often sees in poor specimens of
turquoise, and varied between 1:15 x -8 and -98 x -76 and in each
case there were two in the nest.

[Also procured by Col. Rippon at Mt. Victoria. Nest and
egos described in B. N. H. S. Journal, Vol. VITI.—H. H. H.|
(125) Rurous-NECKED ScrmiTaR Bassler, Pomatorhinus rufi-

collis—One nest brought in by a Chin on 1st May with the bird

noosed on the nest. It was said to have been found on the ground.

under a bramble and was composed of coarse grass stems and

pine needles with an outer layer of dry bamboo sheath or some

similar substance forming a thin walled cup partially domed over,
41

624 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XX).

about 4 to 5 inches long by 3 to 33 inches in height. Hggs three,
plain white somewhat pointed, -94 x -69 to 88 x-68. Bird not
uncommon.

| Procured by Col. Rippon.—H. H. H.]

(1380). McC LeLLann’s Scimirar BABBLER, Pomatorhinus macelel-
landi.—Three nests of this species were obtained. One was
brought with the bird by a Chin on 19th. April, and contained
three eggs all well incubated. The other two were found by me,
one on 13th and one on 18th April; the latter contained two
young birds and an addled egg which I took; the former had only
one egg in it when found, but three when taken on 18th. At that
time the bird had been sitting very steadily for a day or two,
bustling away half running, half flying, into the bushes when I
approached. I netted one bird on the evening of the 17th and
the mate was on the nest on the following day, but after very
heavy rain on the evening of 18th I found the nest much broken
in and apparently deserted and took the eggs. In both cases
found by me the nest was situated on sloping ground under some
bramble sprays and well hidden among dead canna leaves and
woody herbs. It was a loosely constructed dome-shaped nest
composed almost entirely of grass. Internal dimensions back to
front 4 inches, bottom to dome 3 inches. Eggs measured from
1:05 x *78 to -95 x °75 and one was only ‘73 in diameter.

| First record from Burma.—H. H. H.]

BRACHYPTERYGINA.

(191) Inpian Buve Cuart, Larvivora brunnea.—Bird quite
common. One flew against the window pane and stunned itself
one morning while we were having ‘“ chhota hazri.”

Two nests were found of this species; in both cases the eggs
were pure turquoise blue. The nest, placed on the ground in a
bank, was a cup of dry pine needles lined with black hairs and a
few leaves in one case and in the other was composed of grass
stems lined with hair and feathers. The eggs were three in each
case and well incubated, one being obtained on 16th May and the
other on 26th June and their measurements were from -78 x ‘57
to 75 x ‘dd.

BIRDS’ NESTS FROM HAKA, CHIN HILLS. 625

[Found nesting at Mt. Victoria by kK. C. Macdonal.—H. H. H.]

(211A) Rirpon’s Bar-wine, Actinodura rippont (O. Grant.)—
One of a pair was shot by me on a tree on the outskirts of the
jungle on 29th April.

[Described in Ibis, January 1907, p. 186. Found nesting by
me at Sinlum, Bhamo.—H. H. H. |

BRACHYPODINA.

(279) BuRMESE RED-VENTED BULBUL, Molpastes burmanicus.—
A very common bird of which I took several nests in 1909 but
only found one with eggs in 1910. There were three eggs.

(292) FINCH-BILLED BULBUL, Syuzivus canifrons.—Also very
common, several nests with hatchlings found in 1910.

SITTIDA.

(318) <Avsren’s NurHatcH, Sitia nagaensis.—Quite common,
but no nests procured. Undoubtedly breeds at Haka, as many
young fledglings were seen and one shot. One adult when shot
remained hanging to the branch it was on, head downwards,
until | got up and detached it when I found to my surprise that
it was quite dead.

[Taken by Col. Rippon. Found nesting at Sinlum, Bhamo, by
me. A bird found in the hills both on the Hast and West of
Burma. Only got above about 5,000 feet, below this its place is
taken by S. neglecta—H.H.H. |

CERTHIIDA.

(3800B). Uvocichla oates: (Rippon).—One nest obtained on 30th
April 1910 on a sloping bank of dried grass beneath some trees.
The bird was shot as it left its nest. The nest was a large oval-
shaped, domed structure composed of an outer layer of dead
leaves, canna leaves, coarse grass, etc., inside which was a layer
of grass stems, fibres and a little moss, the cup being lined up to
the level of the entrance with a plaster about 1-16th inch thick
composed as far as I could determine of a substance which looked
like chewed thistle stem or chewed grass. The bottom of the
nest when taken was found to be quite moist from contact with

626 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. O01

the damp ground.* ‘The dimensions of the whole were exterior
height 6 in., diameter back to front 5in., side to side 4 inches.
Entrance near the top about 2 inches across by 14 inches high.
Interior diameter 2 inches each way, depth of cup inside from
lower edge of entrance about one inch. Eggs three in number
measured -73 by °6, -72 by -6 and -69 by -59, and were dull white
sparingly freckled with reddish and faint purple.

[B. B. O. C., Vol. XIV, p. 83. Discovered by Col. Rippon at
Mt. Victoria. Yours is the first record of its nesting.—H. H. H.]

SYLVUDA.

(372) Brown Busu-Warster, Tribura luteiventris.—One nest
found and bird netted on it on 27th April 1910. The nest was
a large loosely-built ball of grass blades and leaves lined with fine

erass-tails with a small opening on one side near the top. It was

placed nearly on the ground supported between some stiff grass

stems and herbs and overhung by thistles, bracken and
grasses which concealed it so well that, even when I knew within
a few inches where it was, I found considerable difficulty in locat-
ing it. The eggs were three, whitish spotted with reddish brown
more thickly near the larger end. Measurements -73 x -56.
Another nest which I am pretty sure belonged to the same species
was obtained within a few days but the bird escaped out of my
hand after being netted. 7
[Recorded by Col. Rippon from Mt. Victoria.—H. H. H.]

(420) TENASSERIM WHITE-TAILED WILLOW-WARBLER, Acantho-

pneuste davisoni.rOne nest was brought in with the bird which
had been noosed by a Chin. He stated he had found the nest

* Note.—Apropos of this nest, Major Harington informs me that when at Sinlum,

Bhamo, in 1905, a similar nest and eggs were brought to him by a Kachin.
He accompanied the Kachin to the spot whence the nest was obtained, but saw
no bird. In 1908 when he was up there again he hunted the same bit of jungle

but never saw another nest. He did, however, shoot a specimen of U- sinlumensis

there, so that in all probability the eggs he found in 1905 belonged to that bird.

Major Harington’s nest was found in a very damp shady spot, very much like
the situation of my nest, and his description of the lining of his nest as “a papier
mache sort of cup” is a better description of the appearance of my nest than I
have given. It is doubtless a provision to keep the inside of the nest dry.

BIRDS’ NESTS FROM HAKA, CHIN HILLS. 627

on the ground in short grass. The nest was a little soft cup
eomposed as follows: an outer layer of fibres and some grasses,
inside which was a thickish layer of moss with a patch of black
horsehair on one side, the whole being lined with a plentiful
supply of soft black hairs intermingled with a few white ones.
The internal diameter was less than two inches and depth about
one inch. Eggs 4, pure white, measuring from -61 x -45 to -59 x
“44 The same man brought in another nest three days later, on
28th April, which was exactly the same and also contained four
eggs varying from -6x°46 to 58x -46, but as he had failed
to noose the bird I could not be certain it was the same
species.

[The nest must have been domed and the inside only brought
you. I found it nesting on the Bhamo Hills and Oates on the
Byingyi Hills.— H. H. H.|

(432) ANDERSON’s FLYCATCHER-WARBLER, Cryptolopha tephro-
cephala.—Nest taken and bird netted on nest by me on 21st May
1910. Nest was found on the ground near the top of a small
bank about eighteen inches high and was well concealed by an
overhanging tuft of grass and some herbaceous leaves. It was a
largish oval-shaped, domed structure composed outside of coarse
grasses loosely laid together, the entrance being on one side and
well overhung. Inside, it was lined with very soft moss and
thistle down, the moss well separated before being made into a
compact cushion. ‘The dimensions were outside height 6 inches,
back to front 43 inches, side to side 4 inches. Diameter of
entrance about one inch. Interior diameter about 14 inches,
depth of cup from edge of entrance one inch. Eggs 4, pure white,
‘measuring -61 x ‘46, 59 x °46, -08 x -46 and -58 x -46.

[Found by me nesting at Sinlum. My eggs slightly bigger
than yours.—H. H. H.}

(460) AvusTEN’s HILL-WaRBLER, Suya khastana.—Very com-
mon. Several nests found, the most striking thing about which
was the dainty roofing of moss always to be found worked into
the grass of the dome, whether for concealment or for protection
from rain I cannot say. The earliest nest was found on the 30th
April and the latest with fresh eggs on the 20th June 1910. The

628 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XX1.

egos varied very considerably in size and in colour, the largest
being °7 x °52, and the smallest -6x-46. The latter was excep=
tional, the average size being about -67 x -49. The ground colour
was sometimes distinctly greenish, sometimes white with no tinge
of green and the amount of sprinkling also varied very consider-
ably. These variations were so great that I am still in doubt
whether some of my nests are not those of another species.
[Found breeding at Mt. Victoria by P. F. Wickham.—H. H.
H.] |

LANIIDA:

(495) Suort-BiLLeD Miniver, Pericrocotus brevirostris.—Quite
common, but I only discovered one nest and that had young in it
on 20th April. It was the most exquisite nest I have seen
and I took a photograph of it which I am forwarding to the

Society.

MUSCICAPIDA.

(579) VERDITER FLYCATCHER, Stoparola melanops.— One nest
with four eggs was found in the wall of 800 yards firing point on
the rifle range close to thick jungle on Ist May 1910. The
stomach of the bird was full of remains of ‘ lady-birds.”’

[Recorded by Rippon.—H. H. H.]

(094) RUFOUS-BELLIED Niutava, Niltava sundara.—One nest
was found under a stone on 28th April and had three eggs.
Another was found with two eggs in it on 11th August 1910, in
a hollow in a cutting.

[Recorded by Rippon.—H. H. H.|

(603) YELLOW-BELLIED FLycaTCHER, Chelidorhynx hypoxan=
thum.—One specimen shot in thick jungle but not uncommon, if
think, though no nests were found.

[Recorded by Col. Rippon.—H. H. H. |

(605) Wuirr-raroatep Fantail, FLYCATCHER, Rhiyndura al-
bicollis. —One nest with three eges taken by me on 18th May and
the nest photographed. The bird very common and once or twice
seen flirting about on the eround. The eges measured between
-70 x ‘54 and-"67 x ‘ol.

BIRDS’ NESTS FROM HAKA, CHIN HILS. 629

TURDIDAL.
SAXICOLINA.

(615) Darg-Grey Busu-cHat, Oreicola ferrea.— Very common.
Eleven clutches of eggs and nests were taken, the earliest on 13th
April and the latest on 28th April. The usual number of eggs
in a clutch was four but two clutches of five were found. Out of
the eleven clutches, found six consisted of pure (pale turquoise)
blue eggs, without spots or markings of any sort. The others
consisted of eggs similarly coloured but with a faint. circle of
brownish spots near the larger end, sometimes so faint as to be
almost unnoticeable unless closely examined. One clutch taken
on 21st April was remarkable in having one egg on which no
markings were discoverable, one ege with just a faint smudge of
brown near the larger end and the other three marked in the
normal way.

[On two or three occasions (see B. N. H. Journals) I have point-
ed out the difference in the Burmese and Chinese eggs from the
Indian which are pale greenish profusely spotted with rusty red ;
and when at home I[ told Hartert about it, and 1 see in his book
he has found that the birds are different and has called the Burma
bird after me. Here is the description :—

“ Die Vogel der Paliarktischen Fauna,” p. 711, by Dr. E. Har-
tert. 1080 Oreicola ferrea haringtont, Subsp. nov. Cat., eggs British
Museum, Vol. IV, plate VII, fig. 18.

(Translation) ‘‘ Distinguished from O. ferrea ferrea by the con-
stantly shorter tail. Tail 57-61, 61-5 mm. Wing 65-68 mm.
Mupin and other parts Szetchuan to Fokeni in 8. EH. China, also
Burma and the Hill tracts S. of the Brahmaputra. Hggs darker
blue than O. ferrea fervent and in particular unspotted like those of
the hedge-sparrow.”” This is not quite correct.—H. H. H.]|

RUTICILLINE.

(638) Whuire-carrep Repsrart, Chimarrhornis leucocephalus.
Was a cheerful visitor, always announcing his arrival with a loud
piping whistle but disappearing during the breeding season to
slightly lower levels. I do not think he bred at Haka as I never
could find any traces of him just during the breeding season unless

630 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXT,

I went down into the valleys when he was easily found, though
I never found the nest.

[A winter visitor ; breeds in the hills and in China. Not re-
corded by Col. Rippon from Mt. Victoria, but has been procured
in other parts of Burma.—H. H. H.]

TURDINA.

(698) SMALL-BILLED Movunrain-THRusH, Oreocincla dawna.—
One specimen was shot in 1909. No nests.

[Recorded by Col. Rippon.—H. H. H.]

(704) Larce Brown THrusH, Zoothera monticola.—One nest
of this species was found on 15th May 1910. The bird was shot
as it left its nest on 19th May. The nest was found about 15
feet from the ground in an elm sapling growing by a stream on
the border of a strip of thickish jungle. It consisted of a large
lump of earth for a basis, intermingled with sticks and fibres and
with a little moss worked into the outside, the whole being scantily
lined with some whitish roots or fibres. It was 4 inches across
the interior and 13 inches deep giving it a shallow bowl shape
inside, but the whole nest was about one foot in diameter. The
whole structure was placed in a fork of the tree. The eggs, three
in number, were pale bluish green with a dark cap of brownish red
over the larger end, the whole with bold spots and smudges of the
same colour. Measurements 1:28 x -84, 1-28 x -83 and 1:27 x
AST

[Not recorded from Burma before, and I believe this is the first
record of its nesting.—H. H. H. |

FRINGILLIDAL.
FP RINGILLINA.
(779) ‘TREE Sparrow, Passer montanws.—Common.
MOTACILLIDA.
(826) Ware WaartatL, Motacilla alba.—A common’ winter
visitor. No nests found.
(847) Inpran Pipit, Anthus rufulus—One nest taken on

18th April and the bird netted on the nest. Hggs three, one of
which was found on the ground outside the nest when the nest

BIRDS’ NESTS FROM HAKA, CHIN HILLS. 631

was first discovered and when taken next morning had a small hole
in it and some maggots.

ALAUDIDA.

Alauda japonica.—One nest and bird brought by my Chin col-
lector on 30th April. The three eggs were all on the point of
hatching.

[Recorded as breeding at Mt. Victoria by K. C. Macdonald.
Also got there by Col. Rippon.—H. H. H.]

NECTARINIIDA.

(887) FIRE-TAILED YELLOW-BACKED SUNBIRD, Afthopyga ignicauda.
—Very common but no nest found, except an old one which I
think may have belonged to this species.

[Recorded by Col. Rippon.—H. H. H.]

CUCULIDA.
(1104) THE Cuckoo, Cuculus canorus.—One female shot on
80th April laid a soft skinned whitish egg in my hand as it died.
The egg measured °88x-6. Another specimen contained a large
yellow caterpillar or grub with a bright red head and five longitu-
‘dinal black lines from head to tail.
(1113) Rurous-BELLIED Cuckoo, Cacomantis merulinus.—Fairly
common. No eggs of either of these cuckoos were found, __

ASIONIDAS.
. BUBONINA.

(1173) Scops Own, Scops giu.—One specimen was shot at
midday as it sat on a twig under some brambles. I mistook it at
first for a specimen of Felis chaus. ° |

COLUMBIDA.
TRERONINA.

(1283) Koxia Green Picron, Sphenocercus sphenwrus.—Com-
mon, but no nest found.

4 COLUMBINA.

(1307) Sprorren Dove, Turtur swratensis.—One nest taken

which I think belonged to this species, but may have been a nest
Ay

632 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. X XI.

of * higrinus.” ‘The bird was so common that I forgot to make

certain of its identity. Nests were also very common.
[Z. suratensis not found in Burma, but tigrinus—H. H. H.]
(1312) Bar-raiLeD Cuckoo-DovE, Macropygia tusalia.—Bird

- shot but no nest taken.

GALLIN/AL.
PHASIANIDA.

(1527) GREY PEACOCK-PHEASANT, Polyplectrum chinguis.—One .
skin obtained by Mr. Street in 1908 on the border between the

. Haka sub-division and the Lushai Hills was seen by the writer

but not carefully identified as he was not at the time aware of the
possibility of its belonging to a distinct species.

(1351) Mrs. Wume’s Pueasant, Phasianus humie.—Not un-
common, as many as ten birds being seen on one occasion in one
small clump of grass and dwarf date palm. One specimen had its
crop full of acorns.

(1346) GrRey-BELLIED Hornep Peasant, Tragopan blythi.—
Often seen near Fort White though none seen by the writer near
Haka. Only mentioned in these notes because referred to by
Oates as ashy bird, whereas it was so bold when met on the road
that a brother officer knocked one over with a stone after having
several shots at it.

(13852) WesTeRN Bamgoo-PartrripGr, Bambusicola fytchit.—
Very common. Nest found under a clump of grass but all the
eggs in it were broken.

(1374) Cuinese T['rancouin, rancolinus chinensis.—One
brought alive by a Chin was kept for some time by the writer but
eventually released.

HEMIPODIL.
TURNICIDA.

(1382) uamea Sate Turnie pugnax.—Shot on 27th Au-

gust 1910.
(1386) BURMESE Bahl Turniz blanfordi.icNot un-

common.

BIRDS NESTS: FROM HAKA, CHIN HILLS, 633

CHARADRITD AS.
SCOLOPACINA.

(1482) Woopcock, Scolopax rusticula.—Quite plentiful in
the winter.

(1483) Woopd-Snirz, Gallinago nemoricola.—Two specimens
shot in 1909.

, (1484) Fanta, Syire, Gallinago ceelestis—Not quite so
plentiful as the next.

(1485) Pinta, Snipe, Gallinago stenura.—A very fair bag of
these could be made, but as the feeding grounds were small and far
apart it required a good deal of walking.

w (1486) Himaayan Souirary SyirPe, Gallinago solitaria.—Two
specimens obtained as already recorded in the Journal.

ANATIDAL.
ANATINA,

(1597) Common TraL, Nettium creeca.—Shot on two occa-
sions at Haka,

)

654

A NEW SNAKE PSAMMOPHIS TRITICEUS FROM.
BALUCHISTAN.

Masor F. WALL, I.M.S., C.M.Z.S.

In Volume XX of this Journal (p. 1033), I remarked upon
the collection of snakes in the Quetta Museum which had been.

submitted to me for identification.

Under the title Psammophis schokart 1 showed good reason to:

suppose that I had included two distinct species. This opinion

is confirmed by the receipt of two more specimens from the Hono--

rary Secretary, McMahon Museum, Quetta. It does not conform

to the description of any other Psammophis in Mr. Boulenger’s

Catalogue, and I propose to name this new species triticeus on
account of its wheaten colour.

The new species differs from schokart in having (1) fewer
subcaudals, (2) three supralabials touching the eye, (3) the scales
reducing posteriorly to 13 instead of 11, (4) in its markings, (5)

probably its size (though on this point I cannot speak positively), .

and (6) finally and most important, its dentition.

I have now seen six specimens, and have been permitted to
retain one from which I have obtained a skull preparation. The
lengths of the two specimens now before me are 203", and 244",

the tails, respectively, 5'' and 534". My largest schokari is 46", the:

tail 162".

Description.—Rostral touches 6 shields, the sutures subequal.

Internasals—A pair, the suture between them three-fifths, that

between the prefrontal fellows, rather less than the internaso--
preefrontals. Preefrontals—A pair, the suture between them:
one-third greater than the preefronto-frontal, in contact with inter--
nasal, postnasal, loreal, preeocular and frontal. rontal—Touches |
eight shields, the fronto-supraoculars four or five times the length |
of the fronto-parietals. Swpraoculars—Length equal to frontal, .

breadth two-fifths greater than the middle of frontal. Nasals

divided ; the posterior nasal is again divided into two superposed.

parts, touch the lst and 2nd labials. Loreal—One, elongate, as

A NEW SNAKE FROM BALUCHISTAN. 636

*'' Psammophis triticeus Psammophis
juv. a) schokari,
(nat, size). (nat, size).

long as the nasals. Preeocular

One, touching the frontal.
Postoculars—Two. Temporals—Two. Supralabials—9, the 4th,
5th and 6th touching the eye. Infralabials—6, the 6th largest,
and in contact with two scales behind. Sublinguals—Two pairs,
the posterior longer and in contact with the 5th and 6th infra-
labials. The snout is one-third longer than the horizontal diameter
of the eye. Costals—Two headslengths behind head 17, midbody
17, two headslengths before vent 13. In the reduction of rows
first the 3rd above the ventrals is absorbed into the row above
or below; then the uppermost is absorbed into the vertebral.
Ventrals—177 to 186. Anal divided. Subcaudals 75 to 88.
Colourv.—Wheaten. A series of small black sub-apical short
streaks on the sixth row above the ventrals, on the lower part of
the 7th and upper part of the 5th rows. The interrupted formal

636 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XX1.

stripe thus formed begins on the neck as a continuation of the-

supraocular head stripes, and ends at the base of the tail. A

ereyish costal stripe involving the upper two-thirds of the last row,

the penultimate, and the edge of the third row begins in the

lore, passes behind the eye and extends down the body to the
tail tip. A buff stripe intervenes between the two stripes above-

mentioned, and a second buff stripe involves the lower third
of the last row, and the edge of the ventrals. In some specimens
there is only a series of subapical spots on the 6th costal row,
and no other stripes. There are three longitudinal dark stripes
on the head, the median ending before nape. On the chin
there are three stripes, one median, and two lateral, one on.
each lower lip, all being joined on the mental shield. There is

also some central mottling on many of the gular scales, and on the-

anterior ventrals.

The dentition is as follows :—

Mawillary In front 5 small teeth, the first 3 increasing in
size; then a gap which is succeeded by 8 progressively diminishing

teeth, and finally 2 enlarged and grooved teeth. Palatine—10 to
11 subequal. Pterygoid—14 to 15 subequal. Mandibular—a25 to-
26, the first 4 or 5 increasing in size, after which the succeeding

teeth progressively diminish in size.

——

637

[From the “ ProcEEpines or THE MaLaconocican Society,” Vol, 1X,
Part VI, September, 1911.}

DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF ACM4A FROM BOMBAY,
AND NOTES ON OTHER FORMS FROM THAT LOCALITY.

By Encar A. Smiru, 1.8.0.
Read 9th June, 1911.

SPECIMENS of an Acmea from Bombay have recently been presented
to the British Museum by Major A. J. Peile, R. A., and as the genus has
not been until recently’ recorded as inhabiting the shores of India, it
seemed desirable to give an account of the present species. Its existence
at Bombay, however, has been known to me since the year 1882, when .
the late Dr. W. T. Blanford gave to the Museum a dozen examples.
These, however, were only about half the size of those received from
Major Peile.

The shores of Bombay are not very prolific in limpet-like forms such as

Patella, Acmea, etc. Messrs. Melvill & Abercrombie*

enumerate the ;
following :—

1. Fissurella Bombayana, Sow. = lima, Sow.
2. Emarginula elongata, Phil.

3. KH. radiata, Gould.

4. Seutum unguis (Linn.).

5. Patella aster, Reeve.

Clypidina notata (Linn.).

No. 2. Emarginula elongata. Philippi never published a species under
this name, but he quoted’ the Mediterranean shell described by Costa
with that appellation. This is quite distinct from the shell figured by
A. Adams & Sowerby as “ L, elonyata, Philippi.’

The specimens from Bombay thus identified have kindly been sent to -
me for examination by Mr. J. C. Melvill, who borrowed them from the
Manchester Museum, where they were placed by Mr. Abercrombie, by
whom they were collected. A careful study of them proves that they
are neither the elongata of Costa nor of the Thesaurus but are certainly
identical with HE. dilecta, A. Ad., orginally said to be from King George’s
Sound, South Australia. In the Museum there are several specimens
collected at Bombay by Mrs. Deakin, by whom they were presented.

The “ £. elongata, Philippi” of the Abercrombie & Melvill list must
therefore be regarded as a mere nomen nudum.

No. 3. The Emarginula (Clypidina) radiata was described by Gould from

Preston, Records Indian Mus., vol. vi, p. 39, demea Travancorica.
Mem. Proc. Manchester Lit. Phil. Soc., ser. IV, vol. vii, p. 41, 1893.
3 Enum, Moll. Sicil., vol. i, p. 115, pl. vii, fig. 13.

£1

Thesaurus Conch., vol. iii, p. 212, pl. 246, fig. 33.

6388 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

Sydney Harbour, and was supposed by Tenison-Woods to be the same
species as LZ. australis, Lamk. As Lamarck never described an ZL. austra-
lis, possibly the species characterized under that name by Quoy & Gai-
mard was referred to. é

I have not seen any specimens from Bombay, so cannot confirm the
identification by Mr. Abercrombie. The species, however, should be
placed in the genus Subemarginula. It has never been figured, and with-
out examining the type it is almost impossible to know its true relationship.

No. 5. Patella aster, Reeve, appears to be the only species of the genus
hitherto met with at Bombay. It is variable in colour; the white rays,
which are inconstant in number (although nine are often observable) are
hardly visible externally in some specimens. In the type the nine rays
are very striking, as the shell figured by Reeve has been much cleaned. ’
In one example collected by Major Peile the dark rays are so broken up |
that the markings hardly look like radiations. . _

Pilsbry (Man. Conch., vol. xiii, p. 147) unites this species with the
Patella novemradiata of Quoy & Gaimard, described from the Mauritius,
but as I do not feel convinced of the certainty of the identification I
prefer to name the Bombay shells P. aster, about which there is no doubt,
since a comparison of the series of specimens collected by Major Peile
proves their identity beyond question. It seems tome more likely that
the Mauritian xovemradiata may be a form of one of the African species,
e.g., rota, Gmelin, or capensis, Gmelin. The animal of P. aster has not
hitherto been studied, but an examination of the radula shows that this
species belongs to the genus Helcioniseus, in which it is located by Pilsbry.

AcmMzA BoMBAYANA, n. sp. Figs. A-C.:

Testa ovato-rotundata, mediocriter elata, vertice paulo antemediani,

fusco et albo radiata, interdum minute fusco reticulata, radiatim tenuiter
striata, striis incrementi tenuissimis sculpta; radii albi, szepe in paribus

A NEW SPECIES OF ACMAA FROM BOMBAY. 639

dispositi, radio fusco intermedio quam ceteris pallidiori divisi; facies
interna alba, area centrali pallide olivaceo-fusca, limbo definito albo et
rufo-fusco notato, haud crenulato. Long. 17-5, diam. 15, alt. 6°5 mm.*

About the same form as the Bombay Patella aster, but differing in other
respects. Acmea parasitica (d’Orbigny) is a little like the present species,
but rather more ovate, and “arched in every direction in consequence of
attaching itself to other shells” with convex surfaces. On the contrary
all the specimens I have seen of A. Bombayana appear to have rested upon
flat or almost level surfaces, as the margin is even and unarched all round.

The rays are generally of two shades of brown, some much darker than
others, and the paler ones nearly always falling between the white rays,
which frequently appear to be in pairs. In addition to the rays a fine
brown and white reticulation not infrequently occurs. The fine radiating
thread-like lines are only observable in well-preserved specimens. The
interior is thickened with a white callus deposit, excepting the central
portion, which is stained a pale livid olive and defined from the white
part of the interior by a distinct horseshoe-shaped margin. The outer
limbus is thin, sharply defined, and prettily marked with the ends of the
brown and white rays. '
Var. Ceytanica. Fig. D.

Like the type, but a trifle more elevated, without the fine brown reticula-
tion, but with the darker rays commencing as spots or dots near the apex.
Largest specimen 19°5 mm. in length, 16 in diameter, and 9 high,

‘ Hab.—Galle, Ceylon (H. F. Blanford).

The increased elevation of this variety is probably due to its occurrence

‘in a more exposed position than the Bombay shells. It has been observed
with regard to our common limpet, Patella vulgata, that specimens occur-
‘Ying near high-water mark, and consequently more exposed to the break-
‘ing of the waves, are higher and more conical than those found lower
‘down on the shore.
\ The Acemea Travancorica, Preston, has an arched lateral basal margin, is
differently coloured ( ‘ pale brownish yellow with occasional blotches of
dark purple’’), and more roughly sculptured. The colour of the interior
of the shell is not described, but it is merely said io be iridescent. The
margin is described as “ regularly spotted with purple.” This iridescence
and the apparent absence of a defined limbus or border seem to indicate
that this species has more affinity to the Patellide than the Acmzide.

_* An average specimen. The shell figured is 22 mm. in length, 19 high and
7 in height. ca:
43

640

PROGRESS OF THE MAMMAL SURVEY, | ’

When the last report was published (page 229 of the last
Journal) Mr. C. A. Crump, the Society’s first Collector, had finish-
ed his tour in the Berars. As the rains were approaching it was
decided to send him to Cutch and he arrived there on the 6th July |
1911. H.H.the Rao Saheb and H. H. the Kumar Saheb being -
both keen naturalists as well as sportsmen lent our Collector every
assistance, and as a result the Cutch collection is a fairly represen-
tative one. H. H.the Rao Saheb has kindly consented to fill in the
few blanks which were left. Mr. Crump collected at Bhuj, Rhoda
Motha, Nokania, Dhonsa, Charwar, Pirwadi, Anjar, Gagodar, ,
Makhal, Nanda, Adesoor, Padampur, Chitrod and finally worked ..
back to Bhuj, finishing early in October. He obtained some 350:
specimens, all of which will be described in Mr. Wroughton’s
report in our Journal in due course. Amongst the specimens was

SaaS

PARKUR
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THE
PUT CHU

Bly
FATTIGuD
A MOTHA

WAG VU,

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> J
Z SpiRwap Z aDESOOR
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Area of CuTCH
7.500 Sq Mires

HERUNN 8000 Sq.MiES
Sees SS Ses =---- Asout l70Mies -------->

Rough map of Cuich—drawn by Mr. C. A. Crump - showing the places visited by him when
collecting mammals. : a i

PROGRESS OF THE MAMMAL SURVEY. 641

a new genus of rock-rat which Mr. Wroughton describes in this
Journal (page 340) under the name Cremnomys cutchicus.

Mr. Crump returned to Bombay and started for the Central
Provinces in October commencing at Asirgarh and then collecting
at Hewra, Siwal, Mandwa, Chandgarh, Ganoor, all in Nimar, and
ap to the end of. December had obtained some 167 specimens.
Unfortunately he has not been able to obtain much assistance so
far from the natives in the C. P., and has found them unwilling to
help even when they are offered money for specimens. He writes,
“a very little help from the natives and I could have got foxes,
but the people of Nimar have not the faintest notion of shikar;
they ran down a few hares and caught some rats in their huts,
nothing more. I offered Rs. 3 for a porcupine and up to Rs. 5 for
large mammals that were out of the ordinary. I offered rewards:
if they would show me ‘ earths’ or other hiding places, but there.

was no response.”
Mr. Shortridge, the second Collector, arrived in India on the

20th October 1911, and started collecting at once at Dharwar in
the Southern Mahratta Country. The Society are under a great
obligation to Mr. R. M. Phillips, the District Superintendent of
Police at Dharwar, for the invaluable assistance he has given to
Mr. Shortridge, who in writing says that in consequence of Mr.
Phillips’ assistance there has been no dearth of specimens from the
first, whilst every difficulty has been removed. Mr. Shortridge
obtained some 571 specimens from Dharwar, Devikop, Gadag (where
Mr. T. J. Spooner, C. E., an old member of the Society, rendered
him much assistance) and Potoli, all in the Dharwar district.

Mr. Shortridge is now in North Kanara and proceeds south through
Kanara into Mysore territory and gradually into Southern India.

“The Field,” commenting on the progress of this Survey in
their issue of the 10th February 1912, states: ‘So far, therefore,
as the Survey has hitherto extended, it tends to show that India has
been thoroughly well worked in respect of its mammalian fauna;
most of this work, it should be remembered, having been accom-
plished by amateurs.’”’ Such a statement as this is not calculated
to help the Society in the work they have undertaken nor is it fair
to draw such general conclusions from the first report of the

642 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX.

Mammal Survey. A glance at the original prospectus issued by
our Society in connection with the Mammal Survey would have
revealed the reasons why it was undertaken, not to try and discover
new species, but because ‘‘ no systematic collection of the mammals
of India has been made since the time of Hodgson, Horsfield,
Elliot, Sykes, Jerdon, and Blanford. . . . . a few private
volunteers, Colonel Ward, Major Dunn, Major Magrath, Mr. White-
head and others, have lent a helping hand in recent years, but pro-
gress in this manner has been necessarily very slow.”’ The lack of
specimens of Indian Mammals in the National collection at the
British Museum (Natural History), South Kensington, is deplor-
able,* and it is with the idea of helping our own collections as well
as that of the National collections that the Survey was resolved
upon by our Society. The Survey was not undertaken merely to
obtain new species, otherwise we should not have commenced by
sending our Collectors to Khandesh and Dharwar, and
Mr. Wroughton from the British Museum (Natural History), writing
on oth February 1912, says, ‘‘the topotypes in the Dharwar lot are
invaluable, the first really firm foundation we have had.”

This is sufficient encouragement to us.

As regards finance, when the last Journal was published some
Rs. 20,816 had been received for the special fund for carrying on
the Mammal Survey. Since then the Society has received some
Rs. 5,582, so that the total received up to date is Rs. 26,398, out.
of which Rs. 9,879 has been spent.

The Survey with only two Collectors will take several years ns
complete and therefore we must try and obtain a further
Rs. 25,000 or Rs. 30,000. This should not be very difficult as our
members will surely appreciate the value of the work as it proceeds,
and as they see the results being published in Mr. Wroughton’s
reports in the Journal. The first report (Khandesh) appears in this
number (page 392) and the 2nd (Berars) and 3rd (Cutch) have also

been received and. will appear in the next number of the Journal.
March, 1912.

*Myr. Oldfield Thomas in our original prospectus wrote as follows :—“ There is no
doubt that the representation of our Indian Mammal Fauna in the National.
Museum has fallen behind other parts of the world and is very far short of what
it should be.” ;

GADAG
TEN DAYS COLLECTION @

DEC 1911 |

PROGRESS OF THE MAMMAL SURVEY. 643-

MAMMAL FUND.

FURTHER LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS.

NAME. Amount.

Amount previously acknowledged in Journal

No. 1 of Vol. XXI ae ae .. | 20,816 2 0
“‘ Another Piffer” .. ab ae 50 0 0
Bikaner, H. H. the aaa ‘of os ye Oo0 0 0
Blunt, A. W. ‘ 3% y 15 0 0
Burns, Cecil L. is Bs oe Se 50 0 0
Brodie, Di. see aE ne 25 0 0
Broughton, Capt. uh D. He Bid 15 0 0
Bute, The Most Hon. Marquis of : Hae aly 3 0
Budd, Lt.-Col. N. A. H. (2nd Donation Pet, 50 0 0
Chamba, H.H. the Raja of .. ate ay 150 0 0
Clifford, Capt. R. .. em ae aj geen ) 0 0
Cook, i PSs be ais e: 15 0 0
Culbertson, T. M. ce i ae cee 15 0) 0
Currey, Capt. Vick, at oe ae 30 0 0
Dallaporta, J. N. .. oe ae 5 15 0 0)
Deane, Dr. A. H. . ES 15 0 4)
Dewas (Junior), H. H. the Raja Saheb of & 100 Q 0
Dumayne, Sir F. G. (2nd Ponene eid re 10 ) 0
Fraser, W... oh ae 50 0 (0)
Fyson, P F. (2nd Donation) . ae 2 15 0) 0
Gilbert, meta ote os = 25 0 0
Heath, RH . (2Qud Donation).. oe As 10 0 0
Hide, eee a:” : re oe 50 0 0
Hulbert, Major J. G. a Se af 10 0 0
Hunt, Capt. A. T. 45 0 rt)
Indore, H. H. the Maharaja Tukojirao 1 Holkar of. 1,000 0 0
Jeejeebhoy, Sir ee Bart. : 100 0 0
Jenkyns, H. H. : Se Pe V5 0) 0
Joly, P. B.. a5 3 te 15 0 0
King. R. C. H. Moss. THORN ce ws ye 15 0 0
Kolhapur, H. H. the hans a ls of as Ae 200 0 1)
Lewis, J. 8. ws oe 15 0) 0)
Lucknow, Provincial “Museum. . sis sic 200 0 0
Messent, P. G. ae ine 15 0 (0)
Millard, 'W.S. (2nd Donation) as = 200 0 0
Moberly, C.N. he ve 25 0 0
Montagu, The Hon'ble E. S. a6 te 99 0 0
Morris, Major R. L.. she a sa 20 0 0
Nevill, Thos. N.C. .. oe a oe 15 0 0
Norman, H. C. ite Ae a te 15 0 0
Perfect. S. R. a ws ays Re 25 0) 0
Perreau, Capt. G. A. se ay 15 0 0
Petit. Sir Dinshaw M., Bart. ue he 50 0) 0)

644 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol.

NAME.

AAT.

Amount.

Phillips, Capt. E. H.

Pickthall, Capt. J. W.

Peall, Lt.-Col. S. E... ays
Purkis, F. C. (2nd Donation) ..
Reichwald, Capt. W. F. ;
Rogers, K. St. Aubyn

Sale, E. L., 1.0.8. (2nd Donation)

February and March Berne

| Tweedy, A. G.

Tyabji, S. B. Qnd Donation) .
Tyler, Ho Ho. M. LCS...
Ward, Major C. H. (2nd Donation)
Whistler, H. (2nd Donation) ..
Wickham, P. F. ae a
Witt, D. O.

Slade, Rear Admiral Sir H. E. (2nd Donation) ..
| Suter, Dr. M. F. (Rs. 10 per month for r January,

Total

26,398

Seeeoceeo ececcoocce

SSoeooceosée cococeco

i
)
= ee

GA5

REVIEWS.-

“FORTY YEARS AMONG THE WILD ANIMALS OF INDIA.”
(SOME NOTES ON A NEW BOOK.)

Above is the title of a book recently published, the author of which is

with tiger shooting, but apart from this the author has expressed opinions
_on two subjects to which I wish to invite attention.

I.—Game PRESERVATION.

In his delightful book “ Leaves from an Indian Jungle,’ Major Glasfurd
some years ago gave a startling account of the extent to which game
is destroyed in the Central Provinces by native shikaris who sell the
skins and heads to traders, and shewed that there exists a very consider-
able trade in shikar trophies which there is at present apparently no means
of checking.

Mr. Hicks now furnishes us with some equally remarkable inform-
ation as to the sale of the flesh of game in some districts. For instance, he
writes of the Dehra Dun district “ With Dehra and Mussoorie within
easy reach there is always a good market for the sale of venison and other
game. Consequently the reader may go at almost any time of the year to
the Dehra bazar and at a certain butcher’s shop he will be able to buy
venison at two annas a seer ; this, with mutton selling at five annas a seer

in itself speaks for the amount of deer that must be slaughtered for this
~ market.” Again, after mentioning the sale of pheasants’ eggs at Mussoorie
at a much cheaper rate than fowls’ eggs, he continues “I also know of
several hotels which maintain a number of professional shikaris, whose
business it is to obtain game for their hotels.”

Again, “It may be argued that the cases 1 have mentioned are excep-
tional owing to the proximity of two large towns, such as Dehra and
Mussoorie. But this is so only in the matter of degree * * * * *
I was camped lately near a group of villages in the heart of a large
jungle. I sent my servant to a butcher whom I had heard of at one of the
villages. His reply was that he only killed domestic animals once a week,
as it did not pay him to kill more on account of the amount of deer that
the local villagers shot or trapped. I found the same demand to exist all
over the Central Provinces and Mysore, no matter how uncivilised or out of
the way the places might be.”

Of course there is little that is really new in this, while, as Major Glas-
furd has pointed out, the root of the trouble lies in the number of guns in
the possession of native shikaris, and the extreme difficulty of satisfactorily
enforcing game regulations by means of more or less venial native subor-
dinate officials so long as these guns exist.

646 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

I am not sufficiently conversant with the subject to discuss the difficul-
ties in the way of reducing the number of guns, but it seems probable
that but a small portion of these are needed for the protection of cultiva-
tion against the depredations of game, and that there is room for a large
reduction in the number of licenses now granted, assuming that in the
majority of cases the native shikari’s possession of his gun is eee under
existing conditions.

But the main point to whichI wish to invite attention is that all or
nearly all the illegal slaughter of game that goes on is for profit, whether
by sale of horns, skins, or flesh. Put an end to the demand and the supply
will cease. This is Mr. Hicks’ contention, with which I for one am entirely
in agreement. What he would do is to prohibit by law the sale or pur-
chase of game in any form whether flesh, skins, horns, or feather. It does
not seem that there would be anything unreasonable or impracticable in
such a prohibition, though certain exceptions to the general rule might be
found advisable.

Since writing the above I have learned that a new Bill on the subject of
Game Preservation, prepared after consultation with the Local Govern-

ments, is now under consideration by the Secretary of State. Whether

it contains any provisions against the traffic above mentioned is doubtful.
In any case, as this bill will presumably come up before the Legislative
Council before very long the present juncture would seem not inop-
portune for calling attention to the subject. Isittoo latefor the Society
to make a representation in the mat er? If there be any doubt as to
the need for some action it should be possible with the Society’s present
large membership to obtain within a short time a sufficiency of information
upon which to form an opinion.” |
Il.—Two spPrciEs oF PANTHER.

I had imagined that in spite of opinions to the contrary, specially among

an earlier generation of Indian sportsmen, science had decided once for all

that there was no specific distinction between the large “ panther” and
the smaller ‘ leopard” of some writers. This for the reason that a large
series of animals shows such a number of intermediate variations between
two types in size, ¢olouring, length of tail and even shape of-head that it
is impossible to separate them.

In this connection Mr..Lydekker writes, however, that if the two forms
are, as a whole, distinguishable and restricted to particular localities, they

* Mr. Dodsworth’s interesting article on the ‘‘ Protection of Wild Birds in
India” in the last number of the ‘ournal affords evidence of the success of recent
legislation directed against the Indian Plumage Trade, and encourages one to hope
that the efforts of Mr. Hicks ‘and others on behalf of the CER &c., ay not pEeole
unavailing.

a a ee ee ree

REVIEWS. 647

are undoubtedly entitled to recognition, e.g., as “‘ geographical forms” not
as distinct species.
Mr. Hicks, has no doubts on the subject, defining two distinct species as.
below :—
(1) The Panther, with the following characteristics :—
(2) Weight about 150 lbs.
(0) Length of body alone about 5 feet, length of tail about 2 feet.
(ce) Smooth shining coat with clearly defined rosettes.
(dq) Longer and more pointed skull with strongly developed
occipital ridge.
(ec) Having 22 caudal vertebre in the tail.
(II) The “ Pantheret ” :—
(a2) Weight about 50 lbs.
(5) Length of body about 8 feet, length of tail 23 to 3 feet and

more.
(c) Shorter and rounder skull with no occipital ridge. |
(2) A dull rough coat and blurred rosettes.
(e) Having 28 caudal vertebre in the tail.

These dimensions are said to be those of an average animal in its prime,
but both “ species,”’ especially the first, are admitted to vary considerably.

Now these differences are in the main those long recognised as existing
between the typical “panther” and “leopard,” but which have been
weighed in the balance and found wanting. It is the final difference in
the number of the caudal vertebre that has captured my attention and
induced me to write this note.

I am unaware whether Mr. Hicks is the first to call attention to this
character. But if the difference is a constant one and no intermediate
variations occur, we have surely here a permanent structural difference
which absolutely warrants specific distinction. With the number of shi-
karis there are among the members of the Society in different parts of
India it should not be difficult to decide the question.

Apart from this point, the author’s differentiation would leave me un-
convinced. My own experience in this direction has been mainly confined
to North Gujarat; during 22 years in the Mahi Kantha Agency I measured
a sufficient number of panthers to afford a fair idea of the average size ;
I find that I have a record of 19 adult specimens shot in that district,
of which I give the following particulars for what they may be worth :—

Length of body (in a straight line) varies in 11 males from 3 feet 73
inches to 4 feet 63 inches, in 8 females from 3 feet 4 inch to 3 feet 73
inches. Length of tail varies from 2 feet 2 inches to 2 feet 93 inches.
In colouring and comparative smoothness of coat the larger individuals
correspond more or less to Mr. Hicks’ “panther,” the smaller to his
“pantheret,”’ with some intermediate variations. But in view of the great

648 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXTI.

<lifference between the average size of Mr. Hicks’ two species I should find
it extremely difficult to place these Gujarat animals, not having in those
days ever thought of counting the caudal vertebre.

The author is very severe on the sportsman who says he has killed a
panther when he has shot an animal of the smaller type, which is rather
unkind if one considers that modern scientists all tell the sportsman that
the small beast is a panther.

To the ordinary use of the word “leopard” Mr. Hicks strongly objects.
And of course he is perfectly right in pointing out that the original
leopardus was undoubtedly Felis jubata (Cynelurus jubatus). But when he
remarks that “pardus” means “spotted,” not “rosetted,”’ implying that
the animal known to the ancients as “pardus’”’ was not the panther, I think,
he is wrong; the panther is not the less spotted because his spots are
arranged in rosettes. But in any case the ordinary use of the word leopard
has existed for centuries, and is too general for there to be any hope of
correcting the error now; the name panther indeed in its true application
is hardly known out of India. Under the circumstances one cannot agree
with the author when he stigmatizes the man who calls the panther a_
“leopard ” as ignorant and immoral! More especially seeing that in spite
of his zeal for correct nomenclature he invariably calls the gaur what it is
not—a bison. ‘The latter misnomer, if sanctioned by practice, is yet no
more excusable than in the case of the leopard. While his spelling of
“‘cheetle”’ for “ chital” if original, is not to be admired.

However, these are trivial blemishes in what is one of the most remark-
able beoks on Indian big game that has been written. Certainly no
writer of whom I am aware has displayed a knowledge equal to this
author’s of the habits of the tiger, and his chapters on the theory and
practice of beating for tigers deserve the sportsman’s careful study.
But I have no intention here of trying to review Mr. Hicks’ book and have
already written more than I meant to do. I will only add that the author
records the shooting of an undoubted hybrid between tiger and panther of
which he says “its head and tail were purely those of a panther, but with
a body, shoulders and neck-ruff unmistakably of a tiger, the black stripes
being broad and long though somewhat blurred and breaking off here and
there into a few blurred rosettes, the stripes of the tiger being most predo-
minant on the body.” The animal was an old male and measured a little
over 8 feet in length. This unique trophy unfortunately disappeared
during the confusion, and subsequent illness of the author, that followed
on a severe mauling which he sustained. Is there any other record of such
a hybrid at any rate in the wild state ?

A. H, MOSSH, Caprr., 1. a.

Dwarka, September 1911.

REVIEWS. 649

MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY.

Lintomology for Medical Officers: By A. Alcock, C.L.E., M.B., UL.D., F.R.S.,
etc., Lecturer on Medical Entomology, ete., at the London School of
Tropical Medicine. Lately Superintendent of the Indian Museum,
aud Professor of Zoology in the Medical College of Bengal. Sometime
Surgeon-Naturalist to the Indian Marine Survey. London, Messrs.
Gurney and Jackson, 1911, Price 9 shillings net.

‘The publication by Colonel Alcock of an Entomological Text-book will
come as a surprise to those who know him as one of the leading authorities
on the abyssal fauna, but it cannot be said that the admirable work before
us has suffered in being written by one who isa naturalist in the true
sense of the word, not merely a specialist in the narrow sense. For some
years past Colonel Alcock has been occupied in organizing and conducting
in the Seamen’s Hospital at the Royal Albert Docks a course of medical
entomology for doctors, missionaries and others interested in tropical
medicine. His “Entomology for Medical Officers” is therefore the result
not merely of theoretical knowledge but of practical experience. Perhaps
the most striking feature of the book is its remarkable lucidity. It is not
an easy task to give students to whom “ entomology is a means rather than
an end,” a precise idea of the classification and structure of those Insects,
Arachnids and other Arthropods—for the scope of the work is not limited
to the Insects in a limited sense—that are noxious to man’s person. That
this has been achieved no one who reads “Entomology for Medical Officers”’
can doubt. Further, a great simplification has been introduced into the
classification of the mosquitoes, especially of those which belong, in a wide
sense, to the genus Anopheles; so that we are now within reasonable
distance of a complete revision of the Culicidae in which the accumulation
of “bad” species and worse genera that the last few years have produced
will be swept away and it will again be possible to regard an interesting
family of Insects not merely as ahappy hunting-ground for the species-
monger but as a legitimate object of study to the zoologist ; for no scien-
tific study of any group of animals can be successful so long as itis
viewed from a prejudiced standpoint that encourages the production of
hasty work, and in the case of a group of great practical importance it is
the ordinary man, not merely the zoologist, who suffers from hasty work
such as that recently lavished on the Culicidae. Colonel Alcock is a
doctor as well as a zoologist, and it is his good fortune also to be endowed
with a literary style of uncommon merit. No better trial of qualifications
could be imagined in the production of a text-book on medical zoology, so
long as no one of them is allowed to dominate the rest, and in this case
the three are united in perfect harmony by experience. The book can be

650 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XX1.

recommended not only to medical men, but to all who are interested in
insects, their structure and their habits. The many illustrations, although
of, a simple nature, show what they are meant to show, and are not mere
embellishments. Tue book itself is easily handled. Would that such:
works were commoner in entomology !

INC FAG

651
OBITUARY NOTICE.

EK. W. OATtEs.

The death of Mr. Eugene William Oates, which occurred at
Edgbaston, Birmingham, on the 16th of November, will be greatly
regretted by all ornithologists and more especially by those who
have made a study of the Birds of India. For some years past he
had been in failing health, and his death at the comparatively
early age of 66 was therefore not unexpected.

Mr. Oates was an officer in the Public Works Department in
Burmah from 1867 to 1899, and rose to the highest positions in
that branch of the service. He was an ardent naturalist, and all
his spare time was devoted to the study of his favourite science.

As an ornithologist Mr. Oates had few equals, and will long be
remembered for the excellence of his writings. When in England
in 1882-83 he spent much of his time at the British Museum,
Bloomsbury, in preparing his first well-known work ‘“ A Handbook
to the Birds of British Burinah.’’ Subsequently he wrote the first
and second volumes on Birds in the Fauna of British India, edited
by the late W. T. Blanford—which volumes may justly be regarded
as models of what such works ought to be. The present seems a
fitting opportunity to explain a ridiculous passage which appeared
in the otherwise admirably written second volume and which has
long puzzled ornithologists. In volume i, p. 290, Oates
(apparently) writes that the note of the Streak-eyed Wagtail
Motacilla ocularis is ‘‘a prolonged Pooh.” The explanation of this
remarkable statement may now be given, the author and editor, as
well as the perpetrator of the joke being now, alas, dead. When
Oates was in the middle of preparing his second volume, at the
Natural History Museum, the writer and the late Dr. Sharpe hap-
pened to pass the table covered with his manuscript on their way
tolunch, and Sharpe, who loved a joke, said ‘let us add some-
thing funny to Oates’ description of this Wagtail,” little thinking
that his remark would ever get into print. He never doubted
that the eagle-eye of the author would detect and strike out the
line, after having a laugh over it, knowing the source from whence

652 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX1.

it came. The incident was forgotten, the volume completed and
Oates returned to India. The revise proofs were sent to him by
Blanford for correction and passed, but the long forgotten joke
unfortunately remained unnoticed! Thus it happened that a

Wagtail was described as having an impossible note, which has

long been a puzzle to ornithologists—a warning to all practical
jokers.

His other well-known works included a second edition of
“ Hume's Nests and Lggs of Indian Birds” and a“ Manual of the
Game Buds of India’ He also wrote the first and second
volumes of the “ Catalogue of the Collections of Bird’s Egqqs in
the British Museum,” and was joint author with Capt. Savile
G. Reed of the third and fourth volumes of the same work.

Mr. Oates was an accurate observer in the field and his fine
collection of Burmese Birds and their eggs now forms part of the
National Collection.

In the last years of his life he was deeply interested in that
most difficult group of Kalij and Silver Pheasants which are in-
cluded in the genus Gennaus and he formed a fine collection of
these birds which was transferred to the Natural History Museum
shortly before his death. His views on this difficult group of birds
were much at variance with those of other ornithologists, and
probably many of the individuals which he regarded as represent-
ing species or sub-species should really be considered as hybrids,
which undoubtedly occur among wild birds of this group. His
collection, however, contained many types and the Trustees of the
British Museum were fortunate in acquiring it.

My. Oates was elected a member of the British Ornithologists’
Union in 1884 and acted as Secretary from 1898 to 1900: he also
joimed the British ‘Ornithologists’ Club in 1898, soon after its
commencement. He wasa Fellow of the Zoological Society of
London, &c., and a popular member of the Savage Club.

W. R. 0. G

6535

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.
No. I.—THE NUMBER OF CUBS IN A TIGER’S LITTER.

In May 1911, I was out in the C. P. after tiger, when a tigress was shot.
On being skinned it was found that the uterus contained 4 foetus, within
a few weeks of being born. I took measurements and they were :—

Length of body .. .. 12 inches.
Length of tails be 2 Oeanches,

Total .. 18 inches.

Their skin was properly formed, coloured and striped, and the bones and
teeth hard and firmly set. It was only the absence of preserving liquids
and jars that prevented me bringing them back.

Another tigress I shot had a family of 3 cubs a few months old, but
although I often saw their tracks, I never got a glimpse of them. I have
also heard of many litters of three. I see W. 8. Burke in his Indian Field
Shikar Book, says concerning cubs that “seldom more than two are
reared” ; does this mean that one or two always die or get killed, for as.
far as I have heard, 3 in a litter seems very common, while only 2 rather
unusual.

C. Rh. 8. PITMAN, 2np Lr.,
AtrporEe, August 1911. ; 27th Punjabis.

No. I.—THE STOAT IN KASHMIR.

On the 15th August while ascending a high mountain, near Pahlgam,
Kashmir, with a climbing party, and when crossing a snow patch at about
14,000 feet a coolie carrying the tiffin basket suddenly drew my attention
to a stoat which was showing its head at the visible base of a point of rock
jutting out of the snow. It ran out on tothe rock and I had a good look
at it through glasses, but the combined effect of a defective cartridge and
an excited terrier prevented my securing it.

From its size, however, its chestnut colour above, its yellowish white
underparts and the black tip to the tail I came to the conclusion it was an
example of Mustela erminea, the Common Stoat. If the lair was under the
rock where I saw it the situation was an extraordinary one, for the sur-
roundings were nothing but bare rock and snow. And what this little
carnivore could have found to live on in this inhospitable spot I could see
no sign of,

Kasumirn, September 1911. H, A. F. MAGRATH, Masor.

[It was unfortunate Major Magrath was unable to secure the specimen as it
would have been interesting to see to what race this Stoat belonged, whether M,
whiteheadi or Mf. erminea.—Kas. |

654 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXII.

No. I11.—A DEFORMED THAMIN STAG (CERVUS ELDIZ).

I enclose a photograph of a deformed Thamin head shot by me last
March in Manipur. To bag a Thamin in Manipur necessitates hard
work and early rising. Having chosen his ground the sportsman proceeds
to build his basha on the edge of the swamp. The Thamin in Manipur
keeps absolutely to the swamps, except perhaps during the rutting season,
when he may be met in the long grass at the foot of the hills. The
shikari wakes you up at about 3-30, and you should have left your
camp by 4-0, an hour before dawn. As soon as light appears the stag
moves off into deep water, where he is very difficult to follow, so it is
very necessary to get a view of him early. After a stag has been seen he
should not be followed unless he is actually moving away from you or until
he commences grazing. His senses of hearing and seeing areacute. As
a rule one can approach him from behind high patches of grass, taking care
to move only when he is unlikely to see you. I was fortunate in bag-
ging two fairly good heads last season (though neither reached 50 inches)
and the deformed one.

The deformed head shown in the photograph seems quite unique. One
horn, brow-antler and beam, is complete whereas the other has only the
brow-antler and this, instead of growing forwards and upwards, takes a
vertical direction. Itis a much thicker and longer brow-antler than the

—__ =. =

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 655

other. There is no sign of a break from fighting or any other cause. When
I shot this stag my shikari was extremely excited, telling me that the
Manipuris say that in each variety of deer only one stag bears such a head,
and any one who has one in his possession will be wealthy and healthy for
the remainder of his life. I only hope this will prove true.
The measurements of this deformed head are :—
Left Horn: Beam 312 inches. Brow Antler 15 inches=46; inches.
Right Horn: No Beam. Brow-Antler 18? inches.
The best head bagged last year was shot by a Jemadar of the Regiment,
measuring: —
Left horn : 49 inches. Right Horn 534 inches.
Two other very good heads were shot by Colonel Tytler measuring over 52
inches and 53 inches respectively.
A. H. D. BARRON,
17th Infantry.
Manipur, llth November 1911.

No. IV.—DO CHINKARA (GAZELLA BENNETTI) DRINK WATER ?

W. 8. Burke, in his Indian Field Shikar Book writes concerning the Chin-
kara, ‘It is said never to drink.” J have had very little experience with
Chinkara, but on two occasions within the last year I have seen them com-
ing to drink.

In the C. P. last December every afternoon from 4 p.m. to 5. p.m. about
12 Chinkara used to come and drink either singly or in pairs at a
road-side tank. Last June I also observed them, both bucks and does
drinking from a river, near which I had pitched my tent. Ido not know
whether you have already had correspondence on the subject, but it would
be interesting to know if others have noticed this.

.C. R. 5S. PITMAN, 2np Lr.,
ALIPporE, August 1911. 27th Punjabis.

No. V.—INDIAN BREEDS OF SHEEP.

I shall be much obliged if any member of the Society can procure for me
a skull of a ram of the four-horned breeds of sheep which Col. Godwin
Austen said (cf. Proc. Zoological Society, 1879, p. 802) are carefully pre-
served in Kishtwar. The only specimen which he brought home of this
remarkable breed, was destroyed many years ago, and I can find no des-
eription, figure or specimen of this breed anywhere in England.

Four-horned sheep are known in many countries, and we have in
England no less than 3 distinct breeds in which 4-horns are common
though not universal in the male sex.

656 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol, XX;

Also I should be glad if anyone can give exact information as to the race
or aberration, of sheep in Nepal, in which the rams have the two horns
united in one. These sheep have been imported more than once to Eng-
land, and there are living ones now in the menagerie of the Duke of
Bedford. But as no females have been seen, it has been suggested that
the junction of the two short upright horns is artificially proceeded, by
binding together the horns of the lamb when young.

Another sheep about which I can find no recent or exact information is
the large coarse woolled breed used in Ladakfor carrying salt. Though a

great deal has been written both by shikaris and zoologists about the wild

sheep of Asia, yet so far as I can learn no one has as yet made any serious
attempt to describe or illustrate the domestic races, and there is little
doubt that a careful study of them, would have great economic importance.
The Karakul breed from Bokhara has now been introduced to the
United States, with the idea of producing the fine curly skins which
are imported at a highand increasing price, under the name of Persian
lambskins. Might it not be possible to breed these successfully in
parts of the North-West Himalayas, or does the character of the wool
degenerate in other parts of Asia? On this important question we know
next to nothing.

COLESBORNE, NR CHELTENHAM, H. J. ELWES.
September 1911.

No. VI.—THE BANTING OR TSAING (BOS SONDAICUS).
Karly in December 1910 I was fortunate enough to be marching through
one of the uninhabited forest tracts of Upper Burma and after several days

of moving camp halted in the middle of the forest for a day off. My camp

was near a good stream and the hills along its banks are at certain times

the haunt of tsaing (Sos sondaicus) so I thought it worth while to take a

look round. Ihad an excellent old Burmese shikari with me and we left ‘

camp soon after seven and slowly walked up one of the spurs until we found
a narrow winding game tract which we followed for a couple of miles. The
grass was getting dry and the surface was hard and stony so I had on
India rubber soled boots. Less than three miles from camp we came to a
fork in the path and the old man hesitated for some time before taking the
right hand path, a momentous decision as it chanced. We went on care-
fully looking out ‘for tracts, myself in front and the two Burmans a little
way behind. Within half a mile I suddenly spotted ten yards below the
path a fine bull grazing among the scrubby trees and quite unconscious of
an enemy’s presence and was able without trouble to drop him in his tracks
with a soft-nosed bullet behind the shoulder from a 500 high velocity rifle.
He died almost at once and I thought it an excellent chance to return and

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 657°

fetch my camera and was able to get the photo here reproduced after
cutting away the scrub round him.

The length of the horns on the inside curve was 5 feet, distance from tip

to tip 342 inches, widest inside 37 inches, and girth of horn round base 15.
inches. He was accompanied by a‘smaller bull as is so often the way with
tsaing, and this one bolted at the shot giving me a glimpse of him through
the jungle. There was great glee among the Burmans of course at such a
fine haul of meat, and I was much amused at hearing a calculation being
made of the number of cart yoke straps his hide would yield. Burmese
cartmen usually fasten the yokes of bullockcarts to the holes by thongs.
A long and gory procession descended from the ridge to the camp during
the afternoon bearing blocksand strings of meat of all kinds and shapes

and pemmican manufacture was soon in full swing.

Denra Dun, November 1911. A. RODGERS.

No. VII.—THE COLOURATION OF TIGERS.

When shooting last hot weather in the Central Provinces, I bagged two
tigers at places quite 20 miles apart, and the difference in their colour was
very marked. The first whose colour was very dark had a reputation for

658 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XX1I.

keeping to the jungle ; he was cunning and did not worry the villagers by
raiding their cattle, although he was often heard at night. His mate was
of the same dark colour. I shot her.

In the next case I again shot the tigress ; but this time the first news I
heard of the tigress and her mate was that they were both very bad cattle
marauders. The colour of the one I shot was a very pale yellow. When
reading Col. Fytche’s book on Big Game I noticed that he remarks that the
really bad cattle-stealing tigers were always reputed to have far paler skins
than their less notorious brethren. I wonder if any of your correspon-
dents have ever come across this, when out on shikar.

This second tiger had done great damage to cattle during the short time
that I was in the shooting-block.

ALIPORE, CALCUTTA, -C. R. 8. PITMAN,
13th November 1911. 27th Punjabis.
No, VIII.—A DEFORMED HEAD OF THE FOUR-HORNED

ANTELOPE.

On the 18 June 1911, I shot what appeared to me to be quite a good
Four-horned Antelope buck. He wasa 100 yards away when I got him.
‘On approaching I found that his right rear horn was missing. It had either
never grown at all or it had been knocked off very early in his life. The
actual measurements were as follows :—

Length of right rear horn ee -None:

Length of left rear horn ot _-- 3% Inches,

Length of front right horn .. 12 inches.

Length of front left horn .. :. Z.imehes.

Girth of rear horn vs ie .. 2 inches.

Girth of front horns 2% te .. 22 inches.

Tip to tip: rear horns .

Tip to tip: front horns.. 2 .. 2 inches.

C.R.S. PITMAN,
ALIPORE, CALCUTTA, 27th Punjabis.

13th November 1911.

No. IX.—_THE PINTAIL DUCK (DAFILA ACUTA) SHOT
IN SEPTEMBER.

When flight shooting in Kashmir on 21st September, I bagged a Pintail
drake which was in either immature or eclipse plumage. The earliest
recorded date hitherto for this duck in India is October.

H. A. F. MAGRATH, Magsor.
Kasumir, 1911.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 659

No. X.—OCCURRENCE OF EUROPEAN STRIATED SWALLOW
(HIRUNDO RUFULA), IN KANGRA.

At the end of May I was marching along the road from Palumpur to the
Bhuhu Pass in Kangra district, when on May 3lst between Baijnath and
Dhelu I met with a species of Striated Swallow—to quote from my
note book, “(another swallow was common—some Striated species, and I
found three of their nests, built under ledges of rock. The first contained
4 white eggs, but they were nearly hatching and I could not save one.
The nests are of mud and are of the shape of a half a cognac flask
with long neck (section taken lengthwise ) fastened underneath ledges.
They are lined with a little dry grass and feathers. The second nest con-
tained a fully feathered young Swift ( Cypselus affinis). The third was
ready for eggs.” Finding the nests, I shot a bird for identification ( skin
register 407, ¢ 31. V. 1910, Dhelu, Maudi N. 8S.) which remained unnamed
in my collection for some time. This skin was recently sent to England with
others to Dr. C. B. Tichurst, M.B.O.U., who had it named by Dr. Hartert.
He stated that it was undoubtedly H. dauwrica scullii (Seebohm). As this
sub-species apparently corresponds to Fauna of 6. I. No. 824, H. rufula, this
note may be of interest. If observers along the Western Himalayas were
to look out for this species, it would perhaps prove to be a well distributed
breeding species.

H. WHISTLER,
Indian Police.

FEROZEPORE, January 1912,

No. XI.—NIDIFICATION OF THE TWEEDDALE SCIMITAR
BABBLER (POMATORHINUS NUCHATIS),

On the 30th October I found a nest containing 2 fresh eggs and although
I did not actually obtain the parent bird, 1 am quite sure it belonged
to the Scimitar Babbler common in the locality—P. nuchalis. The eggs
were pure white and glossy and measured -°93x°7. The nest was placed
in a bamboo clump about 3 ft. from the ground and egg-shaped in form, the
aperture being much closer to the top than the bottom; the lower part
of the nest was a fairly deep cup. It was carefully lined inside with dried
grass and packed exteriorly with dried bamboo leaves, so that the nest on
first sight looked like a collection of leaves.

I think the 30th of October an unusual time of year for any of the babblers:
to be laying.

J. P. COOK.
TuHaveEetmyo, 30¢h November 1911.

660 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, \ol, XXn

No. XIJ.—THE PARADISE FLYCATCHER (7TERPSIPHONE
PARADIST).

It is a curious thing that hitherto, as far as I am aware, the statement in
the Fauna, Vol. Il., p. 45, regarding members of the genus Terpsiphone
‘never descending to the ground,” and their notes being “ very harsh,’’ has
remained uncontradicted. So long ago as 6 years I noted that the song
of the Paradise Flycatcher was in keeping with its appearance, and
I regret that in notes on this species subsequently published I have omitted
to correct the misstatement in the Fauna.

The song of 7. paradisi is a series of sweet liquid notes descending
the scale, then running up at the end and repeated 5 or 4 times. Al-
though short it cannot fail to give pleasure to all who hear it, and can
rank as a fine bird song. In Kashmir the song is continued up to the end of
September if not later. I have seen this flycatcher descend to the ground
-on three occasions at least.

IT trust that this belated note will serve to vindicate the character of
T. paradisi at any rate.

H. A. F. MAGRATH, Mason.

Kasur, September 1911.

No. XIU.—THE CRAG MARTIN (PTYONOPROGNE RUPESTRIS).

The fact that the Crag Martin is subject to a seasonal movement along
the Himalayas does not appear to have been noticed by Oates in the
Fama, Birds, Vol. Il, p. 274, but there is no doubt that it is so.

Jerdon speaks of it as a “bird of passage,” and writing more than 40
years ago Hume remarked that ‘‘on many of the higher hills south of the
snowy range, it seems to a great extent to be a permanent resident, not at
any rate migrating en masse from the country, but, as a rule, only retreat-
ing lower down the valleys in the cold weather; some few, however, during

the latter season being met with in the higher hills of Central India and

Rajputana. On the N eilgherries there appears to be a permanent resident
colony.’’ (Lahore to Yarkand, p. 177). As regards Chitral it is said to be
a common summer visitor, appearing about the middle of April, and
remaining till October. It breeds at all elevations there from 4,500 feet up
to 18,000 feet. (J. B. N. H. S., Vols. XVI and XIX, pp. 55 and 914
respectively).

In the neighbourhood of Simla (7,000 feet), these Martins are usually to
be seen in immense flocks about the third week in March (earliest date
19th March), and then again about the middle of October. On their
arrival here, the Jungle Crows commit great depredations amongst them,

‘and literally speaking gorge themselves on these helpless birds. I should

think that very large numbers of them must come to grief in this way.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 661

Excluding the few birds, which find their way down to the hilly districts
in the plains, during the cold weather, it would be interesting to know the
lowest elevation at which the majority remain, at that season, in the
Himalayas.

Since Hume’s time several Odlogists have taken the eggs of this bird,
but none of them have put on record an exact and detailed description
({e. g., length and breadth, texture of surface, etc.) of the specimens.

The time of breeding of this species should be April to June, and Quetta
should be included in its habitat. (J. B. N. H. 8. Vol. XVII, pp. 831-32).

Py Dae be DODDS WOR TRE nZis amp onc,
Simna, S. W., 23rd October 1911.

No. XIV._EXTENSION OF THE HABITAT OF THE COMMON
KINGFISHER (ALCEDO ISPID.A).

In the “ Fauna,” Birds, Vol. III, p. 128, Blanford remarks that Alcedo
ispida, Linneus, ‘is only wanting in the Himalayas, where it is rarely
met with far above the base of the mountains, etc.” It is, therefore, of
mterest to record that on the 15th May 1910, I procured a specimen, an
adult male with testes slightly enlarged, in Keonthal territory, not more
than 3 miles from Simla, at an elevation of about 5,600 feet. On the 26th
April 1911 I again saw another bird in this locality.

It is undoubtedly a rare species in these parts.

ee Pp, Le DODDS WORDE 22.8: MiaE-O. ur
Simba, 8S. W., 23rd October 1911.

No. XV._NOTE ON THE COMMON KINGFISHER ( ALCEDO
ISPID A).

It may be of interest to record that on the 25rd of September I saw a
common kingfisher “take” a frog quite 13 inches long in the body, and
after hammering the same against its perch disappear with it into a hole in
the river bank near by and almost immediately emerge with its bill empty.
When conveyed to the hole the frog was carried longitudinally between
the mandibles, its head being beyond the ends and its legs dangling
on either site of the gape.

Now here were two remarkable occurrences. Firstly, this kingfisher
taking a frog (and a comparatively big one) and from the Jhelum river
swarming with small frogs, and secondly, considering the time of year,
conveying it to a nest hole. The latter operation at once gives rise to the
question what was in that hole? It can, I think, only be inferred that
there was a mate sitting on eggs, for young in the nest would hardly be fed
with such a mouthful as the frog in question. Now and again all through

662 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

the month of September I noticed some of these kingfishers fly to holes
with their captures and I have concluded that in Kashmir, breeding opera-
tions are continued up to the end of September.

As is well known this little kingfisher abounds in Kashmir. It is rather
the rule than the exception to have at least one fishing from one’s
houseboat.

When perched for fishing the tail is depressed, except when it, the head
and neck, are elevated with a short of oscillating motion. Ifthe perch how-
ever is on the ground on top of the river bank, as it sometimes is, the tail
is then kept elevated.

Occasionally this bird dives from the wing exactly after the manner of
Ceryle varia. The poise and hover sometimes is quite as much as 12 or 15
feet.

H. A. F. MAGRATH, Masog.

Kasumir, 1911.

No. XVI.—THE NOTES OF PALLAS’ FISHING EAGLE (HALIAETUS
LEUCORYPHUS) AND SOME WATER BIRDS.

The “ Fauna’s”’ remarks on the note of Pallas’ Fishing Hagle are “has a
loud shrieking call note.” As this description is rather vague and would
hardly serve to identify the bird in localities where other raptorial birds with
loud notes were common J would like to supplement it by observations of
my own on this eagle. The note to my ear is a striking one. When heard in
the distance itis not unlike that of the Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) when
closer it runs off at the climax into a series of repetitions which bear a
strong resemblance to the creaking which accompanies the working of
block tackle. Whenever I heard the latter notes they reminded me great-
ly of the sounds one hears when a fishing fleet has come into harbour and
the boats are lowering away and stowing sails. When very close a preli-
minary low croaking note is heard and the note last described sounds
exactly like the clucking of a hen to her chickens only repeated with
rhythm.

Several times I noticed that this eagle was much harried by a smaller
one which, from the way it soared in small circles with wings above the ho-
rizontal, occasionally hovered, and from its long tail, I came to the conclu-
sion was the Short-toed Eagle ( Circaétus gallicus ). The mere approach of
this latter when the former was perched in a tree was enough to start the
“block tackle” working.

The Little Ringed Plover (yialitis dubia) has a dissyllabic note but
one which at once distinguishes it from 4. hiaticula with which it might
easily be confounded even when observed at close quarters and through
glasses, though the latter is, of course, a rare bird in India. This note is

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 663,

well rendered by the syllables “ 'Tee-a,” the note of 4. fiaticula being a
pretty plaintive ‘“ Tli-eh.”

I have never seen in print, what must have struck many observers, that
the ordinary call notes of the Greenshank (Totanus glottis) and the Red-
shank ( 7’. calidus ) are indistinguishable. Yet such is the case I maintain.
If there be any man who blindfolded could tell which is which from
the notes then all I can say is that he has a wonderful ear. To the birds
themselves, of course, their notes must be distinct. But the difference,
whatever it is, can only lie in a very slight change of pitch and in volume
of sound, the Greenshank, as being the larger bird, probably having the
louder note. In the case of both species the note is monosyllabic and is
ordinarily well expressed in writing by the syllable “ Tyii”’ quickly repeat-
ed twice. Sometimes it is thrice repeated and I am inclined to think this
is more often the case with the Greenshank than the Redshank. When
rising alarmed the above syllable is rapidly repeated several times and
I have heard it so repeated as many as 12 or 15 times in this case
the species being the Greenshank.

The note of the Wood Sandpiper (7. glareola) is disyllabic and resem-
bles the syllables “ Tchikkit.” ;

The Green Sandpiper (7. ocropus) has a monosyllabic note like “Twit”
repeated 2 or 3 times when taking to flight.

A note of the Little Indian Grebe or Dabchick ( Podzcrpes albipennis)
which is peculiar, is a shrill prolonged whirring sound running down the
seale. It may be likened in fact to a prolonged shrill whinny.

H. A. F. MAGRATH, Masor.
Kasumtr, 1911.

No. XVII.—_IMMATURE PLUMAGE OF LAMMERGAYER
(GYPAETUS BARBATUS).

When shooting in the neighbourhood of Kalabagh on the River Indus in
the early part of the year I was struck by the abundance of Lammergayers
and asked the Malik of Kalabagh to try and get me a clutch of their eggs.
This he very kindly promised to do and set his shikaris on to the task
with the result that two rock eyries were found. About the lst March one of
the nests, which could be examined with glasses from a neighbouring rock
was seen to contain eggs, but on attempting to take them the Malik’s men
found that even with ropes they could not get to the nest. The other nest
was reached and found to contain one nestling which was brought
to me in Rawalpindi on March 3rd. Lammergayers are not often
seen in captivity; it may be worth while to note the bird’s growth of
plumage.

664 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX.

When received it was covered with thick down of a dirty brownish grey
tint, the sides of the head being a darker and browner colour. Tail and
wing quills of a dark brown colour were sprouting, as well as wing coverts
of dark, and light brown. The scapulars were well grown, forming two
conspicuous patches of dark brown. On the sinciput was a rough patch of
dark feathers, and a few similar feathers were apparent on the sides of the
jbreast. On the lower back was a very small patch of light and dark brown
feathers. The tarsus was well covered with down. The soft parts were
as follows :—iris, brown ; 6z// olive grey with a black tip, the base and gape
being plumbeous blue. Eyelids and bare shelves above the eyes plumbeous
blue ; feet, lead flesh; claws, black.

The bird was about the size of a small goose and rather noisy, giving
vent to a curious shrill squeak; it was very voracious.

The scapulars were the first feathers to attain their full growth, followed
by the other feathers more slowly until about the 19th April, when I again
described the bird, it was almost completely feathered.

On that date the head was sparsely covered with pointed black feathers
which growing more thickly on the crown formed a conspicuous patch
terminating in a point on the sinciput; from this patch a distinct line of
feathers ran down each side of the head to the ear coverts. The bristles
on the chin and pores were very prominent. The entire neck was covered
with dirty pepper-and-salt coloured down which extended in a darker tint
to the patch of feathers on the crown; the chin and upper throat were
very sparsely feathered and down the line of the throat a few blackish
feathers tipped with white were mingled with the down. The scapulars
were large and prominent of a glossy black colour with glistening shafts
and lighter centres; the mantle was similarly coloured but most of the
feathers, especially towards the sides, were tipped with dirty white, giving
the effect of a rough chevron. The lower back and rump were a mixture
of grey, dirty white, and smoky black. The quills of the wings and tail
were hlack with a slight purplish gloss, and the greater wing coverts were
similar but brown. The remaining coverts were smoky black with light
shafts, marked in a few places with white. The under parts including the
thighs and underwing coverts were a mixture of smoky brown and white
with the exception of the feathers on the lower edge of the crop which were
smoky brown alone. The tarsi were feathered except posteriorly. Iris, clear
hazel ; sclerotic membrane reddish yellow. Nictitating membrane whitish.
Feet greenish white with black claws.

The bird’s plumage now remained the same until the beginning of July
when black lanceolate feathers began to struggle through the down on the
back of the neck, and by the middle of September that portion was thickly
clothed and the plumage complete.

The bird was most noisy, uttering a squeaking note and also on occasion

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 665
a kind of quack; although it allowed me to handle it freely it would chase
any of the servants to which it took a dislike. Here my notes end, as by
the kindness of our Honorary Secretary arrangements were made to ship
the bird to England and it sailed on October 9th, in the “ City of Athens,”
en route for Regents Park.

FEROZEPORE, October 1911. H. WHISTLER, 1. P.

No. XVIII.—OCCURRENCE OF THE GOSHAWK (ASTUR
PALUMBARIUS) IN SIND.

On the 10th of this month two men brought me an immature Goshawk,
Astur palumbarius. She, for it is a female, is a particularly fine specimen
and, according to the men who caught her, was captured while killing their
tame partridge not far from Karachi. I have no doubt that the bird is
a wild specimen and not an escaped one as if the latter she would have
the usual marks on her eyelids of the thread used to sew them up, and be-
sides it is full early for a purchased bird to be brought as far south as
this. I think, therefore, that this may be taken as an instance of the oc-

eurrence of the Goshawk in Sind.

RAYMOND W. COOPER.
Karacui, 12th October 1911.

No. XIX.—EXTENSION OF THE HABITAT OF THE BRAHMINY
KITE (HALIASTUR INDUS).

In the Fauna, Birds, Vol. III., p. 373, Blanford makes no mention of
the fact that Haliastur indus (Bodd) is found in the N.-W. Himalayas, but
it is true nevertheless that this species ascends these mountains to at least
5,500 feet, and is apparently a permanent resident here. My friend, Mr.
Alec. Jones, was the first to draw my attention to this, and I give below
the dates and localities, in the neighbourhood of Simla, where this kite has
been observed during the last three years or so.

(a) A single bird seen on the 4th July 1909 near the Keonthal
stream, between Chail and Simla.

(6) « A single bird seen again on the 24th June 1910 near the stream
facing the Keonthal Raja’s Palace.

(c) Several birds, both adults and young, seen after this in the
vicinity of the septic tanks between Simla and Tara Devi.
The tanks referred to are not more than 3 miles from Simla
in a8. direction. On the 20th August 1911, I procured a
specimen (a young female) in this locality and could have
shot several more. I have no doubt that they breed in the
neighbourhood and I hope to take the eggs next year.

666 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

It seems curious that Eieing makes no mention of this bird being found
so close to Simla, and if it had occurred here in his time, it is hardly possi-
ble that it would have escaped his notice. What seems very probable is
that itis only within very recent times that this species has extended its
range so high up.

Stoliczka, in his “ Ornithological observations in the Sutle; Valley”
(J. A. S. B., Vol. XXXVII, pt. ii, p. 16), says that this kite is only an occa-
sional visitant to the lower hills ; he observed it between Suket and Mandi
on marshy ground, but not further in the interior. He adds that it is some-
times seen in the Kashmir Valley above Srinugger.

P. T. L. DODSWORTH, F.z.s., M.B.0.U.
Simba, 23rd October 1911.

No. XX.—THE PAINTED SNIPE (ROSTRATULA CAPENSIS).

I see that in your publication of 20th May 1911, under the title of
Game Birds of India, Burma and Ceylon, you say that “there is, I
think, little doubt * * * that the female Painted Snipe is
polyandrous.”

This agrees entirely with what I noticed this year at the end of May,
round a large tank in the Central Provinces.

On 25th May 1911 I noticed several Painted Snipe get up from a patch
of lilies by the edge of tbe tank. I then put two off their nests, both of
which I shot and which proved to be males. Hach nest contained four eggs
and incubation had started ; it is however worth noting that the lily patch
where one would invariably flush the birds was quite close to the strip of
ground where the two nests were found; so the females were always near
at hand. Later in the day I found a nest with one egg in it on a small
island in the tank. It also was very curious that the birds when disturbed
simply flew backwards and forwards between this place and the lily patch.
In all I counted 16, and out of them I shot 9; 5 of these were males and
4 females ; there were however no more females, as the difference in sexes
is very noticeable when on the wing. All the birds I shot were old ones.
The nest in each case was in a hollow made by the hoof of some animal ;
in only one instance had a few dry rushes been made usé of as a
lining.

In all cases the nests were on dry ground among broken reeds and close
to water. Length of eggs: just under 1:49”; beautifully marked and very
glossy. In December 1910, I noticed some Painted Snipe near a small
tank. I did not realize at the time that they were probably breeding
and always saw 8. On the 19th I shot all three and after that saw no
more ; they proved to be two old males and one old female.

eS ese ee

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 667

In Peshawar, where they are rare, I shot a male inSeptember 1910, and
in January 1910 one of the Majors in my Regiment shot a male when out
after Snipe on a big Jheel; both old ones.

: C. R. 8. PITMAN, 2np Lizvt.,
ALIPorRE, August 1911. 27th Punjabis.

No. XXI.—PAINTED SNIPE (ROSTRATULA CAPENSIS) IN
: LARGE NUMBERS.

‘
(

‘In connection with the article on the Painted Snipe in Vol. XX, No. 4, of
the Society’s Journal, it may interest you to know that while shooting over
rice-fields near Thana on Sunday last I put up fifteen Painters in a single
field, and in the course of the morning saw between fifteen and twenty
couple of these birds. When shooting in the same locality I have often
found Painters in greater numbers than pucca snipe, and this was the case
again on Sunday when my bag included 114 couple of Painters, 7 couple of
Snipe and two couple of Jack.

These experiences hardly agree with the statement in the Journal that
“nowhere is the Painted Snipe ever found in such vast numbers as is
the Common Snipe,” and it may be that other local shikarees have found
the same to be the case.

On page 905 of the same Volume it is stated that “the Jack Snipe
is not nearly so common as either the Pintail or Fantail,” whereas when
shooting at various places on this side of the Ghats, I have always
found the Jack to be more common than the Pintail.

Bags made in the locality of Bombay are rarely enough to justify their
inclusion in sporting records, but they are not without interest, as the
comparative numbers and distribution of the different varieties of Snipe
do not agree, in my small experience, with those given in the Journal.

A. H. KINGSTON.
Bombay, 31st October 1911.

No. XXIJ.—RECORD OF SNIPE SHOT AT HMINELONGYEE, IN
THE CHIENGMAI DISTRICT OF SIAM, 18-15 NORTH
LAT., 98° EAST LONG., FROM 1905 TO 1910.

I enclose a record of snipe shot in Hminelongyee, a district in Siam, and
about 25 miles across the border from Burmah, 18°15 North Lat., 98° Long.,
for a period of six years, which may he of interest.

The months of May, June and July did not produce much. October,
November and December show small bags; this was not due to the scarcity
of snipe, but rather to the want of time to shoot them.

668 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XX1.

I regret that no record was kept of the different species.

Month. 1905. | 1906. | 1907. | 1908. | 1909. | 1910. Total.
|
January .. oe 9 31 62 43 4 92
February .. a 52 9 6 53 if 69
March oe me 24 21 63 32 16 al
April We a 15 39 9 24 14 16
May .. wh a 1
June.. oe 2 si | |
July .. oh al nee | Be es el |
August... .. bd 37 ‘nis 44 42 14 12
September ©) ) |. . |. 4en\ h> IMG, Gr 179
October a ee 49 | ott a a 13 20
November .. Me 9 | ae a un . a 2
ecember .. si Ait i. fe 21 is 19 44
Total ..| 241 | 108 248 276° i 78 414 1,359
A ‘

: D. L. KEDDIE.
Mone Pat, Papun, Burma,

9th September 1911.

No. XXIII.—NOTES ON SOME OF THE BIRD LIFE AT
THANDOUNG.

The small hill-station of Thandoung has only lately come to the fore as
a sanitorium for Europeans. It is situated onthe Karen Hill, 28 miles east
of Tounghoo, the elevation being about 4,000 feet. The country is very
hilly and densely wooded, making it a difficult matter to collect bird
specimens, but from an ornithological point of view it 1s very interesting,
bird-life being plentiful and varied, notwithstanding the fact that running
water is scarce in the neighbourhood, probably due to the great deforesta-
tion by Taung-yah cutters in former years, very little of the virgin forest
being left.

Within recent years the Forest Department have put a large area under
reservation, the immediate consequence being that a dense secondary growth
chiefly consisting of a thin spikeless variety of bamboo, has sprung up.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 669

This bamboo has an aggravating habit of throwing out its stems at all
angles, and they so intertwine one with another and bend over so close to
the ground that, except where paths have been cut, the greater part of the
_ forest is almost impenetrable except on one’s hands and knees.

My visit to Thandoung extended from the Ist to end of April, and I was
fortunate in meeting a congenial companion, the Hon’ble Mr. Justice
Robinson, an enthusiastic egg-collector. I have since repented that from
the commencement of my visit I did not also take up egg-collecting.
The following is a list of birds noticed and procured—a very meagre list
Tam afraid—but I was much handicapped by the thickness of the forest,
and Ican only hope that my list may be much added to by those interested
in birds who may pay Thandoung a visit :—

4, Corvus macrorhynchus—The Jungle Crow.

8. Corvus insolens—The Burmese House Crow. —Noticed only round
dwellings and camping grounds.

‘14. Cissa chinensis—The Green Magpie.—This bird was far from rare,
but its raucous call was far oftener heard than the bird was seen; itis a
great skulker and very wary. Robinson shot for me the only specimen I
obtained. Karens brought me 2 well-grown nestlings on April 29th, which
reared and they became very tame.

16. Dendrocitta rufa—The Indian Tree-pie.

18. Dendrocitta himalayensis—The Himalayan Tree-pie.—Both these
birds were represented at Thandoung. The day before I left, I noticed a
pair of the latter which appeared to be nesting, but I had not time to
make a hunt for the nest.

41. Machlolophus spilonotus—The wnat ania Yellow Tit.—This was a
very common little bird at Thandoung. I noticed a large party in the
middle of April which appeared to be a family party.

64. Dryonastes chinensis—The Black-throated Laughing-Thrush.—I did
not procure this species at Thandoung itself, but Karens brought me a spe-
cimen from the lower hills, an elevation of about 2,500 feet.

70. Garrulax belangeri—Burmese White-crested Laughing-Thrush.—This
bird was not very common on the top of the hill, much more plentiful lower
down the Ghaut.

72. Garrulax pectoralis—The Black-gorgeted Laughing-Thrush.—Almost
as common at Thandoung as elsewhere, but rather local: I saw well grown
young birds just able to fly on April 23rd and so they must have commenced
nesting rather exceptionally early.

86a. Trochalopterum ramsayi—I only found this bird on two occasions
and each time they were solitary, no other birds of their species being near.
I shot both birds seen and expected them to be females with a nest,
but they both turned out to be males. 7. ramsayit has a very pretty

670 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX,

whistling note, and it was this which betrayed its presence to me in
very thick brushwood.

117. Pomatorhinus nuchalis—Tweeddale’s Scimitar Babbler.—This bird ~

was not often observed, but it may have been more common than
appeared. As being such a great skulker, it was difficult to find in the
dense undergrowth. Robinson obtained its nest with fresh eggs about
the middle of April and shot the parent bird which he presented to me,
being the only specimen I obtained.

129a. Pomatorhinus imberbis—A very common bird at Thandoung. Its
noisy call was to be heard in every thicket. Common as it was, neither
Robinson nor myself managed to find its nest. Two specimens shot. ©

145. Pellorneum subochraceum—Burmese Spotted Babbler.—I only saw’
one bird of this species which I secured. I would probably have seen more
had I not been handicapped by the thickness of the jungle. Karens
brought 3 eggs on April 29th which Major Harrington identified as
belonging to this species. y

186. Turdinulus roberti—Robert’s Babbler.—As such I identified my
specimen; but Major Harington, to whom I sent it, thinks it is Turdenulus
davisont, but he is sending the skin home to have the identification verified.

187. Myiophoneus temmincki—The Himalayan Whistling-Thrush, or

188. The Burmese Whistling-Thrush.—One or other of these birds I
noticed, but as I was unable to procure a specimen, I cannot say which.

190. Larvivora cyanea—The Siberian Blue Chat.—A specimen was brought
to me from the lower hills where it had been snared by Karens with
bird-lime.

218. Staphidia striata—Tickell’s Staphidia.—Both Mr. Robinson and
myself found nests of this bird. I found 7, but it was some time before we
could make sure of the identification of the eggs. Eventually Robinson
shot the parent bird off the nest, and I caught a bird on its nest. Prior to
this I had not noticed the staphidia, and it isa bird which can be easily
overlooked, its habits resemble those of Tits or White eyes—hunting in
parties amongst the leaves and boughs of forest trees and keeping up a
continual twittering the while. After having once observed the bird, I
found it to be quite common. I have already described the nest and eggs
of this bird in the Journal. The birds seem to breed chiefly in April and
several nests were to be found along every road with suitable bands. I
found all my nests between the 18th and 30th of April, and all contained
fresh eggs. One completed nest I found on the 28rd and by the 30th the full
clutch which appears to be 3 only was laid. None of the nests found
contained more than 3 eggs.

228. Zosterops simpler—Swinhoe’s White-eye.—A common little bird.
There may be other species of White-eye at Thandoung but such small
birds were difficult to see in the thick forest.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 671

249. Chloropsis hardwickii—The orange-breasted Chlropsis.—I only
procured one specimen of this bird, the only one seen.

270. Hypsipetes concolor—Burmese Black Bulbul.—A common bird. It
appeared to be nesting in April but I could find no nests.

280. Molpastes nigripileus—The Tenasserim Red-vented Bulbul, —This
bird was observed on several occasions but at Thandoung itself it was by no
means very plentiful. .

287. Xanthivus flavescens—Blyth’s. Bulbul.—An extremely. common
bird. This bird and the next being the commonest birds in the settlement.
L expected to find quite a number of nests. I found many old nests which
I think belonged to this species but only one with eggs.

288. Otocompsa emeria—The Bengal Red-whiskered Bulbul.—As com-
mon as Blyth’s bulbul, but I only found 2 nests with eggs. The last nest
I found containing one egg only on the 26th of April, but before I left
on the 30th the full clutch of 3 was laid.

325. Sitta frontalis—The Velvet-fronted Blue Nuthatch.—Common.

339. Bhringa remifer—The Lesser Racket-tailed Drongo. A nest I
found on April 29th, containing 3 fledgings almost ready to leave the nest, I
think belonged to this species. The nest was built in the fork of a dead
bamboo which had been partially broken and was hanging over from midway
up the stem.

340. Dissemurus paradiseus—The Larger Racket-tailed Drongo.—Common.
Robinson found a nest containing hard set eggs on about April 18th as far
as I can remember.

423. <Acanthopneuste plumbeitarsus—Middendorfi's Willow-Warbler.—A
specimen of this bird was brought me by Karens from the lower hills at an
elevation of about 2,500 feet. I noticed on several occasions larger parties
of a small warbler, hunting about in the brush-wood which Il believed
to belong to this species, but the undergrowth was so dense that I did
not manage to procure a specimen.

430. Acanthopneuste davisoni—The Tenasserim White-tailed Willow-
Warbler.—I only procured one specimen of this bird and that was a parent
bird from its nest on the 19th of April. The nest contained 3 pure white
top-shaped eggs measuring ‘47 by ‘55. The nest was globular in shape,
slightly oblong with the entrance on the side. The nest was beautifully
concealed, being surrounded by leaves and grasses used in its construction,
and had I not noticed the bird flying off I would not have discovered the
nest.

461. Suya superciliaris—Anderson’s Hill Warbler.—This was the only
Suya I noticed, it frequented the grassy knolls. I procured one nest con-
taining 4 fresh eggs on the 25th of April. The nest was purse-shaped and
built between the stems of a small bush close to the ground and lined with
fine grass. The eggs were a dull greenish white in colour with minute

672 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXT.

brown specks sparingly distributed over the egg except at the larger end
at the top of which they formed a zone. They measured ‘6x ‘49.

_ 486. Tephrodornis pelwicus—Nepal Wood-Shrike.—One specimen obtain-
ed, several others seen.

491. Pertcrocotus fraterculus—Burmese Scarlet Minivet.—Only one
specimen of this beautiful bird obtained, other birds were seen but on
rare occasions.

5389. Mynas and Starlings.—The White-winged Myna.—I have no
notes of any seen except that I noticed a bird which I took to be
Sturma nemoricola.

562. Siphia albicilla—The Eastern Red-breasted Flycatcher.—Seen on
several occasions and I obtained 2 specimens, a male and female.

569. Cyornis melanoleucus—The Little Pied Flycatcher.—Only once
seen and obtained.

575. Cyornis rubeculoides—The Blue-throated Flycatcher.—Only saw
one bird which I procured.

579. Stoparola melanops—The Verditer’s Fly-catcher.—This bird was nest-
ing in April in the banks of road cuttings and Robinson and I found many
nests. I took a clutch of 4, one of 3 and an egg from a clutch of 4 between
25th and 30th. The nests were built of moss and lined with fern stems
and with 2 exceptions were built into crevices in the banks. The excep-
tions were 2 nests I found placed about 18” down a small tunneled hole,
just large enough for the bird to enter by, reminding one of a Bee-eater's
nest-holes, by which bird it had probably been originally made.

592. Culicicapa ceylonensis—The Grey-headed Flycatcher.—One
specimen obtained. Only noticed 2 or 3 times.

601. Hypothymis azurea—The Indian Black-naped Flycatcher.—One
specimen brought to me by Karens from lower hills.

604, Rhipidura albifrontata—The White-browed Fantail Flycatcher.

605. &. albicollis—The White-throated Fantail Flycatcher.—Both spe-
cies were represented at Thandoung, the latter being quite common. I
found a nest belonging to the latter bird on the 21st of April, containing
young birds. The nest was cone-shaped and beautifully, neatly and com-
pactly constructed being plastered all over with cobwebs and lined
with very fine grass. It was built in the fork of a dry slender bam-
boo branch which was partially broken midway up and hanging suspended
from lower stem.

608. Pratincola caprata—Common Pied Bush-Chat.—I noticed 2 or 3
pairs round the Hotel. They were apparently breeding, but I found no
nests.

634. Henicurus leschenaulti—Leschenault’s Forktail—I had very
bad luck in not being able to procure this bird’s eggs. On two successive
days I noticed a pair of birds in a little wooded swamp whichI made cer-

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 673

tain had a nest but I could not findit. Eventually as 1 wanted a specimen
I shot one of them, which proved to be the female. In her ovident I found
an unformed egg. Shortly after shooting the bird I found the nest nearly
completed. It was built into a mossy bank and the exterior of the
nest being composed of moss it was difficult to distinguish from its sur-
roundings. It was lined with fine grass and fern stems.

680. Merula obscura—The Dark Ouzel.—Only one specimen obtained
by Robinson.

690. Petrophila erythogastra—The Chestnut-bellied Rock Thrush.—A
solitary bird seen on several occasions round the Hotel at the beginning
of April, and now I come to think of it, it had probably a nest near by but
at that time I had unfortunately not begun to look for nests.

706. Cochoa purpurea—The Purple Thrush.—Only one specimen seen,
which was procured.

726. Munia atricapilla—The Chestnut-bellied Munia.—Saw a party of
munias I took to belong to this species, beside a swampy stream.

735. Uroloncha punctulata—The Spotted Munia—Common, and found
many old nests but no new ones in April. They probably nest later on in
the rains.

761. Carpodacus erythrinus—The Common Rose-Finch.—One specimen
brought to me from the lower hills.

801. Emberiza rutila—The Chestnut Bunting.—One specimen obtained
at beginning of April.

841. Anthus maculatus—The Indian ‘Tree-Pipit.—Seen everywhere
along the roads. Only one specimen obtained.

907. Arachnothera aurata—The Smaller Streaked Spider-hunter.—
One specimen obtained.

909. A. longirostris—The Little Spider-hunter.—Seen on _ several
occasions.

Flower-peckers.—The twittering of these little birds I frequently heard,
but owing to the density of the forest it was very difficult to observe
such small birds and I did not shoot any.

955. Chrysophlegma flavinucha—The Large Yellow-naped Woodpecker.
—This is the only species of the larger Woodpeckers I obtained. All the
large species were conspicuously uncommon and very wary, also the
density of the forest was a great hindrance in following up the birds.

968. Dendrocopus atratus—The Stripe-breasted Pied Woodpecker.—
Common. I obtained two specimens, a male and a female.

975. Tyngipicus canicapillus—The Burmese Pigmy Woodpecker.—
Common ; a male and a female obtained.

1012. Cyanops asiatica—The Blue-throated Barbet.—I did not see
this species at Thandoung itself, but a specimen was brought to me from
the lower hills.

674. JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

1018. Cyanops ramsayi—Ramsay’s Golden-throated Barbet.— Very
common indeed, and its aggravating monotonous call was to be heard
everywhere.

1027. Merops phillippinus—The Blue-tailed Bee-eater.—These birds
seem to breed early at Thandoung. I dug into two nests in the banks of
roads during middle of April, one contained very hard set eggs and the
other young birds, and I did not wish to disturb any more nesting
holes on the chance of finding fresh eggs. I. was glad to see that
the parent of the young birds in the hole I dug into continued to tend her
young and by the time I left, the nestlings were flourishing and nearly
ready to leave the nest, although lying quite exposed.

1031. Nyctiornis athertoni—The Blue-bearded Bee-eater.—I am almost
sure I saw this bird on one occasion in heavy forest, but did not [manage
to secure it.

1051. Dichoceros bicornis—The Great Hornbill.—Seen occasionally
at Thandoung, but commoner a little lower down the hills.

1067. Upupa indica—-The Indian Hoopoe.—Saw several, and one bird
lying with a grub in its mouth and apparently on its way to nest.

1101. Harpactes erythrocephalus—The Red-headed Trogon.—Seen on
several occasions.

1123. Rhopodytes tristis—The Large Green-billed Malkoha.—One
specimen shot ; not very common at Thandoung.

Paraquets were so scarce that I do not remember noticing any, but a
specimen of the Indian Loriquet, ZLoriculus vernalis, was brought to me
from the lower hills.

Owls and Nightjars.—None seen or heard.

1209. Lophotriorchis kieneri—The Rufous-bellied Hawk-Hagle.—I have
already recorded in the Journal the obtaining of this species at Thand-
oung. I believe this bird has not hitherto been obtained in Burma
Proper. I shot it in heavy forest in the act of carrying off a green pigeon.

1251. Baza lophotes—The Black-crested Baza.—I noticed a Black-
backed Hawk-Eagle flying through the forest on one occasion which I am
pretty confident was above species, but it was too wary to let me approach
within shooting range.

On the summit of a hill known as Thandoung Gyi, I shot a falcon
which I believe was the Shahin Falcon, Falco peregrinator, but it fell down
the hillside into heavy forest, in which I was unable to find it.

1282. Sphenocercus apiccauda—The Pin-tailed Green Pigeon.—Fairly
common, but I did not manage to shoot any birds, the commonest

Green Pigeon, of which I shot several, was the Kokla Green Pigeon,

Spehnocercus sphenurus.
1287. Ducula griseicapilla.—The Grey-headed Imperial Pigeon.—Fairly

——

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 675

common but very wary. I did not succeed in shooting any myself, but
one of the visitors at the Hotel shot one.

1291. Chalcophaps indica—The Bronze-winged Dove.—Once seen and
shot, but could not be found in the thick forest into which it had fallen.
1811. CGnopopelia tranquebarica—The Red Turtle-Dove.—Occasionally
seen on the roads. Two shot.

1312. Macropygia tusalia—The Bar-tailed Cuckoo-Dove.—Quite com-
mon. Robinson took one clutch of eggs if not more and heand I found a
nest in the making, which was however deserted later on. This bird builds
the usual platform of twigs, and places its nest on overhanging bamboos.

1314. Macropygia ruficeps—The Little Malay Cuckoo-Dove.—Ro-
binson took a cluch of this bird’s eggs, about the middle of April as far as
I can remember, and I found a nest containing one hard set egg on April
25th. The nest was very difficult to get at being placed high up on a
single slender bamboo. In trying to secure the egg it got broken. The nest
was composed of a very scanty collection of twigs.

1828. Gallus ferrugineus—The Red Jungle-fowl.—Very common,
feeding on the roads in the early morning and evening, Jungle Fowl and
Pheasants should afford quite good shooting in Thandoung during the.
open season. When I was there it was the close season and except for
shooting two pheasant for identification purposes I desisted from shoot-
ing Game Fowl although I had many opportunities. I heard Hill-Par-
tridges once, but did not manage to secure a specimen, so cannot tell to
what species they belonged to, probably Blyth’s Hill-Partridge, Ar-
boricola rufigularis

1374. Francolinus chinensis —The Eastern or Chinese Francolin.—Heard
on several occasions in the grassy portions of the country.

The neighbourhood of Thandoung presented no opportunities for the
collection of Water Birds and I wish I had been able tomake an expedition
along the larger streams when I expect some interesting varieties of
birds might be obtained.

J. P. COOK.
THAYETUNG, 25th September 1911.

No. XXIV.—MIGRATION OF BAYA (PLOCEUS BAYA).

As the forests of my Division are remarkably dry, Forest-fires are of
more serious consequences than any other injury by natural causes. Of
the many reasons, that lead to these fires, the Weaver-bird’s nest (Ploceus
baya) is one that keeps the staff employed in fire protection work, anxious
all through the fire-season. Hither from burning fire-lines or from fires that
occur in adjacent unprotected areas, these nests after catching fire are
wafted like baloons in the air, and thrown into the :protected portion

676 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. X_XI.

causing serious damage and disappointment. In nearly five cases out of a
hundred, the Baya was found to be the criminal. And to minimize the
cases of annual fires, I had arranged to pick up as far as possible all Baya’s
nests in dangerous places, before the commencement of the fire-season.
Accordingly all the staff concerned was carefully watching to find out as
to where and when the nests would be prepared. But since the monsoons
failed or were unusually late in these parts, grass was not ever available
for the Weaver-bird to weave its nest atthe proper time. It seems to
have made unsuccessful attempts in several localities, where green grass of
some kind or other was available, and relics in the shape of a bunch or two
of grass are found attached to the ends of the branches of trees. During
last month, as I went out in tour of inspection, a couple of my Forest-
guards, relying upon these relics informed me that the Baya had begun
weaving the nest just then, and in about two weeks’ time the architecture
would be complete. But as contrary evidence, the cultivators of Jawar
assured me that they did not see a single Weaver-bird, and rightly re-
marked that, as it did not get suitable green grass in time to prepare its
nests, it must have migrated to that part of the country, which could
supply it with the necessary building material. After inspection of some
places, where hundreds of these fresh nests used to be found every year, I
came to the conclusion that the Weaver-bird really migrated to some
distant part of the country. I think observers in other parts of India and
Burma, where there was no change in the monsoons, or where in the
absence of timely rains, some other kind of weaving material is available,
may be able to corroborate my conclusions, perhaps noticing an un-
usually increased number of nests this year.

A. B. PUNDE,
Divisional Forest Officer.
Garota (INDORE State), 26th December 1911.

No, XXV.—THE MAROON ORIOLE (ORIOLUS TRAILLII).

I write to ask if any member will be so kind as to enlighten me on a
question of plumage of O. trailii, the Maroon Oriole, which in this part
of the district is, to my mind, the commonest form of Oriole found. Of the
numbers that have lately passed through my hands all those in the full
maroon plumage have been males, all in the duller streaked and dark
brown plumage females, not young. I write only concerning adults.

The Nepalis to whom the bird is well known, distinguish two sexes by
this plumage and my collector at present, an old Pahariah, pointed this
out to me and had always asked me to sex birds of this species carefully
myself and I must say that so far his assertion has been perfectly correct ;
at the same time I do not for a moment wish to dispute that the plumage

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES, 677

of the young of both sexes will resemble the plumage of the female. The
note of this bird, I may add, much resembles that of O. melanocephalus
as does it also in habits except that it keeps more to the heavier jungle.

The Nepali name for the bird is ‘ Singanee,’ literally translated “one
who blows her nose. ”’

ALEX M. PRIMROSE.
Loneview T. E., Punxazart, P. O.,

D. H. Ry., 16th November 1911.

No. XXVI.—WOOD SNIPE (GALLINAGO NEMORICOLA)
OCCURRING NEAR BANGALORE.

I am sending you a snipe I shot not far from this on the 14th instant.
On comparing it with the plates issued with Vol. XX, No. 2, I cannot help
thinking it is The Wood Snipe (G@. nemoricola), as it is too dark in colouring
for the Hastern Solitary Snipe (G. soltaria).

The record of shooting the bird under reference is as follows :—

I was out snipe-shooting on the 14th instant with Captain W. B. Roberts
of the 101st Grenadiers. The country was hilly and covered with scrub jungle,
one would not have been surprised to have put up a panther. A lot of paddy
fields were scattered about. Besides these there were patches of moist
ground, where water had found its way through the bunds of various
tanks. We had shot a certain number of Pintail snipe (G. stenwra) and
had just moved on to a patch of water densely covered with matted grass.
The grass had been trodden down by cattle, else it would have stood to
some height. The snipe, under reference, got up right under Capt. Roberts’
feet, in fact he almost trod on it. He was unable to shoot, as it flew along
the line of beaters and broke back. On first viewing it, I thought it was
a “Painter,” but I very soon recognized by its size, dark colour and flight
that it was not. Its flight was heavy and slow. Neither Capt. Roberts nor
myself heard it utter a sound. I shot it ata distance of about 25 to 30
yards. Itisa male. Almost at the same moment as I shot, a florican got
up within 20 to 30 yards of where the snipe had lain. It was also brought
to bag.

Will you kindly let me know whether I have identified the bird correctly.
The skin has not been very well cured. I would suggest its being seen to,
as itis a rara avis.

If you will send me a form about snipe shooting, I will fill it up and send
you my record at the end of the season.

Rk. M. BETHAM, Lizvr.-Cot.,
BanGaLore, 16th December 1911. The 101st Grenadiers.

[The specimen sent is undoubtedly a Wood Snipe (G. nemoricola). On page
1155 of Vol. XX of this Journal, the occurrence of the Great Snipe (G. major)
near Bangalore was also recorded.—EDs. |

678 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XX.

No. XX VII.—GOOSE-SHOOTING IN CUTCH.

Nores spy Manaras Kumar SHRI VIJAYARAJJI.

In Cutch, goose-shooting is to be had at only one place. This place is
on the Runn of Cutch between the Bunni Peninsula and the mainland,
N.-W. of Bhuj. Some two or three monsoon streams empty themselves
into the Runn near by and in a good year the water collects in a slight
depression some two or three miles long by half a mile wide.

Geese have rarely been seen on tanks on the mainland, and then never
more than from five to ten in a flock. Bar-headed geese are known in this
country, but they are rare. The grey-lag come by thousands to the place
mentioned above. They are very difficult to get at, and until fairly recent
years no easy way of shooting them was discovered. They, or rather most
of them, very early in the morning, long before-day break, leave the marsh
which the natives call the Dhandh, to feed on gravel near the mainland
some two or three miles off. From the Dhandh they go out in several direc-
tions and the shikaris have only got to find out in what places they settle
down to pick up the gravel and to sun themselves. Theninthedark before
dawn the sportsmen have to take their places just short of the place where
the geese settle.

These birds are so curiously particular as to their course of flight that for
the convenience of the sportsmen pits are dug in the flat plain of the Runn
for them to sitin. A hurdle is slightly raised on the side of the pit facing
the Dhandh. Three or four guns can conveniently take their places at
distances of, say, from one to three hundred yards between each gun, in
a long line before the geese begin their daily flight. The hurdles are
made of the same kind of vegetation as grows all round the spot, viz., the
laana (Sueda sp.) so they do not seem to catch the eyes of the birds till
the sportsman behind them stirs to take his aim.

The geese begin their flight very punctually and regularly. Before you
can see clearly in the faint ghmmer of dawn, they send out some scouts to
see whether the ground is quite clear of an enemy or not. These scouts

fly fairly quietly, and as they come when it is still pretty dark, they at

times pass out of range without being noticed. As the light begins to
grow stronger in the Hast, the sportsmen’s eyes get fixed towards the long
dim black line of the horizon which lies stretched out flat and monotonous
for miles across one’s front. Far away in the distance, you see a flight of
birds low down over the horizon in a meagre line advancing steadily
towards you; and as they draw close, you can see their wings flapping
pretty fast, and can hearthem, making the familiar noise—krouk-krouk—so
dear to a sportsman who has once before had this experience.

Now begins the proper shooting. The East is glowing, the sky is turning
from darkness to blue, the great flat black expanse in front is revealing

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES, 679

itself as flat brown soil thickly sprinkled with the heather-like laana. The
noise of the birds awaking far off on the Dhandh is borne more and more
loudly to our ears, and meanwhile the geese are coming up in small groups
at first with long pauses between. ‘They come in line or in inverted Vs,—
krouck-krouck.—Soon it is a case of larger flights ; battalion after battalion
advances upon the line occupied by the sportsmen ; and the guns are get-
ting busy. Now here, now there, a big mass leaves the line and comes
thumping down to the earth or else a wounded one is seen gradually to
sink below the line of his fellows, and come to ground slowly several
hundred yards away. They are either very plucky or very foolish birds.
One is rather inclined to think the latter, because true to the course
of their flight, they keep on coming by hundreds, heedless of the firing in
front of them. If any of the sportsmen find that their direction is chang-
ing, early in or in the middle of the shoot, he can easily move his hurdle,
place it across the new line of flight, kneel down behind it and recommence.

The proper shooting lasts for about an hour, but it is quite worth the
while of the sportsman to wait behind his hurdle for three hours, because
there have been many instances of the geese coming from the Dhandh after
the shikaris have been called to pick up the dead birds. A gun which
happens to be in a good place may fire 70 cartridges any morning; and at
the beginning of the shooting, you get some easy shots because the geese
fly fairly low and slowly as they approach their feeding ground. Later on
when a good deal of firing is going on, they come fairly high and fast, but
by no means out of (vertical) range.

There are generally three or four different places which the geese visit
in the morning and one can do the shooting at each place in turn on con-
secutive days. But they do not seem to mind even if you shoot in the one
place for three days running. Whether different birds go out to sun
themselves each morning or whether‘the same ones go to the same places
it is difficult to say ; but the sportsman gets more or less the same amount
of shooting for three days in the one place. If four decent shots shoot for
three days they can easily get 300 geese. BB shot is advisable; as is also
an aim well in advance for their flight is much speedier than it looks; and
they can carry much shot, if not hit in the head or neck. It is interesting
to take a canoe and paddle out on to the Dhandh laterin the day. Crowds
of big kurunj will go wheeling off into the sky : huge flocks of big flamingoes
will stand at attention as you come into view round some mass of long
reeds, and then go running, scuttering and flapping away, long lines of
pink against the blue sky with a roar hke a fast train rattling over a rail-
way bridge. Ducks paddle about in the long reaches, but are whirring off
before you can get near: and the droves of geese are more easily heard
than seen. It is a strange republic.

VIJAYARAJJI.
48

680 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XX1I.

No. XXVIII.—FALCONS AND THEIR PREY.

In a recent number of the journal I noted an attack by a falcon on the:
gulls in Aden harbour; last week I witnessed another determined and
successful attack by the falcon, the victim on this occasion being one of
the smaller terns; the falcou struck her prey down to the water and must
have killed it at once as Inever saw it move afterwards. The gulls and
terns united in mobbing the falcon butshe picked her quarry from the water
at about the third attempt and forced her way out through the crowd finally
soaring high above them to the land. It was interesting to see the way
in which the falcon disposed of the dead tern so as to make it easier to
carry. When she first picked it from the water it hung by one wing from
her talons but I could see from my boat that she was as it were rolling
the bird up and finally she made a small neat package between her feet.
There is only one pair of these birds in Aden and I am collecting evidence:
which I think points to the fact that they breed here, somewhere in the
cliffs on the south side of the Shum Shum range near the Artillery lines.

The ospreys on Round Island have built another nest making three in |

all on the top of the island. I hope to be able to report the eggs in my
next note. :

S. E. PRALL, Lr.-Cot., 1.m.s.
ADEN, 7th January 1912.

No. XXIX.—ON THE OCCURRENCE OF THE COMMON WOOD
SHRIKE (TEPHRODORNIS PONDICERIANUS) AND THE
CENTRAL ASIAN BLACK BIRD (WMERULA MAXIMA),
NHAR PESHAWAR.

It may be of interest to record the occurrence of the following locally
Tare species in Peshawar, viz :—

(a) The Common Wood Shrike (Vephrodornis pondicerianus).
(6) The Central Asian Black bird (Merula maxima).

(a) I met with, when out shooting on the 4th November in a wooded
nullah at the foot of the Cherat Hills due south of Peshawar. There were
at least two or three of these birds moving about from tree totree. They
were very tame, one individual allowing me to approach within 15 or 20 feet.
This bird uttered a pretty note of three or four syllables which
unfortunately I did not record at the time. The supercilium was bufiish
white. This was the only occasion on which I observed this Shrike, al-
though I visited the locality several times subsequently.

(6) Was shot on the artillery jheel within two miles of Peshawar. It.

flew up out of a deep drain and settled in a tree uttering a note of anger

or alarm not unlike that of the Missel thrush, at the same time vigorously

_ MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 681

flirting its tail. It was a fine big male over 11 inches in length witha
wing measurement of 5-9 inches, and was probably a bird of the year as
some of the feathers of the upper tail coverts were bordered with brownish
buff. The irides were very dark brown, the bill was horny brown, only
the base of the lower mandible and the gape showing yellow.

It is not improbable that this black bird regularly visits Peshawar in
winter, as 2, friend here, who is a good observer of birds, assures me that
last cold weather he saw what he described as an “English black bird”
in the middle of cantonments.

Within Indian limits this is, as far as I know, the first record of the
occurrence of M. maxima in the plains. Hitherto it has only been observed
at considerable altitudes in the Himalayas.

HH. A. F. MAGRATH,
dlst Sikhs, F. F.
PESHAWAR, 26th December 1911.
No. XXX.—HABITS, FOOD AND NESTING OF THE
GREAT HIMALAYAN BARBET (MEGALZMA
MARSHALLORUM).

This gaudily coloured Barbet, the largest of its tribe, is a tolerably
common denizen of the forests in and around Simla, and is a permanent
resident. It is usually to be seen singly, but sometimes in small parties,
and during the winter months in large flocks of thirty to forty at a time.

It generally affects high trees, but is frequently to be seen teeding on
low ones, and also on small bushes. I have never yet observed it on the
ground.

It has a strong and rapid woodpecker-like flight in immense undula-
tions. Having taken up its position on a prominent tree at the top of
a hill, it drops, if alarmed or startled, with the velocity of an arrow into
the ravine below. Itis not particularly shy, and will allow one occasion-
ally to approach quite close toit. I have frequently shot two birds, one
after another, from the same tree. The great difficulty, however, is to
catch a glimpse of it. For in spite of its gaudy feathers, its plumage
blends wonderfully with the foliage of the trees, and it invariably selects
the topmost branches on which it sits motionless. When feeding, it is
constantly on the move, and all that can be seen are the shaking leaves.
I have often waited for several minutes, with strained eyes, trying to
catch sight of the bird, and for fear of losing it, have blazed off into the
rustling foliage, sometimes with very satisfactory results.

The peculiarity about this Barbet is, without doubt, its extraordinary
call. This has been aptly likened to the syllables, “ pi-o,” “ pi-o,” “ pi-o,”
and while giving a good idea of it, conveys only a faint impression of the

682 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. 3X1.

volume of sound emitted by the bird. ‘Throughout the spring and summer
months the hill-sides resound with its monotonous and wailing cries,
IT shall never forget the day when I first heard its notes. It was
many years ago when I first came to Simla.. My stay here was uncertain,’
and I was determined to see as much of this station as possible. On a hot
and dusty morning in May, after an early breakfast, I started to explore
the “Glen,” one of the famous picnicing resorts of the residents here.
After wandering about the hill-sides for several hours, I turned my steps:
homewards, but unfortunately lost my way, as the slopes were densely
wooded. After making several unsuccessful attempts to find the path, I
threw myself on the hill-side in sheer exhaustion, and determined, after a,
short rest, to make another attempt to find it. At my feet grew a small,
bush in full flower, and various kinds of bees were busy at work amidst
them. On the opposite side, a pair of parrots had taken up their abode in
a rhododendron tree, and were deeply immersed in domestic cares; while
close by some Flycatchers were plying their daily vocations. The peaceful
scene, combined with the cool and refreshing breeze, and the “ drowsy
hum of the bees ” soon lulled me into dreamland. I could not have been
asleep for more than a few minutes, when I was suddenly awakened by
hearing a most extraordinary voice above me. It was the love call of this
Barbet. JI jumped up dazed and startled. The notes above me seem to
increase in intensity. Two rivals in the neighbourhood began answering
back, and the hill-sides were resounding and echoing with their cries.
The act of my jumping up suddenly must have frightened the parrots, for
uttering their alarm notes, they darted screeching across the trees. Others
in the vicinity followed. A noisy flock of Jays commenced their garrulous
chattering, and in the distant ravine I could hear the shrill whistles of
Myiophoneus temminckt. For a few seconds the din and noise around me
was so deafening and intense, that I confess I was not only startled, but
utterly bewildered, and it was some time before I could quite recollect my
senses. J had never heard the like of such sounds before, and can now
only realise what must be the feelings of some unfortunate traveller when
stranded alone in the depths of a Brazilian forest. -

In an interesting article contributed to the columns of the ‘“ Madras
Mail” of the 5th August 1911 on this bird, Mr. D. Dewar, I.C.S., rightly
doubts Jerdon’s statement (quoted in the “ Fauna,” Birds, Vol. III, p. 85)
that this species lives: entirely on fruit, as he thinks that such food must be
scarce in the hills during the winter months. Long ago the two Marshall
brothers in their excellent Monograph on the Capitonide pointed out that
the diet of this Barbet consisted both of fruit and insects, and Hodgson,
whom they quote, remarked that it devoured ants and other insects, but
chiefly lived on fruit. As bearing:on this subject, the following particulars
which are extracted from the paper referred to above, and which relate to

i MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 683

,the contents of the stomachs of birds killed in Nepal at various times of
the year are interesting :—

February 6th.. ath as .. Pulpy berries only.

April 10th, 20th, and 26th .. .. Leaves of some odorous flower and
pulpy fruits.

May 15th, 28th and 3lst_ .. .. Shining green coleoptera, other
beetles and fruits.

October Ist oe AE .. Beetles only.

I can fill in some of the gaps above from my diary :—

March 25th and 26th ate .. Berries and petals of the rhodo-
dendron flower.

July 27th js ve BF Bs Figs.

November, December, and January. Large flocks of these birds are to be
seen during the winter months
in Simla feeding on ‘ Medlars ”’
which apparently constitute their
chief diet at this time of the
year, and which they swallow
‘ whole.

From the foregoing it is, I think, clear that these Barbets are not purely
vegetarians, as was thought by Jerdon, and that when pushed for food,
beetles and other insects donot come amiss to them. So long, however,
as berries, etc., are to be got, it is probable that these are preferred to an
insectivorous diet.

As regards the nidification of this species, it has generally been thought
that the birds excavate the nesting holes themselves, but in the neighbour-
hood of Simla, it is by no means unusual to find these Barbets in posses-
sion of old holes made by Woodpeckers. I have notes of two such cases:
in one I found young, and in the other fresh eggs. The latter, before
being blown, had a pinkish appearance owing to the yolk showing through
the shell.

The period of incubation in this species has not yet been ascertained,
but it probably does not exceed 14 days. It would be interesting to
know whether both sexes share in the labours of incubation, and in the
feeding of the young. So far as my observations go, I have up to this,
seen only one bird, apparently the female, either in or near its nest,
but never two; what happens to the other one? Does it hang about in
the vicinity, and keep uttering its extraordinary call? Owing to the
wary habits of this bird when nesting for it leaves its hole at “long shot,”
it is most difficult to make observations.

I have found that occasionally the nesting holes are very deep. On
the 29th June of this year I examined one that contained young, and
though we dug it to the extent of more than two feet, we did not reach

684 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

the bottom. The usual depth of the hole, however, seldom exceeds 12"-18",
Hume says that they are only a few inches in depth.

‘“ CaRLTON GROVE,” P. T. L. DODSWORTH, F.z.s., M.B.0.U.
Sima, 18th November 1911.

No. XXXI.—MARBLED DUCK AT BARODA.

A bag of 78 duck made near Baroda on the 19th November included
three specimens of the Marbled Duck (Marmaronetta angustirostris) which
T had not previously met with. I shot two of these and a gadwall out of
a small pack of four duck flying past. The remainder of the bag consisted
mostly of pochards and gadwalls, These duck were much more grey in
colour than those figured by Mr, Stuart Baker.

R. G, BURTON, Lr.-CotoneEt,
Baropa Camp, 20th November 1911, 94th Russell’s Infantry.

No. XXXII.—THE SOOTY TERN (STERNA FULIGINOSA)
IN CACHAR.

The Sooty Tern is one of these essentially sea-birds which generally
haunts ocean islands and is but rarely found even on the coast of an Indian
continent ; its appearance, therefore, so far inland as Cachar, 170 miles in a
bee line from the nearest sea, is most remarkable. This specimen in
question was shot by one of my collectors, Mahomed Ismail Mia, on the
Silcoorie bhil on the 3rd of June this year, 1911, whilst he was engaged in
shooting for mea pair of baya-birds. He was watching the baya-birds at
their nests and waiting until he could select a specimen in perfect plumage,
. such as I required, and noticed this tern fly past. It struck him as some-
thing new to him and on its again flying past he shot it and sent it home
tome. Ismail is a thoroughly reliable man who has worked for me for over
twenty years and worked for Hume before then, moreover, he has not been
out of Cachar and Sylhet this year so could hardly have got it anywhere
else. The specimen obtained was quite a young bird in complete “ sooty”
plumage except for a few white feathers from the breast which shewed up
over the shoulders of the wing. It was probably driven inland during the
heavy gales of May and then instead of returning to the sea-coast worked
its way up some of the big rivers into the Surma Valley.

E. C. STUART BAKER, F.z.s., F.L.S.
Broapstatrrs, lst November 1911.

No. XXXIIT.—NOTES ON THE SOUTHERN MIGRATION
OF SNIPE NEAR CALCUTTA, 1911.'
This year the first Snipe were shot near Calcutta during the last week
of August ; they had in all probability come in with the moon which was

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 685

full on the 8th September. Onthe third of September one gun obtained
over 20 couple. On 10th I was out with a friend and we only got 16
couple between us. This was at a place about seven miles north of the
famous Kanchrapara Jheel ; the day was wet and cold, and also there was
a strong wind blowing all the time. These two bags were entirely com-
posed of Pintail.

I did not shoot again that month, but heard of some quite nice bags
from those jheels. As far as I could discover they all were Pintail. I
visited the same jheel on the 15th October, just a week after the full moon.
I was alone and got 10 couple of Pintail and 2 couple of Fantail, also 2
brace of Golden Plover. There were 4 other parties on the same jheel that
day and their bags were as follows :-—

2 Guns oe nite .. 10 couple.
4 Guns ay oe .. 24 couple.
3 Guns ae et .. 24 couple.
2 Guns ve oe .. 12 couple.

J examined these bags and found practically no Fantail among them.
I shot nearly all my birds at midday in the shade of trees and bushes at
the edge of the paddy fields.

I have not been out myself this month, but I have heard that all the
old spots are now empty, and that nearly all the birds shot are Fantail.
These presumably came in with the moon which was full on the 8th of
November.

I have not heard of any large bags this year; in fact, most of them seem-
ed to be remarkably small for this part of the country.

There are, however, thousands of birds exposed daily for sale in the
Calcutta Market all of which are sent in from places in the neighbourhood.
Unfortunately I shall not be here when the Snipe migrate north again.
Personally I can see no difference between the flight or cry of these two
varieties of Snipe.

C. R. S. PITMAN,

27th Punjabis.
ALIpore, Caucutta, 14th November 1911.

No. XXXIV.—OCCURRENCE OF THE NUKHTA OR COMB-DUCK
(SARCIDIORNIS MELANONOTA) IN SIND.

It may be of interest to record the occurrence of the Nukhta (Sarcidi-
‘ornis melanonota) in Sind. A couple were shot at Khahi Dhand, Sujawal,
Karachi District, on December 27th, 1911, a male by Mr. S. R. Arthur,
I.C.S., and a female by myself. A flight of six was also observed on the
same day by several members of the party. The local fishermen appeared
to be acquainted with the bird, which they called “hanj,” the ordinary

686 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX.

word for a goose, distinguishing it from the Grey Lag, which they called
“Lalu Hanj’’; the distinction suggests that the Nukhta is the commoner
of the two at this dhand. Two years ago at the same dhand I saw a
number of birds which I now believe to have been Nukhta, though at the
time I could not identify them as I failed to shoot a specimen.

HYDERABAD, SIND, M. WEBB, t.c.s.
January 5th, 1912.

[The Society has just received the skinofa female Nukhta from Mr. R. L. Mce-
Culloch, who shot the bird near Sujawal, Sind, on the 12th February 1912. Mr
McCulloch writes that the Sindhi name for this duck appears to be ‘‘ Karo hanjh”
(=Black goose).—EDs. |

No. XXXV.—THE BREEDING OF THE FALSE HIMALAYAN
VIPER (PSAMMODYNASTES PULVERULENTUS).

In my article on this Snake in the Popular Series appearing in this
Journal (Vol. XX, p 73), I could mention but little of the breeding. Two
gravid females lately received from Shillong, both killed in August, throw
further light on the subject. One measured 1 foot 10 inches and contained
three foetus(1 g,1 92, and 1 ?), the largest of which measured 6, inches.
I captured a hatchling in Rangoon only 42 inches long, so that the length
of the young at birth is very variable. The second specimen measured
1 foot 63 inches, and contained 4 embryos (2 3, 2 2). These were
nearly the same length as in the last. I noticed that the dG claspers are
bifid. In both cases the development of the young left no doubt that they
would very shortly have been born. The fact that my hatchling in
Rangoon was captured in June shows that the breeding season in the

Hills is later than in the Plains, as I find the case in so many snakes.

F. WALL, Majsor, I.M.s., C.M.z.8.
Atmora, 31st August 1911.

No. XXX VI.—FOOD OF THE SNAKE RHABDOPS BICOLOR.

Among other Snakes recently received from Shillong I have had six
specimens of Rhabdops bicolor. I find that their food consists of earth-
worms. The stomach contained a great deal of mud mixed with which
were fragments of various lengths of worms of substantial calibre. The

intestine too was loaded with mud, probably derived from their Oligochxte

diet.

F. WALL, Masor, I.M.S., C.M.Z.S..
Amora, 31st July 1911.

i
1
4

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 687

No, XXXVII.—THE DIET OF A BULL-FROG (RANA TIGRINA).

In Vol. XX., No. 3 of our Journal, Mr. H. M. Chibber has a short note
on the diet of a bull-frog, Rana tigrina. I wish to supplement the in-
formation he has given by some facts from my observation. In the course
of a dissection of one of these animals, my students observed, in the
earlier part of September, the remains of a land-crab in the stomach.
The abdomen of the crab had already been digested, but the great
chele and carapace were found inside the stomach. My mother also
tells me that she has frequently observed frogs eating land-crabs in the
paddy fields during the rains. ;

My friend Dr. V. G. Chiplunkar of Baroda informs me that he has once
observed one of these frogs swallow a green snake of about medium size.
The frog first caught its head in its mouth and then gradually swallowed
it. He was unable to say anything about the species of the snake as it
escaped in water before it could be secured. It seems, therefore, that the
dietary of a bull-frog contains a very large variety of animals, and further
observations on this point by our members would yield interesting results.

S. P. AGHARKAR.

Bompay, ls/ October 1911. ;

No. XXXVIII.—NOTES ON THE INDIAN CHAMAILEON
(CHAMALEON CALCARATUS).

I send the following notes on two Chameleons kept in captivity by me.

The first, which was subsequently seen to be a female, was found near
Jubbulpore, C.P., and after some months of close captivity in a wire cage,
was bought by me on 16th September 1911. Her colour was, as a rule,
green of varying shades. In the bright sun, she rapidly turned a very dark
earth colour, at night, a light greenish yellow. If angry, she would come
out in thick black spots as large as small peas. Length about 13 inches.
She lived then, on my office punkah ropes and ate large numbers of grass-
hoppers and very small frogs, of which latter she once devoured 8 1m suc-
cession. Her gymnastic powers were extraordinary. To reach an insect
out of range of her tongue, on another rope of the punkah, she would do
what in gymnastic terms is called a “plant,” e2z., extend her body into
space, at right angles to the rope which she gripped with her tail and hind
legs. This would extend her range considerably, but, if still not close
enough to her prey, she would slide down the rope in stealthy jerks, still
holding on by her tail and hind legs, until, as the two ropes converged she
was near enough to shoot. Range of tongue, at the most, about 9 inches.
Given a walk in the garden every day, she would make repeated efforts to
escape, and invariably in the same direction, vwiz., to a “mendi” hedge.

Having reached the top of this, along it some 10 feet to where a twig of a
49

688 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX1,

Gul Mohur tree approached to within a foot of the top of the hedge. Then,
standing upright on her hind legs, she would catch hold of a thin frond of
Gul Mohur and pull herself up on to the twig. Thence upwards to the main
part of the tree where her colour, green and black, blended so perfectly
with her surroundings as to render her detection and retrieval difficult.
Defecated lifting a hind leg and would always clean her anus carefully
against a twig or leaf. Hxcrement very full, like a turkey’s. On level
exposed ground her walk was slow and stilted, each leg being waved ina
curious vacillatory motion before being set to the ground, but once under
cover she strode forward freely, though very slowly.

On 5th October 1911 the male arrived, also from Jubbulpore. He seemed
dry and emaciated, colour mustard yellow, with black spots, length about
143 inches. No strength in his tail. However, on being placed on the
punkah, he atonce climbed to the top, under the ceiling and copulated with

the female “a tergo ”

grasping her with all four legs. She was then a
uniform light green. Coition took place three times that day and once
the next. As he would not eat, he was put on a bush outside and water
poured over him. He drank greedily, licking the drops off the leaves.
His tongue then, though very dry and stiff, probably because his former
master had never given him a drink, got to work on the grasshoppers.
(From this time forward his colour day by day assumed a deeper tinge of
green until in a month he was as green as the female.)

I now enclosed a bush some 4 feet high, set ina large pot with muslin
netting on a frame and put both chameleons into it. On 7th October 1911,
2.¢., 2 days after mating, the female assamed a wonderful colour, vz., jet-
black, covered with spots of vivid emerald and ochre yellow, though at
night she turned the usual light green. She now showed rage if the male
came near her, rocking her body to and fro and gaping at him with faint
hissings. He on the other hand would fly in ludicrous terror falling head-
long from his perch if she came near, as though paralysed. From thence
forward his object has been to put as great a distance as possible between
them both. On the 28th October his skin began to peel in large patches.
The female showed obvious signs of pregnancy by then, and invariably
moored herself securely to her roosting perch by 2 or 3 turns of her tail,
resting her belly carefully and evenly along the branch. I now scooped out
a handful of earth at the bottom of the bush, and covered it with a tile, so
as to make a kind of “cabin.” On 9th November 1911 the female descend-
ed into the hole and began to dig like a terrier, packing the loose earth
with her fore legs and kicking it out behind her with her hind legs. At
night she roosted in the bush, but low down. All next day, the 10th, she
dug furiously in the loose mould and did not emerge at night. Next day,
the llth, a very attenuated chameleon emerged at 2 p.m. and spent all
afternoon in pulling the loose earth back with her fore paws, ramming it

MISCELLANEOUS NOTA&S., 689

well behind her with her hind legs. Colour first muddy, then vivid green
and black. Roosted all night. Next morning 12th completed the filling
up of her burrow.

On the 13th I had her put into the garden and began to search for the
eggs. As they are evidently deep down, I had the whole bush gently
lifted up by the roots, when a heap of eggs were visible in the loose mould
at the bottom of the pot, nearly a foot from the surface. Eggs were whit-
ish, shaped like a snake’s, a perfect oval, about a half inch by a quarter
inch, and numbered 31. I replaced 20 and the rest were put in another
pot. The female still drives the male away if he comes near her. A few
general remarks on these animals as pets may be of interest. They are
voracious and should be watered, on a bush, at least once in two days.
They will not drink out of a receptacle. Their gymnastic feats are a
source of endless amusement and interest and they give the impression of
possessing an intelligence much above that of other reptiles. They are
long sighted and very tenacious of purpose. If put on the floor of the
verandah my own would invariably first take their bearings and then make
for the hedge, climbing it at the same spot in order to catch the over-hanging
branch of the Gul mohur tree. Their dominant purpose is still to escape
into the high branches of this tree. If kept in a wire cage their persistent
efforts to escape lead to the skin of their nose being frayed to the bone, but
a cage of mosquito netting obviate this mishap.

I should be grateful for any information the Society can give me as to
their distribution, also the size they attain. An informant tells me of one
ever two feet long, picked off a tree during a beat in one of our Southern
districts and kept tied to a peg for two days when its captors killed it and
dried its tongue and heart fora charm. I should have unhesitatingly
put this animal down for one of the so-called ‘iguanas’ but for the
description of its gait, shape and colour and the incident of its death, for
while the tongue and heart of a chamzeleon have noted magical properties
in this country, I never heard the same of the iguana.

C. CHENEVIX TRENCH, t.c.s.
Damog, C. P., 15th November 1911.

[The iguana referred to is probably the Indian Monitor or ‘Ghorpad’ (Varanus
bengalensis). The largest chameleon which is in our Museum measures snout to
vent. 74 inches, tail 83 inches, a total length of 16 inches.—EDs. |

No. XXXIX.—SNAKE EATING A SNIPE.

On 20th November while I was out snipe shooting with my wife a
eurious incident occurred which I think is of sufficient interest to record.
[had brought down a couple of Snipe and my wife had gone to pick up
one while I went to get the other. On approaching the spot where the

690 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXTI,-

bird had fallen my wife saw a large snake and called out tome “there is
a big snake here,’ almost immediately adding “ and it is eating the
snipe.” She stood quite still to observe and saw the snake open a
cavernous pair of jaws and seize the snipe by the tail, but I, foolishly
hurrying up, attracted the attention of the culprit who dropped the snipe
and made off. I put a charge of shot into the snake as it disappeared, but.
it managed to escape into a clump of bushes, so I was unable to identify
it, but from the glimpse I got of its tail and body I have little doubt that
it was a rat-snake (Zamenis mucosus). The snipe’s tail was somewhat
mauled and covered with saliva when picked up.

F, KE. W. VENNING, Carr.
Pyawsrosn, 7th December 1911.

No. XL.—SOME NOTES ON THE HATCHING OF THE
AGAMOID LIZARD (CALOTES JERDONI).

On a pouring wet day, 11th August 1910, I found by the side of a jungle
path near Haka, Chin Hills, (alt. 6,200 ft.) one dozen lizard’s eggs, the
largest of which measured ‘75 x‘55 inches. The eggs were scattered ir-
regularly over an area of about three feet by six ches, and were all lying
on the surface of some moss under a pine tree. The situation was a steep
hillside and there were torrents of water coursing down the path and
through the jungle, but the position of the eggs, which was somewhat raised
and was also sheltered by the tree, pointed to the conclusion that they
were still in the place where they had been originally deposited. On
reaching home I opened one of the eggs and extracted a living young one
of this species, apparently almost ready to emerge. The position of the
hatching in the egg was as tollows :—head bowed on chest, nape occupying
the pole of the egg, back considerably bent, tail neatly curled inwards on
the belly, fore limbs crossed, I think, on the chest, but I could not be
certain of this point nor of the position of the hind limbs as the lizard
stirred almost immediately on the egg being opened. In 19081 had twelve
eggs of this species which hatched on and after the 20th August, so I
placed the remaining eggs on some moist earth in a large chattie and
awaited developments. .

At 7 a.m. on the 28th August I noticed that one of the eggs had several
cuts in the shell and the hatchling’s snout was visible through one of the
openings. I promptly placed a second egg in strong spirit for future
examination and returned to egg No. 1. This I placed with great care
under the microscope using a low power objective (1 inch) and could just
detect the foetal tooth as a minute triangular white point projecting under
the rostral shield. By 8 a.m. nothing further had occurred, but the little
lizard was breathing deeply,each breath causing an efflux of moisture from

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 691

the slits in the shell. I had to leave the egg now and could not resume
my observations till 10-40 a.m. when I found the young lizard’s whole head
protruding from the shell and its eyes wide open and fully conscious of my
movements. After about five minutes the hatchling made an effort to
obtain its release and at the second attempt wriggled out of its shell and
without pausing ran to the edge of the chattie and fell over. I rescued it
and placed it in a finger bowl. It was extremely lively. The navel aper-
ture was distended and a globular piece of whitish (apparently albuminous)
matter was extended measuring about one line in diameter. This
subsequently became rubbed off on some earth. At 11 a.m. the measure-
ments were ; head and body 1:2 inches, tail 2‘8 inches. The dorsal crest
and two rows behind the eyes showed as distinct ridges, and in all other
respects the specimen was perfectly developed. A little albuminous matter
remained in the shell, which was extremely tough and of the consistency
of white kid glove. Egg No. 2 showed no signs of cuts when I put it in
spirit, but at about 11 a.m. I found the hatchling had broken the shell and
struggled half out before succumbing.

The remaining eggs all hatched similarly except that the occupants
were not so much disturbed and had the navel aperture quite free from
any matter when they emerged and showing merely as a longitudinal slit
about 2 inch long.

The hatchlings had in a very marked degree the power, conscious or
unconscious, of assimilating their colour to the hue of their surrounding,
becoming brownish when placed on bare earth or a brown twig and
greenish when placed on a green leaf.

A full-grown female of this species taken by me on 10th May 1910 was
found to contain 12 eggs, the largest of which measured *6 x :25 inches,
but in this case the eggs were very soft skinned and contained no traces
of any development of the embryo.

Major Wall has described the finding of a pair “in copula” on 25th
August in the Khasi Hills (B. N. H. 8. J., XVIII, page 506). It would
appear, therefore, from the scanty records above that the period of gesta-
tion lasts a whole year, but further observations would be interesting.

The activity of the hatchling immediately on emergence from the
egg and its ability to adapt its hue to that of its environment are evidently
inherited protective devices of considerable importance to the species
when one remembers the large number of Ophidia, not to mention birds,
that prey upon it. In this connection I might mention that a very young
mongoose I had, which was also very weak on its legs, one day pursued
and captured an adult C. yerdont tomy utter astonishment. The lizard
was obviously very much fleeter of foot, but the mongoose followed slowly
but relentlessly until the lizard was apparently run to a standstill, when
it was captured and devoured.

692 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol: XXd,

It is to my mind a most wonderful endowment of nature which enables
the young Calotes to make full use of its limbs the moment it sets foot to
earth after being curled up in its egg during the whole of its prenatal
existence, and a very powerful objection to the argument that the young
have to learn everything from example. “ Experientia docet’—it is trying
that teaches, but here we have the first trial a fully perfected art achieved
without precept or example.

The method of opening the egg for the exit of the lizard is also of some
interest by reason of the economy of energy shown. I append a rough
illustration of the cuts in three of the eggs prior to the appearance of the
young one. The table shows the time taken in the actual process of hatch-
ing as far as it could be observed.

No. I. No. VI. No. V.

K 2.

Another question which suggested itself to my mind was whether the
exudation of moisture, noticed in almost every case after the first cuts had
been made and caused by the inhalations of the lizard, were merely
accidental overflowings of albumen or an intentional device of nature for
softening the hardness of the leathery integument and so facilitating the
exit of the hatchlirg ?

No. First cuts observed. Hatchling out of shell.

i 7 a.m. (28th) 10-45 a.m. (28th).

De Placed in, spirit.

oF 7 a.m. (28th). Not noticed: shell empty 3 p.m.
4 6-30 p.m. (28th). 8-20 a.m. (29th).

5. 8 a.m. (29th’, 11 a.m. (29th).

6. 11 a.m. (80th). 4 p.m. (80th).

7 11 a.m. (80th). 4 p.m. (80th).

Remainder escaped observation.
F, E. W. VENNING, Carr.

PyawBroez, 7th December 1911.

MISCELLANEUUS NOTES. 693

No. XLI.—BREEDING OF MACCLELLAND’S CORAL SNAKE
(CALLOPHIS MACCLELLANDI).

Among 128 snakes sent me from Shillong this year, I have had four
specimens of Macclelland’s coral snake. I can find no observations of
the breeding habits of this species, so that the receipt of a gravid Q is
worthy of remark. This specimen, which was killed in August, measures
1 foot 11 inches. It contained 6 eggs, 2 in one ovary and 4 in the other.
The largest of these eggs measures 13,” 7". On cutting this open I
discovered a small embryo lying ina chamber just beneath the ovicular
membrane. The embryo would, I judge, measure one to one-and-a-half
inches unravelled. The head is formed, the eye, mandible, and a beaked
snout evident, and the heart also visible outside the abdomen. The
condition is exactly similar to that seen in the eggs taken from the
abdomen of the Lachesis monticola included in the same collection. It
seems to me probable that these eggs were on the eve of being discharged,
but on this point I cannot of course speak with certainty.

F. WALL, Masor, I.M.s., c.m.z.s.
AumoraA, 3lst August 1911.

No. XLIT.—THE MADRAS AQUARIUM.

A most interesting little guide* tothe Madras Aquarium has just been
published by Dr. J. R. Henderson, the Honorary Director. This guide
contains not only a general account of the Aquarium and of the fish usually
to be seen in it but also a number of interesting observations on the habits
of fish and marine reptiles that are liable to escape notice unless attention
is called to thsm. I have therefore gathered together some of them in the

following notes, which I hope that Dr. Henderson will see his way to
elaborate :—

1, ‘Finally it may be remarked that among some of the inmates of the
Aquarium the colours fade after a time. This is particularly noticeable
with regard to the beautiful red bands of Lutianus sebe” (p. 7).

I have noticed myself that certain silvery freshwater fish (e.7., Notopterus
kapirat) turn black after a few weeks’ exposure in an aquarium; Dr.
Henderson’s remarks apply, of course, to marine species.

2. “ The sea-snakes are usually represented by Lnhydrina valakudien,
which is very common on the Madras Coast, but various species of Hydro-
phis and Distira will be found from time to time. In spite of their
extremely poisonous nature, they rarely inflict injury on the fish living in
the same tank, yet more than once sea-snakes have fallen victims to and
been eaten by the latter. The snakes are fed on small dead fish” (p. 8).

* Guide to the Marine Aquariwm, Madras. Printed by the Superintendent,
Government Press,. Price 1.anna.

694 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX.

38. “ The Green or Edible Turtle (Chelone mydas). Common on the
Madras Coast. This species is usually described as herbivorous, but local
specimens are quite as carnivorous as any of the other turtles ” (p. 13).

4, “[This tank] contains at present a shoal of a single species of Sea-
Perch (Lutianus jahngarah) which . . . . are noticeable for the high
degree of intelligence which they exhibit at feeding times. The appear-
ance of an attendant bearing a pail, even half-way across the Aquarium, is
sufficient to throw them into a state of wild excitement” (p. 16).

The difference in intelligence (? or eyesight) between these fish and
other species in the Aquarium is most marked, as I can testify from per-
sonal observation in the circumstances described by Dr. Henderson.

5. “The species of Serranus exhibited in the Aquarium regularly go to
sleep every night at the bottom of the tank, where they remain motionless
till morning. Several fish in the Aquarium have the same habit, while
others at night simply remain motionless in the water and do not rest on
the bottom. On the other hand many fish do not appear to sleep, as they
keep constantly moving all night ” (p. 17).

I understand that the Serrani when asleep lie on one side on the
bottom.

N. ANNANDALE,

Catcutra, January 1912.

No. XLIII.—THE LIFE OF A DOG TICK.

The small brown tick on a dog sucks up the blood until it swells up and
then it falls off. It will be noticed that there is always a small tick
attached to every swollen one—this is the male. After the swollen tick
has fallen off, it climbs up the wall into the ceiling or hides in any con-
venient crack and deposits its eggs (some thousands), 40 per cent. of these
in turn hatch out and become minute ticks which get on to the dog and
suck its blood till they in turn swell up to the size of about six pins’ heads,
they then drop off and seek some crack in the wall or some picture un it
and in time change into the ordinary brown tick. Anyone who keeps a
dog in his room might notice ticks on the wall.

W. J. MASSY, Carr.,
12th Pioneers.

Kirxes, 26th August 1911.
[Mr. F. M. Howlett, 2nd Imperial Entomologist, Pusa, has kindly supplied the
following note on the above :—

“Ticks are generally divided into two main families, Argasids and Txodids -
the commonest argasid in this country is the flat fowl-tick (Argas persicus),
while the dog-tick (Rhkipicephalus sanguineus) is an ixodid. Txodids
have a characteristic horny shield on the back, which nearly covers the

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 695

back in the males butis comparatively small in the females ; this shield
is absent in argasids, whose skin is uniformly leathery and often covered
with little warts and pits. The female ixodids gorge themselves with
blood to a much greater extent than argasid females are accustomed to
do, and there are various differences in habits, length of life (much
greater in argasids), number of eggs laid (much greater in ixodids),
number of moults, relation tothe host, sexual relations, and soon, as
well as in structural characters.

AS regards the life-cycle of ticks, there appear to be several types, varying
in the degree of connection of the different stages of the tick with its host
or hosts (i.¢., the animal on which it feeds). The number of stages in
argasids is usually four (though sometimes five or even six) ; larva, nymph
1, nymph 2, adult: in ixodids 3, larva,nymph, adult. In both the
larva is six-legged , the other stages eight-legged. In the relations of
the different species to the host, Nuttall (Parasitology, Oct. 1911) has
defined five typesas being of ordinary occurrence. The relations of
argasids are of types 1 and 2, in which the ticks feed in succession on
an indefinite number of hosts, making a large number of comparatively
small meals of blood and leaving the host when satisfied, the adult
females often laying a batch of eggsafter each meal. The relations of :
ixodids are of types 3,4 and 5; in type 3, each stage C(arva, nymph,
and adult) feeds on a separate host, dropping off and moulting when full-
fed (e.g. Rhipicephalus sanguineus) ; in type 4 the larva and nymph feed
on the same host and the adult on a second host (¢.g., Hyalomma
egyptium, a common Indian cattle-tick), while in type 5 (genus Boophilus
only) the larva, nymph, and adult stick to the same host throughout.

In most, if not all, species the female tick, after filling up with blood, sooner
or later drops off the host aud lays her eggs in heaps on the ground in
any convenient sheltered place, and the larval ticks after hatching
almost always crawl up anything within reach, such as walls or grass-
stems, and there, with the utmost patience and tenacity of purpose, they
wait for the coming of a suitable victim, to whom they at once attach
themselves. Their subsequent behaviour is in accordance with one of
the types indicated above, and this should be borne in mind in applying
measures for getting rid of them: it is of little use to concentrate on
keeping a dog’s coat clean when all the time the floor or the walls of the
place he inhabits may be harbouring numbers of eggs, or of larve,
nymphs, or adults, which have dropped off him merely to moult and then
return to the charge.” —EDs. ].

No. XLIV.—ASILID OVIPOSITION.
_ Time—8 a.m., April 27th, 1911.
_ Weather—Dry and hot.
Place—The Gooseberry plot of the vegetable garden at Pusa, the exact

spot selected being a dry, wrinkled, worn-out gooseberry leaf that would
50

696 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XX1,

have dropped down in the course of three days. The oviposition was made
in the fixed end of the leaf which had shrivelled up into a few pouches, the
ootheca being deposited into one of such pouches.

The soil in and about the gooseberry plot was moderately hard, very dry
and somewhat sandy. Digging showed absolutely no trace of any sub-
terranean insects that the newly hatched-out larvze might be expected to
feed upon nor any crannies or fissures through which they could easily |
make their way deep into the earth. The place was not at all shady nor
well-protected from wind and rain, though the plant was in the midst of
numerous other similar plants. The season was just after the harvesting
of the fruits.

Movement of the fly just prior to oviposition :—

The Asilid was observed darting from place to place apparently very
restlessly. It first perched on a green leaf, but left it at once and went
to another which was also discarded ; the next one was also rejected ,
and so also the fourth and so on for five times till it came across the
suitable leaf.

Manner of oviposition and posture of the fly while ovipositing :—

The leaf was not quite horizontal with the ground but at some in-
clination and the Asilid sat at once parallel to the leaf, her face point-
ing down towards the ground and tail upwards to the plant. The
first position in which she happened to sit seemed quite convenient for
her, and she did not move about on the leaf to accommodate herself
more comfortably.

While ovipositing the tail was shghtly curved all along pomting to a
fixed spot on the leaf ; probably the semi-tluid looking substance gradually
flowed out to occupy the entire portion of the pouch.

She was in that position for nearly ten minutes. Her wings rested in
repose, all the parts of her body remaining stationary save the tail which
was noticed moving in and out like the. retractile sting of an uaculeate
hymenoteron. With each movement a very small quantity of white stuff
could be faintly discerned to be coming out, but the fear of scaring away
the fly stood in the way of knowing then the exact nature of the substance
or the order in which the different constituents of the stuff were coming
out, though subsequent examination cleared both the difficulties. After
about ten minutes the fly suddenly flew away

The Ootheca :—
It was very irregularly shaped, pretty firmly lodged in the pouch of

the leaf the greater portion being concealed from view. At the first
sight it would give one the impression of white excreta of some birds
not infrequently seen on leaves and branches and a superficial exami-
nation did not reveal the existence of any eggs; allthat could be seen
was a very finely porous, frothlike white mass havittg the consistency

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 697

of freshly fallen snow, not of uniform level all throughout but undulat-
ing here and there. With time the mass gradually set harder, ulti-
mately turning into the consistency of very fine camphor granules
firmly stuck together. On breaking open a portion of the frothlike
substance beautiful eggs were Giscovered. The eggs were oval-shaped,
very small in size (about 3” x 3,”), colourless, having prismatic reflec-
tions, very closely in touch with one another, the portions of the eggs
in touch being the sides, the extremities being more or less free. There
were two tiers of eggs one above the other. A colourless but palpable
exudation held the eggs on the tiers together, the whole egg-mass

being encrusted in the external “froth.” After nearly a fortnight

the egg-mass turned yellowish.

The other substance was very easily soluble im absolute alcohol.
The size of the ootheca was above 2” x 3".
The ege-mass was put in a vessel with as much earth and moisture as

were deemed necessary, taking additional care to put in earth of the very

place on which the leaf was on the point of falling. But the eggs gradu-

ally shrivelled up and did not hatch. A discovery of one or two empty

egg-cells suggested the possibility of the presence of newly hatched-out

larvee but a search to find them out was futile.

As the use of the incrustation was obviously, among other things, to

protect the egg-mass from undue exposure, it is not impossible that the

opening made into the mass was wholly or partially responsible for the

eggs not hatching in the presence of conditions which, though of course

artificial, were made as favourable as possible.

Ss. K. SEN,
Asst. to 2nd Imp. Ent.

Pusa December 1911,

698 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. X XI.

No. XLV.—CATERPILLAR PEST ON COTTON IN KHANDESH.

I was recently summoned to Jalgaon. Khandesh, to investigate and
suggest remedies for what was said to be a very serious caterpillar pest of
cotton, and some short notes on my observations may not be without
interest.

The pest proved to be the common, semi-looping, noctuid caterpillar
(Cosmophila erosa). Of this Lefroy (Indian Insect Life, page 453) writes as
follows. It “is common as a green semi-looping larva on cotton and
malvaceous plants : the male moth darker in colouring than the female. The
semi-looping larva is a common pest of cotton (Malachra capitata), bariar
(Sida rhombifolia), and some other plants during the rains.”

The attack in the present case took place during September, and when I
reached Jalgaon on September 26th, the main portion of the attack was
over. The caterpillars appeared about the second or third week in
September, and disappeared at the end of the month. At the time of my
visit I was only able to collect large quantities of the pupz in the folds of
leaves. Nine pupe out of ten were parasitised with chalcidid Hymenop-
tera, with a few ichneumonids, and also a few parasitic diptera (tachinids).
There is thus comparatively little danger of an early repetition of the
attack.

While the attack of the caterpillars was severe, the damage done was
great. The stalks only of the plants remained standing. Every bit of
leaf had been eaten away bythe pest. The serious damage done, however,
was not very extensive. Reports only being to hand from four or five
villages, namely Jalgaon itself, Pimprola, Sirshola and Jamner. All these
were within a radius of twenty-two miles of Jalgaon.

The caterpillars have not limited their attention to cotton, but have also
attacked ambad (Hithiscus cannabinus), whichis often sown as a mixture
in the cotton fields, and Mug (Phaseolus mungo) and Udid (Phaseolus
radiatus), which are sown in admixture with jowar (millet).

R. 8. KASARGODE,
Lecturer on Entomology, Poona Agricultural College.
Poona, October 1911.

No. XLVI.—NOTE ON THE BUTTERFLIES LETHE KANSA
AND DOPHLA PATALA.

_ May I issue a small defence to the charge of inaccuracy brought against.
me by Mr. Hannyngton in his note on page 286 of the last number (No. 1,
Vol. XXI) of the Journal, though the charge, at first sight, appears justi-
fied. The fact was that my “Notes on some Butterflies from the Indian
Region” had been written long before, and as far as my recollection goes,
were already in proof in the Editor’s hands when the number of the Journal

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 699

with Mr. Hannyngton’s article reached me. I had thus no opportunities
to refer to his record. My specimen of LZ. kansa was taken on Ayarpatta,
Naini Tal, about 7,000 feet, in June 1903, and though I was frequently on
Cheena, I never saw the species there. June and July were probably too
late, for Mr. Hannyngton’s record would indicate that the species appears
in @ spring brood.

As regards its range in Sikkim, where I have collected a good deal, my
experience was that the species was fairly common up to about 2,000 feet,
but was never seen about 3,000. Mr. Elwes’ record quoted extends the
range, but I fancy its appearance at high altitudes is rare. I see from
the last number of the Journal (Vol. XXI, p. 53) that Major Tytler has
taken L. kansa only at the foot of the Naga Hills, so my remarks as to the
altitudiual range of the species remain generally good.

It would, as Mr. Hannyngton says, be interesting to know something
of the food plants of the larva of D. patala or D. taodana in Lower Burma.
Can any one oblige P

Having collected a good deal in Kumaon myself years ago, I was par-
ticularly interested in Mr. Hannyngton’s valuable list, and I had hoped, when
it was appearing, to write to him and give him such additional informa-
tion as had. I was at the time unfortunately overburdened with official
work and have since been away on furlough. I hope to be able to ex-
change notes with him at some later date when I have my books and col-
lections again about me. At present I can only remember that I wished
to communicate to him a note of the capture of two males of Poritia hewit-
sont, Moore, near Ranibagh, 2,000 feet, in April 1903. Mr. Hannyngton re-
marked that he had not met with the species in Kumaon.

G. W. V. DeRH#-PHILIPE, r.z.s.
Manpras, 7th December 1911.

No. XLVII.—PAPILIO POLYTES IN BANGALORE.

With reference to Mr. Fryer’s appeal for information concerning
Papilio polytes which appeared in the last number, it may be of general
interest to record that the species is trimorphic in Bangalore. All the
‘three forms were reared in the insectary attached to the Entomological
Laboratory here, from eggs found on the Curry leaf tree (Murraya
kengu, Spreng.). The association of mimics and models came to my
notice only once at Honnali, Shimoga District, where P, hector and the
remulus were observed together on Poinciana regia, Bojier.

K. KUNHI KANNAN,
Assistant in Entomology to Dr. Coleman,

State Mycologist and Entomologist.
BANGALORE, 22nd December 1911.

700 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XX1.

No. XLVIII.—A NOTE ON TRICHOSANTHES DIOICA, ROXB.

C. B. Clarke’s description of the plant ( p. 609, Hk. F. B.I., Vol. 1)
runs thus :—“T. dioica, Roxvb. Fl. Ind., III, 701; leaves cordate, oblong
acute, petiole scabrous woolly, male flowers not racemed, woolly without,
anthers free, Wall., Cat. 6692, A. B. D.

Throughout the plain of North india, from the Panjaub to Assam and
Eastern Bengal ; common.

Stems twining extensively, more or less woolly and scabrous Diecious.
Leaves 3 by 2 in., harsh, sinuate dentate, not lobed ; petiole ? in. ; tendrils
2-fid. Male peduncles paired, the second-flowering often 2 in., but not
racemed in any example at Kew. Calyx-tube 12 in., narrow. Fruit 2-33 in.,
oblong, or nearly spherical, acute, orange-red. Seeds 2-3 in., half
ellipsoid, compressed, corrugate on the margin.’””—United with Trichosan-
thes nervifolia, Linn., D.C. Prodr. iii, 314 by Bentham in FV. Austral, in,
315. “Roxburgh says ‘Stamens three distinct’ which has been repeat-
edly verified in the living plant.”

Be it noted that T. nervifolia is figured by Rheede in Hortus Malabaricus.

When in a former series of papers of mine under name “ The Poisonous
Plants of Bombay’’, 1 published a description of 7. cucumerina, Linn, which
is abundantly found in the Dekkan and Konkan, Lt.-Col. Peters said to
me that there was found in Eastern Bengal a plant under the name of
Patol which was edible. Its botanical name is 777chosanthes dioica.

In his letter to our Hon. Secretary, dated 10th November 1911, from
Dinajpur (E. Bengal) Lt.-Col. C. T. Peters writes the following interesting
note on Trichosanthes dioica, Roxb. (Hindi, Pulwul ; Bengali, Patala) :—“ The
gourd is used as an esculent vegetable and especially prized, as it 1s im
season when other vegetables, both European and Native, are scarce during
the rainy season.

The different ways of preparing the vegetable in Bengal are:—(1) The
entire gourd is scraped and fried in butter or oil without removing the
seeds. (2) The entire gourd is scraped, cut in halves lengthwise and fried
with seeds. (8) The entire gourd is scraped, the seeds are removed by a
long incision and the inside is stuffed with minced meat and spices and
fried (4) The skin is peeled, the seeds are removed and the gourd is cut in -
halves lengthwise or into smaller pieces and fried. (5) The skin is peeled,
the seeds are removed, and the gourd is cut into circular or semi-circular
pieces and fried. The gourd is precisely similar in shape and size to the
Bombay variety* which is, however, poisonous ; whereas this is a most

* There is no Bombay variety of this plant asfaras I know. Col. Peters’ plant
now shown is strictly a native of Eastern Bengal and Assam. The poisonous plant
described by me is 7’. cucwmerina (see in our Journal, Plate E., letter press Part iv,
of my Poisonous Plants of Bombay.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES, 701

useful kitchen vegetable and much appreciated by the native population,
who also use the tender leaves and stalks as a vegetable, especially recom-
mended by Vaidyas as an appetiser to invalids when recovering from fevers.
The root is also used as a cathartic.” Here ends Col. Peters’ interesting
note.

The only counterparts of Col. Peters’ Eastern Bengal edible plant 7.
dtotca, Roxb., on this side of India are the popularly called Tondlen,
(Cephalanden indica, Naud.) and the Snake-Gourd, Trichosanthes anguina
which are found all over the Dekkan and the Konkan. They are greatly
appreciated as highly valuable and dainty vegetables. They are mostly
found in the rainy season; and even now, after the rains. Besides
being cooked in the various ways described by Col. Peters, we cook our
Tondlen with rice mixed with spices. The dish turned out serves as a
valuable morsel to Hindus on festive occasions even in humble homes, as
well as at quiet homely dinner parties. I show a specimen of the fruit,
which is smaller than that of Col. Peters’ plant 7. dioica, Roxb. The snake-
gourd is also used in several ways in Indian homes. Whether it will be
relished at an English table is a matter of acquired taste.

K. R. KIRTIKAR, Lt.-Col.,
1, M.S. (Ret.)
ANDHERI, SALSEITE,
Januray 1912.

No. XLIX.—NOTES ON THE FLORA OF THE VALE
OF KASHMIR.

The Kashmir State, like ancient Gaul, is divided into three parts, the
northern province of Baltistan with the mighty Nanga Parbat on the west,
26,229 feet high, towering over the whole State, Ladakh on the east with
its many elevated plains, and Nun Kun, 25,447 feet in height, also on its
left flank, then Kashmir on the south with the River Jhelum running
across it, Kolahoi, 17,839 feet over the Lidar Valley, and Haramouk,
16,908 feet over the Sind Valley, while on the south is the Pir Panjal
Range, with such giants as Tatakuti, 16,024 feet, and Brahma Sakal,
17,590 feet high, forming the highest peaks.

The Province of Kashmir is entered from the west at Kohala below
Murree, where the ground level on the banks of the Jhelum is 2,050 feet
above mean sea level ; the cart road into the State follows the lead of the
river to Baramula, running due north for 21 miles to Domel, then roughly
to the east for 40 miles to Uri, the level being about 4,000, and 29 miles
more to Baramula, where the Valley of Kashwir is entered at a base-level
of 5,170. Srinagar lies 53 miles to the east, in the centre of the Valley, at

702 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXII.

a level of 5,235, and Islamabad 32 miles farther on at a level of 5,385 feet,
where several streams join to form the River Jhelum. On the east of the
province are the Lidar and Sind Valleys, the centres of which are Pailgam
at 7,200 feet, and Sonamarg at 8,600 feet, the latter so called because the
rays of the morning sun shining on the ragwort, dandelions, buttercups,
marsh-marigold, and potentillas that clothe its slopes, give it the appear-
ance of a veritable “ field of the cloth of gold.”” To the north lies Nagmarg
at an elevation of 8,700 feet, with the Lolab Valley below ata level of
about 5,700, and on the west Gulmarg, “ the meadow of flowers,” a little
Valley on the eastern slopes of the Pir Panjal Range, at a height of
8,400 feet, having another meadow Kilanmarg above it ata level of 10,000
feet, the whole surmounted by Apharwat, 14,800 feet high, at the north end
of the hills. Thus the flora of the Vale of Kashmir have a range of
between 2,000 and 15,000 feet above mean sea level, and species of almost
every order and genus of flora are to be found in the valley.

Going up the cart road at the end of April, the ravines of the Jhelum
will be found covered with pink and red blossomed oleander, Nertwm
- odorum, and a number of wild fruit trees lining the road, such as the large
red-flowered pomegranate, Punicea granatum; pink crab-apple, Pyrus baccata ;
white pear, P. Pashia; pink plum, Prunus Puddum, and almond, P. amyg-
dalus; white cherry, P. cerasus; fig, Ficus Roxburgh, and olive, Elacagnus
umbellata, also the mulberry, Morus alla, with its long red and white fruit,
and M, serrata with its smalier purple fruit. The avenues of the valley
road from Baramula to Srinagar, and those inthe capital itself, are of the
tall poplar, Populus ciliata, the thick white pollen of which coats the ground
so extensively in the early spring as to give it the appearance of having
been snowed on.

After the winter frosts have passed, the first flowers to bloom after the
snows melt are yellow primroses, Primuia floribunda, and purple many-
headed primulas, P. denticulata, also the bright hued lilac iris, I. nepalensis,
so characteristic of the village cemeteries of Kashmir, purple and yellow
loosestrife, Lysimachia chenopodioides, and L. japonica, the little purple blue-
tinged androsace, A. lanuginosa; pink centunculus, C. tenellus ; the bright
blue pimpernel, Anayallis arvensis, and the small flowered myrtles, Myrsine
semiserrata and africana. Withthe advance of spring areto be found on
the higher margs the white blossoms of podophyllum, P. Hmodt, which later
turn into large scarlet berries; yellow Corydalis Govamiana, and purple C.
rutefolia ; yellow tower-mustard, Arabis glabra, and the white variety, 4d.
amplexicaulis; yellow and white aromatic leaved skimmia, S. leureola, the
berries of which first turn green then red; white Staphylea Emod: ; purple
clover, Trifolium pratense ; white pink-edged Dutch clover, 7. repens ; the
small yellow Trigonella pubescens; delicate white spircea, S. vestita ; pink
bramble, Rubus nivews, and the white species, R. macilentus; the white wild

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 703

strawberry, Fragaria vesca, and the yellow F. indica; white and red roses
Rosa sericea and R. macrophylla, the fruit of which is bright red ; white Deu-
tzia staminea ; pink and white Viburnum foetens; white pink edged Aaron’s
Rod, Arnskaa aptera; white Gerbera lanuyinosa; yellow ox-tongue, Crepis
fetida; yellow Salvia glutinosa; blue S. lanata; blue mint, Nepeta campestris,
and the pink variety, NV. ciliaris; purple Brunella vulgaris; pink corn snap-
dragon, Antirrhinum Orontium; and many veronicas, blue JF, biloba, purple
and white V. serpyllifolia.

At alower range are climbing clematis, white C. montana, purple C.
barbellata, and yellow C. Gouriana ; white purple tinged anemonies, A. rivu-
lavis; white meadow-rue, Thalictrum pedunculatum ; brilliant red Adonis
estivalis; the bright yellow buttercup, Ranunculus hirtellus ; white columbine,
Aquilegia pubiflora; blue larkspur, Delphiniuwm denudatum; yellow marble
watercress, Nasturtium palustre; white cress, Cardamine impatiens; yellow
cress, Sisyimbrium Wallichit; the yellow and purple violet, V. biflora and
V. canescens; St. John’s wort, Hypericum perforatum; yellow Reinwardtra
trigyna; pink geranium, G. lucidum; yellow Oxalis corniculata; white Rhus
punjabensis; white Osmorhiza Claytoni; white chervil, Anthriscus nemorosa ;
yellow Zactuca scariola; yellow and purple dandelions, Taraxacum offitci-
nale; the white jessamine, J. officinale; white pink tipped Lathraea squamosea ;
the vervain, Verbena officinalis; white Litsea consimulis, and the yellow star
of Bethelehem, Gagea persica.

By summer time, on the heights are to be found the white flowered bane-
berry, Actea spicata; red or white peonies Pania Emodi; yellow barberry,
Berberis lycium, with later violet berries ; orange coloured Lrysimum hieract-
folium; white Eutrema primulefolium ; white hedge-garlic, Sisyimbrium alliarta ;
pretty pink Dianthus angulatus; white chickweed, Cerastiwm vulyatum ; pink
or white Dictamnus albus; white flowered holly, Ilex dipyrena; dark violet
lupin, Thermogsis barbata; dark purple-red Indigofera gerardiana; yellow
Potentilla albifolia and crimson P. nepalensis; yellow agrimouy, Agrimona
eupatorium; white Cotoneaster acuminata, with its subsequent long bright
red berries; white orange-scented Philadelphus coronarius; green black
currants, Ribes nigrum, and red currants, &. rubrum; white stonecrop,
Sedum linearifolium, and the pink species, S. trifidum; yellow Pimpinella
acuminata; white or red Cherophyllum acuminatum; white celery-leafed
aromatic Selenium vaginatum; white and purple angelica, A. glauca; white
Heracleum cachemiricum; pink and white Abeia triflora; the Alpine woolly
edelweiss, Leontopodium alpinum ; woolly white or yellow Anaphalis nubigena;
downy yellow Hieracium vulgatum; yellow sowthistle, Sonchus oleraceus; the
pink rhododendron, R. campanulatum; yellow Chrysosplenium tenellum ; white
privet, Ligustrwm compactum; the small yellow cynanchum, C. glaucum, and
green-purple Scrophularia calycina; lilac yellow-tinged eye-bright, Euphrasia
officinalis; purple wild thyme, Thymus serpyllum; blue Salvia lanata and

704. JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol, X-XT.

yellow S. glutinosa; pink motherwort, Leonurus cardiaca; yellow spurge
Euphorbia pilosa and yellow-green calanthe C. tricarinata.

At a lower level during the summer are seen white flowers of Gypso-
phila cerastoides and <Arenaria orbiculata; lilac mallow, Malva silvestris;
yellow and pink argyrolobium, A. flaccidwm and roseum; pink or white
Tillea peutaudra; yellow Datisca cannabina; the marsh pennywort, Hydro-
cotyle javanica, and hare’s ear, Bupleurum tenue; bright yellow cudweed,
Gnaphalium lutecalbum; purple and white convolvulus, C. arvensis; blue or
white Hvolvulus alsinoides; white nightshade with black berries, Solanum
nigrum and the purple species with red berries, S. dulcamara; yellow or
blue wild gooseberry, Physalis minima; the white trumpet-shaped datura, J).
stramoniwm; yellow-mullein, Verbascum Thapsus, and celsia, C. coromande-
liana; delicate rains’ plants such as blue Platystemma violocdes, purple
Chirita pumila, and white Didissandra lanuginosa. Many varieties of skull-
cap blossom in the monsoon, yellow Scutellaria angulosa, and dark blue 8.
grossa, also the white purple-spotted Plectranthus Gerardianus. In August
the Dal Lake near Srinagar will be found covered with large white and
rose-coloured lotus flowers, Nelumbiwm speciosum, which are tended for
religious services and reach a diameter of ten inches.

Towards the end of the summer are found on the higher ranges the
light and dark neutral-tinted flowers of monkshood, Aconztwim heterophyllum,
and at greater elevations the small purple variety of aconite A. Lycoc-
tonum; pink Silene tenuis and white S. Griffith; pink milkwort, Polygala
triphylla ; the purple species P. crotalaroides, and the yellow, P. chinensis ;
purple and yellow Lychnis jfimbriata; white star-like Stellaria paniculata ;
purple Geranium divaricatum; yellow lucern, Mendicago falcata, and senna,
Colutea nepalensis; bright yellow Caragana brevispina; lilac and yellow
Astragalus chlorostachys ; red vetch, Viera rigidula ; bright yellow Geum elatum ;
yellow saxifrage, S. filicaulis, and the pink S. ciliata; lilac willow-herb,
Epilobium brevifolium ; small white Cireea cordata, and the handsome yellow
Morina Coulterrana. Two species of aster are found with purple ray
flowers and yellow discs, A. molliuscllus and A. asperulus; yellow elecampane,
Inula cuspidata; pink milfoil, Achillea nullefolium; yellow Senecio gracili-
Jlorus, and many purple and lilac thistles, Echinops cornigerus and E. niveus,
Arctium Lappa, Cnicus arvensis, and Serratula pallida.. The pretty Prenanthes
vtolefolia flowers late, also the white Monotropa uniflora; blue gentians are
common from July onwards, G. capitata, G. contorta, and G. Kurroo, also
the pale blue halenia, H. elliptica, and Paracaryum glochidiatum. The blue

and yellow forget-me-not, Myosotis cwspitosa, is found everywhere and the

forest variety, M. sylvatica, 1s found in the woods from 6,000 to 9,000 feet
height ; pale purple yellow-tinged nightshade, Atropa belladonna and yellow
purple-veined henbane, Hyoscyamus niger, are frequently met with. Also
pik and white polygonums of many species.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 705

At lower elevations during the early Autumm are found the white anemone
flowers, Ad. polyanthes; yellow buttercups, Ranunculus diffusus ; white honey-
lotus, Melilotus alba; the handsome light yellow Lespedeza juncea; yellow
purple-lined A’schynomene indica and bluish Smtthia ciliata; purple Urania
neglecta; pink Desmodum podearpum; pink and red Vigna veavillata; yellow
Atylosia platycarpa; yellow purple-veined Rhynchosia himalensis, and pink
or white Memingia fruticulosa; white sundew, Drosera lunata; purple or
white Erigeron ; the strongscented yellow Carpesiwm abrotanoides used to
dye silk; the bur-marigold, Bidens pilosa; yellow and purple wormwood,
Artemisia Absinthium; blue Mazus rugosus; yellow Sopuhia trifida; pink
Amphicome arguta; green and purple Achyranthes aspera; blue Strobilanthes
glutinosus, and red-purple Justicia pubigera.

No mention can be made of the flora of Kashmir without including the
trees, the finest of them is the chenar plane, Platanus orientalis, which attains
a great height and girth; it was introduced by the Emperor Jehangir from
Persia early in the Seventeenth century and is now to be found all over the
valley ;it budsin April, blooms in May, andin October the five-pointed leaves
turn from green to the richest red and yellow colours. The walnut, Juglans
regia, is also a splendid tree, the green flower appearing in May, and the
two-valved nut ripening in September. The box tree, Buaus sempervirens,
is found at a height of about 6,000 feet in cold damp glens facing the north:
its yellow-green flowers are to be seen in April and the small seeds in
October. The deodar, Cedrus deodara, a variety of the cedar of Lebanon:
the common pine, Pinus lonyifolia; the horsechestnut, Asculus indica; the
hawthorn, Orategus oxyacantha, and the bay-tree, Daphne oleoides, range
from 5,000 to 7,000 feet ; above them the blue pine, Pinus excelsa; silver fir,
Picea morinda, and at 10,500 feet, the very top of the forests, Abies Webbiana,
the dark foliage of which gives the name Kala ban, black forest, to the
neighbourhood, and among these trees is found the white barked birch,
Betula utilis. The common ivy, Hedera heliv is found above 6,000 feet; its
autumn greenish flower and winter black yellow and red berries make it
quite a feature of the woods in those seasons. There are 10 genera of
ferns and about 80 species to be found commonly in the valley, a complete
list of which was included in a little book called ‘‘ Hints on travelling in
Kashmir,” published by the Pioneer Press, Allahabad, that in addition
gives much useful advice for visitors to the State.

Kashmir is considered a place where a summer can be pleasantly spent
in shooting, painting its lovely scenery, or playing polo and the fascinating
game of golf, but the varied richly-coloured wild flowers are also a great
attraction, though one is no botanist, and its geological features are full of
interest even for an amateur in the science.

J. H. A. IVENS.,
23rd September 1911.

706 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XX,

No. L.—SECOND, YEAR’S GROWTH OF A PLANTAIN
INFLORESCENCE,

The accompanying photograph is of a specimen of the wild plantain,
Musa superba, at present in the garden of the bungalow, 8, Ganeshkhind
Road, Poona. The plant in question was put in the ground as a sucker
in 1908. In the rains of 1910 it produced its inflorescence and formed
several small fruits. Then it remained dormant until the rains of 1911
when the inflorescence again started into growth and has not yet ceased
to grow. No leaves, however, were produced this year, all growth being
in the inflorescence. The bracts which have been formed this year
contained, as far as | have observed, only staminate flowers with rudi-

mentary ovaries—the normal condition of flowers at the tip of the flowering
shoot of the plantain.

: Plantain inflorescence (Burns).

The measurements of the plant are as follows:—Diameter of stump, 40
cm. Height of stump, 55 cm. Length between top of stump and bunch of

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 707

1910 fruits, 40 em. Growth beyond this produced in 1910, 19 cm. Growth
produced in 1911 (to base of bud), 38 cm. Present length of termina]
bud, 14 cm.

I have seen a similar case in a wild plantain in the Botanical Garden,
Bassein, and should like to know if it is at all common in wild plantains,
and if it has been observed in cultivated plantains,

W. BURNS,
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE, Economic Botanist, Poona.
Poona, 21sé September 1911.

No. LI.—A FLY TRAP (BOUCEROSIA CRENULATA, Wiest &
ARN.).

On 4th November 1911, I came across a flowering specimen of the
Asclepiad plant, Soucerosia crenulata, which had successfully entrapped a
common fly in the corolla of one of its flowers. The fly was very firmly
held, whether by the hairs of the surface or partly by the natural
viscosity of the flowers of this order I am uncertain, but I think by the
former, for on arrival at home after a long walk I released the captive
which flew away quite happily. I send you this note as I have not seen
the sensitiveness of this genus recorded anywhere and do not know
whether it is usual or not.

Pyaweg, 8th December 1911. F, E. W. VENNING, Carr.

No. LIT.—NOTE ON MACROCHLAMYS (EURYCHLAMYS) PLATY-
CHLAMYS (BiAnForp), ETC.

(From the ‘ Proczrpines or THE Matacotocican Society,’ Vol. IX,
Part V, June, 1911.]

It has been suggested that the following notes on the habits of this
small mollusc, made by me in Bombay about 1898, may be of interest,
The animal is of a bluish colour, the horn on the mucous pore is wel
marked, and the mantle has two broad shell-polishing lobes, each about a
quarter of an inch long, one protruding backwards and the other forwards,
over the shells.

It is most lively in very damp weather, and crawls at an astonishing
pace, but if allowed to get dry, when in captivity, dies immediately. It is
distinctly carnivorous; a Succinea, crushed by accident in its presence,
was devoured on the spot.

Ariophanta bajadera (Pfeiffer), a much larger species, was attacked while
crawling on my table. The Macrochlamys climbed on to its shell and bit it
savagely on the back. The Arzophanta got rid of its assailant by swinging
its shell from side to side. On one occasion a specimen hung from my
finger by a thread of mucous 3 inches long; at this point I unfortunately

708 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

let him touch the ground, so did not discover how much longer he migh
have made his thread.

Macrochlamys pedina (Bens.), one of the commonest Bombay snails, is
also carnivorous. I have seen them engaged in a cannibal feast over dead
comrades crushed in the road, and have also seen one busy on the half-
emptied shell of Arzophanta levipes (Mill.).

I regret that I did not pursue these investigations further. Specimens
of M. platychlamys were scarce, and | was more interested at the time in
collecting yood specimens of the shells than in observing the habits of the

beasts.
A, J. PEILE.

No. LITI.—CONCHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM BOMBAY.
By Lionet E. Apams, B.A.
( Reprinted from the Journal of Conchology. )

From Durban we went to Bombay, where, from an exclusively concho-
logical point of view, we arrived at the best time of the year to find land
and freshwater species, vz., during the South-West Monsoon, when the
earth is moistened and pools form. On this occasion the earth was quite
sufficiently moistened for my purpose, for during the night of our arrival
thirteen inches of rain fell in eleven hours—a record that even Manchester
might be proud of. I spent much time in the Natural History Museum,
which is an ideal provincial Museum, the exhibits being restricted to the
fauna of the country, and arranged on British Museum lines. The collec-
tions are copiously labelled, and immaculate as regards dust and mould.
IT owe much to the Curator, Mr. Kinnear, and the Secretary of the Bombay
Natural History Society, Mr. Millard, for the trouble they took to procure
me specimens and advise me how to procure others for myself. Acting on
their advice, I took a trip up the Ghauts to Igatpuri, where I spent a short
but satisfactory time among the snails. I% was only possible to hunt
between the deluges which continued the whole time with intervals of
sometimes half an hour. The most abundant species here was the sinistral
Nanina bajadera, Pfr., which swarmed along a wall close to the dak bunga-
low where I was staying. In the town of Bombay, along Malabar Hill,
about a quarter of a mile from the sea, in Mr. Millard’s garden, were found
considerable numbers of one (if not two) species of Onchidiwm, which I
regret being still unable to name. Nanina lavipus, Mill, and Macrochlamys
pedina were not uncommon in the same locality, and one species of
Ampullaria was plentiful in a certain piece of water.

Snail-hunting in India has distinct drawbacks. In dry weather it is
useless, and in wet weather it is sometimes impossible and always

uncomfortable.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 709

No. LIV.—NOTES ON THE CUTCH AMMONITES.
(With a Plate.) :

About four miles from Bhuj there runs a belt of low hills rich in Belem-
nites and Ammonites, to say nothing of Terebratule, Cardia, Pleuroto-
maris et hoc genus omne. This belt extends for over four miles without
a break, running generally west to east. It extends further still, after
breaks, but for the present article, this section of four miles will be con-
sidered.

As you approach Bhuj from Mandvi, ata point six miles from Bhuj,
you will find yourself at the top of the pass of the Charwar hills. From its
summit, you look down across a broad plain, in the centre of which the
Palace tower rises clear and high above the masses of surrounding greenery
which ensconce the city. To your right and left runs the long Charwar
range in asteady line, golden yellow against the azure sky——with numerous
ridges and foothills along the northern base.

A short way down the descent, the road carries you through a cutting
and across a bridge. This cutting is the ridge of whichI write. Im spite
of the frowns and gibes of scientific terminologists, I callit the Belteram
ridge: why? because it is full of Belemnites, Terebratulee and Ammo-
nites. It is well worth the close study of a paleontologist.

Now take the following sketch, and you will easily find the limits of my

Belteram range. It is indicated by the cross line.

Roughly speaking it has an average width from north to south of 250
yards, but as the strata are tilted at 30° or so, the actual perpendicular
thickness of the belt as deposited would be about 600 feet, at each end of
the line the belt subsides into the plain to east and west. Nullas which
run across its supposed track beyond each end, show no trace of it. It
has vanished down below.

710 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXT.

Now reverse things. Approach the Belteram ridge from the Bhuj side.
You go across a fairly level plain, with a few insignificant ridges, dipping
slightly south and scarped north. The main substance of the ground, as
shown by nullas, is a friable coarse white sandstone, but the surface is
mostly of yellow or of red, being littered with small smooth stones (not
water worn) or levelled by rain and cultivation. On ahead of you is the
belt of the Charwar range (Kir-giri the Cutchis used to call it in this part

of its length), rising to 400 or 500 feet over the plain. Lines of dunes and
ridges fringe its northern base. The Charwar range is mainly of yellowish
shale; but in parts masses of whitish and purplish and blackened
sandstone form its upper main strata. The foothills too are mainly of
shale ; but the first big ridge you come to (ignore the broken belt of black
and white sandstone for the present) is of a warm old-gold colour—a .
soft golden yellow, here and there blackened by exposure. ‘This is our
Belteram.

Blanford suggested a fault all along this line, and Wynne and Fedden
verified it. The white sandstone of the plain is believed to belong to an
Upper Jurrassic age: the Belteram and its backing hills to a Lower Juras-
sic. That is to say, if the theory is correct, the white sandstone rocks of
the plain were at one time much higher than the tops of the 400 feet high
hills beyond, but by reason of the Titanic motions of the earth’s crust in
prehistoric days, either the upper strata have here sunk or the lower
strata have been raised. That this change should have been effected by a
convulsion I think is hardly probable, for the level of the plain is so smooth,
its exposed reefs so regular, and the strata of the hills and ridges to the
south of the fault are so even that there is no sign of a great convul-
sion. I see that the survey reports the rocks to the south of the fault to
be much contorted ; but the contortions have mainly assumed the regular
form which I am going to describe. To my untrained mind the subsidence
or elevation was probably gradual. But it was not a matter of 400 feet
only.

The plain as mentioned above shows ridges, each riding on the back
of its northern forerunner. Going north you pass ridge after ridge, each

sloping up from the south and scarped on the north side.

Charwar

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 711

These little ridges are of highly coloured sandstone, and further north
beyond Bhuj develop into shale, forming the cliffs of the deep Kari River
nulla, and the Dhonsar hills beyond, 7.e., 8 miles north. Beyond Dhonsar
there outcrops again the warm yellow belt of Belteram. The thickness of
shale and sandstone between the belts has been adjudged to be 3,000 feet.
So if this fault theory is correct (and it seems very probably so) we must
allow for a slip of 3,000 feet. Probably in those far-off days, the Ammo-
nites and their kin thought nothing of a subsidence of 1,000 yards. I
may say that Wynne and Fedden found these belteram beds to be the
lowest exposed rocks of Cutch. They occur again north of Dhonsar, also
along the north coast of Cutch, and again in the Runn islands.

Tomy mind (which is, I admit, amateurish, though keen) there are
several puzzles in the theory, e.g., one is this: if the white sandstone
represents the higher strata, how is it that one finds a white sandstone
hill at the north edge of the fault with a cap of solid belteram rocks. The
hill is 50 or 60 feet above the nearest belteram. Again how is it that you
find scattered over the surface soil of the plain north of the fault, lime-
stones with terebratule, belemnites and sometimes ammonites. These are
spread over perhaps half a mile of the plain (northwards). [ have found
one such limestone within 200 yards of my bungalow, four miles north and
one, a mile north of my bungalow. If, after the occurrence of the fault,
the sea denuded the north cliffs of the Belteramit may have spread much of
the stuff over the plain, but I should not care to have been out sailing in
the storm which carried a block of this limestone, weighing about one ewt.
a mile north of the ridge.

Again, how is it that if life was so prolific in the age of the deposition of
the belteram beds, hardly any life seems to have existed in the centuries
during which several hundred feet of shale and sandstone were being
deposited above it, and yet a few ammonites have, it seems, been found on
the summit of the Charwar hills. I found one forlorn belemnite near the
top of the highest hill of the range ; poor fellow ; he can have had no club
to go to; and I don’t see how it is that if one belemnite could be preserved
by the nature of the ooze in which he died, several of his fellows couldn't
be preserved too.

lf the life of the Belteram period died out with the formation of its
upper deposits, how could the race of ammonites be preserved for the
deposits which were formed so much later. The shale and hard limestone
slabs which succeeded the Belteram period seem to lie conformably on the
Belteram, 7.c., they were deposited at the bottom of their sea in unbroken
succession to the Belteram strata, As you passed through the pass of the
Charwar range, you could have seen its shaly and limestone strata all
dipping south at about 28°, which corresponds to the dip of the Belteram
beds just below there.

712 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XX, :

I have examined the Belteram with what an untrained eye considers to
be considerable care. It is not alla case of south dip and north scarp,
the latter overhanging the plain. There was a regular range of long
narrow round topped hills; the north slope of the anticline has gone in
some places, but in others its traces are visible, so that here and there
the dip of the Belteram nearest to the plain is to the north. Unfortunate-
ly at the points where the white sandstone comes visibly in contact with
the Belteram, the former is so powdered and broken and fragments of both
kinds seem so mixed that one can’t see exactly what happens when the
two dips come into conflict. In places high masses of brecciated alluvium
cap the sandstone, as if washed down from the Belteram ridge by the
flow of a sea or river and deposited over the sea’s white sandy bed.

Beginning from the uprise of the Belteram at its west extremity, I find
the belt pretty wide here, dipping south and scarped north, with a
vanguard ridge of detached dark crimson hills some 200 yards in front of
its slope. This vanguard ridge dips deep south and evidently underruns
the main belteram beds. It too is of Belteram—but of a harder and coarser
material, with fewer fossils in evidence. The plain comes up to the foot of
the scarp of the vanguard, and I can trace no sign of my supposed
anticline, though the debris on the plain extends some way. Perhaps this
anticlinal hill was broken clean in half by the fault.

To the east of Wala Khawas Tank, the belteram shows a long elliptical
hill with a west dip of strata on its west flank, north dip on its north and
south dip on its south. All the centre has been ercded; and the west and
north sides of the anticline have been eaten away and reduced much more
than the high south ridge.

Beyond a nulla, I find another circular hill, dipping outwards on
all sides, also eroded in the centre. Then a long mound, probably the
relics of another round hill quite eroded, leads up to another circular hill,
whose strata dip outwards on all sides. A deep nulla defines its eastern
slope and a fourth circular hill supervenes, its north side mostly vanished.
Then a long ridge, the south side of a quondam elliptical hill, for after
travelling along the ridge for 1,000 yards, I note a slight outcrop, 150
yards to the north, of belteram dipping north and gradually rising and
curving in to join my ridge, and beyond its junction the strata dips round
eastwards. Here it is that just to the north of the fault lies the broad
squat hill—60 feet high—pf white sandstone carrying its cap of belteram.

But a peculiar sight to the south of this point is a great bowl 600 yards
across, its sides made of yellow belteram ridges. The bowl is like its
name, its ragged and jagged and jutting edges rising some 20 or 50 feet
all round, all dipping outwards. Even the north side of it dips outwards,
its strata clashing with those of the main ridge which we have been follow-

ing. Evidently it was once a great cone of belteram—now all eroded—and

‘SHLINONWWY HOLAQ NO SALON

“dew ‘00S "3SI}] “28N Avquiog ‘usnor

2 >) 7 ut ’

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 713

its soft yellow rocks melting year by year, their square broken debris
lying tumbled round the sides of the bowl. A stream, dry most of the
year, drains it and carries off the melted ingredients to feed the plain
beyond.

I continue along my ridge, and come to a great semi-circle,
sweeping round by the south, all scarped on its more northerly
side, with tumbled debris, all its sides dipping outwards—apparently
another quondam conical hill. The semi-circle is 800 yards in diameter.
The north side of the old cone is clean gone; but standing out in front to
shelter the hollowed line is another vanguard hill dipping deep south,
just like the first vanguard hill did. This vanguard hill again is of
harder and coarser texture and preserves its fossils tightly ; much of it is
of volite with minute molluscs engrained.

I cross the semi-circle and pick up my ridge again and continue across
the Barapur Road; but here again rises a third vanguard hill, protecting
a southerly curve of the main ridge. It is of the same material and ill
preserved fossils as its vanguard predecessors. This vanguard and the
line of the ridge behind curve on to a point some 800 yards on, and then
both sink away, vanguard and main body, and subside under the plain of
shale and sandstone. A nulla a little way on shows no trace of belteram ;
in its walls one sees the shale of the south and the white sandstone of the
north brought into summary contact; the shale has come off worst; its
proud thin lines of serried strata are here crumpled up and precipitated
headlong downwards.

I do not know how far geologists have noticed this peculiar chain of
rounded hills; I do not see it specially mentioned in the Geological Survey
Memoirs, and Ihave not got Stoliczka’s records. But it has seemed to me
worth notice, especially as the chain of curves, circles, semi-circles, &c.,
is composed entirely of belteram, and beyond it to the south, where the
harder rocks or the shale overlie the belteram outcrops, you get a cessa-
tion, or anyhow a famine, of fossils.

The belteram beds are full of paleontological interest apart from their
geological setting. Fossils abound—terebratul, small and big ; thynco-
nellz ; pleurotomariz, ostrcea, and many other molluscs; but the ammo-
nites alone are a delight in themselves. I have got from this ridge what I
take to be over 40 different species, probably more than 50, I have vari-
ous species of Phylloceras, of Oppelize, of Harpoceras, of Stephanoceras,
of Peltoceras, of Aspidoceras, and of Perisphinctes, Haploceras of Amal-
theus I have not found. Identification of several species is a difficulty.
I believe several to be new to Cutch. Nautilus have also been found.

Dr. Waagen who in 1871 wrote in the Paleeontologia Indica (Ser. IX, I,
Vol. I, Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4) on the Cutch Ammonites, illustrated and classified
the specimens discovered by the Geological Survey; but it seems that he

714. JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

did not himself visit Cutch, and I cannot tell to what zone of paleontology
he would have assigned this bed. He speaks of the Anceps beds of Sama-
tra, which is a village at the north foot of the Charwar hills and has pro-
bably the same strata as are here exposed; but I have found only one
Anceps here. Iam inclined to think he would more probably have classed
it as Dhosa Oolite, Asp. babeanum is so fairly frequent. I should be glad
to get into communication with some member of the B. N. H.S. who is
keen on these matters and who can criticise and correct my errors, and
will assist in the identification of the more doubtful specimens.
AMMONITES, &c., FOUND IN THE ABOVE BELT.
Nautilus—
kumagunensis.
kutchensis (?)
Phylloceras—
disputabile.
lodaiense.
mediterraneum.
Oppelia—
bicostata. (?)
orientalis.
kutchensis.
trachynota.
Aptychus of oppelia.
Harpoceras—
dynastes.
trilineatum.
hecticum. (?)
Peltoceras— 1
athleta.
(indeterminate).
Aspidoceras—
diversiforme.
pondesosum.
babeanum (frequent)
sub-distractum. (?)
wynnei. (?)
Stephanoceras—
macrocephalum. (?)
polyphemus.
maya.
tumidum,
fissum. (?)
transiens.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. (a!

Perisphinctes—
paramorphus. (?)
pottingeri.
katrolensis.
torquatus.
bathyplocus.
frequens. (?)
virguloides.
martelli.
anceps.
alterneplicatus.
dhoszensis.
omphalodes.
Also some 7 or 8 other sorts which I cannot identify with any in
Waagen’s catalogue. The specimens being in many cases fragmentary or
not showing lobes, I may have mistaken several of the above.

J. H. SMITH.
Buus, Curcu, December 1911.

716
PROCEEDINGS.

A meeting of the members of the Bombay Natural History Society took
piace on Thursday, 25th January 1912, at the Society’s rooms, Mr. E.
Comber presiding.

The election of the following 69 new members since the last meeting was
duly announced :—

The Mess President, 2nd N. Staffordshire Regiment (Peshawar); Mr.
C. C. Gilbert (Ratnapura, Ceylon); Lt. 8. G. G. Fraser (Bangalore); Mr.
J. F.B. Hartshorne, 1.C.S. (Ahmedabad); Mr. W.T. Radford (Shaha-
bad, Bengal); Mr. J. R. Coats, B.Sce., A.M.I.C.E. (Madras); Mr. R. T.
Jones (Ferozepore); Staff-Surgeon R. B. Scribner, R. N., H. M.S. Alert
(Persian Gulf); Lt. C. R. 8S. Pitman (Alipur); Mr. H. L. Wintle (Darjeel-
ing); Mrs. W. H. Ogston (Bombay); Mr. Ashton James (Bijapur); Mr. W.
H. Reed (Kadur District); Mr. R. I. Morgan (Tezpur, Assam); the
Honorary Secretary, Club Library (Secunderabad); Major H. H. Norman,
R.A.M.C., Shwebo (Burma); Mr. A. A. Biggs (Marmagoa); Mr. R. Du-
pont (Seychelles) ; Capt. B. N. Abbey (Burma); Capt. G. R. Balston,
R. H. A. (Mhow, C.1.); the Secretary, Australian Museum (Sydney)
Lt.-Col. C. E. Nichol, D.S.0., R.A.M.C. (Maymyo, Burma); Lt. A. D. Talbot
(Multan, Punjab); Major W. B. Pearson (Multan, Punjab); Mr. A. L.
Hannay, I.C.S. (Waltair, 8. 1.); Mr. A. H. Duke (Bangkok, Siam); Mr.
L. D. G. Smyth (Katha District, Upper Burma); Mr. Basant Lal Gupta,
B. 8c. (Lucknow); Lt. W. A. Nicholls, R.H.A. (Campbellpore); Mr. B. F.
Cavanagh (Baroda); the Honorary Librarian Public Library, Lucknow ;
Mr. W. Denso (Bombay); Mr. W. P. Hulton (Gangarpur); Mr. M. Mack-
ertich (Gulzarbagh); Capt. HE. C. Taylor, I.M.S., Parachinar, N.W.F.P.; the
Mess President, XI K. E. O. Lancers (Delhi); Mr. E. R. Atkins (Baheng,
Siam); Mr. D. B. Binning (Bombay) ; Mr. H. A. Gilbert (Bombay); Mr. C.
Gwyer, LF.S. (Thayetmyo, L. Burma); Major R. Sparrow (Trimulgherry,
Deccan); Mr. F. H. S. Stone (P. & O. 8S. N. Coy).; Mr. C. I. Hutton (Ywata-
ung, Upper Burma); Mess President, lst Battalion, the Royal Scots (Allaha-
bad); Mess President, 62nd Punjabis (Benares); Mr. R. G. Marriott, L.F.S.
(Haldwani, U. P.); Capt. G. R. Bird (Berbera, Somaliland); Mr. H. G.
Turner (Taunton, England); Mr. A. C. Gale (Dharwar); Mr. L. KH. Taylor
(Dharwar); the Mess President, 7th Hussars (Bangalore) ; Mr. G. A. Skene
(Thayetmyo, Burma); Capt. Sir G. D. 8. Dunbar, Bart. (Lakhimpur,
Assam); Mr. John Curror, Langla (8S. Sylhet); Mr C. H. Haldane (Man-
dalay); Lt. W. Weatherbe (Agra); Mr. L. C. Hobson (Dharwar); Mr. Geo,
H. Ogilvie (Bavaria); Mr. W. K. Webb (Nagri Spur P. O.); Mr. W. L.
Travers (Jalpaiguri); Mr. E. C. Gibson, LC.S. (Saugor); Mr. M. R. G.
Smith (Dharwar); Lt. W. A. P. Grey (Sagaing, Burma); Mr. A. Davison,
P.W.D. (Raipur); Lt. J. E. M, Mellor (Amballa) ; Mr, Phirozsha Bomanji

Petit (Bombay); Mr. B. M. Crosthwaite (Ywataung,

PROCEEDINGS.

Macphail (Ireland) and Mr. C. Christie (Madras).
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MUSEUM.

The Honorary Secretary, Mr. W. S. Millard, acknowledged the following
contributions to the Museum, since the last meeting :—

U. Burma); Mr. G.

Donor.

Contributions. Locality.
1 Gayal or Mithan, entire skin|Mishmi Expedi-
with head and horns. tion.
Skull and Horns of Hodgson’s Himalayas
| Sheep. | |
Horns of Black-buck Dholka

Tibetan Wolf.
| 1 Jackal

| 1 Jungle Cat

Do. do.

12 Bats (spirit sp.)
3 Bats (spirit sp.)..

2 Flamingoes
| l Mute Saran

| 1 Wood Snipe

1 Brown Wren

8 Birds’ skins

13 Birds’ skins
124 Birds’ eggs

10 Fresh water fishes

5 Gold Fish with
(alive).

2 skins with skulls and 1 Mask of Lahul, Kangra

|1 Large Flying Squirrel ..

1 Large Malay Squirrel ..

4 Squirrels and 17 Bird skins
1 Malabar Spiny Mouse .. |
1 Bamboo Rat, melanistic var. ..|

1 Great Indian Bustard ..
1 Large Indian Pratincole

1 Yellow-eyed Babbler, albino

Several Fish and Shrimps

oe
}

..| Dharwar ..

... Shamshirnagar ..

.. Taungyi, 8. Shan)
States.

.. Kobo, Abor Expe-
dition.

. Dosing Valley,

Abor Expedi-
tion.

.. Mishmi Hills
..|Mercara, Coorg ..
Maymyo..

..| Ratnagiri
..| Almora

..| Panvel
. Karachi .
Rajkot
..| Bangalore
.. Shamshirnagar .
. Bhutan, Doars .
| Thayetmyo

Taungyi ai

..|Chamba .
: | Khasia Hills

| Koina & Krishna|

| Biver.
.|Dwarka ..

lobed tail Shanghai —

..| Justice N.

Capt. F. M. Bailey.

.| Mr. A. Wright.

C. Mac-
leod.

j | General W. Osborn.

..|Mr. E. G. L. Laird

| MacGregor, I.C.S.

Mr. G. Macrell.

Mr. 8. St. C. Light-
foot.

Major Sweet.

Dr. J. Falkiner.

.| Capt. F. M. Bailey.

Mr. A. EH. Alexander.

..| Lt.-Col.C. E. Nichol,

D.S.0., R.A.M.C.

..| Mr. C. Hardie, I.C.S.
..| Major

BR. Wal

I.M.S.

... Mamlatdar of Pen.
.. R. MacCulloch.

..| Major W. Keys.

.| Col. R. E. Betham.
.| Mr. G. Macrell.

.| Mr: H. V. O’Donel.
.| Mr.

J. Pemberton
Cook.

..|Mr. S. St. C. Light-

foot.
..| Capt. J. E. Boyd.
Vir EC. Stuart
| Baker, F.Z.S.
Mr.W.A. Wallinger.
[Cape Ava, Hho on
Mosse, I.A.

. Mr..F. H. S. Stone.

718 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXI.

Contributions. Locality. Donor.

2 Siamese fighting-fish jalive) ..| Siam RY ..| Mr. Nigel Kerr.

3 Fresh water fish (alive) .. ..|Bombay .. Ee Do. )

1 Sind Krait : ue ..|Tochi Valley ..| Capt. E. C. Taylor. |

| 1 Russel’s Earth Snake .. a teoona, ie ..|Capt. A. Delme
Radcliffe. |

1 Do. CRO ..| Santa Cruz ..{Lt. F. J. Chadwick.|

1 Brown Tree Snake (alive) ns Do. ..|Col. J. Forbes.

1 Green Whip Snake (alive) ..|Bombay .. ..|Rev. F. Dreckmann,

S.J.

\1 Do. (Brown var. ) Bhutan, Doars ..|Mr. H. V. O’Donel.
25 Snakes .. : :| Nelliampatti Hills} Mr. A. M. Kinloch.
14 Snakes and 8 Lizards .| Various .. .|Major F. Wall,

| 1.M.S.

14 Snakes .. ae a ..|Taungyi .. ..|Mr. S. St. C. Light-
foot.

1 Cobra As Gaya, Bengal ..| Mr. J. Powell.

1 Cobra (skin 6 ft. Zin, unskinned) Shamshirnagar ..| Mr. H. V. O’Donel.

Ie Cobray ia. a Do. Be Do.

1 Russel’s Earth Snake .. ..|Manmad.. ..| Mr. E. Cooke.

|] Common Wolf Snake and 1 Buff/ Andheri .. ..| Mr. F. H. S. Stone. |

The following collection had also been left to the Society by the late
Major G. 8. Rodon:—

Mounted heads.—1 gaur head: 3 heads of Ghamba serow; 3 heads of
Himalayan tahr; 3 heads of Nilgiri tahr; 4 heads of goral; 6 heads of
chinkara ; 9 heads of black buck; 3 heads of Himalayan ibex (two males
and 1 female); 1 young female Hodgson’s sheep ; 2 heads of musk deer;
1 head of sambar; 1 head of nilgai; 1 head of Himalayan brown bear;
1 head of Himalayan black bear; 1 head of spotted deer; 1 head of Indian
wild boar; 1 head of alangur, and 3 pairs of horns of spotted deer.
Entire stuffed specimens :—2 brown bears ; 1 wolf; 1 white-handed gibbon;
1 hoolock; 1 jackal; 4 mountain foxes; 1 common Indian fox; 1 pine
marten; 2 Ward’s mouse hares. Flat skins with stuffed heads :—3s Hima-
layan brown bears; 1 Himalayan black bear; 1 tiger: 1 fox; 1 langur.
Flat skins:—1 spotted deer; 2 Himalayan tahr; 2 serows; 1 black bear ;
2 Himalayan ibex; 1 young female Hodgson’s sheep; 1 goral; 6 black
buck ; 8 chinkara ; 1 wild dog; 2 muskdeer. Birds mounted :—4 monauls ;
2 chukor; 3 Koklas pheasants.

PROCEEDINGS, (ius.

Minor contributions had been received from Messrs. E. Pearson, N. B.
Kinnear, A. Wright, C. H. Dracott, J. F. Keddie, F. H. S. Stone, C. F.
Hall, J. H. Smith, Col. A. Newnham, P. M. D. Sanderson, and W. Michael.

The following additions have been made to the library :—

“Familiar Indian Flowers” (coloured plates) by Lena Lowis (presented
by Miss Phipson). ‘Contributions to Indian Ornithology,’ No. 1,
Cashmere, Ladak, Yarkand, by Hume (presented by Lt.-Col. A. Newnham).
“Notes on Jerdon’s Mammals of India,” Anon, (presented by Lt.-Col.
A. Newnham).

NEW MEMBERS REQUIRED.

The Secretary mentioned that at the present moment the Society
only had about 150 members in Bombay out of a total of 1,500 members..
He thought this number was considerably less than formerly and hoped
that local members as well as up-country ones would try and induce others.
to join the Society. The annual subscription of Rs. 15 was smaller than
any other Society he knew when one compared the value of the Journal
which members received, the Society’s various collections of specimens in
the Museum, and the library which contained many valuable books of
reference. The subscription had not been increased for 25 years, although
the Journal was now four times as large.

MAMMAL SURVEY.

Up to now 767 specimens had been collected by Mr. Crump in Khandesh,,.
Cutch, the Berars and the Central Provinces and 503 specimens collected
by Mr. Shortridge (in 2 months) in the Dharwar District. All of these
had been forwarded to the British Museum for working out and the first
report on them would appear in the next Journal. Some Rs. 23,000 had
been collected, but about Rs. 7,000 had already been spent as the initial
expenses were necessarily heavy and the Committee hoped that members
would continue to support this fund, which was doing such good work.
Already one new genus had been found and two new species, the descrip-
tions of which would appear in the Journal.

The following papers were then read:—1. ‘Some Notes on Guests of
Termites,” by the Rev. J. Assmuth,S.J. 2. “A Note on Trichosanthes
divica,’ by Lt.-Colonel K. R. Kirtikar, I.M.S. (Retd.)

CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBE R—Ccontd.).

Some Birps Aanp Birps’ Nests FRoM Haka, CuHin HILLs.
By. Capt. Bio WV. Viemin a). eeepc ore eee be eee ae
A NEw SNAKE PsauuopHis TrRITIcEUS, FROM BALUCHISTAN,
By Major: B®: WWialll (000.8 iC MiZeS si feat! cee Ree

DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF Acw#4 FROM Bompay,
AND NOTES ON OTHER FORMS FROM THAT LOCALITY. By
Hdgar Av. *Sumathy a S:O.2 6605. ete sector eee

PROGRESS OF THE MamMMaL SuRVEY. (With a Plate). ......

Reviews. ‘Forty years among the Wild Animals of India’
and °* MedicalyiRintom ology)! .2.00. tee ee eee ee

Opiruary, Nonicn. . HOW O8tes. occu eee eee

MIscELLANEOUS NOTES :—
{.—The number of cubs im a tiger’s litter. By C.R.S.

ged LAT Ch OREN A MOR eS EA Ru te N clot Gee cco cc
IL.—The Stoat in Kashmir. By Major H. A. F. Magrath.
II1.—A Deformed Thamin Stag (Cervus eld). By A. H. D.

Bear rOiy pot yt gue de ois neta creek
IV.— Do. Chinkara (Gazella bennetti) drink
waters) Way C.J. oS. Babmanay os nergy ste keke

V.—Indian Breeds of Sheep. By H. J. Elwes, F.n.s.....

VI.—The Banting or Tsaing (Sos sondaicus) By A.

1 010242) 0 Pan Er mee tees. AAC SME, See a i AP
VII.—The Colouration of Tigers. By C. R. 8. Pitman ...

VIIL.—A Deformed Head of the Four-horned Antelope. By

GC ORUSL TPIpm ates sok he Gu sa ae ac as A ae eet
IX.—The Pintail Duck (Dajila acuta) shot in September.
By Major, AF.’ Maoratin.(, ei.) 02220) ele:
X.—Occurrence of European Striated Swallow (Jirundo
rufila) in Kangra. By H. Whistler..............

XI.—Nidification of Tweeddale’s Scimitar Babbler (Poma-
torhinus nuchalis), “By Ji. B. Cookie wanes ae ee
XI1.—The Paradise Flycatcher (Terpsiphone paradisi). By
Major And. Miaprabhil: Seen ieee eens ener
XII.—The Crag Martin (Ptyonoprogne rupestris). By P.T.

L. Dodsworth, F.z.8., M.B.0.U. ..

PAGE

621

634

658

659

660

CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBE R—(Ccontd,).

PAGE
MISCELLANEOUS NorEs—conid.
XIV .—Extension of the habitat of the Common Kingfisher
(Alcedo ipida). By P. T. L. Dodsworth, F.z.s.,
MBO. Use 5c eons eae Mae AL Berd LMS Uh wares 661
XV.—Note on the Common Kingfisher (Alcedo ispida). By
Major H(A. We Majeratln ase gait 1 aia ce ha ick 661
XVI.—The Notes of Pallas’ Fishing Eagle (Haliaétus lencory-
phus) and some water birds. By Major H. A. F,
Magrartht ini 08. aan cathe Ea ace eee taeda aaa 662
X VIJ.—Immature plumage of Lammergayer (Gypaétus barba-
tus). By@al Wihistler: | Sees, ce meen ee 663

XVIII .—Oceurrence of the Goshawk (Astur palumbarius) im
Sind. By Raymond W. Cooper .....02.5....... 665
XIX.—Extension of the habitat of the Brahminy Kite (Ha/i-
astur indus). By P. T. L. Dodsworth, F.z.s.,
MBG OR so ioe spe Cee Pe eRe 665
XX.—The Painted Snipe (Rostratula capensis). By C. RS. :
PV EPIVARY: i) o.s0': © panel lonielinl tl ANON REGENT. Ce Rene aR ee ee ae 666
XXI.— Painted Snipe (Rostratula capensis) in large numbers.
By AE, Kesh’. 2) ese pert aera eee 667
XXII.—Record of Snipe shot at Hminelongyee, in the Chieng-
mai District of Siam, from 1905 to 1910. By D. L.
Heecldliee i865 ie, AON See RR Pa LN eget Lea 667

XXIV .—-Migration of Baya (Ploceus baya). By A. B. Punde .. 675
XXV.—The Maroon Oriole (Oriolus trail). By Alex. M.
Primrose. ic) a eee eee eae 676
XX VI.— Wood Snipe (Gallinayo nemoricola) occurring near Ban-
galore. By Lieut.-Col. R. M. Betham .......... GaG
XXVII.—Goose-shooting in Cuteh. By Maharaj Kumar Shri
NON ER pH Meo wd o uAltol a bole ws Sn dub os ote oe 678
XX VIII.—Falcons and their prey. By Lt.-Col. S. E. Prall, 1..1.s. 680
X XIX.—On the occurrence of the Common Wood Shrike (7ep-
hrodornis pondicerianus) and the Central Asian
Black Bird (Merula maxima) near Peshawar. By
Major EL. Aisi omar haart uel stares ats ae O80

CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBE R—(contd.).

PaGrE |

contd.

XXX.—Habits, food and nesting of the Great Himalayan Bar- .

bet (Megalema marshallorum), By P. T. L. Dods-
WIOTEI, AEs ZeSeg MBs OsUieecrkeuehonalcics cveehaps eect eee ieee 651

XXXI.—Marbled Duck at Baroda. By Lt.-Col. R. G. Burton 684:
XXXII.—The Sooty Tern (Sterna fuliginosa) in Cachar. By E.

MISCELLANEOUS Notes

©, Stuart) Baker} (wizés., eae os Pees Gi ee 684.
XXXIII.—Notes on the Southern Migration of Snipe near
Calcutta, 1911. By C.R.S. Pitman .......... ale 684.
XX XIV.—Occurrence of the Nukhta or Comb-duck (Sarctdiornis
melanonota) in Sind. By M. Webb, i.c.s. ........ 685:
XXXV.—The breeding of the false Himalayan Viper(Peammody-
nastes pulverulentus). By Major F. Wall, 1.™.s.,
CAMS Piss Behe: CPM tees Sie NEY eno eee oe 656
' XXXVI.—Food of the Snake Rhabdops bicolor. By Major [F.
Wall: ewe Se. sGrMrasS. 0.5. Poke gi etlpeie uel encanta ae 687
XXXVII.—The Diet of a Bull-frog (Rana tigrina). By S. P.
Agtvarkar sles crs tee w ate iotw ois, ere) echt MePaee ta saci coke 687
XXXVIII.—Notes on the Indian Chameleon (Chameleon calcara-
tus). By C. Chenevix Trench,.I.¢.s. .......... 687

XXXIX.—Snake eating a Snipe. By Capt. F. E. W. Venning.. 68
XL.—Some notes on the hatching of the Agamoid Lizard

(Calotes jerdont). By Capt. F. EK. W. Venning .... 690
XLI.—Breeding of Macclelland’s Coral Snake ( Callophis

macclellandt). By Major F. Wall, 1.m.s., C.M.z.s .... 693.
XLII.—The Madras Aquarium. By Dr. N. Annandale ..... : 693.
XLIII.—The Life of a Dog Tick. By Capt. W.J. Massy .... 694.
XLIV.—Asilid Oviposition. By S.K. Sen ................ 695.
*XLV.—Caterpillar Pest on Cotton im Khandesh. By R. S.
Kasargodell RR. hee eee © etek cen ke niet ete 698
XLVI.—Note on the Butterflies, Lethe kansa and Dophila
patala. By G. W.V. DeRhé-Philipe, F.z.s. .... 698.

XLVII.— Papilio polytes in Bangalore. By K. Kunhi Kannan.. 699:
XLVIII.—A Note on | Trichosanthes dioica, Roxb. By Lt.-Col.

K. R. Kirtikar, 1.m.s. (Retd.) ..... By My 700:
XLIX.—Notes on the Flora of the Vale of Kashmir. ByJ.H.
Bee Deyn sty; Lt IE A I ae 0 eee ca 701

CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER—coneld.)

PAGE
MisceLLaNgEous Nores—coneld.

L.—Second years’ growth of a Plantain Inflorescence. By
IVS RS NATIDS = 3, Scho are Shy ceitostl eee ately RN race ale pete att 706

LI.—A Fly Trap (Boucerosia crenulata). By Capt. F, E. W.
NAS TNGN TeV Re tt ri edn UR ACARI LS ate I) ANP EANC BIS fe eas 707

LII.—Note on Macrochlamys (Eurychlamys) platychlamys, etc.
1 3 ire eae ia t=) | Cena pac ae eR ERLE S TCR ep ie sts Ws eR 707

LIII.—Conchological Notes from Bombay. By Lionel HE.
UNGlermay Boats, be ee lai aia iw alee tdatos eee serena 708

LIV.—Notes on the Cutch Ammonites (With a Plate). By J.
TEES rrp inl oleae eee Oe I nen en ot He RC is IER KO inedible suber: sca 709

=< SEV EETR NEY C151 CLOG EE POURED ene UIE Wes MU EIR CAD end 716

a be pti he.

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