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IAN \r PValala A A A A A A AAP A A) poner AAAAA AAAA! \ la AAA, ana AARAAAAAAAMA: . ann VA a aan ANAARAAA ry ney A Y Aiea | ! AAAAAR AAAAW lm BARAAAAAR ARP - AAA JAR AAP AAAAAAA YP AAARBARA YY. WAMHAAAAMAAN Aaa AAA AMAL ANAAAREEA IA AAA | } BAA aif ARA A aA AP AAAARAAAAR a a Va ~\ »\ ant =~: hae VAAN .| IAA MIAAIAIAIAA VA\A\/-\ WAZ AAAAVAINAa VARA ARR Ar An AAAAAAR AAD AAA laa AN a AI A FAY I al A ; A NA SW aa VAAN Ay) ai lam > \ AAAA AAAAAAA AAA Aannas AA ARARARAAAAAAA AAAAAAAANARAR a An AA BOA A ARAAAAA APY ~ nA Aer, a Ar anaaaan AAA’ A AAAAAA AAR AAAS A BE FF F FF F_ Fen ; AARAAA WAAR yo) an: s ‘ ne Ss oe: 7) a) - *) : J $ » Ad tg a a (a iT 0 e UN Cc “) aS THE JOURNAL OF THE BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY INDEX AND TITLE PAGE VOL. XXXVIII a gp ELIE RE a 2 1 1 Rie jae a Ft AR 183777 Uj; J 1ga ws , om - 4 * 2 ~o” . t; + : “ NOS. 1&2 Price ante Rs. 2-4-0 MADRAS PRINTED AT THE DIOCESAN PRESS 1936 INSTRUCTIONS TO BINDER ‘The contents of these; two parts: should be anenee in -the following order when they are being bound :— Title page | Contents of Nos. land 2 of V - XXXVII List of Contributors ay a See oe s Listiof Plates 2: en Index to Illustrations Errata Index to Species Pe ... To go at the end of ? two numbers. THE JOURNAL OF THE BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY EDITED BY P. M. D. SANDERSON, F.Z.S., S. H. PRATER, C.M.Z.S., M.L.C., J.P. & C. MCCANN, F.L.S. VOL. XXXVIII Nos. | & 2 Containing 4 Coloured Plates, 36 Black and White Plates, and 12 Text-figures. Dates of Publication Part I. (Pages 1 to 228) 15th August, 1935. Il. ( ,, 229 to 414) .., Ist December, 1935. 99 LONDON AGENTS DAVID NUTT, Esq., 212, Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W.C. 2. PRINTED AT THE DIOCESAN PRESS, MADRAS 1936 “CONTENTS OF VOLUME XXXVITI. No. 1 THE GAME BIRDS OF THE INDIAN Empire. By E. C. Stuart Bake CalsEs OO, ben BSZtS.45 F.lS4 )M.B.O.U., HF.AVO.Uz Vol. V. Part XXII. (With a coloured plate of Temminck’s ~Stint Lrolia temminckii and the Dunlin Zrolia alpina LUPUT A et ROP oh Gs Shee Peace ce Peng ata cage anes eben en eee REVISION OF THE FLORA OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY. By the late Rev. E. Blatter, s.J., ph.p., F.L.S. Part XXVII. A GAME SANCTUARY IN CRYLON. By Lt.-Col. R. W. Burton, Indian Army (Retired). (Wzth one black and white plate). THE VERNAY SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF THE EASTERN GHATS. (Ornithological Section). By H. Whistler, M.B.0.Uv., assist- eG. bye Na Bh Minnear, M.B-O:U... Part Xlie.0 4 a ei scene Tia Sew U REE Isy J... Canis, S.J... Gs ends ee teres THE ORNITHOLOGY OF TRAVANCORE AND COCHIN. By Salim Ali, with notes by H. Whistler. Part II. (With OU UO ONAL ECOG a went lets nots tote octsaceses Gale ae mrea dee nn ousted oats eos SoME BEAUTIFUL INDIAN TREES. By the late Rev. E. Blatter, Sha PieD.y Bees., and VW. o.iviillard, 7.z.s. —Part cy Li. (With one coloured plate and two text-figures)..criccccccveeee. A LisT.OF THE BIRDS OF THE CENTRAL PROVINCES. By E. A. D’ Abreu, F.z.S.. se eR oe Ae THE FLOWERING OF SSK ee in 1934. By M. E. Robinson: (W214 CLG Ht PIGLES) art, SLX; ( With two Paired plates, one black and white plate and two text- figures) BurGEss, H. E.; in Malaya Burton, Lt.-Col. R. W., A Game Sanctuary ia oe (With one plate) CoOrrec- ——__—_—_—— ae ly Days d Cuckoo-Lore CADELL, P. R.; Note on tiie Record Indian Tiong (Panthera leo persica) a ae ; Anti-Rabic Treatment of an Indian Lion (Panthera leo persica) CAIUS, J. F.5 Sidi BiLl-S: Papaw Tree ; The ; The Poisonous oe een ee Medicinal and Sedges of India -—— ; The Medicinal and Poisouous Ferns of India oe and Sc. ; CHHAPGAR, S. K., B. PAGE 408 154 93 229 241 181 181 41 163 341 LIST,OF, CONTRI BOTORS Earth-Eating and Salt-Lick- ing in India ¢ CHAMPION-JONES, R.N. ate attacking Rubber Good PPABREU, Hy. Aw Baz. Soe List of the Birds of the Central Provinces ... ‘ae —-; Rate of Growth of the Mugger (Crocodilus palustris) Ds, R.-N., 1-8S: 5 Distribation of ‘Chital) (Aa7s 202725). 10 Assam DENT, I: VV. Risers in ve Sunderbans Dr Lasrio; Di A. Siganeer of Horns in Tsine eee. ban- teng birmanicus ( photo) | Dr PONCINS, VISCOUNT ED. ; Growth and Shedding of Antlers of Sambur and Swamp Deer in Burma DESHPANDE, V. G., M.Ag., ph.p.; Wax-production in Mealy Bugs: Aleurodide Dumas, ADMIRAL PHILIP; The Lion in Baluchistan DUNN, -H. C.-M., ET.; R.A. Albino Fan-Tail Snipe (Capella g. gallinago) EpiTors; Birth of Elephant Calves ee oe ; Mating habits of Arabs and Crows ; On some Snakes of Bones and Salsette —-——; On record size of —— Hamadryad ast a ——-; Butterflies of Lahore. Fh a -——-; The Lion in Balu- chistan ace Son —-_——; Fight between - Cat and bea mes | Hermaphroditism in bomen - —; Distribution of the ae Deer ; Colour-phases of the Brown Shrike (Lantus c. cristatus) weet e - PaGe 362 410 95 202 396 178 394 185 206 381 193 184 186 198 201 203 382 387 390 397 397 FIELD, THE EDITORS oF THE; The Lion in Baluchistan ... Foot, A. E.; Age of Puberty in the Indian Elephant (Elephas maximus) a GHARPUREY, K. G., Lt. ‘core A ESS ueeetat! 24 eer List of Snakes from Ahmednagar ... GLOVER, P.M 5:se; -) An account of the occurrence of Chrysomphalus aurantii and Laccifer lacca on Grape Fruit in Ranchi District, Chota Nagpur, with a note on the Chalcidoid Parasites of Aspidiotus orientalis. ee one plate) : GouGH, Mayor WwW. G. H. Some Butterflies of Nepal GREEN, It. ERNEST; Parental Care in Scorpions (photo) Hickig, F.C., Lt.-Col.; Occur- rence of the Marbled Duck (Marmaronetta angustiros- tris) near Poona a Hurst, ‘b:: 1. -CLIFFORD:: Ratels and Corpses JONES, S:, B.A.3 A Note on fe Distribution, Ouinesion and Parental care of Scutigerella unguiculata var. indica. (With two text-figures) ——_———- —-——- ; Observations on the Oviposition and Deve- lopmental stages of a species of Polyxenus. (With two plates) KINNEAR, N.B. ; See ‘Whistler, Hugh KUMARSINHJI, K.S. Dae The Occurrence of the Scaup (Nyroca m. marila) in the Bhavnagar State LIivESEY, T. R.; Tigers Bone ing their kill -; How Tigers kill their prey ; ae ; Nidification of the Shan States Bar-wing (Actinodura vramsayt ram- sayt). (With a plate) ae PaGE 381 392 198 196 390 209 “abl 195 179 180 187 LIST. OF CONTRIBUTORS LIVESEY, T. R.; Peregrine and spur-winged Plover -—_———_——--——-; Behaviour of the Wild Dog (Cuon dukhu- NeNS1S) se aoe ; The Status of ‘: the Brown Shrike (Lanius c. cristatus) in the: S. Shan States, Burma ——-—— ; Habits of a ' Burmese one: Chat (Saaz- cola caprata burmanica) ;Cuckoos in the S. Shan States are LOWNDEs, Capt. | OP cael Cae Occurrence of the Beetle (Sternocera chrysis) in Wazi- ristan McCann, C.; The aero ( Crocodilus ees feeding on large Water-Beetles (Cy- OUSIEF SD.) <5 ; Male Rat- rake (Za- ments mucosus) fighting -~——; Precocity in young Bull- Frogs (Rana tigrina) ; MARGABANDHU, V., An Ainiio® tated List of Indo-Ceylonese Termites... MatTTHEWwS, WW. H.; Dis- tribution of the Indian Hoopoe (Upupa epops orien talis) Te MILLARD, W. S., F.Z.S.3; See BUALTER, EH. ons MOHAMMAD, AGHA ; Abnormal Flowers of the Radish (Ra- phanus sativus) MORRIS oR ©). F.Z-Ss, FeR.G.S;, Tiger Killing Solitary Bull Bison (260s gauris) ; ——_——; Vultures feed- ing at night oe —; Comments on Mr. Richmond’s note on the Preservation of Wild Life in India. Supplement Eating Salt-Lick earth ——; Tiger Feeding on a Live Cow, ; A Case of Tiger PaGeE 190 388 397 411 409 409 409 208 TSN 385 | 386 Morris; Distribution of the Hunting Leopard (Acinonyx jubatus) in S. India — ; Social Behaviour of Bison (Bibos gautus) : ; The White Bison (&z60s gaurus) of South Coimbatore (photo) as - Mosety, MARTIN E., F.B.E.S. ihe: trdian Gaadic: fics (Zrichoptera) . Part, elle (With thirteen plates) PARR, C.I., The Bronze-cap- ped Teal (Zunetta falcata) in the Samastipur District, Ben- gal - a ss Ma PARSONS, R. E.; A scecond Re- cord of the Occurrence of the Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) in India. (With a photo) an Pe PETIT, S. C.; Bandicoots At- tacking a Ghee PHILLIPS, W. A. A. iNote: on the Discovery of Bonirelas mordax The Grizzled Bat in Ceylon PHYTHIAN-ADAMS, Major E. G. The Preservation of Wild Life in India No. 9, Mysore Pocock, R I., F.R.s. The Lion in Baldehietan ; A pair of Indian Lions Presented to The British Musuem by H. H. The Nawab of Junagadh PRATER so.0 LCM. 7a5. hhe Lesser Florican ( Sypheotides inidca) inthe Konkan ; Occurrence of Dipsadomorphus multima- culata in Assam Proceedings of the Annual Mest: ting of the Bombay Natural History ge : me PURT a Da KS ens of Lahore | REVIEWS ;— Popular Handbook of Indian Birds, Second Edition Tiger und Mensch ... xi PaGE 386 393 393 123 195 193 388 177 (S.) 241 381 382 191 yl ry xii LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS PaGE Zur Kenntnis Nordorstasia - tischer Vogel 174 Lac and Indian Lac Recearon Institute 175 The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and Amphibia, Vol. ii Pecos Wis) The Birds of Nippon 378 The Natural History’ of Central Asia Vol. x ‘ The Reptiles of China’ 378 Auf Stillen Pfaden (Guja) 379 A Flower’ Book for the Pocket : 380 RICHMOND, R. D.; The Pieces: vation of Wild Life in India No.7, The Madras Presidency Provisions for the Protection of Wild Life (S) 229 RoBinson, M. E.; The Flower- ing of Strobilanthes in 1934. (With eight plates) 117 ROWNTREE, J. B., I.F.S.; Habits of the Hog Deer (eifelap lies porcinus) ae wee 4390 Rusieg, C. B. Lt.-Col. The Sheldrake ( Tadorna tadorna) and the Comb Duck (Sarkidiornis melanotus) in Sind : i254 “SO SEVASTOFULO, D. ce F.R.E.S. Mimicry: Being ioe on certain Indian Butterflies 203 —; A Prelimi- nary List of the Pyvalid@ of Caicutta ne vas 204 — -——— A note on Elymnias hypermnestra undu- laris ae ap a 206 SmItH, W. J. L.; Mating of the Hamadryad or King Cobra (Naia bungarus) swe. 200 Soni, R. L,, M.B.,B.S.; Abnor- mal Dental growth in a Rat. With a photo) e 181 STANFORD, J. K. ; Some Little- known Birds bE Northern Burma aan a en elSO STANFORD ; On the occurrence of the Tibetan Siskin (Spiznus thibetanus ) Burma, ; Some Notes on the Woodcock (Scolopax r..- rusticola) in Burma - _ ; On the occur- rence of the [bis-bili (/ézdor - hyncha struthersi) in Upper Burma >Some Rare Birds in Northern Burma ae SUBRAMANYAM, T. V.; A Fight between a Cat and a Viper ... SuRGUJA, Maharaja of; A Short- tailed Tiger (fho/o) zn ; Sloth Bear (J7el- ursus Ursinus)attacking aLive Bait TuHoM, W.S.; URTINDCEECE ane ing in HGreen (With one plate) a3 Tiwary, N.K. Brecncious ger- mination ; Root Maoenarion from Leaf Gane TSCHERBAKOFYF, Dr. S.G.; Mecd: ing of Cobras in Captivity TUTEIN- NOLTHENIUS, A. C.; Birth of an Elephant Calf (Elephas maximus) ae VARGHESE, K.I., M.A. ; Mating habits of Mynahs and Crows WHISTLER, Hugh, M.B.O.U. and KINNEAR, N. B., M.B.O.U.; The Vernay Scientific Survey of the Eastern Ghats (Ornz- thological Section). Part XI... — ;Part XII. .. Hugh ; see (ALT) WHISTIER, Salim WILD ANIMALS OF THE INDIAN EMPIRE; and tke Problem of their Presei vation. Part lV. Plate 16 (coloured) and Plates in Northern. PaGk 18 192 403 404 387 384 391 137 213 216 321 183 186 232 Jiii—]xvii (uncoloured) (S.) 189-219 Yates, J. A; The Butterflies of the Nilgiri District oe 330 ISL OF PLATAS VOLUME XXXVIII Nos. 1 and 2 The Game Birds of the Indian Empire— Plate Temminck’s Stint (4rolia temminckt), The Dunlin (Erolia alpina alpina) Ceylon, a Game Sanctuary in— (A) Crossing the Menik Ganga (B) Spotted Deer (427s avis) at margin of forest... The Ornithology of Travancore and Cochin— Plate I. Il. (A) House Crows (Corvus splendens) bathing (B) Jungle Crows (C. macrorhynchus) at a back- water fish-yard .. bee (A) Red- nbictered Bulbul (Oracon ea: emeria) on nest in Cycad palm (B) Nest of White-browed Bulbul (Pycnonotus luteolus) with chicks 9 days old Some Beautiful Indian Trees— 26. Roxburgh’s Kydia ( Kydia calycina) Strobilanthes kunthianus in flower on a fillside a in the Pulneys, 1934 Strobilanthes kunthianus Be Strobilanthes foliosus and S. zenkerianus Strobilanthes consanguineus ... Strobilanthes lawsoni Strobilanthes wightianus Strobilanthes perrottetianus ... Strobilanthes urceolaris 1. Eubasilissa mclachlanit, 2. EF. regina, 3. E. tibe- tana .. cee Eubastlissa eon cenieelia) fig. 4 dorsal fig. 5 lateral, fig. 6 ventral : Aa Eubasilissa mclachlani (genitalia) fee 7 dorsal, fig. 8 lateral, fig. 9 ventral, fig. 10 penis and inferior appeadages obliquely from beneath Fubasilissa mclachlani, fig, 11 aa 3d, fig. 12 apex of posterior wing Q oer oe Eubastlissa tibetana, fig. 13 y wings? ... Oobterygia brunnea J fig. 14 wings, fig. 15 penitia lateral, fig. 16 ventral, fig. 17 dorsal . Ocplerygia asiatica Z fig. 18 wings, fig. ‘Ig sesarae lateral 2 Coplerygia minor ye fig. 20 mines Ae "21 eenialia dorsal, fig. 22 lateral, fiy. 23 ventral, oblique, slightly from behind Plate Plate 1; Plate Il. Plate III. Plate IV. Plate V. Plate VI. Plate VI. Plate VIII. Indian Caddis-Flies— Plate I, Plate II, Plate III. Plate IV. Plate V. Plate Vi. Plate Vil Piate Vill. Plate IX, Agrytnia picta var. tibetana & fig. 24 aritoes fig’. 25 genitalia, fig. 26 dorsal plate st PAGE 19 62 88 93 117 120 120 120 120 120 120 120 123 126 127 127 127 128 129 129 129 xiv LIST OF PEATLES PaGk Plate X. Limnocentropus insolitus $ fiz. 27 genitalia lateral, flg. 28 dorsal, fig. 29 ventral 130 Plate XI. Limnocentropus insolitus Q fig. 30 wings, fig. 31 genitialia dorsal : 131 Plate XII. Limnocentropus insolitus Aseiel EP ipaero 9 fig. 32 wings, fig. 33 genitalia dorsal . 132 Plate XI. Limnocentropus tletcheri & fig. 34 pene tera fig. 35 dorsal, fig. 36 ventral, fig. 37 wings ote hy oes ko) Plate I. ‘Yellow Peril’ moth (Dudusa nobilis) male and female aa 134 Plate if. “* Yellow Peril” mothaa. nobiles) ara and ise 135 Rhinoceros Shooting in Burma— Plate (A) Asiatic two-horned Rhinoceros &. sumat- VensiS) (B) The author’s best Asiatic two-horned Rhino- ceros ae an eae say poke Red Scale (Chrysomphalus aurantit)— Plate Dorsal view of the pygidial margin and fringe we. 2 VEST Ramsay’s Bar-wing (Aclinodura ramsayt)— Plate (A) Bird in the nest (B) Nest and eggs aes Ses Go LOZ Diplopod (Polyxenus sp.) Plate I. (1) Ordinary setae, (2) Defensive setae, (3) Pupa front view as 212 - Plate II. (4) Moult of mate, (5) moult of female, (6) mass or eggs with the setae all round dee ie Golo Some Beautiful Indian Trees— Plate 27. The Noble Amherstia (Amherstia nobilis) Ee es Plate XXVIII. Amherstia nobilis, a flowering spray oP a a ce?49 (0) Plate XXIX. The Noble Amherstia Tree Amherstia nobilis Ae | Plate XXX. (A) Colville’s Glory (Calvillea racemosa) (Tree): (B) Colville’s Glory (Colvillea racemosa) (Flowers). ° 231 Plate 28. Colville’s Glory (Colvillea racemosa) eee ol The Ornithology of Travancore and Cochin— Plate I. (A) Shifting Camp across Periyar Lake, ca. 3,000 ft. (B) Indian Robin (Saxicoloides f. fulicata) 2. ... 285 Plate 1b Shooting the Rapids—Periyar River below Thattakad oe ce .. 288 The Wild Animals of the Indian Empire. Part IV—SupPLEMENT Plate LIT. Skull of Large Civet (Viverra zibetha) ... (S.) 189 (A) Feet of (Viverra zibetha) Bs LIV. | (B) Feet of Palm Civets (Paguma: Ee. j Oe Plate LV. LargeIndian Civet (Viverra zibetha) ... (S.) 193 Plate LVI. Small Indian Civet (Viverricula indica). (S.) 195 Plate LVII. (A) Inferior view of the anal glandular area of Large Civet (Vizverra zibetha) (Male) (B) Inferior view of anal glandular area of The Common Palm ‘Civet (Paradoxurus herma- bhroditus) (Male) eae es ae (S.) 196 Flate LVIII.. Common Palm Civet (Paradoxurus herma- phroditus) tre ae (S:), 197 Plate Plate Plate Plate Piate Plate Plate Plate Plate Plate LIX. x LX. LXIT: LXII. LXIV. 16. EY. LXVI. LXVII. LIST OF PLATES Chinese Palm Civet (Paguma larvata) ... Binturong or Bear Cat (Arctitis binturong). Spotted Tiger Civet (Pr7onodon pardicolor). White-eared Palm Civet (Arctogalidia leucotis) . Common Mungoose ( Herpestes edwards). Small Indian Mungoose (Herpestes auropunc- tatus) ba ie; bes (coloured) Stripe-necked Mungoose (Herpestes vitticollts) ce se ie Skull of Striped Hyaena (AHyaena hyaena). (A) Left fore-foot of Large Civet (Viverra 21betha) ae eee (B) Right hind foot of Common MHyaena (Hyaena hyaena) Striped Hyaena (4/3 aena hyaena) XV PAGE (S.J 2109 (S.) 201 (5) 202 (S.) 204 (S.) 209 (Sor2ir (S.) 214 (S.) 216 (S.) 217 (S.) 218 INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS VOLUME XXXVIII Nos. 1 and 2 PAGE PAGE Actinodura ramsayi, Pl., fig. Pl., genitalia ra ae 2G A. Bird in the nest 187 | Hubarilissa tibetana. Fig. B. Nest and eggs ... 187 Pl, fig 3, 123 Agrypnia picta tibetana, Pl., Pl., wings 127 Wings and genitalia . 129 | Felis tigris. Ambherstia nobilis, Pls. 229752305 ‘Close up’ of Tiger show- 231 ing the short tail - 385 Arctictis binturong, Pl. (S.) 201 | Herpestes aurotunctatus, P\., Arctogalidia leucotis, Pl. (S.) 204 (oe) ele Axts axis s ar 19 | ——-—— edwards, Pl., (S.) 209 Bibos banteng hp nOniEAS: fiecs. 395 | ——--— vitticollis, P1., (S.) 214 —- gaurus. Hlyaena hyaena, P1., (S.) 216, Herd of semi-domesticated pA te: (photo) 394 | Kydiacalycina, Pl., ... ae 93 Buthus sp. Limnocentropus fletchert, P\., Female scorpion aceea S genitalia and wings... 133 her young, fig. 411 —- insolitus. ae A Game Sanctuary in, Pl., genitalia 130 1, (A) Crossing the Meni Pl., wings ae : 131 el (B) Spotted Deer —_———_— —— — —— —- hima- (Axis axis) 5 = 19 layanus, P!., wings and Chrysomphalus auraniii, Pl. ... 151 genitalia 132 Clangula hyvemalts, fig. 194 | Oopterygia asiatica, Pie, es mines Cobras in Captivity. and genitalia see 48) Two types of cages, figs. 321 — brunnea, Pl., wings Colvillea racemosa, Pl., Za and genitalia iets. Corvus macrorhynchos at a back- —- minor, Pl., wings water fish yard, Pl. I, figs. B. 62 and genitalia 129 ——-— splendens, bathing, Pl. aio eA. ne “oe on 62 Dudusa nobilis, Pl., Male and Female... 124 ——— Pl., Larva and pupa 139 Erolia alpina alpina, P1., fig. 2. 1 = 1CNMINGEL: Pile, NO. 1 ee 7 Eubasilissa mclachnani. Pie figs sd. ae ao 928 Pl., genitalia 5 roe eee Pl., wings 127 —- regina. Pl. be. 2. 123 Oloconipsa emeria, on anest in Cycad palm Pl (ag 88 Paguma ltarvata, Pls., figs., (S.) 191, 199 Paradoxurus hermaphroditus, Pls., (S.) 196, 197 Polyxenus sp. PlateI. Fig. 1. Ordinary setae, fig. 2. Defensive setae, fig. 3. Pupa, front view se ae sien Plate II. Fig. 4. Moult of male, fig. 5. Moult of INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE female, fig.6. Egg mass with the setae all round. 213 Prioncdon pardicolor, Pl., ($2) 202 Pycnonoltus luteolus, with chicks 9 days old Pl. Hf, (B) 88 Raphanus sativus, abnormal flowers, fig’. 412 Rattus norwegicus, fig. 182 Rhinoceros sumatrensts, Pl. ley Saxtcoloides f. fulicata, QV1.... 284 Scutigerella unguiculata var. indica. Fig. 1. Cluster of three eggs 210 Fig. 2. Egg-mass 211i Strobilanthes consanguineus, Jeg Xvii PAGE Strodbilanthes foliosus, Pl., fig. 1. a oy ~. 120 - kunthianus, Pls., fee G E 117, 120 -——— -———- lawsoni, Pl. 120 oo - perrottetianus, Pl. 120 UP CEGIarIS, P\., ... 120 ——_—.-———.- wighlianus, Pl.... 120 —_——_—_-——_-- zenkertarus, Pl., Os, 2: ne oe 120 Travancore and Cochin. Shifting Camp, Plate (A)... 284 Shooting the Rapids, P!.... 288 Vizerra ztbetha, Pls., (S189) 491, HOS, 196; 217 Viverricula indica, V\., (S.) 195 Page 3) ERRATA ii. line 2 from bottom for fuzlcata read falcata. pula whe} 102, 103; 106, i ea 114, 102; 195, 196, 29 386, 387, 241, 738: 3 and 4 for Sarkidiornis mezlanotus read Tadorna tadorna and vice versa. 21 for Leucocera read Leucocerca. 4 from bottom for Dendronothus, read Dendro- nezthus. ,, ll for campertris read campestris. 2 from bottom for coramandus, read coromandus. 5 for Hypotaenida, read Hypotaenidza. 4 from bottom for Dep2tro, read Dupetor. 15 for Streptopclia, read Streptopoelia. 30 for fulcata, read falcata. 21 for Sarkidiornis melanotus, read Tadorna ta- dorna and vice versa. 20 & 45 for Eumiyas, read Eumyaas. 12 from bottom “The Animal he ‘saw’ should read ‘‘ The Animal he ‘shot’. 1 from top for the word ‘uzknow2’ read ‘ancommon.’ 29 ay 93 7) oe) ) oe) ) a 9 9) ot) Wild Animal Serial line 19 from bottom for the word ‘herd’ read ‘head’. VOL. XXXVII No. 3 Misc. Note No. XIV Title. for Scolobax r. rusticola, read Capella nemort- cola, Hodg. INDEX OF PAGE Abisara echerius suffusa 334 -fylla 264 Acanthylis sylvatica 33 Accipiter nisus nisosimilis 108 Acinonyx jubatus 386 Acridotheres ginginianus 101 tritis tristis 101, 160, 186 { Acrocephalus agricola agrico'a 99 - dumetorum <= oo - stentoreus brunnescens oe) Actiniopteris dichotoma 343 Actinodura ramsayi ramsayi ... 187 Adiantum aethiopicum 347 - -- capillus-veneris 346 —_———--- caudatum 345 —__——--- cuneatum 248 -—-———-- emarginatum 347 -- -- flabellulatum 348 -- lunvlatum 344 -~ -- pedatum 348 -- tenerum 346 ——_——- -- venustum 345 | A githina nigrolutea 96 — - tiphia humei ... 85, 96 | ——_——_— — - multicolor 82 —-tiphia ... 159 Aegypius monachus 107 Aeromachus pygmeus... 337 Aethiopsar fuscus fuscus 160 Aethopyga siparaja seheriae 103 Agrostemma SP. : 215 Agrotera basinotata is 205 Agrypnia picta var. tibetana ... ee loo Alauda guigula guigula 103, 160 Alaudula raytal raytal 103 Alcedo atthis bengalensis 161 ——~ taprobana 1€5 Alcippe poiocephala brucei 06 —_——- poiocephala 79 Alseonax latirostris 98, 298 —- muttui muttut 295), 300 —_——---- ruficauda 360 — —- ruficaudatus ee 98 Amandava amandava 101 SPECIES PAaGk Amaurornis akool akool 111 —_———+-- phoenicurus chinensis 111, 162 Amblypodia abseus indicus 339, 340 —_——_-——-- amantes amantes 335 = este saresue 265 ——-— —~--- bazaloides 339, 340 ——— ——_-- canaraica : 335 = -- centaurus pirama 339 —— -- eumolphus eumolphus... 265 Aimherstia nobilis on wes 209 Ammomanes phoeenicura phoenicura. 103 Ampittia dioscorides 337 Aralyta melanopalis 205 — sigulatis A 205 Anas poecilorhyncha Secon nenees 115 ——- platyrhyncha platyrhyncha 115 Anastomus oscitans F i114 Ancylolomia chrysographeila ... 205 Androcryphia ae ee 26 Anhinga melanogaster ... 113; 162 Anser anser Er tS —-—-~ indicus 115, 406 Anthropoides virgo OE Anthus campestris griseus 103 - hodgsoni hodgsoni 1690 - leucophrys jerdoni 103 - richardi richardi 103 Sa —- thermophilus .. e105 - - rufulus 163, 160 = = fwialis retain Oe 102 Sen —- trivialis 103 Antigastra catalaunalis 205 Antigone antigone antigone ae Apatura parisatis atacinus Sa0 Apharitis lilacinus o39 Apbytis chrysomphali ... 153 Aporia agathon ean 209 Appias albina darada. : 331 — -——— darada var. —_- monostachya PAGE 105, 161,297 297 298 298 US; 297 195 he! 203 261, 332 261 332 332 261 204 262 333 205 205 333 333 262 333 B83 333 262 339 205 264 334 be SO 109, 161 238 109 109 109 109 109 109 216 216 14 14 14 14 14 14 14 area 14, 1€8 14 14 INDEX OF SPECIES XXV PAGE Fimbristylis polytrickoides 14 Se NG MaAnoUldiis v5 14 ————-———-- schoenoides ae 14 ——-————- spathacea... 14 —— -——-- tenera 14 ——_ - ————- tetragona ... 14 —-——- woodrowili 14 Fittonia verschaffeltii ... 217 Francolinus francolinus asiae 110 —— ICius Dallas 110 ——-- ——- -—-- pictus er Ld) ——- pondicerianus interposi- tus 110 Franklinia buchanani 100 —-——-—— gracilis 100 Fuirena ciliaris eh at — umbellata ne ee 15 ~ uncinata ee sy, — wallichiana iS Fulica atra atra ... ‘ Hy Fulvetta manipurensis ... 405 Galerita cristata chendoola 103 -- deva 103 Galleria meilonella 205 Gallinula chloropus indicus islet Galloperdix lunulata re 110 ——- spadicea spadicea 110 Gallus bankiva £ 110 -- murghi... 162 sonneratii 110 Gangara thyrsis thyrsis 337 Garrulax delessertii 68 ————-— gularis 405 ———— leucolophus “ 269 Gelochelidon nilotica nilotica 112 Gennaeus horsfieldii horsfie] dii 162 Geokichila citrina citrina 97 ~-- cyanotis Dieecol —— wardi 291 Gerydus biggsii ... 339, 340 Glareola lactea HZ — maldivarum base 142 Glaucidium cuculoides rufescens 161 —- radiatum malabaricum... 238 ———--——_ —— -——_ radiatum 10749237 Gleichenia dichotoma 356 Glottis nebularia 11357162 Glyphodes bicolor 205 ——————. bivitralis 205 ——— caesalis 205 ——_—-——- canthusalis .. » 205 XXv1 Glyphcdes hilaralis —— indica —————- laticostalis ——___—— marginata ——_—_ -—— negatalis psittacalis ~—-—— —— pyloalis —— —— stolalis -—_—-—— _ unionalis —— vertumnalis ... Gomaliaelma _... — alboiasciaca Gonepteryx aspasia zaneka -—— rhamni nepalensis Gracula religiosa intermedia Graucalus javensis maceii Grus grus lilfordi - leucogeranus - nigricollis INDEX OF SPECIES PAGE 101, 99, Gymnoris xanthocollis manthocallia ae Gypaétus barbatus grandis Gyps fulvus fulvescens ——- indicus indicus -nudiceps ... Haematornis cheela minor Halcyon smyrnensis fusca Haliaétus leucorypha ... aie Haliastur indus indus astigmata egena ceylonica honorei hyrtacus moorei moorei sitala sitala Harpactes fasciatus maalabeniods Hasora alexis alexis - badra badra ie —— taminatus taminatus ... Hebomoia glaucippe australis... —— ——-—— glaucippe Heliophorus epicles indicus Helminthostachys zeylanica Hemicercus canente cordatus ... Hemidictyum ceterach ... Hemigalus derby anus ... Hemiprocne coronata ... Hemipus picatus picatus Hemitragus hylocrius ... Herculia igniflualis —— —— nigrivitta ——~—— suffusalis ——_—_— - 205 205 205 205 | 205 205 | 205 205 205 205 O90 339 260 260 159 314 | 11 Vad 407 101 407 107 239 161 108 161 168 161 338 338 338 338 338 338 28 336 336 336 332 260 265 356 104 356 206 106 308 Zee 205 205 205 Herpestes auropunctatus —o= —__. ———— helvus _—— -— ES ——-——- birmanicus —— — edwardsi ee ie — -——- —- — _carnaticus SS a eee LC Oe Nens -——_-—_ ——_——— moerens ——-———- ——-—— pallens ——-——— fuscus ——--~-— nipalensis ——- —— smithi __ SS caneus jerdoni rusanus zeylanicus SE me LN el —— -—— vitticollis Hesperia galba re Hestia lynceus malabarica es Hestina nama Heterotermes mualabanicne Hibiscus diversifolius Hieraé:tus fasciatus fasciatus . —-—— pennatus Hierococcyx nanus —_—— --——~— nisicolor sparveroides --—— varius Himantopus h. himantopus Hirundapus Hirundo coronata se -———— daurica erythropygia —_——— ———~ nepalensis ———— fluvicola aes ——-———- rvustica rustica —--- smithi filifera —-———. unicolor Holostomis niclachlani -—— regina Hoplopterus duvaucelli Horaga onyx cingalensis - viola Horsfieldia anita dina Huhua nipalensis blighi nipalensis ... —_——_— -- -—-—--- pectoralis Huphina nadina remba ————- nerissa evagete Hyaena hyaena pallipes 105, 269, 105, 269, 1255 PAGE (S.) 211 (Spat (S.) 211 (S2)) 211 (S.) 209 (S.) 209 (S.) 209 (S.) 209 (S.) 209 (S3)-213 (Saecul (S.) 212 (S522 (So )a2L2 CSajnzd2 (S.) 212 (S.) 208, 215 (S.) 214 265 332 204, 262 209 215 107 107 274 274 273 274 112 32 34 102 102 102 102 102 34 126 125 112 336 335 335 235 235 235 331 331 (S, ) 218 Hyaena hyaena indica ... Hyarotis adrastus adrastus -———- basiflava Hydrocissa coronata Hydrophasianus chirurgus Hydrorybina bicolor ‘Hyelaphus porcinus Hypenoptychis sordida .. Hypolais rama rama Hypolimnas bolina --——. misippus INDEX OF SPECIES XX Vii PAGE (S.) 26, 262, "204, 262, ——_-- —— ——-——_. var. alcippoides Hypolycaena nilgirica Hypolytrum latifolium Hypotaenidia striata gularis Hypothymis azurea ceylonensis styani Hypsipetes psaroides ganeesa... Hypsopygia mauritialis Iambrix salsala luteipalpus Ibidorhyncha strut hersii Ichthyophaga humilis plumbeus ichthyaétus Ictinaétus malayensis perniger Indicapus sylvaticus Iole icterica Ipomea glaberrima - peltata Iraota timoleon ... ——-—— arsaces Ismene ajina fergusoni ... - gomata kanara ... Isocentris filalis ... ee Issoria sinha sinha Ixias marianne ... —- pyrene frequens satadra.... Ixobrychus cinnamomeus sinensis sinensis Iynx torquilla Jamides alecto eurysaces — — bochus bochus.., ————-celeno celeno ... —-— elpis eurysaces Juncellus alopecuroides ——-——- inundatus ——-—— laevigatus ——--— michelianus ... ———-—=— PYOMBus ~~ te, ————— $a HEY, iINAria 355, JS, 159; 108, 33, 335, 260, 114, 264, 254, 218 338 338 106 staal 205 396 | 205 100 100 333 333 333 333 339 16 111 304 304 96 2)5 337 403 108 161 108 196 89 215 215 339 339 336 336 205 263 331 331 260 162 162 104 335 335 335 265 12 168 12 12 1] PAGE Juncus sp. . uae taue mee teen weld | Kallima ect huegeli a a = 262 —- inachus a mee EPZOZ —_—- philarchus horsfieldii... fie UGS Kalotermes (Neotermes) andamanensis 208 —_—_~—— /( ‘ ) bose... ee 1208 — ( a ) gardneri ... 209 Ketupa zeylonensis hardwickii sy L0G leschenaul ti . 234 Kineta microstictum ... ae 339, 340 Kittacincla malabarica malabarica 97, 288 Krimnochelidon concolor ae co HO Kydia calycina ... sien son see 38) Kyllinga brevitolia Yas est 12, 169 ———— melanosperma ae a 12 ——-——— monocephala.... Ge 12, 168 -—-—-——— squamulata ... ove aa 12 ——-—— triceps ... _ ae 12, 169 Laccifer lacca_.., us ep esi Lalage melanoschista miclanoccni san g9 sykesi ae oe ae 99, 313 Lampides boeticus sa my ° & 2649335 Lamprocorax panayensis affinis as she] Lanius cristatus cristatus See sis oN ole 3O7 excubitor lahtora Be as 98 nasutus nigriceps ot AEE 98 schach caniceps ... at 28, 306 -— erythronotus ... mem 98 a tephronotus ... ach 98 — vittatus ... aA 98, 305 Larus argentatus SaGhinnAGs are eee 2 ——- brunnicephalus ... er Se eZ Larvivora brunnea ie ee .. 269 Lastrea filix-mas . Bs : Tees Leptocoma peatica mrenmeaie »» 160 Leptoptilus javanicus ... es sac Leptosia nina nina - a? su) pa Sol | Lepyrodes geometralis ... be = 205 —- neptis... ees _ eects Lethe confusa confusa ... ze ge.» 261. -_—— drypetis todara .... _ me 4) code europa ragalva ... oe ‘sees insana dinarbas ... a ele rohria dyrta et ee a) econ —. ——-——_ nilgiriensis Ses POUL sidonis vaivarta ... aes eeecol ——-verma sintica... Bn ia 261 Leucinodes apicalis ... or acy 205 --—~ orbonalis ... ses pac 0S Leucocerca aureola aureola ... a at 98 XXviil PAGE | Leucocerea aureola compressirostris 98, 304 ——-— —— pectoralis ... Libythea lepita lepita lepitoides ——-—— myrrha carma... ——_————- sanguinalis ... Limenitis dudu ——— procris procris ——.-__——__—— undifragus Limnaetops cirrhatus cirrhatus ——_-_-——-~- nepalensis nepalensis Limnocentropus fletcheri insolitus ——_ ooo Limosa limosa limosa Lioparus chrysotis forresti Lipocarpha argentea triceps Lobipluvia malabarica . Lobivanellus indicus Aone ena —__—___—__——_-——_ indicus ... Locustella naevia straminea Lophodium filix-mas Loxura atymnous atymnus Luffa cylindrica ... a Lycaenesthes emolus aol -—— -_———— lycaenina peta Lycaenopsis akasa mavisa —_—_—--——- albidisca 2 ———-——_ argiolus jynteana... —_—_—---—— lavendmlaris limbata ———--—— lilacea -___—-——— limbata placida ———--——— marginata .. ~——- puspa gisca Lycodon aulicus ... —— -— flavomaculatus Lygodium flexuosum —— japonicum pinnatifidum Lygropia quaternalis Lymnocryptes minima .. : Lyncornis macrotis bour dilloni 98, 131, himalayanus 335, 330, 264, Machlolophus xanthogenys aplonotus. ae COs rensis Macropisthodon plumbicolor ... Macrorhamphus semipalmatus Malacocircus malabaricus orientalis .. Marasmia trapezalis 305 264 334 334 254 232 262 330 108 108 132 132 SZ 112 405 1S) 15 iat 162 {2 99 355 335 215 539 335 335 339 264 339 B30 264 264 339 198 200 30/7 358 357 205 113 39 95 66 198 13 (4 73 205 INDEX OF SPECIES PAGE Marasmia trebiusalis 205 —— -—— venilialis 205 Mareca penelope... 115 Mariscus blatteri pe ee) —-—-—— bulbosus ou 13 ——-— compactus... 13 ——-—— konkanensis ... 13 ——-. —— paniceus 13 -—— pennatus ah 13 Marmaronetta angustirostris ... His. 195, 196 Maruca testulalis... 205 Matapa aria 338 Megalurus palustris 100 Megesba malaya thwaitesi 335 Melanitis leda ismene 261, 332 . phedima varaha 332 - zitenius gokala 332 Melitaea didyma 202, 203 trivia 203 Melocanna pammbacoidess 214 Melophus lathami subcristata ... 102 Merganser merganser orientalis 116 Mergus albellus 116 — merganser ae eine ist 406 Mermecodia sp. ... 214 Merops orieatalis orientalis 105, 161 - superciliosus javanicus. 105;, 1611 Metopidius indicus LTE, 62 Micropternus brachyurus phaioceps .,. 104 Micropus affinis abessynicus “ss 32 —— -—— affinis 30, 105 —-— g alilejensis 31 —-— nipalensis : 3 ——-—— subfurcatus .. 315161 ——--—— melba bakeri 29 —---—— melba 106 ——-—— pacificus leuconyx 30 Microscelis psaroides ganeesa 86 Microtarsus poiocephalus ae 9? Microtermes beesoni 209 championi 209 pubescens ae 209 Mlivus migrans govinda 108, 161 ———- ~ lineatus 108 Mirafra assamica assamica 103 - erythroptera 103 ~ javanica cantillans 103 Mixornis gularis rubricapilla 96, 159 Molpastes cafer ... Re let, —— --——__ ——-- cafer 87, 96 - —-- —— leucogenys leucotis ... 96 INDEX OF SPECIES XXIX PAGE PAGE Monticola cinclorhyncha 97, 292 | Neophron percnopterus ginginianus. 107, 239 1 solitaria .. 159 | Neopithecops zalmora ... 334 ee pandoo 97, 293 | Nephopteryx leuncophaela 205 Meschothera civettina : (S) 193 ———— pauroseimna 205 on megaspila (S) 194 | Nephrodium filix-mas 355 Motacilla alba dukhunensis .. 102 Neptis columella nilgirica 333 aoe personata 102 hordonia hordonia 333 = -—— cinerea caspica 102 hylas adara 232 ——.-——- cinereola werz 102) | ==" = astola -. 262 —_—-- -—— feldegg feldegg 102.) 9 <<» —_-- varmonad 202, 350 ___.—_— flava beema 102 | —-—— jumbah jumbah ... gag ee hunbervi 102 | ——— nandina hampsoni 330 —-——— - maderaspatensis 102 | -——— soma kallaura 333 Munia atricapilla a 10) soma 262 ——--—— rubronigra ... 160 viraja kanara 333 malacca a ae 101 | Netta rufina 116 Muscadivora aenea sylvatica ... 109 | Nettion crecca crecca 115 Muscicapa latirostris 175 | Nettopus coromandelianus 115 —— poonensis es 175 | Neurocyta arenata 129 Muscicapula pallipes pallipes... 295 | Neuronia asiatica 128 rubeculoides rubecu- ———--—— machlachlani 126 loides 296 -— regina... 125 ane superciliaris supercilia- Nirox scutulata hirsuta .. 238 ris i 93 | ~—— ——— lugubris 107, 238 -—— tickelliee tickellie 98, 296 Noorda blitealis ... 205 Mycalesis adol phei 332, 339, - fessalis way 205 cacleeae anaxias anaxias 332 , Notocrypta curvifascia ... ; PANS Keb 6 Fen as be ~ 332 0 --———-- feisthamelii alysos 265 ——-—— khasia orcha ... 332 | —--——-—— paralysos alysia 337 —— --— lepcha lepcha ... 261 , Numenius arquata arquata a gee ——-—— mineus mineus © 261. ——---—— - orientalis ... 112 —-— - polydecta 332 | Nycticorax n. nycticorax 114 ——-—— patnia junonia 332 Nyctiornis athertoni 105 ——-—— perseus typhius 332. Nymphula crisonalis 205 ——-—— subdita .. 332, —~-—-—— depunctaiis ... 205 —— -—— visala visala ... 332, 339 | —— fluctuosalis ... 205 Myophoneus horsfieldi ... ...97, 294 Nyroca ferina ferina 116 Nacaduba beroe gythion 335. | - fuligula ... 195 —— dana .. i 335 | ——- -- fuligula 116 —_—— —— dubiosa indica 335 | ————- marila marila 195 ————_—— helicon viola 535 - rufa rufa 116 — hermus nabo 335 | Ochromela nigrorufa J0% ———_—. kurava euplea 335 | Odontoptilum angulata sura oo/ -—-—- — nora nora 335 | Cenanthe opistholeuca ... 97 —- noreia hampsoni 3354) = —ptymatura... 286 — pactolus continentalis 339 | Oenopopelia tranquebarica 110 Naia bungarus .. 200 Oligodon subgriseus 199 ——-tripudians ... ee 199, 321 | Oligostigma bilineale 205 Nasutitermes anamalaiensis 209 Oopterygia asiatica ee 125 ——_—— ---—_—. fletcheri 209 | -——— brunnea 127, 128 ———--- gardneri ... 209 | === = minor 128 XSX PAGE Ophioglossum vulgatum 358 Oreocincla dauma neilgherriensis 292 Oriens concinna ... 338 - goloides 338 Orinoma damaris eeu uO Oriolus oriolus kundoo ... 101, 403 -xanthornus maderaspatatus. 101 —__—- ————_--——_ xanthornus 159 Orsotrioena medus mandata 332 + —— medus 261 Orthotomus sutorius guzurata 99 _—— —— patia 159 Osmunda claytoniana 359 —— regalis.. 353 Otocompsa Alavi enttie Aaviventtis 96 © —-—— jocosa 159 | a emeria 96 ——— — —— TUSCieaudata 88, 96 Otus bakkamoena bakkamoena 235) | —— bengalensis 234 —— sunia rufipennis 236 —— ——- sunia... 167 Pachynoa sabeliatis 205 Pachyzancla licarsisalis 205 Padraona pallida pallida 338 —-— palnia palnia : 338 ———_ -—— pseudomaesa poeadomeceet 338 -— tropica diana Se 338 Paguma grayi (S) 199 -- lanigera bap (5 )<199 — larvata ... (S) 199 -- leucomystax (S) 199 Pagyda traducalis 205 Pandion haliaétus haliaétus 107, 238 Panthera leo persica 181 Pantoporia cama : 262 —- nefte inara ... 333 —— —— opalina opalina 262 —_—__ —— - orientalis Hoe = 262 ——— --— perius 232,-333 333 —_-_—_——— selenophora kanara 333 Papaver somniferum 215 Papaya carica 41 - communis 4) - cucumerina 4] - sativa 4] - vulgaris 4] Sp. 214 Papilio buddha 331 - crino 331 —— INDEX OF SPECIES PAGE Papilio demoleus demoleus 299, 331 - demolion liomedon 331 ——- dravidarum 331 - helenus daksha .. 331 ———— - —_—_- helenus 259 ———- memnon agenor sen, eo ———-- onomulus 2035931 = - paris tamilana ... 330 - polyctor ganesa 259 -———- polymnestor polymnestor 330 - polytes es 203, 33] = = = TOMS .: 203, O31 ———- protenor euprotenor 259 - v. stichius AG 203, 259 Paradoxurus hermaphroditus . (S) 197 jerdoni (S) 198 Parantirrhoea marshalli 339, 340 Pareba vesta vesta as 2€4 Pareronia ceylanica ceylanica 332 ——-—— ceylonica : 204 ——-—— valeria hippia 204, 332 Parthenos sylvia virens 333 Parus major mahrattarum 65, 95 Passer domesticus indicus a 2 al02 ——— -—--—-—— _nigricollis 160 Pastor roseus woo LOL Pathysa antiphates naira S31 3305 1340, — nomius nomius 331 - Pavo cristatus os 110 Pelecanus onocrotalus ... 113 philippensis A ae oe Ge Pellaea calomelanos eB OO Pellia ee ERAS Peliorneum FanGepE 158 ————_- --—— granti 78 ee ——-——.fruficeps ... ane 96 Penthoceryx sonneratii sonneratii 105, 275 Perdicula asiatica argoondah 110 oo. -—— aSiatica lO Pericrocotus brevirostris brevirostris... 99 —-— erythropygius 99, 313 oe flammeus Sh ees peregrinus povion eee 312 — ——_ —_____———-- malabaricus S12 eee ee ee See pallidus: s) 2.5) soil2 ee Se ee peregrinus .. 99 ——' = FOSEUS TOSeUS POE Sito wale As spectosus semiruber ... wh) Perais ptilorhynchus ruficollis 109, 162 Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis 113 = fuscicollis 113 INDEX OF SPECIES PAGE Phalacrocorax niger 113 Philomachus pugnax 113 Phiniconaias minor es ee a lS Phoenicopterus ruber ptiquenur 115, 404 Phoenicurus ochurus phoenicuroides. o7 —____ --_—___--_ rufiventris 159 Phryganea maclachlani 126 | Phycta hemixanthella 205 Phylloscopus collybita tristis ... 100 ——— eriseolus .., 100 —— inornatus humei... 100 —__—_—_——_ nitidus nitidus 100 -————_ - ———- viridanus 100 —_——_-——. magnirostris 100 —.—_——. occipitalis 302 -—~ occipitalis 100 Pica pica ... 408 Picus Penonyee .. 104 Pieris canidia canis Solkeodg -——- —__- -——- indica 259 Pionea albicostalis 205 leucanalis 205 Pipistrellus mordax 177 Piprisoma agile agile lod Pitta brachyura ... ; 104 Plastingia submaculata anata, 339 Platalea leucorodia major 113 Plegadis falcinellus falcinellus 114 Pleopeltis lanceolata 360 Ploceus atrigula atrigula 160 -- benghalensis 101 -- philippinus 101 Pluviatis dominicus fulvus 112 Podiceps cristatus cristatus . =. 185 ruficollis capensis 116, 162 Polyodontophis subpunctatus 200 Polyplectron bicalcaratum bicalcaratum 162 Polypodium filix-mas 309 —— nemorale ... 309 -——— quercifolium 354 Polystichnum abbreviatum Bhp) - durum 355 ~—__——__—— filix-mas ... 355 induratum Pe ech) _ Polyxeaus lagurus 2115-213 Pomatorhinus horsfieldi eecearus 96 SSS - - travancoriensis 76 a ae melanurus 76 eee SCHISLICCDS 76 | Porphyrio poliocephalus poliocephalus ee Porzana porzana vagy LL XXxXi PAGE Porzana pusilla pusilla... va til Pratapa blanka sudica ... 336 — cleobis 336 -- deva deva ad OU) Precis almana almana ... fe 263, 333 ——-- atlites ae be ms 263, 334 ——-- hierta hierta re ee 262, 333 -—- magna 263 ——-- iphita iphita 263 ———-- - ——_ pluviatalis 334 —— --—— siccata 263 -——-- Jemonias persicaria 263 —— -- ——-——-_ vaisya 3o3 ——-- orithya ocyale Me sve) COS —_—.- swinhoei me 263, 333 Prinia inornata inornata Te 100, 159 ——-- socialis . 100 ——-- sylvatica sylv BCA 100 Prioneris sita aes es mn woo Prionodon lisang a Felwou cee, 20s — pardicolor ... ar (S) 202 - ——_—--- persina ... (S) 203 Prophryganea picta zs 130 —-— —_ — var tibetana 130 Pseudibis papillosa Ae “ae coor te Pseudogyps bengalensis el O74 dOdeeceo Pseudotantalus 1. leucocephalus 114 Psittacula alexandri fasciata = JG! ———— cyanocephala cyanocephala 105 ———— eupatria nepalensis .,. 105 krameri manillensis ... 105 Psittiparus g. gularis 185 Pteris aquilina 360 Pterocles exustus eieneen 110 ——_——— indicus 110 Pycnarmon caberalis 205 ———— meritalis 205 —__——- virgatalis 205 Pycnonotus gularis re 90 ——- luteolus insulae as 91 —————————— luteolus. 91, 97 — --- xantholemus 90 Pycreus albomarginatus 12 - flavescens le -- globosus 12 -- hyalinus 12 Z -—-- latespicatus 12 ———-- malabaricus ~ 12 -- odoratus 12 == pumillus 12 -- punticulatus 12 SXx1i PAGE Pycreus sanguinolentus i244 Pygospila tyres 205 Pyralis manihotalis 205 —-— pictalis 205 Pyrausta incoloralis 205 Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax 407 Pythou molurus ... 198 | reticulatus 198 Querquedula querquedula 115 | Rallus aquaticus korejewi 111 Ramila marginella a 205 Ramphalcyon capensis gurial... 105 Rana tigrina 4C9 Rapala distorta 335 lankana 336 ——— melampus 336 -—_——— nissa nissa 265 —— schistacea 336 ——— variuna lazulina... 336 Raphanus sativus 412 Rathinda amor 336 Regina mclachlani 126 - regina vis Beales Remirea maritima 16, 175 18; 169 Rhapidura leucopygialis aes Ane So Rhinoceros sondaicus ... ae wie oe oa CInMathensis 137. 39 Rhinoptilus bitorquatus 112 Rhizophora sp. ... oa aes Eee Zito Rhopalocampta benjamini benjamin 265 Rhopocichla atriceps bourdilloni 81 Rhopodytes viridirost ris 105 Rhynchops albicollis 112 Rhyncospora corymbosa 16 —- wallichiana 11 —__-——-——- wightiana : sats 16 Riparia paludicola brevicaudata 102, 160 Rostratula benghalensis benghalensls 111 Rucervus duvaucelli 185 Salposnis spilonotus 97 Sameodes canceilalis 205 Sancus pulligo subfasciatus 337 Sansevieria burmanica ... 350, A nod: ee guineensis 154, 155 — lanuginosa ... fom lod — laurentii 154, 156 ee nilotica ait 154s 157 — ——- — var laurentii cee Oy —_-——— roxburghiana 154 —— trifasciata “154, 157 —__—_—— zeylanica 154 INDEX OF SPECIES Pact Sarangesa dasahara davidsoni 337 Sarcogyps calvus an 107 FOIE 239 Sarkidiornis melanotus 115, 196 Saxicola caprata atrata rer W204 -——- bicolor be 97 —— —— —— —— burmanica ... 97, 284, 398 —— — torquata 159 ——_—_—_-——_ indica 97 Saxicoloides fulicata cambaiensis 97 ——--—_--—- fulicata ... 285 re -—— intermedia 97 Schoenobius adjurellus 205 —-- —— bipunctifer 205 —_—_—__————- immerritalis 205 incertellus 205 Schoenus nigricans 16 17 Scirpophaga auriflua Seb) Scirpus articulatus wile L70 ——.-— corymbosus weet a, 170 ——-——- erectus Ses 16) ——— - grossus Ti, 155-170 -—_—— - holoschoenus colony, - kyllingoides oS 7 ————-- kysoor e190; 17 - lacustris 170 -———- littoralis Nee 15 - maritimus 15, 170 -———-- michelianus LT ———— - mucronatus 15 - - quinquefarius 15 - Squarrosus “its ——— -- supinus Be 15 - triqueter ... Oe Scleria annularis na 16 cochinchinensis ... ey: 1€ corymbosa Sel AL7 hebecarpa 16 lithosperma aes 16 poaeformis 2 26 e stocksiana 16 tesselata .. 16 Scolopax r. rusticola 192 Scops bakkamoena marathi 107 rufipennis és ee 7236 Scutigerella unguiculata var, iidieare 209 Seicercus burkii ... 100 Sephisa chandra 262 Simotes arnensis ze 199 Siphia parva albicilla 159, 295 parva 98 Sitta castanea 68 Sitta castanea castanea prateri -—- corallina ——-- frontalis -—__— - frontalis -——- himalayensis Spalgis epius Spatula clypeata Sphenocercus sphenura Spindasis abnormis --— elima — —_--—_— -——- elima .. ————-+— ictis ictis : : ———--— lohita himalayanus ———__-—---- — lazularia —— -—schistacea .. fe ——--— vyulcanus vulcanus Stenoloma chinensis Sternocera chrySsis Stictospiza formosa Sterna melanogaster -— seena aes Stibochiona nicea nicea Streptopelia chinensis suratensis ——--——-- tigrina _—--—~-—— decaocto decaocto —__—------ orientalis ferrago -——__--- -—-—-- meena Strix brama —--coromanda — - hirsuta ——- indranee ‘indranee - ochrogenys —- leschenaulti --—- longimembris ——- ocellata -——- radiata ao Strobilanthes consanguineus ... -foliosus ... - kunthianus - lawsoni ma ss Petrottetianus: ... - urceolaris —- —--—- wightianus ——____—--——_.- zenkerianus Sturnia malabarica malabarica Sturnopastor contra Sturnus vulgaris poltaratskii Suaeda.- a ee Suastus gremius gremius 3 ———— —. ____, ——$——$—— INDEX OF SPECIES -~-—— senegalensis cambayensis XXxili PAGE Suastus rama bipunctus ” 337 Surendra quercetorum biplagiata 335 -— todara todara e239 Surniculus lugubris dicruroides 277 stewarti L277 Sus barbatus ee 254 Suthora brunnea brunnea. 405 Sylepta aurantiacalis 205 -- derogata 205 - lunalis 205 Sylvia curruca affinis 100 hortensis jerdoni -- 100 Symbrenthia hippoclus khasiana 263 hypselis cotanda 263 Syngamia floridalis 205 Syntarucus plinius ine OO Sypheotides indica cL Be) Syrichtus galba 337 Syrnium ocellattum 233 ochrogefiys oi 233 Taccocua leschenaulti affinis as Wiectinreetee Fle) | —- sirkee ... 105 Tachornis batassiensis palmarum .:.. 106 Tadorna tadorna : . 196 Tagiades litigiosa litigiosa Say! —- menaka 265 —- obscurus athos * 337 Tajuria cippus cippus... 336 - jehana 336 ——--- melastigma 336, 339 - maculata 336, 339 Talanga sexpunctalis 205 Talicada nyseus nyseus 334 Tamraca torridalis - Aa 405) Tapena thwaitsei hampsoni Dod Taractrocera ceramas ceramas 33:5 ——- maevius sagara 338 ‘Tarsiger brunnea brunnea 283 Tarucus ananda ... 334 — nara 334 Tatobotys varanesalis 205 Tchitrea paradisi leucogaster ... 302 saan paradisi 98, 302 Tectarea filix-mas 355 Telchinia violae ... 334 Telicota augias augias 338 == — Janka ; 338 ‘Temenuchus pagodarum 101 | Tephrodornis gularis sylvicclor 309 aS pondicerianius affinis olf) pi — pallidus... 310 XXXIV PAG Tephrodornis pondicerianius pondiceri- anus .. Terastia meticulosalis ... Terias andersoni ormistoni blanda silhetana ———— drona : hecabe fiabiatal ——— -—— - hecabe -— simulata... —-~ — lacteola Sarinoides laeta -——_-———-- laeta venata venata Termes (Gyclotermes) almoreasie —-—_— (Termes) dehraduni ( ,, ) malabaricus .. Tetranema mexicana Tetridia caletoralis ae Thaduka multicaudata aaa Thereiceryx lineatus hodgsoni --— --—-— zeylanicus caniceps Threskiornis melanocephalus ... Timalea pileata ... Tockus birostris .. - griseus a7 Trialeurodes vaporariorum Trimeresurus anamalensis - gramineus Tringa alpina -- glareola... = hypoleuca - ochropus - stagnatilis - totanus Trochalopteron ae att pineal ee ee ee MCTIiOnalis.- ————__——__ — lineatum .o Trogon malabaricus Troides aeacus - helena minos Tropidonotus piscator ... ——————-- stolatus ... Tros aristolochiae afstéldehiae —— hector ee —— jophon pandiyana Turdoides griseus —— --——. somervillei malabaricus ... ———— orientalis, ——--——— striatus polioplocamus ——- - striatus 197, 113, .98 159, 309 205 331 260, 331 331 260 260 | 331 | 260 | 260 | 331 260 209 209 209 215 205 335 160 104 114 158 26, 106 27, 106 206 198 197, 198 1 113 162 162 113 113 ” 69, 71 71 269 28 258 330 198 198 330 330 330 74 72 73 74, 95 37 113, INDEX OF SPECIES PAGE Turdoides terricolor terricolor 12,95 Turdus kinnisi 290 — - nigripileus ct ee 43) - simillimus ponrailont 289, 290 -——__ -——__- - mahrattensis 97, 288 —_____ —— — - simillimns . 291 = Unicolore.. 97 Turnix dussumieri ae 110 - - maculatus tanki 11] - suscitator plumbipes ... 162 ——- —— taijoor 110 Typhlops acuta 197 — —— braminus 198 —— —— porrectus sun 2200 Tyto alba stertens Aeon. 106, 232 ——- longimembris are 106 —_- —_—__--—_ longimembris 232 Udaspes folus 265, 337 Upupa epops ee lonene 27, 106 -——— epops 28, 106, 161 —______ —— orientalis ... 28, 106, 191 ——— saturata .... 28, 106, 408 - indica ies 28 Uroloncha malabarica .. 101 ——-—— punctulata Paeorente! 101 ——-——— striata striata 101 Vanessa canace canace ... Sa e203 —-—— viridis Ses) Oe — cardui sh _ 263, 334 - -___— — cashmirensis aesis 263 - indica indica 263 - pholae ste «= 34 Vipera russelli 199, 387 Virachola isocrates

— calvus 239 Vultur ginginianus indicus wee Xantholaema Heemateomala is indica Xenorhynchus asiaticus asiaticus Ypthima asterope mahratta —-—— avanta avanta striata -—~—— baldus madrasa —— —-— ceylonica --—— -—— chenui . ; ——-—— hubneri mubded ——-—— lycuslycus ... See ——-—— nareda newara wise ——-——- philomela tabella sakra austeni nikoea ... —— -——— sakra Zamenis fasciolatus ————- gracilis... ——— eee ee re —_— -—___ INDEX OF. SPECIES PAGE Ore, 332, 330, 239 Zoo 104 160 1l4 Soe 261 339 332 332 039 261 261 261 339 261 261 261 199 Zamenis mucosus Zeltus etolus és Zemeros flegyas mdieds Zesius chrysomallus aoe Zetides agamemnon agamenmnon —— menides ... — cloanthus - doson eleits ~ sarpedon sarpedon a —- teredon Zinckenia fascialis Zipoetis satis Zizeeria lysimon... - gaika ———-- maha maha —_—_——- --——. ossa — otis discreta ~ trochilus putli ... 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Such members should pay their subscriptions by means of orders on their Bankers |to pay the amount of the subscription, plus postage—in all Rs. 26-8-0—to the Society in Bombay on the 1st January in each year. If this cannot be done, then the sum of £2-0-6 should. be paid annually to the Society’s London Bankers—The National Bank of India, Bishopsgate Street, London, E. C. | | | } i: i] pene tae Z = = Oe ES eg Ee A eS a EE ee ee LST Ty ee . tone . = aks = Fe I gc oe ON Re ORE EERO PT ROE TREES, Tee Pees fe aT ie Re cee ee CONTENTS OF VOLOME MX XV ITI, No.7. PAGE THE GAME BIRDS OF THE INDIAN EMPIRE. By E. C. Stuart Baker, Cu E.. O1B.E.. FZ.S,, F.b:S.,. M B.O.U:.. “H.F.A.0.U. Vol. V. Part DOGO V1 a COLOUFEAUDUALEN, oe ceeic ee sue te Te bk ebe cabs Oba whcek eueme estas il REVISION OF THE FLORA OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY. By the late INeVeRE) gplAaGter, Stn PUSD.ReiS. “Part 2OXVIT oilee .c.sccctaeeee as. 6 A GAME SANCTUARY IN CEYLON. By: Lt.-Col. R. W. Burton, Indian Army (retired). (Wzth one black and white plate) — eviccccccecsercenees 19 THE VERNAY SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF THE EASTERN GuatTs. (Orni- thological Section). By H. Whistler, m.s.o.u., Assisted by N. B. LSC AG eine On Uinemil aT Dubay 2 cecal lamas sues fou praise aceon) moeaors aed eeaelonde aber 26 fide MPAWarERIE. ay Jaji Oars, ‘Siie, hil Sie. ste, dk tec ts cme ckewereaves : 4] THE ORNITHOLOGY OF TRAVANCORE AND CocHIN. By Salim Ali. With Notes: by atl. Wiistler. Part Ilya ( W722i (wo plates), siccsss.csines sess 61 SOME BEAUTIFUL INDIAN TREES.’ By the late Rev. E. Blatter, s.J., Ph.D., F.L.Ss., and W. S. Millard, F.z.s. Part XVIII. (With one COOUUED PIALC ZANE LWO,TOXILIL UVES) | Fewtavasieisted tarseeiated aise ss nencencraa 93 A List OF THE BIRDS OF THE CENTRAL PROVINCES. By E. A. 1D) ANOS SARS ay Reet cos cael eon wens ttein, «See URY ta ey ty Vavawnate Coameaan es 95 THE FLOWERING OF Strobtlanthes IN 1934. By. M. E. Robinson. (With etght plates) _..--s+. neuae tenes. Aral Giasiln seen CaN gha s SCC ARSE Rae MMU eee Ly, THE INDIAN CADDIS-FLIES (7richoptera). By Martin E. Mosely, BABE Se Dati lam (CLA URIS 1CCI PLATES i Ciakes suucugetoaw ek ue sean me saes 123 A DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTODONTID Motu Dudusa nobilis WALKER, AND ITS EARLY StaGes. By. T. R. Bell, 1.f.S. (Retired). (With DECOMPULECS) MAM aan ee Sas eae Setiaicle tists Pee a waione Foe can tide scans Sea vecwectsahevsstassceab 134 RHINOCEROS SHOOTING IN BURMA. By W.S. Thom. (Wz2th one plate). 137 AN ACCOUNT OF THE OCCURRENCE OF Chrysomphalus aurantit, MASK AND Laccifer lacca, KERR ON GRAPE FRUIT IN RANCHI DISTRICT, CHOTA NAGPUR, WITH A NOTE ON THE CHALCIDOID PARASITES OF Aspidiolus orientalis, NEwst. By P. M. Glover, B.sc. (Witha DULG Rete orice Patt mtk sen tee cancer los megiebeters aie wnctinndel sede sed eties ChacCaeeee rl aes 151 NOTES ON THE SYSTEMATIC POSITION OF Sanseviervia GROWING IN INDIA WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO S. Laurentit WILDEMAN. By K. PIS NWAS It ces ee c's Pe ee Nee Wak Gh sic eo oiere Sais Gia are Nak G2 7 ccs acon Soe die delta sabhic eens steCens 154 SOME BIRDS OF CHITTAGONG. By Major R.S.P. Bates, M.B.o.U. ... 158 THE MEDICINAL AND POISONOUS SEDGES OF INDIA. By J. F. Carus, S.J., ce: Os reso eee wah es HC RE TGs aie insta moth sia Sains cole cule bua tunseriessesbateenboesaedes 163 REVIEWS— ib— Popular Handbook of Indian Birds. ics vs.0essecdee os secsecs es 7d ME Aer i Ce NCIS Clits toccasscuatdtesesscsetes cee ves «bo sbceaseeede eae cacene duit Mit—Zur Wenntiuis, Nordostasiatischer VO@e) ici. se. disccecesceecsssee 174 iv—Lae ang lndian Lac Research Institute 20... i ..iccccsce sep ceeees 175 V.—The Fauna of British India (Reptiles and Amphibians) ... .. 175 li CONTENTS (OF Vol. XXXVI, No. 7 MISCELLANEOUS NOTES :— I.—A Note on the Discovery of Pipistrellus mordax (Peters), the Grizzled Bat in Ceylon. By W. A.A. Phillips eeccee II.—Tigers in the Sunderbans. By T. V. Dent., 1.5.8. .2....0.00+-- IlI.—Tiger killing solitary Bull Bison (Bibos gaurus). By R.C. Morris, F.Z.S., F.R.G.S. 1V.—Tigers burying their Kill. By T. R. Livesey. Ceeeceese 80008 CCE V.—How Tigers kill their Prey. By T. R. Livesey. eoececsen Vi.—Note on the Record Indian Lion. By P. R. Cadell. VII.—Anti-rabic Treatment of an Indian Lion. By P. R. Cadell. VIII.—Abnormal Dental growth in a Rat. By R.L. Soni, M.B , B.S. IX.—Birth of an Elephant Calf (Zlephas maximus). By A.C. Tutein-Nolthenius, 22... 00 Saesolneciecustntcn eaubeatie css eer ecuaseretnes X.—Growth and Shedding of Antlers of Sambur and Swamp Deer in Assam. By Viscount Ed. De Poncins. XI.—Some little-known Birds of Northern Burma. By J. K. Stanford. CeeeoeeeeeoeGeeeseGeonecee SOOOCHCHCHHCC AES HCHHCHOHHHOHHSHLCHEHCCHHSCHEHHEHEETEH EOS XI!.—Mating Habits of Mynahs and Crows. By K I. Varghese, M.A. eoeoece Seeveeee Seececceoecge OOCCHELEHSOHECHHCAE LOCH CEL ORECELOCL COE EROS eegee XIII.—Nidification of the Shan States Bar-Wing aod ve ramsayt (Walden)). By TPoRclivesey. «io.icccec.cte casero. XIV.—Nidification of the Black-headed Babbler (/hopocichla a. atriceps (Oates). By F. N. Betts. ...scccee Kostestisecensinscmaaes XV.—On the Occurrence of the Tibetan Siskin (Spinus thibetanus) in Northern Burma. By J. K. Stanford, I.c.s. XVI.—Vultures Feeding at Night. By R.C. Morris. .................. XVII.—Peregrine and Spur-winged Plover. By T. R. Livesey. ...... XVIII.— Distribution of the Indian Hoopoe (Upupa efops orientalis Stuart Baker). «By. W «H.. MAtthews..... ccc. ssceceeec sssornecenes XIX.—The Lesser Florican (Syfheotides indica Miller) in the Konkan. “By S. Ho Pratetiecccsdasssccsscowecnacevossssesceaucs scree XX.—Some Notes on Woodcock (Scolopax r. rusticola Linn.) in Burma? (By. oK.: Stanford iiGisS siciscscsseececces coc cse sect XXI.—Albino Fan-tail Snipe (Capella g. gallinago Linn.) By H.C. M. Dian Ur RA ee ose rete ttice sracessepaccuecaemmes XXI1.—A Second Record of the Occurrence of the Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) in India. By R. E. Parsons. ......... XXIII.—The Occurrence of the Scaup (Vyvoca marila Linn.) in the Bhavnagar State. By K.S. Dharma Kumarsinhji. ...... XX1V.—The Bronze-capped Teal (Zunetta fulcata Georgi) in the samastipur District, Bengal. By ©. 1. Parr.) eecpeceo se, co: PAGE CONTENTS OF Vol. XXXVIII, No. 1 “e PAGE XXV.—Occurrence of the Marbled Duck (MWarmaronetta angustt- vostris Ménétriés) near Poona. By F. C. Hickie, Lt.-Col. ... 196 XXVI.—The Sheldrake (Sarkidiornis melanotus Penn.) and the Comb Duck (Zadorna tadorna Linn.) in Sind. By C. B. Rubie, ME t= CO llee eeasnet tice eee Aatcedie se Pace hee scarcer sevuies. ccna Svcs Peasuyentieeewee 196 XXVII.—Arrival Dates of Migrant Birds in Coorg. By F. N. Betts... 197 XXVIII.—An Addition to List of Snakes of Bombay and Salsette: Goronella orachyura. By Ps Ali cesssavesecs cevcsvsessevitaece eos 197 XXIX.—A Further List of Snakes from Ahmednagar. By K. G. Gilat pUrey,, tsb -COlss EMS. Ll. C. Hallertana, c. Rhizome creeping, stems caespitose ... 12. C. breviculmis. 1. Carex nubigena D. Don in Trans. Linn. Soc. xiv (1825) 326; C. B. Clarke—in-.:-Hook.. f. F.B.I. vi, 702. Description: Stems 15-75 cm., caespitose on a tough perennial rhizome; rhizome short or 0. Leaves long, narrow, incurved when dry. Inflorescence from 1.3 cm.,-dense, ovoid, to 12.5 cm., linear, interrupted, greenish becoming brown; lowest bract usually much overtopping inflorescence, sometimes not 6 mm. Spikes 5 mm., dense, ovoid, androgynous; male at top forming an ovoid oblong or interrupted linear compound spike. Female glumes ovate, scarcely apiculate, shorter than utricle. Anthers linear-oblong, very shortly api- culate. Style 2-fid, occasionally 3-fid. Utricle small, of thin texture, plano- convex, green or pale brown, 9-ll-nerved on plane face, 11-15 on convex; small red glands frequently scattered all over utricle between the nerves; beak not winged, commonly quite smooth, not rarely scabrid, sometimes almost hispid. Nut hardly 34 utricle, compressed, obtuse, brown. Locality: Sind: (Pinwill ex Clarke). Distribution: Himalaya, 5-13,000 ft., Khasia to Muneypoor, 4-600 ft., Sind, Nilgiris, Anamalais, Pulney Hills, Ceylon, Afghanistan, Malaya, China, Japan. 2. Carex foliosa D. Don in Trans. Linn. Soc. xiv (1825) 327.—C. Walli- chiana Spreng. Syst. i (1826) 812 (non Presc.).—C. muricata var. foliosa C. B. Clarke in. Hook. f. F.B.I. vi, .703. : Description: Rhizome short, woody, caespitose. Stems up to 90 cm., strict, firm, triquetrous, very scabrous above. Leaves shorter or longer, 3-5 mm. broad, flat, sheaths thickened at the mouth, not longer than the base of the lamina; ligule broader than long, with a brown margin. Spikelets numerous, many-flowered, crowded towards the apex, the lower ones remote, compound, often setaceous-bracteate, forming an interrupted, 3-9 cm. long spike. Glumes ovate, acuminate-aristate, pale with a green keel. Utricle much exceeding the glumes, 3.5 mm. long, pale green, glabrous, almost nerveless, ovate or ovate- lanceolate below, narrowed into a slender 2-fid beak, margins scaberulous. Nut oval, filling the utricle. Base of style thickened. Stigmas 2. Locality: Sind: (Pinwill ex Clarke). Distribution: Himalaya, 6,000-9,000 ft., from Kashmir to Nepal and Sikkim, Khasia, Sind, Nilgiris, Pulney Hills, 6,500-8,000 ft. 3. Carex brunnea Thunb. Fl. Japon (1784) 38; C. B. Clarke in Hook. f. F.B.I. vi, 705.—Ibidem synonyms. Description: Rhizome oblique. Stems 380-90 cm., slender. Leaves 2 stem, 4 mm. broad. Cauline sheaths somewhat distant, lowest usually above middle of plant. Inflorescence long, lax. Peduncles often several from each sheath, lowest exsert 2.5-20 cm., slender, nodding, sometimes bearing 3-10 spikes, often 2 or more from one sheath. Spikes 3.8-5 cm., slender. Male glumes obtusely triangular, reddish brown; female glumes ovate, acute or scarcely mucronate, apex triangular, ultimately ferruginous-brown. Utricle rather small, not parallel-sided, 9-15-nerved on each face, minutely hairy on nerves, suddenly narrowed into a beak about half utricle; beak linear, shortly bifid, lobes erect; ripe utricle brown ellipsoid, much flattened, pilose (in Indian examples), striate. Nut much flattened, ovoid, suddenly narrowed at top, yellow-brown, nearly filling utricle except beak. Exsert portion of stigmas about as long as utricle. Style 2-fid, about as long as beak, slightly swollen, contracted at base; branches long, very brown. Locality: Sind: (Pinwill ex Clarke). Distribution: W. Himalaya, Assam, Burma, Muneypore, Sind, Nilgiris, Anamalais, Pulneys, Tinnevelly Hills.—Ceylon, Mascarene Isles, Mauritius, China, Japan, Korea, Australia, Philippines, Sandwich Islands, Yunnan. 4. Carex criaciata Wahlenb. in Vet.-Akad. Handl. Stockholm xxiv (1803) 149; C. B. Clarke in Hook. f. F.B.I. vi, 715.—C. condensata Nees in Wight Contr. (1834) 123: (excl.: var.); C..B. Clarke 1.e. . 8 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVIII Description: Rhizome woody horizontal, over 15 cm. long. Culms 60-90 cm. tall. Leaves linear acuminate, 30-60 cm. long, 6-13 mm. wide, margins at tip scabrid. Panicles narrow, strict, erect, 5 cm. long, branches short pubescent. Spikelets 2.5-6 mm. long; flowers few. Glume ovate acuminate or mucronate, keeled. Utricle longer, ovate, yellow, orange, or olive-coloured, ribbed, beak long curved, margins scabrid entire. Nut ovate-elliptic. Locality: Sind: (Pinwill ex Cooke).—W. Ghats: Mahableshwar (Dalzell & Gibson ex Cooke).—Not seen by Cooke. Distribution: Himalaya from Kumaon to Sikkim and Bhutan, Khasia, Tenasserim and Malacca, Central Provinces, Sind.—Tonkin, China, Yunnan, Formosa, Madagascar. 5. Carex filicina Nees in Wight Contr. (1834) 126; C. B. Clarke in Hook. f. F.B.I. vi, 717.—C. nilagirica Hochst. ex Steud. Synops. Cypera. (1855) 207. Description: Glabrous, except the minutely hairy panicle brarches. Rhizome very woody, short (no long stolons). Stems 30-90 cm. Leaves very long, often as long as stems, flat, thin. Inflorescence elongate of distant pyra- midal compound panicles. Panicle usually more than half stem; partial panicles often very dense; branches much slenderer than in ‘C. cruciata or condensata. Spikes small often very many on slender branches not congested. Female glumes commonly small, not (or scarcely) mucronate, ovate, as long as utricle (without beak), sometimes elliptic-lanceolate, glabrous or minutely hairy, chest- nut in South Indian form, often paler or ferruginous in the Khasian. Style 8-fid. Utricle 2.5 mm., trigonous, fitting the black nut very closely, about 15-nerved, glabrous, tapering or suddenly narrowed at top; beak oblique, curved, subrecurved or straight, more or less scabrous-hairy, mouth very small, shortly bifid. Var. meiogyna Strachey Cat. Pl. Kumaon (1854) 73. Description: Glumes smallish, ovate, mostly paler. Utricles broader, beak shorter. Locality: Sind: (Pinwill ex Clarke). Var. minor Boott Illustr. 11 (1862) 106, t. 317-18. Description: eaves narrower, inflorescence paniculate, depauperate. Utricles shorter. Othrwise like metogyna. Locality: Sind: (Pinwill ex Clarke). Distribution of species: Nilgiris, Pulneys, throughout the Himalayas, Assam, Burma.—Ceylon, Tonkin, China, Yunnan, Java, Borneo, Sumatra. 6. Carex Lindleyana Nees in Wight Contr. (1834) 121; C. B. Clarke in Hook. 4, BVB fyi, 721: Var. major Fischer in Flora Madras ix (1931) 1687.—C. mercarensts Hochst ex Steud. Syn. Pl. Cyper. (1855) 194, var. major Steud. l.c.; Cke. ii, 906. Description: Cke. 1.c. Locality: Without locality (Dalzell !).—Konkan: Ambewadi (Patwardhan 1104 !).—W. Ghats: Matheran (Herb. St. X:C. C20 ! C21 !, H.E.B.B. !); Mahableshwar (Ezekiel !, Woodrow 79 ex Cooke), Bombay Point (Fernandez C152 !), Fitzgerald Ghat, 3 miles from Mahableshwar (Blatter C154 !, Mc- Cann !); Panchgani (Talbot 4475 !, Blatter & Hallberg B1737 !); common (McCann !); Londa (Woodrow ex Cooke); Castle Rock, 1,700 ft., rainfall 200 in. (Herb. Sedgwick & Bell 5552 !, McCann C23 !, Gammie 15765 ! 15887 !).— S. M. Country: Belgaum (Hole 28 !).—N. Kanara: Arbail Ghat, 2,000 ft., rainfall 200 in. (Sedgwick 3129 !); Anmod, forest, 2,000 ft., rainfall 200 in. (Sedgwick 3453 !); Devimane Ghat (Hallberg & McCann C24 !); Kilkund (Talbot 35381 !); Yellapur (Talbot 667 !); Jugglepet (Talbot 1564 !); Armhi Ghat (Talbot 1821 !); Guddehulli peak, Karwar (Bell 7737 !). Flowering & fruiting: March 1918 (Matheran); March 1919 (Castle Rock); March 17th 1917 (Mahableshwar); September 21st 1883 (Yellapur); September 25th 1884 (Yellapur); October 1920 (Panchgani); October 10th 1885 (Armhi Ghat); October 11th 1928 (Mahableshwar); October 28th 1902 (Castle Rock) ; REVISION OF THE FLORA OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY 9 October 29th (Panchgani); November 1910 (Kanara District); November 1917 (Arbail Ghat); November 1929 (Fitzgerald Ghat); November 14th 1885 (Juggle- pet); December 1917 (Anmod); December 1920 (Guddehulli); December Ist 1895 (Nilkund); December 12th 1896 (Matheran). Field notes: A monsoon species in deciduous forest, but it lasts longer in evergreens, practically throughout the year. The flowering commences about the middle of September. A weak looking sedge growing in tufts under the shade of trees. The rhizomes are black and woody. They persist for years. Distribution: Deccan, S. M. Country, N. Kanara, Mercara, Attapadi, Ana- malais, Pulney Hills, High Wavy Mountain, 5,000-8,000 ft. 7. Carex baccans Nees in Wight Contr. (1834) 122; C. B. Clarke in Hook. f. Habs d Vay 4122. Description: Robust, glabrous. Rhizome very stout, short, horizontal, with approximate stems. Stems often 0.9 m. Leaves often overtopping inflorescence, 8 mm. broad. Inflorescence 30-45 by 7.5-10 cm. (small examples occur); bracts much overtopping inflorescence; lowest peduncle usually distant, exsert; partial panicle often 5-12.5 by 2.5-5 em. Spikes 3.8 by 0.6 cm., male portion dark red when young. Female glumes ovate or obovate, acute or obtuse, often cuspidate sometimes (even in large examples) muticous. Utricle in the fully developed state 2.5 mm. diameter, nearly globose, wall thickened more or less succulent, red, nearly glabrous rarely obscurely scabrous-hairy near top; utricles in the half-ripe state usually olivaceous with more prominent recurved beak. Nut ellipsoid-trigonous, pyramidal at both ends, black, much narrower than utricle; style-base linear. Locality: Without locality (Dalzell !)—W. Ghats: Mahableshwar (Herb. Sedgwick & Bell 7285 !, Blatter 1594 !). Flowering & fruiting: November 1919 (Mahableshwar); November 1929 (Mahableshwar). Distribution: Nepal, Sikkim, Khasia and Naga Hills, Upper Burma, Gan- jam District, W. Ghats of Madras Presidency, 3,000-7,000 ft., Mysore.—Ceylon, Cochin-China, Malay Archipelago, Philippines, Formosa, South China. 8. Carex speciosa Kunth Enum. ii (1837) 504; Cke. ii, 906.—For synonyms seo C. B. Clarke in Hook. f. F.B.I. vi, 729. Description: Cke. l.c. Locality: N. Kanara: Hulgi, in mixed forest (Talbot 3142 !, 2 sheets, Talbot 2282 ex Cooke). Flowering & fruiting: April 20th and 28th 1894 (Hulgi). Distribution: Throughout India.—Tonkin, Borneo. 9. Carex glauca Murr. Prodr, Stirp. Gotting. (1770) 76; Kiikenth. in Engler’s Pflanzenr. iv, 20 (1909) 416.—C. flacca Schreb. Spic. Fl. Lips. Append. (1771) 669. Description: Rhizome producing long stolons. Culm 20-45 cm. high, rigid, obsoletely triquetrous, smooth, leafy below. Leaves shorter than the culm, 2-4 mm. broad, with the margins revolute, keeled, glaucous, patent, the lower sheaths brown-purple. Spikelets 4-5, the upper 2-3 (rarely 1) male, cylindrical, the lower 2-8 female (at the apex often male), thinly cylindrical, 2-3 cm. long, dense-flowered, more or less pedunculate, erect or finally pendulous, peduncles setaceous, scabrous. Bracts foliaceous, the lowest often exceeding the inflorescence, sometimes shortly sheathing. Female glumes ovate or oblong- ovate, slightly acute, black-brown, often very shortly mucronate. Utricles - slightly exceeding the glumes, finally membranous, ovate-ellipsoid or subobo- vate, subinflated trigonous, 8 mm. long, straw-coloured-greenish, nerveless ex- cept 2 marginal nerves, truncate at base, on the margins above sometimes sparingly scabrous, beak very short, truncate, often curved outwardly. Nut obovate, trigonous. Stigmas 3. Var. cuspidata (Host.) Aschers. et Graebner Synops. Mitteleurop. FI. ii, 2 (1902-03) 138.—C. cuspidata Host. Gram. Austr. i (1801) 71, t. 97.—C. flacca ¢. B, Clarke in Hook. f; F-B.I. -vi,_-742, 10 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol.. XXXVIII Description: Female spikelets slender, pedunculate, erect. Male ‘glumes narrowed, female mucronate or aristate. Utricles shorter than the glumes, ellipsoid, olivaceous, acute at apex. res Locality: Sind: (Pinwill ex Clarke). : . Pig hoe of var.: Mediterranean, North Africa, Western Asia, Orient, Sind. 10. Carex setigera D. Don in Trans. Linn. Soc. xiv (1824) 330; C. B. Clarke in Hook. #. F.B.I. vi,*743. Decsription: Glabrous, stoloniferous. Rhizome long, creeping, 2.5 mm. dia- meter. Stems 30-60 cm. Leaves nearly as long as stem, 3-4 mm. broad. Spikes 4-8, 3.8-5 cm. long, cylindric, distant, terminal 1 (or 2-3) male, lowest female, peduncled erect, female up to 8 mm. broad; spike often male at top, rather lax, often interrupted at base. Female glumes as long as utricle, with a bristle much overtopping utricle in the standard form (which is often small or disappears) usually with bright brown sides and scarious margins (but the colour of male and female glumes varies widely). Utricles 2-5.2 mm.; ovoid, hispid, suddenly narrowed into small oblong notched beak, brown-green, very hispid, nerveless, strongly 2-edged, the concave face only obscurely ridged by the angle of nut, margined by the incurved edges. Nut ellipsoid, trigo- nous, narrowed much at base, dark brown; style slender, glabrous, 3-fid, base not dilated; exsert part of branches about as long as _ utricle. Var. Schlagintweitiana (Boeck) Kikenth. in Engl. Pflanzenr. iv, 20 (1909) 419.—C. Schlagintweitiana Boeck. Cyp. Nov. i (1888) 48; C. B.. Clarke l.c. Description: _lueaves Parrower. Spikelets narrower, often shorter. Female glumes mostly only mucronate. Utricles small, with a shorter beak. Locality: Sind: (Pinwill ex Clarke). Distribution of var.: Yarkand, W. Himalaya, Yunnan, Sind. 11. Carex Halleriana Asso Synops. Stirp. Arag. (1779) 133. t. 9, fig. 2; C. B. Clarke in Hook. f. F.B.I. vi, 745.—Ibidem synonyms. Description: Rhizome stout, densely caespitose, many-branched. Culm ¥0-40, cm. high, weak, obsoletely triquetrous, upwards scabrous. Leaves shorter than the culnma, 1.5-2.5 mm. broad, with the margins revolute, scabrous above, bright green, subrigid, lower sheaths brown. Spikelets 8-6, the terminal one male, linear-oblong, 1-1.5 cm. long, sessile or shortly pedunculate, lateral ones 2-5 female (at the apex often male), ovate, few and subdensely flowered, 8-10 mm. long, the upper 1-3 spikelets male, approximate, subsessile, the lower 1-2 very long—unequally pedunculate, capillary peduncles decumbent, sparsely scabrous. Bracts scale-like, amplexicaul, the lowest shortly setaceous. Female glumes lanceolate ovate, muticous or mucronate, chestnut or copper-coloured, the mar- gins white-hyaline, on the back greenish 8-nerved. Utricles longer than the glumes, finally obliquely patent, membranous, obovate-oblong, trigonous, 4-5 mm. long, brownish green, minutely and sparsely pubescent, many-costate, long-attenuate into a winged stalk. Nut tightly enclosed oblong-obovate, stipi- tate; base of style thickened. Stigmas 3. Locality: Sind: (Pinwill ex, Clarke). Distribution: . Mediterranean, Europe, N. Africa, W. Asia, Orient, Sind. 12. Carex breviculmis R. Br. Prodr. Nov. Holl. (1810) 242; C. B. Clarke in Hook. f:.F.B.I. vi, 746.—C. Royleana Nees ex Wight Contr. (1884) 127. Description: Slender, glabrous, except utricles. Rhizome creeping. Stems eaespitose, 10-40 cm. Leaves often 2 stem, 3 mm. broad, flat. Spikes 2-5, oblong, rather small, usually approximate, subsessile; terminal one. male pale, lowest. female sometimes 15 cm. distant on 5 cm. peduncle, with 8-14 utricles. Female ripe spikes 8 by 4 mm. Female glumes with long bristle much ex- ceeding utricles. Style 2-fid, at base dilated green, sometimes forming a button as in the nuts of Eleocharis. Utricle small, ellipsoid, trigonous, slightly hairy, tip pyramidal. Locality: Sind: (Pinwill ex Clarke). Distribution: N.-W. Himalaya, Assam, Khasia Hills, Nilgiris, Pulneys.— Tonkin, China, Japan, Formosa, Korea, Australia, New Zealand. REVISION OF THE FLORA OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY 11 Tour CyPRRACEAE IN COOKE AND THE PRESENT PAPER. Sp. in Cooke. Sp. in this paper. 1. . Kyllinga net sat 2 5 2. Pycreus me aa he 10 *under Cyperus. 3. Juncellus es Ae on 3 | *under Cyperus. 4. Cyperus ot a 27 35 5. Mariscus ae: fa aie 6 | *under Cyperus. 6. Courtotsia we va 1 1 4... Feleocharis- --~3.: ae gl 8 8. Fimbristylis ... se 17 18 9. Bulbostylis |... ne it 3 10.. Sczrpus °~". , 1l 13 ll. Eriophorum ... ae 1 ] 12. Futrena a ee: 4 4 13. Lipocarpha ... at 2 14. Rhyncospora .. 3 2 15. Schoenus 1 16. Remirea one 1 i 17. Hypolytrum. ... ee l 1 18. Scleria a oh 6 8 19. Diplacrum i LOS Carex 3 12 We have combined Cyperus tegetiformis and C. tegetum with C. corymbosus Rottb.; C. tuberosus with C. rotundus; Scirpus Michelianus with Juncellus pyg- maeus; and Scirpus Kysoor with S. grossus. We have excluded from the Bombay Flora Rhyncospora Wallichiana. ' DISTRIBUTION OF GENERA IN THE PRESIDENCY. . O >, — ap elale)eldis18|s et . ; x C ee Ps gis (S| Se) Sj ae) Ora te oS) 2) sts! s | a | ol 6 hes hese oe wr, Za Ne SAPs ORAM SA ise ale a 1, Ajtlinga re 5 1 Ee eee ia, Fae 2 A Rha 4. 4 2. Pycreus see | LO 3 1 3 ] 5 8; 9] 6 8 3. Juncellus ors gaat 1 2 1 3 2 3 2 eee! 3 2 4. Cyperus Sores HetG ES I I3e 2 1g yay 188 22 5. Mariscus a Gig the lorcet set eee: Klenee 1 3 Soe 3 6. Courtoisia ee ee ret Re | ee (errs a eae I 1 7. Eleocharis 8.4 4 7 3 il ] is) ALS 6 8. Fimbristylis 18 | 10 1 PLZ Ae GUS 12 7) 1a. 16 9. Bulbostylis 3 i et ae 1 sa ieee eee ak Gos 3 10. Scirpus 1S dO 20. Ale B82 2s) 4) Bet S41 5 | 8 J]. Eriophorum 1 ] oe ] ] Ry peewee | eee Sicee | ei 12. Futrena Ait .. il ] i Z 1 3 De aa 13. Lipocarpha sis Z oe 1 1 | 2 14. ARhyncospora oe 2: ies 1 a 2 TA se 15. Schoenus 1 ee —- EVeae 16. Remirea je ies ioe il 17. HAypolytrum ye, Re ec eee eae ‘| il 18. Scleria 8 erly SINGS Oo.) cape oF 19. Diplacrum Lee coe | eee eet tees Ve came eaemien ame dy ccrgailiac cent ert 20. Carex | 12 OTS eae ager iad ieee an eee ost |i ] 3 1 2 Total... 136 60/14] 5] 50/17] 44| 274] 72 | 69 | 92 i 12 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVIII DISTRIBUTION OF SPECIES IN THE PRESIDENCY. : ~ ns He é q|-: “| B) blo q z os Pla EG) aos ie (au) Mw . (a4 D/O /S 19/819 \a/O ls iM Alslalsialolol- li] . DIO IM | MO IM IE | | KYLLINGA | 1. triceps sea ll gleselea li gleechegl gl gh geet Conctd.-in. the Deccan: 2. melanoSperma ... |...) al atel oa less lees Pa elie 3. sguamiulala swelled eel eal tocelae'e este) el paeg eon te 4, brevitolia wes tlnoadiye | ieee walamoltcas) eee lias ae 5. monocephala | #| +| «| x| Conctd. in the Konkan. Total... .. Iie.) 2) 435 ‘ 4 PYCREUS 1. flavescens lpealeealtnuleasl ris 2. latespicatus | x! | «! «| «| Conctd. in the Deccan. 3. MGIGRATICUS ~ aoe | eel ec easlncelews lessees a Veceloce A, SANGUINOLENLUS ... | gleeciece|eee|s--| &| x] a! #| a| Concetd. in the Deccan. 5, puncticulatus 0. |...\.0. sal eat cealiee alte 6. albomarginatus.., |...b...'ee Boe Baad «| «| «| «| Conctd. in the Konkan. 7. globosus -| «| ol «| al.%! #1 «| Conetd. in the Deccan: 8. odoratus liege betel belle »| *| | Conetd. in N. Kanara. QO. hyalinus ~ - scales. rales] nal eee aoe glasdeesisee | 10. pranilus Been Ne (eae | ic leeal well ele eles a Total ... K 1. 3 1 5 : 9| 6} 8 | | JUNCELLUS | 1. alopecuroides pu iylive 2M linsel cial felt og 2. Michelianus ...1... é «lca sel oe Rt el 3. laevigatus 2 pe | al eieenltels | | Totals: 2 1 4] 3 2) ss) 1 3) 2 REVISION OF THE FLORA OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY 13 DISTRIBUTION OF SPECIES IN THE PRESIDENCY.—contd. 5B a] |. JalBle =e Sle/ Sidi gi Slols 4 c aS te Uv. fa) ® eel 5 a0} S/S /S12/ 81318 Cis] z Slplalslay;olol-| | . PAO 11 IM JO IM |F [wy Iz, | CYPERUS. 1. cephialotes pataeelren |realeasle calace i 2 platystylis ahs lever lieedie uae leanne aes ea he ” 3. castaneus bs lat: ie 4. uncinatus ploatecd! aie alge GeeLVCCOOLEI i ewe) ee oon aioe sien) x we 6. QIfLOVINES) van aes l vas Me aw lhae eee ieee 7. pulcherrimus ae ana hawile be siladcleae esas caine 8. flavidus —_ z.._ |. Giese ee Blivatl Selucg |e 9. Haspan (5 elects gieesiles 10. Zeneriffae ss sslees! plesslieet | gyleae ll. nzveus : gieesl) Wesetee etic: \aee 12. leucocephalus A pie len | 2 13. arenarius oe Glee gels elves ce ‘ 14. conglomeratus ... | 4| « «| x ah ae 15. effusus , bees liees Rial gavel 16. Atkinsont giles 3as eos oe eetl 17: compressus *|° Ye wl selicel gl og 18. glaber *l° See leenlane ls 19. aristatus Sele pie seh tall ah plete 20, Irza a] efter] ok *| | «| | 21. distans bile lh alee de 22, nutans aele *| *) x] oe] o* 23. eleusinoides Ricslees Paley eral eee QEEDULOSUS > = ace | casi neel thaloh ely ee tee lve 25. PYOCEYUS ——— aoe | eva loeelore yree|oeefeee fee Baar bes 26. malaccensts gelesen st ee Voce lee a 27. bulbosus Paral eel Rulers lead ene 28. articulatus — ... | cal eee|oes lee Aeclt gl cal lee 29. corymbosus sl giles ae alas eo alles Un IHUCEH oe. lee slices feo. al aloes | foe oe P 31. rotundus a| oe Ue lates eel pig ea el coe B32). ESCULEHIUS sae \.52| 36h ewe ile Ne " 33. stoloniferus elles heal Nel eed ese ¥ 34. exallatus pie ea Sel ale 35. digitatus cealoee ile. EME ee Total 17| 911 16] 5 |13]21117118)22 MARISCUS Nee OLOLLEDE © ease Wee cee laos ache ete leet ales Dee CULOOSUS seal? |ndelees (oon eo |sae:|<0-|- SAlesclbegiiars 3. PANICEUS — nae |ooclese| oe] sa lfece feos ate aa a, A. ROMRANENS1S — 120 |aoeleee|-oelees|ere jel eg Melle 5. pennatus Addllasctoaailes sal, le e}fae| isc 6. compactus ie ra Nate | eit tale’ ta =| eee eed Total | 1 1 3| 51 3| 3 Conctd. in the Deccan, Conctd. in the Deccan and Konkan. Conctd. in N. Kanara. Conctd. in the Deccan and N. Kanara. Conctd. in the Deccan chiefly and N. Kanara. Conctd. in the Deccan and Konkan. Conctd. in the Deccan. Conctd. in the Deccan and Konkan. Conctd. in Sind, Deccan and Konkan. ‘|Concentrated in the Konkan . 14 JOURNAL, ‘BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVIIL DISTRIBUTION OF SPECIES DN rr, PRESIDENCY. s—eontd. ah oh ° x 2 — 3 a! l4i-lilegie amen eee el ole Ol Ja) S)S}ola)elclO]a ol(o|alv|SlolSlOl elm qlee yp Slo; a) = Sis} @8] 51a} o] oO {| BIO |S |O IMO IM 1S | (A CoURTOISIA 1. cyperoides — ... |...)-+. --| x/-+-| «| *! Concentrated in the 'S. M. Country. Total Wie eallied ELEOCHARIS 1. plantaginea . ae Paes ere a 2. fistulosa s sellatgll tale ( 3. spiralis ae : Pe Che es 4. atropurpurea... x Beles eal ge eg etl ae 5. capitata + *| x! x! #/ x} x] Concentrated: in ae Deccan ; | and Konkan. 6. palustris i seeleceleee lens ie chaetaria eolece|sarleee! seelee * ol &) ox Concentrated in N, Kanara. 8. congesta saleool cer neteleaelast la | scoala | Total Al is \aee| 3) ol. ; 4156 FIMBRISTYLIS 1, detragond R. Brivjetecs| ofeejeeel a] oe] ae] x] 2. ACUMINALA —saalins|eveleveloe [reeleeeeeelere] ak] 3. POlylrtChotdes ..)...Joeeeeefeee cecleee gleee|en -| Concentrated im the enkann 4. schoenotdes Pere ae ae aah ai auelece 5. argentea : Pie Blegalwes : 6. “aesiiodlgs * a. re a sel cteg lel ee 7. dichotoma #[ete] #) #) ¥| & x) *] *] &! Concentrated in Gujerat, | Khandesh and Deccan. 8. spathacea Pe *; eee] *] x] Concentrated in the Konkan. 9. annua Var. diphylla k #ltte} x) oe] oe! *] &! Concentrated in the Deccan. 10. ferruginea z| afer] xl #l oe x} #t #] «| Concentrated in the Deccan we | and N. Kanara. 11. digitata _ wa here arael etal eccell cae lho 12. Woodrowtt , loss eeeitee eleaale | 13. tenera ; veel «| *| &! *| *) *le--| Concentrated in the Konkan, 14. junettorinis ‘ #/ e+] #) ater) #/ «| Concentrated in the Konkan. 15. mtliacea BEAD Reese lst n wl 16. guinguangularis, ,)...\...| [sl elie icles 17. complanata gleael gal gl aglivent CO Megaleee 18. smonostachya ele glsealaeitoelenclieee lee REVISION OF THE FLORA OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY id DISTRIBUTION OF SPECIES IN THE PRESIDENCY.—contd. a iS . Fs (e} . i Als | a|a|- = : Pia nuit a H mo} C}a O19 5 q oO = we Blslalsislojols|.|:- NOW OMIA |X Sin |Z, BULBOSTYILIS | | 1. éarbata ile e Pa | oe] 2. captillaris var. trifida £) oR, OK 3. puberula peo errs (Mea Peere AN Deer roe a2 Total: .4| 4 ] \.. 1) 2} 3 SCIRPUS IAL OLOSCHOCHUS 6.) | Haltos 2. supinus glen Pee foxy el oC ’ : : td: inthe Deccan. 3. avticulatus xe lees 4° *] ox *| vies : eee 4. guinguefarius ..\ | ole] alecl al aloo Conctd. in the Konkan. 5. corymbosus Sea lome lglg leer ae acael selina 6. maritimus a loco pees alow ak | ok i 7. trigueter ’ = eallt , Dee OLG ie: a Pie calgel 8. gvossus A eee Giles wet arce Gank : i é . onctd. in the Konkan. 10. mucronatus aoe ee | oe] x] ll. erectus Vee Aas eet 12. kyllingoides : : &, 13. sguarrosus ¥ * | * Totals ailore 1 Si2 \A6 751518 | ERIOPHORUM | 1. comosum a | Gales lore Was ea |: rel ae l MOU ral vbleeateecl sl yall diver el ae FUIRENA . | | | | | ne wallichiana secleee Blige selon, mee Concentrated in the Deccan. 2. ciliaris #) kieeefees) oe] oe] &] x} Concentrated in the Konkan a and $.M.C. Su CILGLILOUR den eaten wl enslloee ne Ae eee . 4. wmbellata serfeoel «x's x!+-] 4] Concentrated in the S. M, | | | Country. | | | TROtGH eaes iit e Les he 2ie8 si LIPOCARPHA | | | 1. argentea | lee : Liens 2. triceps Bees Atiye cles ee ale | RO taller a lcsclesd laa, [- pe les | a, i6 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVitt DISTRIBUTION OF SPECIES IN THE PRESIDENCY .—contd. qe ss , bay aa é} a) | |alSl8 aa : Bilis} o ais =z |.° < a/S/ S/S ai sisiCla i a S/ZiSl8ia/sia\Cla SIsls/slslo/sl_- l=! . BIO |M |G | 1M JE I lS RHYNCOSPORA | | 1. wightiana wee leeclee ale nalts: ace .| m=l-s-| «| Concentrated in the Deccan and Konkan. 2. corymbosa Gee |ee-|ens|epeleae|e-alawel per oalyecal ale SOCAL y COU entll: Total ee : VB 2) 12 SCHOENUS 1. nigricans eee legal dorleare lireie I eulheaal | ees Total 1 - eee He ne REMIREA | 1. maritima eerilcolh satel stor | oo eal etl eel tose Des * | otal: |} alee | realete | awe - i! HvpoLyTRUM 1. Jlatifolium oo eal ohalaeellecal ss ua lees | Total’ Acie Se Nec Nach elses ee SCLERIA : Wsca GLOSSCL QL 2. 1 Madose| oes Svalleaeleaaeo sie le aliee se 2. lithosperma ...|... eblGeclnealaalee! Ue Conctd. in N. Kanara. 3. 1COPMLOOSH * ae Ne ee sbeee cations Uieeelacad geal 4, hebecarpa —— ...\.e.lee-[ecalee.[eo-|-e- Meare tse Conctd. in N. Kanara. 5. poaeformtis : eh eeet Beeps ©. COCHINGRINEISIS \. Niles les 7. annularis —4s.|... Soa scelicedla ae ee eee 8. SLOCKSIGNGY? ten| a . Be op hai a Total ...} .. US ear, DIPLACRUM Le Gar iCi nw seed ac hacleetheattntlon: efoee ; Total ccAlcshectleclicchles! ae pale | i} | eee ee REVISION OF THE FLORA OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY 17 DISTRIBUTION OF SPECIES IN THE PRESIDENCY.—contd. > tall | * .I/Sl 3 w Gq n| 2 | | |Blel@lelalsigis | lol SISis lal sisi" | & | Slo] S| 9 [SiO J | D/YIS/Elslolal— sis Als|/ey Sia] 0] oj," lies BO |4 0 IM (FAM IS J ) | CAREX | | 1 nubigena ae iellees sagliteleate 2. foliosa alg lates eee 3. brunnea AN gesllerllos se Oe 4. cruciata Bealayiee a 5. filicina var. minor et var. THCUOP IEG Me nea Sg dliereae laaalecoaea lst aveaalav ele 6. Lindleyana var. | major Eoheilee lesleacleartios alalae{#| Conetd. in the Deccan 7. baccans BER Ot Ae lonorll sie loves Soa lou veoh ae and N. Kanara. 8. speciosa Rees Stele ved sea) cos |ewiel See letell ae 9. glauca var. cus- | pidata alee, towel sath eas locale lect eal aeeeas 10. setigera eon | Schlagintwet- tina Bist ate |eiela| dete sm cel ezcileere) eter cos: aye MLL GLLEY LOR 5-8 |e leet |oasilces |noe|eyelses aulegigics 12. breviculmis ...\ x |r seelers|eeferlees ieee covleee Ot alate iO levelncelsvaltedlies eae 2 Somr Norus ON THE GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE CYPERACEAE IN THE PRESIDENCY. Of the 185 species recorded so far from the Presidency 16 are peculiar to Sind, viz.: Cyperus pulcherrimus Willd. Carex nubigena D. Don. _ Cyperus effusus Rottb. Carex foliosa D. Don. Cyperus Atkinsoni C. B. Clarke Carex brunnea Thunb. Cyperus glaber Linn. Carex filicina Nees var. metogyna et var. minor. Eleocharis palustris R. Br. Carex glauca var. cuspidata. Scirpus Holoschoenus Linn. Carex setigera var. Schlagintweitiana. Scirpus triqueter Linn. Carex Halleriana Asso. Schoenus nigricans Linn. Carex breviculmis R. Br. One to Gujerat: Cyperus esculentus Linn. 2 to the Konkan: Pycreus hyalinus Don, and Cyperus castaneus Willd. 2 to the W. Ghats: Mariscus Blatteri McCann, and Cares baccans Nees. 3 to the Southern Maratha Country: Cyperus Meeboldti WKiikenthal, Eleo- charts congesta Don, and Scleria corymbosa Roxb., and 9 to N. Kanara. Cyperus cephalotes Vahl. Remirea maritima Aubl. Cyperus platystylis R. Br. Scleria poaeformis Retz. Bulbostylis puberula Kunth. Diplacrum caricinum R. Br. Scirpus kyllingoides Boeck. Carex speciosa Kunth. Fuirena uncinata Kunth. How are we to explain this peculiar distribution? The large number of species peculiar to Sind may be accounted for by the presence of the Indus River as it may be responsible for the introduction of some of the species from the northern part of India. But this alone does not seem to account for this 2 18 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVIII distribution. Sind is the wintering ground for many wild fowl such as ducks and waders, some of which never descend lower down into the Presidency. A great ATA Roe of these migrant birds come from the North, North-West and West and in so doing bring along the seed of various plants in the mud that fre- quently adheres to their bills, feet and plumage, and have in this way added to our Cyperaceous flora especially as this order comprises plants that are in- habitants of marshes and stretches of water. For example Cyperus glaber is so far only recorded from Sind, the distribution is given as ‘Westwards to Sicily’; similarly C. effusus has also only been recorded from Sind the distri- bution being given as westwards to N. Africa. Is it not possible that these two species were introduced by aquatic birds? Some of these records are over thirty years old and it appears strange that since that time (Pinwill) they have not been obtained again. It seems very probable that these were just chance specimens which happened to survive for a short time in the new locality and then died out. Sind is poorly explored, and this may also account for the absence of further data. Khandesh is in a similar position as Kathiawar, but for the few records places are unexplored from a Cyperologist’s point of view as is easily seen from the records we have at hand. Fr. Blatter collected in Cutch during the winter of 1907-08, but as these plants are so much dependent on water it was an unsuitable time. Kathiawar is almost a blank; there is not the slightest doubt that it still remains a closed book as there has never been any serious collecting done in the area. Khandesh is in a similar position as Kathiawar but for the few records from the West and along the Tapti River made by Fr. Blatter, the late Prof. Hallberg and Mr. McCann during the winters of 1916-17 and 1918-19. Both these trips were of short duration and the time was most unsuitable for Cyperaceae. We are sure that with the further investigation of these areas the distribution of some of the species will be extended. Coming down to the W. Ghats 2 of the 8 species are from the Mahablesh- war ranges, whose heavy rainfall might well be compared with that — of N. Kanara. The demarcation between the W. Ghats and the Konkan is very vague and it is difficult to attribute this or that species to one or the other of-these areas. 'T'wo species are peculiar to the Konkan. The Southern Maratha Country yields three species peculiar to it but as there is no saying where the S. M. Country ends and Kanara begins perhaps a few more species might as well be added to those already mentioned for Kanara. How are we to account for the large number of species peculiar to Kanara? Kanara was well explored by Talbot, whose large collections testify to this, and also by subsequent collectors. This may he one of the reasons but the Konkan has also been well explored and yet the number is small compared with that for Kanara. It is possibly due to the heavy rainfall Kanara receives and also to the dense evergreen forests. The Nilgiris hold some of the species and perhaps also the adjoining country which is still unexplored. Is it possible that some of these plants have come with wandering animals, such as elephants, bison and deer? But we know very little on this point to draw any definite conclusions. Most of the species that occur in Kanara are forest species, Remtrea alone occurring on the sandy seacoast. (To be continued). = ie: 7 ae a. a ae : a * Oy tae eas > en ss , : 4 : - . ‘ , ok soe . , ary tes ss - . wits IS BD hg mcg Ew So ge ee tee Pep teen SA = es Re Sorerean Journ., Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. Spotted Deer (Amis axis) at margin of forest. A GAME SANCTUARY IN CEYLON. BY Lizut.-CoLt. R. W. Burton, Indian Army (retired). (With a plate). It was with the kind permission of the Minister for Agriculture and Lands, and in the company of the Government Agent for the Southern Province (Mr. J. D. Brown), and his Assistant for the District of Hambantota (Mr. F. L. Leach), that the writer had the privilege to visit the Yala Game Sanctuary in February 1988. This Sanctuary came into existence in February 1899, the area set apart being bounded on the east by the IKumbukkan-oya, on the south by the sea, the west by the river Menik Ganga, and the north by a demareation line cleared through the jungle. In length about 16 miles by 10 miles wide the Sanctuary has an area of approxunately 170) square miles which is under the supervision of a Ranger, with twelve watchers under his control. The area is further protected on three sides by Reserved Forests patrolled by game watchers. Having been furnished with letters of introduction to the President and to the Honorary Secretary of the Ceylon Game and Fauna Protection Society, also to Mr A.C.Tutein-Nolthenius, F.Z.8., of the Executive Committee, by our late Honorary Secre- tary Sir Reginald Spence, it was under very favourable auspices that the visit was made. On the evening of the 9th February 1988 we all met together at the Tissamaharama Rest House, the party of five including Mr. A. R. Hughes, ornithologist and expert amateur photographer. The care with which all Rest Houses in Ceylon are provided with a mosquito-proof room and a full supply of mosquito curtains was much appreciated, for we all enjoyed a good night’s rest un- disturbed by the singing whine of the myriads of these pests for which Tissa is famed. On our way through the Palatupane Reserve on the following day the country was verdant from the recent unusually prolonged monsoon rains; many pretty wild flowers bordered the paths; and the sweet scent of flowering shrubs and creepers was in the air. A skylark enchanted us with his aérial song so reminiscent of the home land; in and around the open sheets of water were a num- ber of birds—redshanks, sandpipers, stints, godwits, golden- plover, cattle egrets, terns, painted storks, and many _ others. Green bee-eaters hawked the air ‘chasing the purple butterflies’, a pied crested cuckoo was seen Jumping after insects in the grass; while kites and hawks cireled in the clear blue sky. All nature seemed to smile in approval of our peaceful mission. 20 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVIII A few miles beyond the Palatupane Rest House we emerged into a large open space in the centre of which was a pool of water. The scene was reminiscent of an African game country. Buffalo and spotted deer lay peacefully about or grazed on the short her- bage; sambur rested or fed along the edge of the forest; sounders of wild pig rooted in the grass; and some jackals were observed returning from a drink at the pool. These jackals were fine dark-coloured animals, seemingly larger and more handsome than the Indian species. There are no wild dogs in Ceylon. Jackals have been seen hunting in packs to pull down the smaller deer, but now the animals took no notice of them. Other similar scenes were observed further on—good augury for what we would enjoy in the Sanctuary—and as the sun sank behind the sand-hills separating us from the sea, we arrived at the Yala Ranger's Bungalow on the bank of the Menik Ganga. Soon the full moon soared above the trees on the further side to flood our camp with its welcome light; a sambur hind voiced her alarm at the scent of a prowling leopard; the nasal croaking of the bar- bets was unceasing. _ We looked apprehensively upon the turbid flood of the river rolling toward the sea and wondered whether the carts could make the crossing in the morning. All of us, men and cattle alike, had earned a night’s rest after the long march of some twenty-six miles, and lulled by the ceaseless surge of the waves upon the shore were soon soundly sleeping. The camp was early astir as the crossing of the river might be a lengthy business, and there would be twelve miles of mostly sandy track before tents could be pitched. ~The ford is about half a mile up stream. One of the game watchers entered the water, found the end of the wire hawser broken by some tree trunk hurled down the river in a recent flood. Gaining the further bank he quickly procured a length of liana, strong as any hawser, to make the necessary connection to the other side. It was a relief to see that the depth would not prevent the passage of the carts. We all stripped and crossed to watch the baggage being carried over on the men’s heads. Then the empty carts were driven down the steep bank to be hauled through the strong stream by the diminutive bullocks sometimes swimming and sometimes wading and all the time encouraged by much noise as is the custom in the East. Safely across, the seven carts were soon again plodding along beneath the shade of the fringe of tall evergreen trees bordering the river banks to emerge under a hot sun into the more or less open country which was our first view of the Sanctuary, and through which the cart track leads to Pahala Potana. Roaming about in advance of the carts, I failed to get a snap- shot of a bull buffalo in a wallow; but by careful stalking managed to photograph a small herd feeding close to a reedy pool, obtaining a second ‘shot’ as they moved off. ..The open spaces were alive with parties of buffalo, while all along the fringe of. the jungle were groups of spotted deer. The A GAME SANCTUARY IN CEYLON L OF animals merely moved quietly away on the appearance of the long string of carts and men; but only with a telephoto lens would it have been possible to obtain effective pictures. We hoped that those taken by Hughes would prove successful. The heat was considerable, and as the day drew to a close these spaces would be covered with animals. Pig we saw, and signs of elephant; the sambur were all in the shade of the trees along the sand dunes, the area in the Sanctuary to which many of them are particularly partial. At the place where we stopped for lunch was the skull of a long-defunct elephant which afforded a seat, and by the side of the path were the leg bones which had been used as a fire- place. During the wanderings in these jungles the remains of four elephants were seen, but of buffalo and other animals no bones were found. It was when the shadows were fast lengthening that we neared the camping ground. Many herds of spotted deer scattered before the rumbling carts, and on emerging from the forest we gazed in astonishment at the scene before us. All about the plain, through the mile-long length of which meanders a running stream, were scattered herds of buffalo; along the further side were large herds and parties of spotted deer numbering perhaps seven hundred, while within the fringes of the forest were more animals. Probably there were a thousand deer, but the failing light prevented a more accur- ate computation. Sounders of pig wandered about, the tiny porkers scuttling to and fro, fencing with one another on their hind legs, and generally behaving like playful puppies; jackals roamed unconcernedly among the beasts whose bones they would some day pick when they fell victims to leopards or disease, for in Ceylon there are no vultures to dispute the feast. It was only the centre part of the long plain which was in view as the ends curled out of sight. It was realized that the stock of game is very abundant, and this was confirmed by similar sights observed by the Government Agent, and other members of the party, who went further east on the following day to Uda Gajabawa and other open spaces. Everywhere roamed herds of buffalo and deer. | ' The night passed quietly. There were no alarm calls of sambur or spotted deer, no trumpetings of elephant, yet leopard and elephant must have been in the vicinity. The hours of darkness seemed to brood and be expectant, for one peoples the night with one’s fancies. Lying awake I called to mind many forest vigils 'when the quiet of the jungle had sunk to night’s absolute stillness and the ear was cocked to hear the sound of heavy footsteps. I could picture the deer moving fearfully, peering, sniffing, treading delicately lest a twig should snap, a branch rustle, ears moving to catch every little sound. Later in the night there would be absolute stillness, but in the early hours there is always the noise of little things on the prowl; quick stealthy noises, little rustlings and patterings, little sudden pouncings. Ah! the delight of those forest vigils! And so came dreamless sleep. It was most interesting the next morning to see the cameras 22 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVIII set for flashlight pictures, and I learnt from Hughes much of this fascinating pursuit. On our way to find a suitable ‘run’ a fine leopard was seen lapping at a pool. Buffalo and deer stared, but little perturbed by the unwonted sight of human beings. Were the Sanctuary more accessible to visitors— as it will be some day when it is a National Park—the animals would be less timid, for with familiarity would come the confidence born of the knowledge that man is not an enemy. On our way back to camp a fine bull was spied in his. wallow in the open plain. Stooping low and stepping warily in light rubber shoes I got to within fifteen feet of the reeumbent form. He was not asleep, but did not hear the slight click of the shutter. The film wound off ready for another ‘shot’, a small piece of mud roused the old fellow from his siesta. Up he got with astounding agility for so bulky an animal and was twenty yards away in a second. Then he wheeled around to stare at the intruder and afforded a second ‘shot’. Now Hughes advanced on him to take his picture with the telephoto lens, but even then he only walked slowly off to stand disgruntled with the stolid bovine stare of his species. On return to camp one of the servants, hearing the story related, enquired, ‘Did he come to bite you?’ at which there was much amusement. In the open plain were two big bulls who appeared to have fixed a bend in the stream as the dividing line of each other’s territory. One of them had his left horn broken off about a foot from the tip, no doubt in one of the terrific battles they have from time to time. They appeared to be surly brutes, and the Ranger begged me not to try and take a close ‘shot’, so I left them alone. In the evening another camera was set for flashlight, and on return of the Government Agent at sunset we heard of all that had been observed towards the eastern boundary. Tutein-Nolthenius, keen naturalist and expert collector of the smaller mammals, re- lated much that was of interest concerning the fauna of Ceylon. Recently he had obtained most rare and interesting specimens of wild cats in the coastal area near Hambantota. As the shades of evening deepened animals began to come into the open, but not in such numbers as were seen on our arrival. No doubt the sight of the tents, the voices of the camp, and the light of the fires had scared the beasts accustomed to solitude. Watching with field-glasses, until the darkness descended and night stretched its smooth veil over the magic scene, it could be observed that more and more shadowy forms were advancing into the open. The buffaloes loomed as large as elephants. Tt was dark now and the sky unclouded, but soon the round disc of the moon appeared, the trees threw queer shadows, and the camp fires blazing up spouted arrows of gold and scarlet against the dark background of the forest. When living close to Nature one is early awake. The gentle wind that ushers in the dawn of day came scent-laden with the freshness of the blossoming forest trees and the camp was quickly astir. On this, the last day of our stay, three of us were to go to a small range of hills some five miles to the north, while Messrs. A GAME SANCTUARY IN CEYLON 23 Brown and Hughes stayed to attend to camera work and complete the list of birds observed in the Sanctuary, which is appended to this article. That expedition through the forest has unforgettable memories. Of all the party—which included the Ranger and four of his watchers—-none had been there, and it seems that no one has visited those hills for many years. About a mile from camp we came upon the Nabbadagas Wewa, a reed-bordered tank in which grow a number of thorn and other trees. Here was a colony of snowy white egrets, while in and around this jungle lake were many species of birds: a paradise this for the ornithologist and the wild life photographer for here we saw sambur and spotted deer, and all the animals of the Sanctuary visit the place. Proceeding on our way a herd of spotted deer afforded a photo- graph; then a fine bull buffalo, stalked to within fifteen feet, was alarmed by some movement of one of the party peering behind to see the fun and away in that unexpectedly rapid manner before his picture could be taken; for it is not easy to retain such quick- moving objects in the small view-finder. More buffalo were seen, also pig and deer, and a cow elephant moved quickly across an open space. I was just too late to ‘shoot’ her before she gained the shade of a tree, so we all sat down and watched, not twenty yards away, secure from detection as the steady wind was in our favour. A herd was somewhere about but time did not permit of delay so its picture is not with me. More animals we met, and a leopard was seen by one of the men. Then came the struggle up the steep hillside through the weeds and undergrowth and the finding of a game track to take us to the summit ” of Mandagala, as the hill is called. The highest point is 523 feet above sea level and on it is a cairn of stones erected by the Survey Department. Seated on the top of the hill we had a grand view of all the Sanctuary. The long plain of Pahala Potana, the line of the sea coast, the Little Basses light-house, a great passenger liner bound for Colombo, the trees marking the course of the Kumbukkan-oya to the east, the darker greenery marking the extensive but now empty bed of the Mandagal a tank just ‘below the hill, and the similar indication to the west of the Athurumithuru Wewa the drainage from which forms the streams which run to the Pahala Potana; all these we saw, and also a few small open spaces in which were buffalo in their wallows and sambur and deer in the shade of trees. One’s thought naturally turned to the needs of the Sanctuary. These will be ably set out in the Official Report of the Govern- ment Agent but can be confidently anticipated to include :—an improvement to the water supply of the area by repair of such tank embankments as can be carried out; the opening up of the coun- try by means of ‘rides’, after the manner of fire lines of Indian forests, to facilitate proper watching and inspection; the clearing of more open spaces to improve the grazing. 24 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVIII The thirty-six years of protection has evidently permitted the animals to greatly increase, and now they ask for more grazing and more water so that they can spread more widely through the forests. The photographs taken show how poor in condition are the buffalo in comparison to the wild animals of the Central Pro- vinces of India, and this at a season when they have had the fortune of a North-East Monsoon far in excess of the average and extended much beyond the usual date. In this, the dry zone, where the rainfall is but 20 to 50 inches, the animals must suffer much during the hot months from overcrowding at the water pools. Reluctantly we made our way down the hill to retrace our steps to camp. All the time we saw animals, and close to the egret pond there was a crocodile basking on the grass. He wasn’t as fast asleep as he seemed, for he made off just as he had been satis- factorily posed in the view-finder. The two surly buffaloes were still eyeing one another; a fine bull was making affectionate de- monstrations to a ponderous spouse at the lower end of the plain; a large snake swished away in the grass; and then, wading through the warm waters of the stream, we arrived at camp as the declin- ing sun turned the leaves of the trees into glowing copper. So ended a glorious day and we slept wrapped in the mystery of the tropic night. When leaving the camp next day on our return journey, a herd of some twenty elephants was close to the path. The cover was too thick to admit of an attempt at photography so two of our party crept quite close to see the shadowy forms of big mothers and small calves. Further on many deer were viewed, and an elephant hurried to cover on the approach of the carts to the lake and open space of Uda Potana. It was sad to know that all the water we were seeing would be soon dried up, and the herds: forced to congregate along the banks of the river the waters of which would have dwindled to scattered pools. The crossing of the Menik Ganga presented no difficulty. Then came lunch and a bathe and so to camp, where the buffalo grazed | unconcerned a couple of hundred yards away. The morning of the 15th February I set out in company with Mr. Brown to work through the jungle and see the Elephant Rock, that conspicuous landmark so well known to many Ceylon sportsmen, and with this further insight into the forests of Ceylon my most interesting visit came to an end. With all the memories of those five days, followed by three days at the Wirawila Bird Sanctuary in the charming company of Mr. Charles Northway, renowned elephant hunter and sportsman (since deceased and greatly regretted by all who knew him), and our xpert ornithologist Mr. Hughes who drove me the 167 miles to Colombo along the picturesque coast road, there is a deep debt of gratitude to all those who made the visit possible and so enjoyable im every way. IT have had the good fortune to see a number of game preserves and sanctuaries. The Pidoung Sanctuary in Upper Burma; the wonderful herds of swamp deer in the Kheri forests of Oudh; the Sanctuary in the Orrcha State where. you may almost: stroke the A GAME SANCTUARY IN CEYLON 25 noses of the sambur; that now unique herd of some 5,000 antelope in the Punjab; the hundreds of Urial in the preserve of a Punjab Landowner; the elephant and bison around the Peryar Lake in Travancore; but nowhere have I seen so much varied wild life in its natural state as in the Yala Sanctuary. IT shall live in hope of an opportunity to again see, not the Yala Sanctuary, but the YALA NATIONAL PARK renowned through the East for the wonders of the Wild Life it contains. Since the above was written some commencement has been made as to clearing inspection paths, but without an allotment of funds by the Ceylon Government the increased grazing and water which the herds require cannot be provided and the unfortunate animals must inevitably greatly suffer during those blazing months when the whole country is parched and dry. It is not difficult to picture to oneself the terrible sufferings of the thronging herds— insufficient water, no grazing; horrible. For thirty-six years the Yala Sanctuary animals have multi- plied in peaceful security and it is now the obvious duty of the Government to allot funds for the conservation of the poor beasts which, in the absence of speedy action, had better have been left to the more tender mercies of the meat poachers and the purveyors of hides! THE VERNAY SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF THE HASTERN GHATS. (ORNITHOLOGICAL SECTION), BY HucH WHISTLER, M.B.0.U., assisted by N. B. KInnEAR, M.B.0.U. PART (Continued from page 763 of volume xxxvii). Dichoceros bicornis (Linnzeus). _ Buceros bicornis Linn., Syst. Nat., ed. x, vol. i (1758), p. 104—China errore, Travancore. The Great Hornbill is not found on the eastern side of the Presidency. On the west it is well distributed. William Davison states that he found it not uncommon in the forests of the Wynaad, once seeing as many as 50 together in the cardamom forests of the Peria Ghat. On the slopes of the Nilgiris it is less common. Davison never saw it above Burhar; Jerdon says it occurs up to 5,000 ft. on the eastern slopes; and Mr. Betts tells me that the only one he saw was at 4,500 ft. in the Ochterlony Valley. Kinloch considered it very common in the Nelliampathies. Fairbank does not seem to have met it in the Palnis but Terry found one in the Pittur Valley. The Great Hornbill occurs, according to Bourdillon, throughout the whole range in Travancore, a pair or so being found in every glen or valley of any size, the bird being numerous nowhere except perhaps in some of the wilder jungles on the lower slopes of the hills. Here the breeding season is said (Stuart Baker, Nidification, iii, 4380) to be in February, March and April. According to Bourdillon (N. & E., ii, 70) the old birds pair in January and the young first show themselves in May, shortly before the rains of the S.-W. Monsoon commence. As no specimens of this and the next species were obtained by the Survey I have not attempted to check their systematic status or possible races. Hydrocissa coronata (DBoddaert). Buceros coronatus Boddaert, Tabl. Pl. Enlum. (1788), p. 53 based on PI. Enlum., pl. 873-—Phihppines errore—Malabar. The Malabar Pied Hornbill was not observed by the Survey and on the eastern side of the Presidency it is only recorded as occurring at Gumsoor in Ganjam (Jerdon, B. of I., i, 246) on the southern boundary of its range in the Chota Nagpur area. On the west it occurs, according to William Davison, in the evergreen forests of the Wynaad and on the lower slopes of the Nilgiris. Kinloch says that it is very common in the Nelhampathies. In Travancore, according to Ferguson, it is by no means common and is locally distributed in forest land about the foot of the hills. The breeding season in the Presidency is not recorded. Tockus birostris (Scopoli). Buceros birostris Scopoli, Del. Flor. et Faun. Insubr.,° vol. it-(1786), sp... 67 —Coromandel, THE VERNAY SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF THE EASTERN GHATS 27 Specimens collected:—252 ¢ 19-5-29 Shevaroy Hills 4,000 ft.; 289 9 29-5-29 Chitteri Range 2,000 ft.; 7382 ¢ imm. 22-8-29 Palkonda Hills 1,000 ft. Measurements :— Bill* Wing. Tail. Tarsus. 6 ad. 104 209 ~ Q54 42 mm. 3d mmm. 84 204 246 44 mm. Q oa 203 252 42.5 mm. The Common Grey Hornbill has not been recorded in the Presidency north of the Palkonda Hills where the above specimen was obtained by the Survey. Captain Bates informs me that, though he has never seen it in the vicinity of Madras in spite of the well- wooded character of the country, it occurs com- monly in the hilly country between Ranipet and Chittoor. There is a speci- men from Udayagiri in the Madras Museum. In Salem District, LaPersonne reports that it was not common in the Shevaroys at 4,000 ft. and that isolated pairs were met in the forest tracts of the Chitteri range. At Kurumbapatti it was fairly common. On the western side there are only two records. A male, now in the British Museum, was obtained on the Coonoor Ghat by Wardlaw Ramsay on 12 September 1876 and Fairbank obtained a specimen in the avenues of the town of Palni in October 1876, This species has no races. Tockus griseus (Latham). Buceros griseus Latham, Index Orn., vol. i (1790), p. 147—New Holland errore—Malabar. In the Presidency, the Malabar Grey Hornbill is confined to the western side. There, according to William Davison, it occurs throughout the Wynaad and all about the base of the hills though it does not ascend their slopes. In the Nelliampathies it is very common (Kinloch). Fairbank records (S.F., v, 395) that he obtained a specimen from a flock at the eastern base of the Palnis in 1867 though he seemed afterwards to have some doubt about the correctness of his identification. In Travancore, Bourdillon says (S.F., iv, 887) that it is common in heavy jungle from 1,000 ft. to 8,000 ft., but Ferguson says that it is commonest at about 3,000 ft. especially on the Cardamom Hills. The latter shot it as high as 5,000 ft. on the High Range and at 4,000 ft. on Chimunji. In Nidtfication, ui, p. 441, however, Bonrdillon is quoted as saying that it is more common below than above 2,000 ft. and actually sometimes occurs and breeds in the plains. The breeding season is said (loc. cit.) to be from January to early April, most eggs being laid in February. Tockus gingalensis Shaw of “Ceylon is very close to the Malabar Grey Horn- bill, but may perhaps be considered to have attained the rank of a full species. Upupa epops ceylonensis Reichenbach. Upupa ceylonensts Reichenbach, Handb. Spec. Orn., Scans. (1851), p. 320— Ceylon. Specimens collected :—533 ¢ 8-7-29 Vyampatti, Trichinopoly; 573 Q 21-7-29 Gingee; 1018 ¢ 19-11-29 Nallamalai Range 2,500 ft. Measurements :— Bill. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. 2d 58.5-60.5 132-132.5 92.5-95 21-21.5 mm. i. © 46 126 87 18.5 mm. There is little on record about the status of the Hoopoe on the eastern side of the Presidency. With the exception of the above specimens and Mr. LaPersonne’s note that in Salem District it ascends the hills to 4,000 ft. and ig common on the Chitteri Plateau as well as in the open forests round Tirtha- malai, we only know that it is common round Madras (Dewar). * From base of casque to tip of bill in a straight line. 28. JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVIII In Coorg, Mr. Betts considers it uncommon, to be seen occasionally in the cold weather on dry open maidans. William Davison says that it is a not uncommon resident in the Wynaad and on the Nilgiris and their slopes. Kinloch says that it is uncommon on the Nelliampathies, but may be found in pairs in certain favoured localities. In the Palnis it is generally distributed. In Travancore, according to Ferguson, it is most common in the drier regions of the south in the low country. He adds that during the hot weather about March it may be found in the hills, even ascending the High Range. The breeding season in the Nilgiris is said to be in April and May (Cock- burn and Davison, N. & E., ii, 3384), but Major Phythian-Adams considers that it nests chiefly in February (Birds of S. India, p. 188). All the Hoopoes that I have examined from the Presidency undoubtedly belong to the richly coloured form which is found in Ceylon. This is a small bird. Six specimens from Ceylon (¢¢) have wings measuring 120,.5-134 mm., and Presidency specimens measure:—-ll ¢ wings 131.5-138.5 mm., 5 Q wings 128-1830 mm. This race Mr. Stuart Baker (New Fauna, iv, 312) considers to extend up to about the Deccan and the Bombay Presidency, intergrading on a line roughly about the latitude of Khandesh with a paler and larger race E. e. orientalis. This however does not agree with the results of my examina- tion of the group. I can see no constant difference in colour in the resident Hoopoes anywhere from Cape Comorin up to Futtehgarh and Ktawah in the Western United Provinces and two birds labelled Naini Tal (but perhaps from the terai below) in the Hume Collection also agree with them. As to size sixteen specimens from Futtehgarh and Etawah in the British Museum measure 119-140 mm., the sexed birds being as follows :— 6 $ wings 181-140 mm., 5 Q wings 119-132 mm. In the Punjab grading into the typical race begins. Punjab breeding birds are pale in colour, approaching the typical race, and in size they are small approaching ceylonensis. The wings of 5 males in my _ collection measure 133-148.5 mm., of 3 females 128-130 mm. For this intermediate race—if it is worth recognition—we may use Stuart Baker’s name Upupa epops orien- talis | Bull., B.O.C., xli (29 November 1921), p. 29] which is merely a new name without description for Upupa indica Reichenbach (Handb. Spec. Orn., Scans. (1853), p. 320—India). This name I now restrict to Ambala, as Stuart Baker evidently had in mind (New Fauna, vol. iv, p. 811). His measurements (wing 128-160 mm., average 1385 mm., practically all sexed males have a wing of over 150 mm.) are far too large whether for his or my use of the name and must be due to confusion with immigrants of the typical race. I accept Madame Koslov's view (Ibis 1932, p. 589) that Upupa epops saturata is not a good race. [Upupa epops epops Linnzus. Upupa epops Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. x, vol. i (1758), p. -117—Europe, restricted to Sweden. Although I have examined no Hoopoe from the Presidency which can be attributed to the typical race there can be little doubt that it occurs as a winter visitor. Ball records it from Jeypore (S.F., vii, 209) and Fairbank definitely states (S.F., v, 399) that he shot a specimen in the Palnis. It has in any case been obtained just on our borders for two specimens were collected by Mr. Salim Ali during the Hyderabad Survey at Paloncha 300 ft. on 21 Nov- ember 1931. ] Harpactes fasciatus malabaricus (Gould). Trogon malabaricus Gould, P.Z.8., 1834 (June 9), p. 26—Malabar Coast. No specimens of the Malabar Trogon were procured by the Survey though Mr. LaPersonne reports that a pair were seen at Sankrametta at 4,000 ft. It had already been reported in this area by Ball who states that he met it on two occasions at Jeypore (S.F'., v, 413). Blanford obtained a male. north of Ellore on 7 April 1871 and this specimen is in the British Museum. In the west of the Presidency it is much better known. A pair from Calicut are in the Hume Collection. William Davison says that this Trogon, though nowhere abundant, occurs all through the Wynaad and up the slopes of the Nilgiris to at least 6,500 ft. He observed it in the forests of the Droog, at Coonoor, at Pykarra and Neddivattum. Phythian-Adams (Birds of S. India, THE VERNAY SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF THE EASTERN GHATS 29 p. 190) considers it distinctly uncommon in the Nilgiris, remarking that in the past three years he had only seen one, at Madumalai at 3,000 ft. Kinloch considered it common in the Nelliampathies. Fairbank met with three in his visit to the Palnis and secured a female at Vengayam (east base) on 28th May and a male at Shemiganur 5,000 ft. in June (S.F., v, 398). The latter is in the British Museum. ; In Travancore the Trogon is said to be not uncommon at heights above 1,000 ft. in heavy jungle. A nest with two slightly imcubated eggs was obtained by Bourdillon on 22 March 1878 and is described in S.F., vu, p. 172. The breeding season in Travancore is said to extend from February to May (Stuart Baker, Nidification, i, p. 448) I have not been able to examine any specimens of this Trogon from the Chota Nagpur-Vizagapatam area to verify this subspecific agreement with birds from the Malabar Coast. The typical race from Ceylon is distinctly smaller though the difference in colour is not very marked except in the female. The New Fauna does not make it quite clear how far north the Malabar race extends. Although James Davidson does not include it in his list of species from Western Khandesh (S.F'., x) there are specimens from Ihandesh in both the T'weeddale and Hume Collections and after the date of his list Davidson himself procured a male (now in the British Museum) on 25 April 1886 in the Dangs, Khandesh. Three of these Khandesh specimens are markedly paler than Malabar birds but I am not yet satisfied that the difference is subspecific. Micropus melba bakeri (Hartert). Apus melba bakert Hartert, Nov. Zool., vol. xxxiv (1928), p. 368—Catton Estate, Ceylon. No specimen of the Alpine Swift was procured or reported by the Survey. It is very difficult to unravel the meaning of the movements of this Swift as we have no accurate conception of the distances it may fly during the day from its roosting places. ‘These may well be very great. There is a well known roosting place—and probably also breeding place—in the cliffs of the great hie Galen Gairsoppa in North Kanara, described by Jerdon (B. of I., i, 176) and by James Davidson (J.B.N.H.S., xii, 47). Here vast numbers arrive nightly and Vidal (S.F., ix, p. 48) suggests, with the greatest probability in my opinion. that this is the roosting place to which the numbers he saw flying southwards every evening in the South Konkan were bound, to which stream are also probably added the birds that pass over Belgaum (Butler, S.F., ix, 879). This roost doubtless draws the birds also from the south as Jerdon remarks that at Tellicherry he frequently saw the birds flying southwards early in the mornings. All the Presidency birds do not however come from Gairsoppa. H. R. P. Carter saw parties flying from 8.-E. to N.-W. near Coimbatore in the early morning of 5 October (S.F., i, 474). William Davison (S.F., x, 347) says that there is apparently a permanent colony at St. Catherine’s Falls at Kotagherry' and a few are generally to be seen at the falls at Kartary (Karteri) and Pykarra. Terry also suggests that there is a roosting or breeding place on one of the cliffs near Pittur in the Palnis (S.F., x, 469). It is not clear why Kinloch suggests that it is only common during the cold weather on the Nelliampathies, and Ferguson’s statement that Alpine Swifts are to be seen in numbers at grass fires on the High Range of Travancore is very inadequate. Jerdon says that occurring all along the line of the Western Ghats down to Cape Comorin, being at times very abundant on the Nilgiris, this Swift extends its daily flights often to the western seacoast and occasionally eastwards to Salem, Madura and even Madras. He adds that on several occasions he saw large flocks flying eastwards towards the sea from the rocky hills near Madura about sunset. On another occasion he saw an enormous flock flying eastwards from the same range a little south of Madura. The eastward move- ment at sunset suggests that the big colonies in Ceylon mentioned by Legge and more recently by WwW. W. A. Phillips (Ceylon Jour. Science, Section B, vol. xviii, p. 252) supply their quota of daily visitors to the Presidency. The small number of Presidency specimens available for examination all belong to the small form poparaice by Hartert. Eleven eens from the * According to ME Salim Ali ioe investigated fle Genesntoed in 1932. this colony has now disappeared—EDs. 30. JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVUI Presidency aud Ceylon measure: bill 16-17.5 mim., wing 198-213 mm., tail 70-78.5 mm. as compared with a series from Europe and Upper India wing 206-224.5 mm., tail 68-87 mm. In colour they tend to be darker. The two specimens from Ceylon in the British Museum are very dark indeed, being very close in colour to M. a. africana, though this latter usually has the white parts black shafted. The Presidency birds vary in colour and some are no darker than birds from Northern India, but no doubt sun and air pressure bleach the plumage very rapidly. I have at any rate seen no specimens that I could unhesitatingly refer to the typical form south of Belgaum and Raipur. In Nidification, ii, 452 My. Stuart Baker can only record reputed breeding places of the Alpine Swift in India. It is well to emphasise therefore that James Davidson took a half-feathered chick, now in the British Museum, at Saptashring, Nassik, on 11 April 1887, while Rattray caught a young bird at a nest near Dunga Gali (J.B.N.H.S., xvi, p. 660). [Micropus pacificus leuconyx (Blyth). | Cypselus leuconyx Blyth, J.A.8.B., vol. xiv (after July), 1845, p. 212— Deccan. Jerdon states that he obtained a specimen of the White-rumped Swift in the western part of the Deccan and several in Malabar (B. of I., vol. i, p. 180). This record was viewed with some suspicion in both the Old and New Faunas, but there seems no reason to discredit it in view of John David- son’s experience of its abundance along the coast in North Kanara (J.B.N.H.S,, xii, p. 47). It is therefore not unlikely to visit the Presidency and Baker and Inghs (Birds of S. India, p. 192), indeed, state that it occurs in the Nilgiris where it may sometimes ba seen in compainy with M. affins and M. melba. It should not however be definitely admitted to the Presidency list until specimens have been procured for proper identification. | Micropus affinis affinis (Gray). Cypselus affinis Gray, Illustr. Ind. Zool., vol. i (March 1830), pl. 35, fig. 2 —Ganges. Specimens collected :-—589 ¢ 28-7-29 Gingéee; 811 ¢ 12-9-29, 819 Q 27-9-29 Kodur; 872 ¢ 3-10-29 Seschachalam Hills 2,000 ft. Measurements : — Bill. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. 3d 8-10 122-125.5 39-40.5 9 mm. An C 8.5 123 37.5 = mame The Common Indian Swift has not been recorded in the Presidency from anywhere north of the Krishna River. South of that it occurs at Bellary where Captain Horace Terry wrote about a possible connection between its breeding habits and the rains in June and later (N. & EH., i, 238). The above Survey specimens and Dewar’s remark that it is not very frequently seen at Madras complete the records for the eastern side. ee In Coorg, according to Betts, it is fairly common but its numbers vary greatly. One day it may be seen in large flocks and then it disappears for several weeks. It apparently does mot breed in Coorg. William Davison records (8.F., x, 347) that he saw it at Ootacamund on several occasions in January as also Baker (Birds of 8. India, p. 192). Betts informs me that in his experience it is not common in the Nilgiris though flocks may be seen occasionally along the edge of the Ghat, especially in the evening. In the Nelhampathies Kinloch only found it on the Lily downs where it was fairly common (J.B.N.H.S., xxix, 565). As regards the Palnis, Fairbank tells us that he saw a dozen hawking at 3,000 ft. Terry, however, found it not uncommon at Pittur and Kukal. In Travancore Ferguson says that he did not meet it himself though his collectors found a colony breeding in January 1903 in the Registrar’s office in N. Parur. The only breeding records for the Presidency are mentioned above and here, as in many other parts of India, there is considerable difficulty in under- standing the status of this Swift. THE VERNAY SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF THE EASTERN GHATS 81 There are few birds which have given more trouble to the taxonomist than this Swift. The questions of the. identity of Indian and African birds and of the division of Indian birds into races have been discussed on many occasions. Unfortunately the Survey did not profit by the chance of obtaining a good series in the south from whence birds are most needed. In the New Fauna (vol. iv, pp. 832-335) Stuart Baker divides Indian birds as follows (the wording of the distributions is his) :— Micropus affinis galilejensis—Sind and portions of North-West Provinces. M. a. affinis—North-West Provinces except along the Afghan and Balu- chistan boundaries: Punjab, United Provinces, Bihar, extreme Western Bengal, south to Belgaum, Rajputana, Deccan and Central Provinces. . M. a. nipalensis—Nepal, east to Kamrup in Assam and Bhutan; Bengal, Duars, Orissa to Madras; South Deccan, Southern Bombay Presidency from a little south of Belgaum, Mysore and ‘Travancore. M. a. subfurcatus—Assam; Chittagong and Comilla in Eastern Bengal, Manipur. This division is certainly not satisfactory as a whole. M. a. affinis and M. a. subfurcatus are of course two perfectly coe and recognisable races and they were in fact regarded as two species in the Old Fauna (vol. 1, pp. 168-170). M. a. subfurcatus differs from the typical race in having the head, nape, wings and tail and the tail-coverts blacker so that there is less contrast between them and the mantle and back. The tail is longer and distinctly subfurcate. M. a. -galilejensis (type-locality Galilee, Palestine) 1s very similar to M. a. affinis in that the tail is short and there is a distinct contrast between the head and nape and the mantle. It is merely a paler and larger form of it. The palest parts of the head, namely the forehead and a short connected superciliary streak, may become almost white. Wing 182-137.5 mm., tail 40- 45.5 mim. This form is however only recognisable if a series of Palestine birds is compared with a series of South or Central Indian birds. Individual specimens cannot always be recognised and I certainly cannot find any value in attempt- ing to maintain a distinguishable distribution of M. a. galilejensis in N.-W. India. A series from the Punjab in Mr. Waite’s and my own collections measures : — Wing. Tail. 9 5 125-133.5 39-44 13 9 127.5-182.5 38-43 This series is quite indistinguishable in colour from the Survey series and other birds from Central and Southern India. It is however slightly larger. Mr. Bannerman (/bis 1932, p. 687) measures 22 examples of affinis as having wings 112-134 mm., seldom over 180 mm. In 11 examples of affinis measured from Bombay Survey series—I find a variation of wing 124-130.5 mm., tail 38-41.5 mm. except for one bird with a wing of 116 mm. We may accept the fact that a shght grading in size from north -to south exists but it is not marked enough for racial recognition. Southern Indian birds are as much smaller than Northern Indian birds, as these latter are than true galilejensis from Palestine. They are as close in colour to ‘North Indian birds as these latter are to true galilejensis. The intergradation between the three areas is complete and it is therefore as illogical in theory as it is in practice valueless to place the division between the two forms somewhere in N.-W. India instead of between Palestine and India. In my opinion galilejensis may be removed from the Indian list. There remains the question of M. ua. nipalensis. This form is the inter- mediate between M. a. affinis and M. a. subfurcatus both in colour and size (Nepal wing 127.5-133 mm., tail 44-48 mm.). It may be recognised if desired in this sense but I find no evidence whatever for including with it birds from Orissa, Deccan and the Madras a Bombay Presidencies, which in my opinion are quite indistinguishable from M. a. affinis. Stuart Baker has however Sianentea on the fact that birds from Ceylon are dark. This is correct. The three specimens in the British Museum are alike in having the head, tail and upper tail-coverts all practically black, almost the same colour as the mantle. In other words they agree in colour 82. JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVIII with subfurcatus rather than affinis, though they differ from the former in their smaller size (wing 128-132.5 mm., tail 42-43.5 mm.). They certainly can- not be included with M. a. affinis. It would be dogmatic to pronounce on their identity until a better series is available but the probability is that they are identical with the African M. a. abessynicus. The only two speci- mens which I have examined from ‘Travancore agree with Ceylon birds rather than true affinis. Cypsiurus parvus batassiensis (Griffith). Cypselus balassiensis (error for batassiensis) Griffith in Cuvier’s Animal Kingdom, vol. vii (Aves, vol. ii), 1829, p. 60—India, restricted to Calcutta.’ Specimens collected: —5-6 ¢ 92 9-4-29 Kurumbapatti; 1722 ¢ 23-4-30 Jeypore Agency 2,000 ft. Measurements : — Bill. Wing. Central tail. Outer tail. ‘Tarsus. 2d 7.5-8.5 115-120 30.5-32 60-61 28-30.5 mm. 1@Q 8 BEL 25) 31 61 28 mm. The Palm-Swift is doubtless generally distributed throughout the Presidency wherever the Tad Palm (Borassus flabellifer) is found. Where that may be I find but few details. Jerdon’s statement that the Swift is common in the Northern Circars and Carnatic and Dewar’s statement that it is very common at Madras furnish the only records for the eastern side in addition to the three Survey specimens. On the west, Hume stated that he had received a specimen from Sultan’s Battery, Wynaad (S.F., x, 348). Fairbank observed it about Tad Palms in Periakulam near the eastern base of the Palnis. It is very abundant in South Travancore where its host palm takes the place of the cocoanut in the low country about Cape Comorin, extending in smaller numbers as far north as Trivandrum and Quilon. In this last area it is said to breed from February to June. It is evidently a strictly resident species. Stuart Baker has divided the Palm-Swift into two Indian races, the typical race in his opinion occurring from Bengal and Upper Assam, through Orissa and. Madras to Ceylon, whilst the rest of the Indian range (which as Tice- hurst has pointed out, J.B.N.H.S., xxxiv, 473, is more restricted than Stuart Baker realises) 1s given to a paler race palmarum. Specimens of this Swift are not numerous in collections and a large proportion are poor and greasy so that I have had great difficulty in assuring myself that this division is correct. One would hardly expect it. In the first place this Swift is so defin- itely a parasite’ on the Borassus palm that its limited habitat and _ the restricted range of the palm in India, which is no doubt based on uniform- ity of certain ecological conditions, would hardly be expected to allow the formation of races. While, secondly, birds which have a very wide range outside India do not as a rule tend to break up into races in India. In my opinion we can only consider batassiensis and infumatus as races of the widely spread African Palm-Swift Cypsiurus parvus, which is also a parasite on certain palms and particularly on Borassus flabellifer. Chaetura giganteus indicus Hume. Chaetura indica Hume, Stray Feathers, vol. 1 (1873), p. 471—Andamans.° The Brown-throated Spine-tail was not reported by the Survey. It is however very numerous in parts of the Presidency, though its movements are not easy to understand. * Stuart Baker, New Fauna, iv, 386.. ° A slight misuse of this term may perhaps be forgiven. The Swift does not of course feed on the palm. > For the use of the generic name Chaetura and not Hirundapus see Stein- bacher Die Végel der paldark. Fauna, Erganzungsband Heft. iv, p. 356. The type-locality for indica was restricted to Aneichardi, Travancore by Stuart Baker (J.B.N.H.S., xxviii, p. 822) but unnecessarily as Hume (loc. cit) clearly men- tions the Andamans as his first locality. ; THE VERNAY SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF THE EASTERN GHATS 38 In Coorg it is not very common, according to Betts, being found in small parties. Jerdon says that he met with it very frequently in the Wynaad and at times on the seacoast of Malabar. Once, sometime after sunset he saw an enormous flock pass over the bungalow at Canote, about 14 miles from the coast at Tellicherry. They were flying nearly. due west towards the sea (B. of I., i, 172). He first met with it at the foot of the Nilgiris near Meta- polliam and again at Goodalore on the western side of the hills. Vipan (S.F., i, 496) reports that he shot it on the Coonoor Ghat. William Davison (S.F., x, 347) is more detailed. On the Nilgiris and their slopes, according to him, this Spine-tail occurs at odd intervals, in parties of 12 to 50 individuals. They generally arrive from the east and disappear westwards. This statement agrees with the experience of Mr. H. R. T. Carter at Coimbatore (8.F., i, 474), who found that the Spine-tails were accustomed to pass over in a line from the Anamallais over the Palghat gap to the Nilgiris, travelling very fast. His account is too long to be quoted here and it is not altogether clear but he evidently considered that the passage was seasonal and apparently dependent on the 8.-W. Monsoon. June, July and October are mentioned and birds col- lected in those months are in the British Museum. In the Nelliampathies Kinloch says that this species is common in the cold weather. In spite of this statement and Mr. Carter’s experiences I do not think that the bird is a migrant in the true sense and its spectacular movements are probably dependent on meteorological conditions. North Kanara is the northern limit of its recorded distribution in Southern India (J.B.N.H.S., xii, 48), James Davidson considered it a resident and in Travancore, Bourdillon (S.F., vil, p. 34) clearly says that it is abundant at all times of the year when the weather is fine and clear though during the early showers of April a flight. of Swifts is a pretty sure indication of the approach of a storm. The breeding season in ‘Travancore is almost confined to March and April (see Stewart, J.B.N.H.S., xxii, p. 393 and apud Stuart Baker, Nidification, iii, pp. 465-467) and most nests are to be found at elevations between 1,000- 2,000 ft. in thick forest. These Swifts roost in colonies in trees but the circumstances of their breeding in the base of hollow trees separates the pairs at that period. Although largely confined to the rain forests of the western hills it is not surprising that this Swift travels to the east of the Presidency on occasion, as Carter mentions (loc. cit.) that he had seen it at Salem and further north Hume mentions specimens from Bangalore (S.f., x, 347). The statement in the New Fauna (iv, 8438) and Nidification (iii, 465) that the northern limit of this Swift in Southern India is latitude 12° is of course a slip. It is common in North Kanara. Indicapus sylvaticus (Blyth) Acanthylis sylvatica Tickell, J.A.S.B., vol. xv (1846), p. 284—Central India —restricted to Maunbhum. Not obtained by the Survey. Very little is known about the White-rumped Spine-tail in our area. William Davison met a party hawking about over a stream on Ist May in the Peria forests of the Wynaad and a specimen that he obtained on that occasion is in the British Museum. It has been recorded from Coonoor (Old Fauna, 11, 175) but it must have been only a straggler there as no one appears to have met it again in the Nilgiris. I cannot trace the authority for the statement in the New Fauna (iv, 345) that it occurs in the Palnis. In Travancore this Spine-tail was apparently overlooked by the Bourdillons and Ferguson and it was first recorded by Mr. J. Stewart (J.B.N.H.S., XG, 394) who says ‘breeds on the Travancore Hills in open forest at elevations of about 2,000 ft. It hawks about during the day in parties of about a dozen birds, but does not breed in colonies’. Mr. Stewart was also successful in obtaining nests and accounts of the breeding habits in Travancore will be found in the New Fauna, iv, 146 and WNidification, in, 345. The breeding season is in March and April and Stewart obtained a few eggs in the first half of May. There are no races of this bird in India and the very similar Rhaphidura leucopygialis (Blyth) can hardly be considered a race of it owing to the 3 84. JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVIILI elongated upper tail-coverts, which are paralleled by Chaetura sabini of West Africa. Mention should however be made of the fact that Chaetura thomensis Hartert, restricted to the island of Sao Thomé in the Gulf of Guinea, would certainly pass on its characteristics as a race of our Indian bird. The genera of these Swifts are evidently in need of revision. Collocalia fuciphaga unicolor (Jerdon). Hirundo unicolor Jerdon, Madras Jour. Lit. Sei., vol. xi (1840), p. 288— Coonoor Pass. Not procured by the Survey as in the Presidency it is confined to the western side. The Indian Edible Nest Swift is the commonest Swift on the western hills where it is evidently a resident. In Coorg according to Betts it is always present in large numbers. William Davison mentions it as very abundant in the Brahmagherries while Jerdon includes the Wynaad in its range. In the Nilgiris it is of course very well known, especially about Ootacamund. It must occur between all these hills and the coast as Jerdon has left an account of the breeding colony on Sacrifice Rock, 20 miles south of Tellicherry, which he visited in March 1849 (N. & E., iu, 29). It is found in large numbers in the Palnis, especially about the lake at Kodaikanal and Foulkes (J.B.N.H.S., xv, 727) gives an interesting account of how these Swifts dip into the water as they fly, occasionally with sufficient violence to be upset and drowned. It is similarly abundant on the hills of Travancore. The breeding season is somewhat extended from March to June and we have more detailed accounts of the breeding of this Swift than of almost any bird in the Presidency. The chief references for it are Stray Feathers, iv, 3874 (Bourdillon), Nests and Eggs, ii, 28-33 and Nidification, iu, 468. Dr. Stresemann has devoted special attention to the difficult group of these Swiftlets and his latest conclusions will be found in Bull. Raffles Museum, No. 6, December 1981. I do not therefore propose to go into the affinities of this species in any detail. I should however like to remark that in my Opinion it is quite incorrect to attribute the Himalayan and the South Indian forms to two different species. They are evidently two races of one species. In colour they are identical except that the Himalayan bird C. f. brevirostris (McClell.) is a shade darker and more glossy on the upper plumage and it is also slightly larger :— Wing. Tail. C. f. brevirostris (haves 121-131.5 51.5-58 mun. C. 7. unicolor 6 113-117 47.5-54.5 mm. It is commonly stated that wnicolor has the tarsus naked and_ brevirostris feathered. If this is correct—and I am aware that Hume believed in it (S.F., 1x, 289 and xi, 33)—the difference is certainly not appreciable in skins and at best is so slight that no great importance need be attached to it. It is valueless for a key. The reason for keeping unicolor as a separate species to brevirostris has no doubt been the belief that both forms occur in the Western Himalayas. This is based solely on a small series of unicolor in the British Museum, labelled Koteghar 1868. These skins are not very satisfactorily labelled and one of them has had Koteghar substituted for Etawah. It may be that Koteghar has some- how been confused with Kotagiri or the skins have been wrongly labelled for some other reason. At any rate I am personally quite satisfied that only one form of Swiftlet occurs in the Western Himalayas and it is undoubtedly brevirostris. 'This point should materially assist Dr. Stresemann’s further studies of the group. Attention may be directed to the remarkable development of the salivary glands in the breeding season, connected with the curious nesting habits. Hemiprocne coronata (Tickell). Hirundo coronata Tickell, J.A.S.B., vol. ii (November 1833), p. 580—Bora- bhum. Specimens collected :—269 J 28-5-29, 279 Q juv. 24-5-29 Shevaroy Hills; THE VERNAY SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF THE EASTERN GHATS 35 735 Q 28-8-29, 744 Q 24-8-29 Palkonda Hills 1,000 ft.; 1667-8 ¢@ 6-4-30 Sankrametta 38,500 ft.; 1691 J 17-4-30 Jeypore Agency 3,000 ft. Measurements :— Bill. Wing. Central tail. Outer tail. ‘Tarsus. mae I VASIIB 141-156 41-45.5 no Eakis tyes, 7-8.5 mm. 3° aol 150.5-159.5 40.5-45 126.5 7-8 mm. The Indian Crested Swift has not been recorded from the eastern side of the Presidency except for the above Survey specimens and Jerdon’s remark that he had got it from the Nellore Ghats. It is not very common on_ the west either. Mr. Betts did not include it in his Coorg list, though he later informed me that a pair had been seen about some paddy fields on several cecasions until the monsoon apparently drove them away. William Davison met them occasionally in the Wynaad but not in the Nilgiris. They occur there however as Jerdon says that they extend up to 4,000 ft. and Hume (N. & H., iii, 36) mentions that he received eggs from the Nilgiris. Kinloch found the Crested Swift in the Nelliampathies in the cold weather. In the Palnis Fairbank says he only met with a single immature specimen at the eastern base and this specimen (S$ juv. 25-6-1877) is now in the British Museum. Terry, however, considered it pretty common on the slopes of the Palnis and at Pulungi, and he obtained a single much in- cubated egg in the Pittur Valley on 7 April. The taking of this nest is de- scribed at length in N. & H., iu, p. 37. In Travancore Ferguson considered it by no means common, remarking merely that the museum contained a few specimens without locality and thai he had only had one brought in by his collector. Terry’s nest furnishes the only breeding record for the Presidency and the bird’s status does not appear very clear. The Crested Swift has no races in India. Nothing is known about the meaning of the patch of silky downy feathers on the flank or of the curious decomposed edges to the tertiaries which in some specimens make a conspicuous patch. Caprimulgus macrourus atripennis Jerdon. Caprimulgus atripennis Jerdon, Illus. Ind. Orn. (March 1845), letter press, pl. 24—Eastern Ghats to west of Nellore. Specimens collected : —335 Q 5-6-29, 489 9 18-6-29 Chitteri1 Range 2,000 ft. Measurements : — Bill. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. 209 90-21.5 174.5-179 193.0-127 16-18.5 imm: Very little is accurately known about this race of Horsfield’s Nightjar in the Presidency. Jerdon obtained his type, which is still in the British Museum, from the Eastern Ghats, west of Nellore, and Roscoe Allen met with the species at Horsleykonda in April (J.B.N.H.S., xviii, 905). LaPersonne reported some species of Nightjar to be very common throughout the district of Salem and the two specimens procured, one of which was killed from a nest with one egg, both belonged to this species. Jn Travancore Ierguson only procured two specimens, both of which were shot on the High Range. Kinloch took a clutch of eggs in the Nelliampathies in February, according to Stuart Baker (Nidification, ui, 479), but the species is not included in Kinloch’s published list of the birds of those hills and as on p. 482 Kinloch is also credited with having obtained the eggs of the large Northern race C. m. albonotatus in the same hills it is evident that these records require some confirmation. Further north William Davison says that he only met with it at Manan- toddy, Wynaad, and in that immediate neighbourhood and this record is verified by two skins in the British Museum. He adds that it does not seem to occur on the Coonoor, Neduvattum or Seegore side of the Nilgiris, but that it occurs below Kotaghery. A female obtained in the last locality by Miss Cockburn on 15 April 1871 is in the British Museum. Nothing appears to be known accurately about the breeding season in the Presidency. 386 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVIII Further northwards this race may be accepted as reaching to N. Kanara and the Godavery Valley. On the eastern side it gradually grades into the larger albonotatus. In the New Fauna Mr. Stuart Baker accepts Ceylon birds as belonging to C. m. atripennis. This, however, does not appear to be correct. There is a good series of specimens from Ceylon in the British Museum and they are definitely darker in tone throughout the whole upper surface, this being parti- cularly marked on the collar, which is chocolate as opposed to rufous brown, and on the tails. The series from Java in the British Museum is very poor but so far as it goes I am unable to see any difference between Ceylonese and Javan birds and, therefore, attribute the former to the typical form, thus providing another example of the close connection between the Cinghalese and Malaysian faunas. The only description’ which I can find of the call of this race is by James Davidson (J.B.N.H.8., xii, 50) who says it is an almost metallic cry of four notes. This would seem to be confirmed by Butler’s remark (J.B.N.H.S., xu, 423) that the Ceylon form has also a call which is ‘invariably a low liquid chuckle of three or four notes’. But there may be some mistake as Legge says that the call of the Ceylon bird resembles the sound of striking an axe on a thin plank, a call which is very definitely known to belong to other races of this species. It should be remarked that an important difference between birds from Northern India (albonotatus) and birds from Southern India (atripennis) and Ceylon (macrourus) appears to have been overlooked. In the first named the females have the tips of the outer tail feathers pale yellowish buff, so that they are easily distinguished from the male. In the other two races the tips are normally white as in the males. Caprimulgus macrourus albonotatus Tickell. Caprimulgus albonotatus Tickell, J.A.S.B., vol. ii (after December 1883), p. 580—Borabhum. Specimen collected: —1771 ¢ 5-5-1980 Anantagini 3,000 ft. Measurements : — Bill. — Wing. Tail. Tarsus. 22.5 210 169 20.5 mm. This specimen provides the first record of this race of Horsfield’s Nightjar in the Presidency and, according to LaPersonne, it was common throughout the hills of the Vizagapatam district. The testes were very greatly enlarged, s0 it is evident that the breeding season here includes May. T am not able to follow Stuart Baker (New Fauna, iv, 364-3865) in his division of this Nightjar in Northern India into two forms. Birds from the Hastern and Western Himalayas appear to me to be identical in colour and size and with them must be grouped the winter series from the United Pro- vinces. They run only slightly larger than the small series of birds available from the Chota Nagpur area. These topotypical birds are in truth intermediates between the large pale birds of Northern India and the small dark atripennis of the south, but as they are far closer in size to and agree in colour with the northern birds they may well give their name to the whole area. I have seen no evidence for the extension of the range of this race, or indeed any race, to the Northern Bombay Presidency. The note of MHorsfield’s Nightjar is well established. Long ago I wrote (Ibis 1926, 747) ‘the call of this bird is a very loud resonant chaunk freely repeated, like the blows of an adze on a plank, or even the sound of felling a tree. It is audible a great distance away and when heard close at hand emits a great volume of sound. It is uttered from the bare branch of a tree.’ B. B. Osmaston says ‘its loud reverberating call chounk chounk .. . repeated any * There has been and still is so much confusion over the calls of the various Indian Nightjars that it has seemed to me useful to summarise such accurate information that I can find on the call of each species. THE VERNAY SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF THE EASTERN GHATS 37 number of times from 1 to 50... This call is repeated at the rate of 5 in 4 seconds’ (J.B.N.H.S., xxvii, 949). Mr. A. E. Jones considers it a rich double call note chaunk-chaunk which reverberates through the jungles. He confirms that the call is only given from a bush or tree (J.B.N.H.S., xxix, 286). Caprimulgus indicus indicus Latham. Caprimulgus indicus Latham, Index Orn., vol. ii (1790), p. 588—India. The Jungle Nightjar was not procured by the Survey and in the Presidency it is as yet only recorded from the western side except for Jerdon’s statement that he procured it in the Carnatic. In the Wynaad it occurs sparingly according to William Davison who considered it common on the Nilgiris. Here Jerdon says it occurs on the summits but Mr. Betts informs me that it occurs all over the hills. Kinloch is said to have taken eggs in the Nelliampathies (Nidification, in, 484). Terry says that it is common in the Palnis, especially at Pulungi and Pittur; at the latter place their calling was a positive nuisance to the camp. In Travancore it is common and Bourdillon considered it a winter visitor but Ferguson has corrected this. In his opinion it is a winter visitor to the lower slopes of the hills, apparently retiring about May to the High Range. In the Nilgiris William Davison gives the breeding season as the latter end of February and the earlier part of March. At Kotaghery Miss Cockburn considered it February, March and April. In the Nelliampathies Kinloch’s eggs were taken in February. In Travancore Bourdillon says it breeds from January to March. There are two points on which I am unable to agree with Stuart Baker (New Fauna, vol. iv, pp. 866-369). First of all I cannot agree to the extension of the Ceylon race C. c. kelaarti to Southern Travancore. There are only three specimens from Ceylon in the British Museum and these may just be separable from the typical race on their smaller size (2 @ wing 174-180 mm., tail 126 mm.; 1 9° wing 174 mm., tail 116 mm.) and on having the tail darker with heavy barring, though a better series may prove that this distinction does not hold good. Travancore birds however—and of these I have examined quite a. good series—do not appear to me to be separable from those throughout the rest of Peninsular India either in size, in the prevailing grey tint of the plumage, the finer streaking of the back or in the finer barring of the tail. There is of course a good deal of individual variation but as Hume showed long ago (S.F., iv, 881 and vi, 56) it is not consistent with distri- bution. Himalayan birds are, however, separable from those of the Peninsula. In a series the general tone of colouration is warmer and browner, the markings on the back are heavier and the barring of the tail is broader. Whilst not absolutely larger in a series, as individuals they tend to average larger. These Himalayan birds Stuart Baker attributes to Caprimulgus indicus jotaka Temm. & Schl. (Japan) and this is the second point on which TI differ from him. In my opinion Japanese birds—if Himalayan and Japanese are compared in a good series—are a much colder, more smoky grey in colour, with the upper parts more uniform and less heavily marked especially on the mantle and tertiaries. The lower tail-coverts are usually unbarred and the white patch on the outer tail feathers is usually further from the tip of the tail. There appears to be no existing name applicable to Himalayan birds and so T propose to call them Caprimulgus indicus hazarae subsp. nov. Type in the British Museum. ¢ 38 May 1871 Abbottabad, Hazara (A. O. Hume). Kast and West Himalayan birds are identical. There are three specimens from Hazara in the British Museum as_ well as specimens from the Simla and Mussoorie Hills so Stuart Baker is wrong in giving Kumaon as the western limit in the Himalayas. It is doubtless a slip that in Nidification (11, 483-484) indicus indicus is given as breeding round Naini Tal, while indicus jotaka is said to breed in Kumaon. There seems to be little doubt about the call of this species which is very noisy and a good idea of it will be obtained from the different versions that ’ 38. - JOURNAL, BOMBAY (NATURAL Aisi. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVIII have been given. Butler (S.F., i1) says it is ‘loud and peculiar, resembling the words chuck chuck chur-r-r repeated several times continuously. James Davidson says that it is either ‘tuk’ ‘tuk’ constantly repeated or this with an occasional ‘tukkoo’ ‘tukkoo’ (J.B.N.H.S., xii, 50). Whitehead considered it ‘cuckoo’ (the u pronounced like the uw in luck) and said that it was used by both sexes (J.B.N.H.S., xxi, 166). B. B. Osmaston goes into more detail :— ‘its call is of two kinds. Firstly a monosyllabic, chuck, chuck, chuck repeated about half a dozen times at the rate of 5 ‘chucks’ in 2 seconds. It has a second call, not so commonly heard, which is made up of dissyllables ‘chucker-chucker-chucker’—repeated at the same rate as the first call (J.B.N.H.S., xxvii, 949). With this description A. EH. Jones concurs, adding that the males utter a soft not unmusical note ‘you-you-you’ while chasing another bird, probably the mate (J.B.N.H.S., xxix, 286). Finally Mr. Salim Ali (J.B.N.H.S., xxxvil, 138) says that ‘the call is usually uttered from the branch of a tree on which the bird crouches lengthwise. The notes I have likened to water dripping on water (but much louder) at the rate of about 2 drips, a second, connected as it were by the echo of the dripping; chuck-ko, chuck-ko, chuck-ko and so on’. This recalls Legge’s version of long ago chump-pud, chump-pud, repeated for several minutes. Caprimulgus monticolus monticolus Franklin. Caprimulgus monticolus Franklin, P.Z.S. 1880-81 (October 25, 1831), p. 116 —Ganges between Calcutta and Benares and in the Vindhyian Hills between the latter place and Gurra Mandela on the Nerbudda. Franklin’s Nightjar was not observed by the Survey and there appear to be only three records of it in the Presidency. There is a male in the British Museum collected by Blanford fifty miles north of Ellore on 11 February 1871. Jerdon (B. of I., i, 199) says that he obtained a specimen at Nellore. A female collected by Surgeon-General Fry in Travancore is in the British Museum. The status is of course unknown. So far as I can see there is only the one race of this Nightjar in. India. Stuart Baker [Bull. B:0.C.; ti, No,“ -ccel (April 1981), p. 102] separated birds from Sikkim to Eastern Assam, Burma, etc. as Caprimulgus monticolus burmanus but he has presumably since given up this race as it does not appear in Nidification, vol. 111. There need be no difficulty in identifying the call of this Nightjar which is very distinctive and once heard cannot be mistaken. Osmaston (J.B.N.H.S., xxvil, 949) described it as a ‘rather sharp penetrating note like ‘‘choo-ee”’ uttered on the wing’. I considered it ‘like a loud grating chirp, which close at hand resolves itself almost exactly into the sound of a whiplash cutting through the air’ (J.B.N.H.S., xxvii, 284). Jones calls it ‘a loud piercing ‘‘chweep’’’ (J.B.N.H.S., xxix, 286), and Waite repeats Mr. Osmaston’s des- cription (J.B.N..S., xxxi, 821). Salim Ali (/.B.N.4.8., xxxvii, 1138), ‘calls it a ‘loud penetrating call of a single note ‘‘sweesh’’’. It is uttered both from the ground and on the wing and sometimes from the top of a bush. In the pairing season it may be heard all might long, before dark and after dawn. When flushed during the day the bird gives a low chuckle. In the interests of accuracy it may be as well to leave on record the fact that the specimen of Caprimulgus mahrattensis recorded from Gorakhpur (J.B.N.H.S., xxii, 541) is really a juvenile of Caprimulgus monticolus. It is in my collection together with the rest of Mr. A. E. Osmaston’s skins. Caprimulgus asiaticus asiaticus Latham. Caprimulgus asiaticus Latham, Index Ornith., vol. ii (1790), p. 588—India, Bombay. Specimen collected:—876 ¢ 5-10-29 Seschachalam Hills 2,000 ft. Measurements :—Bill 19 mm., wing in moult, tail 105 mm., tarsus 19 mm. The above specimen provides the only reliable record of the Little Indian Nightjar on the eastern side of the Presidency. On the west there are more records. Betts tells us that in Coorg it is very common and that numbers may be seen sitting on the roads at night, their eyes showing up in the head- lights of cars as ruby specks. As, however, he mentions no other species this record no doubt refers in part to other species as well, THE VERNAY SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF THE EASTERN GHATS 39 Fairbank obtained a single specimen, now in the British Museum on 5 June 1877 at the eastern base of the Palnis and remarks that it was the only Nightjar seen or heard in five weeks. In the low country of Travancore it is very common according to Ferguson. Nothing has been recorded about the breeding season in the Presidency. I have not been able to understand the division of this Nightjar into races satisfactorily. There are at any rate three colour phases, pale sandy, brown and grey and there appears to be some correlation of these phases with locality, the pale sandy birds coming from the North-West, the grey birds from the Deccan and the brown birds from other localities. The phases, however, so grade into each other and there seem to be so many exceptions to their con- nection with special localities that I hesitate to consider these colour phases as definitely subspecific. Parrot, Orn. Monatsb., 1907, p. 170, separated birds from Ceylon as Capri- mulgus asiaticus minor on the ground of size. Ceylon birds are very small; wing in males 141.5-145 mm. whereas males from North-Western India measure 144-156 mm. There is complete intergradation between these two extremes though birds from Travancore and Mysore appear to be as small as those from Ceylon. Untal I have seen more specimens, to determine these ques- tions of colour and size, it seems more satisfactory to attribute all Indian birds to the typical race, accepting minor as the insular race. The call of this species is well known and fully authenticated. It is often compared to the sound of a stone skidding quickly across ice. James Davidson (J.B.N.H.S., xii, 50) syllabilises it as tuk tuk tuk tookmaluk but I think most people would prefer the rendering chak chak chak char-r-r-r (B. B. Osmaston, J.B.N.H.S., xxvii, 949) or tuk tuk tuk tukeroo of the Fauna. Lyncornis macrotis bourdilloni Hume. Lyncornis bourdillont Hume, Stray Feathers, vol. ii (1875), p. 302—Kalland Khauni, 8. Travancore. In Southern India the Great Eared Nightjar is entirely confined to 'Travan- core and there is really very little on record about its actual distribution. The type was obtained on the 15th January at Kalland Khauni on the banks of the Peenaven-aur, about 15 miles north of Mynall at 600 ft., and Bourdillon then gave some note of its habits. His next communication on the snbject in a letter to William Davison will be found in the Jbis for 1888, pp. 146-7 with reference to meeting it at Konegur. Ferguson’s account appears to have been merely taken from Bourdillon and what little more we know about it is due to Stewart (apud Stuart Baker, New Fauna, iv, 875 and Nidification, wi, 490). It is there said to be confined to Central and South Travancore and to be moderately common from sea-level up to 2,000 ft. The principal nesting months are February and March, but Stewart took eges from the first week in January to the Ist of May. In ‘i'enasserim, William Davison found that this Nightjar spent the day in caves (S.F., ix, 151), but this habit has not yet been noted in Travancore. The ‘wailing call’ of the male as mentioned in the New Fauna is probably that described by Davison (loc. cit.)\—‘a full clear whistle which can be heard a very long distance off; it might be syllabilized two-wee-oo, each syllable length- ened out but specially so the middle one. Occasionally the first syllable is double and shortened too-too-wee-oo; this whistle the bird repeats at irregular intervals, one calling and another answering.’ The Indian forms are evidently subspecies of Lyncornis macrotis (Vigors) of the Philippines as pointed out by Hachisuka (Birds of the Philippines, Pt. iy ps 114): Batrachostomus moniliger Blyth. Batrachostomus moniliger Blyth, J.A.S.B., xviii (1849), p. 806—Ceylon. The Ceylonese Frogmouth was not met by the Survey as it is confined to the South-Western Ghats and Ceylon. The distribution given in the New Fauna (iv, 382) and Nidification (iii, 494) is not extensive enough. ‘This species is common in North Kanara (James Davidson, J.B.N.H.S., xii, 50). 40 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVIII In the Presidency it was seen in Coorg by Jerdon (J.A.S.B., xiv, 209) who also tells us (B. of I., i, 189) that Capt. Roberts of the 36th N. I. obtained it on the Peria Pass leading from Malabar into the Wynaad. In Travancore according to Bourdillon (S.f., iv, 376) it is not uncommon about 2,000-3,000 ft. elevation in the hills. Stewart (apud Nidification, iu, 494) says that it is most common at about 2,000 ft., occurring also up to 4,000 ft. and nearly down to the level of the plains. The normal breeding season is according to him from January to April, but odd eggs were taken from June to September. The call does not yet seem to be properly identified. James Davidson (loc. cit.) attributed ‘a wailing cry’ to it. Bourdillon on the other hand (S.F., iv, 876) considered it had a ‘loud chuckling cry, with somewhat the tone of a Goatsucker and not unlike the laugh of some Kingfishers, a difficult cry to describe’. Legge agrees with this description as representing a call which he also attributed to this species. In the New Fauna the ordinary call is said to be a soft kooroo-kooroo repeated several times. I have at present no reason to separate Indian and Ceylonese birds as the plumage is variable and I have only seen a poor series. The whole group appears to be in need of revision as regards the specific and subspecific arrange- ment of the various recognised forms. (To be continued). THE PAPAW TREE. BY J. #, CAIUS; .9.3., F.L. 8. The CARICACEAE, natives of tropical America and Africa, are a small family of plants, including 4 genera and 45 species. The family has been named after one of its genera, the genus Carica. This generic name is derived from the Greek word Karikos which means of or from Caria, a province of Asia Minor, erro- neously supposed at one time to have been the habitat of the papayads. The genus Carica numbers 80 species, inhabiting warm America. : The papayads are small trees, generally without branches. They have large palmately-lobed leaves, and on being wounded in certain parts they exude an acrid milky juice. Their flowers are borne in racemes proceeding from the bases of the leaf-stalks, the male and female flowers being usually on different trees. The male flowers have a funnel-shaped corolla, into the throat of which the ten stamens are inserted in two rows of five, one above the other; and the female flowers have a corolla of five distinct petals. The fruit is fleshy, and does not split open when ripe. The most remarkable species is the PAPpAW TREE, known to botanists as: Carica Papaya, Linn. Sp. Pl. 1086; C. hermaphro- dita, Blanco, Fl. Filip., ed. i, 205; Papaya Carica, Gaertn. Fruct. ii, t. 122; P. communis, Noronha, in Verh. Batav. gen. v (1790), ed. i, Art. iv, 28; P. cucuwmerina, Noronha, loc. cit.; P. sativa, Tuss. Fl. Antill., iii, 45; P. vulgaris, DC. Poir. Encyel., v, 3. OCCURRENCE. Carica Papaya Linn. is considered a native of the West Indies, the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, and perhaps of Brazil. Its specific name ‘papaya’ is evidently American, whether derived from the Carib ‘ababai’ or not. The tree has now become accli- mated in the hot regions of three continents; and the zone of most abundant growth seems to lie on either side of the Equator where the mean annual temperature is 77°F., provided soil and rainfall are favourable. It is grown by cultivation north and south of that zone. It is to be found throughout India, from Delhi to Ceylon; but it cannot be cultivated on the hills, except in the south where it is productive up to 4,000 ft. Tt is quite common for numerous papaw plants to spring up from seeds scattered by birds over a portion of land which, accord- ing to tropical custom, has been cleared by burning away the trees and undergrowth. There are, however, no forests of papaws because the plants need sun and room. They are seldom seen among dense growths, nor do they propagate in clusters. The papaw seems to be at its best in the rich humus of a hillside, and rarely takes to a swampy or sandy soil. It grows at the edge of the sea with the waves washing its roots; it prospers on 42 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVIII the high mountain plateaus of all the windward and _ leeward islands; it flourishes—but does not attain to any great height—on the bare coral rocks of Yucatan; it thrives in the sandy soil of Venezuelan ravines, where rain averages one metre per annum and the climate is very equable; it grows prolifically without much cultivation or care in Peruvian valleys; it shoots up to a height of over one hundred feet in the trans-Andean regions; it appears spontaneously in waste places on the islands of Guam, where it receives but scant attention from the natives. However, those places seem best suited to the papaw where it does not rain but always pours, where daily rains abound throughout the year— pouring, soaking rains with a fierce bright sun shining all through the downpour. CHARACTERISTICS. Papaw trees present a striking appearance with their straight slim shiny trunks, and their bright green umbrella tops; but whether they are a thing of beauty is a matter of personal taste. ‘This well known tree’, says Woodrow, ‘has been subjected to ill- merited abuse, described as ugly and everything that is disagree- able, yet it may be questioned if there is a more handsome or generally useful tree in Indian gardens.’ The Papaw tree suggests a palm in its habit of growth. It has a single, supple, slim, straight stem, terminating in a crown of large leaves, and branching only when its growth is interfered with. Cultivated plants attain a height of from 10 to 30 ft.; wild varieties push up to 60 or even to 100 ft. Near the base of mature trees the diameter ranges from 6 in. to 1 ft., the stem tapering eradually to about 4 or 5 in. at the summit. In a young plant the stem consists of a cellular pith filled with water; in a matured tree that portion of the trunk immediately under the bark is fibrous for a few inches, followed by a soft inner layer one inch or more thick terminating in the central portion which is hollow. At inter- vals through the hollow centre are to be seen membranous tissues dividing the cavity into sections, and in the rainy season, for a considerable height up the trunk, this central cavity is filled with water. The wood is soft, white and spongy; it cuts easier than a potato, so that the trunk can be chopped through by a single stroke of a cutlass; it is full of water, decays rapidly, and does not serve any useful purpose. The trunk is covered with a grey (green at the top) smooth, tough bark laid on in folds, which at intervals form ridges. A large turnip-shaped tap root reaches deep down into the earth to seek nourishment and to give stability to the tree. This root is similar in structure to the trunk, except for a white bark, and possesses an odour of cabbage and a peculiar taste suggesting radishes. The leaf-stalks diverge almost horizontally from the trunk; they are large and hollow, cylindrical toward the leaf and flattened at the point where they join with the stem. The leaves are fre- quently as much as two feet in diameter, deeply cut into broad lobes terminating in sharp points and having their margins irre- gularly waved or gashed; they are dark green on the upper and THE PAPAW TREE 43 light green on the under side; they are shortlived and, as the tree shoots upwards, they drop off, leaving scarry marks on the bark of the tree trunk. | Pitcher formation was observed by Miss Mozelle Isaacs in the leaves of trees growing in the grounds of the Dadar Parsi Colony and of St. Xavier’s College, both in Bombay. Pitchers may be best described as modified leaves; and as they only show during the monsoon, it has been surmised that they are due to the vigorous growth of plant life during that period and to the lack of the necessary space for them to develop into ordinary leaves. For in the process of pitcher formation, always found in female plants which usually have larger leaves than the male plants, new veins find themselves impeded from developing normally in the plane of the old leaf as all the available space is already occupied by many strong veins issuing from the same point; these new veins are consequently pushed upwards, and they develop into stalked simple leaves with a basal pocket. | Circumstances of climate, soil and cultivation may, however, ‘so modify the characteristic features of the plant that discrepant descriptions and statements are on record. Among the notable varieties are the green and the violet papaw. ‘This latter variety, which exhibits a purple stem and purple leaf-stalks, has had con- siderable attention paid to it and is more highly esteemed for cul- tivation. While young the trees are kept in the shade and pruned to prevent their growing tall; portions of the flowers are picked off to favour fruiting; and the smaller fruits are removed when green, so that the remainder may grow larger and stronger—indeed a fruit weighing 20 pounds is no rarity. The violet papaw is such a plant plant that horticulturists boast of having produced a dwarf variety. But the green papaw is less adaptable; though it grows to a greater height, its fruit is smaller and possesses a less pleasant flavour. The male tree produces long hanging clusters of narrow trumpet- shaped flowers having 10 anthers inserted on the throat of the corolla. The female tree bears single flowers with a white, yellow, or purple corolla of 5 sessile petals, and one pistil bearing a 5-rayed stigma. The female flowers grow in considerable numbers at the apex of the stem, which pushes rapidly upwards and puts out new leaf-stalks. Occasionally, bisexual flowers are produced by either male or female trees. There is no definite flowering season, and the tree bears fruit all the year round. The fruit develops so rapidly that buds of flowers and ripe fruits are often found on a tree at the same time. The fruit grows from the axils of the lower leaves, the normal fruit from the female flowers being sessile while that from the her- maphrodite flowers is borne on long pedicels. It varies consider- ably in form as well as in size, resembling an orange, or a gourd, or a cocoa pod, or a musk melon, or even a water melon. It is of a green or purplish colour turning yellow when ripe: ‘The slim papaya ripens its yellow fruit for thee’—(Bryant). Its skin is smooth and thin. The flesh of the green fruit is white, tough and watery; but as the fruit ripens its flesh becomes 44. JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVI juicy and assumes a pinkish or orange hue, or turns to musk-melon yellow. The fruit has a central cavity which contains the seeds arranged in five lines along the whole length of it, and attached to, and held together by, a delicate membrane which constitutes the inner skin of the fruit. The fruit does not last long after ripe- ness sets in. Miss Mozelle Isaacs has noted the presence of large white parenchymatous masses in the fruit of the papaw tree. She has also recorded the occasional appearance of long leafy structures: ‘in some cases the funiculus is elongated, the integuments of the ovule absorbed in the elongation of the stalk, and the cotyledons and plumule of the seedling inside exposed giving the appearance of vivipary inside the fruit.’ Different names are sometimes employed to distinguish various forms of the fruit, as ‘Ceylon’, ‘Madagascar’, ‘West Indies’, ete.; these names are, however, misleading, for nowhere in the Eastern Tropics is the tree indigenous, and everywhere, as already stated, there occurs a good deal of variety as regards size and shape. The seeds are of. the size of small peas; about 230 when fresh go to an ounce, or 500 when partly dried. When fresh, they are dark brown changing to black on drying. Before desiccation their outer membranous coating is transparent and slimy; the inner coating is hard, horny and wrinkled; and between the two coatings there is a mucilaginous substance containing myrosin. The inner shell contains the leaf-like cotyledons, veined at the base with an albuminous homotropal embryo with a roundish radicle easily dis- tinguished when slightly magnified. The seeds when dried resemble pepper-corns; they are aromatic, pungent, piquant—but not so sharp as mustard—and their taste slightly suggests water cress. All the parts of the plant abound in milky juice or latex,, which is found most abundantly just under the skin of the fruit before ripening. HERMAPHRODITISM, It is a common belief in the Gold Coast Colony that a male papaw can be made to bear fruits. This is done sometimes by cutting off the top of the male tree, which is then believed to produce fruit-bearing stalks. Another method is to make one or two holes right through the stem below the flowers, a stone or piece of wood being occasionally inserted to keep the hole open. As a matter of fact the papaw plant is extremely variable in regard to its sexual characteristics. There are two extreme types —one strictly dioecious, the other monoecious—and many interme- diate forms. In the strictly dioecious type, the fruit-bearing plant has pistillate flowers only, while the male plant produces almost exclusively staminate flowers in bunches towards the end of long peduncles: each flower has a rudimentary ovary and a style with- out stigma, being thus incapable of bearing fruit. Tt sometimes happens that male trees produce hermaphrodite and pistillate flowers abruptly and unexpectedly. This monoecious type of plant bears fruit in every case; but the trees look from a distance as if they were female plants of the dioecious type. They generally produce two kinds of flowers. the one staminate and the THE PAPAW TREE 45 other perfect. The perfect flower is quite different in shape from the pistillate flower of the dioecious type. Its ovary is much more elongated, being almost cylindrical. The stamens are usually placed on the inner walls of the petals midway down, with the anthers surrounding the lobes of the stigma. The fruit of this type differs from that of the dioecious type in the same way as the ovary, and is often called a ‘long papaw’. Another monoecious form is the plant in the process of chang- ing its sex. It is not at all uncommon for a male plant, after producing staminate flowers for some time, to bear hermaphrodite flowers which in their turn are succeeded by pistillate fruit-bearing flowers. Miss Mozelle Isaacs has, moreover, witnessed the process of change exhibited by a female plant at Santa Cruz, near Bombay. She observed a fruit-bearing tree growing near a drain, changing its sex subsequently on the closing of the drain: the flowers became gradually smaller, lost their ovary, and began to appear in bunches on longer and longer branched inflorescences instead of singly in the axils of the leaves. It has been repeatedly stated that the removal of the terminal bud causes male papaws to change their sex, and that trees treated at definitely recurring periods are the ones that exhibit this pheno- menon. It is suggested that the plant has definite short cycles of growth and that it may be necessary to remove the top at some definite phase of this cycle in order to foster the development of fertile flowers. To test the correctness of this statement L. B. Kulkarni selected a dozen male plants in the Ganeshkind Botanical Gardens, near Poona, and ‘had their growing tips nipped off at the time of flower- ing. In a fortnight, there appeared a cluster of flowers round the eut portion; on examination eleven trees showed all male flowers, and one plant was found to have produced one hermaphrodite flower among clusters of male flowers. The male flowers on all plants were normal. The one hermaphrodite flower that was produced had five stamens attached to the base of the petals and placed round the synearpous ovary. The fruit formed was a little oblong. This fruit dropped before ripening. The rest of the trees continued to produce male flowers on long peduncles as usual. The only effect of the pruning of the top was that the trees produced three or four branches.’ This finding supported that of the Hawai Agricultural Experi- ment Station: ‘It has been reported that staminate trees have been caused to produce pistillate flowers and fruit by beheading them. None of these means have proved to be successful from a practical standpoint.’ It may, therefore, safely be concluded that the change of sex displayed by the male papaw does not appear to be in any way connected with the removal or retention of the terminal bud. It would be puerile to attempt to describe all the intermediate forms which have been observed, for their name is legion and the difference among them is often trivial. However, mention ought to be made of two forms which, strangely enough; have been reported from such widely separated places as Ganeshkind and Hawai. In the words of L. B. Kulkarni: ‘(a) One plant 46 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVIil produced four types of flowers, namely: (1) staminate flowers, (2) and (3) two forms of perfect flow ers, and (4) one form of pistillate flowers. ‘The staminate flowers were exactly like those of the second or monoecious type above described. Of the two perfect flowers, one form corresponded precisely with that of the monoe- cious type, while the other had an ovary in shape like that of the pistillate flowers of the dioecious type. There were usually ten stamens attached to the base of the petals round the ovary in the first form—and only five stamens similarly attached in the second form. The pistillate flowers were exactly like those of the dioecious type.’ ‘(b) Two plants bore only staminate flowers, but these flowers were carried close to the stem in the axil of the leaf. This is peculiar, as the trees usually producing staminate flowers have their flowers on long peduncles.’ There is, nevertheless, no doubt that the wild papaw in its natural habitat is unisexual. Sex perversion is one of the effects of migration and cultivation. CULTIVATION. Rusby has stated that this tree ‘can be propagated and grown with great readiness, that its vitality is so great that it is with difficulty destroyed until its natural course has been run.’ On the other hand six years’ observation has convinced Kilmer that the papaw is exceedingly difficult of cultivation, and that the cultivated trees are most easily destroyed by adverse conditions. The wild plants do not seem to be attacked by disease except after injury, but the cultivated plants are very susceptible to every. sort of malady. Insects attack the tender leaves of the young plants and they wither. Fungi and bacteria find in the papaw suitable conditions for growing “and multiplying, and they do grow and multiply at the expense of their host’s vitality. After fruit- ing, and especially if the fruits are bled, the tree will suffer from general debility and become the prey of every adverse cireum- stance. And the trouble, whatever its nature, may be said always to arise from the inherent weakness of the cultivated plant in its altered environment. It is, nevertheless, reported that in Ceylon, in Brazil, in Algeria and in the islands of La Reunion and the West Indies, successful and extensive cultivations have been earried out. It is mentioned in the Hawai Agricultural Experiment Station Report for 1911 that ‘there is no means available for the propa- gation of the papaya by asexual parts, as cuttings, buds, scions, etc., hence seed varieties must be established by methods probably similar to those used in breeding varieties of vegetables and flowers which are not propagated by budding and grafting.’ But Burns wrote in 1918: ‘This excellent fruit is easily grown. It is propa- gated by seeds, but may also be propagated by cuttings.’ And propagation by grafting has been tried with some success at Luck- now, at Ganeshkind, and also in the United States of America. Propagation by cuttings or by grafting may perhaps not have yielded results which would commend it to the cultivator as a means to increase his harvest. Nevertheless this propagation is THE PAPAW TREE 47 not without its experimental value; for, if persistently carried on, it may contribute towards the’ solution of a problem which has hitherto battled scientists and cultivators alike. One never knows what a seedling is going to develop into, and the question of the inheritance of characters in the papaw is one which needs answer- ing very badly; for there happen to be such differences between papaw and papaw that no two trees resemble each other—which is a source of constant anxiety to the cultivator as will be presently shown. | To begin with, the seeds vary considerably in number: in some fruits there are five; in others, over five hundred. But this does not mean five or five hundred potential trees. Thus, for example, when in the West Indies a native wishes to grow a single tree he buries two or three such fruits in the ground; for he knows by ex- perience that at most two or three plants will result. Nothing could show more clearly that very few seeds are fertile, so that a discriminate selection becomes imperative. Experiments were, accordingly, carried out and it was found that seeds taken from the central portion of the largest and finest fruits were the most likely to be fertile. Seeds selected with extreme care from strong and healthy trees, the fruit of which would weigh fifteen pounds, were then sown: only a portion of the plants took after the parent stock, the other portion reverted to the wild prototype and yielded fruits the size of a hen’s egg. In another series of plantings con- ducted with thorough preparation of the ground and selection of seeds, together with care for the young plants, only a small pro- portion came to maturity, and of these only a few bore fruit: none of the plants or their fruits was as large as those of the parent stock. | But still more perplexing are the vagaries of sex relation, which make the proper adjustment of the sexes difficult and exasperat- ing. It is generally agreed that for fertilization one male to ten female plants is the proper ratio; but Kilmer speaks of numerous instances where acres of land were planted with thousands of papaw plants in which the males were in the majority of over fifteen to one. And as it is not until the flowers appear that the two kinds of tree, male and female, are distinguishable, one can imagine the cultivator’s dismay when he finds at the end of all his toil and waiting—which may be as much as twenty months—that he has a plantation of unprofitable male plants. It is best to sow the seeds in well-drained porous soil covering them about half an inch deep. In from two to six weeks the seed- lings appear, germination being hastened by heat. In about a month after germination the seedlings are large enough to be trans- planted to pots in which they remain for another month before being placed in the orchard where holes four feet deep and four feet wide were dug previously. The distances between trees should be about ten feet in each direction. Seeds may also be sown at stake, allowing five or six to each hole, leaving afterwards one good seedling to each hole. The papaw tree likes deep humous or loamy soil, and flat or gently sloping well-manured land. The following fertilizer has been - 48 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVIII successfully tried at the Hawaii Experimental Station on young plants: superphosphate, 800; sulphate of potash, 3815; nitrate of soda, 250; sulphate of ammonia, 190; and black sand (volcanic ash), 445 parts. This has been applied at the rate of one pound. per tree at planting time. In the Bombay Presidency, house, farm, or stable refuse, twenty cartloads per acre, has been used with success. It has also been found that two ploughings and two har- rowings just before sowing the seed improve the growth. Once established, the plant is capable of enduring a wide. range of moisture variations in the soil, but it is very sensitive to water- logging. Until the blossoming stage is reached the two kinds of tree are indistinguishable, and hence twice the desired number of seedlings must be planted, and all the males, except four per acre, cut out when they are recognisable. In some localities the plant begins to grow fruit in seven months; in others, eighteen to twenty months from the seed. The fruiting is abundant and con- tinuous. In the course of one season a wild tree has been known to yield from two to three hundred fruits varying in size from a golf ball to a cricket ball. The cultivated plants may be made to yield from twelve to sixty fruits, weighing from five to twenty pounds each. The fruits of the papaw are borne round the stem in such a way. that they interfere seriously with one another’s growth. It is, therefore, advantageous to remove a certain number of them to allow the rest to develop better. The difficulty is to hit on exactly the right amount of thinning to get the greatest weight compat- ible with the greatest number of fruits. This can only be obtained by practice and in the meantime it is advisable to remove only such fruits as are obviously going to be badly squeezed. It is also a good thing to cut off the top of the young tree, thus forcing it to branch. Each branch bears fruits, and the bearing capacity of the tree is multiplied. It has also been ob- served that the branched plants were less frequently damaged by winds, and that the fruit was easy to watch and to harvest. The system of branching is very beneficial in places where the nights are cold, since the plant is protected from frost, and the fruit is produced near the ground. The fruits on the tree must be protected from the direct rays of the sun or they scorch and split. The dead leaves of the tree should be removed as they dry up. The fruit is to be cut from the tree when full sized, but green, and is laid on soft straw to ripen. The even ripening of the papaw is a matter of consider- able practical difficulty. As a rule the tree is played out after five years’ continuous cropping. Kilmer reports that a rare specimen was observed which was eighteen years old, and was bearing one to two fruits each year. Domestic Usss. In Africa, America, and the West Indies the bark of the stem is used in the manufacture of ropes. THE PAPAW TREE 49 The hollow leat-stalks are often used as trumpets by the natives of Guam, some of whom excel in sounding military bugle calls upon them. The property of the papaw to render meat tender is commonly made use of by cooks, who wrap the leaves round fresh meat, or place a piece of the green fruit in the water in which the meat is being boiled, or drop a little of the fresh juice in the vessel in which the meat is being cooked. In its tropical home the papaw is put into the pot with meat, and enters into cereals, soups, stews and other dishes. Most of the half-breeds in South America and the adjacent islands are particularly given to meat diet; many of them eat it raw, sometimes in a state of partial decay; and here the papaw is brought into use, being eaten with the flesh or rubbed over it before it is eaten. In the Gold Coast Colony the leaves are added to the water when washing clothes to remove stains. In the Philippine Islands water in which the leaves have been boiled is used to wash off blood stains. In the West Indies the green leaves or slices of the green fruit are rubbed over soiled and spotted clothes, and its power of dissolving stains has earned for the papaw the name of ‘melon bleach’. Elsewhere water in which a portion of the fruit has been steeped is used in washing dyed (especially black) clothes without in any way discolouring them, Again, women in Brazil and the West Indies use the juice of the unripe fruit as a cosmetic; they apply it for freckles and for making the skin smooth and delicate. Says Kilmer: ‘The strange and beautiful races of the Antilles astonish the eyes of the traveller who sees them for the first time. It has been said that they have taken their black, brown, olive and yellow skin tints from the satiny and bright-hued rinds of the fruit which surround them. If they are to be believed, the mystery of their clear, clean com- plexions, and exquisite pulp-like flesh arises from the use of the papaw fruit as a cosmetic. A slce of the ripe fruit is rubbed over the skin and is said to dissolve spare flesh and remove every blemish. It is a toilet requisite in use by the young and the old, producing according to the words of a French writer ‘“‘the most beautiful specimens of the human race’’.’ When the natives of New Caledonia run short of tobacco they smoke the leaf of the papaw as a substitute. Writing from Nuka- hiva in 1879, M. Jouan, capitaine de vaisseau, tells of the trouble he experienced to keep donkeys away from his papaw trees, such was the attraction of the leaves for those animals! On the other hand, the French sailor says that the smell of the seeds was too much for the cats which turned up their noses and beat a hasty retreat. That asses, however, are not the only members of the equine family that have a craving for the papaw, was observed by a most reliable witness, Brother Joseph Pascual, now residing in St. Xavier’s College, Bombay, and from 1922 $0; 1923 1m Goaarse ot Gayaba, a plantation situated ten miles from Madang in pre-war German New Guinea. According to the witness, Mauritz, a small long-tailed chestnut horse, imported into New Guinea from one 4 50 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVIII of the neighbouring islands, was always inclined to leave the beaten track and to make a bee line for the nearest papaw tree—papaws grow wild in those parts—and Mauritz’s rider could neither doze nor daydream, else he would be brought back to the stern reality under a papaw tree with Mauritz greedily devouring the leaves. But it was not only the leaves that Maunitz ate; he also sampled the fruits which he took whole—skin, flesh and seeds. And it the fruit happened to be somewhat over-ripe it was a sight to see Mauritz gobbling up the dainty with his heart in his mouth, and with the golden coloured juice and squash dripping from the corners of his lower lip. It would also seem that in South America the younger gene- ration makes use of the seeds to indulge their sporting propen- sities. As the seeds are encased in a slimy coating advantage is taken of this by playful youngsters who spread them out on a board, and by this means form a ‘slide’, the counterpart of the frozen gutter so agreeable to northern urchins! In Upper Tongking, among the Tho and Man hill tribes, the fruits are fed to pigs. Throughout the West Indian islands the fruits and the leaves are fed to old hogs or poultry in the belief that their flesh will without fail become tender. Foon. The papaw is not everywhere held in lke esteem. The natives of Guam and the Marquesas do not seem to set any store by it, they only eat it when there happens to be a scarcity of other kinds of fruit. This is all the more strange because the inhabit- ants of the Loyalty Islands and of the other coral islands in the Pacific relish the papaw as a welcome addition to their otherwise scanty fare. Elsewhere the papaw is considered a wholesome and _ nutri- tious food, and consumed in large quantities at all stages of its development. In every West Indian and South American village one will find a place where the native products are bought and sold, and where the wayfarer is sure to come upon an abundant supply of papaws. As an article of food the papaw is prepared in a score of ways and made into a variety of edible dishes and delicacies. The green fruit is cooked in curries, and is made into plain and spiced pickles which are highly esteemed. It is also boiled or stewed, and served as a vegetable. In this form it makes a splendid addition to poultry mash; and, if mixed with lme Juice and sugar, is an excellent substitute for apple sauce. Europeans in Indo-China prepare it as they would salsify or artichoke. In Malaya the green fruit, peeled, boiled, cut into small pieces, and dressed with oil, vinegar, salt and pepper is served as a vegetable. It is said to be very palatable and very similar to squash in taste. The half-ripe fruit lightly fried in butter is a good addition to meat @ la jardiniére, and also a good ingredient in chicken or lobster salad. The following is a useful recipe for the preparation of papaw THE PAPAW TREE 51 jam: ‘Choose truit three-quarters ripe; remove all skin and seeds, chop up the fruit into small pieces; weigh; add equal weight of sugar, also some green ginger (cut into small pieces), 2 oz. of the latter beimg sufficient for 6 lb. of fruit; cover up the fruit and sugar, and let the latter dissolve during the night; boil up the next morning until done.’ When not quite ripe the fruit makes a good salad if cut into slices, dressed with oil, vinegar, salt and pepper, and prepared one hour before it is served. In combination with lettuce and sliced cucumber, papaws make a wholesome and nourishing salad. The fruit, just before ripening, is peeled and sliced, macerated in cold water, with frequent changes of water for some hours; the macerated fruit is then dropped into boiling water, boiled sharply, and served as a vegetable. The ripe fruit is generally esteemed as a table fruit, and is then eaten uncooked. It has been described as sweet, refreshing, and agreeable; but, every one will admit that it may be sickly, sweet, and insipid. The sweetness of its resinous, pulpy juice often clings to the tongue and remains prevalent for hours. In fact the stranger has first to develop a taste before he can enjoy the flavour of the fruit, and acquire a liking for it. Some people prefer to eat the papaw with salt, with salt and pepper, with a little sugar, with fresh lemon or lime juice, with sherry and cream. In the Gold Coast Colony the ripe fruit is sometimes cooked together with corn and palm oil. In the West Indies and South America it is combined with some acid fruit and made into tarts; and at the sugar houses slices of the papaw are often seen seeth- ing in hot syrup, and pies, shortcakes, sherbets, and pickles from the fruit are greatly relished. Excellent preserves are made of the ripe fruit, which, for this purpose, is boiled down in sugar and candied. In Indo-China the preserves are flavoured with kirsh or marasquino. The ripe papaw is also made into jam, marmalade, jelly; it is candied, iced, crystallized and made to rival the best products of the confectioner’s shop. ‘Le fruit du papayer se transforme, par la confiserie, en un fruit confit d’un gott tres fin et délicat rappelant celui du marron glacé associé a celui de la noisette.’ The seeds are eaten as a delicacy. They have an agreeable taste somewhat like water cress; and a piquancy suggestive of mustard. Macerated in vinegar they are served as a condiment. The natives of the tropics quite often chew them to quench their thirst. In Malaya the small fragrant flowers of the male plant are used in the manufacture of a syrup. Finally, when a tree has become unproductive and is cut down, the soft, pithy heart is carefully removed and grated and served in just about the same manner as a cocoanut. PopuLAR BELIEFS. The papaw is credited to be possessed of latent and strange powers, some of them so strange that they are here set down under the heading of popular beliefs. 52 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST, SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVIII In Barbados the flesh of animals is reported to be hung in the papaw tree overnight in order to soften it. The same idea pre- vails all over India and this practice is no doubt resorted to by domestic servants and meat and fowl are often hung in the branches of a papaw tree to make them soft and tender. The statement has likewise passed current that the emanations from the papaw tree will dissolve and digest albumin. Another statement has it that if male animals browse under the papaw tree, they thereby become emasculated. In Africa the odour emitted by the flowers is believed to be a cause of disease. A popular belief prevails amongst all classes of women in Southern and Western India that if a pregnant woman partake of even a moderate quantity of the fruit or of the seed, abortion will be the probable result. In Tongking people suffering from fever are told not to eat of the papaw fruit. In Kelantan the milky juice of the unripe fruit, mixed with the juice of the immature capsules of the horse-radish tree and the white of a lizard’s egg, is used as a poison; when taken internally this is said to be followed by great abdominal pain and the pre- sence of blood in the urine. The papaw has been alluded to as the mustard tree of the Scriptures. MEDICINAL USEs. A plant so universally distributed and possessed of such varied properties, naturally occupies an important place in native materia medica. Though of relatively recent introduction into India it is, nevertheless, a part of the armamentarium of Ayurveda and Yunani practitioners alike. Medicinal properties are ascribed to practically every part of the tree: the root, the leaf, the seed, the fruit, and the milky juice. To begin with the root, it is said to be a generative tonic. In Cambodia it is considered diuretic, and it is given internally to arrest the flow of blood in abnormal uterine haemorrhage. In French Guinea it is credited with anthelmintic properties, and as a vermifuge a preparation is recommended consisting of leaves and twigs of purslane 2.8 gram, fresh papaw root 0.75 gram, water 48 oz., the whole boiled down to 82 oz. In the Gold Coast Colony it is said to cure yaws and also piles: the root is ground up and mixed with salt forming a paste which is then treated with water, and the resulting solution is used as an enema; this is supposed to cause abortion in pregnant women, and its use is probably restricted to educated native women of social standing. In Mauri- tius the dry root has been used successfully in the treatment of kidney trouble. As regards the leaves, they are used as a worm remedy in French Guinea. A decoction is given as a purgative to horses, and has been recommended for the treatment of bots; but Steyn in South Africa has experimentally disproved its efficacy for this purpose. In the Gold Coast Colony the dry leaves are steeped in THE PAPAW TREE 53 water and the yellowish-red liquor is drunk to cure stomach trouble. In the Philippine Islands a decoction of the leaves is applied as a lotion to wounds and atonic ulcers, or the boiled leaves are crushed and made into a poultice. In the Santal Parganas of India the leaves are reputed to promote the secretion of milk: they should be gently bruised and heated in a pan and applied warm to the breast. In Western India the leaves are used externally for nervous pains; the leaf may be either dipped in hot water or warmed over a fire and applied to the painful part. Jn Southern India the bruised leaves applied as a poultice are said to have an excellent influence in reducing elephantoid growth. They are also used to extract guinea-worms: an ounce of the leaf is rubbed with sixty grains of opium and sixty grains of common salt, and the paste applied to the affected part—‘of course the worm has to be wound out in the usual manner, but it always comes out more quickly and easily when treated in this way’. To come to the seeds, wherever the papaw tree is found grow- ing its seeds are used as anthelmintic and emmenagogue. In India their juice is made into pessaries to procure abortion. The juice, or a paste obtained by grinding the seeds with glycerin, is used as a cure for ringworm and psoriasis. Mixed with honey the seeds are given to expel roundworms; they are also said to be useful in dyspepsia and in enlargement of liver and spleen. In Cambodia they are prescribed in bites and stings of poisonous insects. In Central and South America they are given as a thirst quencher, and they form a component part of a drink used in fever; they are also used as a carminative. Furthermore, the ripe fruit is alterative. It acts as a mild laxative and, if regularly eaten every morning, corrects the habitual constipation so common in India. It also acts as a mild chola- gogue; hence its use for piles, and for enlarged liver and spleen; to reduce an enlarged spleen the fruit is preferably taken dry and salted. In some parts of India the ripe fruit is said to be useful in chronic diarrhoea, and in some of the Malay islands it is given in dysentery. Syrups, wines, elixirs made from ripe fruit are said to be expectorant, sedative and tonic. The green fruit is a mild laxative and diuretic; when made into a curry it is eaten by women to excite secretion of milk; it possesses ecbolic properties and is often resorted to by natives to induce criminal abortion. The mature green fruit, sliced, dried and powdered, is given in doses of from 5 to 20 grains for dyspepsia. In the Philippine Islands, more especially in the province of Bulakan and in Pampanga, a decoction of the green fruit is a popular remedy for indigestion. In the West Indies a slice of the green papaw is rubbed over the pimples which accompany the first stages of the yaws, to abort them; and it is claimed that the ulcers which follow the pimples may also be cleaned in a similar manner. In one instance appar- ent clinical benefit from eating the fruit was claimed by a diabetic patient; but Bischoff, Long and Sahyum failed to discover any hypoglycaemic action when feeding the fruit to rabbits. Finally the milky juice or latex has among others a well known medicinal property, for the discovery of which the world is in 54 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL AIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVIII the first instance indebted to an old negro woman. Cossigny relates that on her master’s farm this woman was entrusted with the humble task of feeding the pigs. Now it happened that she was suffering from worms and had tried many a remedy, but thus far without any success. In course of time she noticed that when- ever she fed her charges with slices of green papaw, the animals passed worms. Putting two and two together she started eating sliced green papaw and was relieved of her trouble. On hearing of this unexpected cure the men of science attributed it to the milky juice or latex contained in the green papaw; and a series of experi- ments afterwards proved that their surmise was correct. The milky juice of the unripe fruit has ever since been con- sidered anthelmintic and used as such, especially against round- worms. The following mode of administration is still adopted in Mauritius: ‘Take of the fresh papaw milk and honey, of each ‘a tablespoonful; mix thoroughly; gradually add three or four table- spoonfuls of boiling water, and when sufficiently cool take the whole at a draught, following its administration two hours subse- quently by a dose of castor oil to which a portion of lime-juice or vinegar may be added. This may be repeated two days succes- sively, if required. The above is a dose for an adult, half the quantity may be given to children between seven and ten years of age, and a third, or a teaspoonful, to children under three years. If it cause griping, as it occasionally does, enemas containing sugar have been found effectual in relieving it.” In Brazil the juice is given in very small doses to avoid intestinal inflammation. The medicinal uses of the latex are not however lmited to the removal of worms. The author of the Makhzhan mentions it as a remedy for haemoptysis, bleeding piles, and ulcers of the uri- nary passage; it is also useful in dyspepsia; rubbing the milk in, two or three times, cures ringworm or psoriasis causing a copious exudation attended with itching. The juice is often used exter- nally to prevent suppuration. Kilmer writes: ‘A malady which the natives call the “cocoa bag’’ is a troublesome tropical disease, reputed to be hereditary and contagious; at all events it seems to lurk in the blood of persons of otherwise apparently good health and habits. Suddenly the victim becomes a. mass of offensive sores, debilitated, etc. The native doctors add the papaw fruit to the diet drinks used in this disease, and succeed in moderating its violence at least. To the sores a paste made with the papaw milk as one of the constituents is also applied.’ Again: ‘I wit- nessed a most striking cleansing of a black foot in which the chiga had bored and laid its eggs, producing a mass of foulness beyond description. Here a paste of the papaw milk was pushed into the seething mass and kept for forty-eight hours. It was then flush- ed, curetted, and antiseptics were applied. A clean wound which readily healed resulted.’ The juice will remove pimples and: thick- ened skin as in eczema and corns. It has been used successfully for stomach trouble; it is a reliable stomachic, and is slightly laxative; but it should not be given to pregnant women, as it is emmenagogue. It is applied locally to the os utert to procure abortion. It is also said to be a certain remedy in cases of scorpion THE PAPAW TREE 55 sting, a statement which has been experimentally disproved by Caius and Mhaskar. The milk has been employed in splenic and hepatic enlargements with good results; a teaspoonful with an equal quantity of sugar divided into three doses was administered daily. The latex is shghtly caustic and irritating to the skin, so much so that the collectors get blistered fingers. It has great digesting properties; if dropped on raw meat it dissolves it in a few minutes, and it is, no doubt, to this property that it owes its reputation as a digestive. It has long been used for whooping-cough in Honolulu. It has also been given with good results in, diphtheria. A solution of 10 to 80 drops, applied as a paint, rapidly dissolved the false membrane. A number of cases in a hospital for children were cured by this treatment. The milky juice is extracted by making shallow incisions with a bone or ivory knife, or a wooden splinter, in the rind of the mature but unripe fruit; the juice rapidly exudes from the cuts and is collected in a cup held beneath, then spread on glass to dry in the sun or, if the weather be wet, over a stove or in a hot-air chamber. Drying should be effected without delay but should not be too rapid, a temperature of about 100°F. being the best. The process should be completed in about 24 hours. When the material is crisp-dry, it is reduced to a fine powder, or made into a granular form, and marketed as ‘papain’. About 5 to 8 oz. dried papain may be obtained per tree in a year, or an average of about 150 Ibs. per acre. The fruits may be tapped at intervals of two or three days, and are not removed from the tree until they cease to yield. Good quality papain may fetch from 7 to 15s. per lb.; but the demand is lhmited and irregular. PAPAIN. The term ‘papain’ is unfortunately applied both to the dried juice of the papaw and to an albuminous digestive ferment obtain- ed from this by precipitation with alcohol. In commerce there are a number of preparations claiming to be the ferment of the papaw, sold as papain, papayotin, papoid, caroid, vegetable pepsin, etc. On examination several of these substances were found to be merely the dried and powdered latex of the papaw, bearing the same relation to the true separated ferment as the dried mucous membrane of the stomach might bear to purified pepsin. As con- fusion reigns supreme in the literature referring to this subject, and as, except for a possible question of degree, the properties and uses of the latex and the ferment are the same, no attempt has been made here to treat the two separately. As it occurs in commerce, papain is a greyish, fine powder, which in appearance, odour, and taste strongly suggests pepsin. Its natural colour is light brown; but bleaching is commonly practised by manufacturers. In fact much sophistication obtains in the preparation of papain. The French product is usually mixed with starch which is added as a preservative. As starch, however, is not naturally present in the fruit, it rightly figures in the list of adulterants which also includes bread, arrowroot, the milk of 56 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVIII the wild cactus, the milk of gutta percha, boiled rice, ete. Adul- teration with boiled rice, to the extent of 10 per cent, is a clever Indian adulteration difficult to detect. Papain, which acts as a digestant in acid, alkaline, and neutral media, is used to prepare foods for assimilation, and figures largely and prominently in foods for invalids and children, in chewing gums, etc. It is extensively used as a digestive in France and Germany, and has been given with good results to children. Nevertheless, the digestive power of the papaw falls greatly short of the claims made for it. It is commonly asserted that, when the stomach is acid, it is much superior to pancreatin, because its action is not markedly affected by contact with the acid; but in experiments made by Wood with a papoid from one of the most renowned manufacturers no digestion occurred, and it is probable that most of the article of commerce is inert. As a matter of fact many practitioners prefer to papain the milky juice fresh from the tree, which is not only more efficacious as a digestive, but is in addition a good taeniacide. It has been, moreover, shown that the bleaching of papain is a great mistake and that in a representa- tive preparation the ferment action is most marked when all the proteis are associated together in the natural form. ‘Acid glycerole of papain’ is largely used in dyspepsia as it dissolves mucus in the stomach, which prevents the absorption of food in eases of indigestion, colic, flatulence, gastric ulcers; and it is also greatly recommended as an aid to the nutrition of patients suffering from phthisis. The liquid preparations are said to be suitable to reduce enlarged tonsils and adenoids, but unless there is some contra-indication to thorough surgical procedure, the prac- tice is not particularly good. For this purpose a solution of 1 to 2 of papain in 10 each of glycerin and water is swabbed over the parts. N THE ORNITHOLOGY OF TRAVANCORE AND COCHIN 73 Ghauts under the name of M. orientalis. This race, however, has not been considered distinct from malabaricus, and I have accordingly merged it in that species. Malabar specimens appeared to me to have more rufous; those from the Eastern Ghauts more grey.’ Our Travancore-Cochin series, therefore, represents the true malabaricus of Jerdon. The better-known race of the Jungle-Babbler found throughout the greater part of the Madras Presidency, and hitherto known as malabaricus, must in future be known as Turdoides somerville: orientalis Jerdon (Ill. Ind. Orn., text to pl. 19, 1845 (March), type-locality: Hastern Ghauts), and under that name, therefore, should be listed all the specimens listed as T. s. mala- baricus on p. 878 of the J.B.N.H.S., vol. xxxv, Eastern Ghats Survey, and on p. 3873, vol. xxxvi, Hyderabad Survey.—H. W. ] The Jungle Babbler is a common bird in the ‘Travancore-Cochin area, though patchily distributed. Flocks frequent deciduous and bamboo forest or scrub jungle with Lantana etc., where they rummage among the fallen leaves for insects. It avoids evergreen jungle, but may sometimes be met with in the secondary growth on its outskirts. The flocks habitually form the nucleus of the localised bird associations and are seldom met independently of them. They are also partial to the neighbourhood of homesteads along the back- waters, frequenting the mango, jack-fruit and cashew gardens, often in associ- ation with Turdoides striatus. As I have remarked before in the Hyderabad Survey Report (J.B.N.H.S., vol. xxxvi, p. 873) my experience does not bear out the statement on p. 737, vol. xxxv, that it does not mix with the White- headed Babbler. It is true that as a rule the two species inhabit different facies, but where these overlap, the birds may frequently be seen in associ- ation with each other and with other avian species. A flock at Maraiyir (14 January) was noted in my field-book as composed of particularly rufous tinged individuals, very reminiscent of typical somer- villec of Bombay. The rufous colour was no doubt accentuated by some pecu- harity in the lightning conditions, but its presence is now confirmed and ex- plained by Mr. Whistler’s note. A habit with this species when curious or agitated, is to fluff out its plumage especially that of the back which assumes an arched appearance, droop the wings at the sides, spread and depress the tail and pivot uneasily from side to side, peering at and chivvying the intruder the while. As pointed out in the Eastern Ghats Report (J.B.N.H.S., xxxv, 788) the statement in the Fauna (vol. i, p. 195) that TJ. s. somervilleit occurs from Travancore to Bombay along the West Coast is apparently based only on wrong identification of the ferruginous stained specimens of T. striatus polio- plocamus obtained at Kolachal (Travancore). In the Palni Hills, Fairbank (S.F., v, 405) found it common at the base and in thin jungle on the sides up to 4,500 ft. He procured a ¢ at Vengayam Parry on 1 June. Terry (S.F., x, 475) describes it as rather rare at Pulungi, but very common lower down on the slopes and in the Pittur valley. It does not occur in Ceylon, where according to Whistler (J.B.N.H.S., xxxv, 738) T. striatus striatus represents both the Jungle and White-headed Babblers and is a connecting link between them. Breeding: No. 234 (7 February) had a mature ovary with follicles measur- ing 1-15 mm. In No. 1029 (27 December) the testes were enlarged to 7x5 mm., and both these individuals were either breeding or ready to breed. The specimens obtained in November and December were not in moult. A (7 February) had slight traces of moult on head and neck. The above specimens suggest December to February as being at least part of the breeding season in the Travancore-Cochin area. The probability, how- ever, is that it breeds irregularly more or less throughout the year as in other parts of the range of the species. Bourdillon and Stewart record January to March as the principal breeding months in Travancore though they also say that breeding is fitful and very irregular. In the Nelliampathy Hills (Cochin) A. P. Kinloch took most nests in bamboo clumps in mixed scrub and bamboo jungle, often at considerable elevations (Nidification, i, 154). No date! In the Palni Hills, Terry (S.F., x, 475) records nests as follows: c/3, in- cubated, 5 April—Pulungi; c/2, incubated, 6 April—Pittur Valley. 74 JOURNAL,. BOMBAY NATURAL. HIST..SOCIETY, Vol.‘ XXXVITI Turdoides striatus polioplocamus Oberholser. The White-headed Babbler. Specimens collected: 18 ¢ 5-1-33, 86 2 18-1-33 Maraiytr 3,500 ft.; 504 9, 505 Q 2-4-83 Trivandrum ca. 8.L.; 53838 Q 8-4-8383 Cape Comorin ca. 8.L.; 569 ? naked chick ex nest 11-4-338; 610 9 17-4-838 Aramboli 250 ft.; 683 9 imm. 17-7-38 (Pattom 50 ft.); 728 9 .25-7-38 (Thirtmalai 120° ft.); 813 9 8-8-3838 (Mukunnimalaéi 800 ft) Trivandrum Taluk; 908 9Q 26-11-8383 Wadak- kancheri 400 ft. Elsewhere noted at: Chalaktdi, Nemmara (800 ft.), Trichtr, Karipadanna Cav cbs Colours of bare parts: Adult: Iris from creamy- or greyish-white to pale sky blue; bill, legs, feet and claws pale sickly yellow; mouth pale pinkish- yellow. Immature (No. 683): ‘lower mandible, legs, feet and claws greyish- white’ (Pillai). [The Survey series measure: Bill. Wing. Tail. 1 3 20.5 108.5 103 mm. 9 OQ 19-23 99-110.5 97-109 mm. The specimens definitely belong to this form and not to the Ceylon race, which appears to be intermediate between this bird and the Jungle Babbler, connecting them. This species has normally a complete post-nuptial moult which takes place from June to November. In practice, however, the body moult seems to be carried out in such an irregular and dilatory fashion that some feathers are being moulted all the time and practically no bird will be found with all feathers in the same state of freshness or wear. The red patches, found on some specimens, appear to have nothing to do with erythrism but to be due to the combined effects of wear and bleaching and staining.—H. W.] The White-headed Babbler was met—with one exception, Maraiytir—only in the low country and about the lower foot-hills in the comparatively drier localities of the States, chiefly in the precincts of villages and human _habita- tions. It was common everywhere. In the gardens about the backwater home- steads near Kartpadanna, and in the scrub and secondary jungle surrounding the camp-shed and the terraced paddy fields at Maraiytr, it was frequently found in association with T. s. malabaricus. Its food consisted to a large extent of the berries of Lantana camara, a species which everywhere was a conspicuous feature of its biotope. Breeding: Specimen No. 13 (5 January) had testes measuring ca. 5X3 mm. and apparently developing. Nos. 504 and 505 (2 April) both had mature ovaries with follicles 1-1.5 mm. in diameter. No. 533 (8 April) had apparently lately finished breeding. Its ovary was as yet conspicuously granular; the plumage was worn and an incubation patch present. It was accompanied by another adult bird and a full-fledged young. On the same date Humayun observed pair feeding a 3 grown Clamator jacobinus. On 11 April (Cape Comorin) he took a naked chick (No. 569) from a nest in .a Babool tree (at about 5 ft.) which contained 8 others in the same stage. On 15 April a nest containing 4 eges was found in a branch of an Acacia planifrons (at 12 ft.) overhanging a dry sandy nullah on the edge of a patch of Babool jungle in the Aramboli Gap. No. 683 (17 July) was a young bird. with soft skull, while No. 813 (8 August) had the largest ovarian follicle measuring about 3 mm. and was evidently breeding. Stewart took nests in Travancore as early as February (Nidification, i, 156). Ferguson (J.B.N.H.S., xv, 258) says that striatus breeds in Travancore in April and May while griseus (obviously referring to the same bird) does so in June. From the evidence collected by the Survey, however, the breeding season appears to be as ill-defined as in the case of some of its nearest relatives. It is possible that as elsewhere in the Madras Presidency (J.B.N.H.S., xxxv. 740) the majority of eggs are laid between March and July. | Argya caudata |caudata] (Dumont). The Common Babbler, No specimens were obtained by the Surveys, but there is one (labelled Crateropus striatus 1) in the Trivandrum Museum with the data ‘Aramboly, THE ORNITHOLOGY OF TRAVANCORE AND COCHIN 75 Travancore, 14-6-10’, From the fact, however, that the label is not original and quite new, Mr. Whistler is of opinion that this cannot be accepted as an authentic record in the absence of any other confirmation from Travancore. He thinks that probably the specimen came from elsewhere and there was some msitake during re-labelling. Aramboli is the western (Travancore) extremity of a gap or pass through the barrier of hills that form the boundary between the Madras district of Tinnevelly and the Travancore State. It is in effect a miniature repetition of the Palghat Gap on the northern frontier of Cochin, and lke it, functions as a channel of exchange for many plant forms between the two areas for some distance on either side. Through this gap also there was noted an exten- sion into T'ravancore of Lanius vittatus, not met with elsewhere within the area, and it is readily conceivable that A. caudata may do so in the same way. Fairbank (S.F., v, 405) found the Common Babbler plentiful at the base of the Palni Hills and there seems no biological reason why it should not extend southward thence through the Ramnad into the Tinnevelly District, and thence through the pass to Aramboli where the facies is of a character eminently suited to it. While the Survey was working this area, I have a record in my diary that Argya caudata was heard. By itself this note would have been valueless and I should probably have omitted it but for the support now accorded by the Trivandrum Museum specimen. In my opinion the two records confirm each other sufficiently to be accepted until definite information to the contrary is forthcoming, Argya malcolmi (Sykes). The Grey-headed Babbler. Not met with by the Surveys. In the Palni Hills Terry (S.F., x, 475) met it once ‘far down the slopes towards Pulney’, The record is vague and gives no idea of the exact locality or the facies in which the birds were seen. Breeding: ‘Bourdillon obtained several nests in Travancore where, how- ever, he says it is not common. . . In Nilgiris and Travancore, most eggs are laid in March . . .’ (Nidification, i, 162). I consider that the occurrence of this Babbler in the Travancore-Cochin area needs confirmation. Argya subrufa (Jerdon). The Rufous Babbler. Specimens collected: 1389 ¢ 24-1-33 Santhanpara 3,700 ft.; 361 J 25-2-38 Peermade 3,200 ft.; 696 Q (juv.) 20-7-88, 799 SG (juv.) 6-8-33 (Thirimalai 120 ft.) Trivandrum Taluk; 869 ¢@ 15-11-33 Kiuriarkutti 1,600 ft. Elsewhere noted at: Maraiyir (3,500 ft.), Thattakad (200 ft.), Kottayam (at ca. 100 ft.), Kamili (8,000 ft.), Rajampara (1,350 ft.), Tenmalai (500 ft.), Balamore Estate (2,000 ft.), Padagiri (3,000 ft.—Nelliampathy Hills). Colours of bare parts: Adult and Immature (No. 799): Iris creamy-white; upper mandible dark horny-brown except at gape; lower mandible, gape and mouth bright yellow; legs and feet dusky-yellow or yellowish-brown; claws dusky. Juvenile (No. 696—apparently younger than No. 799): Iris dark grey; legs patchy brown and yellow in front, yellow behind; rest as above. [Measurements : Bill. Wing. Tail. 33d —— 22..5-25 92-92.5 115-116.5 mm. 1 Q a 91 103.5 mm. In juvenile plumage (Nos. 696 and 799) the wings and tail (full-grown) are considerably shorter: CQ wing 83.5; tail 99; @ wing 85.5 mm. The juvenile plumage is exactly similar to that of the adult except that the upper parts are a rather deeper richer brown. Further specimens examined : Bom. Nai. ‘Hist.’ Soc. Coll.: Q 27-8-938 Thekadi, Travancore (J. P. Cook). Brit. Mus. Coll.: 1 from Tiramalai, Trivandrum (A. N. Nair).—H. W.] 76 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVIII A fairly common species, flocks usually of 6-8 birds frequenting well-wooded areas and keeping mostly to dense scrub and secondary growth, preferably where intermixed with tall grass and on the edge of forest clearings. I did not meet it above 3,500 ft. It was usually shy and a great skulker, and beyond occasional fleeting glimpses, much oftener heard than seen. It has a_ series of squeaking notes, not unpleasant, something between those of Argya caudata and Turdoides striatus. Its food consisted very largely of Lantana berries, while in tea planting localities the flowers of the Hrythrina lithosperma shade- trees invariably attracted flocks to the nectar, the birds obviously assisting in their cross-pollination. When venturing into the open branches of these trees, they were extremely wary, and dived headlong into the undergrowth on the slightest suspicion. As pointed out in the Eastern Ghats Report (J.B.N.H.S.,-xxxv, 740) the distribution given in the New Fauna (vol. i, p. 202) is wrong. No mention is there made of its occurrence in Travancore-Cochin, while from Bett’s account (J.B.N.H.S., xxxiii, 548) where he confusedly records this species as Argya caudata, it would seem to be common in Coorg also. Kinloch’s failure to record it in the Nelliampathies was doubtless due to oversight. At Padagiri—not far from the Palagapandy Estate where he worked and from the Lily Downs referred to in his notes—I came across flocks on several occasions. Breeding: The facts that two juveniles were obtained at the end of July and the beginning of August, that No. 869 (adult) was in complete moult: in the middle of November, and the other two specimens were freshly moulted in Janu- ary and February all suggest that the normal breeding season is later than is usually stated viz. Febri wary to May. It is, however, probably far from well- defined. According to Bourdillon the usual nesting season in Travancore is March and April, but he also took a clutch of eges on 23 February (Nidification, i, 164). Pomatorhinus horsfieldii travancoriensis Harington. The Southern Scimitar Babbler. Specimens collected: 5 ¢ 4-1-38, 10 Q 5-1-3383 Maraiytr 3,500 ft.; 144 d 24-1-83 Santhanpara at 4,500 ft.; 822 dG 21-2-83 Peermade 38,200 ft.; 392 ¢ 3-3-3833 Kimili 3,000 ft.; 678 Q 27-4-83 Balamore Estate 2,000 ft.; 885 9 20-11-33 Kiriarkutti at 2,500-3,000 ft. : Elsewhere noted at: Thattakad (200 ft.), Camp Deramalai (38,000 ft.), Rajampara (1,350 ft.), Padagiri (8,000 ft.—Nelliampathy Hills). Colours: of bare parts: Iris reddish-brown to brownish-crimson; bill yellow except basal half of culmen including nostrils, which horny- brown; mouth pinkish flesh-colour (in No. 892 yellow and brownish-pink !); legs and feet slaty or greyish-brown; claws horny-brown. [ Measurements : Bill. Wing. Tail. Mecires 28-31 93-98 97-106.5 mm. 799 28-31.5 89-98.5 93.5-100 mm. Additional specimens examined: Brit. Mus. and Bom. Nat. Hist. Soc. Colls.: G&G 23-38-94, 0? 10-4-94 Kodaikanal (J. P. Cook); ¢ 1-7-93 Palnis (J. P. Cook); 9 14-5-17 High Wavy Mountains, Maditra District (S. H. Prater); 92 15-12-79, :Q. 20-4-80 Mynall 1,000 ft., Travancore (Bourdillon); Q 21-4-88 Pitttr, Palnis (Terry); 0? -3-75 Eridge, South Travancore (Hume Collection). : A very good race. Represented in Ceylon by the bright ferruginous race melanurus which is, however, clearly connected with horsfieldii by olive-brown intermediates. These ferruginous birds have the sides of the neck and fringe to the plastron identical in colour with those parts in Pomatorhinus schisticeps, and I think it is quite probable that schisticeps and its races mgm all be well considered races of horsfieldu.—H. W.] The Scimitar Babbler is common in all evergreen and bamboo forest tracts throughout the area, whether up to 5,000 ft. in the hills (perhaps also higher) or in the low country as at Thattakad. Pairs or flocks of up to about ten birds THE ORNITHOLOGY OF TRAVANCORE AND COCHIN 77 (according to season) were met with either feeding on the ground in the under- growth of Strobilanthes, wild Zingiber or Cardamom plants or up among the moss-covered branches of forest trees, and frequently as members of the local- ised bird associations or mixed hunting parties. They were also partial to thorny scrub, like Acacia intsia or Lantana, on the edge of hill-paddy ‘toungya’), tea or cardamom clearings. The members of the pairs or flocks keep in touch with one another by mellow bubbling or gurgling calls. When disturbed, the birds hop along the branches with great agility as if to get under weigh before taking off into the air. In the Palni Hills, Fairbank did not consider it abundant at Kodaikanal in June, judging from the calls (S.F., v, 404). This species is replaced in Ceylon by P. melanurus (vide H. W.’s note, supra). Pres diva In specimen No. 885 (20 November} the ovarian follicles were considerably enlarged (damaged by shot!). There were no signs of moult,- and a distinct incubation patch was present. The birds at this time were mostly seen in pairs. In No. 5 (4 January) the testes measured 5x4 mm. It had a strip of something like the outer fibrous skin of a banana stem in its bill and was | accompanied by its mate which was also carrying similar building material. This suggests that both sexes partake in nest building. They were working in a patch of thick impenetrable scrub consisting of Lantana, Acacia intsia and other thorny bushes. No. 10 (5 January) had a soft egg in the ovary, was one of a pair and breeding. On 15 January another bird was observed carrying fibrous strips of plantain bark into some dense scrub on a hillside. Nos. 3822 (21 February) and 892 (8 March) also had somewhat enlarged testes, while 673 (27 April) had obviously finished breeding and was undergoing complete post-nuptial moult. Bourdillon took many nests in ‘Travancore and describes them as _ usually domed affairs made of leaves and grass, lined with roots. They are said to breed principally from December to February, but Stewart took one nest as late as 2 May. Both Stewart and Bourdillon say that c/2 or c/3 is the normal in this part (Nidification, 1, 178-4). From the evidence afforded by the Survey specimens, I am inclined to con- sider that in the Travancore-Cochin area, breeding commences rather earlier than has been recorded, i.e. by about the second half of November. In the Palnis, Terry (S.F., x, 474) found a nest with 8 very hard-set. and one ‘fresh’ (probably addled!) egg on 80 March, and another with 83 incubated eggs on 4 April. He identified the female shot off the latter as melanurus, doubtless misled by the rich colour of this race. (On p. 211, vol. i, of the Fauna, it is stated about P. h. horsfieldii: ‘This is a subspecies of the low country, it being represented by other races in the vigher hills’. What is exactly meant by ‘low country’ is not clear; Maha- bleshwar and Khandalla are included in its ‘Distribution’, the former being 4,500 ft. and the latter about 2,000 ft. !). Dumetia hyperythra albogularis (Blyth). The White-throated Babbler. Specimens collected: 17 ¢ 5-1-33 Mardaiyur 3,500 ft.; 140 ¢ 24-1-33, 170 O 28-1-83 Santhanpara 3,500 ft.; 345 0? 24-2-38, 359 © 25-2-33 Peermade 3,200- ea ft.; 485 Q 21-83-88 Rajampara 1,350 ft.; 652 ¢ 24-4-83 Balamore Estate 000 ft. Hlsewhere noted at: Kumili and Periyar ake JEnvirons (8,000 ft.); Wadakkancheri (400 ft.). Colours of bare parts: Iris creamy-white; bill pale horny-brown, paler on lower mandible; mouth pale yellowish-flesh to pink varying apparently with age; legs and feet yellowish-flesh colour, duskier on anterior tarsus; claws brown. [The sexed Survey specimens measure: Bil. Wing. Maile Seite) 14.5-15.5 57.5-65 62-66 mm. 1) ROM®) 14 53.5 55.5-60.5 mm. 78 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. .SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVIII Further specimens examined: Brit. Mus. Coll.: 0? 16-38-75 Mate-ard (?), §. Travancore (Bourdillon) ; juv. -6-74 Lower Palnis (lairbank). The juvenile specimen from the Lower Palnis differs from the adult in having the whole upper plumage a _ brighter, more rufous brown with no chestnut on the forehead or crown. The lower plumage is a duller more ful- vous brown with merely traces of white on the chin and throat and central abdomen, thereby affording a further proof—if more were needed than the respective distributions (as given in J.B.N.H.S., xxxv, 748-745) and the exis- tence of intermediates where they meet—that this bird is only a race of D. hyperythra. Travancore specimens are not separable from those of the rest of Southern India. I have seen none from Ceylon.—H. W.] This little babbler is gé@nerally distributed in the hilly portions of our area though it is by no means uniformly abundant everywhere. Ferguson is correct on the whole when he says that it is met with between 1,000 and 3,000 ft. ele- vation. I did not come across it in the low country at all, but a small flock was once noted on a dense scrub-covered side of a hummock in Cochin at about 400 ft. This, however, is the only record I have of its being found below 1,000 ft. The birds frequent tall grass (Andropogon) and scrub country on_ hillsides, preferably in light deciduous forest, in flocks of seven or eight individuals. They are generally seen on the edge of paths or clearings in such facies, rest- lessly hopping about and diving among the grass stems and undergrowth in search of food, and uttering a low swee-swee of the volume of a Sunbird’s calls varied by harsh tittering notes when agitated. In Ceylon it is said to be tolerably common and generally distributed in all parts up to 5,500 ft. Breeding: The only evidence is provided by No. 652 (24 April) whose testes measured 4X3 mm. and which looked as if it was preparing to breed. Most of the specimens procured in January and February were undergoing complete pre-nuptial moult. Hume (S.F., v, 404) records a nestling (presumably the one in the British Museum collected by Fairbank) from the Lower Palnis in June. The season according to the HKastern Ghats Report (J.B.N.H.S., xxxv, 745) is not well defined and varies from the middle of April to the middle of November, irres- pective of locality. According to the Fauna the principal breeding months in South India are June and July. Pellorneum ruficeps granti Harington. The Travancore Spotted Babbler. Specimens collected: 18 $ (imm.) 6-1-38, 26 09, 27 ¢ 7-1-88, 99 3 (imm.) 15-1-88 Maraiytr 3,500 ft.; 336 ¢ 28-2-338 Peermade 3,200 ft.; 5083 G 28-3-33 Tenmalai 500 ft.; 878 ¢ 17-11-33 Kiuariarkutti 1,600 ft. Elsewhere noted at: Santhanpara (8,500 ft.), Thattakad (200 ft.), Kumili, Vandamettu or Wandamet, Periyar Lake Environs (ca. 38,000 ft.), Camp Dera- malai (8,000 ft.), Rajampara (1,350 ft.), Balamore Estate (2,000 ft.), Chala- kadi, Wadakkancheri (400 ft.), Nemmara (800 ft.), Padagiri (8,000 ft). Colours of bare parts: Iris hazel-brown (immature) to reddish-brown; bill upper mandible horny-brown, lower mandible usually somewhat paler; mouth in breeding ¢o (Nos. 836, 503, 878) brownish-pink, in immature yellowish flesh colour; legs and feet brownish flesh colour; claws duskier. [The Survey specimens measure: Bill. Wing. Tail. 4 adult oo 19-20 73.5-76 66-738 mim. 2imm. dd 19 67-72 65-69 mm. Further specimens examined: Brit. Mus. Coll.: The type ¢ 10-83-77 Mynall; 0? 8-1-01 Vandenmettu, Cardamom Hills (Ferguson). A very good race, most markedly distinct from the typical form. The crown and nape are dark chestnut, the upper parts are dark olive brown, whilst the spotting on the lower surface is not only heavier but, with the dark wash on-the flanks, is much darker brown than in the typical race.—H. W.] THE ORNITHOLOGY OF TRAVANCORE AND COCHIN (és) The Spotted Babbler is generally distributed in all well-wooded areas throughout the two States. I came across it from 200 ft. above sea-level at Thattakad up to at least 6,000 ft. elevation in evergreen sholas on the hills surrounding Maraiyur. Pairs or family parties were usually met with in dense thickets and ever- green undergrowth by ravines and hill nullahs, the birds rummaging on the damp ground amongst the mulch and humus flicking the leaves here and there in their search for lurking insects. They were also partial to dense growths of EKeta bamboo (Ochlandra travancorica) especially on steep hillsides and along hill nullahs. In facies where a mixture of the evergreen and deciduous types of forest preponderated, their favourite haunts were the dry ravines and watercourses littered with rotting bamboos and brushwood and overgrown with thickets of Acacia intsia, Zizyphus rugosa and ‘channa’ or wild Zingiber etc. On the whole it is an extremely shy bird, retiring into dense cover on the slightest suspicion, and is much oftener heard than seen. At Maraiyar, however, I found it not only common but also surprisingly bold. It frequented the scrub and hedges about the petty Government offices and camp _ shed, and did not object to observation at close quarters. Its percussive song of several rich and loud whistling notes was invariably heard in the early mornings and late afternoons wherever the birds were pre- sent. The notes more commonly uttered, however, are the ones I have else- where rendered as a somewhat plaintive He’ll beat you or simply He’ll beat which at times have a curiously ventriloquistic quality. Sometimes these are repeated from the branch of a tree in dense forest for well over five minutes at a stretch and without any variation. When the tree is approached, the bird ceases to call, noiselessly and imperceptibly drops down into the under- growth below and disappears, and while you are still straining to catch a glimpse of it in the branches it calmly begins calling again 50 yards away ! When alarmed, it gives vent to a series of sharp chuckling chirps or chirrups as it hurriedly moves away through the undergrowth. In my opinion the statement based on Bourdillon’s and Ferguson’s accounts that the Spotted Babbler is rare in Travancore is untenable. In Cochin also I found it far from scarce in suitable localities and can confirm SJinloch’s statement that it 1s common in the Nelliampathies. Fairbank (S.F., v, 404) frequently heard it in the Palnis (sub-species ?) but was never able to see one and procure a specimen. In Ceylon the species does not occur. Breeding: No. 878 (17 November) had the testes enlarged to 4x2 mm. (slightly pigmented) and from the freshness of its plumage it appeared to be getting ready to breed. No. 18 (6 January) was a juvenile with soft skull, completing its post-juvenal moult. No. 99 (15 January), also a _ juvenile with soft skull was in heavy post-juvenal body moult. Both these birds were members of family parties consisting of parents and two or three young. No. 836 (23 February) had testes measuring 7x4 mm. It was in_ freshly moulted plumage, one of a pair and evidently breeding. No. 503 (28 March)— testes 5X4 mm.—though moulting remiges was otherwise in fresh plumage and either breeding or about to. The breeding season appears to commence about November and to continue till April or thereabouts. As is the case with most birds in the Travancore- Cochin area, it evidently begins considerably earlier than in other parts where, in the case of the typical race, March, April and May are given as the breed- ing months. Two clutches given by Stewart to Mr. Baker, c/4 and c/3 respectively, were taken on 7 June and 10 May (Nidification, i, 204). Alcippe poioicephala poioicephala (Jerdon). The Nilgiri Quaker Babbler. Specimens collected: 1382 Q 23-1-33, 156 ¢ 25-1-33, 176 9, 177 ¢ 28-1-33, 192 9 (imm.) 30-1-83 Santhanpara 3,500 ft.; 218 J 4-2-3383 Thattakad 200 ft.; 821 SG 21-2-88 Peermade 3,200 ft.: 364 9 27-2-33 Kumili 3,000 ft.; 876 ¢ 17-11-38, 890 G 21-11-33 Kuriarkutti 1,600 ft. Elsewhere noted at: Maraiyir (Common between 6,000-7,000 ft.), Camp Deramalai (8,000-4,500 ft.), Rajampara (1,850 ft.), Tenmalai (500 ft.), Bala- more Estate (2,000-4,000 ft.), Kuvallé Incline (Cochin Forest Tramway), Kuriar- kutti (up to 4,000 ft.), Padagiri (8,000 ft.). 89 JOURNAL,-BOMBAY NATURAL. HIST. SOCIETY, .Vol. XXXVIII Colours of bare parts: Adult: Iris greyish-brown; bill dark horny-brown, commissure and lower mandible greyish; mouth pale flesh colour; legs, feet and claws greyish-brown. Immature (No. 192): Iris slaty-grey; gape and mouth bright yellow; chin duller yellow; paler portions of bill yellowish; legs, feet and claws as in adult. [lurther material examined: i Brit. Mus. Coll.: of 4-4-79 EHridge; @Q 12-12-78 Mynall; @Q -9-74, 0? -3-75 Hridge (Bourdillon); 0? 9-1-01 Bandanutta [Vandamettu ?] (A. N. Nair). Bom. Nat. Hist. Soc. Coll.; ¢G 1-7-9383. Pulmeys) (J.P. - Cook): Measurements (including above) : Bill. Wing. Tail. 8 dd 15-16 68-738 60-67 mm. 6 QQ 15.5-16 65-70.5 61.5-64.5 mm. A. p. brucei differs from this, the typical race, in being altogether paler. The crown and nape are a clearer colder grey; the rest of the upper parts are greyer and colder with less brown in them; the wings and tail are not so dark. The lower parts are also much paler, washed with greyer brown, as compared with rich fulvous. It is slightly larger; an equal number of birds measure : Bill. ‘Wing. Tail. ae) 3 15-17 69.5-77 64.5-70.5 mm. 6 QQ 15-16:5 67.5-73 6) .5-69.5 mm.—H. W.] It would perhaps be accurate to designate this Quaker Babbler as the com- monest and most abundant bird species inhabiting the evergreen forest tracts of the States. I met with it from almost the level of the low country (Thatta- kad 200 ft. !) up to an elevation of 7,000 ft. in ravine sholas on Kumarikkai- malii near Maraiytr. The birds move about in parties of 7 to 10 individuals hunting insects among the foliage of the moss-covered trees, hopping about from sprig to sprig and often clinging upside down to peer into the angles of the leaf-stalks. They also descend lower down into the evergreen undergrowth of seedlings and cane-brakes, and almost invariably form the nucleus of the mixed hunting parties of small birds in the forest. At Kuariarkutti they were common in the mixed bamboo forest as well as in the frequently intervening patches of ever- green. The ‘song’ of four quavering whistling notes of the consistency of a Magpie Robin’s, is repeated incessantly as the birds move about. Like many other birds, I found them very partial to the nectar of Hrythrina lithosperma flowers, and wherever these trees occurred shading coffee or tea on the edges of evergreen patches, parties were invariably observed probing into the blossoms. They must be added to the long list of bird species on which this tree is dependent for the cross-pollination of its flowers. A specimen shot in the act of eating nectar had pollen adhering to its chin and throat. Kxinloch appears to have overlooked this species in his list for the Nelliaim- pathies where I found it common. In the Palni Hills also it is common. Fairbank (S.F’., v, 404) observed it in wooded ravines on the hillsides. The species is not found in Ceylon. Breeding: No. 876 (17 November) appeared to be getting ready to breed. Its testes showed a slight developmen, while it was undergoing a complete (pre-nuptial ?) moult. No. 182 (23 January) had a soft ovarian egg and some of the other follicles upto 4 mm. in diameter. It was in freshly moulted plumage. No. 156 (25 January) testes 10x6 mm. Fresh plumage. No. 176 (28 January) soft ovarian egg and follicles greatly enlarged. An incubation patch was present, and the bird was carrying a fine rootlet in its bill. No moult. No. 177 (28 January) testes 9x6 mm. Fresh plumage. No. 192 (80 January) juvenile with very soft skull. Out of nest, but being tended by parent. No. 2138 (4 February) testes 8x6 mm. Fresh plumage. THE ORNITHOLOGY OF TRAVANCORE AND COCHIN 81 No. 821 (21 February) testes 9x7 mm. Moulting body and remiges. (Post- nuptial ?). On 25 April (Balamore, Ashambu Hills) a nest was discovered in a dense evergreen shola at ca. 8,000 ft. It was a flimsy cup of hair-like rootlets and some moss, slung hammock-wise between two horizontal twigs of a seedling at a height of about 4 ft. Diameter of cup ca. 70 mm.; depth 80 mm. It contained two naked chicks, one of which was observed at 7 a.m. pushing itself out of the shell. By 3-15 p.m. a fine fluffy down of pale yellow colour had made its appearance at various points on the back. The ground below the nest swarmed with leeches. As is clear from the above, in Travancore-Cochin the breeding season lasts from January to May at least. That it may begin a month or so earlier is suggested by one of the Survey specimens, while it 13 said to continue till June. According to Nidification, i, 245, it breeds in Travancore principally in May and June, often April, while Stewart says he has taken eggs in every month of the year. Full clutch 2, rarely 3 eggs, but A. P. Kinloch took several c/3 at Kollengode and considered this the normal there. At Culputty, South Wynaad, Mr. Darling, Junior, found a nest as late as October. Rhopocichla atriceps bourdilloni (Hume). Bourdillon’s Babbler. Specimens collected: o? 10-1-338 Maraiytr (at 6,000 ft.); 159 ¢, 160 ¢ 25-1-83; 169 ¢ (imm.) 28-1-83, 197 9 (imm.) 31-1-33 Santhanpara 3,500 ft.; 223 0? (imm.) 6-2-3833 Thattakad 200 ft.; 323 ¢ 21-2-33 Peermade 3,200 ft.; 3863 ¢ 27-2-83 Kumili 3,000 ft.; 426 Q 9-38-83 Camp Deramalai 3,000 ft.; 477 9 20-38-33 Rajampara 1,350 ft.; 494 ¢, 495 9 26-3-33 Tenmalai 5,000 ft. ; 645 od 238-4-83 Balamore Estate 2,000 ft.; 822 0? 10-8-83 Kutyani 300 ft. Trivandrum Taluk; 873 Q 16-11-83 Kuriarkuatti 1,600 ft.; 994 @ 19-12-33 Pada- girl 3,000 ft. Elsewhere noted at: Mundakayam (in Urambikera Reserve Forest), Wanda- met, Kuvallé Incline (along Cochin Forest Tramway). Colours of bare parts: Iris lemon yellow or pale golden yellow; upper mandible dark horny-brown; commissure and lower mandible pale greyish flesh colour; mouth adult pale pinkish-flesh, immature mouth and gape yellow; legs and feet pinkish-grey; claws dusky. [The sexed Survey specimens measure: Bill. Wing. Tail. 8B Sd 15-16 55-60.5 46.5-51 mm. 5 O90 14-15 54-58 43-48 mm. In the Eastern Ghats Survey I expressed certain doubts as to whether two races atriceps and bourdillont should be recognised, for the following reasons: (1) that bourdilloni exhibited characters which might suggest that it was the juvenile plumage of atriceps; (2) that both forms were stated to occur throughout the Travancore hills; and (8) that Trichoor, the usually accepted type-locality of atriceps was in the area which geographically should be occu- pied by bourdillont. The question has now been cleared up by the fine series collected by Mr. Salim Ali. This shows that the juvenile and adult birds of this race are alike in colouration, both being brown-headed. It also shows that there 1s a certain amount of variation in the colour of the crowns, some being browner and others blacker. This is to be expected, as bourdillont is an intermediate form between atriceps and nigrifrons, and it no doubt explains Ferguson’s statement that both forms occur throughout the Travancore Hills, though atriceps is far less common (J.B.N.H.S., xv, 260). No true atriceps was met by the Surveys. As regards the type-locality of Trichoor for atriceps, the two Survey spect- mens from Cochin State are beyond all doubt bourdillont and it therefore appears very highly probable that birds from Trichoor must belong to the same form and not to atriceps. None are, however, available for examination. It must be remembered moreover, that Jerdon only recognised one form. His original description most clearly refers to typical atriceps with the black head, but his localities no doubt refer to both forms for he says: ‘I have seen it in the Trichoor and Wurguncherry [Wadakkancheri ?] jungles and also on the Coonoor Ghat and in the Wynaad’ and in the Birds of India (vol. u, p. 19) 6 82 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVIII whilst still only recognising one form he expands his localities to include ‘all the forests of Malabar’, that is the Malabar Coast. Trichoor was only selected later as type-locality as it was the first locality mentioned, but since it appears certain that this locality is within the range of the southern form, the type-locality must be shifted to one of the other places mentioned by Jerdon. I accordingly designate the Wynaad as _ the type-locality. I may mention that this is one of the species in which ‘museum browning’ is very marked—fresh birds being much more olive in tint than birds kept for some years.—H. W.] Bourdillon’s Black-headed Babbler is essentially a bird of evergreen forest and is met with wherever patches of this occur, from the level of the low country up to an elevation of at least 6,000 ft. in the hills. It goes about in flocks of from 5 to 10 birds, keeping to dense undergrowth of rattan (Calamus) and seedlings or Strobilanthes especially by the edge of paths or clearings, and seldom ascends higher up into the trees. So narrowly is it confined to evergreen jungle that I frequently came across it in sholas bordering the ravines amongst the grassy hilltops at Wandamet (Cardamom Hills) often barely half an acre in extent and separated from the next, no bigger than itself, by a mile or more of open rolling grass-covered ‘downs’. At Kutyani in the en- virons of Trivandrum town where tiny patches of evergreen occur between hummocks covered with tapioca and plantain cultivation (with paddy-fields in the intervening narrow flats or valleys) and sundered by miles from the nearest evergreen patch of any size, this species has persisted in virtual isola- tion since at least 1903 when Ferguson recorded meeting it in these ‘serpent groves’, most of which have by now disappeared. At Kuriarkutti, the birds were commonly observed in mixed bamboo forest on the verge of evergreen jungle, amongst dense scrub and_ thickets. A harsh, rather subdued chur-r, chur-r, etc., something like similar notes of the Iora, is uttered as the flocks move about the undergrowth very much in Dumetia fashion, and the birds have a habit—having ventured too far up in a cane-brake or the like—of dropping perpendicularly like a falling leaf into the thickets below on the slightest alarm or suspicion. Fairbank does not seem to have come across it in the Palnis though it is more than likely that it occurs in those hills. The Ceylonese race R. a. nigrifrons is found throughout that island. Breeding: Nos. 169 (28 January), 197 (31 January) and 223 (6 February) were all immature birds with very imperfectly ossified skulls, juvenile gape and mouth and Nos. 169 and 223 were undergoing heavy post-juvenal body moult. They were evidently between 13 and 23 months old. No. 477 (20 March) had conspicuously granular ovaries; it was in fresh plumage and appeared ready to breed. The gonads of the other specimens gave no indication as regards the breeding season, but it seems from the evidence that this is by no means so well defined as has been described (‘March to May, July and August’, Fauna, vol. 1, p. 282) and the statement in the Eastern Ghats Report (J.B.N.H.S., xxxv, 749) that breeding continues throughout the year is probably more correct. T. F. Bourdillon (S.F., ix, 299-800) took a nest at Mynall (4,300 ft.) in South Travancore on 24 March in a low bush at about 18 in. from the ground. He describes it as a domed structure, very similar to the nest of Ochromela nigrorufa but slightly larger, composed externally of ‘Irul’ [meaning doubtless Heta (Ochlandra)] leaves and lined with fine hair-like roots. ‘The eggs [num- ber ?] were white, very sparingly spotted with purple except towards the larger end where the spots coalesced to form an imperfect zone. According to Nidification (i, 254) most eggs in Travancore are laid in April, May and June, though Stewart has taken them in every month. c/2 is said to be normal, ¢c/38 unusual. Agithina tiphia multicolor (Gmelin). The Ceylon Tora. Specimens collected: 78 ¢ 18-1-338 Maraiytr 3,500 ft.; 168 $ 26-1-33 Santhanpara 3,500 ft.; 219 9 4-2-3833 Thattakad 200 ft.; 467 9 18-38-33 Rajam- para 1,850 ft.; 490 ¢ 25-38-83 Tenmalai 500 ft.; 686 9, 6387 ¢ 21-4-33 Aramboli 250 ft.; 692 § 20-7-38, 721 9 25-7-83 (Thirumalai 100 ft.); 748 ¢, 749 9 THE ORNITHOLOGY OF TRAVANCORE AND COCHIN 83 30-7-33 (Veli 180 ft.); 791 ¢ 5-8-8383 (Poojappira 140 ft.); 811 @ 8-8-83 (Mukutnnimalai 800 ft.) Trivandrum Environs; 964 9 10-12-83 Nemmara 300 ft. ; 10384 J 28-12-33 Karupadanna ca. §.L. Elsewhere noted at: Kottayam (50 ft.), Peermade (3,200 ft.), Kamili (3,000 ft.), Camp Deramalai (3,000 ft.—Panthalam Hills), Trivandrum Town, Cape Comorin (8.L.), Balamore Estate (2,000 ft.—Ashambu Hills), Kavriarkotui (1,600 ft.), Wadakkancheri (400 ft.), Padagiri (8,000 ft.—Nelliampathy Hills), Trichur, Ernakulam. Colours of bare parts: Iris greyish- or silvery-brown; bill bluish-plumbeous, black on culmen; palate greyish-blue, gullet slaty-brown, brownish-black or slaty-pink in adult; legs and feet slaty-grey; claws brown. [The Survey specimens measure: Bill. Wing. Tail. Sah tes 7-19 63-68.5 45-51 mim. te 2.9. 16.5-19 61-66 47.5-52.5 min. Owing to the courtesy of the Director of the Colombo Museum, I have been able to examine a further series of 8 specimens of the Jora from Ceylon and these, taken in conjunction with the series in the British Museum, lead me to the conclusion that the darker and duller green of the upper parts of the female and the male in ‘winter plumage’ is the only satisfactory feature on which this race can be maintained. The only specimens from Travancore in the British Museum are the unsatisfactory ‘Anjango’ series of which only one shows the green back. I have carefully compared the good series obtained by the Surveys with these Ceylon specimens and also with an ample series of #. tiphia humei and find that the Travancore series are as a whole inter- mediate between the others. This being so—and it is interesting to note that No. 964 from Nemmara in the Palghat Gap is quite indistinguishable from Ay. t. humei—I think it is of value to mark the connection between the Travan- core area and Ceylon by including these intermediates under the name of the Ceylon race. There is of course no difference between the birds of Northern and Southern Travancore and these Travancore intermediates merely repre- sent a phase of the general intergradation from north to south which I emphasised in my account of this species in the Hastern Ghats Survey (Nellie: SX RV, TOO) The series suggests that the breeding season of the Iora in Travancore is quite undefined; at any rate, accepting the usual definition that the black head and back of the male represent the breeding season and the green upper parts the non-breeding season. I find that No. 78 (13 January) is in winter plumage and Nos. 168 (26 January) and 1034 (28 December) are in breeding plumage, whilst No. 981 (1 December) is moulting into breeding plumage. Legge evidently found the same state of affairs in Ceylon and was thereby led to suggest that the black upper parts might be merely connected with age. I do not think the latter explanation necessary, however, in view of the con- nection between the breeding seasons and the plumage in other areas where the breeding season is more clearly defined.—H. W.] The Tora is a common bird throughout the area from about sea-level to at least 3,500 ft. in the hills, and possibly even higher up to some extent, though at Mtnnar (5,000 ft.—Kannan Dévan Hills) it was noted as absent. At Kotagiri in the Nilgiris, I observed it at 5,500 ft. Ferguson does not seem to have met with it except in the low country where it is certainly more abun- dant. This is probably the basis for the statement in the Eastern Ghats Report (J.B.N.H.S., xxxv, 749) that ‘In the south-west it seems to be more definitely a bird of the plains as it avoids the Palni Hills and the Travancore ranges south of the Palghat Gap’. It is a bird of light secondary or deciduous-and-bamboo jungle and avoids evergreen forest. Its favourite haunts, however, are the mango, jack and cashew gardens about villages and homesteads in the low country, and it is also quite at home in the gardens and compounds of the larger towns such as Trivandrum, Trichar and others. . Fairbank (S.F., v, 406) only obtained a specimen at the base of the Palni Hills and does not record it higher up. The species and race are abundant in Ceylon. 84. JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVIII Breeding: No. 931 (1 December) was completing body moult into breeding plumage though its gonads as yet showed no development. No. 1034 (28 Decem- ber) had acquired fresh breeding plumage, its testes measured 6X4 mm. (grey pigmented) and it was evidently ready to breed. In No. 78 (13 January) the testes—ca. 2x1.5 mm.—were apparently revert- ing to normal non-breeding condition as the specimen was in freshly moulted non-breeding plumage. No. 168 (26 January) on the other hand was evidently ready to breed. It was completing pre-nuptial moult and had testes measuring 8x5 mm. At this time other males in breeding dress were also calling from bare branches etc. in loud melodious whistles, and displaying. No. 219 (4 February) had a firm granulated ovary and on 9 February a male in non-breeding plumage wag observed fluffing out the white rump feathers, slightly cocking up tail, drooping wings at sides and displaying before a female in rivalry with another cock in breeding dress. If the above evidence be admis- sible, and I have frequently observed this on other occasions also—then Hume's statement (S.F., v, 430) that cocks sometimes breed in female plumage may, after all, be correct. On 4 March the birds were noted as busy courting and displaying and No. 490 (25 March) had testes enlarged to 6X4 mm. Ferguson took nests in the Public Gardens at Trivandrum in April, and one of the specimens obtained by Pillai in that neighbourhood on 8 August (No. 811) was immature with an imperfectly ossified skull and undergoing post-juvenal body moult, therefore about 2-23 months old. From the evidence cited above it is clear that the breeding season of the Tora in the Travancore-Cochin area is irregular and much prolonged, extend- ing from about January to June for certain, and sporadically over the greater part of the year. Chloropsis aurifrons insularis Kinnear and Whistler. The Gold-fronted Chlorop- SIs. Specimens collected: 65 @, 66 ¢ 11-1-838 Maraiyar 3,500 ft.; 189 dg, 190 ¢ (juv.) 30-1-33 Santhanpara 3,500 ft.; 444 9 16-38-33 Rajampara 1,850 ft. ; 499 2° (imm.) 27-38-33 Tenmalai 500 ft.; 899 ¢ 25-11-38 Wadakkancheri 400 ft. Elsewhere noted at: Thattakad (200 ft.), Ktmili (3,000 ft.), Nemmara (800 ft.), Padagiri (8,000 ft.—Nelliampathy Hills). Colours of bare parts: Adult: Iris hazel brown; bill in ¢ black, 9? horny-brown; mouth pinkish-flesh to slaty-pink; legs and feet grey or plum- beous; claws brown. Juvenile: Bill pale horny-brown; mouth vivid pink; rest as in adult. [Measurements of 12, including Survey series: Bill. Wing. Tail. Td 3 22.5-25 86.5-93.5 65-69 mm. 5 990 22-23 84.5-90.5 64.5-67 mm. lor plumages see Eastern Ghats Report, J.B.N.H.S., xxxv, 752. In the Eastern Ghats Survey the name Chloropsis aurifrons davidsoni Stuart Baker was used for the race of this species found in Southern India exclusive of the range of C. a. insularis. This was a name proposed by Mr. Stuart Baker, Bull. B.O.C., xli (1920), p. 8, in place of Chloropsis malabaricus (Gmel.) pre-occupied. Dr. Sassi has, however, since shown [Bull. B.O.C., li (1982), p. 44] that this race should be known as Chloropsis aurifrons frontalis (Pelzeln) as it was so described by Pelzeln in Sitzungsberichte der Mathem.- naturwiss. Klasse der Kaiserl. Academie der Wissenschaften in Wien, Tome, xx (1856), p. 157, pl. i, fig. i. The type is an adult male in the Vienna Museum collected at Khelgate near Goa by Baron Huegel. C. a. davidsoni Stuart Baker will therefore stand as a synonym.—H. W.] This Chloropsis is fairly common throughout the States inspite of Ferguson’s statement that it is not found in the low country. I came across it from about 200 ft. (Thattakad) up to an elevation of 3,500 ft. in the hills of both Travancore and Cochin. My impression is that this species prefers more thickly wooded country than Jerdon’s Chloropsis. Thus, at Thattakad where patches of dense evergreen forest and open deciduous and secondary jungle occur in juxtaposition, aurifrons was more or less confined to the former and jerdoni to the latter. The birds were usually met with in pairs, but family parties of 3 or 4 were not uncommon. THE ORNITHOLOGY OF TRAVANCORE AND COCHIN 85 In addition to insects, spiders and berries, its food consists to a large extent of the nectar of flowers. I frequently, and regularly, observed it probing with its bill into blossoms of the following species which it doubtless plays a considerable part in cross-pollinating : Musa (sapientum?), Mucuna pruriens (pollen on forehead !), Erythrina lithosperma and E. suberosa, Loranthus longiflorus, Mezoneuron cucullatum (var. grandis). Fairbank does not record the Gold-fronted Chloropsis in his Palnis list (S.F., v). The race insularis is generally distributed in Ceylon up to 4,000 ft. Breeding: Specimen No. 899 (25 November) was completing pre-nuptial moult and its testes were enlarged to 4x3 mm. On 380 November a male (?) was observed feeding a full-fledged young in which latter the black gular patch and blue moustachial streaks were as yet absent. Nos. 65 and 66 (11 January) were a pair. The ovary of the female was distinctly granular (fol- licles about 1 mm. in diameter) while the testes of the male measured 5x3. The birds were in fresh plumage except for a light moult on the female’s breast, and were evidently ready to breed. No. 189 (380 January—testes ca. 4x3 mm.) was the parent of No. 190 and was busy feeding the latter on a tree in dense scrub jungle. The young was probably less than a week out of nest. Its skull was papery and rectrices, remiges and tectrices only partly grown. Specimens shot on 16 and 27 March showed no genital development and were undergoing complete post-nuptial (?) moult, in the latter only tail and body. The breeding season in this area is apparently from about November to February. Chloropsis jerdoni (Blyth). Jerdon’s Chloropsis. Specimens collected: 246 9, 247 Go 8-2-3383 Thattakad 200 ft.; 688 9 18-7-33 (Ptlayanar Kotta 300 ft.); 740 G 29-7-33 (Kuttani 300 ft.); 783 @ 4-8-33 (Cattle Farm); 808 @ 8-8-83 (Mukunni Malai 800 ft.); 815 ¢ (Nettayam 200 ft.) Trivandrum Environs; 1017 ¢, 1018 9 26-12-33 Kartpadanna ca. §.L. Elsewhere noted at: Maraiytr (8,500 ft.), Kottayam (S8.L.), Urambikera Reserve Forest (ca. 1,000 ft.—near Mundakayam), Kumili (8,000 ft.), Aram- bol (250 ft.), Balamore Estate (2,000 ft.), Kuriarkatti (1,600 ft.). I noted it as absent at Rajampara where only aurifrons seemed to occur. Colours of bare parts: Iris hazel brown; bill ¢ black, 2 horny-brown, grey at sides of base of lower mandible; mouth pinkish-grey or pinkish-slate; legs and feet slaty-grey; claws dusky. [The Survey specimens measure: Bill. Wing. Tail. 3 od 93-24 87-90.5 69.5-72.5 mm. 6 O99 22,.5-23.5 83.5-86.5 66.5-69.5 mm. Plumages given in Eastern Ghats Report, J.B.N.H.S., xxxv, 753.—H. W.] Jerdon’s Chloropsis is fairly common in the drier parts of the area. It inhabits open deciduous country, secondary scrub, groves of jack, cashew, mango etc. and pepper cultivation about homesteads, and avoids densely wooded tracts. Ferguson states that it does not ascend the hills; I however, met it up to an elevation of 3,500 ft. In food and habits it does not differ to any appreciable extent from the foregoing species. In several localities in Cochin I found it a wholetime attendant on the blossoms of Helicteres isora, probing into them for the nectar. In the Palnis, Fairbank (S.F'., v, 406) obtained a specimen at 4,000 ft. in ‘the lower hills. In Ceylon Jerdon’s Chloropsis is fairly generally distributed up to 3,500 ft. Breeding: Nos. 1017 and 1018 (26 December), a pair, were certainly breed- ing. The testes of the one measured 5X3 mm., while the ovarian follicles of the other were considerably enlarged, the largest measuring 5 mm. in dia- meter. In Nos. 246 and 247 (8 February), also a pair, the ovarian follicles were about 1 mm. and the testes ca. 4x3 mm. They were undergoing pre- nuptial body moult—more advanced in the male than in the female—and eyi- dently preparing to breed, 86 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVIILI Two of the specimens collected by Pillai (Nos. 783 and 815) on 4 and 9 August in the environs of Trivandrum town had imperfectly ossified skulls from which it would appear that the breeding season, commencing probably about November as in the foregoing species, continues till at least June, and perhaps later. FaMIty: PYCNONOTIDAE. Microscelis psaroides ganeesa (Sykes). The Southern Indian Black Bulbul. Specimens collected: 112 Q 19-1-38 Munnar 5,000 ft.; 659 ¢ (imm.) 25-4-383 Muthuktzhi 8,500 ft.; 974 ¢ 18-12-34 Padagiri 3,000 ft. Elsewhere noted at: Maraiyur (38,500 ft.), Santhanpara (8,500 ft.), Peer- made (8,200 ft.); Camp Deramalai (38,000 ft.), Balamore Estate (only above 2,500 ft.). Colours of bare parts: Adult: Iris orange-brown; bill bright deep orange; mouth orange and pink; legs and feet yellowish-orange; claws horny-brown. Immature: Iris. olive-brown; bill horny-brown, paler at tip; gape yellow; mouth yellowish-pink; legs and feet yellowish-brown; claws horny-brown. [Measurements of 11 including Survey specimens : Bill. Wing. Tail. icc 26-28.5 117.5-124.5 98-105 mm. 4 09 26-28.5 112-1238 96.5-104.5 mm. Further specimens examined: Brit. Mus. Coll.: GS 21-6-77 Kodaikanal 7,000 ft., 9 1-6-77 Palnis (Fairbank); ¢ 21-12-79, 3 24-12-79 Nangand (?), Q 29-11-78 Mynall (Bour- dillon). Bom. Nat. Hist. Soc. Coll.: 3 18-8-98 Thekadi (J. P. Cook). H. Whistler Coll.: Q 26-10-28 Nelliampathies 3,500 ft. (A. P. Kin- loch).—H. W.] : The lowest elevation at which the Surveys came across the Black Bulbul was about 2,500 ft. and it is a common species in all the hills from 38,500 ft. up. Ferguson records once having met a large flock as low down as 1,500 ft., while according to Bourdillon it is ‘found also in small numbers at the foot of the hills’. This latter must surely be an extremely rare occurrence. The birds go about in noisy flocks of 6 to 12, often considerably larger, and usually keep to the tall tree-tops or the higher branches of forest trees, whence they may frequently be seen launching short twisting sallies after winged insects. Hucalyptus trees are much favoured, and I observed both in these hills—wherever the tree has been introduced—and in the Nilgiris, that the birds regularly visited the white ‘brush-lke’ flowers principally for the attending insects but also occasionally sipping the nectar. Some of the com- monest members of the localised bird associations or hunting parties in the sholas at about 5,000 ft. were: Mucroscelis, Zosterops, Sitta frontalis, Culici- capa, Pomatorhinus, Trochalopteron (frequently), Muscicapula pallipes, Ochromela nigrorufa- The first usually kept to the tree-tops or higher branches, the last two to the evergreen undergrowth of seedlings etc. while the remaining hunted indiscriminately between these two ‘zones’. The nectar of Hrythrina lithosperma is much sought after by Black Bulbuls, and the shade trees on coffee estates in the higher hills were in constant atten- dance by noisy flocks. I found them also feeding largely on the ripe drupes of Zizyphus cenoplia (at Maraiytr) and on Jamun (Hugenia sp.) and Vaccinium Leschenaultt (‘Bilberries’). In the Palnis, Fairbank (S.F., v, 405) found them in groves both at the tops of the hills and lower down. In June they were in noisy flocks of 20 to 30 birds. Terry (S.I’., x, 476) also came across them on 2 or 3 occasions at Pulungi. In the Nelliampathies where they are extremely common, Kin- loch found that the flocks broke up into pairs about February. This Bulbul is represented in Ceylon by the race humi which has a larger bill. Breeding: In No. 974 (18 December) the testes were undeveloped. No. 112 had a distinctly granulated ovary, the follicles measuring about 1 mm. in diameter, and the bird was in somewhat worn plumage. At this time pairs were observed in courtship. No. 659 (25 April) was immature (with very imperfectly ossified skull) undergoing post-juvenal body moult. On 17 July at Kotagiri (Nilgiris) I found them feeding full-fledged young similar to No. 659, generally. THE ORNITHOLOGY OF TRAVANCORE AND COCHIN 87 In Travancore Stewart found them breeding at between 4,000 and 6,000 ft. elevation in dense forest, principally in April and May. Kinloch also records the same to be the chief breeding months in the Nelliampathies (Nidification, i, 348). Molpastes cafer cafer (Linn.). The Ceylon Red-vented Bulbul. Specimens collected : 261 ¢ 10-2-83 Thattakad 200 ft.; 564 J 11-4-33 Cape Comorin ca. 8.L.; 691 ¢ 20-7-33 (Marathankizhi 50 ft.); 752 Q 30-7-33 (Thirt- malai 120 ft.) Trivandrum Environs; 951 ¢ 7-12-33 Nemmara 300 ft. Elsewhere noted at: Maraiyur (8,500 ft.), Kottayam (ca. S.L.), Rajam- para (1,850 ft.—-Panthalam Hills), Trivandrum Town, Aramboli (250 ft.), Chalakadi, Wadakkancheri (400 ft.), Kartpadanna (ca. §.L.). Noted as absent at: Munnar (5,000 ft.), Santhanpara (8,500 ft.), Koariar- kutti (1,600 ft.), Padagiri (8,000 ft.—Nelliampathy Hills). Colours of bare parts: Iris brown; bill brownish-black; mouth pinkish yellow; legs, feet and claws blackish-brown. [Measurements of 9 including Survey specimens : Bill. Wing. Tail. Gee 19-21 92.5-98 76-84 mm. 2 92 18.5-21 91.5-98.5 83 mm. Further material examined: Brit. Mus. Coll.: SG 18-11-78, ¢ 19-11-78 Trivandrum (Bourdillon); ¢ 27-5-77 Vengayam Parry, E. base of Palnis (Iairbank); Q 28-2-75 Kolachal, Travancore.—H. W.] The distribution of the Red-vented Bulbul in the area covered by the states of Travancore and Cochin is peculiar and worthy of closer scrutiny. The precise ecological factors that control it are obscure. I met it from about sea-level to an altitude of 4,000 ft., but on the whole it would perhaps be correct to say that it avoids elevations over 1,500-2,000 ft. and also country that is densely wooded. In the Nilgiris, however, I found it common up to 5,000 ft. At Thattakad a sharp division between the biotopes of this Bulbul and the Red-whiskered species was clearly noticeable. In the mixed ever- ereen-and-deciduous forest patches none of the former were in evidence though the latter were abundant, while as soon as one reached dry deciduous-and- scrub country the tables were turned and Otocompsa almost completely dis- appeared. It was more or less the general rule for the two to replace each other in the localities and biotopes suited to them. The following table expresses as nearly as possible their respective positions in Travancore and Cochin. Locality. Molpastes. Otocompsa. Maraiyur, 3,500 ft. Common Common. Munnar, 5,000 ft. Absent Common. Santhanpara, 3,500 ft. Absent Common to very com- : mon. Thattakad, 200 ft. Not common Common. Kottayam, ca. 50 ft. Common Much less common, Peermade, 3,200 ft. Absent Very common. Kimili, 3,000 ft. Very scarce (Only 3 !) Common. Camp Deramalai, 3,000 ft. Rajampara, 1,350 ft. Tenmalai, 500 ft. Trivandrum ‘Town Cape Comorin Aramboli, 250 ft. Balamore Estate, 2,000 ft. Chalakudi Kariarkitti, 1,600 ft. Wadakkancheri, 400 ft. Nemmara, 300 ft. Padagiri (from 1,500 ft. up) Karupadanna Absent Fairly common 2 Common Fairly common Common Absent Fairly common Absent Common Common Absent Fairly common Fairly common. Tfairly common. Fairly common. Common. Absent. Absent. Common. ? Not common. Not common. Absent. Very common, Not common, 88 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVIII - The food of this species in common with that of the rest of the Pycnonotidae consists chiefly of fruits and berries. The following are some of the species observed to be patronised as and wherever available: Zizyphus oenoplia, Maesa perrottetiana, Hugenia jambolana, Vaccinium “Leschenaultii, Salvadora persica, Polygonum chinense L., Trema orientalis Blume, Berberis tinctoria Lesch., Lantana camara, also figs of Ficus bengalensis, F. religiosa and F, glome- rata. A great many others are also. eaten and there is no doubt that this group is of the greatest importance in the dispersal of the plants. I also observed these Bulbuls regularly eating nectar from flowers of Hrythrina litho- sperma, Bombax malabaricum, Loranthus longiflorus, Grevillea robusta and other species. In the Palnis both Fairbank (S.F., v, 405) and Terry (S.F., x, 476) found the Red-vented Bulbul somewhat rare as compared with Otocompsa at the top of the hills, but more abundant down the slopes and in the adjacent plains. The same race, cafer, occurs in Ceylon throughout the low country and at medium elevations in the hills, becoming rarer higher up. Breeding: On November 25 (Wadakkancheri) a bird was observed carrying nesting material in its bill. In No. 261 (10 February) the testes—ca. 3x2 mm. —appeared to be developing and the bird was completing pre-nuptial moult (?). On 19 April (Aramboli) a nest in a Thespesia populnea tree at 10 ft. contained two chicks about 5 days old, with quills sprouting, and one addled egg. Both parents were busy feeding the young (on berries !). . The gonads of the two specimens obtained in July were also slightly deve- loped, but from their plumage they appeared to have finished breeding. Ferguson took a nest with 2 eggs on 29 March and mentions another in the Public Gardens at Trivandrum which contained 8 young birds at the end of April. According to him, the breeding season in Travancore is February to May. T. F. Bourdillon took nests with eggs in May and June (Nidifica- tion, i, 354). Probably as elsewhere in its range, there is really no well-defined season and the breeding period fluctuates considerably on either side of the above extremes. Otocompsa jocosa fuscicaudata Gould. The Southern Red-whiskered Bulbul. Specimens collected: 341 @G (juv.) 23-2-838 Peermade 3,200 ft.; 650 9, 651 ¢ 28-4-33 Balamore Estate 2,000 ft.; 686 Q 18-7-33, 831 3 11-8-33 (Pulaya- narkotta 200 ft.); 855 © 30-7-83 (Thirtmalai 100 ft.) Trivandrum Environs; 887 go 21-11-38 Kuriarkitti 1,600 ft. Elsewhere noted at: See table under M. c. cafer. Colours of bare parts: Iris hazel-brown to brown; bill horny black; mouth orange-yellow and pink; legs, feet and claws horny brown. [The Survey specimens measure: Bill. Wing. Tail. £238 18.5-20.5 83.5-89 79-84 mm. 299 18-18.5 81-83 77-80 mm. No. 341 is in juvenile plumage. This is very similar to the adult but the crest is shorter and browner, a less pure black; the red ‘whisker’ patch is absent; the upper parts are duller, more rusty in colour and the gorget is duller; the undertail coverts are dull pinkish. The first primary is softer and more rounded, while the outer tail feather is narrower and more pointed at the tip.—H. W.] The distributional peculiarities of this Bulbul in the Travancore-Cochin area have already been dealt with above. . In the Palni Hills both Fairbank (8.F., v, 405) and Terry (S.F., x, 476) found it extremely common on the tops of the hills and extending right down to the bottom. This species is absent in Ceylon. Breeding: In No. 887 (21 November) the testes measured 8X2 mm. and appeared to be developing. On 25 January (Santhanpara) 2 nests were dis- covered in small bushes in an open patch of brushwood on the verge of a cardamom shola, each containing c/2. One egg from either clutch measured 23x16 mm. A third nest was situated in the thatch of a tenanted hut, con- taining c/2 on 80 January. During the night one of the eggs hatched. At Journ., Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. PipAw en i. Red-whiskered Bulbul (Otocompsa emeria) on nest in Cycad palm. Nest of White-browed Bulbul (Pycnonotus luteolus) with chicks 9 days old. Photos by Author. eae ser Ps bi THE ORNITHOLOGY OF TRAVANCORE AND COCHIN 89 this time full-fledged young, recently out of nest, were observed on all sides being fed (on insects and various Fici) and fussed over by the parents. On 11 February a fourth nest was located on the bank of the Periyar River at Thattakad, in a branch of Eeta bamboo overhanging the waters edge. It was at a height of 5 ft. from the ground and contained Cy 2: Specimen No. 341 (23 February) was juvenile with very soft skull and evi- dently not more than 3 weeks to a month old. On the same date an adult bird was observed carrying nesting material. On 9 March (Camp Deramalai) a pair were building in a small tree at ca. 7 ft. a couple of yards from a residential bungalow. In the pair shot at Balamore Estate on 23 April (Nos. 650 and 651) the largest ovarian follicle measured 7 mm. in diameter while the testes of the male were en- larged to 5x4 mm. and the birds were obviously breeding. From the condt- tion of their gonads both Nos. 686 (18 July) and 855 (30 July) also appear to have been either breeding or about to; the largest ovarian follicles of the former measured about 3 mm. in diameter, the testes of the latter 4x3 mm. The above evidence suggests that while the breeding season is undoubtedly at its height in the months from December to May, it may extend consider- ably on either side of these extremes. In fact, it seems more than likely that, as is the case in other areas, breeding continues more or less sporadically throughout the rest of the year also. Bourdillon gives December to June as the breeding season in Travancore, and according to him the birds lay 3 or 4 eggs. My experience during the Surveys has been invariably with 2 eggs or young. lole icterica (Strickland). The Yellow-browed Bulbul. Specimens collected: 382 0? 7-1-3383 Maraiyur (at 4,500 ft.); 208 9 3-2-33 Thattakad 200 ft.; 482 ¢ (juv.) 10-38-33 Camp Deramalai 3,000 ft.; 875 9 ? 17-11-38 Kiuriarkatti 1,600 ft. Elsewhere noted at: Santhanpara (8,500 ft.), Peermade (3,200 ft.), Kimili (38,000 ft.), Rajampara (1,850 ft.), Tenmalai (500 ft.), Balamore Estate (2,000 ft.), Wadakkancheri (400 ft.), Padagiri (from 1,500 ft. up). Colours of bare parts: Adult: Iris brownish-red; bill horny-black; mouth brownish-pink, slaty-pinkish and yellow, or pinkish-grey varying apparently with age (or season ?); legs and feet slaty-grey; claws horny-black. Juvenile (No. 482): Iris greyish-olive; bill pale horny-brown; naked chin and cir- cumorbital skin dull magenta; gape yellowish-cream; mouth livid pink; legs pinkish-grey; feet pinkish-flesh; claws pale horny-brown. [Series not satisfactory for measurements owing to moult. I have also examined 6 specimens from Travancore and 4 from the Palnis in the British Museum Collection.—H. W.] The Yellow-browed Bulbul is one of the commonest forest-frequenting species in all suitable tracts throughout the two States. Ferguson says it is confined to the hills; I met it from an altitude of about 200 ft. (Thattakad) up to 5,000 ft., but as in the Nilgiris it probably occurs still higher up. The birds move about in noisy parties of 5 to 7 or more, feeding on the kerries of many forest trees, and are frequently met with in the localised bird associations. In the Palnis, according to Fairbank (S.F., v, 405), it occurs in small flocks from about 4,000 ft. up. It is generally distributed as a forest bird in Ceylon with no difference of race. Breeding: Specimens Nos. 82 (7 January) and 208 (3 February) had un- developed gonads, but on 7 February (Thattakad) a nest was found with one of the owners brooding. It was a flimsy cup of leaf-stalks etc. slung hammock- wise in the horizontal fork of a small twig of IJrul (Xylia xylocarpa) over- hanging the old High Range Road, at a height of about 7 ft. The nest con- tained c/2 (fresh), pinkish-white in ground colour with faint and fine phantom specks of reddish-brown, especially about the broad end. Both the eggs measured 23X16 mm. The parent sat very close for a time when I was under the nest, peering at me over the brim, but finally its courage failed and it departed in haste! Another bird on the same date was observed carry- ing a caterpillar in its bill to nest young. Inspite of breeding being in pro- gress, most birds continued to remain in feeding parties. 90 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVIII No. 482 (9 March) is a juvenile just out of nest and about a fortnight old. While examining this specimen Mr. Whistler remarks that he cannot help feeling there must have been an error somewhere as it agrees with Pycno- notus luteolus in every respect and has no resemblance to lole, whereas by all the rules of the family the young of Jole should resemble the adult fairly closely! I can only reply to this by saying that I have ‘no possible probable shadow of doubt’ that the young is Jole and none other. It was being fed and fussed over by the parents when shot. Besides the biotope at Camp Deramalai was totally unsuitable for Pycnonotus luteolus which was not seen in this locality at all. In the Nelliampathies where Kinloch describes it as extremely common, he found the usual noisy flocks broken up into pairs in February. He took eggs in that month (Nidification, 1, 387) though in Travancore Stewart found March and April to be the usual breeding months. According to the Fauna (vol. i, p. 405) the Yellow-browed Bulbul breeds principally in February and March from Kanara to Travancore, and this is confirmed by the data now obtained’ by the Surveys. Pycnonotus xantholemus (Jerdon). The Yellow-throated Bulbul. Not met with by the Surveys, neither do Hume, Ferguson or any others record it from Travancore nor Kinloch from the Nelliampathy Hills. Travancore has been included in its ‘Distribution’ (fauna, 1, 415) on the strength of a single specimen obtained by William Davison at 4,020 ft. in the Annemalai Hills at about 10°N. lat. and ‘considerably to the West’. This would mean somewhere in the neighbourhood of Devikolam and about the junction of the High Range and Cardamom Hills sections. According to the collector this was the only example seen by him in two weeks (lbis 1886, p. 146). The bird can therefore have been no more than an aberrant straggler beyond the extreme edge of its range, and in the absence of any further authentic evidence of its occurrence in Travancore, the inclusion of this area in the accepted distribution seems scarcely justified. Pycnonotus gularis (Gould). The Ruby-throated Bulbul. Specimens collected: 215 ¢, 216 @Q 4-2-83 Thattakad 200 ft.; 446 16-38-33 Rajampara 1,350 ft.; 807 92 8-8-3838 (Mukutnnimalai 800 ft.) Trivandrum Environs; 919 ¢ 29-11-83 Wadakkancheri 400 ft. Elsewhere noted at: Urambikera Res. Forest near Mundakayam (ca. 1,000 ft.), Periyar Lake Environs near Kimili, Tenmalai (500 ft.), Balamore Kstate (2,000 ft.); Kutvalle Incline (Cochin Forest Tramway); Kuriarkitti (1,600 ft.); Padagiri (8,000 ft.). Colours of bare parts: Iris creamy-white; bill brownish-black; mouth yellowish-pink; legs, feet and claws horny-brown. [The specimens measure: Bulle Wing. Tail. 38d 15.5-16 74.5-77 68-70 mm. 299 14.5-15 72.5-75 67-68 mm.—H. W.] The Ruby-throated Bulbul is not as uncommon as Ferguson’s remarks (J.B.N.H.S., xv, 264) would lead one to expect. I met it from about 200 ft. elevation up to 3,000 ft. but not higher, and it, seems to have a decided prefer- ence for the hummocky foothills. Though a bird of evergreen forest in the sense that it is never found away from it, it is really the intermediate zone with a mixture of evergreen and deciduous vegetation—more correctly the edge of evergreen forest where land once cleared for rubber or other cultivation has become covered with secondary growth and tangles of Mimosa, Mezoneuron and the like—that is most suited to its taste. On the ghat road from Nemmara to Padagiri, Ruby-throated Bulbuls appeared as soon as about 1,500 ft. was reached and the requisite type of country commenced. A specimen obtained by W. Daly on Mount Stewart in the Annemalai Hills is in the Indian Museum. Fairbank (S.F., v, 405) obtained a single specimen at Vengayam Parry (Palni Hills) in 1867 but was never able to meet the bird there again, from which one may gather that it is very rare in those hills. It is not found in Ceylon, ¥ THE ORNITHOLOGY OF TRAVANCORE AND COCHIN SIE In general habits it closely resembles both Molpastes and Otocompsa but is shyer and more retiring. It has a very pleasant song something of a cross between the song of Otocompsa and that of Leucocirca aureola. Many of the notes and bars are identically those of the latter but uttered with the richness and volume of the former. Many species of berries are eaten and the various Vicus figs also form an important part of the dietary. Breeding: In specimen No. 919 (29 November) the testes measured 3x2 mm. In 215 (4 February) they were also 3x2 mm., while in 446 (16 March) they had enlarged to 5x3 mm. and the bird was completing pre-nuptial body moult. The example (No. 807) procured by Pillai on 8 August had mature ovary, the largest follicle measuring about 4 mm. in diameter, and the bird was_ pro- bably breeding. In the absence of more precise data it would appear that the breeding season of this Bulbul is ill-defined. The Pauna (vol. i, 416) is silent on the point though a detailed description of the nests and eggs is given. Nidification (i, 897) mentions a c/2 taken by Stewart in Travancore Hills on 6 March. Pycnonotus luteolus luteolus (Lesson). The White-browed Bulbul. Specimens collected: 594 9 15-4-88, 614 ¢, 615 ¢ (juv.) 18-4-33 Aram- boli 250 ft.; 848 ¢ 18-8-33 (Nettayam 200 ft.); Trivandrum Environs; 947 ¢ 6-12-33 Nemmara 300 ft. Elsewhere noted at: Maraiytr (38,500 ft.), Kottayam (ca. 8.L.), Wadak- kancheri (400 ft.), Trichir, Kartipadanna (ca. §.L.), Cranganoor Fort. In the Trivandrum Museum I have seen specimens from Ponmidi and Aramboli, and several others without data. Colours of bare parts: Adult: Iris reddish-brown; bill brownish-black; mouth yellowish-pink; legs, feet and claws dark plumbeous or blackish-brown. Juvenile (No. 615): Iris hazel brown; bill horny-brown. [The Survey specimens measure: Bill. Wing. Tail, Briel ce 18.5-20.5 82-90.5 76-80 mm. Other specimens examined : Brit. Mus. Coll.: 0? 6-6-77 East base of Palnis (Fairbank); ¢ 16-11-78 Trivandrum (Bourdillon). Travancore birds must be put definitely with the Indian race and not the smaller Ceylon race. Juvenile No. 615 is very similar to the adult but the upper parts and gorget are duller and browner in tint. The first primary is soft and rounded and the tail feathers are softer and more pointed.—H. W.] Unlike the Yellow-browed Bulbul this species is exclusively an inhabitant of more or less dry open bush-and-scrub country and avoids forest. It is not uncommon, but is confined to the low country in Travancore and Cochin with the only exception of Maraiytr where it was present in the valley amony scrub patches bordering the terraced paddy-fields and in the vicinity of the camp-shed. That it does not ascend the hills in this area of heavy rainfall as it does in the Eastern Ghats (‘from sea-level to 4,000 ft.’—J.B.N.H.S.., xxxv, 759) is doubtless due to the fact that here the hills are either open and grass-covered or clothed in evergreen jungle and lacking in the dry bush-and- scrub country that forms its habitat. In the Palnis also Fairbank (S.F., v, 405) found it common only at the east base of the hills. In Ceylon this Bulbul is represented by the smaller race P. 1. insulae. Breeding: Specimen No. 947 (6 December) showed no genital development. No. 594 (15 April) with testes 6x5 mm. was evidently breeding. In No. 614 (18 April) the testes measured ca. 8X2 mm. and were apparently reverting to the normal non-breeding condition. It was accompanied by No. 615 (with very soft skull) in juvenile plumage and with the rectrices and remiges only partially grown. The birds at Aramboli between 15 and 22 April were mostly accompanied by young in various stages from which it may be inferred that $2 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVIII the breeding season is March and April, possibly beginning earlier—in February —and continuing later as suggested by No. 848 which had an imperfectly ossified skull as late as 18 August. Microtarsus poiocephalus (Jerdon). The Grey-headed Bulbul. Specimens collected: 201 ¢ 3-2-33, 280 Q 7-2-3838, 249 ¢ 9-2-33, 278 12-2-33 Thattakad 200 ft.; 429 ¢ 9-3-83 Camp Deramalai 3,000 ft.; 476 ¢ 20-3-33 Rajampara 1,350 ft.; 653 ¢ 24-4-33 Balamore Estate 2,000 ft. Elsewhere noted at: Uriumbikera Res. Forest near Mundakayam (1,000 ft.), Tenmalai (500 ft.), Kariarkutti (1,600 ft.), Wadakkancheri (400 ft.). IT have seen specimens in the Trivandrum Museum from Kuttyani (Sex ? 25-5-95) and Ponmidi (December 1890, and others). Colours of bare parts: Iris grey; bill greenish-yellow; mouth pink with brownish patches or yellow and pink, perhaps varying according to age (or season ?); legs and feet pale dusky orange-yellow; claws paler. 5) [The Survey specimens measure: Bill. Wing. Tail. 6 oC 14.5-17.5 75.5-78.5 70.5-77 mm. 1 Q 16 Sao. o 73 mm. The juvenile of this species appears to be quite unknown and no hint of the plumage stages is afforded by this fine series all of which are in full plumage with no moult other than odd body feathers.—H. W.] The Grey-headed Bulbul is one of the species confined to the heavy rainfall area of South-West India, the other members of the genus being dwellers of parallel biotope in the Indian Empire and beyond its eastern borders. Ferguson mentions that in Travancore he found this bird only on _ the hills at about 2,000 ft. altitude, but that he shot one at Kuttyani, an excep- tional locality in the low country where the old forest was still standing. This is undoubtedly the specimen now in the Trivandrum Museum. Mr. Pillai who visited Kuttyani in August 1933 reports that most of the forest has now been cleared and he apparently did not come across this species there. Ferguson’s experience shows how very closely knit this form is with evergreen forest, a fact which my experience in Travancore-Cochin fully confirms. The biotope it frequents is very similar to that of P. gularis but it usually prefers even more humid facies with denser gowth and often a good deal of rattan (Calamus) intermixed. The only notes I heard this Bulbul utter were a single harsh chaik, chaik, frequently followed by a squeaky cheek or pink (the latter somewhat reminis- cent of a finch or Dendronanthus—) repeated every second or so. The birds were seen both in pairs and gregariously feeding largely on several kinds of Ficus figs in company with Jole, Thereiceryx and other frugivorous species. When dead and in the hand, the bird bears a curious resemblance to a miniature green pigeon! This species is absent in Ceylon. Breeding: In No. 201 (8 February) the testes measured 3x2 mm. and the bird appeared to be preparing to breed; 230 (7 February) likewise had a dis- tinctly granulated ovary; in both 249 (9 February) and 278 (12 February) the organs were as in 201. Nos. 429 (9 March—testes 4x38 mm.), 476 (20 March —testis (only one !) 6x4 mm.) and 653 (24 April—testis (again only one!) 5x4 mm.), were also ready to breed if not doing so at the time. Indeed in the last there was an incubation patch to justify this presumption. All the specimens were in fresh plumage. The Fauna (i, 426) as well as Nidification (vol. i, p. 407) give a description of nests and eggs, invariably c/1, obtained in Travancore by Stewart and Bourdillon. According to the former the breeding season is April and May. (To be continued), i My I AN Pt oy bMS Journ. Bompay Nar. Hist. Soc. ROXBURGH S KYDIA. Kydia calycina Roxb. (about *%/3 nat. size). PLatE 26. John Bale Sons & Damelsson.Lt4 Lonaon SOME BEAUTIFUL INDIAN TREES. BY Tie pare Bi. BUATTHR, S.J.,. PhD.) F.L:8., and W. §S. MILLARD, F.Z.S. Parr XVII. (With one coloured plate and two text-figures). (Continued from page 750 of volume xxxvii). Puate XXVI.—RoxsurGH’s Kypia, Popular Names: Pula, Puli, Patha (Hind.); Bargah, Baranga (C.P.); Kopasia (Uriya); Warung, Iliya (Mar.); Bellaka, Bendi (Kan.); Potri, Kandiki (Tel.); Tabo, Dwalok, Myethlwa (Burm.). Kydia calycina Roxb. Hort. Beng. (1814), p. 51. Belongs to the family Malvaceae. The genus is named after Colonel Robert Kyd, founder and first Director of the Royal Botanic Gar- dens, Caleutta, who died in 1794. The specific name is with reference to the prominent calyx. Description: A large shrub or small tree. Leaves 38-6 in. long, fanwisely 7-nerved, heart-shaped at the base, usually 8-7 lobed; lobes often angular, the median one the largest, smooth above, densely close haired beneath; leaf-stalk 1-2 in. YF } y Dy = 3 C1 — & long. Panicles many | = flowered, covered — with tawny short hairs, flower- WK Ns stalk 2 in. long. Below the calyx there is a series of 4-6 strongly nerved in- volucral bracts which en- large and persist in fruit, 4-3 in. long. Corolla white : /| or pink, petals reversedly | heart-shaped, longer than the calyx, prolonged into a claw at the base with a tuft of hairs on either side. The filaments are united to form a staminal tube for a little more than half their length then dividing into 5 spread- ing branches, each carrying 8 almost stalkless anthers. Style branches 8, each surmounted by a large dise-like stigma. Fruit 3-valved, about the size of a pea, covered with mealy dust, rounded with a slightly umbrella-shaped top. Seeds kidney-shaped, striated, brown-black. 24 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVUi Distribution: Common throughout India and Burma chiefly in mixed and deciduous forests not in arid regions. Gardening: Propagated from seed. The seeds possess a compar- atively low germinating power but this is compensated by the large number produced. The seeds should be sown in seed beds, and the seedlings transplanted when they are 2-3 in. high. The rate of growth is rapid and it has been estimated that the tree reaches its maximum growth at a compar- atively early age, though the exact age has not been ascertained (Troup). The leaves commence to fall at the end of November and the plant is leafless from January or early February to late April. The flowers appear in September- October, and the masses of ereenish white or pale lilac blossoms make the tree a conspicuous sight at this season (Troup). Uses: The inner bark yields a bast fibre used for coarse ropes ete. The fibre has a high resisting power to decomposition by moisture. (To be continued). A LIST OF THE BIRDS OF THE CENTRAL PROVINCES. BY EK. A. D’ABREU, F.Z.S. (Curator, Central Museum, Nagpur). The following is a brief list of the birds of the Central Pro- vinees which I have collected, observed, or | am otherwise aware of during a residence of over twenty years. Species which are probably to be found but which I have not yet observed or identi- fied with certainty are enclosed in brackets. Every part of the Provinces has not been visited by me and most of the observations have been made at Nagpur, or in the districts during the winter months. In 1923 I published a list of the Central Provinces Birds in Record No. THT of the Nagpur Museu. This list is now out of date as many alterations and additions have become necessary. ORDER: PASSERES, 1. [Corves corax laurencei (Hume). The Punjab Raven. A rare straggler in Berar. | 2. Cervus macrorhynchos culminatus Sykes. The Indian Jungle-Crow. Resident, breeds February to April. 3. Corvus splendens splendens (Vieill.). The Indian House-Crow. Resident. Breeds in June and July. An albino was secured at Kodamendht, Nagpur District, by Mr. P. G. H. Stent, 1.c.s. 4. Dendrocitta v. vagabunda (Lath.). The Bengal Tree-Pie. Resident. It is probably a local migrant; at Nagpur, they are not seen till September and they disappear again when the weather gets warm. 5. {Dendrocitta leucogastra (Gould). The Southern Tree-Pie. McMaster records a specimen from Chikalda. | 6. Parus major mahrattarum Hartert. The Southern Grey-Tit. Resident in elevated and well-wooded parts of the Provinces. Not as com- mon as the hext species. 7. Machlolophus xanthogenys aplonotus (Blyth). The Central India Yellow- cheeked ‘Tit. Resident and common in well-wooded tracts. 8. Sitta castanea castanea Less. The Chestnut-bellied Nuthatch. Breeds April to May (Pachmarhi). 9. Sitta castanea prateri Whist. Prater’s Nuthatch. A specimen obtained at Damarincha, Ahiri State. 10. Sitta frontalis frontalis (Horsf.). The Velvet-fronted Blue Nuthatch. Has been observed at Saugor and Betul. 11. Turdoides terricoler terricolor (Hodg.). The Bengal Jungle Babbler. A very common resident. Breeds chiefly from June to July. 12. Turdoides striatus polioplocamus Ob. The White-headed Babbler. Resident in South Chanda. 13. Argya caudata caudata (Dum.). The Common Babbler. A common resident. 14. Argya malcolmi (Sykes). The Large Grey Babbler. A common resident. 96 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL Hist. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVIII 15. Pomatorhinus horsfieldi obscurus (Hume). Hume’s Scimitar-Babbler. Most probably a resident in the Satpura Plateau; specimens recorded from Seoni, Dhupgarh near Pachmarhi (Osmaston) and Balaghat (Baihar Tahsil). Whether the birds seen by me in the Balaghat District were this or the sub- species P. n. horsfieldi, the Deccan Scimitar-Babbler, I am unable to tell, as the birds were not secured. 16. Dumetia hyperythra (Franklin). The Rufous-bellied Babbler. A common resident throughout the well-wooded parts. Breeds late, June to September. 17. Chrysomma sinensis sinensis (Gm.). The Indian Yellow-eyed Babbler. Resident throughout the Provinces. Breeds June to September. Clutches, even from the same locality, appear to belong to two distinct types. In one the eggs are smaller and speckled with red resembling eggs of D. hyperythra; in the other the eggs are larger and heavily blotched and streaked with red. 18. Pellorneum ruficeps ruficeps (Swain). The Indian Spotted Babbler. Fairly common at Pachmarhi where it breeds May to June (Osmaston). 19. Mixornis gularis rubricapilla (Tick.). The Yellow-breasted Babbler. Three specimens of this bird were obtained by me at Parasgaon in the Bastar State. 20. Alcippe poioicephala brucei (Hume). The Bombay Quaker-Babbler. I obtained a specimen in the Bastar State and found it common in the Baihar Tahsil of the Balaghat District. It is not uncommon at Pachmarhi where it breeds early in July. 21. Aegithina tiphia humei 8S. B. The Central Indian Iora. A common resident. Breeds June to July. 22. [Aegithina nigrolutea (Marsh.). Marshall’s Iora. Occasionally found in the Northern parts of the Provinces. ] 23. Chloropsis aurifrons davidsoni (Bak.). The Malabar Chloropsis. Mr. Master records this species from Chikalda in Berar and I found it on the banks of the Indravati in the Ahiri State. 24. Chloropsis jerdoni (Blyth). Jerdon’s Chloropsis. Resident throughout the Provinces. Breeds June to July. 25. [Hypsipetes psaroides ganeesa (Sykes). The Southern Indian Black Bulbul. McMaster procured this bird at Chikalda on the Gawilgarh hills in Berar. ] 26. Molpastes cafer cafer Linn. The Madras Red-vented Bulbul. Common resident. Breeds May to August. The Bulbuls of the Jubbulpore District are intermediate between the Central Indian Bulbul (M. c. pallidus) and the Bengal Bulbul (M. c. benghalensis). They are larger birds with a wing measurement of about 100 mm. The Bulbuls from the south-eastern parts of the Provinces will probably turn out to be M. c. saturatus, K. & W. but specimens have not yet been examined. 27. [Molpastes leucogenys leucotis (Gould). The White-eared Bulbul. Found north of the Nerbudda extending east to Hoshangabad and Saugor. I have not observed this bird personally. ] 28. Otocompsa jocosa emeria (uinn.). The Bengal Red-whiskered Bulbul. I secured one of a pair at Nagpur on the 7th April 1982. is ae Otocompsa jocosa fuscicaudata (Gould). The Southern Red-whiskered ulbul. This Bulbul is found in the Melghat and I have observed it in the Balaghat and Chhindwara Districts and also at Pachmarhi, where it breeds from April to July but the birds from the three latter localities have not been examined. : ee Otocompsa fiaviventris flayiventris (Tick.). The Black-crested Yellow ulbpul. Resident at Pachmarhi, where it breeds in June. A-LIST OF THE BIRDS OF THE. CENTRAL. PROVINCES 97 31. Pycnonotus Iuteolus (Less.). The White-browed Bulbul. Resident at Nagpur and Kamptee, but not plentiful. Breeds in June. This bird shuns observation though its call is familiar. 82. Salpornis spilonotus (Frankl.). The Spotted Grey Tree-Creeper. A rare resident. I got a specimen at Nagpur, another in the Chanda forests, and a third in the Betul District. 33. Saxicola caprata bicolor (Sykes). The Northern India Pied Bush-Chat. A winter visitor to the Provinces. 34. Saxicola caprata burmanica 5S. B. Indo-Burmese Pied Bush-Chat. Resident. Breeds in April and May. 35. Saxicola torquata indica (Blyth). The Indian Bush-Chat. A common winter visitor. 36. [CEnanthe opistholeuca (Strick.). Strickland’s Chat. A winter visitor as far south as Nagpur according to Oates. | 37. Cercomela fusca (Blyth). The Brown Rock-Chat. Resident in the Jubbulpore, Saugor, Damoh and Hoshangabad Districts, but probably has a wider range. Breeds March to July in holes of walls, quarries, cliffs, ete. 38. Phoenicurus ochrurus phoenicuroides (Vieill.). ‘The Black Redstart. A common winter visitor. It appears at Nagpur on or about the 23rd Sep- tember. 39. .Cyanosylvia suecica (L.). The Blue-throat. A common winter visitor. 40. Calliope calliope (Pall.). The Common Ruby-throat. A rare winter visitor. A specimen was secured at Lamta in the Balaghat District. 41. Saxicoloides fulicata cambaiensis (Lath.). The Brown-backed Indian Robin. A common resident north of the Taptee River. 42. Saxicoloides fulicata intermedia §=Whistler and Kinnear. Resident south of the Taptee River. 43. Copsychus saularis saularis (Linn.). The Indian Magpie-Robin. A very common resident. Breeds May to July. 44. Kittacincia malabarica malabarica Scop. The Shama. Has been recorded from Raipur. 45. Turdus simillimas mahrattensis Whist. The Black-capped Black-bird. Rare, but may possibly breed in the Provinces. It has been recorded at Chikalda and I got specimens at Khawasa in the Seon District and one at Nagpur. 46, [Turdus unicolor Tick. Tickell’s Thrush. A winter visitor, has been taken at Raipur. | . 47. Geokichla citrina citrina (Lath.). The Orange-headed Ground-Thrush. Probably found sparingly in the Provinces during the winter only. There is a specimen from Raipur in the British Museum. 48. Geokichla citrina cyanotis (Jard. & Sel.). The White-throated Ground Thrush. Resident in the well-wooded tracts. Breeds June to July. 49. Monticola cinclorhyncha (Vig.). The Blue-headed Rock Thrush. A winter visitor, a few specimens have been obtained at Nagpur. 50. Monticola solitaria pandoo Sykes. The Blue Rock-Thrust. A winter visitor to the whole of the Provinces. 51. Myiophenus horsfieldi (Vigors). The Malabar Whistling-Thrush. Resident in parts of the Provinces; very common at Pachmarhi and the Melghat and also recorded in the Sirguja State. Breeds June ;to July, placing its nest in crevices in more or less vertical rocks in ravines. 7 98 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVIIIt 62. Siphia parva parva (Bechst.). The European Red-breasted Flycatcher. A common winter visitor. 53. Muscicapula superciliaris superciliaris (Jerd.). The White-browed Blue Flycatcher. A winter visitor has been taken in the Nagpur, Chanda, Balaghat and Chhindwara Districts. 54, Muscicapula tickelliae tickelliae (Blyth). Tickell’s Blue Vlycatcher. A common resident. Breeds in May and June. 55. Eumyias thalassina thalassina (Swain). The Verditer Flycatcher. A winter visitor. 56. Alseonax latirostris (Rafi.). The Brown Flycatcher. Resident. d6A. Alseonax ruficaudatus. Rufous-tailed Flycatcher. A specimen secured by me at Nagpur on 30th October 1984. 57. Calicicapa c. ceylonensis (Swain). The Grey-headed Flycatcher. Common in winter. Recorded breeding at Pachmarhi in June and July. 58. Tchitrea paradisi paradisi (L.). The Indian Paradise Flycatcher. Resident. Breeds June to July. 59. Hypothymis azurea styani Hartl. The Indian Black-naped Flycatcher. Resident, but keeps to well-wooded tracts. Breeds June to August. 60. Leucocera aureola aureola (Less.). The White-browed Flycatcher. This race has been taken in the winter only at Nagpur and may be the resident bird in the north of the Province. It sometimes attends cattle, snap- ping up the insects disturbed by the animals. (a) Leucocerca aureola compressirostris Blyth. The Southern White-browed Fantail Flycatcher. This is the breeding bird at Nagpur. 61. Leucocerca pectoralis (Jerd.). The White-spotted Fantail Flycatcher. Resident probably throughout the Provinces. Very common in the Districts of Nagpur, Balaghat and Chanda. Breeds March to July. 62. Lanius excubitor lahtora (Sykes). The Indian Grey Shrike. Resident. Breeds March to May. 63. Lanius vittatus (Val.). The Bay-backed Shrike. One of the commonest shrikes in the Provinces. Breeds June to July. 64. Lanius nasutus nigriceps (Frank.). The Southern Black-headed Shrike. No records of its breeding in the Province, but birds have been secured in the winter months from Bastar, Bilaspur and Nagpur. 65. Lanius schach erythronotus (Vig.). The Rufous-backed Shrike. A winter visitor recorded as far south as Parasgaon in the Bastar State. Has been taken at Nagpur on 18th April 1920. They breed in the northern districts. 66. Lanius schach caniceps Blyth. Southern Grey-backed Shrike. Resident. Breeds chiefly in June. 67. Lanius schach tephronotus Vig. The Central Himalayan Grey-backed Shrike. A straggler into the Provinces in winter. I took a specimen at Ahiri in the Chanda District. 68. Lanius cristatus cristatus (.). The Brown Shrike. A winter visitor throughout the Provinces. Arriving at Nagpur on Sep- tember 4th and staying till April 30th. 69. Hemipus picatus picatus (Sykes). The Black-backed Pied-Shrike. Resident in the Satpura Plateau Districts according to Moss-King. 70. Tephrodornis p. pondicerianus (Gmel.). The Common Wood-Shrike. Resident and common throughout the Provinces. A LIST OF THE BIRDS OF THE CENTRAL PROVINCES 99 71. Pericrocotus speciosus semiruber Whist. The Southern Scarlet Muinivet. Not common. I have observed it in the districts of Balaghat, Chhindwara, Betul and the Bastar State. It has also been observed at Pachmarhi. Ixeeps to well-wooded localities, A party when disturbed were noticed making for trees with red leaves. 72. [Pericrocotus brevirostris brevirostris Vig. ‘The Indian Short-billed Minivet. A rare winter visitor. ] 73. Pericrocotus roseus roseus (Vieill.). The Rosy Minivet. Three specimens were obtained at Nagpur. 74. Pericrocctus peregrinus perigrinus (L.). ‘he Small Minivet. A common resident. Breeds February to July. 75. Pericrocotus erythropygius (Jerd.). The White-bellied Minivet. Resident, but not common. Breeds in July and August. 76. Lalage melanoschista melanoschista (Hodg.). The Dark-grey Cuckoo-Shrike. I have taken this bird in the Bastar State only. 77. Lalage sykesi (Strick.). The Black-headed Cuckoo-Shrike. Resident. Breeds May to July. 78. Graucalus javensis maceii (Less.). The Large Cuckoo-Shrike. A common resident. Breeds April to June. 79. Dicrurus macrocercus peninsularis Ticehurst. The Southern Black Drongo. Common resident. Breeding May to July. Both the spotted and unspotted varieties of eggs have been observed. 80. Dicrurus leucophaeus longicaudatus (Hay). The Indian Ashy Drongo. Taken at Nagpur from February to April. : 81. Dicrurus c. caerulescens (Linn.). The White-bellied Drongo. Resident, but probably a local migrant. Keeps to well-wooded localities and only seen at Nagpur during the cold months (date of arrival is 22nd September). Recorded breeding at Pachmarhi from March to April. 82. [Chaptia aenea malayensis (Hay). ‘The Southern Bronzed Drongo. Jerdon has recorded this bird from the Bastar State, but it has not again been observed by others. ] 83. Chibia hottentotta hottentotta (L.). The Indian Hair-crested Drongo. Probably resident, has been observed at Raipur and Balaghat and taken at Nagpur. 84. Dissemurus paradiseus grandis (Gould). The Assam Racket-tailed Drongo. Resident, but keeping to well-wooded parts. Breeds chiefly in May and June. 85. Dissemurus paradiseus malabaricus Lath. ‘The Malabar Large Racket-tailed Drongo. This is the form found at Nagpur and the Bhandara Districts. 86. [Locustella naevla straminea (Severty). The Turkestan Grass-hopper Warbler. Possibly a winter visitor, not observed by me. | 87. Acrocephalus stentoreus brunnescens (Jerd.). The Indian Great Reed- Warbler. A common winter visitor, some birds having been observed on 23rd April at Nagpur. It may possibly breed in the Provinces. 88. Acrocephalus dumetorum (Blyth). Blyth’s Reed-Warbler. A common winter visitor, taken in Nagpur as early as 4th October. 89. [Acrocephalus agricola agricola (Jerd.). The Paddy-field Reed-Warbler. A winter visitor. ] 90. Orthotomus sutorius guzurata Lath. The Indian Tailor-bird. A common resident. Clutches taken in June and July, but probably breeds both earlier and later. 100 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVIII Jl. Cisticola exilis erythrocephaia Blyth. The Red-headed Fantail-Warbler. Recorded from Saugor and a specimen was secured by me at Khapa in the Balaghat District. 92. Cisticola juncidis cursitans (Frankl.). The Streaked Fantail-Warbler. Resident throughout the Provinces. Breeds August to October. 93. Franklinia gracilis (Frankl.). Franklin’s Wren-Warbler. Resident. Breeds during the rains. 94. Franklinia buchanani (Blyth). The Rufous-fronted Wren-Warbler. . A specimen was obtained in June at Nagpur and recorded breeding at Saugor. 95. Megalurus palustris (Horsf.). The Striated Marsh-Warbler. Resident in parts of the Provinces, e.g., Hoshangabad and Seoni. Breeds in April. 96. Chaetornis striatus Jerd. The Bristled Grass-Warbler. Resident. Has been recorded from Seoni, Saugor, Raipur and observed breeding at Kamptee in September. 97. Hypolais rama rama (Sykes). Sykes’ Tree-Warbler. A common winter visitor, arriving early in September. 98. Hypolais rama scita (Eversmann). The Booted Tree-Warbler. A winter visitor. 99. Sylvia hortensis jerdoni Blyth. The Hastern Orphean-Warbler. A winter visitor. Specimens have been observed or taken’ in Chanda, Nagpur and in the Meighat. 100. Sylvia curruca affinis (Blyth). The _ Indian Lesser White-throated Warbler. Very common at Nagpur in the winter. 101. Phylloscopus collybita tristis (Blyth). The Brown Willow-Warbler. A winter visitor. Has been taken at Chhindwara. 102. Phylloscopus griseolus Biyth. The Olivaceous Willow-Warbler. A common winter visitor. It has been observed in the districts of Nagpur, Balaghat, Chanda, Bastar and also at Pachmarhi. It frequently creeps about branches and tree trunks after the fashion of a nuthatch. 103. Phylloscopus inornatus humei Brooks. Hume's Willow-Warbler. A winter visitor. Has been obtained at Nagpur, Bhandara and Mandla. 104. [ Phylloscopus nitidus nitidus (Blyth). The Green Willow-Warbler. A winter visitor. Not yet secured. | a 105. Phylloscopus nitidus viridanus (Blyth). The Greenish Willow-Warbler. Very common throughout the winter. 106. Phylloscopus magnirostris (Blyth): The Large-billed Willow-Warbler. A winter visitor. Has been taken at Nagpur. 107. [Phylloscopus occipitalis occipitalis (Blyth). The Large-crowned Willow- Warbler. A winter visitor. ] 108. [Seicercus burkii (Burton). The Black-browed Flycatcher-Warbler. McMaster records this species from Kamptee and Chikalda. | . 109. Prinia socialis (Sykes). The Ashy Wren-Warbler. A common resident. 110. Prinia sylvatica sylvatica (Jerd.). The Jungle.-Wren-Warbler. Resident. Breeds June to September. ~ 111.. Prinia inornata inornata (Sykes). The Indian Wren-Warbler. A common resident. Breeds from August to October, if not throughout the rains. | te 112. [Cephalopyrus flammiceps (Burton). The Fire-capped Tit-Warbler. A winter visitor, specimens have been taken at Raipur, Saugor and Nagpur. | AP LIST OF THE BIRDS OF THE CHNTRAL PROVINCES 101 118. Oriolus oriolus kundoo (Sykes). The Indian Oriole. A common resident. Breeds May to July. 114. Oriolus xanthornus maderaspatanus Franklin. The. Indian Black-headed Oriole. | Resident, but more in evidence in well-wooded localities. Breeds May to July. : 115. Gracula religiosa intermedia (Hay). The Indian Grackle. Resident in the Bastar State. Breeds from March to May. 116. Pastor roseus (L.). The Rose-coloured Starling. Visits the Provinces in large numbers in the cold weather. 117. Sturnus vulgaris poltaratskii (insch.). The Indian or Finsch’s Star- ling. A winter visitor to the Northern districts. 118. Sturnia malabarica malabarica (Gm.). The Grey-headed Myna. Taken in the Bastar State and also observed at Nagpur. 119. Temenuchus pagodarum (Gm.).° The Black-headed Myna. A common resident. Breeds from May to August in holes in trees. 120. Acridotheres t. tristis (l.). The Common Myna. Resident, and very common everywhere. Breeds April to July. 121. Acridotheres ginginianus (Lath.). The Bank Myna. Resident in- the Nerbudda Valley and in the eastern portions of the Pro- vinces. I found it common in the Kanker State and it extends west to Ramtek and Kamptee. Breeds in June excavating a nest chamber in, the vertical banks of rivers or in the sides of wells. 122. Sturnopastor contra (L.). The Pied Myna. Resident throughout the Provinces, but more common to the east and probably absent in the west. Breeds May to July, constructing a massive nest on the branch of a tree. 123. Ploceus philippinus (L.). The Baya. Resident in the open country. 124. [Ploceus benghalensis (L.). The Black-throated Weaver-Bird. Probably resident in the Northern districts. Breeds in the rains. | 125. Munia malacca (L.). The Black-headed Munia. Observed at Pachmarhi by Bates and observed breeding in the east of Bhandara District by F. R. Blewitt on the 19th July. 126. (Munia atricapilla (Vieill.). The Chestnut-bellied Munia. May be resident in the Eastern districts. Breeding June to September in swampy localities. ]. 127. Uroloncha striata striata (.). The White-backed Mumia. Resident. Very common in the Chanda District, extending north to Bhan- dara and Betul. Breeds probably throughout the year. 128. Uroloncha malabarica (L.). The White-throated Munia. Common. Breeds February to October. 129. Uroloncha punctulata lineoventer Hodg. The Spotted Munia. Resident. Breeds almost throughout the year. 130. Stictospiza formosa (Lath.). The Green Munia. Resident, observed at Nagpur and at Bhanpuri, Bastar State. 131. Amandava amandava (L.). The Indian Red Munia. Resident. Breeds probably twice in the year. Nests have been taken in September, October and December. 132. Carpedacus erythrinus (Pall.). The Common Rose-Finch. A winter visitor. 133. Gymnorhis xanthocollis xanthecollis (Burton). The Yellow-throated Sparrow. A common resident. Breeds from April to May in holes in trees, 102 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVIII 134. Passer domesticus indicus J. & S. The Indian House-Sparrow. This is the form which is resident at Nagpur. 135. Emberiza stewarti (Blyth). The White-capped Bunting. A specimen was obtained at Nagpur in December. 136. Emberiza buchanani (Blyth). The Grey-necked Bunting. A winter visitor. 137 Emberiza melanocephala (Scop). The Black-headed Bunting. A winter visitor. 138. Emberiza icterica Evers. The Red-headed Bunting. A common winter visitor. 139. Melophus lathami subcristata (Sykes). The Crested Bunting. Resident. Breeds April to August, making a saucer-lhke nest of grass on the ground or in holes of banks and walls. 140. Delichon urbica cashmeriensis (Gould). The Kashmir Martin. A solitary specimen was obtained by Blanford at Bilaspur in April. 141. Riparia paludicoia brevicaudata Horsf. The Indian Sand-Martin. Resident. Keeping to the banks of the larger streams. Breeds November to February in the sandy banks of rivers, constructing a scanty nest at the end of a narrow tunnel about three feet in length. 142. Krimnochelidon concolor (Sykes). The Dusky Crag-Martin. Resident. 148. Hirundo rustica rustica (l.). The Common Swallow. A winter visitor. 144. Hirundo smithii filifera Stephens. The Wire-tailed Swallow. Breeds probably throughout the year. 145. Hirundo fluvicola (Jerd.). The Indian Cliff-Swallow. Resident. 146. Hirundo daurica nepalensis (Hodg.). Hodgson’s Striated Swallow. A winter visitor. 147. Hirundo daurica erythropygia (Sykes). Sykes’ Striated Swallow. Resident. 148. Motacilla alba dukhunensis (Sykes). The Indian White Wagtail. A common winter visitor. 149. Motacilla alba personata (Gould). The Masked Wagtail. A winter visitor. 150. Motacilla maderaspatensis (Gmel.). The Large Pied Wagtail. Resident. 151. Motacilla cinerea caspica Gm. The Eastern Grey Wagtail. A winter visitor. Arrives at Nagpur on about 20th September. 152. Motacilla flava thunbergi (Billberg). The Grey-headed Wagtail. A winter visitor. 153. Motacilla flava beema (Sykes). The Indian Blue-headed Wagtail. A winter visitor. ; 154. Motacilla feldegg feldegg Mich. The Black-headed Wagtail. A winter visitor taken at Nagpur. 155. Motacilla citreola werae Buturlin. The Yellow-headed Wagtail. A winter visitor. 156. [Dendronothus indicus (Gmel.). The Forest Wagtail. A rare winter visitor, not yet observed. | 157. Anthus trivialis haringtoni With. Witherby’s Tree Pipit. A winter visitor. I have definite records from Melghat and Pachmarhi. A LIST OF THE BIRDS OF THE CENTRAL PROVINCES 103 458. Anthus t. trivialis L. The Indian Tree-Pipit A common winter visitor. 159. [Anthus leucophrys jerdoni (Finsch.). The Brown Rock-Pipit. A winter visitor. ] 160. [Anthus richardi richardi (Vieill.). Richard’s Pipit. A specimen, was obtained at Nagpur. | 161. [Anthus richardi thermophilus, Jerd. Blyth’s Pipit. A winter visitor. ] 162. Anthus rufulus (Vieill.). The Indian Pipit. A common resident. 163. Anthus campertris griseus (Blasius). The Eastern Tawny Pipit. A winter visitor. Taken at Nagpur, Jubbulpore and the Kankar State. 164. Alauda gulgula gulgula (Frank.). The Small Indian Sky Lark. Resident. 165. Calandrella brachydactyla dukhunensis (Sykes). The Rufous Short- toed Lark. A winter visitor. Found in large flocks. These larks are the so-called Ortolans. 166. Alaudula raytal raytal (Blyth). The Ganges Sand-Lark. Resident. Has been observed breeding in the Saugor and Damoh Districts and in the Nerbudda and Kanhan beds in May. 167. Mirafra javanica cantillans (Jerd.). The Singing Bush Lark. Resident. Breeds in April and again from August to September. 168. [Mirafra assamica assamica (McC.). The Bengal Bush-Lark. Recorded by Murray as resident in the Eastern parts of the Central Pro- vinces. | 169. Mirafra erythroptera (Jerd.). The Red-winged Bush-Lark. Breeds in April and again from July to September. 170. Galerita cristata chendoola (Frank.). The Crested Lark. Resident in the Northern districts where it breeds from April to May. 171. Galerita deva (Sykes). Sykes’ Crested Lark. Resident. Breeds May to June. 172. Ammomanes phoenicura phoenicura (Frank.). The Rufous-tailed Finch- Lark. Resident. 173. Eremopterix grisea (Scop). The Ashy-crowned Finch-Lark. Resident. Breeds December to May and again in August and September. 174. Zosterops palpebrosa occidentis Ticeh. The North-western White-eye. Resident. 175. Aethopyga siparaja seheriae (Tick.). The Himalayan Yellow-backed Sun-bird. I shot a male of this species at Lougher in the Balaghat District on the Ist April at an altitude of about 2,000 ft. 176. Cinnyris asiatica asiatica (Lath.). The Purple Sun-bird. A common resident. 177. Cinnyris zeylonicus (L.). The Purple-rumped Sun-bird. A common resident in the eastern parts of the Provinces, Raipur, Bastar, etc., extending west to the Bhandara District, and even to Nagpur where it is scarce. ° 178. [Dicaeum concolor subflavum 5S. B. The Belgaum Flower-picker. May be found in the western parts of the Central Provinces. | 104 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL AIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVIII 179. Dicaeum e. erythrhynchos (Lath.). Tickell’s Flower-pecker. Resident. 3 180. Piprisoma agile agile Tick. The Thick-billed Flower-pecker. Resident. Breeds February to May. 181. Pitta brachyura (Linn.). The Indian Pitta. Resident. Breeds in June and July, constructing a huge slobalr nest of twigs and leaves on the ground or on low branches. ORDER: CORACIFORMES. 182. Picus-xan thopygius. Gray. The Little Scaly-bellied Green Wood-pecker. Found sparingly in the Bastar State and in the Balaghat District. It is probably resident. 183. Dryobates m. mahrattensis (Lath.). The Yellow-fronted Pied Wood- pecker. A common resident. Breeds February to April. 184... Dryobates h. hardwickii (Jerdon). The Southern Pigmy Wood-pecker. Resident. Common in well-wooded parts. Breeds March to April. 185. Micropternus brachyurus phaioceps Blyth. ‘The Orissa Rufous Wood- pecker. I saw and took specimens of this bird at Khapa in the Balaghat District. Breeds in April and May, constructing its nest within the nest “of the black tree ant (Plagiolepis). 186. Brachypternus benghalensis benghalensis (L.). The Northern Golden- backed Wood-pecker. _ A common resident. Breeds January to March. This is the race found at Nagpur and Betul. 187. Brachypternus benghalensis puncticollis. Malherbe’s Southern Golden- backed Wood-pecker. This form has been taken in the Chanda and Bhandara Districts, inter- mediates between the two forms also occur in the latter district. - 188. Chrysocolaptes festivus (Bodd.). The Black-backed Wood-pecker. T have taken this bird at Charama in the Kanker State, at Tamia in the Chhindwara District and in the Betul District. It is probably a resident breeding during the cold months and laying a single white egg in a hole in a tree as usual. 189. [Hemicercus canente cordatus Jerd. The Heart-spotted Wood- sae Jerdon reported the occurrence of this bird in the Chanda forests, but it has not been observed by anybody since. ] 190. lyax terquilla L. The Wryneck. A winter visitor. | 191. Thereiceryx zeylanicus caniceps (Frank.). The Northern Green Barbet. Common in well-wooded localities. Breeds April to May. 192. Xantholaema haemacephala indica ath. The Indian Crimson- breasted Barbet. Common. Breeds from January, to April, earlier in the south. 193. Cuculus canorus telephonus (Heine). The Asiatic Cuckoo. I have regularly observed and heard cuckoos in the Nagpur, Bhandara, pa sei and Chanda Districts from April to June the earliest date being the 27th April. 194. Cuculus peliccephalus policcephatus (Lath.). The Small Cuckoo. A single female specimen was taken at Nagpur on 15th September ‘1918. 195. Cuculus micropterus micropterus (Gould). The Indian Cuckoo. T have taken this bird at Nagpur in May, observed at’ Chanda (6th April) and at Beemalgondee, Chhindwara District (12th May). A LIST OF THE BIRDS OF THE CENTRAL PROVINCES 105 196. [Hierococcyx sparverioides (Vig.). The Large Hawk-Cuckoo, HIas been recorded as a straggler at Raipur. | 197. Hierococcyx varius (Vahl.). The Common Hawk-Cuckoo or Brain-fever Bird. . A common resident, depositing its eggs in the nests of Babbiers. 198. Cacomantis meralinus passerinus (Vahl.). The Indian Plaintive Cuckoo. Resident. The eggs have been taken from the nests of Iranklin’s Wren Warbler. Two males of C. m. querulus were obtained by Hume at Raipur in 1ST. 199. [Pentheceryx sonneratii sonneratii (iath.). The Banded Bay Cuckoo. A rare species, recorded from Raipur. ] 200. Clamator jacobinus pica Hempr. & Ehr. The Pied Crested Cuckoo. Arrives with the breaking of the monsoons and after depositing eggs in the nests of Babblers disappears before the cold weather sets in. 201. Eudynamis scolopaceus scolopaceus (L.). The Indian Koel. Lays from April to June from 1 to 3 eggs in the nests of crows and once in that of Oriolus kundoo. 202. Rhopodytes viridirostris (Jerd.). The Small Green-billed Malkoha. Recorded from Sironcha. 203. Taccocua leschenaulti sirkee Gray. The Southern Sirkeer Cuckoo. Resident. ; 204. Centropus sinensis parroti (Stres.). The Southern Crow-Pheasant. Breeds June to August, making a huge globular nest of sticks, green: leaves and grass in a thorny bush or tree. 205. Psittacula eupatria nipalensis (Hodg.). The Large Indian Paroquet. Common in well-wooded localities. Breeds March to April in holes in trees. 206. Psittacula krameri manillensis Bechst. The Rose-ringed Paroquet. Common. Breeds February to May. Some birds have the lower mandibles red. 207. Psittacula cyanocephala cyanocephala (l.). The Western Blossom- headed Paroquet. Breeds February to May. 208. Coracias benghalensis benghalensis (L.). The Indian Roller. Common. Breeds April to May, making use of a hole in a tree, or some- times in an old wall or the roof of a house. 209. Merops orientalis orientalis (Lath.). The Common Indian Bee-Kater. Common. Breeds April to May. 210. Merops supercliliosus javanicus (Horsf.). The Blue-tailed Bee-EKater. Resident, but not so common as the last species. Breeds in large colonies on river banks from April to May. 211. Nyctiornis athertoni (J. & 8.). The Blue-bearded Bee-EKater, Recorded at Pachmarhi by Osmaston. 212. Ceryle rudis leucomelanura (Reich.). The Indian Pied Kinefisher. Breeds from February to May. 213. (1035) Alcedo atthis taprobana Klein. The Common Indian King- fisher. Breeds from February to June. 214. Ramphalcyon capensis gurial (Pearson). The Brown-headed Stork- billed Kingfisher. Resident, but not common. Observed breeding in the Balaghat District in June and July. 215. Halcyon smyrnensis fusca (Bodd.). The Indian White-breasted Kine- fisher. Common resident. Breeds April to July. 106 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVIII 216. Hydrocissa coronatus Bodd. The Malabar Pied Hornbill. Found in the eastern parts of the Provinces; I have observed it in the districts of Raipur, Nagpur, Bilaspur, Seoni and the Bastar State. 217. Tockus birostris (Scop.). The Common Grey Hornbill. A common resident. 218. Tockus griseus (Lath.). The Malabar Grey Hornbill. The species is reported as occurring in the Nimar District and I have noticed Hornbills at Khandwa which were destitute of a casque. 219. Upupa epops epops (L.). The European Hoopoe. A winter visitor. One secured at Lamta in the Balaghat. 220. Upupa epops saturata Loénn. The Tibetan Hoopoe. Ticehurst has identified birds from Seoni and the Deccan as of this race. 221. [Upupa epops orientalis (S. B.). The Indian Hoopoe. Probably resident in the northern districts. Breeds from February to May in a hole in a tree, wall or bank. | 222. Upupa epops ceylonensis Reich. The Ceylon Hoopoe. Birds from Seoni and Nagpur appear to be of this race. 223. [Micropus melba melba (L.). The Alpine Swift. Recorded from Gwalgarh (McMaster). | 224. Micropus affinis affinis (Gray). The Common Indian Swift. Common resident. 225. Tachorois batassiensis palmarum (Gray). The Palm-Swift. Breeds from February to April and again in July. 226. [Indicapus sylvaticus (Tick). The White-rumped Spine-tail. A forest species extending west to the Wyneganga and to Seoni_ 227. Hemiprocne coronata (Tick.). The Indian Crested Swift. Resident, keeping to wooded tracts. 228. Caprimulgus monticolus (Frank.). Franklin’s Nightjar. The commonest Nightjar in the Provinces. Breeds in May and June. 229. Caprimulgus asiaticus (Lath.).. The Common Indian Nightjar. Common in open country, groves and low jungle. Breeds in April and May. 230. Caprimulgus macrurus albononotus (Tick.). The Indian Long-tailed Nightjar. A forest species, breeding from March to May in densely-shaded ravines. 231. Caprimulgus indicus indicus (Lath.). The Jungle Nightjar. Resident in well-wooded tracts. 232. Tyto alba stertens Hartert. The Indian Barn-Owl. Resident. Breeds from September to January, laying from 8 to 6 white eggs in a hole in buildings or trees. 233. Tyto longimembris Jerdon. The Grass Owl. Resident in the eastern districts (Balaghat, Raipur). 234. Asio flammeus flammeus (Ponto). The Short-eared Owl. A winter visitor. 235. Strix ocellata (Less.). The Mottled Wood-Owl. Breeds from December to February. 236. Ketupa zeylonensis hardwickii Gray. The Brown Fish-Owl. Resident. 237. Bubo bubo bengalensis (Frank.). The Indian Great-horned Owl. Breeds from December to April, laying 2 to 4 white eggs on a rocky ledge or in a cave, or on the ground under a brush or tuft of grass. 238. Bubo coramandus (Lath.). The Dusky-Horned Owl. Occurs in the well-watered parts of Raipur where it probably breeds. A LIST OF THE BIRDS OF THE CENTRAL PROVINCES 107 239. Otus sunia sunia (Hodg.). The North Indian Scops Owl. A specimen taken at Nagpur on 2nd November. 240. Scops bakkamoena marathi Tice. The Collared Scops Owl. Resident. Breeds from January to April. 241. Athene brama indica Frank. The Northern Indian Spotted Owlet. Very common. Breeds February to April. 242. Athene blewitti (Hume). The Forest Spotted Owlet. Found south of the Raipur District. 243. Glaucidium radiatum radiatum (Tick.). The Jungle Owlet. A common resident in well-wooded localities. Breeds from March to May in holes in trees. 244. Ninox scutulata lugubris (Tick.). The Indian Brown Hawk-Owl. Probably resident but not plentiful, has been taken both in open country and in forest at Nagpur and Chanda. ORDER: ACCIPITRES. 245. Pandion haliaétus haliaétus (Linn.). The Osprey. A winter visitor. 246. Aegypius monachus (Linn.). The Cinereous Vulture. A winter visitor to the Northern districts, has been observed in Jubbulpore, Saugor and Nimar. 247. Sarcogyps calvus (Scop.) The Black Vulture. Resident. Breeds on trees from January to April. 248. Gyps fulvus fulvescens (Hume). The Indian Griffon Vulture. Breeds on rocky cliffs in company with the next species and lays a single white egg. The latter have been taken in October and December. 249. Gyps indicus indicus (Scop.). The Indian Long-billed Vulture. Common. Habits similar to above. 250. Pseudogyps bengalaensis (Gmel.). The Indian White-backed Vulture. Resident. Breeds in October and November. The nest is an irregular plat- form placed on a tree. 251. Neophron percnopterus§ ginginianus (Lath.). The Smaller White Scavenger Vulture. Very common resident. Breeds February to May, making a nest of sticks on a cliff, tree or building. 252. [Aquila heliaca (Sav.). The Imperial Eagle. Probably a rare winter visitor. | 253. Aquila nipalensis nipalensis (Hodg.). The Eastern Steppe Kagle. A winter visitor ranging south to Raipur and Nagpur where I have taken it. 254. Aquila rapax vindhiana (Frank.). The Indian Tawny Eagle. A common resident. Breeds from November to June, building a nest of sticks on trees. 255. [Aquila clanga (Pall.). The Greater Spotted Eagle. Probably resident, in the Northern districts. Breeds on trees from April to June and as far south as the Taptt. | 256. Aquila hastata (Less.). The Small Indian Spotted Eagle. Resident in the Eastern districts. Has been observed breeding in Raipur and Bilaspur. 257. Hieraétus fasciatus fasciatus Vieill. Bonellis Magle. Resident but not common. Breeds December to February. 258. Hieraétus pennatus Gmel. The Indian Booted Eagle. Specimens obtained at Hoshangabad and Nagpur. 259. Butastur teesa (Frank.). The White-eyed Buzzard, A common resident. Breeds in April, 108 JQUBNAL, BOMBAY. NATURAL -HIST. SOCIETY; Vol: XXXViITi 260. Haliaetus leucorypha (Pall.). Pallas’ Fishing Eagle. Resident. Breeds in November. 261. [Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus (Horsf.). The Large Grey-headed Fishing HKagle. Resident. MacArthur took an egg at Ramtek on 20th November. ] 262. Ichthyophaga humilis plumbeus (Jerd.). The Himalayan Fishing-Eagle. Specimens of this Fishing Eagle have been taken by Mr. A. Donald in the Melghat. A dad 263. Haliastur indus indus (Bodd.). The Brahminy Kite. Resident. Breeds in February. { -<¥ 264. [Ictinaetus malayensis perniger (Hodg.). The Indian Black Hagle. Jerdon is said to have seen this species in Central India (? Bastar) and MacArthur declares he took an egg probably of this species in April in the Bilaspur District. ] 265. Limnacteps cirrhatus cirrhatus (Gmel.). The Indian Hawk Eagle. Resident. The nest is placed on a high tree, in which a single egg is laid at some time from January to April. 266. [Limnaetops nepalensis nepalensis (Hodg.). Hodgson’s: Hawk-EKagle. Reported to have been found in winter as far south as Seoni and Pachmarhi, but these may just as well have been L. n. kelaarti, Legge’s Hawk Eagle. | 267. Circaétus gallicus (Gmel.). The Short-toed Hagle. Resident. Breeds on trees (rarely on cliffs), and lays a single egg between January and May in a loosely constructed nest of sticks. 268. Haematornis cheela minor (Hume). The Indian Lesser Crested Ser- pent EHagle. Breeds on trees from March to May. 269. Miivus migrans govinda (Sykes). The Common Pariah Kite. Breeds from October to February. 270. Milvus migrans lineatus (Gray). The Black-eared Kite. A winter visitor. 271. Elanus caeruleus vociferus (Lath.). The Black-winged Mite. Breeds in December and January. 972. Circus macrourus (Gmel.). The Pale Harrier. A common winter visitor. | 273. Circus pygargus (Linn.). Montagu’s Harrier. A winter visitor. 274. [Circus cyaneus (Linn.). The Hen Harrier. A straggler to the Provinces in winter. | 275. Circus melanoleucus (Forst.). The Pied Harrier. A winter visitor to the Eastern districts. I have observed it at Paraswara in the Balaghat District, and at Nawegaon, Bhandara District. 276. Circus aeruginosus aeruginosus (l.). The Marsh Harrier. A common winter visitor. I once observed one feeding on carrion and keeping at bay a crowd of vultures. 277. |Buteo rufinus (Cret.). The Long-legged Buzzard. A rare winter visitor. Has been taken at Raipur. | 278. Astur badius dussumieri (T’emm.). The Shikra. Common resident. Breeds April to May. 279. Astur trivirgatus indicus Pearson. The Crested Goshawk. A rare forest bird, probably resident. I have taken, it at Nagpur and in the Balaghat District. 280. Accipiter nisus nisosimilis (Tick.). The Asiatic Sparrow-Hawk. A winter visitor. Has been taken at Khatkali in the Melghat and at Nagpur. | yee (3 A.LIST. OF THH. BIRDS OF .THE. CENTRAL PROVINCES 109 281. Pernis ptilorhynachus ruficollis (Less.). The Indian Crested Honey- Buzzard. Resident. Breeds April to July. 282. Falco peregrinus calidus (Lath.). The Hastern. Peregrine Falcon. Taken on the banks of the Nerbudda in winter. 283. Falco peregrinus peregrinator (Sund.). The Indian Peregrine or Shahin Falcon. Resident but not common. The nest is a mass of sticks, placed on a cliff. 284. [Falco peregrinus babylonicus(Gur.). he Red-capped or Barbary Falcon. A rare winter visitor. A specimen has been taken at Raipur. | 285. Falco jugger (Gray). The Lagger Falcon. Resident. 286. Falco subbuteo subbuteo (L.). The Hobby. . A witter visitor. I took a specimen at Nagpur, and it has been taken at Raipur. 287. Falco chiquera chiquera (Daud.). The Red-headed Merlin. Resident. Breeds January to May, generally about February. 288. Falco tinnunculus objurgatus 5.B. The Indian [estrel. The Kestrels have not yet been worked out for want of material, two races are probably winter visitors, and a third is resident. A clutch of three has been taken in the Saugor District on 30th September. ORDER: COLUMBAER. 289. [Crocopus phoenicopterus phoenicopterus (Lath.). The Bengal Green Pigeon. Fiecorded as occurring with the next species at Pachmarhi. ] _ 290. Crocopus phoenicopterus chlorogaster (Blyth). The Southern. Green Pigeon. Resident. 291. Sphenocercus sphenura (Vig.). The Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon or Kxokla. Osmaston records this species as a very rare visitor to Pachmarhi in April, 292." Muscadivora aenea sylvatica (Tick.). The Northern Green Imperial Pigeon. Occurs in the Bastar State, and Chanda with a wing measurement of 220 to 225 mm. 293. Chalcophaps indica (L.).. The Emerald Dove. Resident in forest country in the Balaghat District. 294. Columba livia intermedia (Strick.). The Indian Blue Rock-Pigeon. Resident, but more plentiful in the wheat-growing areas; scarce in the cotton-growing tracts except near the vicinity of cliffs or old forts where large colomies usually establish themselves. _., 295. Streptopelia orientalis ferrago Evers. The Indian Turtle Dove. A winter visitor. 296. Streptepelia orientalis meena (Sykes). The Indian Rufous Turtle Dove. Resident. I have taken it in June at Nagpur and in January at Paraswara (Balaghat. District). 297. Streptopelia chinensis suratensis (Gm.). The Spotted Dove. Resident, partial to forest areas. Breeds almost throughout the year. 298. Streptopelia senegalensis cambayensis (Gm.). The Little Brown Dove. Resident. Breeds almost throughout the year. 299. Streptopelia decaocts decaocto (Friv.). The Indian Ring-Dove. Resident. Breeds throughout the year. 110 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVIIt 300. Oenopopelia tranquebarica (Herm.). The Indian Red Turtle-Dove. Resident. Breeds almost throughout the year. ORDER: PTEROCLETES. 301. Pterocles indicus (Gmel.). The Painted Sandgrouse. Resident. Breeds chiefly in March, April and May. 302. Pterocles exustus erlangeri (Neum.). The Common Indian Sandgrouse. Resident. ORDER: GALLINAE. 303. Pavo cristatus (l.). The Common Peafowl. Breeds June to September. Albino peafowl have been reported from the Bastar State. 304. Gallusbankiva R. & K. The Indian Jungle-Fowl. Resident in the eastern half of the Provinces, Balaghat, Bhandara, Bastar, ete., extending west into the Chanda District, and across the Pench River. 305. Gallus sonneratii (Temm.). The Grey Jungle-Fowl. Resident throughout the Nerbudda Valley west of Jubbulpore, the Melghat. and the Chanda District. 306. Galloperdix spadicea spadicea (Gmel.). The Red Spur-Fowl. Resident. Birds from the Nimar District appear to be G. s. caurina, Bf. 307. Galloperdix luaulata (Val.). The Painted Spur-Fowl. Resident. 308. Excalfactoria chinensis (L.). The Blue-throated Quail. Probably resident in the eastern parts of the Provinces. 309. Coturnix coturnix coturnix (L.). The Common Quail. A winter visitor rarely breeding in the Provinces. 310. Coturnix coromandelica (Gmel.). The Black-breasted or Rain-Quail. Resident. S11. Perdicula asiatica asiatica (Lath.). The Jungle Bush-Quail. Resident. Breeds September to February. 312. Perdicula asiatica argoondah (Sykes). The Rock Bush-Quail. Resident in the Western Central Provinces. 318. Coryptoplectron erythrorhynchum blewitti (Hume). Blewitt’s Bush-Quail. Resident in the forest regions of the Eastern Central Provinces (Mandla, Balaghat, Seoni, Chanda, Raipur and Bastar). 314. [Francolinus francolinus asiae (Bonap.). The Indian Black Partridge. May be resident in the extreme north of the Provinces. ?] 315. Francolinus pictus pictus (J. & S.). The Southern Painted Partridge. Resident in the southern parts of the Provinces (Raipur, Chanda and Bala- ghat). Breeds during the rains. 316. Francolinus pictus pallidus (Grey). The Northern Painted Partridge. Resident in the Northern and Western portions of the Provinces. The races of the Painted Partridges in the Central Provinces have not yet been properly investigated. 317. Francolinus pondicerianus interpositus (Hart.). The Northern Grey Partridge. Breeds February to June and sometimes again from September to November. OrpDER: HEMIPODI. 318. Turnix suscitator taijoor (Sykes). The Common Bustard Quail. Breeds chiefly during the rains (June). 319. Turnix dussumieri (Temm.). The Little Button-Quail. Resident. Breeds chiefly from June to September. A LIST OF THE BIRDS OF THE CENTRAL PROVINCES ala 320. Turnix maculatus tanki (Blyth). The Indian Button-Quail. Resident. Breeds May to September. ORDER: GRALLAE. 321. [Rallus aquaticus korejewi Sar. The Turkestan Water Rail. A straggler in winter. Has been taken at Sehore. | 322. [Hypotaenida striata gularis Horsf. ‘he Indian Blue-Breasted Banded Rail. | 823. [Porzana porzana L. The Spotted Crake. May be a straggler in winter. ] 324. Porzana pusilla pusilla (Pallas). The Kasten Baillons Crake. Taken at Nagpur in April and May and observed elsewhere in winter. 325. Amaurornis phoenicurus chinensis (Bodd.). The Chinese White-Breasted Water Hen. Breeds probably from May to September; clutches of 4 and 5 taken in Bhandara in July. A bird from Nagpur had a wing measurement of 156 mm. 326. Amaurornis akool akoel (Sykes). The Brown Crake. Resident. 327. Gallinula chloropus indicus (Blyth). The Indian Moorhen. Breeds from July to September. 328. Porphyrio poliocephalus poliocephalus (Lath.). The Indian Purple Coot. Breeds in September. 329. Fulica atra atra(l.). The Coot. Breeds in September in a nest very similar to that of the Purple Coot. 330. Metopidius indicus (Lath.). The Bronze-winged Jacana. Breeds from June to September. 331. Hydrophasianus chirurgus (Scop.). The Pheasant-tailed Jacana. Nidification similar to that of the Bronze-winged Jacana. 382. Rostratula benghalensis benghalensis (L.). The Painted Snipe. vesident. Breeds at all seasons. 333. Grus grus lilfordi (Sharpe). The Eastern Crane. A winter visitor to the Nerbudda Valley. 334. Grus leacogeranus (Pallas). The Great White or Siberian Crane. A straggler was shot by McMaster at Kuhi near Nagpur. 335. Antigone antigone antigone (L.). The Sarus. Resident. Breeds in July and August and also in March. 3386. _Anthropoides virgo (L.).. The Demoiselle Crane. A winter visitor keeping to the larger river basins. 337. Choriotes nigriceps, Vig. The Great Indian Bustard. Resident. Breeds October to December, laying a single egg, in a hollow on the ground with or without a lining of grass. Females sometimes have the black pectorak band complete and distinct. 338. Sypheotides indica (Gmel.). The Lesser Florican or Likh. Breeds in August and September. ORDER: CHARADRIFORMES., 339. Burhinus oedicnemus indicus (Salv.). The Indian Stone-Curlew. Breeds from February to August, but chiefly in April. 340. Esacusrecurvirostris (Cuv.). The Great Stone-Plover. Resident. Lays two eggs between February and June in river-beds on the sand or amongst stones. 112 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol._ XXXVIII 341. Cursorius coromandelicus (Gmel.). The Indian Courser. sreeds from March to July. 342. Rhinoptilus bitorquatus (Jerd.). Jerdon’s Courser. A rare bird found at Sironcha. 343. Glareola maldivarum (Forst.). The Large Indian Swallow-Plover. Resident. Breeds in May. - 844. Glareola lactea (Temm.). The Small Indian Pratincole. Breeds in company with Terns, on sandbanks in the larger rivers from March to May. : 345. Larus brunnicephalus (Jerd.). The Brown-headed Gull. A specimen was shot on the Telinker1 Tank, Nagpur, on 17th June. 346. Larus argentatus cachinnans Pallas. Yellow-legged Herring-Gull. Taken on the Mahanaddy River at Chandrapur in November. 347. [Chlidonias leucopareia indica. ‘The Indian Whiskered Tern. A winter visitor. ] 348. Chlidonias 1. leucoptera. White-winged Black ‘Tern. Has been taken at Raipur. 349. Gelochelidon nilotica nilotica. ‘The Gull-billed Tern. Observed on the Mahanaddy River. : 350. Sterna seena (Sykes). The Indian River Tern. Breeds gregariously in March, April or May in a depression on a sandbank. 851. Sterna melanogaster (Temm.). The Black-bellied Tern. Nidification similar to that of S. seena and frequently breeding in company with it. 352. Rhynchops albicollis (Swains.). The Indian Skimmer. Resident on the Nerbudda and Mahanaddy Rivers. Breeds from March to April after the fashion of other terns and in company with them. 358. [Charadrius dubius curonicus Gmel. The Huropean Little Ringed Plover. A winter visitor. ] 354. Charadrius dubius jerdoni (Legge). Jerdon’s Little Ringed-Plover. Breeds from February to March, but probably later and earlier as well. 355. Pluvialis dominicus fulvus Gmel. The Hastern Golden Plover. Taken on the Mahanaddy River, near Chandrapur. 356. Hoplopterus duvaucelli Lesson. The Spur-winged-Plover. ; Observed in the Nerbudda and Indravati Rivers. Breeds from March to May. 857. Lobivanellus indicus iadicus (Bodd.). The Indian Red-wattled Lap- wing. Breeds chiefly from April to June, laying 4 eggs in a small hollow. 358. Lobipluvia malabarica (Bodd.). The Yellow-wattled Lapwing. Breeds from May to July. 859. Himantopus himantopus himantopus L. The Back-winged Stilt. 560. Numenius arquata arquata Lin. The Western. Curlew. All curlews which I have shot on the Mahanaddy River have proved to be of this race. They were generally in small flocks. 361. Numenius arquata orientalis Brehm. The Eastern Curlew. _ A winter visitor. All birds shot on inland tanks in the Bhandara and Nagpur districts were of this race. They were either solitary or in small flocks of 4 or 5 birds. 362. Limosa limosa limosa. The Black-tailed Godwit. A rare winter visitor, one shot on the Sonagaon tank 4 miles south of Nagpur. It was a solitary bird associating with one other wader. A LIST OF THE BIRDS OF THE CENTRAL PROVINCES 113 363. [Macroramphus semipalmatus (Jerd.). The Snipe-billed Godwit. A specimen is said to have been killed at Raipur by Capt. S. L. Wood (Asian 22 Februay 1894, page 377).] 364. Tringa ochropus (L.). The Green Sandpiper. A very common winter visitor. It has been observed at Nagpur on the 14th September and some birds remain till June. 365. Tringa stagnatilis (Becks.). The Marsh Sandpiper. A winter visitor to the Northern districts (Jubbulpore, Seon1, etc.). 366. Tringa hypoleuca (L.). The Common Sandpiper. A winter visitor. 367. Tringa glareola (L.). The Wood Sandpiper. Very common winter visitor. 368. Tringa totanus (L.). The Redshank. Observed on the Mahanaddy River. 369. Glottis nebularia (Gunner). The Greenshank. A winter visitor. 370. Philomachus pugnax (l.). The Ruff and Reeve. A winter visitor, solitary individuals as well as large flocks have been seen. 371. Erolia minuta (Leister). The Little Stint. A winter visitor, common on the Nerbudda. 372. Erolia temminckii (Leister). ‘CTemminck’s Stint. A winter visitor. 373. [Erolia alpina alpina, Lin. The Hastern Dunlin. A straggler to the Province in winter. | 374. Capella nemoricola (Hodg.). The Wood Snipe. Occurs on migration, has been taken at Mandla, Pachmarhi, Amarkantak, Balaghat and Serguja. 375. Capelia gallinago gallinago (L.). The Common Fantail Snipe. A winter visitor. 376. Capella stenura (Bonap.). The Pintail Snipe. A winter visitor, more plentiful than the last species. 377. Lymmnocryptes minima (Brunn.). The Jack Snipe. A winter visitor. ORDER: STEGANOPODES. 378. Pelicans have been observed in the Northern districts in the rains and also in the Hastern districts, but whether they are P. onocrotalus or P. philippensis or both, has not been ascertained. 379. Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis (S. & N.). The Indian Large Cormorant. Resident, but not plentiful, nests on trees growing in water. An incom- plete clutch of 2 eggs was taken on the 18th July in the Balaghat District. 380. [Phalacrocorax fuscicollis (Steph.). The Indian Shag. A rare bird if it occurs at all.] 381. Phalacrocorax niger Vieill. The Little Cormorant. Resident. Breeds in colonies in July. 382. Anhinga melanogaster (Penn.). The Indian Darter or Snake-bird. Breeds in colonies, and generally in company with Cormorants and Herons, on trees in or near water. OrpDER: MHERODIONES. 383. Plataiea leucorodia major (T'emm.). The Indian Spoonbill. Observed in the northern and eastern districts. 8 114 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL GIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVIII 384. Threskiornis melanocephalus (Lath.). The White Ibis. Resident. Breeds gregariously from June to August constructing a stick nest on a large tree. 385. Pseudibis papillosus (Temm.). The Indian Black Ibis. Resident. Breeds at various seasons, March and April and again from August to December. 386. Plegadis falcinellus falcinellus The Glossy Ibis. Taken on the Mahanaddy, the birds were in a very large flock. 387. Dissoura episcopa episcopa (Bodd.). Vhe Indian White-necked Stork. A common resident. Breeds from June to August. 388. Xenorhynchus asSiaticus asiaticus (Lath.). The Black-necked Stork. Resident, breeds from October to December. 389. Leptoptilus javanicus (Horsf.). The Smaller Adjutant. Most probably resident. 390. Pseudotantalus leucocephalus leucocephalus (Penn.). The Painted Stork. Breeds gregariously often on trees growing near villages and makes a small nest of sticks. 391. Anastomus oscitans (Bodd.). ‘The Open-bill. Breeds gregariously from April to July. 392. Ardea purpurea manillensis (Meyen.). The Hastern Purple Heron. Breeds from April to August, making a huge stick nest in thickets or in dense cluinps of bulrushes. 393. Ardea cinerea rectirostris Gould. The Hastern Grey Heron. Resident. 394. [Ardea goliath Gret. The Giant Heron. Casual, Blanford once saw them near Nagpur (Kuhi).] 395. Egretta alba modesta (Gray). The Hastern Large Egret. All the Egrets are resident and breed gregariously in July on trees, making nests of sticks. 396. Egretta intermedia intermedia (Wagler). The Smaller Egret. 397. Egretta garzetta garzetta (Linn.). The Little Hgret. 398. Bubdulcus ibis csromandus (Bodd.). The Cattle Egret. Breeds from June to August. 399. Demiegretta asha (Sykes). The Indian Reef-Heron. A specimen was observed on the Telinkher1 Tank, Nagpur, and another on the Mahanaddy. 400. Ardeola gravii (Sykes). The Indian Pond Heron. Breeds in July and August, making a stick nest on a tree, several pairs often nesting in company. 401. Butorides striatus iavanicus (Horsf.). The Indian Little Green Heron. Breeds May to August. 402. Nycticorax nycticorax nycticorax (Linn.). The Night Heron. Breeds July to September in company with Egrets and other Herons. 403. Ixobrychus cinnamomeus (Gmel.). The Chestnut Bittern. Resident. Three eggs were taken from a nest placed amongst reeds in the Bhandara District in September. A specimen was also secured at Nagpur in April. 404. [Dupetro flavicollis flavicollis (Lath.). The Black Bittern. Reported to be resident. | 405. Botaurus stellaris steliaris (Linn.). The Bittern. A winter visitor. A LIST OF THE BIRDS OF THE CENTRAL PROVINCES 115 ORDER: PHOENICOPTERI. 406. Phoenicopterus ruber antiquorum (Temm.). The Common Flamingo. Flocks of flamingoes are now and then seen flying over or settling. in the Nagpur tanks. On the 9th June 1912 a large flock was observed on the Ambajheri Tank and on the 27th June 1912 I obtained a specimen out of a flock on the Gorewara Tank. 407. Phoeniconaias minor (Geoffr.). The Lesser Flamingo. A specimen was shot on the 9th June 1912, associating with a flock of the larger species. In the winter of the same year I also saw a quantity of these birds being hawked about for sale. OrpDER: ANSERES. 408. Sarkidiornis melanotus (Penn.). The Nukhta or Comb-Duck. Resident. Breeds on trees, placing the nest in a hole in the stem or in a depression between the larger branches. A specimen is said to have been shot in the Bilaspur District by Mr. ieee Vous «si BN GH S., vol. xil, p..o12): 410. Nettopus coromandelianus (Gmel.). The Cotton Teal. Breeds in July and August in holes in trees. 411. [{Anser anser (Linn.). The Grey Lag Goose. Winter visitor to the Nerbudda. ] 412. Anser indicus (Lath.). The Bar-headed Goose. A winter visitor, very common on the Nerbudda. A solitary individual was shot in a tank at Naghbir in the Chanda District. 413. Dendrocygna javanica (Horsf.). The Whistling Teal. Resident; makes a nest of sticks in a tree, occupies an old nest of a crow or heron, or builds in grass or thorny shrub near water. 414. [Dendrocygnafulva. ‘he Large Whistling Teal. Oates in Humes’ Nests and Eggs records a nest found at Saugor, taken from a large hollow in a tree. ] 409. Asarcorais scutulatus (Muller). The White-winged Wood Duck. 415. Casarca ferruginea (Pall.). The Ruddy Sheldrake or Brahminy Duck. A winter visitor, keeping to the wider streams and rivers. 416. Anas platyrhyncha platyrhyncha (Linn.). The Mallard. An occasional winter visitor to the northern district. 417. Anas poecilorhyncha poecilorhyncha (Fors.). The Indian Spotbill. Resident, breeds July to September. 418. Chaulelasmus streperus (Linn.). The Gadwall. A winter visitor. 419. [Mareca penelope (inn.). The Widgeon. Probably an irregular winter visitor. | 420. Nettion creca creca (liinn.). The Common Teal. A winter visitor. 421. Dafila acuta (Linn.). The Pintail. A winter visitor. 422. Querquedula querquedula (Linn.). The Garganey or Blue-winged Teal. A winter visitor, staying with us till about the middle of April. It is one of the common ducks of the Provinces. 423. Spatula clypeata (Linn.). The Shoveller. A winter visitor. 424. [Marmaronetta angustirostris, Mene. The Marbled Teal. Occasionally wanders into the Provinces. ] 116 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVIII 425. Nettarufina (Pallas). The Red-crested Pochard. A winter visitor. 426. Nyroca ferina ferina (Linn.). The Pochard or Dun-bird. A winter visitor. 427. Nyroca rufa rufa (Linn.). The White-eyed Duck. A winter visitor and perhaps the commonest Duck. 428. Nyroca fuligula (Linn.). The Tufted Duck. A winter visitor. 429. Merganser merganser orientalis (Gould). The Hastern Goosander. A winter visitor, has been shot at Arang on the Mahanaddy in the Raipur District. The Smew (Mergus albellus) is probably also found on the Nerbudda. ORDER: PYGOPODES. 430. Podiceps ruficollis capensis Salo. ‘The Indian Little Grebe or Dabchick. A common resident. The breeding season is from July to September. es Bn pete ne ae a He oS Ee ee i ey se) x oes re er ae ey tee sean rent ere ee weet eer aves ie cos ee ee rors a * a Soe eee em ene ccnmnnmnns nee tie e eng ne cee cmotne mem Journ., Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. PAT. 2 Boe E Ss Z K 2 ei 3 So Strobilanthes Kunthianus T. And. in flower on a hillside in the Pulneys, 1934. THE FLOWERING OF STROBILANTHES IN 1984. BY M. EK. Rosinson. (With eight plates). This paper makes no pretensions to be a scientific study of the interesting genus Strobilanthes, but is merely a short account of a few of the species that flowered on the hills of South India, during the year 1934. The genus was exhaustively studied by Robert Wight and Col. Beddome, who did so much for Indian Botany during the latter half of the nineteenth century, and each described over twenty species, making illustrations of forty species in their Icones Plantarum. Gamble describes fortysix species in the Flora of the Madras Presidency, and Fyson has also given descriptions and illustrations of several of the more common species in his ‘Flora of the Nilgiri and Pulney Hill tops’. As these works of reference may not be readily available to the general reader, a photograph and drawings are given here to illustrate the species mentioned. The best known of the Strobilanthes is Strobilanthes Kunthia- nus which flowers in greater profusion than any other species; so much so indeed, as to earn for itself the name of the ‘great blue flower of the Nilgiris’, and to colour whole tracts of country with sheets of its delicate blue. But not every year. In fact only once in twelve years is this remarkable sight to be seen; and though in the intervening years occasional plants can be found here and there in flower, and in some years quite a number may be found, the full gregarious flowering, when whole hillsides are covered with the plants, every one bearing great bunches of mauve- blue flowers, takes place only at intervals of twelve years. The year 1984 has seen such a flowering. Its last appearance was in 1922, and before that in 1910. Records of its appearance in 1898 and 1886 have been made by various observers and Mr. Cockburn of Kotagiri, in the Nilgiris, has given me a remarkable record of its flowerings during a hundred years. His grandfather was one of the first European settlers on the Nilgiris in 1826, and his aunt first saw Strobilanthes in flower in 1838 when she was a child of nine; and saw and recorded Strobilanthes in full flower in 1850, 1862, 1874, 1886, 1898, 1910 and 1922. ; This seems to establish the twelve year period fairly well, though other dates have been given for its appearance such as 1848, 1908, 1925, 1982, which suggest a more irregular period. Gamble indeed says ‘probably about six years’ and Fyson says ‘irregular intervals from seven to twelve years’. Some speci- mens were sent me from the Nilgiris purporting to be of an ‘eight 118 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVII1 year variety’ but these were S. Kunthianus exactly the same as the twelve year plant. From the information I have gathered and the above mentioned record, I should think it probable that a full flowering takes place only once in twelve years, with lesser out- bursts of flowering in scattered areas at other times. The year 1934 has undoubtedly been a year of full flowering on all the hills. There were acres of blue flowers on the Pulney Hills from the beginning of July until December, when there were still isolated patches in the more sheltered valleys round Poombarai, though the open hillsides were covered with the dead and blackening bushes. On the Nilgiris it did not appear in full flower until August, and in October a hillside above Wellington was blue, and much could still be found round Pykara and Kotagiri. On the Anamalais it appeared only in October and covered the grass hills there with sheets of bloom. The plant varies very much in size according to its habitat. On the open hills and grass lands it is short and close, being often only one to two feet high; whereas at the sides of the roads, and in the sholas it grows into strong bushes eight to ten feet in height. The flowers vary in colour also from a very pale lilac blue, almost white, to a deep purplish blue. It is noted by all who have seen two or three flowerings, that at each successive period, the area over which it appears becomes less and less. Every year more land in these hills is taken up and cleared for tea estates, or for fruit and vegetable culture, or for building. Many a hillside that was once blue with Strobilanthes, is now green with the little flat topped tea bushes, and Strobi- lanthes is ruthlessly exterminated as a pest. It must have been a wonderful sight when first seen by a European, when there were no estates, and no habitations other than the scattered hill vil- lages, and one can only regret the loss of so much beauty. It is easy to understand the awe and veneration with which the simple hill people would look upon this marvellous flower, appearing at such long intervals, and there are to this day old people among the Todas, Badagas and Kotas, who refer to the number of times they have seen ‘the great blue flower’ in chronicling the chief events of their lives. One interesting result of the gregarious flowering of Strobilanthes is the large increase in the number of bees found in its vicinity during its flowering period. Each flower secretes honey in a small disc below the ovary, so that immense quantities of honey must be available, and two different kinds of honey bees visit the flowers. The large dark tipped rock bee (Apis dorsata) and the dark hill variety of the common Indian honey bee (Apis indica) are both visitors to Strobilanthes, and their curious hanging hives are very conspicuous. In 1922 as many as 28 were found hanging from one Eucalyptus tree near Kodaikanal, and 32 were counted on an over- hanging rock; while 7 swarms took place on the verandah of a college building at Shembaganur. _ This large production of honey tempts the hill bears to come in search of their favourite food, and round Kotagiri, in the Nil- giris, a considerably larger number of them were seen in 1984, THE FLOWERING OF STROBILANTHES IN 1934 119° The honey is said to have a peculiar flavour when Strobilanthes is in flower, being rather more bitter than usual. The genus Strobilanthes belongs to the natural order Acantha- ceae. The chief characteristics of the genus are as follows:— (1) A gamopetalous bell-shaped corolla which narrows gradu- ally towards the base in some species, as S. Kunthianus while in some others the bell passes suddenly into a narrow tube as in S. foltosus. (2) The inflorescence is a spike, the flowers being enclosed in overlapping bracts; the spike is elongated in some species as S. Kunthianus and S. consanguineus; in others short and close or capitate as in S. foliosus and S. Wightianus. The overlapping bracts are supposed to give the inflorescence somewhat the appear- ance of a pine cone from which the genus takes its name, strobile being the Greek word for pine cone. (3) There are either two or four stamens, sometimes two fertile and two infertile. (4) The long style ends in a bilobed stigma with unequal lobes. (5) The superior ovary is seated on a honey secreting cushion or disc. (6) The leaves are opposite, simple and usually dentate with conspicuous veins. (7) Many of the species are very hairy, as S. Wightianus; S. Perrottetianus with red hairs; S. urceolaris, sticky with an aro- matic scent; S. Lawsoni long silky hairs, densely covering the plant. (8) With few exceptions, nearly all the species flower only at intervals of a number of years. In most species the period is not definitely established. The following eight species were found flowering on the Nilgiris and Pulneys during 1934. (A) Flowers having two stamens :— (1) Strobilanthes Kunthianus T. And: (Pls. I and IJ). Found on the Nilgiris, Pulneys, Anamalais, High Range, Shevaroys, Billi- girirangans; period 12 years; a woody shrub found in the open and in sholas, varying with locality from 14 to 10 ft. in height. Smooth reddish stem, bearing opposite leaves almost white be- low with soft short hairs between the veins. There are two types of leaves, the more common longer than broad, with pointed tip; less common shorter, as broad as long, and a broad rounded tip. The edge is toothed and the veins conspicuous 8-10 pairs; inflores- cence rather long spike; bracts slightly hairy. Corolla pale to deep mauve blue, bell narrowing gradually to the base. (2) Strobilanthes foliosus T. And: (Pl. III). Found on Nilgiris and Pulneys and reported from other hill ranges; at edges of sholas only; quite common and said to flower every year; shrub 10 or 12 ft. high. Smooth grey-brown stem; leaves opposite quite smooth; broad with pointed tip; toothed edge. 120 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVIII Inflorescence short and compact, supported by four outer leaves with large bases surrounding the spike. Outer bracts also some- what leafy, quite smooth. Corolla pale blue, with a long narrow tube as long as the bell: stamens two long and two very small infertile ones at the base of the long ones. (3) Strobilanthes consanguineus C. B. Clarke: (Pl. IV). Found on the Pulneys at about 5,000 ft. and below to 8,500 ft.; abundant at the edges of sholas and the road; Gamble says its period is about 12 years, it having been previously recorded in flower in 1909, 1897 and 1884. Shrub 10 or 12 ft. high glabrous, except the inflorescence which is sticky; leaves rather large, long-stalked and with a long point; toothed edge. Inflorescence very long and slender spike, often three or more together; bracts with sticky hairs; flowers rather small, very pale lilac, short tube below the bell. (4) Strobilanthes Lawsoni Gamble: (Pl. V). Found on _ the Nilgiris and previously collected in 1917 and 1888; so its period may be about 17 years; cultivated in a few gardens on the Nilgiris for the sake of its foliage; the whole plant densely covered with long white silky hairs. Inflorescence a long spike; corolla pale blue with a rather short tube; stamens with white silky hairs. (B) Flowers having four stamens :— (5) Strobilanthes Zenkerianus T. And: (Pl. IIT). Found on the Nilgiris and Pulneys; a shrub so like S. foliosus that it is difficult to distinguish them at first sight; leaves perhaps smaller, darker green and of tougher consistency. Inflorescence a short compact head; similar to that of S. folio- sus but the outer leaves surrounding the head are wanting, and these are true bracts, very leafy. Flower similar in blue colour and long tube below the bell; stamens four fertile, two long and two short; the distinguishing characteristic between this species and SS. foliosus. In dried specimens it is often difficult to tell whether the two small stamens are fertile or infertile. (6) Strobilanthes Wightianus Nees: (Pl. VI). Found on the Nilgiris, very abundant in 1934 but said to flower every year; easily recognised; very roughly hairy shrub 6 to 8 ft. high at the edges of sholas; short and compact, often only one foot high on the open roadsides; leaves rather short and broad; short stalks and very hairy. Ta eoncecones short compact head, bracts leafy and very hairy. Corolla large pale blue with dark blue lines and the tube and throat brown, showing up the four yellow stamens all of the same length; very short tube below the bell. (7) Strobilanthes Perrottetianus Nees: (Pl. VII). This was found on the Nilgiris and has been reported from the Anamalais, and was found in 1852 and in 1888 and more lately in 1908 and 1918. Its period may be about ten years but seems irregular. Journ., Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. PLATE II.. Strobilanthes Kunthianus T. And. Journ., Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. PLATE EXE. Strobilanthes foliosus T. And. or S. Zenkerianus T. And. Journ., Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. PLATE IV. Strobilanthes consanguineus C. B. Clarke. Journ., Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. PLATE V. fw nay UN MZ WOW ANY \ Wy Wy Ld We ye ast Wi ig er N Wy NS NW Vi WwW Ye — i oon ie f me WW \ te Mn WELZ ie L, ge Be A YG N iit ean ik ps = ni, pi ere = J . See What ‘ he dled lees Wg AS — SS==-- iN SS = =~ ~~ ~ S SS == Strobilanthes Lawsoni Gamble. Journ., Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. PLATE VI. — o2/, 19ls. if a Martynov Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (9), vol. xiv, p. 218, 1924. ss 7 Ulmer—="Arch. Nature., vol. xci, Abt: A, Dieit.. 5 LOTL. - This cuckoo is largely parasitic on Bulbuls, also on Laughing Thrushes. An observer saw a Pied Crested Cuckoo deposit its own ege in the nest of a Jungle Babbler and remove one of the Babbler’s eggs (xxvii, 894). Two eggs were taken from the nest of the Nepal Babbler, ‘the huge Blue Cuckoo’s eggs in the tiny nests of Alcippe looked very ridiculous, and it seems incredible that the birds could have been so imposed upon as to be induced to hatch them.’ iat at ~ The eggs are well known. ‘Dark blue-green. Texture extreme- ly fine and silky, surface smooth. Shape broad, elliptical’ and are illustrated in Pl. IIT. Size, average, .94 in. x .80 in. ! (16) THe Rep-WINGED Crestep Cuckoo (C. coromandus) ap- pears to be a rare bird in India, but with that proviso and other limitations, its habitat seems to be that of the other species. It is common around Maymyo, Burma, and. there is a whole page concerning its eggs, food habits, and voice by Mr. B. B.: Osma- ston in xxiv, 361. ans es ake On the morning of the 7th November 1900 a cuckoo -of this species ‘was caught in the Society’s Museum where it had no doubt sought shelter from the unwelcome attention of the crows, which are even quicker than the Members of the Natural History Society to notice .a stranger in ‘the neighbourhood.’ Only once previously had this species been recorded from any part. of the CUCKOO-LORE 279 Bombay Presidency. That bird was obtained at Savantwadi, and is also in the Society’s collection. The eggs are known. Pale blue-green. Texture as for jaco- binus. Shape spheroidal. IRlustration in Pl. LI. Average size HOG im. sce 7290" ine All the sub-family Cuculinae have now been dealt with. The next sub-family is Phoenicophainae of which there are 8 genera comprising 21 species. Only the first genus, Hudynamis, is para- sitic. The others include the Malkohas (9 species), the Sirkeer Cuckoos (3 species) and the Crow Pheasants (7 species). The Malkohas are green-plumaged birds some of which have red bills and some green bills. Being mostly forest birds they do not attract notice. The Small Green Malkoha is common in South India, while the Large Green-billed Malkoha takes its place in the north-east of India, Bengal and Assam. Of the Sirkeer Cuckoo, an uncommon and peculiar bird, very little is recorded in the Journal. Mr. E. H. Gill (xxix, 299) de- scribes the curious courtship lasting about twenty minutes, when the male bird makes the most of the patchwork effect of his sober plumage. | The Crow Pheasant whose ‘deep, sonorous whoot, whoot, whoot is one of the most familar of the sounds which greet the rising sun in India’ is well known to almost everyone. Its food is mostly insectivorous but it is said to eat the eggs of other birds; and in localities where there is preservation of game a price 1s placed on its head. This is probably without proper justification, and the bird may do more good than harm. (17) THe Inpran Korn (Hudynamis scolopaceus scolopaceus) ‘ranges throughout India, Ceylon and Burma, and is unpleasantly common anywhere but in Sind, where it is very rare, and in the West Punjab where it is uncommon. It ascends the Hills up to about 2,500 ft., above which it ceases to persecute. Outside India it extends to Western China, throughout the Malay Archi- pelago, the Andamans, Laccadives and Flores.’ ‘Its most common cries are /o-il, generally turned into youre- ill by Europeans, and continuous shouts of who-are-you. By some people this bird has been called the Indian Nightingale (these have probably lived in Sind), and by others its music has been called ‘An Introductory Poem to Hades’. It is alwuys noisy, but more particularly so by night when it is moonlight. It is everywhere pushing and forward, but, perhaps, more especially so in the com- pounds of houses containing sick persons.’ The Emperor Baber styled the Koel ‘The Nightingale of Hindu- stan’. | . oe ‘Its breeding season lasts from the end of April to the end of August. In March it practises its voice and gets its throat into working order, and in September its voice breaks, gradually ceases, and the world has rest for a few cold weather months.’ In India the Koel is mainly parasitic on the Common Crow, and on the Burmese Crow in that country. Occasionally | the Jungle Crow is made use of, and its egg has been found in the nest of the Magpie in Burma, and in that of the Common Myna 280 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Voi. XXXViit in Dibrugarh (Inglis, xviii, 682) and in one peculiar case in that- of the Oriole—a very small nest—but that was no doubt a case of emergency (D’Abreu, xxxi, 1032). A very full and amusing account of the Koel will be found in Mr. Douglas Dewar’s ‘Birds of the Plains’, also in his “Bombay Ducks’ where male and female are illustrated: and in xvi, 765-82, is his very full ‘Enquiry into the Parasitic Habits of the Indian Koel’ in which he concludes that the young Koel does not eject the crow’s eggs or his fellow nestlings—other than by accident; that the incubation period of the Koel’s egg is slightly shorter than that of the crow; that the koel undoubtedly destroys, or tries to destroy, some of the crow’s eggs it finds in the nest, and given opportunity will destroy all the crow’s eggs; that the destruction does not necessarily take place at the same time the koel’s ege is laid; that there is no hollow in the back of the koel nestling; that the koel will frequently lay her egg in the crow’s nest; and other 1aatters of kindred interest. His accounts of how he ‘played cuckoo’ are highly interesting and amusing, and illustrate that ‘a nesting bird seems to cast intelligence to the winds. The crows sat upon, and hatched, a fowl’s egg, upon a sea-green paddy-bird’s egg, and on a golf ball, apparently without noticing that these differed in any way from their own eggs. Again, the addition or subtraction of an egg or two was not noticed. Further, when I introduced a young koel into a nest containing eggs only, the parent birds at once set to work to feed the young koel as though they were quite accus- tomed to young birds being thus introduced into the nest!’ Ex- periments of others in the same direction are also cited. In vol. xxiv, 595, Mr. Hugh Whistler also contributes as to incubation and removal of crow’s eges at time of laying. Mr. Salim A. Ah, an accurate observer who contributes valuable articles to our Journal, also (xxxiv, 1067) ‘played cuckoo’ with regard to egg mimicry of canorus and one of his experiments was cut short by a female koel which swallowed all the four eggs in the nest in as many seconds! Ordinarily not more than two koel’s eggs are found in a crow’s nest, but on occasion four or more are found; and in one instance (xxxv, 458) eleven eggs are recorded. These are cases of two or more birds depositing their eggs in the same nest; and this can be known by the different types of egg found in such cases: but Mr. Dewar says (xvii, 782) that a great deal of variation is dis- played in the same clutch. ‘In one clutch of four eggs each differed so greatly from the others that, unless I had myself taken all four eggs out of the same nest, I should not have believed that one bird could have laid them.’ Can it have been that more than one bird laid those eggs? With the exception of examination (for purposes of ‘distribu- tion’) of the many lists of birds from various localities in the Indian Empire which have been contributed from time to time by Members of the Society, 1 have carefully searched the past fifty years of the Journal for material, and think that nothing of importance has been omitted in this effort to bring ‘Cuckoo- CUCKOO-LORE 281 Lore’ up to date for the information and entertainment of readers. Epiror’s Notrt.—The cost of back numbers of the Journal has been greatly reduced; so those referred to in this article, vol. xvi, Nos. 1-4 (which contain the egg Plates), and most of the others, can be obtained at one rupee each. In connection with the study of Ornithology the Editors invite attention to the several series which have appeared in recent years in the Journal of the Society such as: The Study of Indian Birds by Mr. Hugh Whistler; and The Birds of Prey of the Punjab by Mr. C. H. Donald. THH ORNITHOLOGY OF TRAVANCORE AND COCHIN. BY SALIM ALI. With Notes by HucH WuistiEr. Parr IO, (With two plates). (Continued from page 92 of this volume). Famity: TuRDIDE. Brachypteryx major albiventris (Blanford). The White-bellied Shortwing. Specimens collected: 115 [¢] imm. 20-1-38 Munnar 5,000 ft. Elsewhere not noted. Possibly overlooked or confused with Muscicapula pallipes. In the Trivandrum Museum I have seen the following Travancore skins: o? 5-8-0383 Chemunji; 0? 5-97 Devikolam. William Davison obtained four specimens ‘in late December or early January on the Chimpani Hills dividing Travancore territory from Tinnevelly District.’ (bis, 1888, pp. 146-47.) Colours of bare parts: Iris bright khaki brown; bill brownish-black; mouth pale pinkish-grey; legs, feet and claws horny-brown. [I have examined the following specimens in the British Museum Collec- tion: o? 18-4-77, 0? 16-4-80 Colathoorpolay, Patnas 3,800 ft. and 4,000 ft. (Bourdillon); Q ?-5-97 Devikolam (A. H. Nair); Q@ 16-4-79 Mynall 4,000 ft. (Bourdillon); Q 11-6-77, Q 21-6-77, 3 28-6-77 Kodaikanal 7,000 ft., Palnis (Fairbank); ¢ Type Palnis (Fairbank); 3 24-5-77 Pillar Rocks Grove 7,000 ft., Palnis (Fairbank). No material is available for plumage study.—H. W.] The specimen—a young bird with very imperfectly ossified skull—was shot on a densely scrubbed hillside on the town outskirts in the same biotope as Tarsiger brunnea, Ochromela nigrorufa and Pitta brachyura. It was solitary. According to Ferguson the White-bellied Shortwing is found throughout the Travancore hills in dense forest undergrowth at elevations over 3,000 ft. In the Palni Hills, Fairbank (S.F., v, 402) writes: ‘I obtained one pair in 1867 with their nest and two eggs all in the Kodai Grove. Described by Blanford in P.Z.S. and figured in Gould’s Birds of Asia. I found them in the same locality again in May and June this year. They live in the thickets of the Kodaikanal and I obtained one in another grove at the Pillar Rocks. As May is their nesting season and they indulge in a sweet song in the evening twilight it is not difficult to trace them, though it is difficult to see them far enough away to shoot without spoiling them. Sometimes they come out of the thickets at dusk and sit by a bank or on the roadside and sing. Their song is not so loud or so varied as that of Merula simillima, but similar in style and in the quality of its tone.’ This bird is not found in Cevlon. Breeding: Terry (S.F., x. 473) also met with it in the big shola [Vembadi?] at Kodaikanal. He took c/2 fresh eggs on 7 June and c/2 fresh ‘later’, and oives a descrintion of the nests. From the acconnts it anvears that Avril, May and June are the breeding months in the Palnis. Unless they also breed considerably later in Travancore, it is difficult to account for the Survey specimen having a ‘very soft skull’ as late as the 8rd week of January. In plumage, however, this specimen is in- distinguishable from the adult. The only clutch from this area in Mr. Stuart a collection was taken by T. F. Bourdillon on 7 March (Nidification, vi, 4). ‘THE ORNITHOLOGY OF TRAVANCORE AND COCHIN 283 Tarsiger brunnea brunnea (Hodgson). The Indian Blue Chat. Specimens collected: 109 ¢ 18-1-33, 116 9 imm. 20-1-33 Munnar 5,000 ft.; 379 fg 28-2-33 Kumili 3,000 ft.; 972 g@ imm. 13-12-33 Padagiri 3,000 ft. Elsewhere noted at: Santhanpara (8,500 ft.); Peermade (8,200 ft.); Camp Deramalai. (8,000 ft.); Balamore Estate (2,000 ft.—25 and 26 April !). Colours of bare parts: Iris dark brown; bill blackish-brown, gape and chin pale brownish flesh colour; mouth greyish-pink; legs, feet and claws brownish flesh colour. [The Survey specimens measure: Biles Wing. Tail. a piohieh 15 74-78 46-51 mm. SS «15.5 * 73 46.5 mm. Other specimens examined: B. M. Collection: 19-11-74, 9 19-1-75- Mynall, . Travancore- (Bour- dillon). The plumages of this species are as follows: Juvenile male: .The whole upper plumage including sides of the neds and the lesser and median coverts dark olive-brown, the feathers faintly mottled with dark brown and fulvous; remainder of wings and tail as in the adult male but duller, the greater coverts edged with fulvous; whole lower plumsge fulvous, becoming albescent on the centre of the abdomen and vent, the feathers edged with dark brown, lightly on the chin, throat and undertail coverts, very heavily on the breast and flanks. Juvenile female resembles the juvenile: male except that the upper tail coverts are washed with rufous and the wings and tail are similar to those of the adult female. The post-juvenal moult is complete with the exception of the primary and outer ‘greater coverts, -the. primaries, secondaries and tertiaries and probably the tail which are retained till the following autumn. It presumably takes place about August-September. The first winter plumage of .the male has two phases which may be con- sidered in the light of ‘retarded’ and ‘progressive’ plumages as recently dis- cussed by Mayr (Amer. Mus. Novitates, No. 666, 7 October 1933). The more complete or ‘progressive’ phase is exactly hke the adult male:plumage, save for the unmoulted portions of the juvenile plumage. The other phase is very different in that the forehead and lores are fulvous, the top of the head, hind- neck and upper mantle are brown with a fulvous and blue-grey wash; the white supercilium and black facial band are absent, being replaced by mixed brown and fulvous. The chestnut of the lower parts is paler, becoming whitish on the chin and throat. This phase would I suppose be considered as ‘retarded’ by Mr. Mayr. At the same time it must be remembered that it may equally be regarded as a step towards the formation of a definite first-year plumage quite distinct from the juvenile and adult plumages. Whether males in this second phase would breed it is not fully clear. They would presumably do so as the birds of the ‘progressive’ phase certainly breed in it without the inter- position of -a spring moult. If, however, the species is slowly developing a third or pre-adult plumage as suggested, it may well also be developing a spring moult to ensure that the fully adult plumage is assumed for the breeding season. The adults have a complete post-nuptial moult about August and See cmmer: ‘There is no spring moult and the summer and winter plumages are alike.— fi Ws The Indian Blue Chat is a fairly common winter visitor to all the ieee core and Cochin hills. I met it between 2,900 and 5,000 ft. elevation, the last date being 26 April. It may, however, be found cae later than this, and a specimen in the Trivandrum Museum obtained by Ferguson (and referred to in his. notes J.B.N.H.S., xv, 261) is labelled: @ May. 1891 High Range. By the end of April most birds had left. These chats frequent evergreen undergrowth, preferably of seedlings, but T also found them partial to Rubus and Pandanus thickets especially where lining forest nullahs or hill ravines. They ~ were: commonly met with under coffee ' All bill measurements are from skull unless specified,: 284 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXJVIII bushes and cardamom plants. They are usually found singly, flitting about the undergrowth, alighting on the ground and hopping along easily and swiftly in search of insects. A feeble monosyllabic squeak is repeated about once a second, usually punctuated at intervals by ‘chr-r-r’ or ‘chick-chick’ like Alseonaw. The bird similarly jerks its tail up when uttering these sounds. Kinloch considered the Blue Chat somewhat rare in the Nelliampathies. Fairbank (S.F., v) does not record it in his Palnis lst and the species has apparently not yet been met in those hills. It is a winter visitor also to the Ceylon hills being found there from the middle of October to April. Specimens No. 972 (18 December) and 116 (20 January) were immature with imperfectly ossified skulls. The Fauna (i, 14) gives the breeding season from Kashmir to Sikkim as May, June and early July. Unless, therefore some birds also breed considerably later, it would seem that the process of ossi- fication is unusually retarded in this species. Saxicola caprata atrata Blyth. The South Indian Stone-Chat. Specimens collected: 74 Q 12-1-33 Maraiytr 3,500 ft.; 110 ¢ 18-1-33 Munnar 5,000 ft.; 150 ¢$ 25-1-88 Santhanpara 3,500 ft.; 331 ¢, 332 Q 28-2-33 Peer- made 3,200 ft. Elsewhere noted at: Camp Deramalai (3,000 ft.); Wadakkancheri (400 ft.) doubtful ! Noted as absent at Thattakad (200 ft.) and Kumili (? 3,000 ft.). Colours of bare parts: Iris brown; bill, legs, feet and claws brownish-black ; mouth yellowish-pink, greyish-pink or brownish-pink presumably varying with age. [ Additional specimens examined : B.M. Coll.: & -2-80 Peermade (Bourdillon); 2 ¢¢ (Fry); 2 od June, Kodaikanal, Palnis (Fairbank). Sparrow Coll.: G 21-3-14 Cardamom Hills (Sparrow). B.N.H.S. Coll.: 25-5-98, CG 4-38-94 Kodaikanal (Cook); ¢ 3-12-00 Pambanam; ¢ 28-12-00 Stagbrook; © 1-1-01 no locality; 9 25-1-01 Devicolum. Measurements: Bill. Wing. Tail. ees 14.5-18 72-78.5 53-59.5 mm, #1016 15-16.5 70-75.5 51-54 mm. In the Eastern Ghats Report (J.B.N.H.S., xxxvi, 69) I admitted the race S. c. burmanica with a good deal of hesitation, the difference between it and the typical race ((Luzon) being merely one of measurements and that very limited. Since then I have been enabled to examine extra specimens including series from Khandala and the Biligirirangan Hills through the kindness of Mr. Humayun Abdulali and Mr. Ralph Morris respectively. These series show that there is complete intergrading between the large atrata of the S.-W. hill ranges and the small burmanica type obtained in the Eastern Ghats, which destroys the very small margin which I showed to exist between the Eastern Ghats series and the typical series. Dr. Ticehurst also informs me that a series received by him from Burma also shows that Burmese birds cannot be separated from the typical race. To sum up the effect of the specimens now measured by iS (excluding the Biligirirangan series which on the whole are closer to atrata) : | Bill. Wing. 17 63 (EH. Ghats, Hyderabad, Nagpur, Malabar Coast) 138.5-15 67-76.5 mm, 19 $o (Burma) 13.5-15 66-73 mm, 11 ¢¢ (uzon, Timor, Lombock etc.) 14-15 64-75 mm. On these measurements there is obviously no room to recognise two races, even though it be admitted that if individual specimens are examined the Luzon series tend to average larger in the same proportion as Ceylon birds iy hele ap sia be rslye Od mwa Bg 02 ot _ 5 7 ‘ a ae 2 tf : - ‘ P : A => : nl - - : : . : a ? ‘ : ‘ ' i Vey ry ap as A . a : ee : ae S a . oe 7%! son aay ; , “ oe : ; ue i : - : . 5 = “ 2 , - : 7 ie Sb Rte Lae pee Fm ke ge MR OF Keeton mle oe ir ame rrancien | ar 0 ai a ; f yee ts . - i ig - rf ph ti =O : 4 cs a” ’ toy en Journ., Bomb. Nat. Hist. Soc. PLATE ee Ss 1. Shifting Camp across Periyar Lake, ca. 3,000 ft. (Undulating grassy hilltops in background, favourite haunt of Schoenicola. Partially submerged dead tree-trunks provide nesting sites to Mynahs of several species and foraging bases to Artamus fuscus, Phalacrocoraz, Haliastur and other birds.) coe — Photos by author. 2. A friendly visitor to the collecting camp at Aramboli. The Indian Robin (Saricoloides f. fulicata) 9. THE ORNITHOLOGY OF TRAVANCORE AND COCHIN 285 compared with those of the Nilgiris. These average differences are not worth subspecific recognition. The new specimens now available further confirm that the females of both atrata and caprata are considerably darker than females of the northern bicolor and more heavily streaked on the underparts. The juvenile plumage of atrata is much darker than that of bicolor. Com- pared with the latter the upper parts are a darker sooty-brown, with the pale spotting much reduced; the chin and throat are dark sooty-brown with pale central spots. The white spot on the inner coverts is much enlarged. The adult plumage is assumed at the post-juvenal moult with the exception of the primaries and their coverts, the secondaries and outer greater coverts and tail, which are retained from the juvenile plumage apparently to the following autumn. In this first winter plumage the black body feathers may be largely fringed with brown. There is no pre-nuptial moult and the com- plete post-nuptial moult starts as early as May and June.—H. W.] The Stone-chat or Pied Bush-chat is not an abundant species in the Travan- core-Cochin area. It is mostly confined to the hills where I came across it up to 6,500 ft. elevation (Kimarikkai Malai, above Mardaiytr). Of all the localties it was perhaps commonest at Mitnnar (5,000 ft.) with Peermade a good second, though even here its numbers could stand no comparison with its abundance in the Nilgiris. Camp Deramalai was the southernmost point at which the species was noted. The birds frequent open grassy hillsides sparsely interspersed with dwarf date palms or straggly Nelli (Phyllanthus emblica) trees, and usually keep in pairs. On the Palni Hills, Terry (S.F., x, 476) considered it one of the commonest birds and he took several nests there. In Ceyon this chat is a resident species, but local and restricted to eleva- tions above 3,500 ft. Breeding: In specimen No. 110 (18 January) the testes had commenced developing and measured ca. 3X2 mm. Males at this time were singing from exposed perches, a behaviour indicative of the approach of the breeding season. The gonads of a pair, Nos. 331 and 332, on 22 February showed that they were ready to breed: the testes measured 6X4 mm. while the ovarian follicles were about 1 mm. in diameter. . The above confirms the statement in the Eastern Ghats Report (J.B.N.H.S., xxxvi, 70) that the breeding season in this area commences as early as February. It is said to continue till the end of May, but that most nests contain fresh eges about the end of March and the beginning of April. Cyanosylvia svecia (Linnaeus) subspecies? The Bluethroat. Specimens not obtained. At Thattakad (200 ft.) I saw the Bluethroat on several occasions in among water-logged paddy fields amidst forest. A specimen shot could not be recovered. It was not abundant here, neither was it noted elsewhere in Travancore. The species has apparently not been recorded from this area before, though Hume (S.F., x, 390) states that in the Wynaad it is common. Saxicoloides fulicata fulicata (Linn.). The Indian Black-backed Robin. Specimens collected: 248 ¢ 8-2-23 Thattakad 200 ft.; 601 ¢ 16-4-38, 607 3 17-4-38, 625 ¢ juv. 19-4-33 Aramboli 250 ft.; 921 Q 29-11-83 Wadakkancheri 400 ft.; 985 9 38-12-33 Nemmara 3800 ft.; 1056 ¢, 1057 ¢, 1058 9, 1059 ¢ 1-11-34, 1060 @, 1061 9, 1062 9, 10638 ¢ 2-11-84 Pertmbavuir 600 ft. Elsewhere noted at: Trichur, Kariipadanna (ca. S8.B.). Colours of bare parts: Adult: Tris brown, bill, legs, feet and claws brownish- black; mouth blackish-brown, slaty-pink or greyish-pink varying with age (9). Juvenile: Tris olive-brown; legs and feet greyish-black; claws black; mouth bright yellow. [The only other specimen from this area seen is in the British Museum dG -10-69, Palnis (Hume Collection). Measurements: Bill. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. 1 oS 15-17 73-79 60-67 25-27 mm. 999 15-15.5 69.5-75 59.5-62.5 25.5-26 mm, 286 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVI1I1 Juvenile plumage (¢ No. 625): Upper plumage chocolate-brown, the bases of the feathers darker, the earcoverts streaked with rufous brown; wings and their coverts dark chocolate-brown, the feathers edged with rufous brown; tail black; lower plumage dark chocolate-brown, each feather of the chin, throat and breast with a fulvous brown subterminal spot giving a mottled appearance which dies away on the abdomen; lower tail-coverts chestnut. I am not able to make out clearly whether the post-juvenal moult is com- plete. In nearly all specimens the primaries and their coverts appear to be faded and contrast with the rest of the wing, but I am not satisfied whether these feathers start paler and bleach more rapidly or whether they are remains of the juvenile plumage. There is no pre-nuptial moult and the complete post-nuptial moult normally takes place from August to October in Southern India generally. In the Eastern Ghats Survey (J.B.N.H.S., xxxvi, 72) I remarked on the fact that the only female of this species seen from Ceylon, in the British Museum Collection, was quite different to Peninsula specimens, being very dark, almost black in colour and pointed out that if this difference was found to be constant it would necessitate a revision of names. Since then the Director of the Colombo Museum has very kindly sent me on loan a series of 7 speci- mens collected in Ceylon. The two females in this series agree with the British Museum specimen in colour, the single juvenile is just as dark, and the males have rather less chestnut on the vent region as compared with Peninsular birds, both sexes also having rather heavier, though not longer bills. It is evident, therefore, that Ceylon birds must be kept separate from those of the Peninsula and to them the name fulicata applies. For the southern peninsular race |] think we may use Cnanthe ptymatura of Vieillot. The Fauna (vol. vii, p. 112) gives the type locality for this as Ceylon, making the name a true synonym of Sazicoloides f. fulicata, but this is not quite correct. Gnanthe ptymatura Vieillot, Nouv. Dict. d’Hist. Nat. xxi (1818), p.485 was based on Le Vaillant Hist. Nat. Oiseaux Afrique (1805), pl. 188, ‘fig. 1, repre- senting Le Traqnet & queue stri¢e. In the text it was stated ‘L’espece de ce traquet habite les buissons et les bois de mimosa du pays caffre’ but there is no South African bird which can be identified with the plate. As, however, the author goes on to say that this Traquet ‘se trouve aussi dans Le Bengale’ and as the plate certainly agrees. with the male of the Indian Robin, it is evident that this species is meant. The locality ‘Bengale’ cannot, however, be literally correct as Bengal birds belong to the brown-backed race and the plate most manifestly represents the black-backed form. I think therefore we are justified in regarding the word Bengal as used in the old sense as a synonym for Tndia and restricting the type-locality to Pondicherry, then already a Trench possession in the south, in order to avoid the creation of a new name. As regards our Travancore series, No. 985 is as dark as the Ceylon females and No. 1058 is nearly as dark. The other females, however, agree with South Indian birds; the males have the chestnut patch rather larger than in Ceylon birds, whilst the beak in both sexes agrees with Peninsular birds. The series is in fact exactly intermediate and its inclusion with either race is a matter of oninion. On the whole T think it is best included with the typical race.—H. W.] The distribution of the Indian Robin in the Travancore-Cochin area 1s governed entirely by the presence or otherwise of dry stony country with short erass and sparse thorn and cactus bushes, such as generally obtains on the Deccan Plateau and in the Madras districts across the eastern boundary of the States. Add to this a sprinkling of Borassus palms standing on bunds or about dry paddy fields hedged with patches of Lantana here and there, and you have the ideal environment for this species. On a casual acquaintance Thattakid appeared a most unlikely spot to find the Robin in. A few miles down the Periyar River, however, a patch was struck which conformed with most of its requirements and here the species immediately appeared. As Ferguson observes, it is not a common bird in Travancore but I found it decidedly more so in Cochin. Wherever its ecological requirements are satis- fied—chiefly in the low country—small numbers are usually to be met. Fergu- son has seen it at 2,000 ft. elevation in the hills during the dry season, THE ORNITHOLOGY OF TRAVANCORE AND COCHIN 287 Fairbank (S.F., v, p. 406) records it from the eastern base of the Palni Hills. This Robin is a common resident in Ceylon. Breeding: On 25 December (Kartpadanna, Cochin) a pair were observed building in a pocket in a laterite roadside cutting near the Travellers’ Bungalow. Both birds were bringing building material—hair, rootlets, cocoanut fibre, etc. —more or less alternately at intervals of 80 seconds to 15 minutes. They were most active till about 10-80 in the forenoon. The full clutch of 38 eggs was completed on 380 December. During the heat of the day the nest was mostly left unattended, but the female brooded at night. The male evidently does not share in the incubation though later he helps to feed the young. In specimens No. 2438 (8 February) and 601 (16 April) the testes measured 4x3 and 5x4 mm. respectively, while No. 607 (17 April) with testes 6x3 appeared to have a nest in the neighbourhood. No. 625 (19 April) was in juvenile plumage with imperfectly ossified skull. The breeding season obviously commences considerably earler in this area than has been recorded from elsewhere, and continues at least till about the middle of April, if not later. Copsychus saularis ceylonensis Sclater. The Magpie-Robin. Specimens collected: 381 9 7-1-83 Maraiytr 3,500 ft.; 705 4 22-7-33 Tri- vandrum ca. 100 ft.; 759 ¢ 31-7-83- (Akkulam. 150 ft.); 768 @ 2-8-3383 (Maru- thanktzhi ca. 50 ft.); 793 ¢ 5-8-3838 (Poojapptra 150 ft.); 812 Q 8-8-8383 (Makin- nimalai 800 ft.) Trivandrum. Environs; 923 ¢ 30-11-83 Wadakkancheri 400 ft.’ 1028 Q 27-12-33 Kartipadanna ca. S.I. Elsewhere noted at: -Thattakad (200 ft.), Kottayam (ca. S.L.);- Kuamili (3,000 ft.), Rajampara (1,350 ft.), Tenmalai (500 ft.);. Aramboli (250 ft.); at base of Ashambi Hills below Balamore Estate (ca. 500 ft.), Chalakidi, Kiuriar- kutti (1,600 ft.), Nemmara (300 ft.), Trichtr, Ernakilam. Apparently it was absent at Padagiri (3,000 ft.—Nelliampathies), Peermade (3,200 ft.) and curiously enough also at Cape Comorin. Colours of bare parts: Iris brown; bill horny-black; mouth yellowish-flesh to slaty-pink; legs, feet and claws horny-brown. [Five males from Travancore in the British Museum are without data. The Survey specimens measure as follows: Bill. Wing. Tail. 5 oS 21-24 97.5-104 81.5-90 mm. 3 92 21-21.5 92-97 80-81: mm. In writing on the Magpie Robin in the Eastern Ghats Survey Report, I was hampered by the fact that the British Museum possessed no females from Travancore. This has been remedied by the present Surveys and it is now satisfactorily established that the Ceylon race certainly extends through- out Travancore and Cochin, and {I am inclined to attribute to it also birds from the Nilgiris, Wynaad and Bangalore. The differences in the amount of black on the third and fourth outer tail feathers and in the size of bill usually attributed to this race do not appear to me to be constant, but the female is certainly darker both above and below than in the typical race: No. 1028 is so dark that had it not been satisfactorily sexed by dissection one would have hesitated to which sex to attribute it. The juvenile ¢ No. 705 (in squamated plumage) is quite indistinguishable, however, from similar specimens from the Punjab and the Duars. The post-juvenal moult in this species is complete. There is no _pre- nuptial moult and the post-nuptial moult is complete. The moult appears to be remarkable at all ages for the sudden completeness with which the tail is shed, so that birds with a short stub tail are often seen in autumn. The post-nuptial moult in Travancore takes place about August.—H. W.] The Magpie Robin is a fairly common species in Travancore and Cochin. it was met with by the Surveys more or less throughout the low country and also patchily and ‘sparsely in the hills up to 3,500 ft. In the Eastern Ghats Report (J.B.N.H.S., xxxyi, 74) through a slip it is stated that in Travancore 288 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVIII Ferguson regarded it as more particularly a bird of the hills. Actually Fergu- son described it (J.B.N.H.S., xv, 466) as *. . . essentially a bird of the plains’. It inhabits secondary jungle and scrub country in the neighbourhood of cultivation and human habitations, being especially partial to the cashew and fruit gardens about homesteads along the backwaters. Between 10 November and upto 8 December the males were observed as practically silent, the only notes then uttered being a prolonged and somewhat plaintive swee-ee and subdued harsh chr-r, chr-r, etc. The birds were also in- ordinately shy and kept mostly to undergrowth. On the latter date for the first time crude attempts at song were heard. From now on ‘rudimentary’ song or ‘singing practice’ was more and more commonly heard. By the middle of January individual males were singing full-throatedly from tree-tops both early morning and evening, but this had as yet not become general. The rapid growth and development of song thereafter, however, was marked, and _ by 15 February—about which date males were puffing and strutting about and chasing off rivals—it was heard on all sides. In the Palni Hills, Fairbank (S.F., v, 406) found the Magpie Robin from the base up to 5,000 ft., but Terry (S.F., x, 476) only saw it far down the slopes and did not think it ascended to any height. It is common throughout Ceylon up to 5,500 ft. Breeding: Ferguson (J.B.N.H.S., xv, 466) says it breeds in February and March. The Surveys were unable to obtain any direct evidence on this point, but the behaviour of the cocks from about the middle of February onward certainly tends to confirm his statement. That it continues to breed longer is suggested by four of the specimens collected in July and August which were undergoing complete post-nuptial moult. Kittacincla malabarica malabarica (Scopoli). The Shama. Specimen collected: 880 Q 18-11-83 Kuriarkuatti 1,600 ft. Elsewhere not noted, but I have seen a specimen in the Trivandrum Museum labelled: © 1-8-(70?) Kuttyani. Colours of bare parts: Iris brown; bill dark horny-brown; mouth pink; legs and feet pinkish flesh colour; claws dusky. [Two specimens from Travancore (Biddulph) in the British Museum have no more precise data. Measurements : Bill. Wing. Tail. 230d 19.5-20 89-94 175-176. mm: eo) 20 90.5 12725) mime This female is of the richly coloured type which approaches the adult male in colouration as opposed to the much duller paler type in which the upper parts, chin and throat are dull ashy grey and the breast and abdomen fulvous rather than chestnut. I do not yet understand the plumages of this species and females are too rare in collections for me to decide whether these differ- ences are due to age or individual variation or even possibly subspecific.—H. W. ] The specimen was one of a pair in dense bamboo and deciduous scrub jungle bordering a drag-path for logs. Several single examples were seen in this facies, once in a mixed bird association. They were silent and extremely shy. Ferguson (J.B.N.H.S., xv, 466) writes as follows: ‘The Shama is not com- mon in Travancore; it frequents jungle and is decidedly shy. It does not ascend the hills.’ In the Palni Hills, Fairbank (S.F., v, 406) records hearing one singing at dusk in a thicket at the eastern base of the hills. In Ceylon the Shama is generally distributed upto about 3,500 ft. Breeding: The ovary of the specimen was undeveloped. According to Nidi- fication (ii, 106), Stewart found it breeding in Travancore during April. Turdus simillimus mahrattensis Whistler. The Black-capped Blackbird. Specimens collected: 89 J 14-1-33 Maraiytr 3,500 ft.; 104 @ 18-1-33 Munnar 5,000 ft.; 155 ¢ 25-1-83 Santhanpara 3,500 ft.; 271 9 11-2-38 Journ., Bomb. Nat. Hist. Soc. PLATE I. Nero UN Photo by author Shooting the rapids—Periyar River below Thattakad, Ideal bird country on banks. * \ + 7% aes cr by Na oa te 2 - Se dhe is ZS 7 : : a 5 : 2 5 a 7 = z s ; : ‘ ra Bs, ie oa Lee : a ; A : ee ; fy eee : Bf } DP ie : : 4 n : . = ce - . : - , Ei ~ 0. 2 > ts San TAY bs “ Rp ae = 2 z ry . 2 7 % ti ~~ 7 a ” . : * 7 7 + 2 - 7 - - 7 oa -5 Pa a= y i . cS Ps of rs em Peers | - 7 7 : i 7 7 ( ‘ a a ote, eee ‘ a oe : ae ne : : = a eto THE ORNITHOLOGY OF TRAVANCORE AND COCHIN 289 Thattakad 200 ft.; 319 9, 320 ¢ 21-2-33, 337 Q 23-2-38, 38538 Q 24-2-83 Peer- made eee ft.; 883 ¢ 18-11-33 Kuriarkitti 1,600 ft.; 969 Q 12-12-83 Padagiri 3,000 ft. Hlsewhere noted at: Muthikazhi (4,000 ft.—Ashambu Hills). This or bourdilloni? Colours of bare parts: Iris hazel brown; eyelids orange; postorbital skin orange-brown, orange-yellow or rich orange corresponding with gape and_ bill; gape and bill horny-brown with orange patches at gape nostrils and_ sides, brownish-orange with dusky tips or bright orange with dusky tips; mouth orange-yellow; legs, feet and claws dusky orange-yellow. [Additional specimen examined : ¢ 14-83-14 Cardamom Hills (Sparrow). Measurements: Bill. Wing. Tail. ‘Tarsus. Bad. dd 25-27 126.5-135 92-100 30-33-5 mm. 1 First winter — 121 89 — mm. 5 99 26.5-28 122-128.5 86.5-97.5 30-82.5 mm. In the Eastern Ghats Report (J.B.N.H.S., xxxvi, 75-6) I pointed out the difficulties in connection with these South Indian Blackbirds, and these diffi- culties chiefly pertain to the area of the Travancore-Cochin Surveys. Hither the records are wrong or these Blackbirds cannot all be treated as races of one form. It may be as well first of all to summarise the records under the three of our areas to which they apply (I use here the name mnigripileus as it occurs in the records.) :— Nelliampathy Hills. (1) nigripileus very common. Generally terrestrial in habits and occurring in pairs, but I have seen large flocks in Lantana (Kinloch, J.B.N.H.S8., xxvii, 941). (2) bourdilloni: common on the Lily Downs (4,700 ft.) and there replaces nigripileus the common bird of the plateau (Kinloch, J.B.N.H.S., xxix, 565). Palni Hills. (1) simillima: (a) may be heard any evening in spring in the Kodaikanal and other groves above 4,000 ft. Two specimens (Fairbank, S.F., v, 403). (b) Very common everywhere in the sholas on the top. They commence breeding in the middle of March and were still breeding when I left in the middle of June (Terry, S.F., x, 474). (2) nigripileus: JT found this bird at Pulungi, Pittur and Kukal. At the latter place it was quite common. I am sure it was breeding at the time I was there, May, but I was unable to find a nest (Terry, loc. cit.). (3) bourdilloni: Q shot from 1 egg on 18 May. C shot from c/2 eggs on 3 June. Details of nests (Terry, loc. cit. called kinnisi?). Travancore. (1) bourdilloni: Fairly common on High Range and above 3,500 ft. in the south (Ferguson, J.B.N.H.S., xv, 466). Previously recorded by Bourdillon (S.F., vu, 85) as kinnisi. Mr. Stuart Baker in the new Fauna (ii, 125-129) and Nidification gives the breeding range of simillimus as the higher ranges of the Nilgiris, Brahmagiris and Palnis and of bourdilloni as the Palnis, Nelliampathies and Travancore, in both cases from 3,000 ft. upwards. This, if correct, would negative the idea that they are races of each other. I think part of the difficulty may be removed by considering nigripileus (auct.) as a winter visitor. In the Hastern Ghats Report I pointed out that the above records were not substantiated by skins—and one has only to examine a large series of these Blackbirds to realise how variable they are and how difficult it is to be sure of the identifications—though I had found an un- doubted male from the Cardamom Hills in Colonel ‘3parrow’s collection, shot on 14 March 1914. The fine series collected by Mr. Salim Ali now proves that this form dces occur down to Travancore. Terry’s May record is not in- compatible with the bird being a winter migrant. Tarsiger brunnea which summers in the Himalayas, lingers down in the Nilgiris until May and it is an earlier breeder than nigripileus (auct.) which in Khandala breeds from July 290 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVII1 to September (Nidification, 11, 115). In the Nasik Ghats it certainly does not arrive until May (J.B.N.H.S., iv, 289). If nigripileus (auct.) can be proved to breed in our area, then it will be necessary to recognise two species Merula simillimus and M. mahrattensis of which latter spence: will be a race. The difference in wing formula would: then be of importance as a means of separating the two species. The remainder of the difficulty centres in the Palnis. I have only seen six skins from those hills, all in the British Museum. The two birds collected by Terry from his two nests and called kinnisi are in the British \Museum. ‘These are certainly bourdilloni as is a third bird collected by Terry on 1-6-83 with e/3 eggs which is in Dr. C. B. Ticehurst’s collection. With it is another skin, unlabelled but evidently of the same batch. These two birds in Dr. Ticehurst’s collection probably represent Terry’s supposed simillimus. The other two specimens collected by Fairbank (Kodaikanal and Shemiganur) and. now in the British Museum are not conclusive. They appear intermediate between simillimus and bourdilloni and suggest that the whole difficulty in the Palnis arises from its being an intermediate area. The final solution of the whole matter must be left to the field naturalist on the spot.—H. W.] Since all the Blackbirds collected by the Surveys in Travancore and Cochin belong to this form, I assume that my field notes also relate to the same bird. It must be noted, however, that both Bourdillon and Ferguson met only the race bourdillon’ in Travancore and that Kinloch also records the latter from the Nelliampathies, so that there is always a possibility of some confusion in my observations. ; I found the Black-capped Blackbird common in the High Range and above 8,000 ft: in the south: I also met it at Thattakad (200 ft.). at the foot of the former, where however it was rare. It was most abundant at Peermade (3,200 ft.) and Padagiri (8,000 ft.—Nelhampathies) while at Munnar (5,000 ft.) in the Kanan Dévan Hills it was also common. It kept to evergreen sholas principally about their periphery and was frequently to be seen feeding on the edge of paths and forest traces early in the mornings and at dusk singly, or in pairs or small parties. _ Its food consisted to a very large extent of the berries of Maesa perottetiana DC., Trema orientalis Blume and Lantana camara while the birds also in- variably resorted to feed on the nectar of the blossoms of Erythrina lithosperma shade trees in tea and coffee plantations wherever suitably situated. Between November and February the Blackbird was silent except for a subdued but sharp high-pitched kree-ee uttered from time to time, varied occa- sionally by a throaty, quick-repeated chuck-chuck-chuck. Their silence at this season probably made them appear less common in many localities than they actually were. On 1 February IT have the first record of one trying to sing. It was a half-hearted effort of short duration and punctuated every now and again with the throaty chucks. By the last date of which I have a record (25 April— Mitthikazhi 4,000 ft.; Ashambti Hills), males were in. full song about that elevation. ; Breeding: It is doubtful if the Black-capped Blackbird breeds in Travan- core or Cochin. The gonads of the specimens furnished no indication in this regard. It was noted, however, that the February specimens had either com- pleted moult into fresh nuptial plumage or were in varying stages of dome so. Tur dus simillimus bourdilloni (Seebohm). Bourdillon’s Blackbird. Not met with by the Surveys, but Ferguson records it as common in the High Range and above 38,500 ft. in’ the southern Travancore hills. Mr. Whistler has examined tht following specimens: Brit. Museum: 4 4-97, ¢ 4-98 Chimunji (Ferguson); ¢@ 29-3-77 Mynall (Bourdillon); [4] albinistic no date, High Range 7,000 ft.; ¢ 5-91 High Range (Turner); < 2-1-94 ‘Glenbrit- ten’: ¢ 27-12-93 Chimunji: \¢ 17-4-80 Colathoorpolay, Patnas (F. Bourdillon) ; 297,92 4-97 High Range (Ingleby); 9 5-91 High Range (Turner); [ 9] 29-12-93, lO] 4-98 nay (Ferguson); 9 28-7-72 Pannuyar (?);° 6 8-6-8383 Kodaikanal (Terry); 9 18-5-83, juv. 17-5-83 Kukal, Palni Hills (Terry). Trivandrum Musewm: @& 18-1-01 Moonar,.¢ 5-83-03 Chimanji; Q 3-97 High Range (Ingleby); 0? 22-1-01 Devicolum. - iG SS ocehee THE ORNITHOLOGY OF TRAVANCORE AND COCHIN 291 He measures Travancore specimens only, as follows: Bill: Wing. Tail. ‘Tarsus. 436 26-27 122.5-123.5 97-100.5 31.5-34 mm. ‘3 OQ 26-28 119.5-122 93.5-97.5 31-32.5 mm. Breeding: Bourdillon and Ferguson (J.B.N.H.S., xv, 466) took a nest at Chimunji in April (1908). Nidification (ii, 118) records another nest containing c/2 fresh eggs by the former on 14 May in dense evergreen forest at 3,500 ft. Mr. Stuart Baker (loc. cit.) also mentions that Kinloch took several nests in April in the Nelliampathy Hills ‘undoubtedly’ of this race and the ‘builders are now in the Bombay Museum’. Inquiries at the Bombay Natural History Society reveal that there are now no skins collected by Kinloch in the Nelliam- pathies in thei collection, and it is evident that the record requires fresh sub- stantiation. In the Palni Hills, Terry took a nest with 1 egg on 18 May (18838) and another with c/3 on 3 June. He shot the owners which are now in the British Museum. A third bird shot by him from a nest with 38 eggs is in Dr. C. B. Ticehurst’s collection. Turdus simlliimus simillimus (Jerdon). The Nilgiri Blackbird. Not met with by the Surveys neither recorded by Ferguson. or Bourdillon in Travancore nor by Kinloch in the Nelliampathies. In the Palni Hills, however, both Fairbank and Terry record it as common at Jodaikanal and everyWhere in the sholas above 4,000 ft. According to Terry (S.F., x, 474) they breed there from the middle of March to the middle of June at least. Fairbank obtained two specimens (9.F'., v, 403) which are now in the British Museum. As noted above these two specimens are somewhat intermediate in character. Geokichla wardii (Blyth). The Pied Ground Thrush. Not met. with by the Surveys. . . The Pied Ground Thrush occurs in the Travancore-Cochin area apparently only as a rare passage migrant between its breeding haunts -(viz. moderate elevations in the Himalayas from Kulu to Simla eastwards and in North Assam) and its winter quarters in Ceylon. The meagre records from the intervening peninsular area suggest that the bird travels by the Eastern Ghats route and does not linger much on the way. Kinloch (J.B.N.H.S., xxvii, 944) observed a single male in the Nelliampathy Hills in March which he considered to be on passage. In Travancore, Ferguson (J.B.N.H.S., xv, 466) obtained one in February on the High Range. ; In the Palni Hills, Terry (S8.F., x, 474) procured a female on 1 March and a male on 3 March in thick sholas about a mile apart at Pulungi. Its numbers in Ceylon are said to vary considerably in different years. Geokichla citrina cyanotus (Jardine & Selby). The White-throated Ground- Thrush. Specimens. collected: 161 Q imm.., 26-1-33. Santhanpara 3,500 ft.; 251. 9 9-2-33 Thattakad 200 ft.; 344 G 23-2-83 Peermade 3,200 ft.: 496 3S 26-38-33 Tenmalai 500 ft.; 905 2 26-11-33 Wadakkancheri 400 ft. Elsewhere noted at: Rajampara (1,350 ft.—Panthalam Hills). | Colours of bare parts: Iris brown; bill blackish-brown, paler at chin ; mouth yellowish-pink, pale pink, or greyish-pink with brown blotches on palate ; legs and feet brownish flesh colour; claws duskier. [Other material examined: Brit. Mus. Goll.: 3 6-9-78, Q 80-11-84 Mynall (Bourdillon). Sparrow Coll.: Q -28-3-14 Cardamom Hills. Measurements : eet Bill. . Wing. Tail. ROU OS 23.5-24 eee. 5 73.5-80 min. 5 99 22.5-24.5 105-110.5 | 73-75 mm.—H. W.] The White-throated Ground Thrush: was met with ‘at elevations up to 3,500 ft. in Travancore and Cochin, being fairly common in shady cardamom 992 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVIlIi sholas and well-wooded country, both deciduous and evergreen. It is usually met singly or in pairs and is particularily fond of overgrown ravines and nullahs. It feeds on the ground among the mulch and brushwood, but promptly flies up into the overhanging branches of trees on taking alarm. The only note heard between 24 November and 26 March (being dates on which it was first and last seen) was a subdued but high-pitched kree-ee. I cannot throw any light on its status in this area. Both Bourdillon (S.F., iv, 898) and Ferguson (J.B.N.H.S., xv, 467) considered it a winter visitor, but Nidification (i, 182) records the former taking nests in Travancore with eggs or young in May and June! Kinloch lists it as ‘very common’ in the Nelliampathies, but is silent as regards its status. Pillai evidently failed to meet it at Kattyani and other wooded groves in the environs of Trivandrum town between 15 July and 15 August. The gonads of all the Survey specimens were in a quiescent state. No. 161 (26 January) was not fully adult as evidenced by the imperfect ossification of its skull. This race has not been recorded from Ceylon though the northern (typical) race has occurred there 2 or 3 times. Oreocincla dauma neilgherriensis Blyth. The Nigiri Thrush. Not met with by the Surveys. I have seen a specimen in the Trivandrum Museum said to come from Travancore, but lacking precise data. According to Ferguson (J.B.N.H.S., xv, 467) the Nilgiri Thrush is rare in Travancore, being found in the High Range above 4,000 ft. and also sparingly in the south. W. F. Bourdillon found it sparingly in thick jungle from the summit of the hills (in Central Travancore) down to about 2,000 ft. elevation. Kinloch (J.B.N.H.S8., xxix, 564-5) records it as numerous on the Lily Downs (4,700 ft.) in the Cochin Nelliampathies. In the Palni Hills, according to Terry (S.F., x, 474) it breeds, but appar- ently there are no records of its doing so in Travancore or Cochin. Monticola cinclorhyncha (Vigors). The Blue-headed Rock-Thrush. Specimens collected: 45 Q 9-1-3838, 55 ¢ 10-1-33 Maraiyur 3,500 ft.; 366 ¢ 27-2-83 Kimili 3,000 ft.; 454 ¢, 455 Q 17-83-33, 481 ¢, 482 Q 21-38-33 Rajam- para 1,350 ft.; 881 ¢ 18-11-33 Kiuriarkitti 1,600 ft.; 998 9 20-12-33 Padagiri 3,000 ft. Elsewhere noted at: Nemmara (800 ft.). Colours of bare parts: Iris dark brown; bill dark horny-brown, yellow at gape and on commissure and chin; gape and mouth yellow; legs, feet and claws greyish- or horny-brown; soles pale yellow. [The Survey specimens measure: Bill. Wing. Tail. 43s 23.5-24 101.5-105 69.5-71.5 mm. 3.9.0 23.5 98.5-101 66-67.5 mm. There are 8 specimens in the British Museum from Mynall (Bourdillon) dated November (earliest date 18th), December, January and 9 March. Nos. 45 and 55 are first winter birds. I do not understand the statement in the Fauna (ii, 182) that the young male is like the female. In neither juvenile plumage nor in first winter plumage does it resemble the adult female. Tn the juvenile male the upper plumage, including the lesser and median wing- coverts, 1s fulvous-yellow, each feather edged with brownish-black, giving a squamated appearance. The lower rump ‘and upper tail coverts are pale chestnut, the feathers of the former lightly fringed with black. Lower parts sunilar to upper parts but paler, the squamation less marked on the throat, vent and undertail coverts. The wings and tail resemble those of the adult male but the primary and greater coverts have fulvous edges, the fulvous edges to the tertiaries are wider than in the adult, and the blue of the wing generally is much duller. The tail is lightly tipped with bright fulvous. The juvenile female has the same squamated plumage but lacks the chestnut rump-patch and the wings and tail are similar to those of the adult female, the greater coverts and tertiaries being edged with pale fulvous. THE ORNITHOLOGY OF TRAVANCORE AND COCHIN 293 This plumage is changed at the post-juvenal moult which takes place between July and September. The primaries and primary coverts, the secon- daries and greater coverts, the tertiaries and tail are not then moulted and the first winter and first summer plumage differs only from the respective adult plumage in both sexes by the retention of those feathers until the second autumn moult which is complete. Adults have a complete moult about August and September. There is no spring moult, but the wearing off of the fringes to the feathers makes the summer plumage a little darker—H. W.] This Thrush is also a fairly common winter visitor in the Travancore- Cochin area, from the level of the low country to at least 3,500 ft., and doubt- less higher. I do not seem to have come across it at Munnar or elsewhere about that elevation, but Ferguson found it at 5,000 ft. in the High Range. It is partial to broken country or stony hillsides covered with light deciduous and bamboo jungle, rather than to the more heavily wooded parts beloved of the White-throated Ground-Thrush. Its favourite facies may in fact be described in general terms as intermediate between the heavily wooded patches frequented by Geokichla citrina and the open sparsely covered rocky hillsides etc. preferred by Monticola solitaria. Cardamom sholas and coffee plantations also provide admirable hunting grounds for this species. It was frequently met with singly in thin jungle about villages and cultivation, and it has the same habit of flying silently up into the overhanging branches of trees when disturbed. Sometimes the bird will descend to the ground ta pick up an insect and fly up with it to its perch, very much in the manner of a Bush-chat. Kinloch describes it as common in the Nelliampathy Hills, presumably in winter. It has not been recorded from Ceylon. The gonads of the specimens were in an undeveloped condition. Speci- mens Nos. 454, 455 (17 March) and 481 (21 March) were extremely fat and were obviously ready to emigrate. The fat scraped off the last named weighed 86 grains! No. 482 (21 March) was an immature bird with skull as yet im- perfectly ossified. It was noted that about this time there was an overwhelming preponderance of males (as judged from plumage), a fact suggesting that the females had preceded the males on the outward migration. A remarkable instance of a female (dissection and sexing confirmed!) as- suming adult male plumage was noted in the case of specimen No. 455. The bird appeared in perfectly healthy condition and, as mentioned, was very fat. Monticola solitaria pandoo (Sykes). The Indian Blue Rock-Thrush. Specimens collected: 93 ©Q 14-1-33 Maraiyir 3,500 ft.; 118 ¢ 20-1-33 Munnar 5,000 ft.; 346 ¢ 24-2-338 Peermade 3,500 ft.; 949 @ 6-12-33 Nemmara 300 ft. Elsewhere noted at: Santhanpara (8,500 ft.), Aramboli (250 ft.). Colours of bare parts: Iris brown; bill, legs, feet and claws blackish- brown; mouth lemon yellow or yellowish-pink. [ Measurements : Bill. Wing. Tail. 333 245-27 118-125 77.5-88 mm. 1 Q 28.5 113.5 78.5 mm, No. 93 is a first winter bird. This species has the same plumage sequence as in Monticola cinclorhyncha. The juvenile male is sooty-brown washed with bluish-grey, the feathers of the crown, sides of the face, chin, throat and upper breast with subterminal pale fulvous spots, the rest of the feathers faintly fringed with fulvous; wings and tail as in the adult male, but greater coverts and tail with broader pale edges. The juvenile female is similar but paler and browner, the wings and tail as in the adult female. The post- juvenal moult takes place about August-September and does not include the primaries and primary coverts, the secondaries and all but the inner greater coverts or the tail. These are not moulted till the second autumn. The adults undergo a complete moult about August to October. There is no spring moult. 5 994 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVIII Both male and female show a certain amount of variation in the amount of spotting and barring of the body plumage.—H. W.] The Blue Rock-Thrush is also a fairly common winter visitor to Travancore- Cochin. First seen 6 December; last 21 April. It is almost invariably seen as a solitary bird frequenting both low hummocky country and up to at least 5,000 ft. in the hills. It is essential, however, that the locality be open with plenty of sheet rock or scarps amidst sparse scrub with scraggy tufts of grass growing out of the crevices, such as is typical of the drier hillsides in this area. Stone quarries never fail to attract it. Kinloch also found it common in such facies in the Nelhampathy Hills. The only record of its occurrence in the Palnis is apparently that of Capt. Bates from Kodaikanal onvoApril, (1929" Job NeHes. ex xxviee oO): It is a straggler to Ceylon (November-March). Its food consists principally of insects, but I have frequently observed it feeding largely on the berries of Lantana camara. The organs of the specimens showed no departure from the normal non- breeding condition. Myophonus horsfieldii Vigors. The Malabar Whistling Thrush. Specimens collected: 35 ¢ 7-1-83 Maraiyur 38,500 ft.; 654 9 24-4-33 Bala- more Estate 2,000 ft.; 924 ¢ 30-11-83 Wadakkancheri 400 ft. Elsewhere noted at: Munnar (5,000 ft.), Santhanpara (8,500 ft.), Thattakad (200 ft.), Mundakayam (ca. 1,000 ft.), Peermade (8,200 ft.), Kamiuli (8,000 ft.), Rajampara (1,350 ft.), Tenmalai (500 ft.), Ktvallé (along Cochin Forest Tram- way), Kuriarkitti (1,600 ft.), Padagiri (8,000 ft.). Colours of bare parts: Iris hazel brown; bill, legs, feet and claws black; mouth pale yellow or creamy pink. [Further specimens examined: Brit. Mus. Coll.: G 93-7-78, Q 2-12-74 Mynall (Bourdillon). Travancore-Cochin specimens measure: Bull. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. iareire) 32.5-34.5 155.5-158.5 112-113.5 ~ 44-49 mm. 29°98 29.5 143.5-148 103-108 42-45 mim. It is difficult to settle whether to consider this bird as a race of M. ceruleus - or as a separate species. It is evidently from the same stock and reflects many features of the parent form. At the same time it has evidently been isolated for so long a period and has advanced so far on different lines that it has now really attained the rank of a separate species.—H. W. | The Whistling Thrush is a common and familiar species throughout the forested portions of the Travancore-Cochin area in the foothills as well as higher up to at least 5,000 ft. elevation. It frequents the vicinity of streams and torrents, often about villages and human habitations. Its call is one of the earliest bird voices to be heard in the morning, being followed soon after by the Pitta. In December and January the rich rambling whistling song was seldom heard, but by the end of March and in April it had increased in frequency. The bird moves about on the ground and on rocks in or by the streams in short hops, constantly jerking its tail and spreading it fanwise. In the Palni Hills, Fairbank and Terry both found it in sholas and where- ever there was running water, from the base up to 5,000 ft. It does not occur in Ceylon where it is apparently represented by the endemic Arrenga blight. Breeding: The gonads of the specimens were in an undeveloped condition. According to T. F. Bourdillon, the season in Travancore is April and May, the normal clutch comprising of 8 eggs. Nidification (ii, 154-5) gives June to August as the usual breeding season in Travancore, but mentions Stewart taking a nest as early as 13 February. It suggests that probably the birds breed twice. At Panchgani (4,400 ft.—Western Ghats) I found breeding to be in full THE ORNITHOLOGY OF TRAVANCORE AND COCHIN 995 swing in July and August (1931). Two successive broods were common and the period of incubation was determined to be 16-17 days. Famity: MUSCICAPIDAE. Siphia parva albicilla (Pallas). The Eastern Red-breasted Flycatcher. Specimen collected: 3888 [¢] 1-8-3838 Kumili 3,000 ft. Klsewhere not noted. Colours of bare parts: Iris dark brown; bill blackish-brown except chin and gape which whitish; mouth yellow; legs, feet and claws blackish-brown. [The specimen is an adult male in full red-breasted plumage. This is a considerable extension of range for this species. The typical race has not been recorded below 5S. Mysore at the foot of the Nilgiris on the Bangalore road (Hume, S.F., x, 372) and S. p. albicilla has not been recorded south of Belgaum (@ 22-10-1879 Butler) and the Nallamalais (¢ imm. 7-11-29 Eastern Ghats Survey, J.B.N.H.S., xxxvi, 81). This specimen is undergoing the spring moult which appears to be chiefly confined to the red patch and its grey edging. Tirst year males and females are alike and can only be distinguished from the adult female by the fact that the post-juvenal moult does not include the tertiaries, greater and primary coverts and wing quills which remain from the juvenile dress. The first year male evidently attains the red throat and grey edging in the first spring’ moult. —H. W.] The specimen—-the only one of the species met with in Travancore or Cochin —was shot off a large mango tree adjacent to the camp shed. Here it was fitting about in pretty twisting sallies after insects in among the branches or thence on to fence-posts or the ground to pick up an insect and back again uttering its characteristic click, click from time to time as it jerked its cocked- up tail. : The gonads were not distinct enough for the specimen to be sexed with certainty. The Survey was unable to confirm the statement in tthe Mauna (in, Qi) that -the typical race of this Flycatcher occurs in winter as far south as Travancore. Ferguson’s list does not record it thence while neither Fairbank nor Terry appear to have met it in the Palni Hills. Muscicapula pallipes pallipes Jerdon. The White-bellied Blue Flycatcher. Specimens collected: 129 $ 23-1-33 Santhanpara 3,500 ft.; 350 [|] 24-2-33 Peermade 3,200 ft.; 373 @ 28-2-38, 398 Q 3-38-33, 404 9, 405 ¢@ 5-3-33 Kiumili 3,000 ft.; 498 ¢ 26-38-33 Tenmalai 500 ft.; 867 ¢ 15-11-33, 870 92 16-11-83 Kuriarkttti 1,600 ft. Elsewhere noted at: Mundakayam (ca. 1,000 ft.), Padagiri (8,000 ft.— Nelliampathy Hills.) Colours of bare parts: Iris brown; bill brownish-black; mouth slaty-pink or greyish-pink; legs and feet horny-brown. [The Survey specimens measure: Bill. Wing. ane Tarsus. 5 SOS 17.5 73-79 57.5-63 18.5-19 mm. 4909 15.5-17 72.5-75.5 55-61.5 18.5 mm. Other specimens examined : Brit. Mus. Coll.: 24-2-78 Travancore; 0? n.d. Mynall (Bourdillon) ; 0? juv. 9-90 Chimunji (Ferguson)—labelled muttui.—H. W.| The White-bellied Blue Flycatcher though not numerically abundant, 1s common as a species in evergreen forest tracts throughout the two States. The lowest elevation at which I came across it was about 500 ft., the highest 3,500 ft., but as in the Nilgiris, it is probably also found higher up in the hills. It is a quiet unobtrusive little bird, keeping mostly to the dense under- growth of tall lanky seedlings or Strobilanthes, and is frequently a member of the localised bird associations common to this facies. It is also partial to cardamom sholas where it frequents the vicinity of the overgrown nullahs or ravines that run through them. Usually seen singly, most birds appeared tc 296 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVill have paired off from about the beginning of March. It has a-habit of screwing its tail from side to side lke the Thick-billed Flowerpecker. The species does not seem to have been recorded from the Palnis. It does not occur in Ceylon. Breeding: In No. 873 (28 February) the ovary was. distinctly granular and the follicles were further enlarged in 893 (8 March) and in 404 (5 March). The testes of 405 (pair to the last, and same date) measured 5X3 mm., those of 493 (26 March) 7X5 mm. All the birds were in immaculate plumage and appeared to be breeding or about to. The rest of the specimens showed no genital development. Stuart Baker records (Nidification, 1, 195) that J, Stewart took nests im Travancore between 1 and 2,000 ft. elevation chiefly during the rains, but that he also found some as early as February and others as late as September. The normal clutch is said to be almost invariably of 4 eggs. The evidence obtained by the Surveys tends to confirm the usual breeding season given in the Fauna (ii, 228) as March and April. Muscicapula rubeculoides rubeculoides (Vigors). The Blue-throated Fly- catcher. Specimens collected: 238 [Q] 7-2-88 Thattakad 200 ft.; 463 @ 18-38-33 Rajampara 1,350 ft. Elsewhere not noted. Colours of bare parts: Iris brown; bill brownish-black; mouth greyish-pink or slaty-pink; legs, feet and claws greyish-brown (with a pinkish tinge in No. 288). [| Measurements : Bill. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. ‘ei broken (5) 56.5 — mm. Q 16 72.5 missing 15.5 mm. This is a new record for Travancore, though the bird has several times been recorded from the Madras Presidency.—H. W.]. This Flycatcher—apparently a winter visitor only—was usually seen singly in scrub and secondary jungle with tangles of creepers, on the fringe of evergreen forest. No. 468 (18 March) was excessively fat and evidently preparing to emigrate. A very marked preponderance of males over females was noted at Rajampara about the time the specimen was secured. The trill of the male which was being frequently uttered, is similar to yet clearly distinguishable from that of Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher also present in the same locality, and in common with the latter it has the characteristic flycatcher habit of flicking its cocked-up tail and uttering chr-r, chr-r or click, click. In Ceylon it is apparently not an uncommon winter visitor from October to April. Muscicapula tickelliae tickelliae (Blyth). Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher. Specimens collected: 44 ¢ 9-1-3383 Maraiytr 3,500 ft.; 452 g¢ 17-38-38, 470 ¢ 19-3-38, 484 Q 21-38-33 Rajampara 1,350 ft.; 884 ¢ 18-11-33 Kuriarkutti 1,600 ft. Elsewhere noted at: Munnar (5,000 ft.), Thattakad (200 ft.), Wadakkan- cheri (400 ft.). Colours of bare parts: Iris dark brown; bill brownish-black; mouth slaty- pink; legs and feet greyish-brown; claws brown. [Other specimens examined: B. M. Coll.: 0? 28-5-77 Palni Hills (Fairbank). Sparrow Coll.: @ 1-4-14 Kumili, Travancore. Measurements : Bill. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. De Go 14.5-16 70-76.5 55-68 h6:5=17 mm, 1 9 15 69 55 16 mm.—H. W.] Tickell’s Blue Flycatcher, though curiously enough not appearing in Fergu- son’s Travancore list, is a fairly common species in our area. It avoids ever- THE ORNITHOLOGY OF TRAVANCORE AND COCHIN 297 green forest and prefers opener scrub and secondary jungle of more or less deciduous aspect, especially where intermixed with bamboo or Heta (Ochlandra). I came across it between 200 and 5,000 ft. elevation. Its freely repeated musical little trill invariably gave away its presence long before the bird was seen. This song is apparently uttered all the year round, though more fre- quently during the breeding season. Fairbank (S.F., v, 402) obtained a specimen in the Palni Hills (evidently the one now in the British Museum) and observed it ‘unfrequently from top to bottom’, while Terry (S.F., x, 473) found it breeding in the Pittur Valley. Kinloch also obtained nests in the Palnis (Nidification, 11, 202). In Ceylon it is represented by the race mesea which is endemic to the island. Breeding: The November and January specimens showed no genital develop- ment. Nos. 452 (17 March) and 470 (19 March) on the other hand both had testes enlarged to 6x4 and 5x4 mm. respectively, while the female (No. 484— 21 March) had a distinctly granular ovary and a prominent incubation patch. All the 3 latter were in freshly moulted plumage. On 21 March also, a male was observed conveying building material—a bunch of fibres—in its bill, and nesting was obviously in progress. Eumiyas thalassina thalassina (Swainson). The Verditer Flycatcher. Specimen collected: 191 ¢ 30-1-33 Santhanpara 3,500 ft. Elsewhere noted at: Thattakad (200 ft.), Peermade (8,200 ft.). Colours of bare parts: Iris brown; bill horny-black; mouth pale yellowish- flesh colour; legs, feet and claws blackish-brown. [The Survey male measures: Bill. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. 14 86 70 17 mm. Other specimens examined: B. M. Coll.: @Q 20-11-74, ¢$ 2-12-78, ¢ 27-11-74 Mynall (Bourdillon).— Eee Wea This Flycatcher (a winter visitor) is certainly much less common than the following species which it closely resembles in habits. Ferguson did not come across it in Travancore, but Bourdillon who procured the above specimens notes it as a common though not abundant winter visitor ‘up to 2,000 ft.’ from December to March. J, did not meet with it in Cochin although Kinloch (J.B.N.H.S., xxvii, 939-44) describes it as ‘very common’ in the Nelliampathies in the cold wevther till the end of March at comparatively low elevations. He obtained a specimen at 3,300 ft. Neither Fairbank nor Terry have recorded it from the Palni Hills though it must doubtless occur there in the cold weather. It is not recorded from Ceylon. The distribution of this Flycatcher in Nidification (ii, 206) is rather mis- leadingly worded. So far we have no evidence that the bird breeds anywhere in India proper south of the Himalayas. Eumiyas albicaudata (Jerdon). The Nilgiri Verditer Flycatcher. Specimens collected: 2 9 4-1-38, 20 @ 6-1-3838, 49 9 imm. 9-1-33 Maraiyitr 3,500-4,500 ft.; 102 .¢ 17-1-33 Munnar 5,000 ft.; 153 ¢@ 25-1-33 Santhanpara 3,500 ft.; 428 ¢ 9-3-3383 Camp Deramalai 3,000 ft.; 995 J 19-12-33 Padagiri 3,000 ft. Elsewhere noted at: Muthakazhi (4,000 ft.—Ashambi Hills). Colours of bare parts: Iris dark brown; bill horny-black (somewhat browner in imm. No. 49); mouth geyish-pink or brownish-pink; legs, feet and claws blaeckish-brown. [There is a series from the Palnis and a @ February 1892 Devikulam (O. W. Turner) in the British Museum. 298 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVIII Travancore and Palni specimens measure: Bill. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. (reires 14-15.5 75.5-81 59-66 18.5-19.5 mm. 229 13-15 76-77 56.5-60.5 18.5 mm.—H. W.] The Nilgiri Verditer Flycatcher is a common and abundant species through- out the forested hills of Travancore and Cochin. I came across it between 3,000 and 5,000 ft. and this is clearly the range of elevation it favours most. It is usually met singly frequenting overgrown hill streams and nullahs, undergrowth flanking paths and traces through sholas, cardamom plantations and the edge of forest clearings, often in association with Culicicapa, Alseonax muttui, and other flycatchers. The males have a pleasant trilly-song somewhat feebler than but similar in quality to that of Sazxicola caprata. It lasts from 5 to 10 seconds and is constantly uttered from some exposed twig on the top of a tree. I have notes of birds singing in every month while the Surveys were in the field, from December to April. Ordinarily it perches somewhat upright on a twig and utters the typical flycatcher click, click as it twitches its tail up and down. In the Palni Hills, Fairbank (S.F., v, 402) found this Flycatcher an abun- dant inhabitant of Kodaikanal and other groves from 5,500 ft. to the summit of the hills. In Ceylon it is represented by an allied species EH. ceylonensis (=sordida). Breeding: The specimens furnished no evidence of breeding and apparently there are no actual records of nests and eggs taken in Travancore or Cochin. It is a permanent resident, however, and known to breed in the adjacent portions of its range between March and May, occasional nests being found in February or June. Mr. Stuart Baker has records of its occurrence and breeding in the Palni Hills, the Wynaad, Palghat and Southern Malabar (Nidi- fication, 11, 210). Alseonax latirostris (Raffles). The Brown Flycatcher. Specimens collected: 51 © 10-1-833 Maraiyar 3,500 ft.; 204 Q 3-2-33, 262 2 10-2-338 Thattakad 200 ft.; 362 ¢ 27-2-33, 386 ¢ 1-3-3383, 397 J 3-3-33, 402 0? 5-3-3383 Kumili 3,000 ft.; 4383 0? 10-3-33 Camp Deramalai 3,000 ft.; 444 ¢ 16-38-33, 478 Q 21-83-33 Rajampara 1,350 ft.; 990 Q 18-12-33 Padagiri 3,000 ft.; 1020 9 Karupadanna ca. 8.L. Elsewhere noted at: Wuandamet (ca. 38,500 ft.), Trivandrum (ca. §8.L.), Kavallé (ca. 1,000 ft.) along Cochin Forest Tramway, Nemmara (800 ft.), Wadakkancheri (800 ft.). Colours of bare parts: TIris dark brown; upper mandible and tip of lower mandible horny-brown; rest of lower mandible cream colour (in No. 402 lower mandible—except tip—chrome yellow!); mouth pale yellow or pale yellowish- pink; legs, feet and claws horny-brown. [Other specimens examined : B. M. Coll.: & 30-12-80 Kallaur road 1,000 ft. (Bourdillon); 000 no dates Mynall; 9 7-38-77, 3 18-10-78 Mynall; 0? -3-75 Eridge. Travancore specimens measure: Bill. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. (Arce 12.5-15 69.5-76 48-54 12.5-14.5 mm. Gute 12.5-15.5 69-73 46-51.5 ~~ This bird is now on the British list and therefore finds inclusion in Witherby’s Practical Handbook of British Birds, vol. 1, p. 287. The juvenile is there described from specimens of which the correct identification appears uncertain, and as the description does not agree with a specimen collected by me personally from a family party of which the adult male was also collected (23 June 1921 near Larji 3,000 ft., Valley of the Beas, Kulu) a full descrip- tion may be given: Crown, nape, hindneck, mantle, scapulars, lesser wing- coverts, back and rump pale fulvous buff, each feather with a dark brown fringe and a grey base, the general appearance being squamated; median wing-coverts dark brown, with a large triangular buff spot at tip of each THE ORNITHOLOGY OF TRAVANCORE AND COCHIN 299 feather; greater wing-coverts dark brown, edged exteriorly and broadly tipped with warm fulvous; primary coverts dark brown, the tips lightly edged with buff; primaries, secondaries and tertiaries as in the adult, except that the tertiaries have the pale buff border rather broader at the tips; upper tail coverts dark brown broadly tipped with fulvous; tail as in the adult, the feathers with a small buff spot at their tips; sides of the head and neck mottled brown and buff; lower plumage white, faintly washed with buff on the chin, throat and breast, all feathers except on centre of abdomen lightly fringed or tipped with dark brown, giving a faintly squamated appearance. This plumage is moulted at the post-juvenal moult with the exception of the greater and primary coverts, primaries, secondaries and _ tertiaries and probably tail, but wear and fading soon render it impossible to separate first winter birds and adults with certainty. The post-nuptial moult is complete and takes place about August to October. There is, I think, no spring moult in the adult. It will be noted that my view of the moults of this species differs considerably from that given in the Practical Handbook.—H. W.] The Brown Flycatcher was met by the Surveys between 11 November and 30 March, after which date it was not seen at all. The fact that specimens collected on 10 and 16 March were excessively fat, suggests that at about this time most birds were preparing to emigrate although the last specimen, obtained on 21 March, was in normal condition. There is great uncertainty as regards the status of this Flycatcher in the Travancore-Cochin area as indeed there is in the other parts of its Indian and south-eastern range. Ferguson con- sidered it a common winter visitor to Travancore but thought that some individuals breed there as he had specimens collected in June and August (J.B.N.H.S., xv, 464). Personally I am not in a position to say anything definite on the subject as I was not in the area during May and June which is said (Fauna, 11, 250) to be the breeding season everywhere. Pillai who collected during July and August in the environs of Trivandrum—whence I have sight records for March—does not appear to have come across the species then. It is possible that odd pairs occasionally remain to breed as in North Kanara which is the nearest known breeding place (Davidson, J.B.N.H.S., xi, 668). Indeed that they may well do so is more than suggested by the testes of No. 362 (27 February) which had enlarged to 6x3 mm. The Surveys found the Brown Flycatcher fairly common in Travancore- Cochin from about sea-level up to at least 3,500 ft. in the hills. It affects sparse deciduous jungle (commonest at Kuamili!) and avoids evergreen forest, though it may frequently be seen on the verge of this where it opens out into grassland. The bird is partial to the neighbourhood of rocky hillstreams and was also commonly met with in and about rubber plantations, among the shade trees of comparatively open cardamom sholas and in the mango, jack and cashew gardens by homesteads along the backwaters. It is usually seen singly, sometimes in pairs. The only notes I heard it utter were a feeble chi-chir-ri-ri-ri something like Dumetia, but feebler. This Flycatcher is apparently rare in the Palni Hills as both Fairbanks and Terry met it only once. No dates are given and no comment on its status is made. Tt is a winter visitor to Ceylon from October to April (Legge), but according to Wait it has also been obtained in the Island in June. The gonads of the specimens were in a quiescent state except in the case of the % mentioned. Messrs. Whistler and Kinnear (J.B.N.H.S., xxxvi, 86) after examining a considerable number of specimens of this species from the different parts of its wide range are not satisfied that it has any races. In a recent work on the birds of North-Eastern Asia,’ Sten Bergman gives the wing measurements of 83 ¢¢ obtained in the Kuril Islands listed by him under the typical race. The figures—70-72 mm.—correspond closely enough with those given by Whistler and Kinnear for 4 ¢¢ from Amur Bay, Eastern Siberia (68.5-71 mm.) to support their contention of the non-existence of races. —— ' Zur Kenntnis nordéstasiatischer Vogel, Sten Bergman, Stockholm (1935). 300 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVIII Alseonax ruficauda (Swainson). The Rufous-tailed Flycatcher. Specimen collected: 877 Q 28-2-33 Kumili 3,000 ft. Elsewhere noted at: Kiuvallé Incline (ca. 1,000 ft.—Cochin Forest Tram- way); Padagiri (3,000 ft.—Nelliiampathy Hills). Colours of bare parts: Iris dark brown; upper mandible brown, lower mandible pale flesh-colour; mouth yellow and pink; legs and feet brownish- plumbeous; claws horny-brown. [Other specimens examined : B. M. Coll.: 0? 27-11-74, 0? 4-12-78, 0? no date Mynall (Bourdillon) ; Q -12-90 Ponmidi (Ferguson). The Survey 92 measures: Bill. Wing. Tail. 14.5 75.5 56 mm.—H. W.] Apparently this Flycatcher is an uncommon winter visitor to the area. All the specimens I came across were on the outskirts of evergreen forest, by traces and clearings, between 2,000 and 3,500 ft. elevation. It has not been recorded from the Palni Hills or Ceylon, though it doubt- less occurs in the former. Alseonax muttui muttui (Layard). Layard’s Flycatcher. Specimens collected: 128 0? 28-1-33, 151 9, 152 Q 25-1-33 Santhanpara 83,500 ft.; 212 Q 4-2-3383, 2381 G 7-2-83 Thattakad 200 ft.; 292 ¢ 16-2-33 Urimbikera Res. Forest ca. 1,000 ft.; 877 @ 17-11-33. Kuriarkitti 1,600 ft.; 999 20-12-33 Padagiri 3,000 ft. Elsewhere noted at: Maraiyuir (8,500 ft.); Peermade (3,200 ft.); Rajam- para (1,350 ft.—Pandalam Hills). Colours of bare parts: Iris dark brown; upper mandible dark horny-brown, lower mandible pale flesh colour; mouth yellow (in two examples with a pinkish tinge); gape in the same two yellow; claws dusky. [Other specimens examined: B. M. Coll.: G@ 18-11-74, 9? 14-1-76, 0? no date Mynall (Bourdillon) ; Q 29-12-85 Chimpani, Travancore-Tinnevelly boundary (William Davison). Measurements: Bill. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. 4 oe 16-1725 Tota. 49-53.5 18.5-14 mm. 3 OO 16-17 70.5-72:5 51-54.5 13.5-14 mm.—H. W.] Layard’s Flycatcher is a common winter visitor to Travancore and Cochin. The last date I noted it on was 17 March. By the time the next suitable locality was visited—22 April—the species had completely disappeared. Not a single specimen was observed in the subsequent five days inspite of the special look-out which was kept. Although examples were obtained as low down as 200 ft. elevation, the bird was commonest on the hills between 1,000 and 3,500 ft. It was inseparable from evergreen forest tracts, frequenting the dense scrub and liana tangles, preferably on the fringe of jungle, and cardamom clearings where the bare branches of the felled trees, their stumps and other brushwood littering the hillsides provided admirable bases for its sallies after winged insects. The vicinity of rocky wooded streams also constituted a favourite haunt. The bird was invariably met singly, but frequently in loose association with Humuiyas, Culicicapa, Tchitrea and other flycatchers. It has evidently not been recorded from the Palni Hills and its status in Ceylon is the same as in Travancore, i.e. winter visitor. William Davison (Ibis, 1888, pp. 146-7) obtained, 4 males ‘late in December or early in January’ on Chimpani Hills dividing Travancore territory from the Tinnevelly District. The gonads of all the specimens were undeveloped and so far we have no evidence in support of the suggestion in the Fauna (ii, 252) that it will most THE ORNITHOLOGY OF TRAVANCORE AND COCHIN 301 probably be found to be a resident and to breed over much of its ‘supposed’ winter habitat on mountains of sufficient height. Ochromela nigrorufa (Jerdon). The Black-and-Orange Flycatcher. Specimens collected: 103 ¢ 17-1-83 Munnar 5,000 ft.; 380 9 22-2-33 Peer- made 3,200 ft. Elsewhere. noted at: Santhanpara (8,500 ft.); Camp Deramalai (at ca. 4,500 ft.). Colours of bare parts: Iris brown; bill blackish-brown; mouth brownish- pink (No. 103 3), pale pink (No. 330 @); legs, feet and claws greyish-brown (No. 103), greyish-flesh (No. 330). [Other specimens examined : B. M. Coll.: 7-4-80 Travancore-Tinnevelly boundary 3,600 ft. (Bour- dillon); ¢ no date Palnis (Fairbank). B. N. H. 8S. Coll.: & 29-38-94 Kodaikanal (J. P. Cook). Measurements : Bill, Wing. Tail. Tarsus. 2G Gs 13-13.5 61-63 49-51 18.5-20 mm. Lee, 13 58.5 44.5 18.5 mm.—H. W.}] The Black-and-Orange Flycatcher is essentially a bird of dense evergreen forest. According to Ferguson (J.B.N.H.S., xv, 464) it is ‘common on the High Range and at elevations of 38,500-4,000 ft. in the south’. I did not come across it either in the Ashambu Hills or in the Nelliampathies, neither has Kinloch recorded it from the latter. Where occurring, it was not uncom- mon between 3,000 and 5,000 ft., being perceptibly more abundant in the neighbourhood of the latter elevation. Below 3,000 ft. it was not observed. The bird frequents the Eeta facies or flits about amongst the dense under- growth of seedlings, Strobilanthes, Pandanus or Calamus singly or in pairs, the male uttering a somewhat metallic high-pitched chiki-riki-chiki or chee-r-ri-ri every few seconds. It is not shy and does not resent observation at close quarters provided one remains motionless. At Munnar I frequently saw it by the roadside near the workshop, the noise within and the motor traffic without not seeming to disturb it at all. In the Palni Hills it is said to be the commonest of the flycatchers at higher elevations. Fairbank (S.F., v, 401) observed it in groves at the top of the hills and also at Shemiganitr (5,500 ft.) in dense thickets. The species does not extend into Ceylon. Breeding: The gonads of the survey specimens showed no departure from the normal non-breeding condition. The breeding season in Travancore is stated (Nidification, 11, 221) as March and April. Both Bourdillon and Stewart took nests at between 3,000 and 4,000 ft. elevation. They are said to be nearly always built of Keta (Ochlandra) leaves and from a few inches to about 4 ft. from the ground, but usually between 2 and 3 ft. Two eggs is said invariably to be the full clutch. Culicicapa ceylonensis ceylonensis (Swainson). The Grey-headed Flycatcher. Specimens collected: 50 9 10-1-33 Maraiyair 3,500 ft.; 415 ¢ 7-3-383 Kumili 3,000 ft. Elsewhere noted at: Ktmarikkai Malai (7,000 ft.); Santhanpara (3,500 ft.); Camp Deramalai (3,000 ft.); Ashambu Hills (only at ca. 3,500 ft. and above !); Kuriarkuatti (1,600 ft.); Padagiri (8,000 ft.—Nelliampathy Hills). Absent at Thattakad (200 ft.) ! Colours of bare parts: Iris dark brown; upper mandible horny-brown, lower mandible pale yellowish-horn; mouth yellow; legs and feet brownish-orange; claws horny-brown; soles bright orange. [Other specimens examined: B. M. Coll.: @ ?-2-92 High Range (A. N. Nair). Sparrow Coll.: Q 10-83-14 Cardamom Hills. B. N. H. 8. Coll.: J 30-12-98 Chimunji (Ferguson). 302 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVIII Measurements: Jey Wing. Tail. Tarsus. 3 OG 13 64-66 53.5-57 — mm. 299 12.5-13 59-63 50-54 13 mm.—H. W.] This little Flycatcher was commonly met with by the Surveys in hilly, forested country between 1,500 and 7,000 ft. It appeared to be inseparable from evergreen forest, but presumably inhabits the higher hills only as at Thattakad (200 ft.) it was absent and significantly enough I have no record either from Tenmalai (500 ft.) or Rajampara (1,350 ft.). Ferguson (J.B.N.H.S., xv, 465) described it as ‘common on the High Range and on the tops of the hills in the south’. It frequents sholas on the hillsides and along ravines, and also opener secondary growth on their outskirts and bamboo forest, especially the vicinity of streams and torrents. Along the trace from Kutmili to Wtndamet (Carda- mom Hills) over open grassy undulating hills (ca. 3,500-4,000 ft.), little sholas appear from time to time in dank ravines, often barely a couple of acres in extent, and separated from the next by a mile or more. Each of these wooded dells invariably harboured a couple or so of Grey-headed Flycatchers, and here as elsewhere they were mostly observed in association with Phylloscopus oceipitalis and other small bird species, acting as outriders to the foraging assemblies and snapping up any winged insects escaping from their concerted hunt among the foliage. In my experience the commensalism between this Flycatcher and Phyllos- copus occipitalis is a fairly constant feature. I have observed them in com- pany almost invariably, not only in Travancore and Cochin but also in the Nilgiri and Biligirirangan Hills of South India. It is noteworthy that the only occasion on which I came across this Flycatcher in the Hyderabad State it was also in association with a flock of Phylloscopus occipitalis. A pretty little ‘song’ of 5 whistling notes—chick! whichee whichee? (accent on last 2, which end interrogatively)—is constantly uttered in between the short, graceful twisting sallies after flies, gnats etc. and is surprisingly loud for the size of the bird. In the Palni Hills, Fairbank (S.F., v, 401) found it common in Kodaikanal as well as in groves ‘lower down’—to what elevation is not mentioned. In Ceylon it is a resident form above 1,000 ft. Breeding: The testes of No. 415 (7 March) were in non-breeding condi- tion, although the ovary of No. 50 was distinctly granular on 10 January. The breeding of this species has apparently never been recorded in the Travancore-Cochin area. The season over the whole of its range is said to be April, May and June (Fauna, 11, 255). Tchitrea paradisi leucogaster (Swainson). Specimen collected: 34 ¢ 7-1-3383 Maraiyur 3,500 ft. Tchitrea paradisi paradisi (L.). The Paradise Flycatcher. Specimens collected: 202 ¢ 3-2-3383 Thattakad 200 ft.; 395 ¢ 3-3-33 Kamil 3,000 ft.; 600 0? 16-4-33 Aramboli 250 ft.; 865 ¢ 14-11-33 Kuriarkitti 1,600 ft. ; 900 Q 25-11-33 Wadakkancheri 400 ft.; 958 Q 8-12-83 Nemmara 300 ft. Elsewhere noted at (races uncertain): Kottayam (ca. §.L.); Urambikera Res. Forest near Mindakayam (ca. 1,000 ft.); Rajampara (1,350 ft.); Tenmalai (500 ft.); Trivandrum (8.L.); Padagiri (8,000 ft.—Nellampathies) ; Trichur, Kariipadanna (S.L.). Colours of bare parts: Tris dark brown; bill greyish-blue, blackish at extreme tips; mouth greenish-yellow or bright yellow (202); gape and eyelids slaty-blue; legs and feet greyish-blue; claws brown. [No. 34, although it is slightly darker than many specimens of leucogaster —but not all—and has the longer tertiaries black and white which is un- usual, must I think be referred to this race as it has the primaries, secondaries, primary coverts and bastard wing black and white. This is a slight southerly extension of the known winter range of this form. The streamers vary inter se. One is chestnut; the other is chestnut but has the outer web almost entirely white and there is some white mottling on the inner web. It measures: Bill, 23; Wing, 98,5; True Tail, 108; Streamers, 256 mm. THE ORNITHOLOGY OF TRAVANCORE AND COCHIN 303 As I have already pointed out in the Eastern Ghats Report (U.B.N.H.S., xxxvi, 89) there must be some satisfactory explanation of the curious status and migrations of the Paradise Flycatcher in Ceylon as described by Legge on theories that are hardly convincing; and the most obvious explanation would seem to be that there is a resident short-tailed race in the island in which the white phase is eliminated. This point can however be settled only by careful field work in the island and I have seen no evidence for the sup- posedly richer colouration of the females and young—as compared with the typical form—on which Mr. Stuart Baker (Nidification, ii, 286) now accepts a race T. p. ceylonensis for ‘Ceylon and the extreme south of Travancore’. The Survey series shows no difference between birds from the extreme south and the rest of Travancore, nor can I separate them from the typical form. Measurements : Bill. Wing. True Tail. Streamers. Tarsus. No. 865 red G with red streamers 25 96 107.5 254 1 Tans Nos. 202, 395 ¢ like Q 24-25.5 86-87.5 95-96.5 —_ 16 mm. Nos. 909, 958 99 23.5 89.5-92.5 101-112 — — mm. —H. W.! During the period the Surveys were in the field—November to April (both inclusive)—the Paradise Flycatcher was noted as a fairly common though per- haps not numerically abundant species throughout the area from the coast upto—with the exception of Maraiyiir (8,500 ft.) and Padagiri (8,000 ft.)— about 1,500 ft. in the hills. It was, however, commonest in the low country under 1,000 ft. Mr. Pillai, who collected in the environs of Trivandrum town in July and August informs me that inspite of special effort he failed to meet any Paradise Flycatchers there during that period. Ferguson mentions (J.B.N.H.S., xv, 465) that in the ‘dry weather’ [February-March?] it ascends the hills to considerable elevations. He procured specimens at 6,000 ft. on the High Range and also on the summit of the hills in the south (i.e. 3,500- 4,000 ft.). The bird was met with singly as a rule in mixed bamboo forest, on the fringe of evergreen jungle, in rubber plantations and groves of large trees as also in the jack-fruit and cashew gardens surrounding homesteads along the backwaters. In evergreen patches it was commonly observed in association with Dendro- citta leucogastra, Dissemurus paradiseus, Hypothymis azurea, Phylloscopus occi- pitalis, Culicicapa and the other usual members of localised hunting parties. On one occasion while walking through evergreen undergrowth in forest at Thattakad, I noticed a male in red plumage fluttering about helplessly among the leaves on the ground, unable to fly. Examination showed that the flight feathers of one wing had become pinioned by a bunch of hooked seeds of the grass Streptogyne crinita. Beauv. When the tangle was removed, the bird flew off. This suggests that accidents of this kind must not infrequently befall birds descending to the ground to pick up insects etc. since in places the erass is not uncommon. I do not think much significance need be attached to Kinloch’s statement that in the Nelliampathies males in white plumage preponderate over females or red males. White males are certainly more conspicuous wherever they are, and it may even be that at the period Kinloch made his observation there may have been a migrational wave of white males. In many bird species the sexes migrate separately, and for all we know the Paradise Flycatcher may well be one of them. I myself have noted that at Nemmara (8 December) red plumaged males and females were common, but white males exceedingly rare. In the Palnis, it appears to be uncommon. Fairbank (S.F., v, 401) observed a single ‘young one’ [red?] at the base of the hills and Terry met another single bird at Pulungi. The typical race_occurs in Ceylon, but see Mr. Whistler’s remarks supra. Breeding: The gonads of all the survey specimens were undeveloped and gave no indication as regards breeding. Nidification (ii, 236) mentions Mr. a Stewart taking a nest with 3 eggs in the extreme south of Travancore on 304 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVIII 14 March, and this probably constitutes the only record we have of the breed- ing of the Paradise Flycatcher in our area. Hypothymis azurea styani (Hartlaub). The Indian Black-naped Flycatcher. Specimens collected: 48 0? imm. 9-1-3833 Maraiyar 3,500 ft.; 186 ¢ ad. 23-1-83 Santhanpara 3,500 ft.; 394 ¢ ad. 3-3-3833 Kumili 3,000 ft.; 891 ¢ ad. 21-11-33 Kuriarkutti 1,600 ft. Jilsewhere noted at: Thattakad (200 ft.); Urtimbikera Forest near Munda- kayam (ca. 1,000 ft.); Rajampara (1,350 ft.); Tenmalai (500 ft.); Wadakkan- cheri (400 ft.). Colours of bare parts: Adult male: Iris dark brown; bill bright blue with blackish tips; mouth greenish- or sulphur-yellow; legs and feet slaty-blue; claws brown. Immature (No. 48): Iris dark brown; upper mandible horny-brown, lower mandible brownish-grey; mouth yellow; legs and feet blackish-slate; claws brown. [Further specimen examined: Brit. Mus. Coll.: & 11-2-75, 3 no date Mynall (Bourdillon). Measurements : Bill. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. Serotec) 14-15 66.5-74 65-74 16 mm. These specimens, together with additional. ones that I have examined from N.-E. India, confirm my action (J.B.N.H.S., xxxvi, 91) in not accepting two races in India.—H. W.] The Black-naped Flycatcher was met with in well-wooded country at all elevations between 200 and 3,500 ft., and was not uncommon in the localities recorded. Dense bamboo forest, the lofty shade trees of cardamom plantations, ever- green sholas and opener teak plantations all appeared to attract it equally, and single birds or pairs were frequently to be found in the localised bird associations in all these facies. As a rule they kept to taller trees than other flycatchers did, flitting about amongst the sprigs and foliage or spreading and partly erecting the tail and pivoting on their perch from side to side to the constant accompaniment of a lively high-pitched chee-chwee. So far it has evidently not been recorded from the Palni Hills. In Ceylon, the race H. a. ceylonensis is endemic to the Island. Breeding: The specimens showed no gonadal development. No. 48 (9 Janu- ary) was immature (in first winter plumage) with a soft skull, suggesting that it had been bred late in the year. No records of its breeding in the Travancore- Cochin area are available, but in the Nilgiris the usual breeding season is said to be June and William Davison found a nest with newly hatched young as late as 28 August. Leucocirca aureola compressirostris Blyth. The Southern White-browed Fantail Flycatcher. Specimens collected: 312-313 $9 19-2-33 Kottayam ca. 8.L.; 682 Q 17-7-33 (Pattom), 719 9 24-7-33 (Thirtimalai 100 ft.), 730 0? 26-7-33 (Kuttani 300 ft.), 755 81-7-838 (Akkilam 150 ft.), 796 0? 6-8-3383 (Pulayanar Kotta 200 ft.), 857 Q 14-8-83 (Golf Links 100 ft.) Trivandrum Environs; 986 Q 4-12-33 Nemmara 300 ft.; 1015 ¢ Karupadanna ca. 8.1L. Elsewhere noted at: Chalakidi, Trichir. Colours of bare parts: Iris brown; bill brownish-black; mouth pink; legs, feet and claws blackish-brown. [ Measurements : Bill. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. 2d 15 85-87 86.5-91.5 18 mm. 5-99 13.5-15 80-81 83-86 17-18.5 mm. The alleged difference between the birds of North and South Travancore given in the Fauna (ii, 279) has already been shown (J.B.N.H.S., xxxvi, THE ORNITHOLOGY OF TRAVANCORE AND COCHIN 305 92) to be incorrect, and that decision is again confirmed by the survey series. All the birds belong to the one race compressirostris and exhibit the character- istics defined in the Hastern Ghats Survey paper.—H .W. ] This Fantail Flycatcher is, as stated by Ferguson, common in the low country in both the States, and the Surveys did not meet it in the hills at all. This is rather curious since Dewar (J.B.N.H.S., xvi, 154) considered it very numerous at Coonoor (5,500 ft.—Nilgiris) and Fairbank (S.F., v, 401) found it up to 4,000 ft. in the Palni Hills. However, as both these authors omit pectoralis from their lists doubt has been cast upon the correctness of their identifications. JI personally found pectoralis sparingly at Kotagiri (6,300 ft.— - Nilgiris) while up there between July and December (1932), but have only one unconfirmed record of hearing aureola (at about 6,000 ft.) on 9 August. Its favourite haunts in Travancore and Cochin are the mango, cashew and jack-fruit gardens surrounding the homesteads along the backwaters, and wooded compounds in towns. It also frequents groves of large trees such as mango and tamarind preferably in the neighbourhood of human habitations, and to a lesser extent light secondary and scrub jungle. It is a resident species in Ceylon. Breeding: Nos. 312 and 313, a pair (19 February) were breeding. The testes of the ¢ measured 8X5 mm., while many of the ovarian follicles of the Q were over 1 mm. in diameter. The pair were hopping about on the ground collecting cobwebs spun across furrows and also fibres from a decayed cocoanut palm trunk. No. 936 (4 December) with granular ovary, was one of a pair observed in copula. According to Ferguson, this Flycatcher breeds in Travancore in April, but from my experience it is evident that it commences doing so considerably earlier. Three of the specimens obtained by Pillai in July and August (Nos. 719, 730 and 755) were immature with imperfectly ossified skulls and all of that period were undergoing heavy post-juvenal or post-nuptial moult. Leucocirca pectoralis was not met with by the Surveys in the Travancore- Cochin area at all, and one would like to know om what evidence the distri- bution as given in the Fauna (ii, 282) is based. FamILy: LANIIDAE. Lanius vittatus Valenciennes. The Bay-backed Shrike. Specimens collected: 618 ¢ 18-4-33, 626 ¢ 19-4-33 Aramboli 250 ft. Elsewhere not noted. Colours of bare parts: Iris brown; bill black; -legs and feet dark slaty- brown; claws horny-black. [No other specimens from Travancore seen. The 2 ¢¢ measure: Bill. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. 18 83.5-84.5 84-88. 22-22.5 mm. I have now seen enough specimens to be able to say something about the plumages. The sexes of this shrike are alike in colour and size and there is no difference in summer and winter plumage. In the adult there is no spring moult and the autumn moult takes place from July to December beginning with the wings and tail, by which time the body plumage is often in very worn condition. The immature male and female are also of the same size, but the wing and tail are slightly shorter than in adults. The post-juvenal moult takes place about August to November and I have seen ‘it only just beginning as late as 21 December (Mhow). In this are moulted the body plumage, the tertiaries, a variable number of wing-coverts (usually, however, all but the primary coverts with their corresponding smaller coverts) and a_ variable number of tail feathers (sometimes only the central pair, sometimes all but the two outer pairs). The first winter plumage is variable. It is normally a slightly duller edition of the adult plumage save for the unmoulted parts of the wings and tail. The black frontal band may, however, be absent, variegated black and 806 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Voi. XXXVIil grey or suggested merely by one or two black feathers. The broad band through the eye from lores to ear-coverts may be rich brown instead of black. The nape, hindneck and mantle may be washed with ashy-grey or more rarely with chestnut. The sides of the breast are sometimes marked with bars and crescents. When the fully adult plumage is assumed is not clear. Some birds certainly breed in the first winter plumage, but others perhaps moult it before breeding as I have seen a young female with wing and body moult on 5 March.—H. W. ] The Bay-backed Shrike was met by the Surveys at Aramboli only, and here it was rare. The Aramboli Gap-is a break in the line of the Ghats and forms the thoroughfare between Travancore State and the adjoining Madras district of Tinnevelly. Through this pass several of the typically plains forms wander in. I have already suggested this as the explanation for the highly probable occurrence of Argya caudata at Aramboli, and J, consider it more than likely that the presence of the Bay-backed Shrike within Travancore territory is attributable to the same cause. Ferguson also found this species only about Cape Comorin where it had doubtless wandered in from the arid adjoining Madras district unobstructed by the barrier of hills. The birds were met singly or in pairs frequenting the open scrub country about the bases of the bare rocky hills flanking the ‘gap’. The statement in the Fauna (ii, 290) that it occurs in North ‘Travancore needs confirmation. On what authority its alleged occurrence in the Palni Hills rests is also not known. Tt is not found in Ceylon. Breeding: Tho testes of both Nos. 613 (18 April) and 626 (19 April) were enlarged to 5x4 and 7X5 mm. respectively and from this, coupled with their fresh plumage, it was evident that they were preparing to breed. The state- ment in Nidification (ii, 257) that ‘in Travancore they breed frequently in February and March’ conveys the impression that the birds are common in this area, which is the opposite of the case. Lanius schach caniceps Blyth. The Southern Grey-backed Shrike. Specimens collected: 67 @Q 12-1-33 Maraiytr 3,500 ft.; 910 ¢ 27-11-33 Wadakkancheri 400 ft. Elsewhere not noted. Colours of bare parts: Iris brown; bill horny-black, plumbeous at base of lower mandible and at chin; mouth pale pink; legs, feet and claws blackish- brown. [The two specimens measure: Bill. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. 3d 22.5 92.5 118.5 27.5 mim. Q 19 93.5 116 28 mm. Other speclinens examined : B. M. Coll.: ¢ juv. 1-6-77 Shemiganar 5,000 ft.—Palnis (Fairbank), Q juv. 8-6-77, 9 9-6-77 Kodaikanal, Palnis (Fairbank); ¢ 17-6-77 Lower Palnis 4,000 ft. (Fairbank). B. N. H. S. Coll.: & juv. 8-5-98 Kodaikanal (J. P. Cook).—H. W. | The Grey-backed Shrike is patchily distributed in the Travancore-Cochin area. I came across it only in the above two localities, fairly common at Maraiyir and somewhat less so at Wadakkancheri. Ferguson, however, de- scribes it as not uncommon in the plains and says that it also ascends the hills. He had specimens shot in the High Range in February and March. The birds were met with singly perched on stumps, hedges, bushes and the like in the neighbourhood of cultivation, fallow land or forest clearings. I cannot say if it is a local migrant or a resident species in the area having come across it here only in the cold weather, neither do Ferguson’s remarks (J.B.N.H.S., xv, 459) throw any light on the point. Kinloch mentions it as common in the Nelliampathy Hills of Cochin but is silent as to its status there. As Kuinloch’s list, however, does not include Lanius cristatus which, in the cold weather, is certainly the commonest shrike in this region I am THE ORNITHOLOGY OF TRAVANCORE AND COCHIN 307 inclined to suspect that there may perhaps have been some error in his identi- fication. This presumption is further strengthened by the fact that both at Nemmara (foot of Nelliampathies) and at Padagiri (8,000 ft. up) the Survey failed to meet this species but on the other hand found cristatus quite common. It is apparently a resident in the Palni Hills and said to breed there from February to July, though May and June seem to be the best time for eggs (Hume, N. & EH., 2nd edition, 1, 323-5). In Ceylon, this shrike is restricted to the Jafna Peninsula and the north- west of the Island. Breeding: Neither of the Survey specimens showed any gonadal develop- ment. According to the Fauna (11, 297) the breeding season in Travancore is March and April; Stewart is said (Nidification, 11, 269) to have taken a fine series of eggs in April and May. Lanius cristatus cristatus Linnaeus. The Brown Shrike. | Specimens collected: 6 ¢ 4-1-3833 Maratyur 3,500 ft.; 275 ¢ 12-2-33 Thatta- kad 200 ft.; 827 3 21-2-338 Peermade at 4,000 ft.; 582 9 12-4-33 Cape Comorin; 598 o? 15-4-83 Aramboli 250 ft.; 888 ¢ 21-11-38 Kauariarkutti 1,600 ft.; 962 0? 9-12-83 Nemmara 300 ft. Hlsewhere noted at: Munnar (5,000 ft.); Santhanpara (8,500 ft.); Kumuili (3,000 ft.); Camp Deramalai (8,000 ft.); Rajampara (1,350 ft.); Tenmalai (500 ft.); Balamore Estate (2,000 ft.—Ashambu Hills); Chalakudi and _ all along Cochin Forest Tramway; Wadakkancheri (400 ft.); Padagiri (3,000 ft.); Kartipadanna (ca. 8.L.). Colours of bare parts: Iris brown; bill, upper mandible and tip of lower horny-brown, rest of lower mandible creamy flesh colour; mouth pale flesh- pink; legs and feet slaty-brown; claws brown. [ Measurements : Bill. Wing. Tail. ‘Tarsus. 4 ad 18.5-19 86-89 78-86 24-25.5 mm. 1° 18.5 moult. (eS — mm. In the Survey series the length between the tips of the outer tail feather and the longest tail feather varies from (15) 18-22 mm. Nos. 6, 275, 582, 598 and 962 are adult, the others are not. In this race the sexes are alike. The amount of rufous wash on the lower parts is variable, a matter merely of individual variation. First winter birds may be recognised from adults by: (1) the band through the eye from the lores to the ear-coverts 1s brown not black. (Occasional adults may have the band brown.) (2) there is less white about the forehead and supercilium, (3) the much greater amount of crescentic barring on the lower parts, (4) the retention on the wing-coverts and tertiaries of a certain number of juvenile feathers. The first winter plumage is probably changed for the fully adult plumage in the first spring. Adults have a complete moult in both spring and autumn, which takes place in the winter quarters. Summer and winter plumage is alike—H. W.] The Brown Shrike is a winter visitor to South India as it is to Ceylon, arriving in early September and leaving towards the end of April. In _ the Travancore-Cochin area it is common and very generally distributed both in the hills up to at least 7,000 ft. (Ktamarikkai Malai!) and throughout the low country. Ferguson seems to have found it mostly from about 2,000 ft. elevation upwards and he considered it rare in the low country. By 27 April, which is the last record I have, its numbers had noticeably decreased. It was observed singly in every type of country ranging from cultivation and dry scrub or mixed bamboo jungle to the fringe of evergreen forest and often considerable distances within, along cart traces and the like. A favourite haunt is the open grass-covered hillsides dotted here and there with clumps of stunted date palms (Phenix farinifera) which provide useful lookout posts as well as shelters from the heat of the day. The birds were everywhere shy and difficult to approach. 308 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVili At Maraiytr and Wadakkancheri this shrike and the foregoing were fre- quently found side by side, and their numbers here were about equal. The harsh call chr-r-r-ri etc. is easily distinguishable from the similar notes of the Grey-backed Shrike. Hemipus picatus picatus (Sykes). The Black-backed Pied Shrike. Specimens collected: 464 ¢, 465 0? juv. 18-83-33, 478 2 20-38-33 Rajampara 1,850 ft.; 968 Q 12-12-88, 983 ¢ 15-12-33 Padagiri 3,000 ft. Elsewhere noted at: Maraiyir (3,500 ft.); Santhanpara (8,500 ft.); Peer- made (3,200 ft.); Kumili (8,000 ft.); Camp Deramalai (8,000 ft.); Tenmalai (500 ft.); Balamore Estate (2,000 ft.—Ashambu Hills); Kuavalle Incline (Cochin Forest Tramway). Colours of bare parts: Adult: Iris yellowish-brown; bill horny-black; mouth slaty-pink; legs, feet and claws blackish-brown. Juvenile (No. 465): Iris brown; bill horny-brown; mouth yellowish-pink; legs and feet pinkish- brown; claws horny-brown. | Measurements : Bill. Wing. Tail. 8 ad. dS 15-16 62-64 57-58 mm. bee) 16.5 62.5 61 mm. No. 473 is marked as a female with the organs undeveloped. By its glossy black back I should have unhesitatingly considered it an adult male, females and first winter males in other parts of India having a brown back as in No. 968. It is however remarkable that Legge states and in this he is followed by Wait, that in Ceylon the female—and so, therefore, I presume the first winter male—is black-backed like the male. If this is correct, it would certainly be grounds for the recognition of a separate race. Seven skins from Travancore in the British Museum are all black-backed and one of these is labelled 9. The adult bird undergoes a complete post-nuptial moult, but there is appar- ently no pre-nuptial moult. The juvenile (No. 465) is similar to the brown-backed female but the upper plumage is more a chocolate brown in colour, with some of the feathers lightly edged with white; median and greater coverts dingy white, with subterminal brown bars and other irregular markings; tertiaries edged with dingy white; lower plumage white washed with brown on the breast. and flanks. Tail feathers narrower and more pointed than in adult.—H. W.] The Pied Shrike is, as Ferguson suggests, common in Travancore and this description applies equally to its status in Cochin. The Surveys came across it only between 500 ft. and 38,500 ft. elevation, but it doubtless also occurs higher up. Its favourite haunts are thinned cardamom sholas, the fringe of evergreen jungle or more precisely the transition zone between evergreen and deciduous forest. I did not meet with it in open scrub and bush country either in Travancore or Cochin. The birds move about in pairs or family parties of 3 to 5. In habits they resemble both the Wood-Shrikes (Tephrodornis) and the flycatchers, the members following each other from tree to tree, searching among the foliage and sprigs for insects or capturing winged prey by launch- | ing graceful salles after it, turning and twisting in mid-air with great agility. The notes frequently uttered—whi-ri-ri, whi-ri-ri, whi-ri-ri-ri ete.— are very reminiscent of a cheap, squeaky cracker whistle ! In the Palni Hills, Fairbank records meeting a few; in Ceylon the species is widely distributed. Breeding: No. 465 (18 March) was a juvenile with very poorly ossified skull and undergoing post-juvenal body moult: the rectrices and remiges were unaffected. No. 464, an adult ¢ from the same family party and evidently parent of the foregoing, had a prominent incubation patch on the abdomen suggesting that both sexes partake in the brooding. The gonads of the specimens gave no indication as regards the breeding season, all being in normal undeveloped condition. THE ORNITHOLOGY OF TRAVANCORE AND COCHIN 809 Tephrodornis gularis sylvicola Jerdon. The Malabar Wood-Shrike. Specimens collected: 386-37 ¢ Q 9-1-33 Maraiytr 3,500 ft.; 127 ¢G 22-1-33 Santhanpara 3,500 ft.; 892 dG 21-11-33 Kuriarkitti 1,600 ft.; 982 ¢ 15-12-33, 996 Q 19-12-33 Padagiri 3,000-4,000 ft. Elsewhere noted at: Thattakad (200 ft.); Urambikera Reserve Forest near Mundakayam (ca. 1,000 ft.); Ktmili and Periyar Lake Environs (8,000 ft.); Camp Deramalai (3,000 ft.); Rajampara (1,350 ft.); Tenmalai (500 ft.); Bala- more Hstate (2,000 ft.—Ashambua Hills); Wadakkancheri (400 ft.). Colours of bare parts: Iris lemon- or greenish-yellow; bill horny-black; mouth greyish-pink (86 and 126), pale creamy yellow and pink (892, 982 and 996); legs and feet plumbeous; claws brown. In No. 87 iris khaki; bill pale horny-brown, paler at gape and chin; mouth greyish-pink; legs, feet and claws as in the others. [Other specimens examined : B. M. Coll.: Q 18-5-77 Painkadu, 4,000 ft., Lower Palnis (Fairbank). BN. He 8. Coll.: 9° 17-6-93 Palnis (J.. P. Cook). The Survey specimens measure: Bill. Wing. Tail. 4dad 25-26 112-117 79.5-83 mm. 299 26-27.5 114-114.5 81-86 mm. None of the specimens show any moult. No. 892 is a first year @ in the plumage of the 9 and judging by the size of the organs (5x3 mm.) was about to breed in this plumage.—H. W.] The Malabar Wood-Shrike is common in all evergreen forest tracts through- out the two States and was met with between 200 ft. and 4,000 ft. elevation. It goes about in parties of 5 to 8 birds among tall trees, taking short sailing flights or ‘hops’ from branch to branch after insects or launching aerial sallies and loops after them like Culicicapa, either returning to the same perch or moving from tree to tree. These antics, lithe and graceful, closely resemble those of the White-bellied Drongo and are pretty ‘to watch. Sometimes a bird will momentarily cling to the bark of a tree and pry into the crevices for a lurking insect, at others deftly swoop down and carry it off in its stride. The birds are commonly seen among the mixed assemblies in forest and as the parties move along through the trees the individuals (males only?) utter from time to time a musical witoo-witoo-witoo etc. repeated four to six times in quick succession. One bird was observed to capture a thick hairy cater- pillar about 2 in. long, which it battered repeatedly against a branch before swallowing. Fairbank (S.F., v, 400) apparently found this Wood-Shrike common in the Palni Hills at about 4,500 ft. on the western (humid) side. It does not oecur in Ceylon. Breeding: The testes of No. 892 (21 November) measured 5x3 mm. but none of the other specimens showed any gonadal development, neither was any other evidence as regards breeding obtained. According to the Fauna (i, oul) di Stewart in Travancore and A. P. Kinloch in the Pe eer ty Hills of Cochin took nests with eggs from March to June. Tephrodornis pondicerianus pondicerianus (Gmelin). The Indian Common Wood-Shrike. ; Specimens collected: 16 $6 imm. 5-1-3833 Maraiytr 3,500 ft.; 256 2 9-2-33 Thattakad 200 ft.; 445 ¢@ 16-38-33 Rajampara 1,350 ft.; 568 9 11-4-83 Cape Comorin (8.L.); 697 3S 20-7-33 (Thirtimalai 120 ft.), 704 ¢ 22-7-83 (Museum and Public Gardens ca. 100 ft.), 7382 ¢ 26-7-83. (Kuttani 300 ft.), 754 © 81-7-338 (Akkilam 150 ft.), 784 9 4-8-83 (Cattle Farm 150 ft.), 803 © 7-8-83 (Golf Links), 849 ¢ 18-8-33 (Nettayam 300 ft.) Trivandrum Town and Talika; 939 0? 4-12-33, 946 0? 6-12-33 Nemmara 300 ft.; 1018 ¢ 26-12-33 Karipa- danna ca. 8.L. Hlsewhere noted at: Kottayam (ca. $.L.); Aramboli (250 ft.); Wadakkan- cheri (400 ft.); Trichtr town. 6 310 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVIII Colours. of bare parts: Iris greenish-brown; bill horny-brown, darker at tips; mouth pink or ‘pale yellow, grey and pink’ (Pillai); legs and feet slaty- brown; claws brown. ; [Owing to moult I can only give measurements of part of the series: Bill. Wing. Tail. 36d 21-22 85.5-89.5 61-61.5 mim. 38 2 20-20.5 80-88 56-62.5 mm. Inspite of its small range of colours this species is very variable in tint and has yet hardly segregated into races. Birds from Burma, Calcutta, Dacca, Duars, etc., are very dark in colour and so are Travancore birds, whilst those from Sind, Jodhpur, Punjab, etc. are very pale. The latter have been separated as pallidus and if compared with these darker birds of the north-east or south- west pallidus appears a very good race. Unfortunately by the usual historical accident, the intermediates between the dark and light forms provide the typical race, and compared with it both pale and dark forms appear hardly separable. As pallidus is therefore separable with difficulty, there seems no object in providing the dark form also with a name. Travancore birds show some passage with T. p. affinis of Ceylon. They are, however, definitely closer to the typical form and should be kept with it. This species has a complete post-nuptial moult but no pre-nuptial moult. As the post-nuptial moult in Travancore appears to be very- regular, about July-August, the breeding season is no doubt well defined.—H. W.] Except in the case of Maraiytr (8,500 ft.), the Common Wood-Shrike was met with by the Surveys only in the lower country from the coast inward up to about 1,500 ft. elevation (usually under 500 ft.), where it is common and apparently a resident. It frequents light deciduous jungle or open scrub-and- bush country, being in this respect the opposite of the foregoing species which is largely coincident with evergreen forest. In localities where there is a mix- ture of the two forest types, both species were present but the predilection of each for its favourite facies was unmistakable. The mango, jack-fruit, cashew and cocoanut gardens which are such a feature of the homesteads along the backwaters, are also amongst its favourite haunts, and it freely frequents gardens and compounds within town limits. . ia “The birds usually move about in parties of 4 or 5 keeping to trees of moder- ate height, except in the breeding season when pairs is the rule. The males have a call of several pleasant whistling notes wheet-wheet followed by .a quick repeated interrogative whi-whi-whi-whi? besides which some low trills-are utter- ed in the breeding season. The common Wood-Shrike apparently does not occur on the Palni Hills, but as in Travancore and Cochin it may do so at low elevations about their base especially on the eastern (drier) side. In Ceylon it is represented by the endemic race T. p. affinis ‘from the level of the Plains up to 5,000 ft. and occasionally up to 6,000 ft.’ (Fauna, i, 318). Breeding: The ovary of No. 256 (9 February) was distinctly granular; the testes of 445 (16 March) measured 8X5 mm. and the birds were doubtless breed- ing at this time. On 18 April (Cape Comorin) a pair were observed building in the fork of a Babool tree in open Babool jungle at about 12 ft. from the ground. The birds were tame and did not mind being watched at close quart- ers. On 16 April (Aramboli) a nest with 1 ee egg was located in the fork of an Albizzia tree about 30 feet up. The egg disappeared on the 18th. The owners were observed chasing off from the proximity of their abode a ‘Tree- Pie which had its nest in the same compound about 15 yards away and which undoubtedly knew something about the matter! A couple of days later, a Wood- Shrike (presumably one of the outraged pair) was observed gathering cobwebs for_a nest in the same neighbourhood. From the above and from the fact that the specimens collected in July/ August. were all in post-nuptial moult, it is evident that the breeding season . in the Travancore-Cochin area commences about March. and may well go on till June as stated in the Fauna (ii, 318). THE ORNITHOLOGY OF TRAVANCORE AND COCHIN Bil Pericrocotus flammeus (Forster). The Orange Minivet. Specimens collected: 21-22 @9Q 6-1-33 Maraiyir 3,500 ft.; 166-167 ¢@ 26-1-33 Santhanpara 3,500 ft.; 329 G 22-2-383 Peermade 3,200 ft.; 410 9 6-38-33 Kamili 3,000 ft.; 497 g 26-83-33 Tenmalai 500 ft.; 925 3 30-11-33 Wadakkan- cheri 400 ft. Elsewhere noted at: Thattakad (200 ft.); Balamore Estate (2,000 ft.— aioe Hills); Kuriarkitti (1,600 ft.); Padagiri (8,000 ft.—Nelliampathy uls). ‘ Colours of bare parts: Iris brown; bill, legs, feet and claws black (‘brown- ish-slate’ in one!); mouth pink, yellowish-pink or ‘brown and greyish-pink'; soles of feet yellowish. [Additional specimens examined: B. M.-Coll.: ¢ ad, J-6-77,. ¢ imm. Shemiganur, Palnis 5,000-5,500 ft. (Fairbank). Sparrow Coll.: ad. 19-83-14, ¢ ad., ¢ imm. 25-3-14 Cardamum Hills. B..N. H. §. Coll.: Q 22-6-98 Palnis (J. P. Cook). Also several other Travancore birds in the British Museum. ‘Travancore specimens measure: Bill. Wing. Tail. Tarsus. 6 ad. dod 18-19 90-95 87-93 15.5-16.5 mm. 3 imm. dd 18.5-20 86-95 88.5-90 ey ailcmmranaal. 3 99 18 91-93 90-96.5 16 mm. The male in first winter plumage resembles the adult female, but some or occasionally all the yellow of the plumage is a bright orange-saffron tint, quite distinguishable, however, from the flame colour of the adult male plu- mage.—H. W.] As recorded for Travancore by F. W. Bourdillon and Ferguson (J.B.N.A.S., xv, 460) the Orange Minivet is common throughout the evergreen forest, tracts of the two States from about the low country (Thattakad 200 ft.!) up to at least 4,000 ft. in the hills. The birds move about in small flocks of from 8 to 7 or 8 individuals, keep- ing mostly to the leafy tops of tall trees where they search for insects among the sprigs or launch graceful flycatcher-like sallies after them into the. air. They are usually present amongst the localised bird associations or mixed itinerant hunting parties in secondary jungle. Their call notes (only males?) are similar to those of Hemipus but somewhat irregular and, with a little practice, readily distinguishable from the latter. Fairbank (S.F., v, 400) describes this Minivet as common in the Palni Hills at all elevations from the bottom to the summits. It occurs in Ceylon in both hills and plains, but birds from the island are possibly smaller. Breeding: Already as,early as 6 January the gonads appeared to have com- menced enlarging; in No. 21 the testes measured 4x3 mm. No. 22 on the same date—one of another pair—had some of the ovarian follicles about 1 mm. in diameter. The testes of 166 (26 January) measured 6x4 mm. and it was in immaculate plumage. No. 829 (22 February) also had equally well-deve- loped testes. In the rest of the specimens there was no gonadal development. On 12 February (Thattakad) a nest was located on the upper side of a thin horizontal branch at the fork near its extremity, of a Poon tree (Calo- phyllum wightianum) at a height of about 40 ft. from the ground. The tree stood by the roadside in fairly open deciduous forest on the fringe of ever- green. The 9Q was brooding. The nest was a shallow cup plastered on the outside with cobwebs and spiders’ egg-cases looking exactly lke a knot and harmonising perfectly with the lichen-covered bark of the supporting branch. From the behaviour of the birds at this time—males singing excitedly and chasing females through - the tree-tops—breeding appeared to be in progress generally, but the season in this area is possibly a protracted one. Jn the Palni Hills it is said to breed in July (Fauna, 11, 322). 312 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVIII Pericrocotus roseus roseus (Vieillot). The Rosy Minivet. Not met with by the Surveys, but Ferguson (J.B.N.H.8., xv, 460) though he never came across it himself, records that his collector obtained 2 specimens at an elevation of 2,500 ft. in South Travancore. Jerdon (Birds of India, i, 428) was informed by Lord Arthur Hay that he had seen this species abundantly in the hills dividing Tinnevelly from Travan- core and that collections from Travancore always included it. Inspite of this there seems no doubt that this Minivet must be rare in the Travancore-Cochin area. Pericrocotus peregrinus malabaricus (Gmelin). The Malabar Small Minivet. Specimens collected: 84-85 @ ¢ 18-1-33 Maraiyar 3,500 ft.; 253 ¢, 254 0? juv. 9-2-33 Thattakad 200 ft.; 298 @ 16-2-83 Urimbikera Forest 1,000 ft.; 443 ¢ 16-3-33 Rajampara 1,350 ft.; 716 G 24-7-8338 (Marithankizhi 50 ft.), 787 3 4-8-8838 (Cattle Farm 150 ft.), 809 @ 8-8-8838 (Muktnnimalai 800 ft.), 818 9 9-8-3833 (Nettayam 200 ft.) Trivandrum Taluk; 926 9 30-11-33, 927 1-12-83 Wadakkancheri 400 ft.; 959 2 imm. 9-12-88 Nemmara 300 ft.; 1027 9 27-12-8538 Karupadanna ca. 8.L. Hlsewhere noted at: Santhanpara (8,500 ft.); Kottayam (ca. 8.L.); Kamil and Periyar Lake Environs (3,000 ft.); Balamore Estate (2,000 ft.); Tenmalai (500° ft.). Absent at Cape Comorin ! Colours of bare parts: Iris brown; bill blackish-brown to brownish-black; mouth pale flesh to slaty-pink (in immature gape and mouth pale orange- brick colour); legs, feet and claws blackish-brown to brownish-black corres- ponding with bill. [ Measurements : Bill. Wing. Tail. 10 oo 12.5-14.5 69.5-74.5 66-74 mm. 499 13.5-14 71-76 67-70 mm. The only other Travancore specimens are 38 Anjengo birds in the British Museum.—H. W. | The Small Minivet of the wet Malabar zone, distinguished from other races by its deeper and richer colouration, is common and generally distri- buted in the low country throughout the two States and may also be found sparingly in the hills up to at least 3,500 ft. It frequents deciduous or the drier mixed forest, rubber plantations, fruit gardens about the backwater home- steads and the like, usually in small flocks of 4 or 5 birds which move along from tree to tree searching the foliage for insects and uttering a feeble swee- swee etc. Tn Ceylon it is replaced by P. p. ceylonensis, a less richly coloured bird.. Breeding: The testes of No. 253 (9 February) had enlarged to 5x3 mm.; it was undergoing complete (pre-nuptial ?) moult in readiness to breed. On 19 February a pair was observed in courtship which consisted largely of the male chasing the female around, uttering a feeble but excited swee-swee in a manner similar to that of P. flammeus. No. 959 (9 December) was immature with imperfectly ossified skull and in post-juvenal body moult. No. 1027 (27 December) was in freshly moulted immaculate plumage with ovarian follicles distinctly granular and apparently developing. The specimens obtained in July and August were certainly either breeding or about to. Their gonads were as follows: 716 (24 July) testes 7x4 mm.; 787 (4 August) testes 6X4.mm.; 809 (8 August) testes 8x4 mm.; 818 (9 August) largest ovarian follicle 4 mm. in diameter. All were undergoing pre-nuptial’ moult except 809 which had lately completed it. The birds, moreover, were in pairs at this time. _' In this Mr. Whistler hesitates to agree as he considers that most of the Ininivets apparently have no pre-nuptial moult. He points out that it is parallel to the case of P. p. pallidus of which form he has examined 4 speci- mens in full moult at the time when they actually had eggs in the nest. He is inclined to suggest that a second brood was brought about when the birds were moulting after the first brood, but the point requires further study. | THE ORNITHOLOGY OF TRAVANCORE AND COCHIN 313 The evidence is somewhat confusing, but clearly indicates that breeding commences in February or earlier and that the season is either much pro- tracted or that there is also a second period later on in the year—July to September or thereabouts. [Pericrocotus erythropygius (Jerdon). The White-bellied Minivet. Not met with by the Surveys, neither recorded by Ferguson. in Travancore, Kinloch in the Nelliampathies nor by Fairbank or Terry in the Palni Hills. In the Fauna (ii, 383) and \Nidification (ii, 300); however, Mr. J. Stewart is credited with the taking of its eggs in Travancore. I do not know if the record is supported by skins, but if not I feel tempted to doubt its correct- ness especially since—like many of his other eggs—these were possibly collected for Mr. Stewart by the Mala Pandaram hillmen. | Lalage sykesi Strickland. The Black-headed Cuckoo Shrike. Specimens collected: 23 ¢ 6-1-33 Maraiyir 3,500 ft.; 457 ¢ 17-3-33 Rajam- para 1,350 ft.; 544 9 9-4-3833, 561 ¢ 11-4-33 Cape Comorin (ca. §.L.); 7381 @ 26-7-33 (Kuttani 300 ft.), 810 9 imm. 8-8-33 (Mikunni Malai 800 ft.), 820 9 9-8-33 (Nettayam 3800 ft.) Trivandrum Taltik; 909 9 27-11-38, 922 ¢ 29-11-33 Wadakkancheri 400 ft. Elsewhere noted at: Thattakad (200 ft.); Kottayam (S.l.); Aramboli (250 ft.); Nemmara (800 ft.); Kartipadanna (S.L.). Colours of bare parts: Iris brown; bill horny-brown, paler (yellowish) at base of lower mandible; mouth pink; legs and feet slaty-brown or slaty-black; claws horny-brown. [Tris of immature (No. 810) ‘blue-grey’ (Pillai). ] j Additional specimen examined: B. M. Coll.: 3 25-2-80 Quilon (Bourdillon). The Survey specimens measure : Bill. Wing. Tail, eo ad. o-oo 18.5-20.5 102-109 80-83.5 mm. 2imm. do 18-19.5 100-101.5 — mm. Qad. 99 18.5-19 100-104 76 mm. 2imm. 9 9 18-19.5 98.5-108 77.5-83 mm. This species has no races but there is a certain amount of individual vari- ation in the adult males in which the abdomen may be dark grey, largely white, or dark grey faintly barred. The young male in first winter plumage resembles the adult female.—H. W.] The Black-headed Cuckoo Shrike is primarily an inhabitant of the low country in Travancore and Cochin. Maraiyir (8,500 ft.) is the highest ele- vation at which I came across it, but it was uncommon there. Col. Sparrow met it in the Cardamom Hills in March, at what elevation it is not stated. Below about 1,000 ft. it is common and frequents light deciduous or mixed forest, fruit gardens about the backwater homesteads and such localities, often in association with the mixed hunting parties of Tree Pies, Babblers, Wood- Shrikes, Grey Tits, Woodpeckers and other birds. It is mainly insectivorous, of course, but at Wadakkancheri (Cochin) I observed it feeding largely on ripe Lantana berries. We have no information concerning its seasonal movements in this area, if any, but to all appearances it is a resident species. In view of what is said in the Fauna (11, 341) about its call, it seems worthwhile to point out that it has a pretty ‘song’ consisting of several clear whistling notes, ending in a quick-repeated pit-pit-pit. This, in my _ version, is certainly not ‘the mere repetition of one plaintive note’. Fairbank procured a $ at Periur in the Palnis but we do not know any- thing about its numbers or status in those hills. It is apparently a resident ’ in Ceylon and fairly generally distributed, occurring up to 4,000 ft. Breeding: No indication is afforded by the specimens except that No. 810 (8 August) was immature with imperfectly ossified skull and in post-juvenal body moult. According to Nidification (ii, 306) the breeding season in Travan- core is April and May. 314 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVIII Graucalus javensis macei (Lesson). The Large Indian Cuckoo-Shrike. Specimens collected: 15 ¢ 5-1-383 Maraiyar 3,500 ft.; 449 9 16-3-33 Rajam- para 1,350 ft.; 718 g 24-7-33 (Pangode 80 ft.), 774 Q 2-8-33, 804 ¢, 805 @ juv., 806 Q juv. 7-8-3838 (Golf Links) Trivandrum Environs; 1080 ¢ 28-12-33 Karupadanna (ca. 8.L.). Elsewhere noted at: Thattakad (200 ft.); Kiamili and Periyar Lake Environs (3,000 ft.); Chalakidi; Wadakkancheri (400 ft.); Padagiri (8,000 ft.—Nelliam- pathies). Colours of bare parts: Adult: Iris reddish- or orange-brown; bill, legs, feet and claws brownish- or slaty-black; mouth pink. Juvenile: ‘Iris deep brown; bill slaty, lower mandible paler towards the base; legs ant feet bluish- slate; claws slate; mouth bright reddish-yellow’ (Pillai). [Travancore specimens measure: Bil. Wing. Taal: Tarsus. Uevek ei 28-29 153-165 111-119 24-25 mm. 4909 27-29.5 156-161 108.5-119 23.5-24 mm. The sequence of plumages has already been detailed in the J.B.N.H.S., xxxvi, 846, so I need only add that adults were undergoing the complete post- huptial moult in July-August.—H. W.] The Large Cuckoo-Shrike is a resident in the Travancore-Cochin area, fairly common in the low country up to about 1,000 ft. and somewhat less so upwards to 38,500 ft. which is the highest elevation it was met at. It frequents light deciduous jungle as well as mixed forest on the fringe of ever- green, but seems fondest of rubber plantations and the type of country that obtains around the backwater homesteads. It is usually seen in pairs but also occasionally in small parties of 3 or 4, flying in irregular follow-my-leader fashion above the tree-tops and uttering its distinctive shrill Tee-eee calls from time to time. One of the specimens had captured a large green Mantis. It appears to be rare in the Palni Hills. Fairbank (S.F., v, 400) met one at Periur and Terry (S.F., x, 472) came across it in the Pittur Valley. In Ceylon it is represented by the much smaller race G. 7. layardi. _ Breeding: On 7 August (Golf Links, Trivandrum) Pillai found a nest con- taining 2 fledged young (805 9, 806 9) ready to leave in 3 or 4 days. The nest was situated in a fork of twigs in a Nim (Azadirachta indica) tree at about 25 ft. It is described as ‘a neat saucer 4 in. in diameter made of the leaf-stalks of some leguminous tree, fastened together with cobwebs to which were adhering lichens and particles of dry leaves. The bottom of the saucer was strewn with a sort of whitish powdery substance like scales of feather shafts.’ The gonads of all the specimens were in a quiescent state including those of the parent of the chicks (804). Faminy: ARTAMIDAR. Artamus fuscus Vieillot. The Ashy Swallow-Shrike. Specimens collected: 46-47 $d 9-1-3383 Maraiyir 3,500 ft.; 517. ¢ 5-4-33 (Velayani Lake), 681 9 16-7-83, 712-713 94 23-7-33 (Beach), 750. -& 80-7-33 (Veli), 788-789 99 5-8-33 (Nettayam), 840-841 ¢¢ (Beach) Trivandrum Town and Environs; 941 unsexed (in alcohol) 5-12-88, 954 unsexed (in alcohol), 955 Q 8-12-33 Nemmara 300 ft. Elsewhere noted at: Kottayam (ca. §.L.); Kimili and Periyar Lake En- virons (8,000 ft.); Cape Comorin; Aramboli (250 ft.); Wadakkancheri (400 ft.); Kariipadanna (ca. 8.B.). Colours of bare parts: Tris dark brown; bill bluish-grey, black at Lape of both mandibles; mouth slate; legs and feet slate; claws black. [ Measurements: Bill. Wing. Tail. 38d 225-23 132-133 52.5 mm. Cee 21-21.5 130.5-186.5 55-57 mm. THE. ORNITHOLOGY OF TRAVANCORE AND COCHIN 315 Moult prevents all the specimens being measured. Adults undergo a complete moult in July and August.—H. W.] The Ashy Swallow-Shrike is not uncommon in the low country of Travan- core and Cochin, and was also met with sporadically up to 3,000 or 4,000 ft. in the hills. Its favourite biotope, however, is the country along the back- waters, particularly the facies in which Borassus and Cocoanut palms pre- dominate. They are usually met gregariously perched on palm trees, telegraph wires and the like whence they fly out from time to time after winged insects, and circle back to their perch. The flight is very swallow-like and consists of several rapid wing beats followed by a graceful effortless sailing. On a hill at Maraiyir a congregation of over 30 of these birds was observed all about one particular patch—a glade in mixed bamboo forest. This spot, barely 15 yards square, was discovered to be swarming and alive with thousands upon thousands of the butterfly Danais melisa dravidarum. They rested on portions of the foliage of trees in immense clusters that looked exactly like bunches of scorched and withering leaves. Curiously enough, the swarm was confined to this isolated spot and beyond it the species was almost absent. Hundreds of them were preyed upon by spiders—including prominently a Nephila —which had spread their webs all over the glade. Whenever the branches were shaken and the shoals of butterflies took wing, the birds descended upon them and wrought destruction. They never took the insects sitting but only hawked them on the wing. Swallow Shrikes were the only bird species interested in these butterflies. Usually when a butterfly is captured in the bill the bird flies back with it to its perch where the wings are pulled off and dropped to the ground before the insect is swallowed, but occasionally this formality is dispensed with and the prey swallowed entire. Frequently the insect is forth- with transferred to the feet, pulled to pieces with the bill and swallowed in mid-air. TI also observed that when a swarm of butterflies is on the wing and ‘business is brisk’, one is caught and promptly transferred to the feet in order that the bill may be free to tackle the second. The bird then flies back to its perch with, both its victims and deals with them at its ease. On the Periyar Lake Swallow Shrikes posted themselves on the dead, partially submerged tree-trunks whence they hawked insects over the surface of the water and also fed largely on butterflies that ventured across from one bank of the lake to .the other. Their food seems to consist of butterflies to a very large extent. - In the Palni Hills Fairbank (8.F., v, 401) obtained this species in thin jungle at 4,500 ft. elevation. It also oecurs in Ceylon. Breeding: The gonads of all the specimens were in normal non-breeding condition, but breeding was obviously in progress in March. On the 4th of that month (Periyar Lake) a pair were observed in copula on a partially sub- merged tree-stump. The female spread out her wings slightly, gave her body a horizontal stance and ‘shivered’ in invitation for a second or two. The male flew directly on to her back from a neighbouring perch and balancing himself with his wings completed the act. On 5 April (Trivandrum) a full-fledged young was observed being tended by its parents who beat off a crow encroaching on the neighbourhood. Pillai’s specimen No. 840 (12 August) was evidently not yet fully mature. Its skull was imperfectly ossified. but it was in fresh post-juvenal plumage. According to the Fauna (ii, 349) the Swallow Shrike breeds throughout its wide range during April, May and June, and Nidification does not add anything specific for Travancore or Cochin. = FaMIny: DICRURIDAR. Dicrurus macrocercus peninsularis Ticehurst. The Black Drongo. Specimens collected: 298 ¢ 17-2-83 Kottayam (ca. 8.T.); 579 2, 580 a juv., 581 Q juv. 12-4-33 Cape Comorin (ca. $.1.); 676 9 16-7-33 (Beach) 709 S$ 22-7-33 (Public Gardens), 715 ¢ 28-7-83, 734 $ 27-7-33) (Beach), 817 ° 9-8-3838, 847 J 13-8-33 (Nettayam 200 ft.) Trivandrum Town and Environs. Elsewhere noted at: WVadaserikara (near Rajampara); Aramboli (250 ft.); Nagercoil; all along railway line from Shoranir to Ernakilam:; Wadakkancheri 316 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVIII (400 ft.); Nemmara (800 ft.); Trichtr Town and Environs; Karipadanna; Erna- kilam. . Colours of bare parts: Adult: Iris reddish-brown; bill, legs, feet and claws black; mouth slaty-brown and pink. Juvenile: Iris brown; bill slaty-black; gape cream colour; mouth bright yellow and pink; legs and feet slate; claws horny. [Additional specimens examined: Trivandrum Museum Coll.: ¢ first year 15-9-98, Q ad. 27-1-81 Trivan- drum. E Measurements : Bill. Wing. Central Tail. Outer Tail. Aad. SG 23.5-26.5 137-147 90-93 134-168 mm. 2 first year 3S — 134-1438 98-109.5 181-150 mm. » 4ad. 9Q 23-26.5 135.5-144 93-98 ~ 147-156.5 mm. Both Indian races of Dicrurus macrocercus, namely albirictus (Northern India) and peninsularis (Southern India) go through the same plumage stages as follows: The juvenile differs from the adult in having (1) body plumage softer and browner with very little metallic gloss and that confined to the upper plumage, (2) wings and tail shorter and duller with less gloss, (3) underwing coverts edged with white; the outer edge of the secon- daries may also be narrowly edged with white. The -post-juvenal moult does not include (1) primaries, secondaries and tertiaries; primary, greater and sometimes a few. median coverts; underwing coverts, : (2) tail. a The: first winter and summer plumage is distinguished from adult plumage by (1) the long upper. tail coverts are usually edged with white, (2) the lower plumage is less glossy, the feathers from the lower breast to the under tail coverts being fringed with white to a variable extent; these gradually wear down and in summer are less noticeable, (3) the duller more faded appearance of the unmoulted parts of the juvenile plumage, and. of course the white on the under wing coverts. | This plumage is kept until the autumn when the first complete moult gives fully adult plumage in the second winter. | Adults have a complete post-nuptial moult. They have the under tail coverts occasionally edged with white, but never so the upper tail coverts or the under wing coverts. Travancore adults are undergoing their post-nuptial moult in July and August. For a full revision of Indian members of this species see ‘'Ticehurst, J.B.N.H.8., xxxvi, 927-9.—H. W.] The Black Drongo is one of the most familiar birds in the low: country of Travancore-Cochin being invariably present—perched on fence posts, telegraph wires and the like—in the neighbourhood of cultivation. It also frequents gardens and compounds in towns and villages and is verv partial to the fruit gardens surrounding homesteads along the backwaters, and to the dyked paddy cultivation in this locality. It was not met with anywhere except in open country—often in association with the localised hunting parties of mixed bird ‘ species—and nowhere above about 500 ft. elevation. One was observed capturing on the wing a cream-coloured butterfly (species ?). Tt does not ascend the Palni Hills. In Ceylon it is replaced by the smaller race D. m. minor which is endemic to the island. Breeding: By the middle of February (once also on 10 November—Chala- ktidi!) the harsh scolding ‘duets’ or ‘trios’ so significant of the breeding season, were in general evidence. No. 298 (17 February) had testes enlarged to 10x5 mm. and was breeding. Nos. 580 and 581 (12 April) were juvenile ready to leave the nest in a day or so. The nest itself was situated at the base of a Palmyra leaf-stalk about 20 ft. up, and these two comprised the full brood, THE ORNITHOLOGY OF TRAVANCORE AND COCHIN 317 In 579, the mother of the chicks, the ovary was as yet in a conspicuously granular condition and the incubation patch was prominent. According to T. F. Bourdillon ‘eggs may be obtained in any quantities in the low country in June and July’ [in Travancore]. He also took eggs in March (Nidification, ii, 321). Dicrurus longicaudatus longicaudatus (Jerdon). The Indian Grey Drongo. Specimens collected: 14 Q 5-1-88, 64 Q 11-1-83 Maraiyar 3,500 ft.; 267 ¢, 268 Jf 11-2-33 Thattakad 200 ft.; 882 9 18-11-33 Kuriarkatti 1,600: ft.; 977 9° Padagiri 3,000 ft. . Elsewhere noted at: Peermade (8,200 ft.); Kumili and Periyar Lake En- virons (3,000 ft.); Camp Deramalai (3,000 ft.); Nemmara (800 ft.); Wadak- kancheri (400 ft.). Colours of bare parts: Iris scarlet or brownish-crimson; mouth greyish flesh eolour; bill, legs, feet and claws horny-black. [Other specimens examined : Brit. Mus. Coll.: Q imm. 11-11-74, -Q ad. 2-12-78, 9 ad. 7-12-74, @ ad. 7-11-78, G ad. 27-11-78 Mynall, Travancore (Bourdillon). Trivandrum Mus. Coll.: CG 26-12-93 Chimungi; 0? -2-99 Ralode- [?]. The Survey specimens measure: Bill: Wing. Central Tail. Outer Tail. Qad. dd 95-25.5 1385.5-138.5 89-94.5 149-151.5 mm. 2ad. 9 92 95-27 131-138 89.5-92.5 148-148.5 mm. 29° (first winter) 95-26.5 127-127 .5 88-89 135-187.5 -mm. In this species the juvenile plumage differs from that of the adult in two important particulars. The body plumage is softer and a browner black, lack- ing practically all gloss. The wings and tail are as in the adult except for being considerably shorter. The post-juvenal moult does not include the pri- maries and primary coverts, the secondaries and greater coverts, the tertiaries or tail. These are retained to the following autumn so that first summer and first winter birds differ from adults in their more worn and faded and also shorter wings and tail. They also appear to be slightly paler and less glossy on the abdomen, slight white fringes being more noticeable, especially on the under tail coverts. It is important therefore to remember that in this species the measurements of first year and adult birds must be kept separate if com- parison is to be made between the races. This fact has been emphasised by Tiechurst in connection with Burmese birds. Adults have a complete post-nuptial moult about July-August-September. There is no definite spring moult though odd body feathers are changed. In Novitates Zoologicae, xxv (1918), p. 296, Mr. Stuart Baker named birds from Ceylon as Dicrurus leucophaeus minimus on their smaller size. He remark- ed that ‘it appears to be also rather a darker bird than those from Southern India, but the difference is so slight as to be negligible’. The Ceylon bird is, however, a non-breeding’ migrant, a winter visitor, and jin the Fauna, vol. ii, p. 364, Mr. Stuart Baker got over this difficulty by fixing the breeding area of minimus in the extreme south of Travancore, though in Nidification, vol. u, p. 329, his assurance on this point has weakened. JI have seen no evidence that this Drongo is anything but a winter visitor to Travancore, and ~D. leucophaeus minimus appears to me to be based on first year birds of D. longicaudatus.—H. W. In the hills and wooded areas of the two States, the Black Drongo of the low open country is replaced by this species though T have records only between 13 November and 9 March. It keeps to forest—deciduous, mixed or evergreen— and is especially fond of cardamom sholas and coffee plantations with their shade trees. At Nemmara and Wadakkancheri in Cochin, where both the Black and Grey Drongos were found, the former was observed to be restricted to flat open cultivated country while the latter kept to the wooded hills. I cannot confirm Ferguson’s statement (J.B.N.H.S., xv, 455) that it is common in the low country of Travancore. The Grey Drongo is a habitual attendant on the flowers of Erythrina lithos- perma shade trees and feeds largely on their nectar. Over 10 drops of the 318 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVIII fluid dripped from the bill of a specimen when held up by its legs. All speci- mens shot off these flowers, moreover, had pollen adhering to their forehead and chin, and there is no doubt that this Species is instrumental in their cross- pollination. No. 64 had the outermost pair of tail feathers snow-white ! Breeding: There seems to be great uncertainty as regards the status of this Drongo in our area where it is apparently a winter visitor only. No records of its breeding here exist, and the gonads of the Survey specimens, all in a quiescent state, furnish no clue in this regard. Dicrurus coerulescens coerulescens (Linn.). The White-bellied Drongo. Specimens collected: 4 ¢§ 4-1-38, 73 ¢ 192-1-33 Maraiytr 3,500 ft. Elsewhere noted as absent, but a juvenile dated 27-8-93 from ‘Kuranmulti, Travancore’ [?] by J. P. Cook is in the B.N.H.S. Collection. Colours of bare parts: Tris reddish-brown; bill horny-black; mouth greyish- pink; legs, feet and claws blackish-brown. [There are no Travancore specimens in the British Museum. TI think it is by no means certain that leucopygialis of Ceylon is a race of this species.— H. W.] At Maraiyur—the only locality in the Travancore-Cochin area where this Drongo was met—it was noted as a very common and noisy species, inhabiting mixed bamboo forest especially in the neighbourhood of shady paths and clear- ings. It was often seen in association with the Bronzed Drongo and is an excellent mimic. Breeding: The testes of the specimens were in normal non-breeding condi- tion. Nidification (ii, 331) records that Stewart took its nests in Travancore at about 1,000 ft. and 8,000 ft. elevation. The dates are not mentioned. Chaptia aenea malayensis Blyth. The Southern Bronzed Drongo. Specimens collected: 38 9 4-1-83 Maraiytr 3,500 ft.; 282 ¢ 7-2-38, 263 3 10-2-33 Thattakad 200 ft.; 739 Q 29-7-33 (Kittani 300 ft.), 797 9 6-8-33, 8384 ¢ 4-8-33 (Pulayanar Kotta 200 ft.) Trivandrum Talik. Elsewhere noted at: Santhanpara (8,500 ft.); Urambikera Forest, near Mindakayam (1,000 ft.); Kottayam (ca. S.L.); Kamili and Periyar Lake En- virons (3,000 ft.); Camp Deramalai (3,000 ft.); Rajampara (1,350 ft.); Chala- kudi; Kiriarkitti (1,600 ft.); Wadakkancheri (400 ft.); Padagiri (8,000 ft.— Nelliampathies). Colours of bare parts: Iris reddish-brown to crimson; bill, legs, feet and claws black; mouth greyish-pink or slaty-pink. [Other specimens examined: B. M. Coll.: & 17-6-77 Tandigudi 4,000 ft., Lower Palnis (Fairbank) ; @ -10-78, 9 23-9-74 Mynall, Travancore (Bourdillon). The presence or absence of white spots on the outer wing coverts appear to me to be a question of individual variation rather than of age.—H. W.] The Bronzed Drongo is an ubiquitous species in well-wooded tracts through- out the area, both in the low country and in the hills up to least 3,500 ft. and perhaps higher. Mixed bamboo forest rather than dense evergreen jungle, rubber planta- tions, cardamom sholas and the groves of mango, cashew and jack fruit, etc., by the backwater homesteads are some of its favourite haunts. They are noisy birds having a large repertoire of loud musical calls and are accom- plished mimics besides. They are usually seen singly or in widely separated pairs alongside forest roads, firelines, etc. and often as members of the localised. bird associations in forest. In the Palnis, Fairbank (S.F., v, 401) considered it one of the commonest birds at the base of the hills and up to 5,000 ft. elevation. It does not extend to Ceylon. . Breeding: Nesting was in progress during February. No. 232 (7 Febru- ary) had the testes enlarged to 8x4 mm.; 263 (10 February) to 7x4 mm, THE ORNITHOLOGY OF TRAVANCORE AND COCHIN 319 On 11 February (Thattakad) a nest was observed in the process of con- struction in a young teak plantation. It was a neat round cup of bast fibres, cemented on the outside with cobwebs, wedged in the horizontal fork of a thin bare branch of a teak sapling at about 14 ft. from the ground. One of the owners—apparently male, as calling—was observed turning round and round within to give it shape. No eggs had as yet been laid. The nest was very inconspicuous amongst its surroundings of bare branches and withering leaves, but there seemed to be no deliberate attempt at concealment. The July specimens were undergoing complete post-nuptial moult. Chibia hottentotta (L.). The Indian Hair-Crested Drongo. No specimens obtained, neither does Ferguson appear to have come across this species in Travancore. I observed a pair—the only examples in Travan- core or Cochin—at Thattakad and have not the slightest doubt as regards their identity since they were watched for a considerable time through field glasses on three consecutive days. The birds were excessively shy, however, and I could never get within gun-shot of them. They kept to a patch of Hrythrina lithosperma trees with heavy thorny and tangled undergrowth, and fed largely on the nectar of these blossoms, frequently attacking and diving off other birds feeding on adjoining branches. As no specimens from Travancore apparently exist, it would be interesting to learn on what grounds Mr. Baker has fixed the type locality of his race hottentotta as Travancore (Fauna, vii, 164). See also J.B.N.H.S., xxxvi, 352. Breeding: According to Bourdillon (Nidification, 11, 321) this drongo breeds in Travancore from the end of February to June. He himself is said to have taken nests fom 15 March to 26 April. [Dissemurulus lophorinus (Vieillot). The Ceylon Black Drongo. The Fauna (11, 3873-4) implies that this Drongo is a common bird in Travan- core, but since neither Bourdillon, Ferguson nor myself ever came across it there or in Cochin it is difficult to accept the implication until skins can be produced in support. Since the whole claim for its occurrence and breeding in Travancore rests on the possibly vicarious authority of Mr. J. Stewart who, as we know, often had his eggs collected for him and brought in by local hillmen, the doubtfulness of the records becomes all the more heightened. Nidification (ii, 339) says that in Travancore ‘it has been found breeding freely in great numbers by J. Stewart’. All his eggs are said to have been taken between 13 March and 30 April. ] Dissemurus paradiseus malabaricus (Latham). The Malabar Large Racket- tailed Drongo. Specimens collected: 122 J 22-1-33, 1385 ¢ 23-1-33 Santhanpara 3,500 ft.; 488 ¢ 24-3-33 Tenmalai 500 ft. Elsewhere noted at: Maraiyair (8,500 ft.); Thattakad (200 ft.); Urambi- kera Forest near Mundakayam (1,000 ft.); Kamili and Periyar Lake En- virons (3,000 ft.); Camp Deramalai (38,000-4,000 ft.); Rajampara (1,350 ft.); Balamore Estate (2,000 ft.—Ashambii Hills); Kiariarkitti and Parambikolam ee ft.); Wadakkancheri (400 ft.); PAadagiri (3,000 ft.—Nelliampathy ills). Colours of bare parts: Tris brown to reddish-brown; bill, legs, feet and claws black; mouth slaty-pink (in 135 yellowish-flesh colour) [Additional material seen: Brit. Mus. Coll.: -10-70, § 11-1-76 Mynall, Travancore (Bourdillon). I do not give measurements as there is some variation in them and T am not yet able to interpret the ages of this species satisfactorily, and shall not be able to do so until I can examine more autumn birds of which the sexine and age determination by skull are satisfactory, so that one is certain one is handling young birds. _ There appears to be some instability in the variation of the tail in the Juvenile, some apparently having a juvenile tail, others having it similar to the adult. Also I think the races may differ inter se in these details. When all these points are worked out one must settle the races.—H. W.] 3820 JOURNAL, BOMBAY .NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVIIL The Racket-tailed Drongo is associated with the well-wooded tracts of the States, chiefly mixed bamboo forest or where there is a mingling of the deci- duous and evergreen types. It was met with in suitable low country as at Wadakkancheri and Thattakad and through the foothills up to an elevation of at least 4,000 ft., almost invariably as a member of the localised hunting parties which usually include the Southern Tree Pie and various Flycatchers and Phylloscopi. It is a noisy bird and has a large variety of loud metallic musical notes of its own besides being a very good mimic of other species. It is common in the Palni Hills. In Ceylon, according to G. M. Henry (Ceylon Jour. of Sci., Sec. B, Zool. and Geol., xviii, pt. 22 December 1933, p. 146) it is represented in the dry zone by the smaller race D. p. ceylonensis while in the wet zone Dissemurulus lophorinus completely replaces it. Breeding: According to Ferguson (J.B.N.H.S., xv, 455) it breeds in Travancore during April and May. From their behaviour I have no doubt that the birds were breeding in March and a specimen shot on the 24th of that month (No. 488) had its testes enlarged to 18x8.5 mm. The earliest eggs recorded are on 18 February (Stewart), the latest 10 May (Bourdillon). Three eggs usually comprise a full clutch; rarely four (Nidi- fication, ii, 349). (To be continued). FEEDING OF COBRAS IN CAPTIVITY. BY Dr. 8. G. TScHERBAKOFF. | - (From the Haffkine Institute, Bombay). As regards the feeding habits of cobras in captivity, there appears to be some difference of opimion among observers. Tor example, Wall, in his ‘Popular Treatise on the common Indian Snakes’, mentions that the cobra feeds principally on rats, frogs, toads, and less frequently on birds, and. that it seems to show no special preference for any of these creatures under natural condi- tions. In captivity, however, many specimens feed eagerly and thrive well. Nicholson, on the other hand, in his book on Indian Snakes maintains that he has never seen cobras in captivity feed, and unless fed forcibly they would starve themselves to death. An opportunity offered itself during this year, at the Haffkine Institute, to study the feeding habits of cobras in captivity. An attempt has been made in this paper to record the facts observed during the course of some experiments, carried out to find the best method of feeding cobras. CoBRAS IN CAPTIVITY AT THE HAFFKINE INSTITUTE. Cobras are received at the Institute from far off places and are despatched in specially designed wooden boxes. As soon as the snakes arrive, they are removed from these boxes and are kept separately, each in a japanned tin box. The tin boxes in use are Two types of cages for keeping live Snakes. of two types. Type A measures 52 x 26x30 cm.; one of its sides measures 24 x 28 cm. and is of wire gauze (10 meshes to 2.5 em.) and nearly half of the top of the box forms a lid which opens and shuts by hinges. Type B measures 45 x 86x23 cm.; in this type the two opposite sides of the box are of wire gauze, one measuring 822 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXVItt 43x21 cm. and the other 43x15 cm. (See photograph of types A and B.) At the time when these experiments were commenced, nearly one half of the snakes were kept in a well ventilated room on the top floor of the Institute, where plenty of air and light could be had. The rest were kept in the animal house in a small room which had no special arrangements for proper ventilation except that the two doorways of the room faced each other. The experi- ments were carried out during the monsoon months namely from 10th June to 15th October 1934, when the average lowest minimum temperature was about 74° F. and the total rainfall about 70”. On the Ist of June 1934 there were in all 319 cobras (Naia tripudians), and these were obtained from the following places :— Madras seu 200 Narasingpore soe Mysore ‘oe 1D Raibanore Haney Wardha sire 5 Gwalior eee aie From June to September 1934, 131 cobras died in captivity, the mortality among these being distributed as follows:— June 1934 nee see 58 July 5 a ty 29 August: ,, ‘ns Sie 22 Sept. 9 a Ze The records of the Colaba observatory for the corresponding dates are as follows:— Highest maximum | Lowest minimum Total rainfall Month temperature during’| temperature during during the the month the month month June 1934... 93°59 TRTOR WOES) 229:06% a July Rees 88°8 fifi Sie 22°74 eANUSUSE. yy nee. 86°6 73°9 12°14 Sept. pons 89°0 73°5 a 5°83 69577 The mortality among the cobras kept in the well ventilated room and in the animal house was as follows :— ERE Total | Percentage died Mortality No. of Cobras Where housed on Ist July 1934 |‘July | Aug. Sept. Upstairs iS 113 9° |. =42 8 29 25°7 Animal House. 148 20 10 14 44 30°0 EXPERIMENTS ON THE FEEDING OF COBRAS. ‘The methods employed for the feeding of cobras in these experi- ments were so devised as to obtain comparative results. Kxperiment I. One hundred cobras were fed with live. rats. The rats selected for this purpose were the Bombay Rattus rattus, which are sent to the Institute daily by the Municipality of Bom- aA FEEDING OF COBRAS IN CAPTIVITY 323 bay for the detection of plague. These rats were kept under observation for several days to ensure that they were free from any natural infection. The rats selected weighed from 380 to 70 grams; and according to the size of the cobra the weight of the rat used varied. A live rat was dropped into the cage of each cobra. After 24 hours it was noticed that only 27 cobras had swallowed the rats. Fifty-five rats were killed but not eaten, and these were removed from the cages as they began to decompose. Highteeen rats were found alive although they had been with the cobras for 24 hours; and some of these were removed from the cages. It was also noticed that the rats which were left alive in the cages for longer periods continued to live for a period of five days: during this period, driven by hunger, they started to nibble at the cobras, and therefore they had to be removed. During the course of this experiment it was noticed that when a cobra struck at a live rat, the rat died within one and a half to three minutes. In no case did the survival period exceed four minutes. When the cobra saw its prey dead, it commenced to swallow it by working its teeth and lower jaw until the prey was gradually forced in, and in about three minutes the entire rat disappeared from view. During the process of swallowing the epi- glottis was often projected forwards to take in air and thus prevent suffocation. . Also during the process of swallowing the whole body of the cobra remained stationary; but immediately: the prey dis- appeared down its throat, the cobra began to make a somewhat circular movement and within a very short time (about three minutes) the prey reached its destination, namely the region of the stomach. This circular movement was repeated over and over again at intervals of a few minutes. After about half an hour the cobra retired to a corner of the cage and remained coiled up. It was observed that before retiring to the corner the cobra made peculiar movements suggesting that it was searching for something. It was thought that this might be a drink of water. So a plate full of water was introduced into the cage. The cobra drank very freely and since then the practice of giving water to the cobras after each feed has been continued. In these experiments it was noticed that it took on the average five days for a cobra to digest a live rat. Experiment II. One hundred cobras were fed on dead rats. These rats were killed by drowning in a pail of water and were im- mediately placed in the cages. Only 28 cobras swallowed the rats. Hxperiment III. One hendted cobras were given about 80 grams each of minced beef bought fresh. In only 18 cases did. this method of feeding prove successful, Experiment IV, Next a whole hen’s egg was placed in each of 25 cages. The snakes did not seem to take notice of the eggs and all the eggs remained entire even after five days. Experiment V. One hundred cobras were fed as follows :—Rats were killed by drowning and were cut in two longitudinally and all the internal orgaus removed. From 380 to 50 grams of this cut- up meat were placed in each of the hundred cages. Thirty-seven cobras fed successfully by this method. 3 324. JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXViii It was also noticed that when a cobra failed to swallow the cut-up meat within three hours of its being offered, it very rarely ate; and only in a very few cases was this meat eaten up to within six hours. In all these experiments the food left uneaten was re- moved after 24 hours of its introduction into the cages. It was observed that a cobra took three days to digest a cut-up rat. During the experiments it was observed that all the cobras did not behave alike with regard to their feeding. According to their feeding behaviour they can be divided into three groups. Group 1. Those that refused to feed at all. The behaviour of cobras Nos. 313 and 3829 in the following table are cited as examples to illustrate this. CoBRA 313 COBRA 329 30-§-34 L — 27-6-34 L — 3-7-34 L— 30-6-34 L — 19-7-34 D— 2-7-34 C 31 7-34 M — 20-7-34 Cc — 1-8--34 Cc — 31-7-34 M — 10- 8-34 Cc — 1-8-34 Cc 20- 8-34 Cc — 10-8-34 C7 — 30-8- 34 Cc — 20-8-34 Cc — 10- 9-34 Cc — 30-8-34 Cc, — 10-9-34 Co 14~-9-34 JLyy eee Note: (—) Means refused to eat. L means Live rat; D yy | Dead rat}; M 1», Meat; c iw ©6ut-up: rat. Group 2. Those that fed upon rats in any form—whether alive, dead or dissected, and on meat (beef). The behaviour of cobras Nos. 821 and 3872 in the following table are cited as examples to illustrate this. — COBRA 321 2-7-34 Wie ts 27-6-34 ions eae 19-7-34 Dyas 6-7-34 Digs 31-7-34 M4 20-7-34 ei: 10-8- 34 eyo 1-8-34 Claes 20-8-34 Cube a 7-8-34 -M- * 30-834 cout 22-8-34 Ca 10-9- 34 Gis 3-9-34 Cuae 14-9-34 neCruees 15-9-34 es 18-9-34 sear 19-9-34 a 20-9-34 LOE 21-9-34 Paes aes Note: * means positive feeding or fed successfully. FEEDING OF COBRAS IN CAPTIVITY 395 Group 8. Those that preferred only one type of food either a live rat or a dissected one. (a) The behaviour of cobras Nos. 29 and 115 in the following table illustrates the results obtained with dissected rats. COBRA 29 COBRA 15 23-6-34 L — 19-6-34 C . 26-6 34 L = 2-7-34 L — 9-7-34 D — 9-7-34 D — 25-7-34 C 14-.7-34 L — 3-8-34 Cc * 25-7-34 C . 13-8-34 ie 3 7-8-34 ( — 25-8-34 C ss 17-8 -34 L = 4-9-34 C 27-8-34 c is 19-9-34 Cc . 10-9-34 Cc is 21-9 -34 C : (b) The behaviour of cobras Nos. 18 and 220 in the following table illustrates the results obtained with live rats. COBRA 18 COBRA 220 26-6-34 L * 23-6- 34° L sy 9-7-34 D — 16-7- 34 D — 25-7-34 C — 27-7-34 C — 3- 8-34 C 7-8-34 M — 13-8-34 L : 13-8-34 L s 25-8-34 C — 17-8-34 C — 4-~9-34 L : 30-8-34 LG: — 11-9-34 L a) 4-9- 34 L 2 The following table shows the combined results obtained by the various methods employed for the feeding of cobras from 16-6-1934 to 25-7-1934. Methods of feeding No. of observations Percentage of cobras with made successful feedings Live rats na ae 200 29 Dead rats (drowned) _... 200 24 Dissected rats isk 195 37 Beef meat con nee 200 15 Since then over one thousand observations have been made with dissected rats, and the results have shown the average percentage of successful feedings by this method to be 38. 7 326 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol. XXXViti The snakes that refused to feed had to be forcibly fed. The method employed at the Institute prior to these experiments, con- sisted in pouring down the gullet of the cobra a mixture of egg and milk. On an average each cobra received about 30 ce. of egg content and 40 cc. of milk. When this was given it was observed that about 33 per cent of cobras thus fed vomited almost the entire quantity within 5 to 15 minutes of their feeding. There- fore a change was made in the mixture by increasing the amount of egg content to 45 cc. and decreasing the quantity of milk to 20 cc. By employing this method it was observed that only about 10 per cent of the cobras vomited after feeding. MortTALITyY AMONG CoBRAS AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO FEEDING. As most of the deaths among the cobras were due to starvation, the results of these feeding experiments with special reference to mortality among cobras have been arranged under four groups. Group 1. In this group are included all those cobras that fed successfully each time they were supplied with food. During the course of this experiment nine attempts were made at feeding each cobra with dissected rats. Among the 88 cobras thus fed, there was not a single death until the 15th October 1934 (the period of starvation). Group 2. In this group of 68 cases, most of the feedings were successful. During the period of observation 10 died giving a per- centage mortality of 14°7. If groups 1 and 2 are combined they give a percentage mortality of only 10. Group 8. In this group are included those cases where the cobras fed only once and then refused to feed when six or seven attempts at feeding them were made. Out of 17 cobras 9 died with a percentage mortality of 53. Group 4. All the 160 cobras in this group did not feed at all of their own accord and therefore had to be forcibly fed with egg and milk. The number of deaths in this group was 80 giving a percentage mortality of 50. If groups 8 and 4 are combined they give a percentage mor- tality of 50:3. The above results seemed to indicate that the method of feeding cobras in captivity with dissected rats was not only attended with a larger percentage of successful feedings, but was quite safe since there was not a single death (during the period of five months’ observation) among the cobras thus fed, thus showing that there was not appreciable injury caused by the swallowing of ex- posed bones in the dissected rats. THE FREQUENCY WITH WHICH CoBRAS COULD FEED. During the course of these experiments an attempt was made to study how much and how often a cobra would feed. Wall relates instances regarding the voracious nature of some snakes in FEEDING OF COBRAS IN CAPTIVITY | 327 captivity. This was found to be the case with some cobras as the following table well illustrates. bl bs A DSA bs Al bs bs bs 8 ste fst ate ste ct face fastest | ck [ck [ct ct fet | tt 1&8 [00 | [09 105 [OH [HD [OH SO [OM [CFD [ret [OD [E Jer [OD [OM [em JEM [C7 [ED [C9 [OD 1O9 109 1d 1A | | | D2 {Od D2 | |DI | DI |S |S |O3 Od | }O | Od | > | | fs rs [a fra [ra [a Case No Nee et et med mt st ft est et es | | | | \ fol ° Pe ee er ee ees. ea teleile eS iS le SPI ee el ee angelica cease ealan eer ce ce eallaeeulae ee nelee a ey ae | | ed Tr |O [D1 [IN [ord [tt ILD CO [EX 100 1Od 1S |r | [6% |< [LD S2es asks esas mae 390 * | ok | oF * | ok | oR | Ok * | x * * Note.—* means positive feeding ; », negative feeding or not fed ; ,, feeding not carried out. From 25-9-1984 to 8-10-1984, cobras 890 and 391 fed almost on all successive days, the break in daily feeding being unavoid- able on account of holidays. RELATION BETWEEN FEEDING AND THE YIELD OF VENOM. Dowsett mentions that snakes in captivity lose the greater part of their venom. Experiments carried out here did not support this view. The method employed at the Institute was that as soon as the cobras were received, their venom was extracted and then they were forcibly fed with a ration of milk and eggs. Afterwards they were fed periodically and venom was extracted at intervals of two weeks. EKaperiment VI. Between July 12th and July 25th, 1934, on first extraction an yield of 34°680 grams of dry venom was obtained trom 233 cobras, giving an average of 0°149 grams per cobra. The venom was dried over calcium chloride in vacuo. At the second extraction between July 26th and August 11, 1934, of the above group, out of which 6 had died during the inter- val, 86°270 grams of dry venom was obtained from 227 cobras, giving an average of 0°160 grams per cobra. At the third extraction between August 14 and September 20, 1934, the above group, out of which 22 had died, gave 40°445 grams dry venom, showing an average yield of 0-198 grams per cobra. From 8th to 27th September, 1934, experiments were carried out with two groups A and B, each of which consisted of 50 cobras. Group A, consisting of cobras which regularly and successively fed on rats, yielded 12°020 grams dry venom, whereas Group B, comprising cobras which refused to feed and had to be forcibly fed, yielded 8°275 grams dry venom. This showed that cobras when properly fed, especially with rats, yield an increased quantity of venom. 328 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Voi. XXXVIII In another group of 36 snakes which were received at the Institute as follows :— November 1933 December January 1934 March April Sx oe nee May SoG eee woo June = Ne — KH roOrHOR the total venom yield on first extraction was 6°247 grams. These snakes were feeding regularly and the extraction of the venom took place at regular intervals of 2 to 3 weeks. The total venom on final extraction in September 1984 was 8:105 grams. All cobras in this group were fed successfully with rats. Yet in another group, 31 cobras were forcibly fed on milk and egg. They were received at the Institute as under: November 1933 eae ces a eared December “ee tee ora a oO March 1934 See PRE g ae eto nO April eas aa oa cence On first extraction they gave 7°305 grams dry venom and finally in September 19384 they yielded only 6°485 grams. All the above experiments seemed to indicate that proper feed- ing increased the quantity of venom or at least kept up to the initial yield. In the course of these arene the maximum yield of fresh venom which was obtained from one cobra was 1°750 grams and from another the minimum yield was 0°040 grams. The maximum yield of dry venom was 0°530 grams and the minimum 0°010 grams. Some interesting observations were made during these experi- ments. These are (1) cobras thrive when housed — in_a dry and well ventilated room; (2) they drink water neal after a teed; and (3) black cobras are the easiest to feed. SUMMARY. 1. Feeding cobras in captivity with dissected rats gave the largest percentage of positive or successful feeding. This method was found.to be quite safe. 2. In some cases it seemed necessary to feed cobras with dis- sected rats as well as with live rats. 8. At times cobras exhibited individual idiosyncrasies and it was necessary therefore to feed them on that type of food which they preferred. | 4. With cobras which fed well in captivity the yield of venom during one year compared favourably with that obtained when the cobra arrived first at the laboratory. 5. Even from starving cobras a certain amount of venom could be collected till their death. 6.