ra nee q Ba VAM aay, OO OE RD! DORON TIC eT I atte Aste aa ‘ . ye i] iy adit \ Lot Te Payte PACT e SNCs hy AR DOU NTT yy ay) ‘my e's Neatly #708) ” Hany ¥ me ACN ' Vay vate Biot ORK Nays Da ~ tly ) HWA RG NAD HY i. ' Mh Vie Peay ae SAN ann He ye) hatch ay vi yaya he of its me my \) sh ns) ‘ . Aa Sat i relat ‘Mn Niet y A abadvalh tala? poy 'd! sastaiats te oh alatn atialeta} dl an Waa SN a vashey ne Bie hee ‘ es el Sa 7) Tey PONBAN i nA yy coh o oy Ste . ( ts he . ARR ‘ i ; x ak } oiaiieaye WSs 3 vie i an he rH a\ Avil f q Ryman! Teas i sy Aty ' Jott at 6 M a saat Hh (ents? MI OUNL Ziaste aia ihe } seit i evi , ‘BARI adUvA po se Hes Diet es if a i uit Manat Die Whe aii peri i iy Ot RIG late ASS TA Male alata i Hh Bien % ARIA Mat entiant +3 Ae bth Ghia Foi VSI nG aaa i We h ‘ Mal dey , " eas Oy Ross ahd sd f } SUT F fe ‘ OR IE) eh aha pa oad Nee tpg ata Pee DRAIN SAY ta th Ne ve ; 4 eee ant Hee Paar ais Ra a Hit AiR bale pha Pare Ares hae M4 a ce BRK Hiei tsa Ub Ai nae ; p f " Et ee ie 7 fe ary , Via bie iy aR ie dh a 4} , ei ne 45 WY we i Reis Wy Ate a ky ayy i io oe 1m o4'4 RA A ay A " Ne n ‘ uh ee wade Ag * vi Pi} ‘ * yeiket ih tI) oh the wy ny i Oo, aM 4 i | 4h Be nt if Sy He, ili a f 125 oe ; — i ay Xv oe es if a ii \ il a é Samoa atl a ley 1) | 4 me PS | i im ah #, nS eS. bie od +) : . ep ait 33 F Ao, 6 scar ai ny A | u va ii, ; ce ae Cab> aN ' i,” 5 a> Ls: Ke “Sp I ss “Xp: a % j yo’ SP meg iy, if i ‘ | ' %y, Pre i wT Pines ai gob.cy ABtb THE JOURNAL OF THE Bomsay Narurat History Socrery. [EDITED BY W. S. MILLARD, E. COMBER and L. C. H. YOU VOL. XVII. ee of Five Parts and containing Szxteen Coloured Plates, Twenty-seven Lithographed Plates and One hundred and twenty-seven Blocks, Dates of Publication, Part I(Pages 1to0 258) .. see ove ove oo) | ose eo = eee 237d ~Apl., 1906, » LT CPages 259 to 554) eo ave eco eee eve eas ooo ae 20th Sept., 1906. . III (Pages 555 to 856) «. ate ese eee aso ooo eve ee 15th Feb., 1907. » LV CPages 857 to 1045) «00 a. ee eve «20 ese eo er 29th June, 1907, V Cladex, &c.) ase aor «00 eve exe aoa eae es 17th Dec., 1907. > Bombay: PRINTED AT THE TIMES PRESS, CONTENTS OF VOLUME XVIL. A Poputar TREATISE ON THE Common Inp1An Snakes. Part II. By Capt. F. Wall, ras, cmzs. (With Plate IT and ianaiced Ue: Va Gn Wale) iccth ican cvctines vee sews suneetes sedcceoee On some New Species or Sttver Pauasants From Burma, By PIMOMGR VW yOLALOSn wesicanacl esas sae tacctaccs sak fac see oo etode eke ee SNAKE VENOMS AND THEIR ANTIDOTES: AN ACCOUNT OF RECENT RESEARCH. By Capt. George Lamb, M.D., I.M.S.cec-csscssesece SamBeR Horns, By J.D. Inverarity. (With 4 Plates)......... A New Snags ( MELANELAPS MCPHERSONI) FROM THE ADEN Hin- THRDAND. By Capt. Wo Wall) TMS), G.M-2.Ss) cs. 0sceccccs veeees A New Himauayan Syake(Lycopon mackinnoni). By Capt. F. NV iulllsrrene Gy. CME? Snatch ui G ca cocaltes see, wat aa THe ORCHIDS OF THE Bompay Presipency, Part III. By G. A. GAMMInO nets! CUh Plate EL \-ciece sondern edecteaes acc tecwes On THE SPECIES OF BeAn-GeEse. By Hugene W. Oates, F.z.8, (AU ZU CoN ON ewe eat noe eee rook acsduovess cadre sauaieccriecense seen Tue Porsonous Snakes Or INDIA AND HOW TO RECOGNIZE THEM, Pane Le By Capt B. Wall, 1:M.6.., Cuma cc. cnn seer oseenees THE OoLoey or Inpran Parasitic Cucgoos. PartI. By H.C. Stuart Baker, PizSe( Wen Place 2) sc. .cscccsesvssecoser .ececs Tug ‘ Pecrinate OrGans”’ of TRAPA BISPINOSA, Roxs. (WATER- URGENDIN) co ey; Lia DIAUGER,, Siler isu sscaides cecccanessearonccaecetes Ow THE TENTHREDINID& AND Parasrtric HYMENOPTERA COLLECTED In BatucuisTan By Mason C.G. Nurse. PartI. By P. Pe AIRE e esis Mids ie nics piace ame decsies cones stetee cases Birps OF THE Provinczs or Kasumirk AND JAMMU AND ADJACENT DMSERIOUS./ arid. “By Ac He. Ward). .cswaces sacs -tave copecoues First Hints on co.uectinc Burrerriies (BEING A SUPPLE- MENTARY PapsR TO THE ARTICLES ON THE ComMON BUTTER- FLIES ON THE Piains ofr Inpia). By L. C. H. Young, B.A, NoTEs AND OBSERVATIONS ON MAMMALS COLLECTED AND OBSERVED IN THE Dargezvine Disreicr, Inp1a. By Gordon Dalgliesh. PAGE 27 29 31 38 108 114 122 iv CONTENTS. PAGE Wuartis A Species? By L. C. H. Young, B.A., F.E.S., &G, ooesee Descriptions oF Inptan Micro-Lepipoprera. Part II. By E. WHEN OTEHS) BENG, UBIBHSIA URYish Goopcosco cssodonasacnoooncnsosoeenconco oes Notss oN SMALL Manes IN reverie AND ADJACENT DisrriorTs, By AoE, Ward csaducpis sacusdangins sosareesan eee a ee tee eereee aes Norss on ANDAMAN BIRDS WITH ACCOUNTS OF THE Neato OF SEVERAL SPECIES WHosE Nesrs AND Eacs HAVE NOT BEEN HITHERTO DESCRIBED. By B. B. Osmaston, LF.S. ......eeee0 Tas Morus or Inpia (SUPPLEMENTARY PapER To THE VOLUMES in ‘THe Fauna or Britisn Inpia’’), Series I1i, Part III. By Sir George Hampson, Bart., F.2.8., F.E.S. socseccececscenses A List or Birps FrounD IN THE Myinayan District or Burma. By K. C. Macdonald . saielesticie anioeaereiese noo uoesesec THE ORIGIN OF ANONAS, eae squaMosa, L.; Seam RETI- cunatTa, L. By Col. Fernando Pa oe Acie A List or THE Martine Moriusca IN THE Bompay NATURAL Hisrory Society’s CoLttection. By EH. Comber, F.z.8....... CATALOGUE oF FRESH WATER AND LanD MoLiusca 1N THE BomBaY NatuRAL History Soctwry’S COLLECTION .esceceoseecceeeceeee A Nove on THE PRESERVATION OF BAMBOOS FROM THE ATTACK OF THE Bampoo BEETLE or ‘‘SHot-porEr.” By HE. P. Stebbing, ON A Naw Noun FROM Rhee By J. Lewis Bonhote, M.A.... Review: The Inaugural address of the President of the Mining 128 133 154 156 164 184 on OD 207 216 oi 29 224 and Geolegical Institute of India s.....s0ccrccsceeseesee caseenees 225 MiscetLangous NorEs— 1,—Pearls in the Thana Creek (W. India). By E. L. Sale, oe os. se te epee nia 208 2. —Nesting a ae tae B 1G Geis (Rallina fasciata). By P. F. Wickham (Pp. w. D.) . .. 228 3.—Food of the Himalayan Nutcracker (Sueirag no ispilay. | By L. L. Fenton, Lt.-Col.. Se aciicnt on auaiaeieee ene 4.—Occnrrence of the Butterfly Talicada nyseus, on at Khandala—Western Ghats. By G. W. V. de Rhe- Philipe... Bt cniee tenn eae waa saceescceereserid pas soomeaee 5 _ Measurateue of Butfalo (Bos Labbe as Ry ae I, Mackenzie, Major, 93rd Highlanders ........ seeee 229 . 2380 CONTENTS. PAGE 6.—The Protection of Wild Birds in the Bombay Presidency. 231 7.—The nest of the Brown-backed Indian Robin (Thamnobia cambaiensis). By Stanley Pershouse, 2nd Border Regt., attached 5th Mounted Infantry ......... 8.—Late iiecedin of the Black Partridge Fvancolins vulgaris). By §. L. Whymper.. sereatenieaen 9,—Report on the destruction cf Rats in eee aie August 1905. By Harry L. Tilly, Officer-in-Charge of Plague Operations ... ... ss. 10.—Note on two Black Leopards in the Kotlapa Galen By W. B. Ferris, Lt.-Col. ..... Shemaanseueee 11.—The straizht-horned Assam Buffalo. Mos eect dnelacicasensecs £2——"The Covlon, Chital, . By. Livdekkor cc 5..ccss0usap eocees 13.—Sites of Birds’ Nests, By 8. L. Whymper .......0.... 14,.—Note of the Burmese Button Qvail.. a 15.—The “ Booming ” of the Button eal Seth- Sinith.. 16.—Plumage of young male Pintail Duck (Dafilu Bey, By B. Wall, Capt., UM.8:,, GUGAS. Ceccss es so 17.—Albinism in the Kakar or Muntjac (Cereals mundi) By J. Manners Smith, Major... a eceapy 18.—Food of Predaceous Flies. By H. R. G. i. vue eae aaa 19.—Mangroves and Paroquets. By B. B. Osmaston, 1.F.s.... 20.—Ihe early stages of the Moth Rhodoprasina floralis, | CWal a Plata) By@e El) Manson's: lcssseseress see 21.—Occurrence of the Moth Dudgeona leucosticta in Ceylon. By ‘W. Vaughan, ¥.5.8. ......ss.5 Ewen sete 22.—Note on the Malay Tapir ( Tapirus sana in captivity. (With an Illustration.) By W.B. Ferris, Col. 23.—Notes on the ovcurrence of certain Birds in the Plain of N.-W. India. By C. H. Whitehead.. 24.—Occurrence of aay coronatus, overt, in “Sind, By T. R. Bell .. - ce 25.—A large Dhaman Zameni maou) ‘By Fr. » Gleado I.F.S. es see seeenee 000" BOG SOF BOR BOFBHTEHHe eee eene abe 26.—How Tigard kill: their Prey. By F. O. B. Dennys, _ Assistant Controller of Forests ... ...... 27.— Note on the Magpie Robin (Copsychus saulavis), “By E. C,. CHOlMON ELOY J cenee vives ves vercesvesievevervvsessucc nes est . 231 . 232 =f Ea vi CONTENTS, PAGE 28.—Occurrence of the Bittern in South India ae stellaris). By C. H. Rhenius.. chiki ceeumeteenies 29.—Size of bill of Common Teal UN, ettium eer) “Be Gordon Dalgliesh... a a 30.—Nesting of the White- bellied Donte oe urus Sore cens), By W. Howard Campbell .. Jo spe nodaocact 31.—The Stork-billed Kingfisher ipa aay at Cawnpore. By Arundel Begbie, Major............... 32.—The Green Thrush (Coachoa viridis) ne in Burma. By J. C. Hopwood .. Sote pec 40 33.—The Falcated Teal ide ey in Wes es Bivgdine bt Opwood cessecmesns: Naaeraes 34.—Albinism in the Malay Spots ie Gin co inus) near Kindat, Upper Chindwin. By J. C. Hopwood. 35.—The Variation in the Colour of the Eggs of the Dark Grey Busan Chat (Oretcola ferrea). By H. H. Elaramotonen Waptsstame:aat ce. <2 uareps ser aper un etee PROCEEDINGS oF THE Mrrtines held on 22rd November 1905, : 25th January and 15th March 1906 . Eofceieeslasae A PopuLaR TREATISE ON THE Common TEAS Stee eae Ill. (With Plate III & ee tee By Capt. F. Wall, I.M.S., C.M.Z.S. ccccccveces ee : cee peccce cent os 20s ceenes x00 On THE TENTHREDINIDA AND Papas SITIC Shermans COLLECTED IN Batucuistan By Masor C. G. Nurse. Part II. By tee) CAMOLOM. Sctiscacscces acon suuemacedes dss clecueseeskeasneeeseasa On THE Tgsneepoeo AND Parasitic HYMENOPTERA COLLECTED BY Masor C. G. Nurse in Kasumin. By P. Cameron: . assntesees cecesteesoes oe sabieatass THE KasHMir Tunanine (haanousrs aspenuend). By J: Mesiaie THE Poisonous SNAKES oF INDIA AND HOW TO RECOGNIZE THEM. Part Il. By Capt. F. Wall, Lu.s., c.m.z.s.. Fiowerine Season anp Ciimate. Part I. (With 3 Peas By: Hy Blatteryssds odes sce ccaaes soclestoeriensioceces Te THE OoLoey or INDIAN Paeusrie ee Page ce “(With Plate 17.) By H.C. Stuant Baker, 02.8.) |. dsccncsiccces- con ces Tue SNAKE AND its Naturat Fors, By Capt. F. Wall, I.M.8., C.M.Z.S. —cecveccccececocccccesccsrsss30 000 cen 100080008 nos a0e 0020s ces cce . 247 . 248 248 248 . 249 249 249 . 249 . 251 259 . 274 CONTENTS. Vii PAGE Some Hints ror BEGINNERS ON COLLECTING AND PRESERVING Natura History Specimens. Part lV. By E. Comber, F.Z.8. BER CCH FOS Seo ees SOF HSEFHE HS SOB SHH SHH EGE REE HEE NOP ses eet ase ses eessee Descriptions or InpraAN Micro-Lepivoprera. Part IL. By H. Meyrick, B.A., F.R.S.y F.Z.S. sec cceccnsecceeceeseccesect ens cones Tue Common BurrerRFLizs oF THE Puains or Inpia. Part II. (With Plate B.) By L. C. H. Young, B.a., F.ES., F.Z.8-... [nsgot Lire 1n INDIA AND HOW TO STUDY IT, BEING A SIMPLE ACCOUNT OF THE MORE IMPORTANT FAMILIES OF INSECTS WITH EXAMPLES OF THE DAMAGE THEY DO To (Rops, TEA, CoFFEE anp Inpigo Concerns, Frutr anp Forest TREES IN InpIA, Chapter VII, Part IV. By EH. P. sittin F.L.S., F.Z.8., THE Morne OF oN omearany erie TO THE Vocus ww “ Tue Fauna oF Britisn Inpta”’). Series III, Part IIL. By Sir George Hampson, Bart., F.Z.8., FES. ses see seesees sees Birps oF tag PRovINcEs OF KaSHMIR AND JAMMU AND ADJACENT Districts. Part Il. By A. EH. Ward. ...... ..cscs--+ cas ccsess Norrs on ANDAMAN Birps, with ACCOUNTS OF THE NIDIFICATION OF SEVERAL SPECIES WHOSE NEsTs AND EcGs HAVE NOT BEEN HITHERTO DESCRIBED. Part II. By B. B. Osmastun, 1.8.s. A List or Birps FrounD In THe Myrineyan Disrricr or Burma. Part ll, by Kea CG Macdanaldy \cceccneacascs- cas cnsvsonesseanee A List of PUBLICATIONS RELATING TO INDIA FROM THE ‘‘ ZOOLO- Giodm NEcoRD. L905 AND LOOK) co. ces coc cas sxe tos cocpsacen scence Notes oN THE GENUS 7'atera WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF NEw SPECIES. By BR. C. Wroughton.........s0ccccesccssssesceeresvcccer coeeceece MisceLLANEous NotEs— 1.—Breeding habits of the Great Crested Grebe (Podicipes cristatus). By Gordon Dalgliesh .......sscesseseeees _2.—Packs of Wolves in Persia. By J. W. Watson, Capt., I.M.S. OF 48 SHSSOB Hee eee ee ee ces Set eee sae COS See SEE eee BOEAEe 3.—Urial in Persia. By J. W. Wheto Capt., L.M.8s secon 4,—A Panther placing its kill up a tree. By E. Comber ... 5.—Tigers hamstringing their prey before killing. By P. 6.—A brown Crow, By A. ©. Logan, 1.0.8. s.sssesesessrerees 396 . 403 418 424 447 479 A8E 492 505 511 515 516 517 517 518 519 Vili CONTENTS. PAGE 7.,—A brown and white Crow. By E, Blatter, s.3. ....0.... 519 8.—A malformed Black Buck Head. (With an illustration.) By Wet. iatttay, dhiette=Woly sc. ccosseccesetceesmences (Oke 9.—Fascination by Lizards. By St. George Gore, Col., r.E, 520 10.—Occurrence of the Indian Red-breasted Fly-catcher (Stphia hyperythra) in Bengal. By Chas. M. Inglis. 520 11.—A note on the migration of the Common Indian Bee- eater (Merops viridis). By D. Dewar, 1.0.8. ...e0000. 520 12.—The boldness of Panthers. By F. Field .................. 522 18.—The occurrence of the Scorpion Spider (Phrynichus) (Karsch) in the Shevaroy Hills. By H.S8. Riving- LOM PUBISCH Pree ee kee Sane reas ahaa ene eRe eeeg ee 523 14,.—The brown Wood Owl Cee mdrant), By 8S. L. Vuln yiRtGOT y Yew sicislele stewie) aire coy eiceieisictoct aici delawatnest ea Oat 15.—Habits of the Tapir. i Ciel; Voume soueee. secs scenOen 16.—Occurrence of Remiza (githalus) corenatus in Kola By EevAs tp acrath, Major lect eracsaresseneccecase” O2A 17.—F locking of Kites. By C. E. ©. Fischer .......0....ee000. 5295 18.—Notes on the “ Shot-borer ” in Bamboos. er Norman ol Troup 27 ses seteeseeses bevons ser abeeee O20 19.—Black Panthers. By W. B. Peni ‘Gal. saeobtcacea O22 20.—A remarkable Tree. By C. H.C. Beate aeecoassenmuses 527 21.—Habitat of the Green Keelback (Macrophisthodon fo i bicolor). By ©. EH. C. Fischer ......... soe ODF 22.—Bird weather reporters. By K. R. Bouse 1. ©. S.. . 528 23.—How Tigers kill their prey. By A, A. Dunbar Be! COT assy ccneceres Hea be RR Sa ee a 7) 24.—The sense of smell of Mipers iby A. A. Dunbar Bran-' der, LF.S.. she AS «. 990 ' 25,—The nesting of ihe Seas Bee Gee Sopiteay By A, M. Primrose.. ane . 531 26.—The nesting of the Binck-backed “Forktail Tienes immaculatus). By James Marten ....0+..secsesceseee ODD 27.—The larva of the Firefly. By P. Gerhardt ....00....0c00 - 033 28.—A Whale near Bassein (Bombay Coast). By W.S. Millard. 533 29,—A fortunate escape and recovery from Cobra bite. By ita) VW Wis SoUTLORe Cain aastarcccseasesaccives asec ceeuteseees tos I.M.Se, C.M.Z.8. SPS St SES HEEOOTS SHE SOS HEH SES OOH HEL HHL DES HOH HSH SSE OSES OD 2 CONTENTS, ix PAGE 30.—An unusual displacement of the heart in a Whistling Teal. By W. B. Bannerman, Lieut.-Col., 1.M.s....... 535 31.—On the Indian species of et oo By H. C. Stuart DAROE cites anaes suahger du'asecauaes 537 82.—The breeding of the ee ihetean: Senet ben- galensis), By E. ©. Stuart Baker .........000. . 538 33.—The plumage of the Cock Purple Honeysucker oe necthra astatica). A Query. By D. Dewar, t.0.8.... 540 84.—Some notes on Heterocera. By H. W. Kettlewell, Lieut. 541 35.— Parasites in Sparrow Hawks. By J. 8. Bogle, Capt... 542 36.—Cannibalism amongst Panthers and Tigers. By L. B. Montrosar. Cant., bu. WAS secon cersceces 26 . 543 87. The nesting of the Crested Honey Bee foe ermintis). by be, COMATL consort secavicecacnesesse O40 38.—The Sand Wasp (Sphea lobatus). By C. B. Beadnell ... 546 39.—Nesting of the Ibis-bill (Jbédorhynchus struthers?) and the Common ayes (‘otanus Hae re By S. L. W Inymipeir’ 8.62, 5/taceusacatnneeses a . 546 PROCEEDINGS OF THE Maas held on 28th ae sah 16th August 1906. bata sears aie . 548 A Note on Ponacnd et ss Faden ( With a pptate ) By R. Bowdler Sharpe, Lu.D., &c., Assistant Keeper, Department of Zoology, British Wideak aus subehee ats wen: OOO ON A NEW SPECIES OF Grey Duck imomienasiih? sanixoros) FROM Burma. By Hugene W. Oates .............scee000ee, O58 A new Tortoise FRoM TRAVANCORE. (With 2 Plates). “By Gi: Ag DOUlen Ser, FsB.Ss seocwceseosces'ese's bidawacedsvcdabeccar'st= 000 Acta ET AGENDA BY THE eee Honiareie ‘Be E. Blatter, sz. 562 On THE Parasitic HYMENOPTERA COLLECTED By Masor CO. G. Nourse In THE Bompay Presipency. By P. Cameron ...... 578 A FEW WORDS IN REPLY TO Mr. E. W. Oates’ PAPERONTHE SPECIES OF BEAN-GEESE ......ccccosserscscessccooes . 598 On Bean-Geusz. By S. A. Butuilin, Wi tO.Oe Veen cut neceelscsecn HOS A new Krair rrou Oupx (Buna@aRus WALLI). (With a Plate.) By Capt. FP. Wall, 1.0.8., ©.M.Z.8. sscee coos voccvocrescee O08 ‘SoME New Asian Snakes. (With 2 Plates, ‘By Capt. FP, Wall 612 CONTENTS, PAGE A NEw spxcrEes or Iyptan Wax-propucine BEE. By Major CO. G. Nurse, Indian Army........ asidek acpusnropee ue Sp scsnod 988d Estuary Fisyinc. Somz Remarks oN 11s DECADENCE, AS AN INDUSTRY, IN THE KonKAN. By W. A. Wallinger.......0. +. Prornctive Lxeistation ror Inpian FisuErizs. By E&. WOUMDET: <5c) ssiecngendhate seouesiewes ons aces teaeosretmoneaeoet. cotear es Tae Moras or Inpta. Sete ae PAPER TO THE Vo- LUMEs IN “THE Fauna or BritisH Jnpia.” Series III, Part III. By Sir George Hampson, Buart., F.z.8, F.ELS. ... Tae Ooxoey or Inpran Parasitic Cuckoos. Parr lll. (With date UNS) yeas. Stuart laler. K-7.Se essceeeeneeseeeen aes Fiowerine Szason anp Crimate. Part Il. (With 4 Plates.) Poy esl Ol> Slax Sh cases conten ands: esate doeetanae Sosa xs S8Ove idlve THE CLIMATAL CHANGES OF MELANITIS LEDA. By ites -Col. N. Mim ens ghee Suny RSs. Sancza sack. Ue cacg mace Seles cen sae een Han WAUNA HOF UN DIA=—UNSHOTA) 52.4 .:ssne5 sono aeesoacasceecncs eee BigDS OF THE PRovINCES OF KASHMIR AND JAMMU AND ADJA- cent Districts. Part III. By A. EB. Ward.....-......c0+ces Descriptions or Inptan Micro-Lepipoptera. By H. Meyrick, BoA, | MaRS eg, GheZSa cecacecespestosuwacerbenecen seine assent oceania Some Birps or Sincarorze. By Major H. R. Bakes 73rd Ooi. AN ENQUIRY INTO THE Parasitic Hiasrts or THE [INDIAN KoOkL. By D. Dewar, 1.¢.8., F.2.8.....0. SoS a osu sea Sen ocooca ns cospas ates Birps or tHE Kuasta Huis. Part I. By HE. C. Stuart Baker, HZ Syo ya MeB.O Us, U cave seaesiaes sic atusr o onicens stone se daete aes eeaenie neces ON A NEW RACE oF Soturus LokriopES From Burma. By J. Ihewis Bon ote: uMiActaecnc cecsencsen epuearcems some aaa aeeiemecc ton On a NEw Encuytra#ip Worm (HeNniea LErRoyi, sp. n.) FRoM IypiA—pEStRUCTIVE To THE Eaes or A Locust (AcRIDIUM, sp-). By Frank E. Beddard,m.a., F.k.s., Prosectcr to the Zola society, Wome ts. cise ssarnase dacs oacesseeew senor seinaen- a ues ice ON A COLLECTION OF MAMMALS BROUGHT HOME BY THE TIBET Frontiek Commission. By J. Lewis Bonhote, m.a., E.L.S., ¥E.Z S. *@G2008CG peattee *©CO eee ceoFFOGV18G 28 -eGeFeoeaeeonsOe2G2008 genase MiscELLaNrous Notrs— 678 697 709 721 123 730 755 765 183 796 797 800 1.—Povlican breeding in India. By OC. E. Rhenins........... 806s 2.—Food of Predaceous Flies. By T.R. Bell, 1.5.8........0 807 CONTENTS, a PAGE 3,—Snake-bite inflicted by Melanelaps mcphersoni. By Capt. F. Wall, 1.M.s., C.M.Z.S.. ; és CUE 4,—Note on the breeding of Russell's cee ( Wie resell) in captivity. By Lieut.-Col. W. B. Bannerman, m.p., B.SC, F.R.S.E, L.M.S. (Director, Bombay Bacteriolo- GiGal) MD OTALOEY pp ees waxrva coder vessaicesnstiauvare'vscese exe OOO 5.—Recovery irom a Cobra bite. By C. Grenville Rollo... 811 §.—Occurrence of the Cheer Pheasant (Catreus wallichi) in the N.-W. F. Province. By Major Walter Venour, 58th Rifles.. soizeideeiacencaceeeivae: animes son O12 7.—A new species of tie. spear ee ene ae from the Chin Hills. (From the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, No. CX XIII.)............ 812 8.—A Mouse-Hare. By Major G. 8S. Rodon .............0500. 813 9.—Locusts, Bears and Dogs. By Major G. 8. Rodon ...... 815 10.—A note on an Edible Puff-ball from the Thana District, By Lieut.-Col. K. R. Kirtikar, 1.8. (retd.), F.is.... 816 11.--Some notes on Birds’ Nesting in Tehri-Garhwal. By Be ies VV EMEP OE pr. an. nsiens* sane os'sne SBA 3 SL 12.—First hints on ee Paeaice By Lieut.-Col. N. Manders, R.A.M.C...-0+ seoee .. 819 13.—Redaction in the species of ne ee. Patoentphis. By Capt: FP. Wally, EMS. 3 :MeZ See on coves, Seaees O20 14,—Hodgsons’ Hawk-Hagle See nepalensio) i C. H. Donald . sinnes steseceretcceece O24 {5.—Early arrival of sivas By ew M. ae Reese ewe OD 16.—The bolduess of Panthers, By Lieut.-Col. G. RB. EUG BG Ai ssmanpe veep cer Sy enccrousseonmercvswostel cee 825 17,—The boldness of Panthers. By Capt, J. BR. J. Tyrrel, TeM aide, yaetelep oman vcvenisiSepalacit pleeiia'xo'sia « pps du@amn've ou be dleomaonices 827 18.—Further notes on Birds’ Nesting round Quetta, By . Major R. M. Betham, 101st Grenadiers ............... 828 19.—Destruction of Mosquitoes and their Larvae by Fish and Lime. By Lieut.-Genl. H. Osborn, 1.a....... povaecas 832 20.—A clumsy killer. By C. H. Donald... ...ssccceeee 833 21.—A Bear’s kill in a tree. By CU. H. Donald.. ............ 834 22.—A Panther placing its kill up a tree. By L. V. Bagshawe, 835 xii CONTENTS, PAGE 23.—Do Bats capture and eat birds? By E. Ernest Green 835 24,—A white Muntjac. By S. H. Charrington.............. 836 25.—Cause of fear shown by Tigers. By C. E. C. Fischer 836 26.—Note on Clania variegata, Snell. By T. R. Bell, 1z.s. 837 | 27.—Abnorma! anilers of the Chital or Spotted-Deer (Cervus axis}. By Lieut. J. A. Field, rz. .........-.. 840 28.—The ae of Indian Parasitic Cuckoos. By Chas. M. Ine lise erncceee. . 841 29.—A see lee dotien py Fr. he Bupa N. s. SULVENesaner rs edinie sasdewnganecosceoeeoemeneeatee MO 30.—Nesting of ee: Hoe (Paleo severus) in India, “Be ©. H. Donald . Biv aldeoaesahlecta secon asa’ Oa 31.—A live Takin calailas paphien) Hi With an Illustra- ton.) By Diet. Mi Bailey scccccsescccess career ess sns Oe 32.—Breeding advo of the Common Locust. By E. H. Aitken.. Weccos pict ssistetneisacceeueases tasiscn TO es 85.—The small ( ‘ivet + Cat i in isi! oe Bennie Auctions. 844 34.—A malformed Blackbuck Head, By Col. W B. Ferris 844 35.—Abnormal Sambar Horns, By F. Field............+00002 845 36.—Maltormed Sambar and Gaur Horns. By O. Scot Skirving .. @08 ces C08 cae 20: 846 37,.—Note on te nee Caan (Gazeta arabica). By Major 8S. E. Prall, t..s.. oe we 847 38.—Breeding of the Common ane “Quail (ces com- munis) and the Desert Lark (Alamon desertorum). By Major R. M, Betham, 101st Grenadiers............ 848 39.—The large red Flying-Squirrel (Pieromys inornatus) and Walnuts. By C. HW. Donald sicc ec. -.-. ....cccee ne 848 40.—The Study of Birds. By HE. Comber... miedsccltr caemO Le PRocEeepIncs oF THE Mxetines held on 4th cone and “13th December 1906 .........50: 06 Ue eerces OIL A PopuLar TREATISE ON THE Calas fey nine Pan IV. (With Plate 1V). By Major F. Wail, c.u.z.s., Lu.s. ...... 857 Tag Importance oF BLoop-Suckine Figs as TRANSMITTERS or Diszasz to Man anp Animats,° By Lt.-Col. W. B. Bannerman, M.D., B.Sc., 1.M.s., Director, Bacteriological TiabOLAbOLy .ctseccs -edeceeeeearcecicas serene sete ecnsnds car's strdeceteen nO CONTENTS. xili AppiTionaL Cuckoo Notss. By E. C. Stuart Baker, F,z,8. ... 876 Tag Frora or ApEn. By E, Blatter, s.3. repeaaiea asian (OOO Tus Common ButtTsRFLIESs OF THE ee OF core te Part II. (With Plate C.) By UL. C. H, Young, B.a., ¥.n.8., F.Z.8. ... 921 Notes oN Smatt Mammats 1n KaAsamir anp ApJAcent Dis- marors, By Col, AL HW. Ward «sc .cecss. Si saleweaasuegivesedesaes. 928 Waatis A Speores?” By R.S. Hole, F158, F.6.8. ....ercceee. 930 THe OrcHips oF THE Bompay lresipenoy, Part IV, (With Piste lib je By Ge A. Gamimie,: ViG8. —ssezearcsesetenscseers, 0 910 Birps oF THE Provinces OF KASHMIR AND JAMMU AND ADJACENT Distriors.. Part EV, -°By Col, Avi. Ward. © jcsccec.c.dcc0s O40 On THE Brean-Geese. By Eugene W. Oates quae oases THe Freshwater Moutusoa or Tirnoot, Bencat. By Gordon Daboliesly' 2sc.sa cesses see Rip aincd eewee sneies sips cians safe sasermen OO Birps oF THE KHASIA Hci’ “Part II. By E. C. Stuart Baker, 12S, MBO: secseoce pauscsubedtencdsecesotas DOL Desorietions oF Inp1an Myicro- Tnicouen hoe NV. ay ep Mayriele WaNeg 0H Hb), Me MiB.” pcctes ces saceaciceidcatas tevecsrodace, QUO Suppression OF MELANELAPS MCPHERSONI, By Major F. Wall, O.M.Z.S., I.M.S. ae pide deueadenaindedeeuatampel peutacte de corte oe) THE one Sieanae OF CiNpi AND HOW TO RECOGNISE THEM. (Correction). By Major b'. Wall, c.at.2.8., 1.M.S. ..ecessescee 995 Norges oN somE Rats or THE Mus mzErapa group. By R. C. Wroughton . saninacedsoiapes van Pewicea sce Pr etl DESCRIPTION OF A he Caves AND SOME ae cre OF HYMENOPTERA CAPTURED BY Lt.-Cot. ©. G. Nurse art Dexrsa, MaTuHEeRan AND Ferozpors. By P. Cameron ......1001 MiscELLANEOUS NotTEs.— 1.—Note in regard to the habits of the Praying Mantis, By A. A. Dunbar Brander.. Btn 2.—Nesting of the Coot (Fulica re itis By Gor- don Dalgliesh fm 2 I see eee Au Se CA 1013 3.-—Melanitis bethami in Pachmarhi. By H. W. Kettlewell, Capt., 85th King’s Light Infantry..............000... 1013 4,—The Bronze-capped Teal (Eunetia faleata) i in Tirhut, By Chas, M. Inglis..... .. wanes xiv. CONTENTS. PAGE 5.—Some notes on Tigersand Panthers. By R. G. Burton, Major, 94th Russell’s Infantry .....- vadintassace sbaceetee epee bey 6.—An injured Monkey. By H. R. G. Hasted.......0 cesses 1017 7.—Panther kill up atree. By H.R. G. Hasted............ 1017 8.—Encounier between a Snake and Lizard. By F. Wall, Major, C.M.Z.S, IM.S. ....... cates a LOL 9,—The vitality of Snakes. ‘i H. ae ‘Biggs, i -Coly Re DBI a ares . 1018 10.—The rahe of pues = s. E. F. pi nin uaciaw 1019 11.—Abnormal Sambur horns. By J. Archibold Field...... 1020 12.—An abnormal a , head. By R. Clifford, iis 22nd Punjabis .. Bosiiceineercunice apse . 1020 13.—The food of Dalen ne oat Boshi, Major, 13th Rajputs .. 300 b0o6C woeace LOS 14.— Bats feeding on ee ieee Bp ioe M. pie ees weeaies 1021 15.—Bats feeding on birds. By F. Gleadow..........0.+0-00. 1022 16.—Curious behaviour of a Panther in connection a a kil. By H. 4. Drake-Brockman, Major, F.Z8., Tenis Gopoccoo AES - 1022 17.—On a new species oy, veneer oes ibm nes Be Chas. B. Antram, PREM Indian Tea Association .......e0ee edbesieastos w. 1024 18.— Cantecona ie W olf. 4o5 ane B. ae Entomologist, Indian Tea Association... se 1024 19.—The Distribution of the different varieties of ae yan Markhor (Capra falconert) (With a Plate) By H. P. Browne, Capt., 5th Gurkhas Rifles............ 1025 90.—“ Shot-borers”? -in Bamboos. By R. Barton Wright, Assixtant Manager to the Lessees, Shivaganj Satomi ven nese con.cosan i sanlastes cose dl O26 21.—A remarkable tree. By ©. E. ©. oy oe fo Wa aexale 1027 22.—The nesting of the rufous-bellied es ( Lopho- trior his kienert) By A.M. Kinloch.. rave LOE 93,—Vernacular names of some Indian ane ee P. R. Cadell, LC. S. csecscccer ee nravenneescs ees cecseeess sos ioeeee 1028 94.—QOccurrence of the Butterfly Chilaria othona in Salsette. By L. C. H. Young, B.A. FE.S., F.Z.8.... 10380 CUNTENTS, XV PAGE 25.—A note on an edible fungus from Lahore. By K. R, Kirtikar, Lt.-Col., F. L.8., 1.M.S, (Roetired).....-..... 1030 26.—A further note on the distribution of the varieties of Cobra in India. By W. B. Bannerman, Lt.-Col., M.D., 1M.8., B.Sc., Director, Bombay Bacterio- logical Tiahora tore Eeasadtecer Rucsedesenesn AOae 27.—Hatching of Dhaman aes are eggs, and observations on the egg tooth. ie F, Wall, ee OMA Gs TUES. Soest bceccawerese LOOS 28.—Tuctoo and Snake. By F, “Wall, ee O.M.Z.8., To M.S. .coccscsccssreescorassoccussarsneccersensscrencseacses 1033 29.—Peculiar colouration in the Indian Sloth Bear (Melursus ursinus) By W. W. Baker, Lt.-Col., rR... 1035 30.—Cussta renigera, Wall (With an illustration). By H. Blatter, S.J. eee 122 cent? oscecce @reccesneve es ® Pevresessescccccce 1036 31.—Occurrence of the bittern (Botaurus stellaris) in Southern India. By E. Comber, F.z.s.. arvana LOST 32,—Occurrence of the Waxwing (Ampelis Oe ated at Bannu, N. W. F. Province. By H. A. F. Magrath, Major... Be canieee ewisceter ates seereceueinns . 1037 PROCEEDINGS OF THE sn held on oAth Fannaryy “Tth March aud: o0th) May N90 ns ccesstaeseweeas= cates es ae . 1038 WA aH, Pe LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS. VOLUME = Wit. PAGE | AITEEN, E. H.; Breeding grounds of the Common Locust ... 45 ——-——_-—— ; The Smail Civet Cat in Sind : ae oce ANTRAM, CHAS. B.; On a new species of Fulgorid from Darjee- ling ... GE one a oars -— ; Cantecona Sure tiata, Wolff .. ... on BAaGSHAWE, L. V.; A_ panther placing its kill up a tree BAILEY, Lt. F. M.; A Live Takin (Budoreas HaaseuEae) eee BAKER, E. U. STUART, F.ZS§., M. B. 0. U.; The Oology of Tndtiats Parasitic Cuckoos... ; On the Indian 843 844 1024 1024 835 842 . 72, 851, 678 species of a aes Cre co. tae —-+ ; The Pecediie of the sues. een une cotis bengalensis .. one 538 --—— Oeedd, of tiie Khasia Hills 783, 957 ——_——_——_ ; Additional Cuckoo Notes one oC BAKER, Major H. R.; Some Birds of Singapore - “oe ee $755 BAKER, Lt.-Col. W. W., R.E.; Peculiar colouration of the Indian Sloth Bear (Melursus UPSINUS) — wee ace Ade --- 1035 BANNERMAN, Lt.-Col. W. B., 1.M.8.; An unusual displacement of heart in a Whistling Teal ... 536 ; Note on the breeding of Russell's Viper CVipera rusgelli) in captivity ... 808 ——_—_ -——. ; The impor- tance of Blood-sucking Flies as transmitters of disease to Man and Animals oe oes 5. | -—- ; A further note on the distribution of the varieties of Cobra in India - 1031 3 PAGE Ee ea R.; “ Shot-Bor- ers” in Bamboos ... +: --. 1026 BEADNELL, (. B.; The Sand tae (Spex letitny one 546 BEDDARD, FRANK E ,M. ne VF. R. 8.; On a new inhiely ania Wort (Henlea lefreyi, sp. n.) from India—destructive to the evgs of a Locust (Acridium sp.) oe 197 BEGBIE, Major ARUNDEL; The Stork-biJled King-fisher (Pela- raopsis gurial) at Cawnpore ... 248 ——— - —_—. ; The Food of Pytions ... sce ee. 1021 BELL, T. R., I. F.8.; Occurrence of Aegithuliscus coronatus, Severtz, in Sind aon «. 244 ——-——_--——__; Food of predacecus flies... ene ced th! aos -——; Note on Ciania variegata, Snell ... sea BY BETHAM, Major R. M. ; Further Notes on Birds’ Nesting round Quetta Age “As oe ee 828 ————-; Breeding of the Common or Grey Quail (Coturnie communis) and the Desert Lark (Alaemon de- sertorum) . cee «ee 848 Biaes, Lt. “Col. cS V.,-B: i: The vitality of Srakes ... AS -.. 1018 BuaTTerR, E.,8.J.; The “ Pecti- nate Organs” of Trapa bispinosa, Roxb. (Water-Chestout) eee «85 ; Flowering Season and Climate aes 334, 697 ; A brown and white Crow “Or wee ae AY —_——_—___— ; Acta et Agenda by the Bombxy Botanists. 562 -——- ; The Flora of Aden Cee as ers «se 595 ——~- ———- ; Cassia reni- gera (Wall)... oon tee see 1036 XVill PAGE BoGLE, Capt. J.S.; Parasites in Sparrow-Hawks oe. os woe «DAD BomaNngr, K.R., I.C.8.; Bird weather reporters coe coo BRAS) BonHore, J. Lewis, M.A., F.L.S. F.Z.8.; On a new race of Sciurus lokriodes from Burma ... 796 - ——-————; On a collec- tion of Mammals brought home by the Tibet Frontier Commission 800 —— — ; On a new Vole from Kashmir oon ow «D4 BouLencer, G.A., F.R.S.; A new Tcrtoise from Travancore we 560 BROWNE, H. P., Capt., 5th Gurkhas; The Distribution of the different varieties of Himalayan Markhor (Cupra faleomeri) (With a Plate}. 1025 BurTON, Major R. G.; Some notes on Tigers and Panthers ... 1015 BURTON, Capt. R. W.; A fortunate escape and recovery from Cobra bite ... 600 200 coe «oe OB4 BuruRLIN, 8.A., Ff. M.B.O.U. ; On Bean-Geese ... an cco (GOB CADELL, P.R. I.C.8.; Vernacular Names ot some Indian Ducks ... 1028 CAMERON, P.; On the Tenthredi- nideand Parasitic Hymenoptera coliected in Baluchistan by Major C.G. Nurse... oe 89, 274 pas ——-—— ; In Kashmir... 289 = ; On the Parasi- tic Hymenoptera collected by Major C. G. Nurse in the Bombay Presidency ... eon eee eee 578 ; Description of @ new Genus and some new Species of Hymenoptera captured by Lt.-Col. C. G. Nurse at Deesa, Matheran and Ferozepore e-- 1001 CAMPBELL, W. HOWARD ; Nesting of the White-bellied Drongo (Dicrurus coerulescens) ee 248 OHARRINGTON, 8. H.; A White Muntjac es. ood 600 coe 836 CHOLMONDELEY, H. C.; Note on the Magpie Robin (CCopyschus saularis) ... oo5 eve coo 247 CLIFFORD, R., Lt., 22nd Punjabis ; An Abnormal Hog-deer Heaq ... 1020 LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS. PAGE CoLTART, H. N.; The Nesting of the Crested Honey Buzzard (Pernis cristatus)... coe . 545 CoMBER, H., F.Z.S.; A List of th Marine Mollusca in the Bombay Natural History Society’s Collec- tion ... aod ee wwe «207 —_—-—— - —; Some hints for beginners on coliecting and preserving Natural History Specimens, Part 1V doc cee 396 - — ; A Panther placing its kill up a tree coo | BY ———— ——; Protective Legislation for Indian Fisheries. 637 ——— ——— ; The Study of Birds 600 soe 206 oo. 849 -——— ; Occurrence of the Bittern (Svtaurus stellaris) in Southern India coc --. 1037 DALGLIESH, GORDON; Notes and observations on Mammals col- lected and observed in the Dar- jeeling Districts, India ... con LAB —_——_- -——-- ; size of bill of Common Teal (Wettirwm crecea) 248 -_—_—_—_-- ; Breeding habits of the Great Crested Grebe (Podicipes cristatus) ... 515 ; The Fresh Water Mollusca of Tirhoot, Bengal soe 202 eee eo 950 ——--——_-——__—_; Nesting of the Coot (fulica atra) in India, 1013 Deynys, F.O. B , How Tigers kill their, rey ... cae toe ewe 245 DEsnEUX,J.; The Kashmir Ter- mite (Z¢rmopsis wroughtont) ... 293 Dewak, D.,1.C.8.; A note on the migration of the Common Indian Bee-eater (Merops viridis) eee 520 —— +; The plumage of the cock Purple Honeysucker (Arachnecthra asiatica), A QUT Mpc: Oi lcorr egiveenilf Wass O40 —-——~—_-——_; An enquiry into the parasitic habits of the Indian Koel Oo cas DONALD, C. H.; Hodgson’s Hawk- Hagle (Spizetus nepalensis) ... 824 LIST{OF CONTRIBUTORS. f PAGE DoNALD, C. H.; A clumsy -killer. ————-; A bear’s kill ina tIGe ... eee eee ms Meeting of the Hobby (Falco severus) in India. The Large Red (Pteromys in- —~_+ ——_ - = Flying-Sqnirrel ornatus) and Walnuts 848 | DRAKE-BROCKMAN, H.E., F.Z.S8., | Major, I.M.8.; Curious beha- viour of a Panther in cou- nection with a kill 1022 DUNBAR BRANDER, A. A,, LF.S.; How Tigers kil] their prey 528 - - ; The seuse of smell of Tigers ... ove eo asi) —- ——-—— ; Note in re- gard to the habits of the Praying Mantis ese rea soo LOUD FENTON, Lt.-Col. nh am Food of the Himalayan Nut Cracker (Nucifraga hemispila) ... ao5 PAE FERRIS, Lt.-Col. W B.; Nete on two Black Leopards in the Kolhapur Collection eee 234 ——-——— ; Note on the Malay Tapir (Zapirus indicus) in captivity (With an Illustration)... 242 ———— ; Black Pan- thers 253 “pc econ Bete a ee faaitonmed Blackbuck Head ... coe « 844 Fre_p, F.; The boldness of pane thers.. «ue cee «we 522 ee canst ich a Horns 845 FIELD, J. A., Lit., R. H. ; Abnormal antlers of the Chital or Spotted Deer (Cervus axis) ‘ eee 840 ; Abnormal Sambar Horns vee ove coe ae 1020 FiscHER, C. EH. C., I. F.S.; Flock- ing of Kites eee “p- a. 525 3; A remarke able tree A ee «537, 1027 ——— ; Habitat of the Green Keelback (Macropis- thodon plumbicolor) eee coe 527 as ——__———--———. ; Cause of fear shown by Tigers “6 eo. 836 833 834 84] xix PAGE GAMMIE,G. A, F. L. 8.; The Orchids of the Bombay Presi= dency a aa sas 31, 940 GERHARDT, P.; The larva of the Firefly see 533 GLEADOw F., A large hemes (Zamenis ‘ibiadeus eve eo. «245 ; Bats feeding on Birds eve ve sce eos 1022 GORE, Sv. Guonan, Col. R. E. ; Fascination by Lizards cone AL GREEN, KE. EARNEST ; Do Bats cap- ture and eat Birds? eee coe 835 HAmMpsoN, Sir GHo., Bart., F. Z. 8, F.E §.; The Moths of India (Supplementary Paper to the. Volumes in “The Fauna of British India’) Series III HARINGTON, Capt. H. H.; The variation in the colour of the egos of the Dark-grey Bush Chat COretcola ferrea) oe Hastep, H. R. G.; Food of preda- ceous flies ... aan Sead ——-; Panther injured kill ete —— eee Monkey up a tree tee cee House, R.8., F.L.8. F.H.8.; What isa Species ? Soe Ace Horrewoop, J. C.; The Green Thrush (Cochoa ae breeding in Burma : The Faleated Teal (Hunetta area in Upper Burma ——; Albinism in the Malay Spotted Dove (Tur- tur tigrinws) near Kindat, Upper Chindwin .. eee Huvson, P.; Tigers hamstring- ing their prey before killing INGLIS, CHas. M.; Occurrence of the Indian Red-breasted Fly- catcher (Siphia ryperythra) in Bengal ose ; Harly arrival of Duck ... eee orn ene --—— ; The Oology of Indian parasitic Cuckoos w 164, 447, 645 249 249 249 518 520 825 $41 : xX InGuIs, CHas. M.; The capped Teal CKunetta falcata) in Tirhut INVERARITY, J D.; CWith four Bie 500 soc Jengins,S. B. F.; The boldness of Panthers bes KETTLEWELL, Capt. H. Ww. ; Some notes on Hetervcera Sues Horns —_— —— ; Mel- anitis bethami in Pachmarhi Kiniocu, A. M.; The nesting of the Rufous-bellied Hawk-Hagle (Lophotriorchis hienert) oo coe KrretikaR, Lt.-Col. K. B., 1.M.58. (R-td.), F. L. 8S. ; A Note on an edible Puff Ball from the Thana District ses a ece ace ; A ote on an edible Fungus Na Lahore LAMB, Major GEORGE, M.D.,I.M.8.; Snake Venoms and their anti- dotes: An account of recent research = «ee 260 coe LEAL, Col. FERNANDO. ; The (ri- gin of Anonas, Anona squamosa, L., Anona reticulata, Liew Logan, A. ©. 1.C.8.; A brown Crow ooo LYDEKKER, R. ; Chital eve gos MacponaLp, K. C,; A_ list of Birds found in tne Myingyan District of Burma... coc MAcKENZIE, A. F., Major, 93rd Highlanders ; Mearurements of Buffalo (Bos bubakus) Horns MaG@ratu, Major H. A. F.; Occur- yence of Remiza (CAgithatws) corunatus in Kohat ese The Ceylon eee op s Occur- rence of the Waxwing (Ampelis garrulusx) at Bannu, N.-W. F. Province 2 ManpeErs, Lt.-Col. N., #.Z.5., F.E.S., R-A.M.C.; The Clima- tal changes o£ Melanitis leda ov. ——— ; First hints on collecting Butterflies... O06 PAGE Bronze- - 1015 23 1019 541 1013 1027 816 1030 138 184, 492 230 524 1037 708 819 LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS. PAGE Manson, C. HE. F.; Theearly stages of theMoth(Rhodoprasina floralis, (With a Plate} ... nee uss MARTEN, JAMES; The nesting of the Black-backed Forktail (Heni- curus immaculatus) aoe Meyeick, H.,B.A., F.R.S., F. Z.8,; Descriptions of Indian Micro- Lepidoptera... MiLuarD, W. S8.; A Whale near Bassein (Bombay Coast)... .». MoNTRESOR, Capt. L.B. BR. F.A.; Cannibalism amongst Panthers and Tigezs ... 200 ass as Nourse, Major C. G.; A new species of Indian Wax=producing Bee ... 306 OATES, HUGENE W.,F.Z.5.; On some new species of Silver Pheasants from Burma ; On the species oi Bean-Geese (With a Plate) . ar ; On a new species of Grey Duck (Pulionetta haringtont) from Burma... On the Bean- ese * eee eee ae Geese OsBorN, Lt -Genl. W. ; Destruction of Mosquitoes and “ies Larvee by Fish and Lime... coe coe Osmaston, B. B.,1. F. 8.; Notes on Andaman Birds with accourts of the Nidification of several species whose nests and eggs have not been hitherto described. —--- ; Man- groves and Paroquets ... PERSHOUSE, STANLEY. The nest of the Brown-hacked Indian Robin (Thamnobia cambaiensis), PRALI, Major S. E., 1. M.S.; Note on the Arabian Gazelle (Gazella arabica) ... oo8 PRiIMLOSE, A. M.; The neciine of the Binemerested Baza (Baza lophotes) «+. see —— ——~—_ ; Bats feeding on small Birds oor oe 24] 533 133, 403, 730, 976 533 548 619 10 38 558 950 &32 156, 486 240 847 531 eee 1021 LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS, PAGE | RATTRAY, Lt.-Col. R. H.; A mal- formed Blackbuck head. (With an illustration) ... eeu 519 RHENIUS, C. E.; Occurrence of ha Bittern in South India (Hotaurus stellaris) ... sac or aan —- ; Pelicans breed. ing in India ee RHE-PAILLIPE, G.W.V hae. eerie rence of the Butterfly Talicada nyseus, Guerin, at Khandalla, Western Ghats .. ses coe RIvineTon, H. 8., B. Sce.; The Occurrence of the BeareiGn Spider (Phrynichus) (Karsch) in the Sbevaroy Hills .., Rovon, Major G.S.; A M aise Bara: ——— — -—— ; Locusts, Bears _—_—_—. ---- and Dogs ... nae Boo ave Rouwo, C. GRENVILLE ; Recovery from a Cobra bite ae RUNDLE, Lt-Col, G. R., BR. FLA The boldness of Panthers Sanz, H.L., 1,C.8.; Pearls in the Thana creek, W. India S=erH-SmirH ; The “ Booming” of the Button Quail ... an SHARPE, 8. BowDLeR, L.L.D., etc. ; A Note on Podoces pleskei, Zarud- ney (With a Plate) ee cae SKIRVING, O. Scot; Malformed Sambar and Gaur horns ... reo SMITH, Major J. MANNERS ; Albi- nism in the Kakar or Muntjac (Cervulus muntjac)... anc STEBBING, EH. L., F.E.S.,F.L.S. ; A Note on the preservation of Bambvos from the attack of the Bamboo Beetle or “¢ Shot Borer ””. ———-— Insect Life in India and how to study it, being a simple account of the more im- portant families of Insects with examples of the Damage they do to Crops, Tea, Coffee and Indigo concerns, Fruitand Forest Trees in Iadia, Chapter VII, Part IV... TrnLy, HARRY L.; Report on the Destruction of Ratsin Rangoon during Auguat 1905 — 230 5238 812 815 811 825 228 238 565 219 424 232 XXi PAGE Troup, NorMAN, F.T.; Notes on the “ Shot Borer in Bamboos”... TYRRELL, Capt. J. R.J.,1.M.8.; The boldness of Panthers ane VauGHAN, W., F.H. 8.; Occurrence of the Moth Dudgevna leu- custicta in Ceylon VENOUR, Major WALTER ; Occur- rence of the Cheer I’heasant (Catreus wallichi) inthe N. W. Ff. Province... tee ea Watt, Capt. F., 1.M.8., C.M,ZS.; A Popular Treatise on the age mon Indian Snakes —- ; A New Snake (Melanelaps mephersoni) from the Aden Hinterland ... —_ ——_—___—-——_; A new Hima- layan Snake (Lycodon mackin- %ONt) ere eoe see see ; The Poisonous Snakes of India and how to re- cognize them ene —— The and its Natural Foes Plumage of young male Pintail Duck —— ——;A new Krait from Oudh (Bungarus wallt) ... ; Some new Snake _—— tC > Asian Snakes eee ae S cnakednten in- flicted by Manaus mephersont. —————.; Reduction in the species of the Genus Pulyn- dont ophis ; Suppression of Melanclavs mophersoni ... vee —— ; Encounter be- tween a Snake and a Lizard ————; Hatching of Dhaman (Zamenis MUCOZUS) EYES and observations on the egg tooth ; Tuctoo and Snake _ ais . WALLINGER, W. A. ; side Fish- ing. Some ee on its deca- dence as an industry in the Konkan ... 526 $12 1, 259, 857 27 29 we. 61, 299, $95 375 238 608 612 807 823 995 1017 1033 - 1085 620 Xxli PAGE WARD, Col, A. E.; Birds of the pro-. vinces of Kashmir and Jammu and adjacent Districts ——— —_——_; Notes on small Mam- als in Kashmir and adjacent Districts see Watson, Capt, J. W,, Packs of Wolves in Persia ——-—— ; Urial in Persia, WHITEHEAD, C. H.; Notes on the occurrence of certain Birds in the plains of N. W. India Wuyrmpse, S. L.; Late breeding of the Black Partridge (’ranco- linus vulgaris) ... soc os —— ; Sites of Birds’ Nests soc -———-———_ —— ; The Brown Woo Ow! (Syrnium indrant) ... eee ——.; Nesting of the Ibis-bill (Zbidorhynchus stru- thersi) and the Common Sand- piper CTotanus hypoleucus) ———— ;Some notes on Birds Nesting in Tehri-Garhwal. IMS, ; eee eco seo aot _ 108, 479, 7235 943 928 576 BLT 243 232 236 523 546 817 LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS, PAGE WIcKHAM, P. F.; Nesting of the Malayan Banded Crake (Railina Sasciata) ... toe ag6 eo. 228 WROUGHTON, R.C.; Notes on the Genus Yatera with descriptions of new species 506 ws BLL _— ; Notes on some Rats of the Jus mettada group. 997 Youne, F.; A strange foster-mo- ther oo. : ose coo eo» 84] Youne, L. C. H., BA. F.E.S., ete., First hints on collecting Butterflies (being a supplemen- tary paper to the articles on the Common Butterflies of the Plains of India) ... nee wee dao Tidid! —— —_——; _ What is a Species? ... p0C eS ve §=128 — —— ——— _; The Common Butterflies of the Plains of India coe O00 ead 418, 921 ——-- ——_ —-— _; Habits of the Tapir oes tbe s50 Seis DE —— ——— ; Occurrence of the Butterfly Chilaria othona in Salsette os. -e. L030 EES Or PLAT £ S; VOLUME 2 vit. The Green Keelback (Macropisthodon plumbicolory, Plate II ove Diagrams of Macropisthodon plumbicolor ooo eos eee toe » Dryophis prasinus, Dryophis fronticinctus and Dryophis dispar Fe », Coluber oxycephalus, Coluber frenatus and Lachesis macrolepis «+. Samber Horns, Plate 1... oer aon Roe Sor ‘ 2 Sy Cee me oP mga hay fre Dendrobium barbatulum, Lindl., Plate MI ga ane oon Bills of Bean Geese eae “oe one 355 ane coe ove a Indian Cuckoos Eggs, Plate I ... soe soe Sor see ove ose Trapa bispinosa, Roxb. «. ee tse Rhodoprasina floralis ... ace aes 50% The Malay Tapir (Zapirus indicus) 0 0 ee te The Common Teal (Wefttion crecca), Plate XXIII ... 406 Diagrams of Zamenis mucosus a soe ae tae vee S08 ene The Dhaman or Indian Rat-snake (Zamenis mucosus), Plate II1.. “on Diagrams illustrating Flowering Season and ON Plates I, IT and III Indian Cuckoos’ Eggs, Piate II ove os eve ene eos The Common Butterflies of the Plains of India, Plate eee. ane eee Maltormed Blackbuck Horn (Antilope cervicapra)wwe «+ : The Persian Ground-chough (Podoces pleskei) aoe aa : oe A new Tortoise from Travancore (Testudo travancorica) (Iwo lagen « New Indian Snake (Bungarus walli) vas oss =ce toc New Indian Snakes, Lyrodon flavomaculatus, Tropidonotus venura Diagrams of Lycodon flavomaculatus... eee coe tee eee New Snake from Thibet (Zropidonotus baileyi) +» coe eos Indian Cuckoos’ Eggs, Plate III eos eve eee +e onic a Diagram illustrating Flowering Season and Climate, Plate LIA ors . + x 5 Shake Wane ieee eos + - ” a 3. land VIE Malformed Gaur Horns... see =e se ove vee eee eve The Cotton Teal, Netiopus coromandelianus a. aes S sec eee The Checkered Water Snake, Tropidonotus piscator, Plate IV ... A The Common Butterflies of the Plains of India, Plate C ... ori SoC Phajus albus, Lindl., Plate III eve ove ove eee eee Photo of abnormal] Sambhar Horn and abnormal Hog-deer Head eee Photos of varieties of Markhor (Capra fatconeri) Cassia renigera, Wall... aoe are ae ose ane eos ue—~--— YS 241 242 259 270 272 348 364 418 519 555 560 608 612 614 618 680 698 700 704 846 858 860 921 940 1020 . 1026 1036 t ha prceetieed ere ? ¥ € CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER. A PopuLtaAR TREATISE ON THE (lOMMON INDIAN SnNAkzs. Part II. By Capt. F. (Wall, Lu.s., o.m.z.s. (With Plate II and Diagrams LV, V and VI.) ee OSs eeeree See tSl eee eee ee seeneas PRC COCs e Fee eSB eeteeeeecesee Ox some New Species or Sriver Pueasanrs rrom Burma. By PACH oMUNe, OMICS. a ccidemenacouinesiecd ahtjsevscccuannaatheacas ere vencienceeae SNAKE VENOMS AND THEIR ANTIDOTES: AN ACCOUNT OF RECENT RESEARCH. By Capt. George Lamb, M.D., 1.M.S, .2.sescscee, cscecceve SamBeR Horns. By J. D. Inverarity. (With 4 Plates)......s00secessess A New Snake (MELANELAPS MCPHERSONI) FROM THE ADEN HINTER- ERNE ey Ware. Walk Teen OOM. A.S.65 sa. caseeerss cepenasacsceses A New Hianayan Snake (LycopoN mMackrinnont). By Capt. F. Wall, T,M.S., C.M.Z.S. POSES Coe FOO SOT ESE TOR FOC HEE SEE EHH DEE SOL ESFESETESESEeEEHe THe Orcuips oF THE Bompiy Presrpency, Part III. By G. A. GAMMEee Hera (WIE WIAIE LEN’ newasaone vansensaded-s nce actsaaines On THE Spscrus oF Bean-Guese. By Eugene W. Oates, F.z.s. (With PREMeIe H eetcentannanineieensiedeaece ecas'ceac oso estcmecocsaenaein aeadecteres THe Poisonous SNAKES OF INDIA AND HOW TO RECOGNIZE THEM. Part I. By Capi. F. Wall, 1,M.8., C.M.Z.8. ...seccsccnssecs.-csceesees THe Ootogy or Inpran Parasitic Cuckoos. Part I. By HE. C. Sanh isdlceks Mavis. INIA LIMO A )> whole lower plumage is glossy black. Length about 24 inches ; wing 9°2 inches; tail 11 inches. Young males have the white vermicu- lations on the upper plumage less firm, and the shafts of many of the feathers of the breast are white. A hen bird which, there can be little doubt, is the female of this species has the crest umber-brown. The whole upper plumage is umber-brown with pale shafts and greyish margins, very finely and obsoletely vermiculated with black. The wing-coverts are tipped with white and the longer feathers have a blackish patch in front of this white tip. The primaries are brown, the outer webs paler than the inner. The secondaries are brown, the outer webs vermiculated with black. The two middle tail-feathers are pale chestnut mottled with brown ; the others are black cross-barred with white. The whole lower plumage is very dark brown, almost black on the breast, each feather with a broad rufous-grey streak anda grey margin. Length about 20 inches ; wing 8°5 inches ; tail 8°5 inches. In both sexes the legs are of a brown colour in the dry skin. The male has a close general resemblance to the male of G. welliams? but differs in many respects, among which may be noted the absence of white bars or mottlings on the inner webs of the primaries, and the aspect of the under surface of the closed tail which is black with little or no trace of diagonal white barring. The female differs in having the lower plumage of a dark-brown colour, not umber-brown like the upper plumage, and in having streaks, not mere pale shafts as in G. williamse. , This species inuabits the Chin Hills and eastern slopes from Mount Victoria to Fort White. I have received specimens from Mr. A. C. Bateman, Mr. P. F. Wickham and Mr. K. C. Macdonald, and I wish this pheasant to bear the name of the last mentioned gentleman in recognition of his kindness in sending me this and other Silver- Pheasants. GENN-EUS BATEMAN], sp. 0. The male is black throughout with the exception of the rump, the feathers of which are terminally fringed with white. Length about 26 inches ; wing 9 inches ; tail 13 inches, The female has the chin and throat grey with paler shafts. The general colour of the whole plumage, including the crest, is umber- brown, each feather with a pale shatt and-a white or greyish margin. -12 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. AVII, The wings coverts are conspicuously tipped with white. The primaries are plain brown. The whole plumage is finely vermiculated with black. The two middle tail-feathers are chestnut, either plain or finely barred with black; the others are plain black, Length about 21 inches ; wing 8°5 inches ; tail 9 inches. In the adult male the legs are light green ; iris hazel ; bill greenish Nisbett). Ina female the legs were brownish blue ; iris hazel ; weight 24 lbs. (Nisbett). The male of this species differs from the male of G. horsfieldz in having a pointed and much longer tail of 13 inches against a tail of 10°5 inches in the oldest male of G. horsfie'di that I have been able to examine. It also differs in having the rump-fringes narrower, thus causing the rump to exhibit more black than white, whereas in G. horsfield2 the contrary is the case, the fringes being so broad that the rump appears more white than black. The female differs from the female of G. horsfieldi in having the tail constantly longer by half an inch. Many years ayo, just after the annexation of Upper Burma, a collec- tor that I sent to Bhamo brought me a pair of Silver-Pheasants. The male was young, as shewn by the rufous margins to many of the feathers of the upper plumage, and the tail was short. Ever since I got this bird I have been much puzzled by its narrow rump-fringes which I could not match with any specimen of G. horsfieldi, young or old, from Assam and Munipur. Quite recently, however, Mr. R. Clifford sent me a fine old male of this species from Sadéne and Captain Nisbett has also sent an old male and a female from the Myitkyina district and also a female from Katha. The six birds thus available for study, establish the fact that G. batemanz, which | have named after my friend and correspondent Mr. A. C. Bateman, is a perfectly recog- nizable and distinct species, taking ihe placa of G. horsfield: in the Katha, Myitkyina and Bhamo districts. SNAKE VENOMS AND THEIR ANTIDOTES: AN ACCOUNT OF RECENT RESEARCH. BY CapraIn GrEorGE Lams, M.D., I.M.S. (Read before the Bombay Natural History Society on 23rd November 1905.) On two previous occasions within recent years you have had to listen to papers which had as their subject matter an account of the physio- logical actions of snake venoms and of the anti-bodies which scientists have given us to combat intoxication from these poisons. And now I have been asked by our Honorary Secretary to bring this fascinating subject again before you, so that you may be thoroughly abreast of the times and know exactly what progress has been made, and in what directions we have still to seek knowledge, in order that we may be ina better position to turn to therapeutic use all the resources of science. Let me, in the first place, carry you back to the 21st January 1902, when I placed before you a short resumé of the position of the subject as it stood at that time. I, then, gave youa description of the metheds of scientific research and of the procuring of venoms; I indicated a few of the important physical and chemical properties of venoms and of the effect of heat upon these poisons. Further, we considered the physiological actions of two venoms, namely, those of the Cobra (Nata tripudians) and of the Daboia (Vipera Russell), and saw the great and broad differences which exist between these two poisons as far as their effects on the animal organism are con- cerned. Finally, I told you of the scientific antidote which had been prepared for one of these poisons, v7z., that of the Cobra, by the French savant, Dr. Calmette. Istated that while Calmette claimed that his serum was equally effective against every kind of snake venom, we had good reasons, buth @ prior? and experimental, for combating this claim. In fact, this serum, even at that date, had beenshown to be practically specific for cobra venom, that is to say, that it neutralised cobra venom but no _ other poison. Nearly two years later, namely, on Guy Fawke’s day © of 1903, Colonel Bannerman, I.M.S.. took up the wondrous tale and brought your knowledge of the subject well up to date. He tabulated in three parallel columns the physiological actions of the venoms of the Cobra, of Russell’s Viper and of the Banded Krait (Bungarus 14 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XVII. fasciatus), and again emphasized the fact that these poisons encumpass the death of their prey in very different ways. Colonel Bannerman was also able to state authoritatively that antivenoms, that is, serums prepared with different venoms, were practically specific. He told you that Dr. Tidswell of Sydney had prepared a serum with the poison of one of the Australian species (Wotechis scutatus) and that this serum while effective for its homologous venom was quite useless for the poisons of three other Australian species and also for the poisons of three of our Indian snakes, wz., Nata tripudians, Bungarus fasciatus and Vipera Russell. Further, at that date, I had already tested Calmette’s serum against three Indian venoms and had found it to be of no value whatever in the treatment of bites from these snakes, namely, Vipera Russell, Bungarus fascratus and Hehis carinata. Such then was the position of our knowledge two years ago. Since that time a considerable amount of work has been done in the direction both of elucidating the exact physiological actions of the venoms of the different species, and of preparing various anti-serums. In view of the fact that we are commencing in the Journal a series of articles with coloured illustrations on the Snakes of India it appears to be an appropriate time to bring our knowledge of these other questions up to date: Let us begin then with the physiological actions of the poisons, first dealing with the colubrine snakes. On the two previous occasions on which this subject was brought before you the actions ef the poisons of the Cobra and of the Banded Krait were considered somewhat in detail and the differences which exist between them were pointed out. We saw that probably these two venoms were poisons which act chiefly on the central nervous system. This probability has now been fully confirmed by the demen- stration histologically of marked changes in the large nerve cells of the brain and spinal cord. These changes are the more marked the longer the animal lives after the injection of the poisons and are especially well marked in the case of those animals which show the chronic nervous symptoms of intoxication after an injection of Bungarus fasczatus venom, If the animal dies within three hours of the bite no changes such as I have mentioned are to be observed, but when death is delayed longer than this period unequivocal changes can be easily demonstrated. Further, cobra venom has been shown to have a direct action on the heart-and circulatory apparatus. This action is, however, quite SNAKE VENOMS AND THEIR ANTIDOTES, 15 subsidiary, as far as we are concerned, to its effect in causing paralysis of the muscles of respiration, through which action death takes place in the great majority of cases. While the researches with the two venoms mentioned above have been extended the poisons of other species have also received a consid- erable amount of attention, especially the venoms of the King Cokra, of Bungarus ceruleus (common Krait), and of Enhydrina valakadien (the common Sea-Snake). The venom of the King Cobra closely resembles that of Nata tripu- dians, but finer differences in the physiological action are to be observed. It causes gradual paralysis throughout the body, death taking place from interference with the respiratory apparatus. As regards the symptoms resulting from this action no difference can be observed between the symptoms caused by this poison and those resulting from the venom of the ordinary cobra. While it is most probable that we are kere also dealing with an action on the cells of the central nervous system, no actual demonstration of this hypothesis has yet been made in the manner which has been done in the case of the venoms of the Cobra and of the Banded Krait. When I am relieved of my present duties I propcse to take up this point. Its action on the blood cells and on the coagulabi- lity of the blood is similar to that of cobra poison. It breaks up the red blood corpuscles and prevents the blood from clotting. While this is so in a general way, there are minor differences in theso actions of the two venoms which show the scientist that the constituents which bring about these effects are not absolutely alike. The differences between the two venoms are well brought cut when we test them side by side against an anti-serum prepared with pure cobra venom. Such a serum neutralises well all the actions of cobra venom. It has no hindering action on the venom of the King Cobra, as far as the effects of this venom on the red blood corpuscles and tne blood plasma are concerned. But when tested against the general action im vivo of this latter poison, it is found that cobra venom anti- serum delays death considerably but does not, even in large amounts, completely ward off the fatal issue. Therefore the most delicate phy- siological test which we possess shows at once that the constituents of the two poisons are not of an identical chemical ecmposition. When an animal is injected with the poison of the ordinary Krait (Bungarus ceruleus) symptoms very similar to those sgen in cases of 16 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, XVII, cobra venom intoxication are observed. Still these symptoms differ so much in relative degree as to render it doubtful if they can be spoken of as identical, Further when we come to consider the question of antivenomous serums, we shall see that cobra venom is quite different from the poison of the Krait. Nevertheless, experiments show that death by krait poisoning is due to failure of the respiratory mechanism, probably due to a direct action of the venom on the respiratory centre in the medulla oblongata. There is no doubt that this poison has also a direct action on the heart and on the circulatory apparatus through the nervoussystem. There are, however, many problems still to be solved. We have, nevertheless, been able todemonstrate that Bungarus ceruleus poison also causes a break- ing up, chromatolysis as it is technically called, of the nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain. Further, this poison has no action on the coagulability of the blood, but has a power to break up, under certain circumstances, the red corpuscles of the blood. There is no doubt that bites from Bungarus cwruleus are extremely dangerous and that a considerable percentage of the total deaths frem snake bite in India, especially in Northern India, is due to this snake. Although the snake is small and injects only a comparatively small quantum of poison, the venom is very deadly, being at least four times as strong as that of the cobra. It is of interesthere to put down in tabular form the minimum lethal doses for rabbits, of the more important poisons expressed in milligrammes per kilogramme of weight, when the injection is made subcutaneously. Minimum lethal dose in mil J;- spedies OF Smale. grammes per kilogramme. ——<—<$——— Nata tripudians (Cobra)... 0°35 Naia bungarus ‘King Cobra) : 0:35 Bungarus ceruleus (Common Krait) 0°08 Bungarus fusciatus (Banded Krait) 25—3 Enhydrina valakedien \Sea Snake)... te 0:05 Notech»s scutatus (Australian Tiger Snake) 0°05 Vipera Russellit (Daboia or Russell’s Viper) 1—2 Echis carinata (Phoorsa or Kupper) 1—2 From this table it is seen that the most poisonous of all snakes are the common Sea Snake and the Australian Tiger Snake: then comes the Krait followed by the Cobra and the King Cobra. The Banded Krait SNAKE VENOMS AND THEIR ANTIDOTES, 17 is the least poisonous of all, its venom being about half the strength of the poisons of the two common Indian. Vipers. I have now to say a few words on the venom of the common Sea- Snake (Hnhydrina valakadien). This snake is very abundant along the coasts of India and Burma to the Malay Archipelago and New Guinea. The poison, as we have just seen, is very deadly, being about eight times stronger than cobra venom. There are no authentic cases on record of bites in the human subject, so that any description of symptoms and of physiological action must be taken from animal experiments. The symptoms observed are very similar to those of cobra venom intoxication. The local reaction is, however, very slight, and further no symptoms pointing to any action of the poison on the coaculability of the blood or on the red cells occur. There is progressive paralysis, accompanied by difficulty in ‘breathing, which latter symptom is much more marked than in cases of cobra venom poisoning. The heart goes on beating for several minutes after the respiration has ceased. While, however, the action of this poison is similar to that of cobra venom there are slight differences which show that the two poisons are not identical. These differences are too technical to enter into here. Suffice it to say that the respira- tory mechanism appears to be the part of the organism which is chiefly affected by Enhydrina venom, while some of the actions which cobre venom has on the circulatory apparatus are wanting in the case of the poison under consideration. These differences are clearly brought out, ‘as we shall see later, when the two poisons are tested against a serum prepared with one of them. I have little to say about the viperine poisons, which now claim our ‘attention. JI have already given you a description of the symptoms ‘and of the physiological action of the venom of Vipera Russell. The venom of Eehis carenata has to all intents and purposes a similar action but again shows slight differences, which we shall see are of great importance in connection with the problem of serum-therapeutics. This poison has a much more powerful action on the coagulability of the blood than any other venom with which I have worked. A very small quantity injected directly into the blood stream of an animal causes solid elotting throughout in a few seconds. This action of the ‘viperine poisons, an action which is also exhibited by those poisons of 3 18 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XVII. the Australian colubrine species which have been investigated, is of the greatest interest and importance. For a long time no satisfactory explanation of the phenomenon was forthecming. It has now, however, been definitely proved that the coagulation which takes place is due to the action of & katalyst or ferment, which in some way or other brings about the formation of fibrin, a phenomenon analogous to the formation of curd which takes places on the addition of rennet to milk. Another point which has been settled as regards the action of the viperine poisons is that they, at least the venom of Vepera Russelli, had no chromatolytic action on the nerve cells of the brain and spinal cord, such as we haye seen can be demonstrated in the case of the venoms of the cobra and of the Bungar?. There is still another point which is of special importance as regards the treatment of cases of Lites from these two vipers. It is well known, and I have mentioned it to you before, that these poisons cause great faintness and collapse. These symptoms are due to an action of the poisons on the circulatory appaia- tus, a rapid, well marked and persistent dilatation of all the small arteries throughout the body taking place. This action no doubt helps to bring about the serious and alarming bleedings which take place in such cases from almost all the orifices of the body. Now there is one drug which has an effect antagonistic to this, and that drugis adrenaline chloride, a preparation made from the small ductless glands which are placed like caps on the upper ends of the kidneys. I have just heard from a friend on the Baluch Frontier that he has found thisdrug to be of immense value in the treatment of these symptoms ; in fact, he assured me that it was the only drug which was of any use. We have here an instance of research pointing the way to therapeutics. While these are the main actions of the Indian venoms which have been investigated, there are, of course, other problems of the greatest interest and importance to those working at the subject. It is, however, not only on account of its intrinsic interest that snake venom research has received so much attention from scientists. There is another and most important aspect of the subject. For owing to the analogy which has been found to exist between venoms and the toxins elaborated by some micro-organisms, such as diphtheria and tetanus bacilli, the results of experiment with snake poisons have taken a not unimportant place in the development of our knowledge of immunity. For, it has been shown that by continued treatment of an animal with injections of SNAKE VENOMS AND THEIR ANTIDOTES, Lg venom one is able to produce an anti-toxic serum. I have alreauy indi- cated to you how such a serum is won and the use to which it can be put. Ihave told you that Calmette was the first to prepare a serum for therapeutic use and that this serum, claimed by Calmnette to be effica- cious against the venoms of all species of snakes, was soon shown to be practically specifie for cobra poison, the venom which preponderated in the mixture with which it was prepared. Dry. Martin was the first to show that this serum was of little or no value for any of the Australian snakes against which it was tested, and in India it was soon demonstrat- ed that Calmette’s serum, while anti-toxic to cobra venom, had no neu- tralising effect for the venoms of the following snakes :— Bungarus fas- clatus, Vipera Russell and Eehis carinata. I have already indicated that Calmette’s serum was at first prepared with a mixture of venoms, the constitution of which mixture was uncer- tain, -but in which cobra venom greatly preponderated. You will, therefore, understand that in order to test thoroughly this question of specificity it was necessary to prepare different serums, each with a single pure venom. This has now been done in Australia, in America and in India, and the results obtained are in complete harmony with each other. Lat me in a few words summarise these observations. Dy. Frank Tidswell in Sydney has prepared a serum with the pure venom of the Australian Tiger Snake (Moetechis scutatus). This serum was found to be active for the corresponding venom, but failed to neutralise the poisons of three other Australian snakes, namely, the brown and the black snakes and the death-adder. Further, this serum was found to be inactive against the venoms of the following Indian snakes:—cobra, king cobra, krait, banded krait, Lnhydrina valakadien, Russell’s viper, phoorsa, green pit-viper and also the Californian rattle-snake. Two pure serums have been prepared in India, one with the venom of the cobra and the other with the venom of the Russell’s viper. The cobra venom anti-serum was found to be strongly anti-toxic for the venom used in its preparation ; in large quantity it has a neutra- lising power for the venom of Enhydrina valakadien; further, it delays death in cases of intoxication with the venom of the king cobra, a species belonging to the same genus as the cobra, and also in cases of intoxication with the venom of Bungarus fasciatus. It does not, how- ever, even when used in large quantities, completely neutralise these 20 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XV/1. poisons. The serum, therefore, would be of little or no therapeutic value in cases of bites from these three snakes. Finally, this serum contains no anti-toxic substances which are active against the venom of Bungarus caruleus or against the venoms of the following viperine snakes :-— Vipera Russelliz, Echis cartnata, Lachests gramineus and Crotalus adamanteus. With the dabotzw venom anti-serum very similar results were obtained. It was found that this serum has no action whatever on any of the colubrine poisons, five in number, against which it was tested ; that it neutralises well its homologous venom ; that it has a certain, but not very marked, neutralising effect on the venom of another viper, namely, the American rattle snake : and that ithasno anti-toxic action for the venom of a closely allied viper, Echzs carinata, nor for that of another Indian viper, Lacheses gramineus. These results which I have collated above only refer to observations made in animals, that is to say, when the life of an animal is used as the index of the neutralisation of the poison by the serum. In other words these experiments only refer to the neutralising power of the serums for the complete general actions of the venoms on the organism. But there are other and very delicate methods outside of the animal body of testing this specificity question. We can test them in test-tubes against the actions which the various poisons exert on the red blood corpuscles and on the coagulability of the blood plasma. This has been done with the three serums mentioned above. When tested against the hemolytic actions of the different venoms, that is to say, the actions which they exert on the red blood corpuscles as evidenced by the dis- solving up of these bodies, cobra venom anti-serum was found to have a high neutralising effect for its homologous venom; to prevent, when used in relatively large amount, this action of the venom of Bungarus coeruleus, but to have no hindering effect at all on the hemolysing actions of eight other venoms, amongst which was the poison of the King Cobra. Very similar results were obtained with Tidswell’s serum which, however, proved not quite so specific in its action as the serum prepared with cobra venom. The serum prepared with dabo:a venom has also been tested against this action of the various venoms. It was found to have no neutralising effect for any colubrine poison; to neutralise the venom of Echis carinata as well as it did that of the poison with which it was SNAKE VENOMS AND THEIR ANTIDOTES, 21 prepared ; to have a marked but not equally great effect on the venom of Crotalus adamanteus ; and to have no neutralising action on the venom of another viper, namely, Lachesis gramineus. These three serums have also been tested in vitro against the action of the different venoms on the coagulability of the blood. In this respect specificity was well marked. Thus, it was found that cobra venom anti- serum neutralised well its homologous poison, but had no effect on this action of the venom of the King Cobra; that notechis and daboiu anti-serums neutralised the fibrin ferments of their respective poisons but had no effect in preventing the clotting actions of the other poisons which possess this remarkable property. T have still to refer to the anti-serums which have been experimented with in America. Flexner and Noguchi have prepared serums with the venoms of Crotalus adamanteus and of the water Mocassin, After testing these serums in detail, they conclude that the action of anti- venines is highly, if not strictly specific, both 7 vivo and in vitro, a conclusion which is in perfect harmony with the results 1 have put forward above. Woe have now in conelusion to consider the bearing which these observations have on the problem of the serum therapeutics of cases of snake bite. It is very evident that at the very outset we are met with the almost insurmountable difficulty that only the specific anti-serum must be used in any case of snake-venom intoxication. ‘Therefore, for India alone we should require at least six different anti-venines, namely, serums for the venoms of the cobia, the king cobra, the krait, the banded krait, the daboia and the phoorsa, There is no difficulty in the actual preparation of these anti-venines, but there are other diffi- culties in the way. In the first place, it seems almost impossible to collect these poisons in quantities sufficient for the purpose of immuni- sation of large animals. For the last five years arrangements for the collection of venoms, backed by the Government of India and complete in every detail, have been working in the Laboratory at Parel. Even under these most favourable conditions only a very small, quite insuffi- cient, amount of venoms, except the poisons of the cobraand the daboia, has been collected. In the second place, granted that it was possible to prepare serums for these different poisons, the practical use of them would b2 beset with difficulty. For whena person, especially a native of India, is bitten by a snake, he is rarely able to tell the species of snake 22 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XVII, which has inflicted the bite and further, as an anti-venomous serum to be of much practical utility must be injected before any symptoms of intoxication have set in, the medical man who is called on to treat a case of snake bite with anti-toxin is not asa rule ina position to form an opinion, either from the history of the case or from the symptoms, as to the nature of the venom which has been injected. He would have, tharefore, either to use one of the anti-toxic serums at haphazard or to inject the whole of them at once, neither of which methods would commend itself as a trustworthy or scientific therapeutic measure. As far asis possible we have already overcome these difficulties. At the Pasteur Institute at Kasauli a polyvalent serum is now prepared with a mixture of equal parts of cobra and daboia venoms. This serum is highly efficacious for both the poisons with which it is prepared but it would be of little or no value for the bites of other Indian poisonous saakes. It is now the only anti-venine issued from that Institute. It is supplied free to all Government Hospitais and Institutes and ata small charge to private individuals. Let us hope that it may be used freely and that it may save many lives which are now lost for lack of scientific treatment. SAMBER HORNS. BY J. D. INVERARITY. (With 4 Plates.) (Read hefore the Bombay Natural History Society on 25th January 1906.) The antlers of the Indian Samber (Cervus unicolor), like others of the deer of the Rusine group, such as the Cheetul and Hog Deer, are ofa ‘simple character, having normally three tines only on each horn the brow antler and two at the top. The object of this paper is to illustrate the different types of antlers carried by the Samber, all of them from my own collection, The first thing to be observed is the different manner of growth of the upper tines. In the Cheetul and Hog Deer I think the outer tine is invariably the longer. I speak only of good adult heads. In the Samber, on the contrary, in the great majority of instances the inner tine is the longest one. The head pictured as No. 1 is a very typical head, length 44 inches, span between outer upper points 33+ inches and round burr 10 inches. No. 2 is a ‘specimen of the wide spreading head, and measures, length 42 inches, span 41% inches, round burr 104 inches. This is a remarkable head for stoutness of horn, the thinnest part of the beam being 7 inches in circumference, gradually thickening to a circumference of 104 inches just below where the upper points divide. The weight of this head with the small piece of skull attached six months after it was shot was 19 lbs. Ido not think the piece of skull can weigh! lb. An ordinary 40-inch head with a similar small piece of skull attached, only weighs about 12 or 13 lbs. A single horn picked up, 41 inches dong, thinnest part of the beam 8 inches, weighs 7 lbs. 13 oz. Both the heads, Nos. 1 and 2, have the inner upper tine the longest. No. 3 has the outer tine the longestand measures, length 40 inches, span 36 inches, round burr 9 inches. It is very seldom one meets with a head where the horns are not symmetrical, the longer tine being on the outside of one horn and on the inside of the other, I have only two heads of this description, and, curiously enough, got them both within a few days of each other. No.4 is one of them and measures, length 43 inches, span 84 inches, round burr ‘9 inches, an inch or two is broken off the outer tine of the left 24 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XVIT, horn. There are some good Samber heads, about a dozen, in the Natural History Museum at South Kensington, but they are placed so. high up that it is difficult to see them properly. With one or two: exceptions, the inner upper tine is the longest. The stuffed Samber- there is a moderate specimen: judging by the eye the horns appear to be about 3 feet long. Samber occasionally have an extra tine in one of the horns at the top. There is a remarkable head in the Natural History Museum at Kensington, where each horn shoots out at the- base of the upper points an extra very thick tine which again divides. intotwo. A small extra point also sometimes appears at the base of ihe: brow antler. Ihave 8 heads, one of which has an extra point in both. brow antlers sticking up between the brow antler and beam, the other two- throw the extra point below the right brow antler proper, in each case it is about 3 inches long. I havenever seen a switch horn in Samber, 2.é., 2 horn without any tines at all. I have one head, the left horn, 35- inches long, bifurcates in the usual manner. The right horn, 34 inches. long, does not bifurcate but consists of a single beam. ‘The brow ant-- lers are normal. Of course very young stag’s horns are simple spikes. “in the first year of growth. The next illustration, No. 5, is. of an unusually narrow spreading head. Length 884 inches, span: between outer points 19 inches, between inner points 11% inches,. round burr 9 inches. The horns curve so little that although the: measurement round the curve is 584 inches ina straight line from tip to burr, it measures 84 inches. This stag had both brow antlers: broken off. He jumped up close to me. Seeing the points of his horns. were close together, I did not fire as I thought he was a small one,, so he nearly escaped, as he had run a long way before I saw he was: worth shooting. No. 6 I consider to be an unique head as it has na brow antlers at all, nor any trace of any, in other respects the horns: appear normal, although the left horn has a twist in it. The outer: tines of this head are the longest ; 2 or 38 inches are broken off the inner tine of the left horn. It measures, length 38 inches, spam 31 inches, round burr 8 inches. This stag had hardly any hair on its neck ; it had all been rubbed off in fighting. The want of brow antlers. had allowed the brow antlers of his opponent to scrape his neck. Although you could clearly see the scoring along the skin made by the points of the horns, very few of these thrusts had drawn blood. No. 7 is another instance of no brow amtlers, but the horns are abnormal. JOURN., BOMBAY NAT. Hist. £oc., VOL. XVII. PLATE I. SAMBER HORNS. JOURN., BOMBAY NAT. HIST. Soc., VoL. XVII. PLATE JI. SAMBER HORNS, JOURN., BOMBAY NAT. Hist. Soc., VOL. XVII. PLATE Ill. SAMBER HORNS. JOURN., BOMBAY Nat. Hist. Soc., VoL. XVII. PLATE IV. SAMBER HORNS. SAMBER HORNS. lo or The pedicle on which the left horn grows instead of being perpendicular rows outwards for 3 2 to the skull, grows outwards ; the horn also inches, and then turns at aright angle to the usual position. The pedicle of the right horn is also abnormal; except at the lower portion it cannot be seen, the horn appearing to grow straight out of the skull. The inner tine of the left horn has been broken off. The beam of the right horn splits into a fork in a curious manner. This head measures, length 88 inches, span 403 inches. Both Nos. 6 and 7 were well grown stags in good condition, and there was nothing to. indicate any reason for their peculiar heads. No, 6 was a solitary stag. No.7 was in company of two hinds and two calves. No. 8 is an instance of a third horn growing on a separate root or pedicle of its. own—a rare kind of malformation, The third horn is a mere knob, nearly an inch from the left horn ; this space was covered by skin. The left horn seems to have little or no pedicle. The base of the left horn is 14 inch lower than the burr of the right horn, There is no burr to the left horn, except at the front. The right horn measures 32 inches, the left horn 26 inches, and the knob 14 inches at the rear and 1 inch at the front. I have no heads of which the upper tines are of equal length. I do not think you will ever find this to be the case in good heads of over 3 feet in length, There is no means of knowing exactly at what age a Samber has his best head. Animals in captivity are not under natural conditions. It is well known that all deer grow worse horns after they are past their prime. Their heads go back. When in their prime, their antlers are thicker, longer and better beaded than in old age. An old stag’s head may be known by its smoothness and worn appearance. I have often had it remarked to me by those who know no better when looking at a very > On the contrary good head, “that must have been a very old stag.’ the best heads are those of stags in their prime. Some of the very old stags are hardly worth shooting. A Red Deer kept ina park begins to. go back in his head, I believe, when he is about 8or 9 years old, so it seems probable that a Samber is at his best when about that age too. Samber usually shed their horns in April, but on the 2nd January 1903, I saw a young stag in velyet. His horns were about 8 inches long, cylindrical, with the thickening at the top characteristic of the growing horn. As he stood for several minutes within 40 yards of me, I had a good look at him with glasses. I do not think I could kaye made 4 26 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XVII. a mistake. In the month of January 1905, I also saw a young stag with horns a few inches long which appeared to be in velvet; but as he was more than 100 yards off, [ am not certain of it. Sambers are very fond of rubbing their horns against trees long afterthe hornsare hard. The front of the beam above the brow antler is generally worn smooth by this practice. ‘he interstices between the heads on the antlers are packed tight with bark from the trees. The horns are seldom of equal length, one being one or two inches longer than the other. I have one head the horns of which are exactly the same length viz. 40 inches. Toe custom is to measure the longest horn, The thickest horn round the burr I have seen isa single shed horn in our Museum which measures 122 inches in circumference at the burr. The longest upper tine I have measures 22 inches. The longest brow antler measured from the burr is 24 inches. In the jungles I know 1 see no diminution in the number of Samber since I first came out to India nearly 85 years ago. Fair shooting at good heads only will, in my opinion, never do any injury to the stock of deer. I often see old stags with poor heads that I do not fire at that ought to have been shot long ago. Hinds are numerous. On one occasion I saw a single stag lying out on an open bank in the sun, which is quite unusual as they generally sit in shade. I fired at him and missed; I tracked him some way and came to a place where he had galloped across a small stream ; the water being about 2 feet deep. A small fish, 4 inches long, was iloating on the surface, and I found it had been cut nearly in half by the Samber’s hoof. It was not crushed, so had not been trodden on, The hoof must have struck it when swimming in the water, Another stag I hit plunged intu a long deep pool of a river and swam up and down the pool saveral times. He swam with his body low in the water, horns thrown back and only the top of his face and points of his antlers showing. The pictures one sees of deer swimming vsually show the whole head out of the water, which appears to be incorrect. This particular stag had a 40-inch head, and he eventually swam to the opposite side of tha river and stood in deep water, which enabled me to shoot him through the neck, when he sank to the bottom. 27 A NEW SNAKE (MELANELAPS McPHERSONI) FROM THE ADEN HINTERLAND. BY Capr, F. WALL, I.M.S., 0.M.Z.S. (Read before the Bombay Natural [History Society on 5th October 1905.) An interesting addition to the Asian fauna has recently been made by the discovery of a new poisonous colubrine snake by Captain G, McPherson, J.M.S., at Dthali in the Aden Hinterland. It presents a combination of external characters so distinctive that I consider it deserves generic rank, and I have accordingly called it Melane/aps in conjunction with the discoverer’s name. Whether this opinion will be supported by osteological peculiarities must remain sub judice until more specimens have been obtained. The mandibular and palatine teeth appear to be singularly few and small, but the fang unusually well developed for members of the Elapine. It must be placed in the Family Colubride; Series Proteroglypha; Sub-family Elapine. Judging from external characters (the scales, subcaudals, rostral, frontal, supralabial, and posterior chin shields), it has no very close affinities with any of the Indian poisonous colubrines, nor indeed with any other known members of this sub-family. Deseription.— Rostral unusually large. Breadth fully twice height ; projecting ; in contact with 6 shields, of which the internasal sutures are the largest (about one-third greater than the anterior nasals), and the 1st labial sutures smallest, and inferior. Internasals a pair. Suture be- tween them rather less than that between the prefrontal pair; about one-third the internaso-prefrontal suture. Prefrontals a pair. The suture between them about half the prefronto-frontal suture: in con- tact with, internasal, postnasal, preocular, supraccular and frontal. Frontal very large. In contact with 6 shields, of which the supraocu- lars make the smallest sutures (about $ the rest which are subequal) ; length greater than parietals and much greater than distance to end of snout. Supraoculars. Lengthabout 3 frontal; breadth about 4} frontal. Yasals two, divided ; in contact with the Ist, 2nd and 3rd supralabials ; nostril slitlike, placed almost entirely in the anterior shield and occupy- ing the upper 3 of the suture. Loreal absent. Praocular one, small. dye small. Its horizontal diameter rather more than half its distance 28 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XVII. to the nostril, vertical diameter about half its distance to the labial margin; pupil round, Postocular one, large, Temporals three; the. lowest largest, and in contact with the 4th and 5th supralabials. Supralabials 6. The first very small, second rather larger, third and fourth very deep, fifth and sixth moderate. The third and fourth touch the eye. Afental very broad. Anterior sublinguals large. Posterior sublinguals small and widely separated by 5 scales. Jnfralabials 3: touch the anterior sublinguals on the left side, 4 on the right; the 3rd and 4th touch the posterior sublinguals on the left side; the 4th and 5th on the right ; the 4th is the largest of the series onthe left side, the dth onthe right; the suture between the Ist is about half that between the anterior sublinguals. Scales 2 heads lengths behind head 26, midbody 25, 2 heads lengths in front of vent 21; smooth, no apical pits; the vertebral row is not enlarged, and the last row very slightly so. Supia- caudalsin odd rows. Ventrals 229 rounded, broad. Anal entire. Sub- caudals 30, all entire, except the first which is divided. Colour uniform glossy blue-black everywhere. The head isbroad, blunt, and declivous. from oceipital region. Neck not constricted. Body subcylindrical. Tail short. Melanelaps mephersoni. ( X 2 ) A NEW HIMALAYAN SNAKE (LYCODON MACKINNONI). By Capr., F. WALL, 1.M.8., 0.M.Z.8. (Read before the Bombay Natural History Society on dth October 1905.) T have lately received from Mr. P. W. Mackinnon a few snakes col- lected by him in the neighbourhood of Mussoorie, among which is a small snake of the genus Lyccdon hitherto undescribed. The specimen was killed in his own garden at an altitude of 6,100 feet. Unfortunately, the specimen has been badly mutilated about the head. With some difficulty I have managed to clean and repose the parts suffi- ciently to make drawings which, though accurate, I believe, in the actual relationship of the shields, are probably not quite so with regard to the shape of the head. The following is a description of it :— Rostral, in contact with 6 shields, of which the nasal sutures are the largest, and about twice the length of the internasals. Inter- nasals, a pair. The suture between them subequal to that between the prefrontal fellows ; less than the internaso-prefrontal suture. Prefrontals, a pair, The suture between them subequal to the pre- fronto-frontal suture. In contact with the internasals, nasals, 1st, 2nd and 3rd supralabials, preeocular, supraocular and frontal. Frontal in contact with 6 shields, of which the sutures are subequal. Supraoculars are half the breadth and about two-thirds the length of the frontal. Nasal whether divided or not uncertain ; in contact with only one supra- labial (the first), Zoreal absent. Preocular one. Hye with vertical pupil. Postoculars two, subequal. Temporal two; the lower in contact by equal sutures with the 6th and 7th supralabials. Supra- Jabials 8, with the drd, 4th and 5th touching the eye on the left side ; 7 with the 2nd, 3rd and 4th touching the eye on the right side (owing to a confluence of the Ist and 2nd? ). Anterior sublinguals subequal ‘to the posterior ; in contact with 5 infralabials. Posterior sublinguals in contact with the 5th and 6th infralabials. Jnfralabials, The first form a suture about } the length of the suture between the anterior sublinguals ; the 5th and 6th are subequal and largest and the 6th pen- tagonal, and in contact with 2 scales behind. Scales. Two heads lengths behind the head 17 ; midbody 17 ; two heads lengths before the vent 15. Atthe step where the scales reduce from 17 to 15 behind the middle of the body, this is effected by the blending of the 3rd and 4th 30 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XVIZ, rows above the ventrals, Ventrals 192, slightly angulate. Anal divided. Subcaudals 54 divided. Colour chocolate, with short white linear streaks copiously distributed dorsally. Head blackish-brown with white streaks, Zabéals white. Belly yellowish-white, with a row of lateral spots one on each ventral. Length about 1 foot 14 inches. It thus approaches nearest to the effrenis of the Malayan fauna, in that there is no loreal ; the scales are in 17 rows, and three labials touch the eye. The only other Indian species without a loreal is atropurpureus. Lycodon mackinnom, ( X 3 ) (paBuejue) dry -Z “BIg ' 2 ~-quejd autjue uy i Sy ~ HPuld ‘WNINLVadva WNIgOY¥GNad “WSpLoT CULO.) Sougiusa uty 31 THE ORCHIDS OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY. By G. A. GAMMIE, F.L.S. Part III, (Wits Prars JI.) (Continued from page 569 of Vol. XVI.) 5, DENDROBIUM BARBATULUM, Lindl. Fl. Br. Ind, V., 719 ; Dalz. and Gibs., p. 261. Stems usually more robust and shorter than the last, also bearing flowers on the second year’s leafless stems. eaves lanceolate acuminate, 8 to 4 inches long, racemes lateral and terminal, many flowered, bracts very small. Flowers 1 inch in diameter, white more or less suffused with rose, dorsal sepal narrow, lateral lanceolate falcate, petals larger elliptic lanceolate, spur conical acute, [zp flat, side lobes enclosing the ovary short, midlobe large ovate acute, dzsk hairy and with a short ridge between the side lobes. Distribution —Throughout the Ghats and Konkan to Coorg, It flowers during the hot weather from March to May. Plate II. Fig. 1. An entire plant. Fig. 2. Lip (enlarged), Fig. 3. Column (enlarged). Fig. 4. Pollen masses and cap (enlarged), This is an unusually bright-coloured specimen drawn by Mr. Bhide. The colour has been exaggerated in reproduction. As a rule the flowers are only flushed with rose-pink. ‘They are fragrant and have the habit of almost closing up in the evenings and during the night, a fact which I have never observed in any other orchid. [2. Dendrobium barbatulum, Lindl,— The native name of this plant is not known, “ Bechu,” or “ Nangli,” is the native name of D, crepidatum, Lindl, Dalzell and Gibson say that it is common in the North and South Konkans, Mr, H,M, Birdwood has found it on the Matheran Hill. Hooker says, at p, 719, Fl. B. L., that the flowers are whitish, They are generally pale pink, and shining bright in appearance, when fresh, The brightness vanishes in drying. Unfortunately, cur plate is printed by Mintern Bros, in a deeper pink colour, This pink colour, deeper than natural, is often met with when the flowers have remained in bloom for some time under a strong sun after the first opening of the flowers. They are to be met with in Thana on the branches cf the Mango in a bed of Lichen, named generically the Parmelias, It is found in Dapoli (Ratnagiri District). A couple of plants of this species were brought to me from Dapoli in 1904 by Mr. 'T’. 8, Greenaway, then the District Superintendent of Police, Ratnagiri District. The plants flowered in my Outram House Garden, under a shed of cocoanut palm jhowlis in the open air at the beginning of the hot weather, March of 1904. I am therefore able to say that the 32 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XVII, colour of the flowers is not deep but light pink, bright shining, The petals are almost translucent, Nairne says that the flowers, in racemes, are “ cream-coloured with some ‘green,’ Not so! The colour is distinctly rosy like that of Dendrobium Fytchianum, Bateman, found in Moulmein (Burma). There is a natural hybrid named Dendrobium barbatulo-chlorops, Rolfe, between D, barbatulum, and D, ehlorops mentioned by Williams (p. 326 op, cit.) which would account for the confusion made as stated already in my foregoing remarks ou the colours of D. chlorops and D, barbatulum. There is yet xoom for a fresh examination of the D. barbatulum from specimens either fresh obtained, or examined in their natural condition.—K, R. K.] (c) Stems slender, excessively branched, flowers small, white. 6. DernpRosium HERBACEUM, Lindl. FI. Br. Ind., V., 719 ; D. ramosissimum, Wight. Dalz, and Gibs., p. 261. A much branched plant, branches slender, pendulous, their lower parts naked and shining, the upper with short sheaths, branchlets leafy, leaves linear, lanceolate, soon falling, up to 2 inches Jong, racemes terminal on the branchlets, very short, usually three-flowered, bracts very small, flowers white witha greenish tinge, } inch broad, sepals and petals subequal, linear oblong obtuse, spur very short and rounded, lip oblong, side lobes almost obsolete, granular, midlobe smooth, ovate. Distribution.—The Western Ghats and Konkan to Coorg ; Godaveri District and Parasnath in Behar, A common orchid at Mahableshwar. Flowers in the hot weather, Section II] —Endendrobrium. Stems tufted, flowers yellow or pink in short racemes or in pairs from the joints of the leafless stems. 7. Denppgoprum mMAcRostacHyuM, Lindl. FI. Br. Ind., V., 735. Stems 1 to 2 feet long, pendulous, slender, leaves thin, 3 to 4 inches long, ovate oblong acute, racemes short, from leafless stems of ry) the previous year’s growth, bracts small. lowers 2 to 8 on moder- ately long stalks, fragrant, 1 inch long, not spreading, sepals and petals subequal, broadly lanceolate acute, yellow tinged with pink, nerves greenish, 17 convolute, obovate, dzsk strap-shaped, slightly ribbed, limb with purple nerves and with thick soft hairs on its upper surface and margins, spur formed by the united bases of the lateral sepals, thick, shortly funnel-shaped. Distribution—Common on trees on the Belgaum and Kanara (Ghats, also recorded from Travancore and Ceylon. Flowers during the hot weather. THE ORCHIDS OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY. 33 8. Denproprum orepipaTum, Lindl. FI). Br. Ind., p. 740. ; D. Lawanum, Dalz. and Gibs., p, 261. Stems fleshy, forming erect tufts, about a foot high, surfaces loosely sheathed and elegantly striated with green and white. Leaves 2 to 3 inches long, linear lanceolate, acute, falling away at the end of the first season. lowers in small clusters, from the joints of the leafless stems, up to 14 inch in diameter, of a waxy texture and a shining rose colour, sepals oblong obtuse, petals almost obovate, spur short and obtuse, lp yellow, side lobes short broadly: obovate, pubescent or ciliolate. Distribution— Common on the Belgaum and Kanara Ghats especially on the branches of trees overhanging ravines. It is also recorded from the Eastern Himalayas, Assam and the Khasia Hills. Flowers during the hot weather. DENDROBIUM CREPIDATUM, Lindl., var. nov. AVITA. Differing from the type in the flower being composed of six absc- lutely equal perianth segments, the side lobes of the lip forming short ascending spurs on each side of the lower part of the column. The midlobe of the lip is of exactly the same colour and texture as the sepals and petals. This is not an accidental variation, as some plants I have in cultivation produce these flowers normally every year. Found throughout the Belgaum and Kanara Ghats in association with tho type. 5. BULBOPHYLLUM. Pseudobulbs ovoid arranged on a creeping stem. Leaf solitary Raceme rising from the base of the pseudobulb. Flowers crowded towards the apex, dorsal sepal short and broad, lateral sepals much longer and narrower, petals very short, lzp jointed on the foot of the column, mobile, recurved, column short, with two awn-like teeth at the top, anther 2-celled, pollinea 4. 1. BULBOPHYLLUM NILGHERRENSE, Wight, FI. Br. Ind., V., 761. Pseudobulbs 1% inch long, ovoid, leaf 4 or 5 inches elliptic oblong, base of raceme sheathed, peduncle and rachis up to 5 inches long bracts lanceolate acute, sheathing the base of the ovary which they slightly exceed in length, sepals dull yellow suffused with red at their bases, dorsal short broadly ovate, lateral ovate oblong acute, petals half as long as the dorsal sepal, triangular ovate acuminate, pale yellow, lip yellow, side lobes short purple, midlobe triangular ovate yellow. 34 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XV11, Distribution.—On the Belgaum and Kanara Ghats ; also recorded from the Nilgiri Hills, Flowers in December. 6.—CIRRHOPETALUM. Pseudobulbs clustered, ovoid, compressed, leaves absent at the flowering period. Inflorescence an umbel of 5 or more flowers radiating from the apex of a peduncle which rises from the base of a pseudobulb on which area few scattered bractlike scales. Dorsal sepal small, lateral very long, petals small densely fimbriate, /ép small, thickened, strap-shaped jointed on the foot of the column. Apex of column with two horizontally spreading acute teeth, anther 2-celled, pollznza 4. 1. COIRRHOPETALUM FImMBRIATUM, Ldl, Fl. Br. Ind., V., 774 ; Dalz. and Gibs., p. 261, Dorsal-sepal yellow suffused with red, triangular ovate caudate, margin long fringed, lateral petals up to 14 inch long, green, linear acute, coherent throughout their length, petalsalmost white with long purple tails which also bear long fringes of the same colour. Lip ruddy brown with a lighter disk. Column yellow, suffused with red. The so-called umbrella orchid of Mahableshwar, flowering in the cold weather, Distributionr.—Throughout the Ghats, ihe Konkan and Kanara. URIS: Small epiphytes with the habit and foliage of Bulbophyllum. Scape lateral, one-flowered. Sepals subequal, spreading, 7-nerved, lateral adnate to the foot of the column. Petals small, oblong or linear. Lip small, coriaceous or fleshy, jointed on to the foot of the column, inflexed, incumbent, mobile. Column short, bread, tip angled, winged or toothed ; anther erect, caducous, 2-celled, produced into a Jong horn ; pol/tnta subcoherent in pairs in each cell. 1. Trias Srocxsi1, Benth. Fl. Br, Ind., V., 781. Pseudobulbs $ inch. Leaves 1 inch, elliptic acute. Scape 4 inch. Flowers 4 to 2 inch in diameter, sepals obtuse, petals ovate lanceolate erect, lip oblong, convex, smooth, shoulders convex, tip rounded, horn of anthers slender, dcp entire. Distribution —Kanara, N.and 8. Konkan. I have not met with this plant, The foregoing description is from the Flora of India, l.c. 8.—ERIA. Epiphytes of various habits. Sepals usually free, adnate to the elongate foot of the column and with it forming a short or long and spur like saccate mentum. /p sessile on the foot of the column, THE ORCHIDS OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY. i) Anther imperfectly 4 or 8-celled ; pollinta normally 8, pear-shaped or broadly obovoid, attached in fours by narrow bases to a viscus. Section I, Porpaz (character given in list of genera). Flowers dark, purple, bell-shaped ... a», 1, -E. reticulata, Flowers yellowish, 2-lipped oa wow «2s Et. lechenora. Section II. Conchidium, Flowers solitary, large white fee oon Os LE. FebiCOSG. Section III.— Bryebium. Flowers green, sepals and petals without HS glandular hairs ... = 36 we 4. EF. Dalzelliz. Flowers green, sepals a petals with glandular hairs ... si oo vee 90. LEriamicrochilos. Section 1V.— Hymeneria. Sepals and petals white, lzp yellow, side lobes purple ae ae a . 6. EL. mysorensis. Section 1—Porpacz. 1, Eprra reticutata, Benth. Fl, Br. Ind., V., 786. Pseudobulbs button-like, $ inch in diameter, densely crowded on the bark of trees, grey with darker blotches. Leaves 2, broadly oblong, less than one inch long. Flower solitary, $ inch long, dark purple brown rising from between the leaves, stalk very short, sheathed and with a large orbicular retuse bract. Sepals united into a bell-shaped 3-lobed tube, spur almost obsolete, petals spoon-shaped, Izp half the length of the petals, fiddle-shaped, margins crenulate, base with a short erect spur, pollinia 8, pear-shaped. Distribution.—Throughout the Western Ghats. Flowers appear in June, As the pseudobulbs are small and disk-like and so closely resemble the bark on which they rest, this humble plant is very difficult to discover, 2. Eria Licnenora, Lindl. FI. Br. Ind., V., 787. Pseudobulbs depressed, disk-like, small, covered witha fibrous network. Leaves 2 on each pseudobulhb, orbicular, ovate, ciliate, up to 1 inch long, brownish purple beautifully tessellated with green. Flowers 3 inch long, yellowish, two-lipped, dorsal sepal orbicular, ovate, lateral united, hairy, petals linear, spur small, rounded, lip very small, shortly clawed, ovate cordate, sides toothed, tip acute. Distribution—Found by G. M. Woodrow in flower at Sampkund, N, Kanara, in July and by T. J. Spooner, during the same month, on the Belgaum and N. Kanara Ghats ; also recorded from the Bababuden Hills and Travancore, 36 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, XVII, Section II.—Conchzdzum, 3. Eprra rEeTICOsSA, Wight, Fl. Br. Ind., V., 787: E. braccata, Dalz. and Gibs., p. 262. Pseudobulbs disk-like, # inch in diameter enclosed in a network of fibres. Leaves 2, about 3 inches long, linear, oblong. lowers soli- tary, on a thread-like stalk, 1} inch in diameter, bract below the flower large, boat-shaped. Sepals white lanceolate acute, the lateral falcate and joined at the base into a short, broad sac. Petals white lanceo- late acute, slightly shorter and narrower than the sepals, lip near- ly as long as the sepals, linear oblong acute, 3-lobed, side lobes white flushed with pink long rounded, midlobe ovate acute, yellow at base and white towards the end, margins slightly crenulate, disk between the side lobes with two crested ridges. . Distribution. —Throughout the Western Ghats and Nilgiris. Flowers in July- This plant is difficult to find during the greater part of the year, but in the rainy season it is a conspicuous object, as its large white flowers often completely clothe large parts of the branches of trees, It is very common round Lonavla, Section III.—Bryobsum. 4, Erta Datzertu, Lindl, Fl. Br. Ind., V., 789; Dalz. and Gibs,, p. 262. A very small plant, scarcely ever more than 3 inches in height. Pseudobulbs flattened ovoid, up to $inch in diameter, reticulated, principal venation pinnate. Leaves two, 1 to 2 inches long, oblanceolate obtuse, raceme rising from between the leaves, few flowered, flowers green with a yellow tinge 3 inch in diameter, bracts longer than the ovary lanceolate abruptly long pointed, sepals subequal, lanceolate acute recurved towards apex, the two lateral cohering into a short, broad, blunt sac, petals shorter and narrower than sepals, /zp about half the length of the petals ovate, lanceolate side lobes long, narrow, mizdlobe acute with a crenulated margin, two distinct callosities at base of lip, anther imperfectly 8-celled, pollinia 8, pear-shaped. Distribution —Throughout the Ghats and Konkan, Flowers in July. 5. Bria mrcrocurwos, Lindl. Fl. Br. Ind., V., 789; Dalz. and Gibs., p. 262 ; EZ. Dalzellzi, Lindl. var. fimbriata, Hook f. Fl. Br. Ind,, V., 789. Pseudobulbs flattened, irregularly shaped, up to 4 inch in diameter, reticulated, principal venation flabellate. Leaves two (with one or two reduced ones at base) oblong, lanceolate obtuse, up to 2 inches long, raceme rising from between the leaves and scarcely exceeding them, THE ORCHIDS OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY. 37 flowers few, 4 inch in diameter, bracts lanceolate, not abruptly pointed, longer than the ovary, flowers green, sepals and petals ciliate with gland-tipped hairs, sepals lanceolate acute, the two lateral conniving at base into a short, blunt but distinctly forward pointing spur, lp half the length of the petals, fiddle-shaped, lateral lobes almost obsolete, midlobe broadly ovate rounded, margin crenulated, disk with almost obsolete ridges which coalesce in a single line towards the apex, pollinéa 8, pear- shaped, unequal. Distribution Throughout the Ghats and Konkan, Flowers in July. These two species have been treated as varieties of one in the Flora of British India. They are, however, quite distinct, The venation of the pseudobulbs differs in both. The lip of Eria Dalzellii is ovate lanceolate with two thickened ridges near the base, while that of EL, microchilos is fiddle-shaped and the almost obsolete ridges extend to the middle of the lip where they join to form a single line towards the apex. The coloration of the lip of E. microchilos is yellow on the lower half and white on the upper; that of EZ. Dalzellii is green suffused with yellow onthe basal half and white on the upper; the column in the former is nearly white, in the latter it is green. Section 1V.— Ay meneria. 6. HErrta mysorensis, Lindl. FI. Br. Ind., V., 793. Pseudobulbs cylindric when young, slender, with equitant scales, sud- denly passing into the 5 membranous leaves, older pseudobulbs thicker, fusiform, 3 inches long, with a strongly wrinkled skin. Leaves lanceo- late, from 4 to 8 inches long by 4% inch broad, main parallel nerves very distinct. Racemes generally two on each pseudobulb springing from the axils of the two lowest leaves. Flowers about 12,4 inch in dia- meter, bracts lanceolate acute, equalling the pedicels and ovary, sepals white, lanceolate acute, distinctly nerved, the two lateral just conniving at base, petals similar to but a little shorter than the sepals, lp shortly clawed, almost fiddle-shaped, lateral lobes narrow rounded purple, mid- lobe shortly apiculate, yellow, disk with two slightly raised ridges which meet at the apex. Anther imperfectly 8-celled, pollinia 8, pear- shaped, equal. Distribution Throughout the Western Ghais, Flowers in July. It isa common orchid at Mahableshwar. (To be continued.) 38 ON THE SPECIES OF BEAN-GERSE, BY Hucgense W. Oates, F.Z,8. (With a Plate.)* (Read before the Bombay Natural History Socrety on 25th March, 1906.) Of all our Indian birds, the Bean-Geese are in the most unsatisfactory state, owing to their comparative rarity and, probably, to the fact that they are not recognised by sportsmen and consequently not preserved. There is not a single specimen in the Hume collection. When some years ago I was about to write the ‘ Game Birds of India ’ it became necessary for me to investigate this group. I could not find anywhere an Indian-killed skin, but bearing in mind what Blyth, Jerdon, Hume and, more recently, Mr. H, C. Stuart Baker had written, I felt bound to recognise the Pink-footed Goose as the sole Jndian Bean-Goose, improbable as its occurrence in India was. The acquisition of a specimen of a Bean-Goose from Burma, kindly sent by my friend Captain J. H. Whitehead, gave an additional impetus to my work, The British Museum also about this time received a con- siderable number of Bean-Geese, of two species, from Holland, and I was therefore in possession of plenty of material for study—not quite enough, but about as much as one could reasonably expect. When Mr, HE. Comber was in England, he saw some beautiful co- loured drawings of the heads of these geese that were in my house and he suggested that I should contribute an illustrated article on the Bean- Geese to the pages of our journal. Although the time has hardly arrived for it to be possible to write a full and satisfactory account of these birds, yet a beginning can now be made, andI think that my imperfect paper, for such it is, will answer one purpose,—that of enabling sportsmen to recognise a Bean-Goose and also to determine the species. The Bean-Geese are found only in Europe and Asia : in summer, far north ; in winter, as low down as the Mediterranean, Persia, India and China. They are not very dissimilar to the Grey Lag-Goose in colour, but they are darker ; have no black bars on the lower plumage ; and their bills are coloured witha combination of black and yellow, or black and red, as shown on my plate. I have dealt with eight species of Bean-Geese, of which one, A. sege- tum, is not represented in the British Museum and I have not been * For explanation of Plate see page 50, “4SSS9-NVS9 30 S114 “yeu pe'jsp YMMV L i | ‘20C 1ST JEN Aequiog “usrno 7 A THE SPECIES OF BEAN-GEESE, 39 able to examine a specimen anywhere. Mr, Frohawk, however, has found a skin from which to draw the bill (fig. 2). There isa ninth species of Bean-Goose, A. carnezrostvis, of Buturlin, of which I can learn little at present. Ido not wish to ignore or sup- press it, but I simply have no details of it, and consequently I cannot include it in this paper. It is said to be like A. segetum, but with the pale parts of the bill flesh-coloured. Unless the bill also differs in size and shape, it is hardly likely to prove a species. Bean-Geese, under very various names, are of course repeatedly mentioned in books and papers relating to ornithology, but the authors fail to indicate by any precise description the species of Bean-Goose they are writing about ; consequently it is impossible to get any correct notion of the distribution of these birds, Careful writers like Nau- mann, Middendorff, Stejneger and a few others fix their species either by a careful description or by a figure of the bill, and these are the only authors that can be understood. Owing, therefore, to the general confusion prevailing about these geese, I determined from the first to deal only with well ascertained facts and to base my paper entirely on the British Museum specimens and those records in which the geese mentioned could be correctly and unhesitatingly identified. Consequently, my paper will be found to be very defective in the matter of the distribution of the species and in many other respects, but it is not intended to be anything more than a sketch, and no further apology is necessary for its shortcomings. The identification of the Bean-Geese presents no difficulties if the proper characters are looked for, These consist solely of the size or length of the bill and the relative proportions of its various parts. The length of the bill in each species varies with the age of the bird and may be taken as varying about half an inch in the larger- billed species and a quarter of an inch in the smaller-billed ones. The proportions of the parts are, as far as my experience goes, absolutely constant, and every specimen shot in India will be found to have a bill which corresponds with one or other of the bills figured. I have given measurements of the length of bill in each species. This is taken by a pair of compasses and is the direct straight distance from the edge of the feathered portion of the forehead on the culmen, or central line of the head, to the tip of the nail of the upper mandible. The other dimensions of the bill, or the proportions of the several 40 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL'HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XVII. parts, are best taken from the figures: the eye should suffice for this, The height at the forehead ; the greatest depth of the lower mandible ; the curve or outline of the edge of the lower mandible ; and the depth of the bill just behind the nail are the chief points to observe. I believe that this side-view, or elevation of the bill as it may be termed, is the only character of any real value. Other characters in these Geese to which importance is sometimes *attached, are entirely fallacious, and obscure what is otherwise quite simple. The colour of the plumage is useless, for all the species are so similarly plumaged that the existing slight differences cannot be made out without actual comparison of specimens, and even then thereis not much to be made of it. Size is also of doubtful value, unless the bird is sexed, for the males of the smaller species approach in size the females or younger males of the larger species. When the bird is sexed, size, as shewn by the length of the wing, is no doubt of some, but not of extreme, value. It merely serves to corroborate the identi- fication from the bill. Then there are other characters of the bill which many writers harp upon and think of great importance. First, there is the colour of the bill. The black portion always remains black, but the pale portion, be it orange or some shade of red, soon after death, becomes of a dingy yellow colour. It is obvious, therefore, that the colour of the bill cannot be of any use. It may be recorded on a label and it is no doubt satisfactory to know how the bill of a specimen was coloured in life; yet the fact remains that birds must, as a rule, be studied and. identified as dry skins, and consequently the colour of the bill, though interesting to be known, cannot be treated as a character of value. Secondly, there is the amount of and the distribution of the two colours on the bill of a Bean-Goose, the black and the pale colour. The proportion of each of these varies with age. Generally speaking, the younger birds have merely a ring or zone of pale colour behind the nail. With increasing age, some of the black disappears and is re- placed by the pale colour under the nostrils and along the edges of the upper mandible ; and in an extreme case, such as A. arvensis, the pale colour occupies nearly the whole bill in very old birds. It is plain that the distribution of the two colours on the bill cannot be made of any practical value. THE SPECIES OF BEAN-GEESE, 41 Then there remains another character, the number of teeth on the edges of the mandibles. The teeth, I believe, vary greatly in number and are, moreover, so difficult to count that no two persons will arrive at the same result, I attach no importance whatever to the number of the teeth. It may be. gathered from the above remarks that the characters for the identification of a species of Bean-Goose are really very few. There is, first, the size and general outline of the bill as seen from the side. This ought to suffice. Corroborative characters are: length of wing in a sexed bird, and the colour of the pale part of the bill in life. When, therefore, a sportsman has shot a Bean-Goose and he has neither time nor inclination to skin the whole bird, he should preserve the head. He should, if possible, also note the sex and the colour of the bill, and, in the event of his preserving the head only, the length of the wing. POSTSCRIPT. I wrote this paper more than a year ago, and its publication has been delayed owing to difficulties connected with the reproduction of the plate. In the meantime an English translation of Mr. Alphéraky’s work on “ Russian Geesa’’ has appeared. The translation, entitled “The Geese of Europe and Asia,” does not, as might be expected, enlarge the scope of the book. It is still a monograph of Russian Geese as found in the Russian Empire, and most of the information given by ihe author is from Russian sources. Twenty-two species of Geese, afterwards finally reduced to twenty, are treated of in 195 pages and the book is well illustrated by 24 plates executed by Mr. Frohawk. The book is of quarto size. Notwith- standing the large amount of space devoted to each species, the author does not give us the full synonymy, but refers us in his preface to Count Salvadori’s British Museum Catalogue of the Ducks (Vol. XXVII), a very inconvenient course to adopt, and for which there is little or no justification. The Bean-Geese naturally occupy a considerable amount of Mr, Alphéraky’s attention and space in his book, but with, I am sorry to say, little success. He has rendered the study of these birds more difficult in future by suppressing one species and ignoring erothcr,:s I have shewn in my remarks further on. There is reason to suppose 6 42 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XVII. that Mr, Alphéraky has never seen a specimen of either species, and to act in the manner he has done is in direct opposition to the sensible remark he makes in his preface, that ‘“‘I cannot regard the present work otherwise than as preparatory to future investigation.” Altogether I do not see my way to incorporate Mr. Alphéraky’s conclusions regarding the Bean-Geese with my own brief remarks on these birds, and I have thought it preferable to adhere to my resolution to treat these birds entirely from the point of view I have kept before me, namely, to deal only with the British Museum specimens and to avoid speculation and conjecture. 1. Anser arvensis, Brehm (fig. 1). THe Common Bran-Gooss. This Bean-Goose is a winter visitor to many parts of Great Britain. The British Museum contains numerous specimens shot in Holland and a single skin obtained by Seebohm on the Petchora river. It appears to be spread in winter over a considerable portion of Northern and Central Europe and probably Western Asia, breeding in the extreme North of Hurope. The length of the bill in a large series of this goose varies from 2 to 2°45 inches, but Mr. Frohawk has figured a larger bill, probably that of a very old gander. The pale parts of the bill are of an orange- yellow colour. At first, probably for two or three years, this colour is confined to a ring or zone behind the nail as shewn in the figure of the bill of A. segetum (fig. 2). It then increases in extent, spreading out under the nostrils, and then upwards, until nearly the whole bill is yellow, the only parts remaining black being a band on the basal half of the culmen and small lines and patches elsewhere, as in fig. 1. This is one of the larger Bean-Geese, the wing reaching a length of 19 inches. The feet in life are orange-yellow. Two of the specimens in the British Museum, sexed as females, have the chin white as in my type of A. mentalis from Japan. Mr, Alphéraky would have us call this species the Yellow-billed Bean-Goose, but I do not think that many persons will care to follow him in this. 2, Anser segetum, Gmelin (fig. 2). THE European Bean-Goose. This species is so rare in collections that I have never seen a specimen, and J have had to trust to Mr, Frohawk for the drawing of the bill THE SPECIES OF BEAN-GEESE. 43 of this Goose, taken froma bird which he had the opportunity of exa- mining. Naumann very carefully explained (Naumannia, 1853, p. 5, pl. i.) the differences between this species and A. arvensis and figured the bills of both. Mr. Frohawk has recently (Zoologist, 1903, p. 41, pl. ii.) also given us an account of the two species, and from these sources I am able to give some particulars of A. segetum. It will be seen that the bill of A. segetum (fig. 2) is of a different shape from that of A, arvensis, being much shorter, but at the same time of the same depth at the forehead, In A. segetum the combined length of the culmen and nail is considerably less than four times the length of the nail itself. In A. arvensis, it is considerably more. ‘The pale parts of the bill of A. segetum are orange-yellow, but this colour appears to be confined at all ages to a ring or band behind the nail and does not spread over nearly the whole bill as it does in A. arvensis when old. Mr. Frohawk states that the number of teeth on the upper mandible of A, segetum is about twenty, whereas in A. arvensis the number is about twenty-eight. Ido not know if this character will prove of any value, The two species are of much the same size and colour. It will be noticed that the bills of A. segetum (fig. 2) and A. oatesz (fig. 8) appear to be very similar, but it must be remembered that the former bird is a large Goose, the latter a small bird like A. brachy- rhynchus. 3. Anser brachyrhynchus, Baillon (fig. 3). THE PINK-FOOTED BEAN-GOOSE. This Goose has such a small bill that it is hardly possible to confound it with any other species. A considerable number of birds in the British Museum from Holland have the length of the bill varying from 1°6 to 1*8 inches.. The colour, in life, of the pale part of the bill is a beautiful rosy-pink, crimson-pink or carmine, and this spreads back with age under the nostrils, almost to the gape. The wing measures from 16°3 to 17°5 inches. This species when in good plumage has the mantle of a rather bright fulvous colour and the greater part of the wing a fine grey. The feet appear to be coloured like the pale parts of the bill. This is the species which has for very many years figured as the sole Bean-Goose of India, and in recent years Mr, E. C. Stuart Baker has confirmed the occurrence of this species in the North-Hast of India. 44 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XVII. But in turning back to Mr. Stuart Baker’s descriptions of the birds he has on two occasions recorded from India as A. brachyrhynchus we are met by a very grave difficulty. In the latest record (Journ., Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., XV., p. 718, 1904) he states that the bill was of a “brilliant crimson-pink ; commissure of mandible yellowish ; nail black, but the edges paler.”” Now inthis description no mention is made of any portion of the bill (except the nail) being black, and consequently Tam under the impression that the specimen could not have been a Bean-Goose at all, but rather an example of Anser erythrapus, the Small White-fronted Goose. Of course I go on the assumption that Mr. Stuart Baker’s description of the bill is correct and that there was no black on the bill. Again in his previous description of another specimen shot in India (tom. cit. XI., p. 359, 1898) he states that the bill of the specimen in question, a dry skin, was ‘‘ now of a uniform dirty grey-white,”’ and he accounted for the bill ofa Pink-footed Goose being of this peculiar colour by stating that the skin had passed through a series of accidents. I feel bound however to express my opinion that no accident of any kind could ever obliterate the black colour which is found rather ex- pensively on the bill of a Pink-footed Goose and of every other kind of Bean-Goose, or convert it to a dirty grey-white colour, uniform with the remainder of the bill. Under these circumstances I shall now expel the Pink-footed Goose from my list of Indian birds. This species visits Great Britain in winter and at that time of the year also occurs generally over North-Western Europe. It breeds in Spitzbergen, whence I have seen specimens with nest and eggs. It appears also to breed in Iceland. Of all the species of Bean-Geese, it is the one least likely to be shot in India. A, Anser neglectus, Sushkin (fig. 4). SusHKIN’s Bean-Goose. This is an excellent species, easily separated from the others by a mere inspection of the bill, which is much larger than that of A. brachyrhyn- chus, much smaller than that of A. arvensis and more slender than that of A. segetum. The bill is still more markedly different from that of the following four Asiatic species (figs. 5—8). The pale parts of the bill of this species in life are pink, and this Goose is probably the species which Blyth and Hume recorded as A. brachyrhynchus. The pink colour is chiefly confined to a ring THE SPECIES OF BEAN-GEESE. 45 behind the nail and spreads out under the nostrils with age. The legs are pinkish flesh-colour, In the British Museum there is a skin of this species from Russia (Sushkin); one from the valley of the Yenesei river in Siberia, latitude 664° (Seebohm) ; one from Novaya Zembla (Markham) and lastly a specimen which is said to have been procured in Great Britain (register number 222a), The bill of this species varies in length from 2°4 to 2°6 inches and the wing from 17°5 to 18°6 inches. This Goose breeds in Novaya Zembla, Markham’s specimen recorded above having been shot in July and being in full moult. In winter it has been found in Russia and Hungary. From the fact that this Goose occurs in the valley of the Yenesei river, it is highly probable that it may be found in India in winter. 5. Anser middendorfi, Severtzoff (fig. 5). MippERNDoRFF’s Bran-Gooss. In 1902 Captain J. H. Whitehead sent me a skin of a Bean-Goose which he shot on the 24th December of the previous year at Myitkyna on the Irrawaddy river. It was in the company of a Barred-headed Goose and two Brahminy Ducks. It was sexed as a male and turns out to be a Goose of the present species. It weighed seven and a halt pounds ; the pale parts of the bill and the legs were orange; the iris was brown. The bill measures 2°75 inches in length and the wing 18 inches, It is very satisfactory to have got a good skin of a Bean-Goose from Burma for we now know of at least one species which undoubtedly occurs in the Indian Empire. I have deposited the specimen in the British Museum. Middendorff obtained this species in the Taimyr Peninsula in Siberia, and floured the head very well in his book of travels in Siberia. A very fine specimen of this Goose procured by Radde on the 5th May is in the British Museum. From its size it is presumably an old male, It was shot on the Tunka river in Trans-Baicalia in approximate latitude 50° and longitude 115°, The length of the Lill is 3°25 inches and the wing measures 18°5 inches. Middendorff describes the feet and the pale parts of the bill as being of an orange colour. This Goose has probably a wide range in Siberia and Central Asia. It is a very fine large species with a long and somewhat slender 46 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XVII. bill, In summer the head and neck, as exhibited in Radde’s specimen, are of a beautiful golden fulvous colour, and a slight trace of this tint is present on the head of Captain Whitehead’s example. I find that Mr. Alphéraky has bestowed a new name on this Goose on the ground that we do not know to which species of Bean-Goose Severtzoff’s name of A. mddendorffi applies. Ihave not the least doubt in my own mind that Severtzoff meant to apply the name to the Goose which Middendorff figured so well, and for my part I shall con- tinue to use Severtzoff’s designation for this Bean-Goose, 6. Anser mentalis, Oates (fig. 6). THE JAPANESE BEAN-GOOSE. It seems probable that there are two species of Bean-Goose in Japan. Messrs. Blakiston and Pryer (Ibis, 1878, p. 212) say:—‘‘ There are two forms, a large and small, possibly separable.” Again, Blakiston, writing of the Bean-Goose in Japan (Trans, As. Soc. Jap., p. 94, 1882), says :—‘‘This Goose seems pretty generally distributed throughout Japan, Specimens in all the museums. There seem to be two forms, a large and small, possibly separable.” In the British Museum there are two specimens of this species, one procured by Pryer at Yokoliama, another procured by Blakiston at Hakodadi in October, sexed asa male. Both these birds are obviously of the larger form. The smaller form has not come under my notice. The Japanese Bean-Goose may be known by its large size and thick, massive bill with a strong, curved lower mandible, The Yokohama bird, the type of A. mentalis, has the bill 2°85 inches in length and the wing 19°5 inches. Its plumage is of the ordinary bean-goose colour, but its chin is white. The orange of the bill extends in a broad band under the nostril. The Hakodadi bird is smaller. It isamale, but probably a young one, for the reason that the orange of the bill does not extend back but is confined to a ring behind the nail. The bill of this bird measures , 2-7 inches in length and the wing 18°7 inches, The meaning of a white chin in some specimens of Bean-Geese is not apparent at present, but may be discovered when some one takes the trouble to collect these birds in large numbers. I have already stated that two specimens of A. arvensis in the British Museum have their chins white. It is not a character of species, but is probably assumed at a certain age only, or at a certain season. THE SPECIES OF BEAN-GEESE, 47 A most interesting account of this Goose has been written by Stejneger (Eull. U. 8. Nat. Mus., No. 29, p. 141, pl. vii, fig. 1, 1885) accompanied by a figure of the bill which fixes the species at once without any doubt. In fact his figure and the one drawn for this paper might have been taken from the same specimen, so similar are they. Stejneger obtained three of these Geese on Bering Island, off the coast of Kamtchatka. The first, a male shot on the 10th May, had the wing 495 mm. (19°48 inches) in length. The iris was dark brown, The bill was brownish black with a clear yellow band across. The feet were orange with the webs more yellow and the nails were black, There was no trace of white on the feathers bordering the bill. The second bird was a female, shot on the same date as the above male, The wing measured 463 mm. (18°22 inches) in length. The iris was dark brown, The bill was of much the same colour as that of the above male, the yellow, however, being of a paler shade and not extending behind the nostrils, The feet were as in the above male. The feathering along the base of the bill exhibited faint traces of white semi-lunes, these being strongly tinged with rusty. The third example was shot on the 22nd May and appears to have been a female. The wing measured 435 mm. (17°12 inches). None of the above birds apparently had a white chin as in my type specimen. So far as we know therefore this species winters in Japan and is found in summer in the islands off Kamtchatka. Mr, Alphéraky does not admit this species. It seems doubtful, how- ever, whether he has ever seen a specimen of the Large Japanese Bean-Goose, He speaks of a skin of 2 Bean-Goose from Manchuria as a specimen of A. mentalis, but I entertain doubts of this. Then he has a copy of Stejneyer’s paper quoted above, and a drawing of the gouse which is in the British Museum and served me as the type of 4. mentalis. Equipped with these materials which Mr. Alphéraky terms “ three specimens,” he proceeds to show that 4. mentalis is only a large form of A. serrirostris, Mr, Alphéraky is entitled to hold this opinion, but he is not entitled to present his readers with my original description of this Goose in a mutilated form. He quotes my description, but suppresses the only portion of it to which I attach particular importance, viz., the measure- ment of the wing and the dimensions of the bill. These important 48 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XV/1, characters, which show how distinct this large goose really is, are omitted and their place taken by asterisks. What is left of my original description, as presented by Mr. Alphéraky to his readers, is mere commonplace and of no interest whatever, and yet this omitted matter, a few words only, would not have occupied more than a line of type in Mr. Alphéraky’s ample pages. 7. Anser serrirostris, Swinhoe (fig. 7). THe Large Carnese Brean-Goose. Nearly all that we know of this Goose is derived from Swinhoe’s writings in the ‘ Ibis” and in the Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London from 1860 to 1871. It is obvious from what Swinhoe states that he was acquainted with only one Bean-Goose, the present species. He met with it between Takao and Peking, at Foo-chow and at Amoy and Canton. He gives the following account of an old gander :—‘‘ Length 31°5 in., wing 18°5 in., measured with the curve, 17-6 in. from carpus across to tip. When closed, the wing extends to over 5 in. beyond the tail which is of fourteen feathers and about 7 in. long. Baill black with a pinkish red ring behind thedertrum, °5 in. broad on the upper and 25 in. on the lower mandible. Legs very bright orange with black claws. Bill from vertex of frontal angle 2°8 in., from rictus 2°6 in., depth at base 1°5 in. Tarse 3°4 in., middle toe and claw 3:2 in.” A specimen in the British Museum, obtained by Swinhoe at Ningpo, has the wing 18°2 inches in length, and the measurement of the bill is 2°45 inches. Another specimen obtained by Mr. Styan at Chinkiang has the wing 18°6 inches in length and the bill measures 2°5 inches. Both these specimens have the pale part of the bill confined to a band in front of the nostril; and in both, this part is now of a dull yellow colour. Mr. F. W,. Styan (Ibis, 1891, p. 495) remarks of this species :— ‘“‘The commonest goose at the mouth of the Yangtse and (except A. erythropus) on the upper reaches too, The size and shape of the bill vary much and I do not think species can be founded on it.” It is probable, however, that Mr. Styan shot both the present species and the next, but did not discyiminate them as Mr. Rickett has since done, The Large Chinese Goose may be recognised by the great depth of the lower mandible when compared with the length of the bill. THE SPECIES OF BEAN-GEESE, 49 Mr, Alphéraky has represented the bill of this goose as of a yellow colour (pl. 23) and ha states that the bill of this goose is always deserib- ed as boing of a yellow-orange colour. I have failed to find anything to support this assertion, nor does Mr, Alphéraky himself quote a single observer to confirm his statement. On the contrary, we find that excellent naturalist Swinhoe, whom Mr, Alphéraky never quotes, telling us that the pale part of the bill of A. serrtrostris is of a pinkish- red colour. 8. Anser oates’, Rickett (fig. 8). Tae SmaLt CaInese Bean-Goose. Mr. C. B. Rickett described this Goose in 1901 in the following terms :— Similar in size and plumage to A, brachyrhynchus, but with a much larger bill and a whitechin. The upper mandible, measured in a straight line from the feathered edges of the forehead to the tip of the nail is 2°3, and the depth of the bill at the forehead 1°3 inches, similar measurements in Anser brachyrhynchus being 1°8 and 1‘0 in., respec- tively. Other measurements of A. oates? are: wing 16°4 inches, tarsus 2°? and mid-toe and claw 3°1 inches. ‘This description is taken from a single specimen shot near Foochow, Fohkien Province, South China, in January. The bird was unfor- tunately not sexed, and only the head and neck, one wing and a leg have been preserved.” Another specimen sent to the British Museum by Mr. Rickett is a complete skin, and is a larger bird than the one cescribed above. The wing measures 17-2 inches in length and the bill 2°5 inches. 1 do not think this Goose requires any further description. Mr. Rickett intorms me that he has a recollection that the pale part of the bill was yellow in life. The bill of this species appears to be similar in many respects to that of A. segetum, but is longer and higher at the base. The length of the wing will, Tam of opinion, suffice to separate the two species. Of course, geographically, they are very widely divided and will not be found to encroach on each other’s limits. No attempt is made by Mr. Alphéraky to deal with this species. He devotes neither a remark nor a word of comment to it, and disposes of it in his book as a synonym of A. neglectus, with two notes of inter- rogation preceding the name. o ‘ 50 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XVII. THE SPECIES OF BEAN-GEESE. EXPLANATION OF PLATE. Figure 1. Bull of Anser ATVENSIS. 35 segetum. 2 a Oak ag, » brachyrhynchus. A det % 5, neglectus. 5 i » middendor fi. 6 mentalis. 7 serrirostyis. 2) . 8. ms OaSe: 51 THE POISONOUS SNAKES OF INDIA AND HOW TO ) RECOGNISE THEM. By Cavn. Fi; War, 1.M.S., C.M.ZS. Part I. (Lead before the Bombay Natural History Society on the 25th January 1906.) Iyrropucrory Remarks, During the last decade a vast advancement in cur knowledge of snake venoms has been acquired, both in the province of toxicology and in the all-important one of therapeutics. Whilst many observers have been engaged in the intricate, laborious, and minute researches connected with the investigation of the toxic properties of various venoms, very little, if any, advance has been achieved in that equally important and sister branch of the subject which deals with the identification of snakes, and especially with the distinction of the poisonous from the non-poisonous varieties. - Jn the treatment of snake-bite these two fields, though very distinct, are mutually interdependent. It is of little use to have the knowledge derived from one set of investigators at one’s finger’s ends, and its fruits—vzz., antivenene—to hand in all our hospitals, if the medical attendant is incompetent to recognise a poisonous snake, It is only this knowledge in conjunction with the other that can make rational treat- ment possible, by teaching him when to withhold antivenene, and when to administer it. It is to meet the unsatisfactory state of our knowledge on the subject of the identification of snakes, that these papers have been contemplat- ed, in the hope that they may bring this part of the subject up to the standard approaching that to which we have arrived in the study of snake venoms. Fully appreciating the already over voluminous and ever-increasing subjects which the profession of medicine embraces I have endeavoured to make the subject as practical as possible to the oriental practitioner by avoiding technicalities, or, where this cannot be done, explaining them with the aid of outline drawings, by which means I hope to bring the matter of identification within the easy grasp of hospital assistants and assistant surgeons, a3 well as medical officers. 52. JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XVII, In Volume XIV of the Bombay Natural History Society’s Journal I wrote a paper on the distinguishing characters between poisonous and non-poisonous snakes, and appended akey in which I attempted to frame easy rules for their separation. This key far from satisfied me at the time, its length and complexity detracting from its practical value ; however, in spite of its shortcomings it has been favorably received, and I have been repeatedly asked for spare copies till my stock is exhausted. Recently the Inspector-General of Civil Hospitals in the Central Provinces wrote asking if he might circulate this paper in his Province, and the compliment conveyed in this request has caused me to revise it. Since its publication, in 1901, I have examined many hundreds of snakes collected by myself and others as well as large. ~ collections in various institutions, including the British Museum, and [ am, therefore, now better qualified to deal with this subject. Asa result I find that I can simplify and curtail the original key so as to considerably enhance its practical utility. The good reception accorded to this first brief paper has prompted me to extend my remarks, so that in the present paper I propose to deal in detail with every known poisonous snake within our Indian possessions. The easy identification of these is my first object, and one which I hope to assist by means of outline drawings, but I hope to do more, and to incorporate with each species a few remarks so as to make the paper useful to the medical profession as well as to the naturalist. . The abbreviations marked on the shields in the outline figures attach- ed to these papers are the same throughout, and read as follows :— An, Anal. Prf. Prefrontal. A.S. Anterior sublinguals. PS. Posterior sublinguals. C. Costals. R. _ Rostral. F. Frontal. Sk Supraocular. Int. Internasal. Se. Subcaudal. L. Loreal. Sl Supraloreal. M. Menial. So. Subocular. N. Nasal. Sub. Sublingual. Oc. Occipital. T. Temporal, Pa. Parietal. V. Ventrals. Po. Postocular. . Val. Vertebrals. Pra, Preeocular. Arabic numerals—Supralabials. Roman. numerals—Infralabials. THi POISONOUS SNAKES OF INDIA, 53 With reference to midbody the point indicated is midway between the snout and the anus or vent (a transverse slit in the hinder part of the belly). Antertor with reference to scales indicates a point 2 head lengths behind the head ; posterior similarly implies a point 2 head lengths in front of vent. The conception of a poisonous snake, as alluded to hereafter, demands some remarks on the classification of these reptiles. Boulenger considers the Ophzdia (snakes) a suborder of the Order Squamata (which includes lizards and chameleons). He divides snakes into nine families based on osteological peculiarities which can only be made apparent by the minutest and most careful dissection or dis- integration of the soft tissues, and hence are of far too complicated a character for the general enquirer to readily investigate or comprehend. I venture to think the same end may be equally well attained by attention to external characters alone. The recommendation for such a method is obvious, since it enables the enquirer to ascertain at a glance the requisite points by an examination of the creature as it lies dead before him. I divide them, therefore, as follows :— TAILS NOT MARKEDLY COMPRESSED. (2.e., not flattened like an eel’s— see fig, 1 B and C.) Higa, 1: m4 rs C A—Highly compressed tail typical of the seasnakes (Hydrophiidz). Poisonous, B and C—Slightly compressed and round tails of landsnakes (including fresh water forms) seen ia both harmless and poisonous species. A4A—VENTRALS Family. Small blind snakes ABSENT, worm-like, and living Snakes in which the belly beneath the ground. and back are clothed with 1 Typhlopide. HARMLESS. identical scales (see fig. 2). 2 Glauconiide. 54 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, XVII, B—VENTRALS NARROW. Snakes with the belly covered with transverse plates (ventrals) which how- ever do not extend com- oletely across the belly, so that when the specimen is laid on tts back the whole of the last costal row, or even many costal rows are visible on each side (see Jigs. 3 and 4), C—VENTRALS BROAD, Snakes with the belly shields stretching so far across as to permit only part of the last costal row to beseen when the specimen as laid on its back (see Fig. 5). 5 Uropeltide, 6 Xenopeltide, (Subfamily Homalop- 7 Colubride (except the Sub-families Homalop- sine and Hydrophiide.) OUS VARIETIES. 8 Amblycephalidae, COMPRESSED. HARMLESS, INCLUDES HARM- LESS AND POISON- HARMLESS. POISONOUS. (i.¢., flattened like an eel’s—see fig. 1 A.) Sea snakes, Family Uolubride, Subfamily Hydrophiide, POISONOUS. Fie, 3.—Belly of Hipistes hydrinus (nat. size). THE POISONOUS SNAKES OF 1ND/A, 55 pete ae Anal a ais p | ’ Be poets ee: aL, Viera NS Fic. 4.—Xenopeltis unicolor. Last rowof costals WRentra LS, Fic. 5.--Belly of Russeil’s viper. A glance at this simple key will enable the enquirer to isolate two large groups of harmless snakes, by an inspection of the belly shields above, and a third group of poisonous snakes by the conformation of the tail (sea snakes). It is a somewhat difficult matter to decide where to draw the line between the so-called non-poiscnous and the poisonous varieties. To begin with, all the wiperzne snakes are poisonous, and from investigations conducted by Alcock and Rogers* in Calcutta in 1902 it appears probable that all colubrine snakes contain in their saliva a toxic element identical with that to which the poisons of the cobras, kraits, and other deadly colubrines owe their lethal properties. If this is so, strictly speaking, all.colubrines are poisonous, and their various salivas merely differ in degrees of toxicity. The Colubride are divided into three groups: (1) doubt. As, however, it is accapted by some naturalists now that this bird does some- times lay blue eggs, collectors will still have to take this possibility into consideration whenever they may come across a blue cuckoo’s ege ; Od ? should they do so, the texture of the ege may help them more than 76 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, XVII. anything else to determine to what species it may belong, and this matter of texture is one which will be minutely dealt with for each species. Mr. J. Davidson is the only collector who has taken a blue cuckoo’s egg in India, about which the collector himself feels confident. I have not seen the egg myself, so can pass no opinion on it, He wrote to me: ‘‘T also got there (Kashmir) a pale-blue egg from a nest of Hodgson’s short-wing (Hodgsonius phoentcuroides), which lays dark-blue eggs. The nest contained one egg. also of pheenicuroides. Jam sure that the egg was that of canorus, as I saw a cuckoo flying about in the underwood several times that day and two days previously. There were several more nests of Hodgsonius in the immediate neighbourhood, either building or with one or two eggs, and, if I could have stayed a day or two longer, I hava no doubt I should have got more of the same type.” We all know Mr. Davidson to be such a close, accurate observer that due weight must ba given to his opinion ; but, I am afraid, ‘‘ non-proven, though probable, ” is the most that can be said for it, and, in the light of later discoveries, it looks as if this egg might have been that of micropterus. Other descriptive notes of blue eggs have been sent mo, but the senders have, generally, on hearing the evidence obtainable, come to the conclu- sion that they were micropterus’ eggs, so I leave their notes unquoted. The British Museum possesses a magnificent series of cuckoos’ eggs, numbering no less than 277 specimens ; yet, out of this huge number there are only four reputed cuckoos’ eggs which are blue. These are all cuntinental eggs, except one in the Crowley Collection, and were all taken in the nests of Ruticilla phenicura, the exception is an egg taken in Dorking, Surrey, which was purchased. This last cannot be accepted as authenticated beyond all doubt, and the history of the three Crowley egos, taken in Finland, I do not know. It is very noticeable, however, that all the eggs, 8 in number, found in nests of the Hedge-sparrow, are of the ordinary type and not blue. Another egg, calling for remark in the above collection, is one of the many contained in the Seebohm Collection, and is described by Reid (Cat. of Eggs of B.M.) as “blue, sparingly spotted at the broad end with pale-blue, and closely resembling the fosterer’s eggs.” It was taken in a nest of Sawicola melanoleuca in Greece. The normal. cuckoo’s egg, as taken in India and exemplified by the specimens passing through my hands, isa stout, blunt oval, seldom at all compressed towards the smaller end ; still they are all oval, and I THE OOLOGY OF INDIAN PARASITIC CUCKOOS, (i! have seen none of the semi-spherical or elliptical shape which is so often typical of cuckoos’ egos. The texture is somewhat coarser than it is in the egg of any other of the Cuculinz known to me, and though it is sometimes close and may exhibit a very faint gloss, it never has the baautiful satiny texture of some cuckoos’ eggs or the fine gloss of some of the others. The ground colour varies between pale-stone, pink or yellowish, and all the lighter shades of grey, olive, olive-yellow, olive-brown and brown, and the markings seem, as a rule, to follow the general tone, though of course much darker, of the ground colour, Thus, an olive-green ground colour will probably be profusely spotted with various tints of olive- brown and brown, a grey will be blotched and spotted with grey-brown and purple-brown, a pink or yellowish ground colour with speckles of reddish and reddish-brown. As a rule, I have found that the more sparse the markings, the paler the ground colour. All eggs, nearly, in addition tu the primary markings, have secondary ones of a pale-purple, grey or inky character. In the great majority ef eggs the character of primary markings is rather indefinite and very seldom at all bold ; they consist for the most part of speckles, spots and tiny blotches, heavy blotches being un- common, and are distributed fairly evenly all over the egg, ina few cases being more numerous at the larger end and, on still more rare occasions, forming a ring or cap. The most common Indian type—vide Davidson, Rattray and Buch- anan, &c.—is one which is, on the contrary, most uncommon in English egos. The ground colour is a pale clear cream, pink or yellow stone colour, and the markings are very sparse and indistinct, cunsisting of tiny freckles, specks, and spots of reddish with underlying ones of grey. In most cases the markings are pale and scattered over the whole surface of the egg ; ina few they are bolder and darker, and are more numerous towards the larger end where they may forma ring. The boldest marked ege@ in my Collection is one taken by Col. Rattray from the oviduct of a female and very kindly given to me. This is shown in Plate I, fig. 4. Figs. 5, 6, Pl. I, show types of the most common-coloured form of Indian-taken cuckoos’ ages. Dresser gives the average size of eggs as *88" by °65".. The Museum collection specimens vary between *76" and *98" in length and °57" to °73" in breadth. 78 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY. SOCIETY, Vol, XVII, An egg lent me by Major Wilson measures *1" by °69", and is the longest egg I have seen. One of Col. Rattray’s eggs measures *75" in breadth, this measurement also exceeding that of any Huropean egg. Those which have passed through my hands average 91" by °67", so that it would appsar that tropical-laid eggs exceed in average size those laid in temperate regions. , Oates (Nest and Hees) gives the size of the eggs as ranging between 93" and -1" in length and -7" to °73” in breadth, whilst. Blanford (A. of B. I.) gives the average as being -97" by 72". This seems far too big, as eggs of this size are quite the exception amongst those which have passed through my hands. In India the cuckoo lays its eggs in the nests of Pipits, Larks and Stone-chats perhaps more than in those of others, but eggs have been found in nests of all the following birds :— Pratincola maura. The Indian Bush-Chat. Davidson, Rattray, Brooks, Ward, Scully. Pratincola caprata, The Common Pied Bush-Chat. Davidson, Cock. Hodgsonius phenicuroides, Hodgsou’s Short-wing. Davidson. Petrophila cinclorhyncha, ‘The Biuc-headed Rock-Thrush. Wilson, Rattray. Oreicola ferrex, The Dark-grey Bush-Chat. Rattray, Ward, Marshall, Scully. Larvivora brunnea, The Indian Blue-Chat, Rattray, Molpastes leucogenys. The White-cheeked Bulbul, Rattray, Merula unicolor, Tickell’s Ouzel, Rattray. Henicurus maculatus. Vhe Western Spotted Forktail, Rattray. Henicurus schistaceus, The Slaty-backed Forktail. Baker, Anthipes moniliger, Hodgson’s White-gorgeted Flycatcher, Baker, Drymochares nepalensis, The Nepal Short-wing. Baker, Crateropus canorus. The Jungle Babbler. Cock. Lanius erythronotus. The Rufous-backed Shrike. Cock, Copsychus saularis. The Magpie-Robin, Brooks, Oreocorys sylvanus, The Upland Pipit. Hume, Rattray, Anthus similis. The Brown Rock-Pipit, \ arshall, A. rosaceus, Hodgson’s Pipit. Whymper. Suya crinigera, The Brown Hill-Warbler. Baker, (Supposed to be saturatus at the time when taken.) ‘From the above it will be seen that the common cuckoo usually selects a nest which contains eggs that are not very conspicuously coloured and which are much the same in size as its own eggs. Exceptions are the bright blue eggs of Larvivora and the much greater eggs of Petrophd« and Merula. I have not, however, found that there is any proof of the THE OOLOGY OF INDIAN PARASITIC CUCKOOS., 79 euckoo trying to match its eggs with those of the intended foster-mother or that it selects a foster-mother whose eggs shall match its own. Not one of my correspondents has advanced this suggestion, and there appears to be little doubt that convenience of site and propinquity to the cuckoo about to lay its egg is the main requisition. We may, probably, also assume that, under normal circumstances, the female cuckoo lays its ege on the ground and carries it in her mouth until she finds a suitable nest in which to deposit it. Hume actually shot a cuckoo carrying an ege in its mouth, and the situation, or shape, of the nest selected in many other cases shows that the cuckoo could place her ege in it by no other means. This mode of procedure is greatly facilitated by the fact that most cuckoos lay eggs which are very small in proportion to themselves and are provided with wide mouths and curiously fleaible gapes. An ege of the Cuckoo taken by Mr. 8. L. Whymper in the nest of Anthus rosaceus in the Liddar Valley, Kashmir, so closely resembled the four eggs of the fosterer that it was some time before Mr. Whymper realized that he had a Cuckoo’s egg and put down the clutch as an abnormally large one of Anthus rosaceus. In the Ibis for 1889, p. 219, is given a translation of an article from ‘“ Gartenlaube,’ Vol. XXVII, showing that the cuckoo sometimes hatches its own eggs and rears the young. It is too long to quote in extenso, so only extracts are taken. ‘On the morning of the 16th May, 1888, ae a cuckoo rose suddenly out of the bushes close to me ae ...L soon discovered in a slight depression of the ground “er ...three eggs, which attracted my attention from not being all of the same colouration, and from one of the three being of considerably smaller sizo than the other two nS ..-1 resolved to conceal myself under a neighbouring hedge in order to watch the bird more closely. After I had been there for a few moments, I saw the cuckoo alight on the ground and crawl towards the place where the eggs were i ..[ remained in my hiding place at least three-quarters of an hour without seeing the cuckvo take its departure ae ...[ therefore cautiously approached the spot and soon saw the cuckoo again rise from the ground , “T quickly withdrew to a rather more elevated position in the under- wood of the beech forest... ..- Within six minutes the cuckoo came back, alighted near the resting-place, and proceeded with a characteristic 80 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, XVII, waddle on to the nest. For more than an hour and-a-half I kept the spot in view. During all this time the cuckoo sat quiet on the nest, so that there could be no further doubt in my mind that it was sitting on its Own eggs. “ Until the 25th May I left the cuckoo to sit undisturbed. On the morn-_ ing of that day I visited the spot again, and, on the bird flying off, found to my great joy a young cuckoo in the nest.” In Europe tho foster-parents selected, cover a large assortment, rang- ing from the Fire-crested Wren to the larger shrikes. Dr, Rey gives a list of 146 such. CUCULUS SATURATUS. (Hodgson.) The Himalayan Cuckoo. Cuculus saturatus. Blyth, J. A. S., XII, p. 942 ; Blanford, Fauna of B. I., ILI, p. 207 ; Reid, Cat. of Hogs, B. M., ILI, p.114 ; Sharpe, Hand. L., II, p. 158 ; Dresser, Pal. Birds, p. 470. C. himalayanus. Jerdon, B. of L., I, p. 323. C. striatus, Humes. i., UL, p. 190= stv p.288i¢ XD ps0 cae Cat. No. 200; Blyth, B. of Burm., p. 79 ; Hume and Davis, 8. F., VI, p.156; Scully, S. F., VIII, p. 254 ; Davison, 8. F., X, p. 359 ; Oates, Bon Bunm,., Un: 105.5) cd., Lbis,, 18800 ips ao. C. intermedius. Shelly, Cat. B. M., XIX, p. 252 ; Oates, Nests and Kegs, 2nd Hd., p. 381; Stuart Baker, Jour., Bom. N. H. Soc., X, p. 365. The first authentic egg taken of this species was one extracted from the oviduct of a female Flimalayan Cuckoo by Brooks who shot the bird at Ruttun Pir in Kashmir on the 17th June. This egg is described by Oates (én loc. cit.) as follows: —‘‘ Is a very perfect elongated oval, a shade narrower at one end. The ground colour is a pure white, with a slight gloss. The markings, whichare everywhere very sparse, are somewhat more numerous towards the larger end, and consists cf minute specks and tiny lines, not more than 0°05 in length, of dingy olive-brown and very pale inky-purple or purplish-grey. “ The egg measures 0°86 by 0°6 inch.” An egg in the British Museum is described as “ pinkish-white colour, thickly freckled with purplish-grey. It measures °67 in breadth.’ This is probably wrongly ascribed to this cuckoo and is more likely a canorus’s oO ego. THE OOLOGY OF INDIAN PARASITIC CUCKOOS, 81 Col. Ratiray bas given me most important notes on this bird, and I quote these in full :— “Ono 10th June 1903 I saw a bird (Cuculus saturatus) harrying a pair of Acanthopneusie oceipitalis (the Large Crowned Willow- Warbler) near where I knew they had a nest, so I shot it. It was a female and contained a broken egg ready for expulsion. “On 15th June 1903 I shot a second female in a similar condition. “On 17th June 1903 I again shot a third female containing an egg ready for laying. All these eggs were broken by the shots or fall, but they were exactly similar to those found on the 27th of May and 9th and 11th June, all in nests of Acanthopneuste occipitalzs. “ They are pure white, rather long eggs with a fine shell with a lot of tiny black and brown specks.” Gol. C. L. Wilson wrote me :—‘‘ On the 9th June 1889 I found in an old tree stump above Sonamurg a grass nest containing four eggs, three of which proved to be of Phylloscopus hum (Hume’s Willow- Warbler). The fourth egg was a long oval, somewhat blunt at both ends, pure white, a faint ring of brownish specks at the larger end and a few scattered elsewhere. There was barely room in the diminutive nest for this egg, which measures *85" by ‘6", the other three eggs being of the normal Warbler’s size. ‘‘T was much puzzled to account for it until, after a long wait, I noticed a cuckoo which kept hovering round. “Tt would have been impossible, from the nature of the nest, for the egg to have been laid in it: it must have been placed there after laying. “T took a similar egg, measuring *82” by °58", in a nest of Acanthop- neuste occipitalds (on the 16th June 1898) in a hole atthe roots of a pine. « At Murree I took a third on the 17th July 1899 in a nest.of the same species of Warbler in a similar position, ” This third egg, which I have seen, measures *83" by *53", Finally, Mr. B. B. Osmaston, writing from Darjeeling, notes :—‘‘ They were both laid in the nests of Niltava sundara (the Rufus-bellied Niltava in one case along with three eggs of the latter and in the other alone, the eggs of ths Miltava having evidently been ejected (the shells were lying in the ground below the nest). The eggs are similar in shape to the cuckoos’ eggs described by you, ze., almost elliptical in section. Thay are pure white, with a few small reddish or brownish specks near tha big end. I found them at 6,000 ft. elevation, and the only cuckoos 11 82 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, XVII, which occur here at that elevation are Cuculus canorus, saturatus, poliocephalus and micropterus and Hierococcyx sparvertoides.” Colonel Rattray’s and Brooks’ discoveries settle once and for all what is the maintype of the egg laid by the Cuculus satwratus, and so far there is no reason to suppose that this cuckoo lays any other type of egg. The eggs mentioned above are for the most part almost perfect ellipses in shape, one or two inclined to be somewhat pointed at both ends, and in one case the egg is perhaps more oval than elliptical, the smaller end differing distinctly in size from the other. The ground in each case is the same pure satiny-white, and the specks, which are the only form of marking, except for a few microscopical lines, are of dark amber or black, occasionally lighter and reddish. They are generally sparsely scattered over the whole surface, sometimes more numerous towards the larger end, where they rarely form a zone. The only egg I have seen differing from these was one brought to me in anest of Henicurus schistaceus (the Slaty-backed Forktail), which con- tained four egos of the owner of the nest in addition to the cuckoo’s. It is a perfect ellipse in shape, but the ground colour has a faint tinge of green in it, and the markings are more numerous and larger than usual, and are ofa dull light reddish with a few underlying ones of purple-grey. The texture is like that of the others, and it measures '84" by ‘58". This egg may not, of course, be saturatus, but it is a cuckoo’s ege of some kind, and is more like the authentic ones of that species than any other. All the eggs have an exceedingly fine, closely grained shell, very smooth and very fragile for their size, the shell being very thin, although so compact. The eggs which have passed through my hands, or about which I have obtained measurements, vary between *80” and *89" in length and -52! and ‘6" in breadth, the average of a dozen being *85" by °55". Dresser, quoting Taczonowaki, describes the eggs as “ pale-greyish, marked with innumerable irregular pale violet shell-spots and brown surface spots or blotches which are more numerous round the larger end, and measure 0°92! by 0°69", that is to say, the eggs are said to be just like a common type of egg of Cuculus canorus. I leave my readers to judge for themselves whether these can be accepted or not. Almost as curious as the “ Ibis” history of the common cuckoo hatching its own egg are Capt. Hutton’s remarks on the manner in which this cuckoo sometimes returns to feed young birds of the same species, THE OOLOGY OF INDIAN PARASITIC CUCKOOS, 83 either its own or some other birds’. He writes (Oates’ Nests and Eggs, II, p. 381) :—“ When the young bird is old enough to leave the nest, the foster-parents feed it no longer, and it is then supplied by the old cuckoo, or, at all events, by one of its own species. This I have myself repeat- edly witnessed . . At Jeeripanee, below Mussooree, I have seen the young cuckoo sitting for hours together on a branch waiting for the return of the adult which continued every now and then to bring supplies of caterpillars wherewith to satisfy the apparently insatiable appetite of the nestling until at last both would fly off to another spot. To satisfy myself that it was really this cuckoo that fed the young, shot one in the very act.” Capt. Hutton seems to consider it probable that it is the usual thing for the parent cuckoos to return to feed their young, but the experience of a great number of observers has undoubtedly proved that such is not the case, The return of the cuckoo to its duties must be quite excep- tional, though Capt. Hutton appears to have been very fortunate in coming across these exceptions. The Himalayan cuckoo may be found during the breeding season throughout the Himalayas and, possibly, in the Hills of the Chota Nag- pur District. South of this it is not found, as far as records go at pre- sent in India proper, but it extends right through Burmah, and prob- ably breeds wherever there are hills of any size. From Burmah it extends southwards and eastwards throughout the Malay Peninsula, Borneo and again to New Guinea and even Australia. In this portion of its habitat it seems to be more or less resident and remains to breed even in the plains. I have had eggs sent me from Borneo and Jaya under the names of other cuckoos which I very strongly suspect to be of this cuckoo, Its cry is a four-syllable one of four deep whistles or hoots, very much like that of the hoopoe, but rather higher in tone. It is a pleasant musical call, Jerdon says that prior to these four notes it gives higher whistle which cannot be heard unless one is very close by. This note I have seldom heard until this year, when I found the bird very common on the North bank of the Brahmapootra in this district. I was repeatedly able to stand within a few yards of the calling bird, and then heard the preliminary high note quite distinctly. (To be continued. ) [o 3) ns THE “ PECTINATE ORGANS” OF TRAPA BISPINOSA, ROXB, (WATER-CHESTNUT), By K. BLATTER, 8.J. (With a Plate.) (Read before the Bombay Natural History Society on 25th January, 1906.) Cooke in his excellent ‘ Flora of the Bombay Presidency,” when de- scribing Trapa bispinosa speaks of “‘ numerous opposite pairs of root- like spreading pectinate organs,” and adds immediately ‘‘( ? floating roots ’’)+. ‘“‘T think it is well known that the uppermost leaves with their rhomboidal blades lie on the surface of the water and are grouped into rosettes. There are, besides, for each leaf a pair of scaly, deeply divided stipules?, and just from below these stipules arise those ‘ pecti- nate organs, which have caused so great a variety of opinion.”’ ” the genus Trapa is described as follows :— In the “ Genera plantarum “ Herb, natantes, Folia 2-formia, submersa opposita, pinnatisecta, radiciformia ; emersa rosulata, petiolata, rhombea, dentata, petiola inflata spongiosa.” * Baillon writes to the same effect: “The slender floating stems bear two kinds of leaves. The lower, submerged, are opposite, pinnatisect, not unlike finely pectinate roots.’* W. Roxburgh gives the following description :—“ Stipules two pairs, the superior are simple, semi-lanceolate, and caducous, the inferior pair at first simple and filiform, but becoming ramous by age, permanent.”° The same opinion as regards Tapa bispinosa is expressed by Trimen in the fol- lowing :—* The more submerged part of the stem,” he says, “is thick- ly set with pair of green pectinate spreading organs (? roots ) coming off from immediately below the position of stipules of fallen leaves, and 1—14 in. long.”’® Later on he continues: ‘‘ The pectinate submerged organs cannot be considered as leaves (asin Flora British India, following Wight) ; their position suggests a stipular nature, and they are so called © en a ee ———————————————eeeeee 1 Cooke, “ Flora of the Bombay Presidency,” Vol. L, p. 518. 2 There has crept in a mistake in Cooke’s Flora (p. 515) where the author describes the order Onagracee as extipulate, though, later on, he speaks :f the stipules of Trapa bis- pinosa. ® Benthim et Hooker, Genera plantarum, Vol. 1., p, 798. + Baillon, Natural History of Plants, Vol. VI., p. 477, 5 W. Roxbureh, Flora Indica, p, 144. 6 Trimen, Flora of Ceylon, Vol. II., p. 235. THE PECTINATE ORGANS OF THE WATER-CHESTNUY, 85 by Roxburgh, who has well figured and described them (Roxb. Pl. Cor., t. 234), but there are real stipules also present with the young leaves.”’? | In the Flora of British India, alluded to by Trimen, I find these lines : “ Leaves (of the genus Trapa) dimorphic ; submerged opposite root-like, pinnatipartite, with filiform segments.’ Duthie gives the following characteristic of the genus : ‘‘ Stem long, flexuose, ascending in the water, the more submerged portions giving off at intervals pairs of green pectinate spreading organs from below the margins of the sears of fallen leaves. Leaves alternate, approximate in the form of rosettes’’®, Loudon speaks of Trapa natans as of a“ curious aquatic with long brown and green roots and floating leaves, with petioles inflated into a tumour as in the marine alge.”+° According to Cooke those “ pectinate organs ” are termed ‘ adventitious floating roots”? by Barneoud.t! De Candolle gives this description of the genus Trapa: “Herbe aguis innatantes. Radices fibrose, folia nfima opposita, cetera alterna, inferiora pinnatipartita, capillacea, fere ut in Myriophyllis, summa in rosulam conferta,”4? Cooke, too, calls those submerged organs pinnatipartite,t° and adds in a note, that “‘ considerable diversity of opinion exists as to the exact function of the pectinate organs.’’!+ ; From the foregoing we may collect that there exist different opinions not only with respect to the morphology but also the function of the pectinate organs. They are considered by some to be stipules, by others true leaves, and, again, by several even roots. As regards their outer morphology they are described as being pectinate, pinnatipartite, pinnatisected, radiciform, capillary, ramous, as resembling the leaves of the Myriophylla. In the following I shall give the external and internal morphology of the “ pectinate organs”’ of Trapa bispinosa, and by drawing the con- clusions from the given data, I shall try to arrive at a satisfactory explanation of those interesting organs. 7 ‘Trimen, 1, ¢., p. 286. 8 Hooker, Flora of British India, Vol. II., p. 590. ° 'T, F, Duthie, Flora of the Upper Gangetic Plain, p. 357. to Loudon, Encyclopedia of Plants, p. 104. 12 De Candol'e, Prodromus Syst. Nat, Regni Vegetabilis, IIT., p. 63, 43 Cooke, 1. c., p. 515. 14 Cooke, 1.c., p. 518. 86 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XVII. The so-called ‘“ pectinate organs” arise as cylindrical bodies from below the scaly stipules and on the sides of the floating leaves. (Fig. 1.) They grow to the length of 4—1 in. without showing any oxternal differentiation ; but, then, there appear round the lower half of the cylindrical axis small globular protuberances, apparently without any regular distribution. Growing in acropetal succession these globular bodies assume an elongated shape, but still remain comparatively stout. When the main axis has reached its full length, ze. 2—25 in., and the lateral structures have attained 4 in., the most regular arrangement of the latter can be detected very easily, and even batter than after their full development. The lateral processes are arranged in four spiral rows, all turned to the right. Fig. 2 gives the successive stages of development, and Fig. 3 a diagrammatic view of the arrangement of the lateral cylindrical bodies on the main axis. As soon as the aerial leaves have fallen off, a rapid growth of the lateral structures begins till they attain capillary thinness. Their bases are now reduced in diameter compared with the same in their immature state. Their shape is not quite cylindrical, but slightly flattened, whereas the main axis is cylindrical. Jn this state of deve- lopment it is extremely difficult to make out the arrangement of the lateral members. I was not able to trace their angular divergence and it seems to me that they are scattered irregularly on the spiral lines. It cannot, therefore, be said, that those organs are pectinate, or pinnatisected, or pimnatipartite, as the lateral processes are distinctly arranged in four-spiral rows ; and even withthe leaves of Myriophyllum they may be compared only so far as also in this water-plant simi- lar capillary processes occur, though in a less perfect form. If the lateral members were arranged in two parallel opposite rows only, no objection could be raised against calling them pectinate, and even if they were located in two spiral rows, the difficulty could perhaps be overcome by explaining the spiral arrangement as effected by the torsion of the main axis ; but as there are four distinct spirals, the best term applicable seems to be Roxburgh’s “ramous”’, if we do not want to introduce an entirely new name for this special arrangement, which, s far as I know, has not been observed in any other phanerogamic plant, The internal morphology exhibits, likewise, some peculiar features. Only one vascular bundle, situated in the centre, extends through the main axis, and smaller cnes through the lateral processes. Eesides, there Journal Bombay Nat, Hist. Soc. VOL, XVII, --- Sealy stipule ---- Young submerged leaf *. Point of attachment of the floating leai FIG. 2. = FIG. 3. TRAPA BISPINOSA, ROXB. A. P. CORTEZ & CO. LITH: THE PECTINATE ORGANS OF THE WATER-CHESTNUT, 87 is no differentiation into palisade tissue, or spongy tissue, the vascular bundle being simply imbedded in a parenchymatous tissue. The epidermis consists of elongated cells (Fig. 4) which are possessed of extremely thin outer walls, This is the reason why the submerged organs begin to wither already after some minutes when exposed to the open air, Stomata could not be detected and most of the chlorophyll bodies were found to be located not in the tissue below the epidermis, but chiefly in the epidermal cells themselves. Some of these characters seem to be incompatible with each other ; but a closer examination of the relations between those internal and external contrivances and the surrounding factors will show that those organs are nothing but the most excellent adaptations to the medium in which they live. A differentiation of the mesophyll into pelisade tissue and spongy tissue would be quite superfluous, as leayes submerged in water do not transpire. That the chlorophyll corpuscles are chiefly contained in the epidermal cells, is due to the circumstance that the light to which the leaves are exposed is not very intense, because it has to pass through the water before it reaches the tissues. The gradual decrease of the intensity of the light with the depth of the water is shown to evidence in the colour of the submerged organs. The chroma- tophores of the uppermost organs are dark-green: they become paler and paler as we follow the stem in a downward direction, and assume finally a brownish colour, where every assimilatory function of the chromatophores is rendered impossible for waut of light. On the one hand the absence of stomata seems to indicate that respiration does not take place ; but, on the other, the presence of chlorophyll corpus- cles is a sufficient proof that the processes of photo-synthetic assimi- lation of carbon dioxide and, consequently, of respiration are going on in the usual way. It is just in order to facilitate these processes and to give at the same time a compensation for the absence of special respira- tory organs, that the outer walls of the epidermal cells are so extremely thin as to allow not only the exchange of gases, but also the passage of salts dissolved in water. In order that the organs may present as large asurface as possible, they do not develop in the form of flat expansions, as the floating leaves do, but are much divided and extended into capillary processes. The question now arises, whether we shall call these organs roots, leaves, stipules, or branches. If we take into consideration all the 88 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XVII, anatomical characters of the submerged organs and compare them with the submerged leaves of other aquatics, we find that they agree in all the essential points. Nobody will doubt that the submerged, myriophyllum-like leaves of the Cabomba aquateca are true leaves, though they vastly differ from the disc-shaped floating leaves of the same plant. It is easy to adduce other examples of heterophyllous plantsot which it is equally sure that their submerged, finely divided leaves are true leaves, ¢.g., Potamogeton heterophyllus, rufescens, spathulatus, Ranunculus aquatica, bandoti, hololeucus, species of the genera Helosciadum, Ceratophyllum, CGinanthe, Sium, etc. The submerged organs of Trapa bispinosa agree with all these leaves in their anatomical structure, and exhibit also some common characteristic features in their outer appearance, though, of course, they differ as much from them as their floating leaves do in their external morphological development. An objection might be raised from the unusual position of the submerged leaves of Trapa bispinosa. I think, however, if the anatomical structure is such as to induce us to call a certain organ a true leaf, a mere displace- ment of the organ cannot be decisive in this question. If this were the case, we might as well say that the extra-axillary branches are not branches because they do not arise from the axils. ON THE TENTHREDINIDA & PARASITIC HYMEN- OPTERA COLLECTED IN BALUCHISTAN BY MAJOR C. G. NURSE. By P. CAMERon. Parr I. (Read before the Bombay Natural History Society on 25th January 1906.) Up till now our information regarding the Tenthredinide and Parasitic Hymenoptera of Baluchistan has been a complete blank. The collection, small though it is, made by Major Nurse at Quetta and Peshin, forms a welcome addition to our knowledge of the Hymen- optera of that part of our Indian Empire. As we know practically nothing about the species inhabiting North-West India, of Afghanistan on the north and of Persia on the west of Baluchistan, it is useless to discuss the geographical relationship of the species. It may, however, be remarked that the affinity of the species appears to be with the Palearctic, rather than with the Oriental Zoological Region. The occurrence of a species of Nematus (a large and typical Palearctic and Nearctic genus, and found, tvo, only commonly in the northern parts of these regions) is very interesting. The occurrence of the com- mon European Ichneumon, Bassus letaterius, Fab., is not of much importance in deciding the geographical affinities of the Baluchistan species ; for the reason that it has now spread itself (probably in comparatively recent years) all over the globe, following its host, some wide ranging Dipteron, no doubt. The species in the collection are of small or medium size. The large species of Ichneumonidee (Ichneumon, Amblyteles, &c.) appear to be comparatively rare. Undernoted is a summary of the collection :— Tenthredinide ,.. 1 Cynipidee ee ees see oes ya Chalcididze Se =e as sae al Proctotrypide ... 2 species. Evaniide 3 FA Braconide Som lic FA Ichneumonide ... se ae Pr et) jy Bethylidee 1 Total rt ) 90 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XVII. TENTHREDINIDA, Nematus orientalis, sp. nov, Pale straw-green (probably bright green when alive), the centre of the front and vertex and the mesonotum fulvous, The antenne,a mark at the base of the scutellum on either side, a large elongate mark on its sides, a narrow line bordering the cenchri behind, a large mark behind them, a narrow line bordering the blotch and one or more transverse marks on the base of the abdo- men, black. Wings hyaline, the costa and stigma green, the nervures black. Legs coloured like the body, the tarsi blackish. @. Length 5-6 mm. Quetta, August. The 3rd joint of the antenne is as long as the 4th. Head smooth and shining ; frontal area flat, clearly defined laterally, the sides being raised, the raised part reaching to the imner side of the laterally ocelli; at its end are 2 large round tubercles, below which the front is depressed, Ocellar region raised ; there is a deep furrow between the ocelli, Apex of clypeus rounded, Mandibles fulvous at the apex ; the apical tooth long. Paipi green, infuscated. Middle lobe of mesonotum furrowed on the basal half in the middle. Cerci long, infuscated, Sheaths of saws broad, projecting, its apex infuscated, roundly narrowed from the top to the bottom. The Ist transverse cubital nervure faint in the middle ; the 3rd cubital cellule is fully one-third longer than its width at the base,not much wider at the apex than at the base; the 2nd recurrent nervure is received not far from the 2nd transverse cubital—about one-fourth of the length of thelatter, Tarsal joints not spinose at the apex ; patella distinct, becoming gradually longer ; claws bifid, The @ is black above, including the middle of the vertex and front broadly and the occiput still more broadly ; the antenne are thicker, distinctly closely pilose ; brownish, black above, longer than the body, the mesopleure are ful- vous, as are also the hind femora ; the hind tibiw are broadly infuscated. It is smaller (3°5 mm.) than the 9. The occurrence of a species of Nematus in Baluchistan is of much interest, The genusis one of the most abundant in arctic and Northern Europe and America, being rare in the temperate regions and very rare in the South of Hurope, Its occurrence clearly indicates the presence of a Palearctic element in the Fauna. The species belongs to the group of JN. miliaris, Pz. CYNIPID, Onychia rufithorax, sp, nov, Black ; the antennz, thorax except the mesosternum, and base of abdominal petiole rufous, the forelegs rufous, the 4 posterior black, their coxe rufous ; wings clear hyaline, the nervures pale fuscous, the areolet knob-shaped, darker coloured, ¢, Length 3 mm, Quetta, August, ON PARASITIC HYMENOPTERA, gi Head and thorax densely covered with white pubescence, Face closely, fine- ly punctured ; from each antennx a stout keel runs down to shortly below the face ; they converge below, the converging parts being much thinner than the upper. A stout keel runs down from the lower, innerside of the outer antenna along the innerside of the eyes; on the upper part of the front are some irre- gular oblique striz, Qcelli large, placed in a curve on the edge of the vertex. Occiput transverse ; onits top are 2 stout and a thinner, lower curved keel, Basal slope of pronotum smooth, the sides bordered by a stout keel; the propleure irregularly, somewhat strongly striated. Mesonotum with 4 stout longitudinal keels, the central stouter than the others ; it is irregularly trans- versely striated. Sides and centre of scutellum stoutly keelcd, the central keel stouter than the others, There are 2 keels down the centre of the metanotum. Meso- and metapleure smooth and shining; the latter thickly covered with white pubescence. Abdominal petiole with the dilated basal part as long as the hind cox, smooth. The mesosternum is bordered laterally by a shallow furrow, Antenne longer than the body, the 3rd joint twisted, slightly longer than the 4th ; they are 14-jointed, I have described in Manchr, Memoirs, 1888, an Onychia striolata from Bengal ; it may be known by the thorax being entirely black, besides the structural differences, CHALCIDIDE, Leucaspis quettaensis, sp, nov. Black, the sides of the head in front broadly, from the ocelli to shortly below the eyes, the pronotum except the basal slope and a broad tranyerse line in the middle, a large markiin the centre of the mesonotum, transverse at the base and apex, and gradually, but not much, narrowed towards the apex, the scutellum, except at the base, the black on the base projecting asa triangular wedge into the yellow, a mark, longer than wide, on the sides of the metanotum, its innerside straight, the outer gradually narrowed to the middle, a small conical spot—the narrowed end below—under the wings, a large pyriform mark, extending from the top to the bottom and with the wide end below, on the base of the metapleurz, a broad band on the apex of the Ist abdominal segment, the mark commencing near the top of the apical slope ; following this are 2 broad transverse bands, the narrower, extending to the sides and curved; the 2nd broader, not reaching to the sides, not so curved and with the sides more rounded, followed by a large, longer than broad, mark, broadly rounded at the apex, and the apical three-fourths of the ventral surface, yellow. Legs yellow ; the greater part of the 4 front cox, the hinder cox except for a triangular mark on the innerside at the base above, the sides from shortly below the middle and the underside from behind the middle and the teeth, all of which are black, Wings hyaline, suffused with fulvous at the base, the apex with fuscous ; the basal nervures fulvous, The drd to 5th and the apical joints of the antenne are fulvous; ihe scape is fulyous red, 9. 92 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol, XVII. Length 12 mm. Quetta, August. The markings on the head, antennal scape, thorax ard legs are vermilion ; probably this is owing to discolouration by cyanide of potassium, There are 10 teeth on the hind femora ; the basal 5 are thick, blunt, closely pressed together ; the following 4 are longer, sharper, more curved and clearly separated ; the last is widely separated and is shorter than any of the others. The post- scutellum projects distinctly over the median segment; its apex is unequally bidentate. The entire body is covered with a short white pubescence and is closely, somewhat strongly punctured except the metanotum which is closely reticulated, The joints of the flagellum are distinctly Jonger than thick, except the 4th to 6th, which are about as wide as thick, There isa smooth broad transverse keel near the apex of the pronotum, The eyes do not converge below ; the malar space is nearly as long as the antennal scape. In the centre of the face are 2 furrows which converge roundly towards each other in the centre. The centre of the clypeus is roundly incised, the sides rounded. Leucaspis nursei, sp, Nov, Length 9-10 mm. @. Quetia. May to August. G This species is almost identical in colouration and markings with the preceding, but it is smaller ; and may readily be known by there being only 8 teeth on the hind femora, namely, 3 stout, longish basal closely pressed, a stouter one near to them, but clearly separated, 2 longer and sharper ones, widely separated from it and from each other, and still more widely separated is a short stump; the postescutellum is not so distinctly bidentate; the apex of the clypeus has the lateral lobes more distinct, and broader. As regards colouration the mark below the tegule is 3 times larger and pyriform, the black line on the pronotum is half the length and thickness, the post- scutellum is marked with yellow, and the 2 marks on the metanotum are much larger and more particularly broader, bemg not much longer than wide ; the lines on the sides of the face are broader and are united at the top by a mark which projects upwards between the antenne ; the striation on the vertex is stronger and closer, If there were only the colouration differences I should feel inclined to regard the 2 as forms of one species; but the structural differences are too great to warrant one in looking upon them as varieties of one species. The Q is larger (14 mm.); the dark markings on the thorax are smaller and are brown rather than black ; only the clypeus is black; the antennz have ro black ; the black transverse marks or lines on the abdomen are narrower ; the drd is broader than the others, especially on the sides; the ovipositor reaches to the middle of the basal segment ; the post-scutellum is more distinctly bilobate ; the lobes rounded. Dirrhinus crythroceras, Black ; the antennz, the 4 anterior femora, tibiz and all the tarsi rufcus, the ON PARASITIC HYMENOPTERA. 93 body and legs sparsely covered with silvery white pubescence ; wings hyaline, the nervure fuscous, 4. Length 3-5 mm. Quetta. May. Centre of head above strongly punctured, the punciures round and clearly separated, the centre of the vertex with a broad, strongly aciculated longitudinal band. Occiput broadly roundly incised, the centre depressed, Frontal lobes twice longer than the width of the base; they are narrowed towards the apex, the inner edge has a distinct margin ; it is depressed, the inner and apical edges raised, the outer less distinctly margined ; the frontal incision becomes grad- ually widened towards the apex, it being there fully twice the width of the base. Pro- and mesonotum strongly punctured; the former has the apex smooth in the middle, this being also the case with the centre of the scutellum which is largely impunctate. Metanotum closely reticulated-striated ; there is a short keel in the centre of the apex ; on the sides are 2° keels which converge and unite near the apex, forming a longish triangular area. The sides, at ihe base, are broadly roundly dilated, in the middle is a stout triangular tooth ; the apex projects into a shorter tooth. Propleure (especially above) strongly punctured; the base of mesopleure much less) strongly and less closely punctured, opaque; the apex is somewhat strongly, but not very regularly striated, the two parts being separated by a curved keel, Metapleure distinctly irregularly reticulated, Abdominal petiole broader than long, the top with 4° stout, longitudinal keels ; on the base of the 2nd segment, extending from the base to near the middle, is a closely striated space ; the apical segment is broadly, deeply, roundly incised in the centre, The hind coxe are flat above and finely closely striated in the middle; the basal joint of the trochanters is raised, compressed, oblique, and appears almost to form part of the coxee; the lower is shorter and projects below into a ball-like mass, longer than broad, and appexar- ing as if it were attached to the under side of the base of the femora. This cannot well be confounded with any of the described species, Charac- teristic is the roundly, deeply incised apex of the abdomen, Jn the species known to me, ¢.g., D. excavatus, Dal. and D, rufcornis, Cam,, the apex is trilobate, it having a large central, bordered by a small lateral lobe. Megacolus pruinosus, sp. nov. Black, densely covered with silvery pilc, the hind cox and femora bright red; the 4 anterior tarsi of a darker red; the hinder tibie of a darker red colour ; the wings hyaline, the nervures black, Q. Length 7 mm,; terebra 2 mm, Quetta. August, Head rugosely punctured, the cheeks and temples densely, the vertex more sparsely covered with long silvery hair. Malar space almost as long as the eyes ; the inner side bordered by a distinct keel. Pro-mesothorax and scutellum strongly punctured, the punctures distinctly separated; the pleurx closely rugosely punctured, Metanotum laterally bordered by a stout keel ; the lower 94 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XVII. Spine obliquely turned upwards; the upper shorter, bluntly rounded; the central part is stoutly irregularly reticulated, the sides are more closely, irregu- larly, and less strongly reticulated. Tha apices of the abdominal segments are punctured, the basal weakly, the apical much more strongly and widely ; the basal part of the ovipositor closely, weakly punctured; the sides of the segments, except the basal, are densely covered with silvery pubescence, Legs densely covered with silvery pubescence ; the tarsal spines are rufous, The hind femora are minutely closely serrate and densely pilose. The antenns are inserted opposite the lower part of the eyes; the top of the antennal scape reaches to the ocelli. Parapsidal furrows distinct, Chalcis responsator, Walk, Specimens from Quetta and from Deesa (Bombay) taken by Major Nurse agree fairly well with Walker’s description (Trans. Ent, Soc,, 1862, 305) of this species from ‘North Hindostan”, The apex of the scutellum is bilobate ; the lobes are broader than long and are separated by a rounded incision, Walker calls the apex “ bidentate ”’. Chalcis fulvitarsis, sp, nov. Black ; the apices of all the femora—the apical third ofthe anterior, the others more narrowly, the base and apex of the 4 posterior tibie broadly, allthe tarsi and the anterior tibie, rufo-fulvous ; the black on the tibie bordered by fulvous; wings hyaline, the apical nervures black ; tegule yellow. @. Length 5 mm. Quetta, May. Apex of antennal scape broadly obscure yellow below, piceous above ; the flagellum is stouter than usual, densely covered with white pile. Front and vertex reticulated-punctured ; the outer orbits to near the bottom coarsely punctured ; the lower part is smooth, shining ; this smooth part, above, becomes gradually narrowed from the inner to the outer side ; on the inner side it is bordered by a keel. Pro- and mesonotum with the scutellum closely covered with round punctures, each with a raised point in the centre ; on the scutellum the punctures are more widely separated ; and there is a smooth line down the centre of the basal half; its apex is broadly bilobate. Metanotum irregu- larly reticulated ; the areola deep, about 3 times longer than wide. Basal 4 segments of abdomen smooth and shining; the 5th and 6th strongly, deeply punctured. Upper part of propleurse smooth, ihe middle aciculated, the lower irregularly punctured. Base of mesopleurz smooth ; the middle with 3 large fovese, below which are 3 pairs of irregular ones, Metapleurze strongly, irregularly reticulated ; below, the apex of metanotum roundly projects at the sides. Oncochalcis quettaensis, sp. nov. Black; the apical two-thirds of the fore femora, the apical third of the middle and the fourth of the posterior, the tibiz, tarsi and tegule bright lemon-yellow, the wings clear hyaline, the nervures black. Q and ¢. Length 5 mm, ON PARASITIC HYMENOPTERA, 95 Quetta, June to August, ensely covered with long, glistening white pubescence, except on the base of the abdomen. Apex of scutellum with a broad, rounded, smooth and shining, undivided projection, Metanotum stoutly, widely reticulated, The central basal area fully twice longer than wide ; the sides rounded, not toothed. Femora with 12 teeth; the basal close together, the apical (except the penultimate, which is smaller and less clearly defined) larger and more widely separated. Basal segment of abdomen smooth and shining; the 2nd sparsely and not very strongly, the others strongly and closely punctured. Centre of face strongly, but not closely punctured above, the lower part smooth and shining ; the sides strongly and closely punctured, more or less reticulated, this being also the case with the sides of the front and vertex ; middle of front widely, deeply excavated, very smooth and shining, bare. Hinder ocelli separated from each other by more than double the distance they are from the eyes. The antennal scape and pedicle are shining, sparsely haired ; the other joints opaque, stout, the third is narrowed at the base, twice the length of the pedicle and not much longer than the 4th, the apical joints are brownish. Pro- mesonotum and scutellum strongly, closely punctured. Upper part of propleurz smooth, obscurely striated ; the lower strongly, but not closely punctured. Meso- and metapleure coarsely, reticulated-punctured ; the greater part of the base smooth, shining ; of the former, the extreme base is bordered (except near the top) with a row of large fovex, the one below the other. The inner side of the hind tibie is black, Parapsidal furrows shallow, broad. Comes near to C, marginata, Cam,; the latter species has the abdomen much less strongly punctured ; the mesopleure much more distinctly striated ; there is only a small smooth space in the centre of the face and all the femora have the apices narrowly yellow, the yellow marks being of the same size on all of them. It isa larger and stouter species ; the metanolal areola is longer, acutely pointed above and with a stout keel near the middle, and the reticulations on the apex of the metapleure ave wider. O, deesw,Cam., is also closely allied ; the smooth space on the face is very small; the structure of the metanotal are is very different ; there is no large central areola ; there is a row of large basal arez ; the abdominal segments in dees are not punctured. This species is not unlike C, bilobatus, Cam, ; that species may be known by the weaker femoral teeth ; by the mesopleure being only weakly striated above ; by the face being more strongly punctured, the middle being also punctured, and by the much more strongly and regularly reticulated metanotum on which the areola is clearly defined, deep and triangular; and the sides do not project into a blunt tooth behind: in the present species they project into a broad, rounded tooth, Oncochalcis rufescens, Sp. nov, Rufescent, densely covered with silvery pubescence; the vertex darker coloured, infuscated, the pleure brighter in tint than the mesonotum ; the 96 JOURNAL, BUMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XVII tegule, apical half of fore femora, apical fourth of the 4 hinder, the 4 anterior tibiz and tarsi, and the posterior tibie, except for a rufous band near the middle, pale bright yellow ; the hind tarsi yellow, tinged with fulvous: wings clear hyaline ; the costal nervure fuscous, the others black, 9. Length 5 mm. Quetta, June. Head closely, rugosely punctured. Frontal - depression smooth, shining, not quite so wide as the sides, there is a thick, smooth, wide keel on the centre, bordered on either side by an oblique, somewhat pyriform, raised smooth and shining space, Pro-mesothorax and scutellum closely, strongly punctured; the scutellum large, somewhat broader than long, the apex broadly rounded above, projecting and bluntly bilobate above ; the apex is more densely haired than the rest, Metanotum short, vertical, shining, widely reticulated, the central area long, extending from the top to the bottom, sharply, obliquely narrowed above ; the bottom slightly roundly narrowed. Propleurz closely, minutely punctured, a stout oblique keel below the middle. The upper part of the mesopleure at the base is smooth : in the centre are 5 round, deep fovez ; its apex is raised, it being thus separated from the posterior part, which is depressed above, raised below and stoutly irregularly striated, or keeled at the base. Metapleurz reticulated closely ; their sides behind broadly rounded, Abdomen closely minutely punc- tured, the 2nd and following segments densely covered with a longish silvery pile, The ovipositor is broad ; it projects slightly beyond the top of the apical dorsal segment, Hinder femora closely serrate, pilose below. Neochalcis ? forticaudis, sp. nov. Black, densely covered with silvery pubescence, the hind coxe and femora bright red, the hind tibie of a darker red, darker behind, the 4 anterior tarsi red, tinged with yellowish fulvous ; wings hyaline, the nervures black. 9. Length 7 mm, Quetta. August, ‘Head rugosely punctured, the front laterally reticulated ; the frontal depres- sion finely closely transversely striated, except shortly below the middle and above the bottom. The temples are more closely reticulated, the malar space more strongly ; it is stoutly keeled on the outerside ; above, below the eyes, 1S a raised triangular space, sharply pointed below. Apex of scutellum not quite rounded, slightly roundly incised in the middle. Metanotum stoutly irregularly reticulated, with a small smooth triangular area near the top in the middle ; the sides are broadly rounded, dens@ly covered with long white hair. The basal 5 abdominal segments are shining, closely, finely punctured ; except at the base the 6th segment is coarsely, rugosely reticulated-punctured ; the apical segments on the sides are thickly covered with long white pubes- cence. Neochalcis is the only described genus into which this species will fit, The single large tooth on the centre of the hind femora is bluntly pointed ; the rest Me ON PARASITIC HYMENOPTERA, 97 is minutely serrate. The ovipositor is short, stout, obliquely narrowed at the apex, Etroxys canthopus, sp, nov. Green variegated with brassy and blue tints, the metanotum indigo blue ; the abdomen of a brighter colour than the thorax ; the antennal scape dark fulvous ; the flagellum fuscous; legs pale straw-yellow ; the anterior cox, except at the apex, dark golden ; wings clear hyaline, iridescent, the nervures pale testaceous, Q. Length 3 mm. Quetta. June, Head closely, distinctly punctured, the front and vertex slightly more strongly than the face; the clypeus indistinctly separated from the face, closely, longitudinally, slightly obliquely striated. Palpi yellow, Pro-and mesothorax with scutellum punctured like the head; the metanotum is much more obscurely punctured; there is a keel down the middle ; at the base laterally is a distinct fovea, the obscure punctuation is intermixed with fine strie. On the centre of the metapleurez is a deep, wide longitudinal furrow, which is narrowed at the base. Abdomen as long as the head and thorax united, smooth and shining, gradually narrowed to a fine point at the apex, The antenn are more slender and the parapsidal furrows less distinct than they are in the British species of Htrozys. I have used the original spelling of this word as used by Ashmead in his “ Classification of the Chalcid Flies,” Tt has been spelled Aetrorys and Hetroxys, Etroxys 2? marginicollis, sp, nov, Dark coppery green, the abdomen of a brighter green colour, largely tinged with coppery patches; the antennal scape and base of mandibles rufo- testaceous ; the flagellum fusco-testaceous, darker above ; the legs dark green, with coppery tints; the apex of femora, the tibie and tarsi pale straw yellow ; wings clear hyaline, the nervures pale yellow. P. Length 3 mm, Quetta, June, Head closely, finely, distinctly, but not deeply punctured ; the clypeus not separated from the face, closely, regularly, distinctly striated. Thorax punc- tured like the head, the punctures running into reticulations, especially on the mesonotum ; the sides of the metanotum are smooth, shining and bright green ; its centre is somewhat more strongly punctured than the scutellum, Pleurez darker coloured than the scutellum; the apex of the pro- and meso- smooth and shining ; the rest closely punctured-reticulated, Abdomen not quite so long as the head and thorax united ; the apical half is gradually narrowed towards the apex, and is covered with a white pubescence. Apart from the difference in the colouration of the legs this species may be known from E, wanthopus by the shorter and broader abdomen and by the much more strongly and regularly punctured-reticulated metanotum. The abdomen is shorter and broader than it is in typical Etrowys ; and it may not 13 : 98 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XVII, really belong to that genus, The mandibles are 3-deniate ; the apical tooth is larger and more clearly separated than the other two. The antennal scape is shorter, it not extending to the hinder ocelli as in xanthopus ; the hinder ocelli are separated from each other bya slighter greater distance than they are from the eyes. The head is wider than the thorax, The pronotum is transverse and margined at the base, not broadly rounded, and narrowed laterally as in zanthopus, which has a larger prothorax. In the forewings, the stigmal branch is nearly as long as the ulna. The apical 3 joints of the antenne are thickened. SCELIONINI, Sparasion albo=pilosellus, sp. nov. Black, densely covered with long white pubescence ; the antennal scape and the legs, except the coxe, bright rufo-fulvous ; the antennal flagellum fuscous below ; wings hyaline, the nervures fuscous, the stigma black, @. Length 4-5 mm. Quetta. May. Frontal ledge broad, smooth, shining, the edges broadly rounded ; the front is raised above it, broadly rounded and with a raised border; immediately behind the border it is smooth ; between this border and the ocelli it is irregularly, mostly obliquely striated. Except on the sides in front, the vertex is irregularly transversely striated-reticulated. Pro- and mesonotum shining ; the hairs issue from punctures; there are no furrows, except on the apex, where they are deep. Scutellum smooth at the base, the rest strongly punctured; it is semicircular, large ; the basal furrow is stoutly crenulated, The centre of the metanotum is depressed, bordered by a keel which, at the apex, curves outwardly, then runs backwards obliquely to the base of the segment, there being thus formed 2 arez ; shortly beyond the middle of the inner keels isa stout transverse keel, with a more irregular one on either side, besides a few broken keels ; the sides have a stout keel which broadly projects and is united to the apex of the central keel ; the apical slope is almost smooth, The upper part of the prothorax is margined on the outer side, broadly rounded ; the basal slope is smooth. The base of the mesopleure is punctured, the rest smooth, except the apical half above which is raised and strongly striated. The upper part of the metapleure is strongly closely striated ; the striz curved and interlacing ; the base above is punctured, the lower part stoutly striated, the upper apical smooth. The basal 3 abdominal segments are closely, strongly longitudinally striated ; the 4th is weakly and irregularly striated and the 5th still more so; the segmental divisions are distinct and crenulated, The post-scutellum is flat and strongly striated ; the ventral segments are weakly striated at the base. Palpi rufo-testaceous. H&E LORIN Helorus striolatus, sp. nov, Black ; the tegule, tibie and tarsi testaceous, the hinder pair darker coloured ; ON PARASITIC HYMENOPTERA, 99 ‘mandibles and palpi dark piceous, the wings clear hyaline, the nervures ‘black, @. Length 4 mm, Quetta. June. The 3rd joint of antenne as long as the 4th. Head and thorax covered with a minute white pile. Face closely, distinctly, the clypeus more sparsely punctured ; it is separated from the face by a broad curved depression ending Jaterally ina round fovea, Front and vertex laterally closely punctured ; in the centre they are more sparsely and less strongly punctured ; above, and ‘between the antenne, is a large, broad fovea ; there is a curved furrow behind the hinder ocelli, Mesonotum and scutellum shining, only minutely punctur- ed ; the apex of the latter has on the sides a few short keels, On the sides of the post-scutellum, at the base, are 3 deep fovex clearly separated by keels. Metanotum stoutly irregularly reticulated, Upper part of propleure smooth ; the lower part at the base rugose, on the apex are 5 stout keels which become gradually shorter from the top to the bottom, On the base of the mesopleurz is a stout keel running from the top to the bottom, it is longitudinally irregular- ‘ly striated on either side. Metapleure irregularly closely reticulated, almost rugose, Abdominal petiole nearly half the length of the rest of the abdo- ‘men ; it is irregularly punctured-striated on the sides ; on the basal half above are 2 keels, which unite at the apex and converge, but do not unite at the base; the dilated part is thickly covered with white pubescence. The basal abscissa -of the radius is dilated below, The abdominal petiole is longer than usual. EVANIIDA, Evania nurseana, sp. nov, Black, covered with a white down ; wings clear hyaline, the nervures black ; ‘the metasternal process stout, long, widely diverging, @ and @. Length 6-7 mm. Quetia. June to August, Face shining, strongly but not closely punctured ; the sides of clypeus widely ‘depressed, the central part gradually narrowed towards the apex, which is transverse, Malar space smooth, fully half the length of the eyes, Front and vertex almost impuuctate ; smooth, shining ; from the ocelli a deep furrow ‘runs down to the antennz ; below the middle they curve obliquely inwardly, *then run parallel, close to each other, downwards; outside these a narrower furrow runs obliquely from the outerside of the ocelli to the outerside of the antenne, Hinder ocelli separated from each other by a distinctly greater distance than they are from the eyes, Middle of mesonotum strongly, ‘deeply, closely punctured ; the sides almost impunctate; the furrows deep. ‘Scutellum strongly, but not very closely, punctured all over, Metanotum strongly reticulated, more closely at the base ; the apical slope covered with white pile. Abdominal petiole smooth, shining, Antennal scape long, as ‘long as the pedicle and the following joint united ; these two united are as long -as the 4th and 5th joints united. Tibi and tarsi sparsely, minutely spinose. ‘The base and lower part of the propleure are strongly deeply punctured, the 100 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XVII. apex above smooth, The basal, upper half of the mesopleurx is smooth and shining ; the raised lower part bears round, clearly separated punctures, the apex bears stout, longitudinal keels and is more or less reticulated. The tarsi are covered with a dense white pile; the long spur of the hind tibize does not reach to the middle of the metatarsus by a perceptible space ; it is as long as the 2nd joint, Sides of thorax at the base broadly rounded, as: are also the sides of median segment, Temples short, sharply oblique. The ¢@ is similar ; it is, if anything, more densely pilose, This species, in Schletterer’s tables, as regards the @, would come in near Ii, verrucosa, Schl. ; the Q near EF, princeps with which it cannot be confounded. In size and appearance it is not unlike HZ, appendigaster, but that has not the tibize and tarsi spinose and the scutellum is not strongly and closely punctured as it is in the present species. Gasteruption baluchistanense, sp. nov. Black, the 2nd to 5th abdominal segments red ;a line on the underside of the four anterior tibiz and tarsi and a short ring near the base of the hind tibie, white ; the end of the sheaths of the ovipositor white ; wings clear hyaline, the nervures and stigma black. @ and @. Length 13; terebra 15 mm.; @ 11 mm, Quetta, May-July. Head and thorax densely covered with white pubescence. The 3rd joint of the antenne is distinctly shorter than the 4th; it and the 2nd together are not much longer than the 4th, The apex of the clypeus is shortly, roundly incised; the centre is depressed. Malar space as long as the 2nd antennal joint. Eyes parallel, not converging, Hinder ocelli separated from each other by double the distance they are from the eyes; the anterior half of the hinder are placed behind the eyes. Temples long, roundly narrowed. Occiput roundly incised, sharply margined. Collar short, as Jong as the width at the apex. Middle lobe of mesonotum somewhat strongly, but not very closely, punctured ; the lateral are much more sparsely and finely punctured, Scutellum sparsely punctured along the sides. Metanotum irregularly reticulated, more widely and distinctly on the apex than on the base ; on the apex are 2 longitudinal keels. Pro- and mesopleure finely rugose, densely covered with white pubes- cence ; the apex of the latter is smooth above; the lower part is striated; the striz are clearly separated. In ene specimen there is a white line on the apical half of the metatarsus,. The upper discoidal] cellule is closed and is longer than the lower. Ccmes near to G. sabulosum in Schletterer’s arrangement. Gasteruption quettaense, sp, NOV. Length 7-8 mm. Ovipositor longer than the body, Quetta. May to August, This species is much smaller than the preceding ; has the abdomen much less. narrowly red ; may otherwise be known by the occiput not being incised, but transverse, ON PARASITIC HYMENOPTERA. 101 Head smooth, the upper part sparsely, the lower thickly covered with white pile. Hind ocelli separated from each other by double the distance they are from the eyes ; they are placed slightly behind the hinder edge of the eyes, Temples about one-half the length of the eyes, roundly narrowed behind, Malar space about as long as the pedicle of the antenne, Thorax alutaceous, opaque, covered with a white down ; the metanotum almost rugose, a smooth shining line down its centre, The lower part of the propleure is shining, ‘sparsely punctured and is separated from the upper part by a narrow furrow, The 3rd antennal joint distinctly shorter than the 4th ; it is twice the length of the pedicle, the scape is not twice longer than wide, The 4 front tibie and tarsi care for the greater part white ; there is a narrow white line at the base of ihe tibia and a wider one on the base of the metatarsus, The amount of red colour on the abdomen varies; the g@ appears to want the white mark on the metatarsus. Probably the quantity of white colour on the 4 anterior tibie and tarsi varies. The stigma is fuscous; the posterior. ‘discoidal cellule is shorter than the anterior. The punctuation on the thorax is sparse, but distinct. BRACONID®. Microgasterine. Dapsilotoma, gen. nov. Antenne 36-jointed. Radial cellule long, narrow, lanceolate, extending to the apex ; areolet triangular, the basal nervure roundly curved, the apical Straight, oblique ; transverse median nervure received distinctly beyond the transverse basal; the recurrent nervure in the Ist cubital cellule clearly distant from the first transverse cubital. Basal abscissa of cubitus distinct, Hyes hairy ; there isa distinct malar space. Clypeus separated from the face by anarrow furrow. Median segment reticulated, keeled down the middle. Basal two abdominal segments longer than the others ; the Ist longer than wide, longer than the 2nd, which is square. There is a crenulated furrow on the mesopleure; the legs are stout, the spurs short ; the stigma large, broad ; the radius issues from its middle; there as a distinct cubitus and radius in the hind wings. Ovipositor short, its sheaths broad, This genus should be readily known by the large number of joints in the antenne, 28 is the largest number hitherto recorded, namely in the Brazilian genus Oligoneurus, the other genera having from 14 to 2! joints. The affinities of my genus are with Microgaster and Microplitis, ; - Dapsilotoma testaceipes, sp. nov. Black, the flagellum of antenne rufo-fuscous; the legs rufo-testaceous ; the coxew black; wings hyaline ; the costa and apical two-thirds of stigma black, the base of stigma white, the nervures testaceous, Mandibles and oral wegion rufous; the palpi testaceous, Head and thorax obscurely, minutely ‘punctured, covered with a white down. Metanotum strongly reticulated ; the upperside of the pleure obliquely, closely striated. Abdomen smooth, 102 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XVI. shining ; the c2ntr2 of the 1st segment raised, clearly separated from the sides.. Hind tarsi stout, pilose; the metatarsus slightly longer than the following two joints united; the long spur of the calcaria about one-third of its: length ; the last joint of the hind tarsi is longer than the penultimate ; the- pulvillus large. @. Length 23 mm, Quetta, June. Protapanteles? nigrescens, sp. nov. Black, smooth and shining, covered with a white down ; the base of 4 hinder tibiz and anterior tibie and tarsi testaceous as are also the palpi; wings- clear hyaline ; the costa and stigma fuscous, the nervures pale. Q Length 2 mm. Quetta. August, Antenne much longer than the body, stout, the joints elongated, the 3rd’ shorter than the 4th. Face with a broad smooth, impressed line down the: middle. Eyes densely haired, Mesonotum and scutellum minutely shagreened ;- the metanotum smooth and shining. Central region of Ist abdominal segment narrowed towards the apex; the sides are paler coloured ; the 2nd segment with oblique furrows enclosing a triangle, the apex of which is at the base of the segment, Kixcept that apparently Protapanteles does not possess grooved lines on: the 2nd abdominal segment this species agrees better with it than with any of the Ashmeadian genera, Protapanteles is not adopted by Szepligeti, who sinks- also 4 other of Dr. Ashmead’s genera, Cf. Gen, Ins, Brac. 105. CARDIOCHILINA, Cardiochiles nigricollis, sp. nov. Black, the apex of the fore femora and their tibie and tarsi testaceous ; wings hyaline, the apex of the anterior from the 2nd transverse cubita] nervure- and the apex of the posterior more narrowly, dark fuscous; the stigma and nervures black. @. Length 6 mm, Quetta, May. Smooth and shining, except the metanotum, which is coarsely rugosely punc— tured, In the centre of the latter is a large area which is wide in the middle,. gradually narrowed to a sharp point at the base and apex; its sides are bordered by astout keel, Pro-and mesopleure smooth and shining ; their- apices crenulated ; below the middle of the latter isa curved striated band. Metapleure rugosely punctured, more strongly below than above. The occiput is transverse. Middle of mandibles testaceous, Suturiform. articulation and the oblique furrows on the 2nd abdominal segment deep, clearly defined. Calcaria black, the long spur of the hinder reaching to. shortly beyond the middle of the metatarsus; the tarsal joints are densely: pilose below. Cardiochiles erythronotus, Sp. NOV. Black, the mesonotum red; the apex of the fore femora, the tibie and tarsi: ON PARASITIC HYMENOPTERA. 103 and a narrow band on the base of the middle tibiz and the calcaria rufo- testaceous. Wings hyaline, the apex smoky from the apex of the stigma ; costa and stigma black, the middle nervures testaceous. @. Length 5 mm, Quetta. May. Smooth, shining, densely covered with white pubescence ; the base of the metanotum irregularly rugose; the areola widely separated from the base, semicircular. Pro- and mesopleure smooth ; the meta-smooth at the base ; the rest closely rugosely reticulated-punctured ; the centre at the base with 3 longitudinal keels, Temples roundly dilated ; the occiput roundly incised. Apart from the differences in colouration this species may be known from C. nigricollis by the areola being semicircular and by the occiput not being tranverse, In colouration it agrees with C. rujficollis, Cam., from Bombay, The differences between them may be expressed thus: Areola extending from the base to the apex of the segment, widened in the middle, narrowed towards the base and apex; a large square area on either side ; occiput transverse ; calcaria black ........ zficollis. Areola not extending from the base to the apex, semicircular; no area on either side ; occiput not transverse, calcaria testaceous..... .. erythronotus. Rujicollis has the pubescence denser and longer, and the tubercles are red. CHELONINA, Chelonus areolatus, sp, Nov. Black, the 4 anterior knees, tibiz and tarsi, the basal half of the hind tibiz and the base of the tarsi narrowly, yellowish testaceous; wings hyaline, the costa and nervures pale testaceous, the stigma black. Base of metanotum with a large area, somewhat longer than wide, in the centre; it is slightly roundly narrowed at the base and apex. @. Length 35 mm, Quetia, May, Antennz 20-jointed. Face closely punctured ; the clypeus shining, its apex depressed, broadly rounded. Front and vertex finely, closely punctured ; below the ocelli finely closely transversely striated. Mesonotum finely closely punctur- ed; the apex and sides of the scutellum closely striated, Metanotum closely rugosely punctured-reticulated ; in the centre are 2 keels, roundly curved at the base, forming an area which is longer than broad ; it is irregularly reticulated and has a stout keel down the centre ; the apical slope is closely, strongly punctured ; the lateral teeth short, broad. Pleure closely punctured, more or less striated. Radius short, not reaching to the apex of the basal third of the apical part of the wings;it is roundly curved ; the basal two abscisse are equal in length. Striation-reticulation on the abdomen strong at the base, becoming gradually weaker towards the apex. Chelonus fortispinus, sp. nov, Black, the apex of the 4 anterior femora, their tibia and tarsi testaceous, a broad band at and behind the middle of the hind tibix, the basal two-thirds 104 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SCCIETY, Vol. XVII. of the metatarsus and the calcaria, white. Wings hyaline, the costa, stigma and apical nervures black, the basal nervures. and metatarsus witlte: Q. Length 5 Quetta, ee Antenne 28-jointed and over, as long as the body. Face transversely rugose= ly punctured. Clypeus closely punctured, broad at the base, gradually narrow- ed towards the apex; the latter issmooth, transverse. Malar space closely transversely rugose. Sides of front stoutly obliquely striated ; the sides of the vertex longitudinally rugose, the posterior part transversely striated. Meso- notum longitudinally rugosely punctured, most strongly and coarsely behind. Middle of scutellum smooth at the base, the rest rugosely punctured ; its sides keeled. Apical slope of metanotum keeled above, its sides projecting into sharp, longish teeth ; the base is deeply depressed, crenulated ; the basal part is closely reticulated ; in the centre are 3 longitudinal keels, of which the — central is thinner than the others ; the apical ‘slope is closely, strongly trans- versely reticulated-punctured. Propleura# closely reticulated-punctured, below, at the base, striated. Mesopleure closely, the metapleurz more strongly and widely reticulated. Base of abdomen strongly longitudinally striated, intermixed with weaker transverse strie ; the strie are strongest at the base ; the striz are continued tu the apex, becoming gradually weaker, The trans- verse basal nervure is thickened and white at its junction with the stigma ; the basal abscissa of the radius is thickened and is not much shorter than the 2nd ; the 3rd does not reach to the middle of the space hetween the stigma and end of wing and is slightly, but distinctly, longer than the 2nd abscissa of cubitus ; the recurrent nervure is interstitial, The puncturation and striation vary in strength. MACROCENTRINZ. Macrocentrus rufo-testaceus, sp. Nov. Rufo-testaceous, the metanotum and the greater part of the back of abdo- men black ; legs rufo-fulvous ; flagellum of antenne blackish, the basal joints fuscous ; wings clear hyaline, ithe stigma fuscous, ity base broad, the apex “narrowly white ; nervures testaceous, 9, Length 4; ee about 2 mm. Quetta. July. Smooth and shining ; the median segment thickly covered with white pubes- cence. Middle lobe of mesonotum clearly separated; the part at its apex tugosely striated, Third joint of antenne clearly longer than the fourth, Second cubital cellule much narrowed at the apex; the lower part of the Ist transverse cubital nervure and the 2nd abscissa of the cubitus at the base are faint, almost obliterated, the latter on the basal half; the transverse median nervure is received shortly beyond the transverse basal. cae Macrocentrus fuscipes, sp. nov. Black, shining, smooth, the legs fuscous ; the 4 anterior paler, more testaceous in colour than the hinder pair, the coxe black ; clypeus and mandibles, except ON PARASITIC HYMENOPTERA; 105 the teeth, fulvo-testaceous; palpi fuscous; wings hyaline, the stigma and nervures fuscous ; the base of the former broadly, its apex narrowly white. @. Length 4 mm. Quetta, Antennal scape black, suffused with testaceous ; the flagellum blackish, paler below, densely covered with a short pile; its first joint is not much longer than the second, Metanotum closely transversely striated, the base ‘smooth and shining ; the smooth part triangularly dilated laterally. Pro- and metapleure shagreened ; the base of the former is testaceous below; the mesopleurz obscurely punctured below. The lower part of the 1st transverse -cubital and the basal half of the 2nd abscissa of the cubitus are pale. BLACIN&. Orgilus nigromaculatus, sp. NOV, Rufo-testaceous, antenne, ocelli, median segment except for a broad band -on the sides, narrowed behind, a large mark on the apex of the mesopleure in the centre, a mark in the middle of the 1st abdominal segment, the apex of the 2nd and the greater part of the others, black. Anterior legs rufo-testace- -ous, their coxe black at the base; the middle black, the coxe, femora and base of tibie broadly dark red; the posterior black, the base of the femora and tibiz dark red ; the calcaria rufous, Wings clear hyaline, the costa and Stigma black ; the nervures white, Q. Length 4 mm ; terebra 2 mm, Quetta. May. Densely covered with a white pile ; minutely closely punctured. Antenne 29-jointed ; the third joint a little shorter than the 4th; the flagellum densely covered with a dense white pile. Malar space fully as Jong as the antennal scape. Clypeus less closely punctured than the face and more shining; its apex is broadly rounded, Scutellum broader than long, its apex broadly round- ed, Metanotum sparsely irregularly striated, its base depressed, Pleurz close- ly punctured ; the lower part of the mesopleure smooth and shining; the longitudinal furrow wide, crenulated. First abdominal segment sessile, slightly widened towards the apex; it is nearly as long asthe 2nd and 3rd united; these are wider than long ; the 2nd longer than the 3rd; it has a narrow smooth line down the middle, Calcaria short. Stigma broad compared with its width The transverse median nervure is received beyond the transverse basal ; it is therefore an Orgilus sensu str, BRACONINE. Bracon quettensis, sp, nov. Rufo-testaceous, palpi, antenne, a large spot on the sides of mesonotum at the scutellum at the base, base of metanotum broadly, mesosternum, a mark ‘at the base of the basal 2 abdominal segments and the sheaths of the ‘ovipo- sitor, black. Wings light fuscous, the stigma and costa testaceous, the ner'vures ~of a darker testaceous colour. 9 and g. ; Length 3 mm, the ovipositor slightly longer, 14 106 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XVII. Quetta. May to August, Shining, the head and thorax smooth ; the abdomen closely minutely punc-- tured and striated. Body and legs thickly covered with short white pubescence. There is no area on the base of the 2nd abdominal segment. Sheaths of ovipositor thickly covered with short stiff black hair. The amount of black on the legs varies. In the male they may be testaceous. with the femora lined above with black ; the apex of the tibiz broadly and the tarsi black. The mark on the base of the metanotum may be entire or divided ; its stigma, too, is darker, The apical abscissa of the radius is. about one-fourth longer than the basal two united. ° Bracon tridipennis, sp. Nov. Rufo-testaceous, the antenne, ocellar region, palpi, mandibles, occiput: broadly, apical half of mesonotum broadly on the sides, sternum, metanotum, the basal abdominal segment and the others, less distinctly in the centre, black, Legs black, the knees broadly testaceous, the spurs black. Wings hyaline,, highly iridescent, the stigma dark fuscous, the costa and nervures black. @, Length 3 mm. Quetta. May. Head and thorax smooth and shining, sparsely covered with white pubes-. cence. The 2nd and 3rd abdominal segments are closely finely punctured, more or less obscurely striated laterally. Third abscissa of radius nearly twice- the length of the basal two united. Suturiform articulation and the furrow at the base of the 3rd segment closely striated. Apart from the differences in colouration this species should be known from, quettaensis by the longer third and shorter second abscissa of the radius, Vepio nursed, Sp. NOV. Rufous, the antenne, ocelli, a small spot on the base of the middle lobe of the mesonotum, a broad line on the apical halt of the lateral, the meso- and metasternum, the 4 hinder coxe below and the posterior at the apex: above, the apex of the hind tibie and the hind tarsi, black, Wings dark fuscous, the nervures, costa and apical half of the stigma black, the basal half of the latter yellow. @Q and @. Length 8-12 mm.; terebra 40 mm. Quetta, June—August. Face minutely closely punctured ; malar furrow distinct ; there are a few long hairs over the clypeus. Mandibles covered with long fulvous hair. Thorax smooth ; the metanotum punctured, but not closely or strongly ; the apical slope with a shallow furrow. Basal two abdominal segments coarsely rugosely punctured; the 3rd less strongly on the basal two-thirds, the 4th on the basal half, The basal triangular area on the 3rd segment smooth ; the: furrows, tranverse and the curved ones on the base of the 3rd crentlated ; the: apical segments are smooth, Hypopygium large, culiriform, projecting largely beyond the dorsal segment. The middle ventral segments are marked with black, ON PARASITIC HYMENOPTERA, 107 The ¢ is similar, In size the species varies considerably, Vipio unicolor, sp. nov, Rufo-testaceous, the flagellum of antennz black ; the wings fuscous, with the: usual hyaline spots, the basal half of stigma ochraceous, Q. Length 15 mm, ; terebra 28 mm. Quetta. August. Face closely punctured, the front and vertex smooth. Mesonotum strongly,. but not closely punctured ; the scutellum almost impunctate, Metainotum deeply closely punetured, almost reticulated in parts, Pleure smooth. Basal 3 abdominal segments closely rugosely reticulated-punctured ; the furrows. closely crenulated, wide. (To be continued.) 108 BIRDS OF THE PROVINCES OF KASHMIR AND JAMMU AND ADJACENT DISTRICTS. By A. E. Warp. Parr I. Years ago I made out a list of birds that might be found in the Jammu and Kashmir State, but as research progressed it was found needful to add many and to eliminate a few. From this list a catalogue was prepared, in 19038, for the use of the Pratab Singh Museum of Srinagar, during the last two years progress has been made with the collections and as the catalogue has now been brought up to date I venture to publish it in the Bombay Natural History Journal. Probably some few additions may have to be made, and possibly it will be hereafter found that a few birds will have to be struck out, at present it is preferable to keep these on the list with the remark ‘ doubtful’? against them. The area dealt with is approximately 70,000 square miles; from the plains of Jammu to the Mountains of Ladak and Baltistan, &c., is a far ery, and every variety of climate is met with, hence we naturally expect to meet with a large number of birds. Many migrate through Kashmir ~ in the spring, of these some stay to breed in Baltistan, Gilgit and Ladak whilst others doubtless go to far distant countries. Some few of the species entered are excessively rare, and this claim to entry depends on one or two occurrences only. We have still a good deal to learn regarding the breeding places of larks, finches, chats, thrushes and warblers. OrpDER: Passeres. FAM: Corvipz. (1). Corvus coraz.—The Raven, is common in Ladak and Baltistan, confined to high altitudes, A single specimen was shot at Chattasgul, Sinde Valley, during a severe winter, (4). Corvus corone.— The Carrion-crow, is resident in Kashmir, nowhere have plentiful, Eggs have been taken in May and June in the side valleys at alti- tudes varying from 8,000! to 10,000’. (4). Corvus macrorhynchus.—The Jungle-crow, is the commonest crow in Kashmir, &c¢, Breeds from March to May from 5,000’ to 9,000’. (5), Corvus frugilegus.—The Rook, is migratory, and is found on the banks of the Jhelum and on the Murree Road in winter only. Mr, Blunt shot two near the Anchai Lake in winter 1905. BIRDS OF KASHMIR AND JAMMU, 109 (6). Corvus corniv.—The Hooded-crow, is a rare visitor ; observed in Gilgit and near Domel, Jhelum Valley, A single specimen shot Febuary 1905 in Srinagar, ; (7). Corvus splendens—The Indian House-crow, is chiefly confined to- Srinagar in Kashmir, but, of course, is common in the low country. (9). Corvus monedula—The Jackdaw, is abundant ; eggs are found in the early spring, this bird ascends to about 8,000’, but, as a rule, breeds in the main valleys. (10), Pica rustica.—The Magpie, is excessively rare in Kashmir and the only record is from the Sinde Valley, Very common in Ladak and parts of Baltistan. Eggs taken May and June, ‘ (13). Urocissa flavirostris,—The Yellow-billed Blue Magpie, is common in Kashmir and the neighbouring districts, eggs found throughout May and June at elevations of about 6,000’ to 7,000’. (16). Denérocitta rufa.i—The Indian Tree-pie, is apparently confined to. Jammu, (18). Dendrocitia himalayensis—The Himalayan Tree-pie, is found in the Jhelum Valley, a solitary specimen recorded from Kashmir Vale Febuary 1905. (26). Garrulus bispecularis,—The Himalayan Jay, obtained at Allahabad, Sarai Poonch, at 8,000’ in April and September, Breeds in the outer ranges, (24). Garrulus lanceolatus.—The Black-throated Jay, Common in Poonch. and the outer ranges, (28). Nucifraga mubtipunctata—The Larger-spotted Nut Cracker, Common in the larger forests. Breeds from May to July at altitudes varying from 8,000” to 10,000’. (29). Graculus eremita—The Red-billed Chough, descends into the main valley in winter ; in summer breeds at about 12,000’,in Ladak, but at lower: elevations in Kashmir. Eggs taken on May 14th in Ladak; young birds on Gangong, 26th June. (39), Pyrrhocoraz alpinus—The Yellow-billed Chough, is found at 5,500! in winter but ascends to great altitudes in summer ; it is said to breed in inaccessible- cliffisin May and June, This bird is often caught in winter in traps set round carrion for foxes, &c. (31). Parus atriceps.—The Indian Grey Tit, is common. (84). Parus monticola—The Green-backed Tit, is common, (35). igithaliscus erythrocephalus,—The Red-headed Tit, appears to be con-- fined to moderate altitudes, when it is plentiful. (37). githaliscus leucogenys.—The White-cheeked Tit, is resident in Kash- mir and is found in Gilgit and Baltistan. (38). Agithaliscus niveigqularis—The White-throated Tit, israre. Three- were obtained in willow trees on February 19 at 6,000’ and one at 11,000’ on 25th August 1905, (40). Sylviparus medestus.x—The Yellow-browed Tit, recorded from Kash- mir and Kishtwar. 110 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XVII, (42). Machlolophus xanthogenys——The Yellow-cheeked Tit, not observed ~personally but is recorded. (44). Lophophanes melanolophus.——The Crested Black Tit, is a common bird ‘at about 7,000’. (47). Lophophanes rufinuchalis—The Simla Black Tit, is widely distributed cat various altitudes, (49). Lophophanes dichrous.—The Brown-crested Tit, I am very doubtful about the locality of a specimen said to have come from Kishtwar, Fam: CRATEROPODIDA. (76). Garrulax albigularis—The White-throated Laughing-Thrush, is recorded from Domel, Jhelum Valley Road, (80). Lanthocincla rujfigularis—The Rufous-chinned Laughing-Thrush, a ‘solitary specimen recorded from the Lolab, (82). Trochalopterum erythrocephalum.—The Red-headed Laughing-Thrush, is said to be found in Badrawar. (91). Trochalopterum simile—The Western Variegated Laughing-Thrush, is -widely distributed in the Kashmir side valleys, eggs found as late as 8th August 1904, (99). Trochalopterum lineatum.—The Himalayan Streaked Laughing-Thrush, ‘This bird is fairly common throughout \Kashmir ; constructs its nest amongst ‘bushes ; it is also found in Gilgit and Baltistan. (105). Argya caudata.—The Common Babbler, is found in the outer ranges. (110). Crateropus canorus.—The Jungle Babbler, is chiefly confined to the -Jumna Province but is found in the Jhelum Valley up to an altitude of about -4,000'. (116), Pomatorhinus schistéceps—The Slaty-headed Scimitar Babbler, doubiful. (129). Pomatorhinus erythrogenys—The Rusty-cheeked Scimitar Babbler, ‘specimens have been obtained from Tret below Murree, and a single bird within Kashmir territory from near Kohala. (139). Pyctorhis sinensis—The Yellow-eyed Babbler, found in Poonch and sis probably common in Jammu. (174). Stachyrhidopsis pyrrhops——The Red-billed Babbler, is found on the -outer ranges. (187). Mytophoneus temmincki.—The Himalayan Whistling-Thrush, found throughout Kashmir and neighbouring districts at various altitudes up to 12,000’, eggs are to be found in May and June at considerable elevations and in April at lower altitudes. (191). Larvivora brunnea.—The Indian Blue Chat, This bird breeds in Kashmir up to an altitude of about 8,000’ ; eggs obtained in June and July ; the -eggs are blue. (199). Hodgsonius pheuiewroides.—Hodgson’s Short-wing. Eggs found in the Liddar Valley in June generally at altitude about 8,000’, Eggs deep blue. (204), Lioptila capisirata——The Black-headed Sibia,a fairly common bird ‘but all our specimens are from the lower ranges bordering on the Plains. BIRDS OF KASHMIR AND JAMMU, 111 (226). Zosterops palpebrosa,—The Indian White-Hye, is numerous in Poonch and Jammu, less so in Kashmir Proper, breeds in April in Kashmir. (237). Pteruthius erythropterus—The Red-winged Shrike-Tit, is to be found on the Murree Road, (259). Leptopecile sophiw.—Stoliczka’s Warbler-Tit. Ihave never secured a specimen in Kashmir but this is a fairly common bird on the Shyok Ladak, and on the Indus, (260). Cephalopyrus flammiceps.—The Vire-cap, is plentiful, breeds in May and June at altitudes up to about 8,000’, perhaps higher. (269). Hypsipetes psaroides—The Himalayan Black Bulbul, common, (283). Molpastes intermedius.—The Punjab Red-vented Bulbul, is found in Poonch and Jammu. (284). Molpastes leucogenys.—The White-cheeked Bulbul, is very plentiful. FAM: SITTIDA, (316). Sitta cinnamomeiventris—The Cinnamon-ebellied Nuthatch, a fairly ‘common bird in Kashmir, Eggs taken at 7,000’ in May. (320). Sitta kashmirensis—Brooks’s Nuthatch, obtained on the Haji-pir, April 15th. (823). Sitta leucopsis,—The White-cheeked Nuthatch, is fairly common in Kashmir, Baltistan and Gilgit. Eggs taken at about 7,500’ in the Seddar Valley in May. Fam: DICRURIDA, (327). Dicrurus ater.—-The Black Drongo, This drongo ascends the hills to about 7,(00’ but generally nests not higher than at an altitude of about 6,000’. (328) Dicurus longicaudatus—The Indian Ashy Drongo, I have only observed this bird on the outer ranges. Fam : CERTHIIDA, (341). Certhia himalayana.—The Himalayan Tree-Creeper. Very plentiful at altitudes up to about 10,000’, Eggs taken in May, (342). Certhia hodgsoniimHodgson’s Tree-Creeper, This bird is found in Kashmir and Baltistan and in most parts of Kashmir at about 8,000’ up to the snows, (348), Tichodroma muraria.—The Wall-Creeper, is a winter visitor, some- times assumes the black feathers on the throat before migrating, but generally leaves as early as March. (352). Anorthura neglecta.—The Kashmir Wren, breeds at elevations of about 7,000’ to 10,000’ in May and June. A nest found at about 10,000! was under a pine log and was lined with feathers of the monal and musk deer hairs, FaM: REGULIDA, (358). Regulus cristatus—The Goldcrest, cannot be considered a common bird in Kashmir, &c., but is found widely distributed, A specimen was obtained on March 2nd, in the Vale at about 5,500’. 112 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XV/IT.. Fam: SYLVIIDZ, Mr. Stuart Baker kindly identified a number of the specimens, but as before- stated we have still much to learn regarding the breeding places of these birds, I am not at all confident of the list being complete. (363). Acrocephalus stentoreus.—The Indian Great Reed-Warbler, breeds in Kashmir generally in June, and is to be found on the lakes, after breeding is. sometimes met with in the side valleys but I have never found it later than October. (356). Acrocepralus dumetorum.—Blyth’s Reed-Warbler, is a summer visitor to the Kashmir Valley. (267). Acrocephalus agricola.—The Paddy-field Reed-Warbler. I have never found ‘the nest of this bird in Kashmir although my collectors have searched carefully. (369), Tribura major.—The Large-billed Bush-Warbler, found in Kashmir, Baltistan and in Ladak in summer, (871). Tribura thoracica.—The Spotted Bush-Warbler, recorded from Kashmir, (374), Orthotomus sutorius——The Indian Tailor-bird, found in Jammu Pro- vince but appears to be rare. (382). Franklinia gracilis—Franklin’s Wren-Warbler, I have seldom ob- tained this bird in Kashmir, (394). Hypolais rama.—Sykes’s Tree-Warbler, doubtful, (396). Hypolais caligata—The Booted T'ree-Warbler, migrates through Baltistan but appears to have been seldom secured. (398). Sylvia cinerea. —White-throated Warbler. (399). Sylvia jerdoniitThe Eastern Orphean-Warbler. I enter this on the strength of Fauna of India, Bird’s, page 396, Vol. 1. (401). Sylvia althea,—Hume’s Lesser White-throated Warbler. I cannot be sure of the correctness of the labelling, as the specimen I secured was marked “ Shot, Kargil 4th May 1903, eges taken.” (402). . Sylvia affinis—Indian Lesser White-throated Warbler, is a common bird in Kashmir in the summer where it breeds ; it is also found in Baltistan, (405), Phylloscopus affinis——Tickell’s Willow-Warbler, Breeds in Ladak at elevations up to 14,500’ and also in Kashmir in June, (406). Phyltloseopus tytleri—Tytler’s Willow-Warbler, summers in Kashmir. (407). Phylloscopus tristis—The Brown Willow-Warbler. The eggs of this bird were taken in Ladak at high altitudes on 11th June and on 17th July. (408). Phylloscopus indicus.—The Olivaceous Willcw-Warbler. (414), Phylloscopus pulcher—The Orange-barred Willow-Warbler. J am doubtful whether the single specimen was rightly labelled “ Kishtwar,”’ (415), Phylloscopus proregulus,—Pallas’s Willow-Warbler, A ccmmon bird in Kashmir, Eggs found in Kashmir, 9,000! on 27th June, (416). Phylloscopus subviridis——Brooks’s Willow-Warbler. I have not secured a specimen, BIRDS OF KASHMIR AND JAMMU, 113 (418). Phylloscopus hwmii—Hume’s Willow-Warbler, breeds in Kashmir in ‘the side valleys in May, June and July. (421). Acanthopneuste nitidus,—Green Willow-Warbler. (424). Acanthopneuste mognirostris—The Large-billed Willow-Warbler. I have a single clutch of eggs obtained in Dashgam ravine at 6,000’, This is apparently a rare bird in Eastern Kashmir, (428). Acanthopneuste occipitalis—The Large Crowned Willow- Warbler, breeds in Kashmir ai elevations of about 7,000’ to 8,000’ in June and July. (429). Acanthopneuste trochiloides—Blyth’s Crowned Willow-Warbler. I have not found this bird in Kashmir ; but asit occurs in Murree it is pretty ‘sure to be a summer visitor, (434), Cryptolopha wanthoschista,-—Hodgson’s Grey-headed Flycatcher War- bler, (450). Horornis pallidus.—The Pale Bush-Warbler, (455), LHoreites brunneifrons—The Rufous-capped Bush-Warbler. I have mo specimens from Kashmir of either this or the pale Bush-Warbler, but both are undoubtedly to be found. (458). Suya erinigera.—The Brown Hill-Warbler, common in Kashmir, (462). Prinia lepida.—The Streaked Wren-Warbler, found in the outer hills, mever observed in Kashmir Proper. (466). Prinia inornata.—The Indian Wren-Warbler. (To be continued.) 15 114 FIRST HINTS ON COLLECTING BUTTERFLIES (BEING & SUPPLEMENTARY PAPER TO THE ARTICLES ON THE COMMON BUTTERFLIES OF THE PLAINS OF INDIA), By lL, C, H. YOUNG, B.A,, F.2,8., ES. I have never tried to write an article or series of articles before in what is called a “popular” manner, and I am quite aware that these I am now pro-- ducing will have many faults from the popular point of view. Two have been pointed out tome by friendly critics of the first part which appeared in- the last number of the Journal. The first of these I am not at all inclined to admit, véz,, that I have given different names to certain insects to those which Indian collectors have been accustomed to for thirty years and more. Now these articles are not intended for people who have been collecting butterflies for thirty years, nor even for much shorier periods, but for beginners only, From this point of view, it is only necessary to give one name, and that the right one. In fact, it is imperative not to give more than one, as it would merely confuse the reader for whom the article is intended ; and an historicar disquisition, explaining how the latest modern research in the sometimes rather obscure works of early naturalists leads us to conclude that a particular name has precedence over its synonyms, would be quite out of place, and can be: found elsewhere, All I endeavour to do is to give a nomenclature which is. not likely to be upset in our time. The second criticism is amore reasonable one. That the series to be of real use to beginners should not merely teach them how to name their collec— tions, but also how to make the collections first ; and, with the permission of” the editors, I propose to give very briefly a few hints on collecting, Hints on collecting Butterflies, There are two ways of collecting butterflies—one is to catch them, the other to breed them from the egg or caterpillar, The advantage of the latter is: that you make sure of getting fresh specimens. On the other hand, very few of us in India have the leisure to do this properly, and most of us: must be content with collecting the perfect insects only, I will deal with this. process first. The first requisite isa net, There are apparently many differcnt kinds of nets on the market ; some evidently made expressly for beginuers, since no one of any experience would ever buy them. The strongest form is. made of thick steel wire with a lcop at one end, through which the other end fits, this latter being in the form of a screw and fitting into a metal socket at the- end of the stick or handle, On the other hand, this form is not very portable, and generally has to be made specially for you, The most practically service- able is made of cane with two joints in it, so that it can be folded up and put in the pocket, if necessary, the ends fitting into a Y, the long arm of which fits on to the handle, The important thing is that the net should be circular, The bag should be made of white or green leno, or any other colour, though, I think, these are the best, and are certainly the most easily procurable at short. FIRST HINTS ON COLLECTING BUTTERFLIES, Wie notice, Itshould be of such a length that you can reach the bottom comfortably with your hand, not pointed, nor tapering, nor square, but gradually rounded, It is best always to make one’s own nets, and it requires very little skill as a seamster or seamstress. If, instead of fastening the leno itself to the frame of the net, a top of calico is made, it will last much longer, The length of the stick or handle should be about that of an ordinary walk- ing stick—I generally prefer it rather shorter, It should be remembered that though with a long stick you have a longer reach you have a much more uncertain aim, There are two ways of catching an insect on the wing with a net. One is to hold it over your head and sweep Gownwards, bringing the net flat on the ground with the insect inside, but quite inaccessible. The other is to sweep sideways, and, having imprisoned the butterfly, to turn the wrist quickly, so that the bag of the net folds over the frame and closes the opening, I recommend the latter process, The first is bad for the net and necessitates kneeling on the ground, and holding up the end of the bag until the imprisoned insect chocses to fly to the top before you can get at him. Having caught the specimen, the question arises, what to do with it? Some people carry pins with them, and, having pinched the thorax of the butterfly through the net so as to render it more or less powerless—though, as a rule, rot actually killing it—pin it to the inside of their topies. Others carry a small cork-lined collecting box in their pockets to save their topies. Neither of these is to be recommended, If you try pinning an insect in the jungle when you are hot and dusty and with your hands possibly trembling with excitement (why should they not be ?), you will probably do it very badly ; pinching often spoils an insect, and is, in practice, rather cruel. Another way is to carry a killing bottle with you and inserting it frcm the bottom of the net, work it upwards till you are able to corner your fluttering prey in the mouth of it, and then fit the stopper in quickly. The disadvantages of this process are two, One is that, as soon as it is dead, the specimen starts shaking up and down in the bottle as you walk or run, and spoils itself, ‘Tle other is that in the case of closely allied species it is often impossible to be certain of their identity through the meshes of the net, and you may in this way kill a number of common insects you do not want, The method of avoiding all these difficulties is to carry a number of “ pill-boxes ’’ with glass bottoms of different sizes. ‘hese are readily procurable at any store where entomological apparatus is for sale, and cost, I believe, four a shilling at home, and properly cared for will lasta dozen years. Itrequires no great skill to “ box” the insect inside the net, and the glass bottom enables you to see what it is before killing it. They can in this way be carried hcme safely and put in the killing bottle at Ieisure. In boxing always have the end of the net uppermost, as a butterfiy when it finds itself surrounded by anything from which it wishes to escape, whether long grass or green leno, always flies upwards, 116 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XVII, The next requisite is a killing bottle, This can be obtained from any chemist, and is ordinarily made from cyanide of potassium, covered over to give a hard and dry surface with plaster of Paris. These bottles will sometimes “sweat’’ in the monscon, and, when this occurs, itis safest to get a new bottle at once, as adrop of the moisture on the wings of a dying insect will completely spoil it. A good bottle should kill a butterfly or, at any rate, render it insensible in a minute, and if it takes much longer, it is time to renew the poison both from considerations of humanity, and because the less they flutter about in the bottle the less likely they are to injure themselves as specimens, The insects become rather stiff when dead (though they are less so after twenty-four hours than after a longer or shorter period), Except during the monsoon, however, when they will always remain soft and pliant, it is best always to put the contents of the killing bottle into a relaxing tin for 12 hours before setting them. They should not be left much more than 12 hours in this climate or they will rot. A relaxing tinis very simply made. An old cigarette tin will do with a thick pad of folded blotting paper at the bottom thoroughly soaked in water. The specimens only require to be laid on the top of it. The next operation is setting, and for this purpose the collector must provide himself with a large store of the ordinary pin of commerce, a stock of two or three sizes of entomological pins, some thin strips of paper, and some setting boards. Before he can make or purchase his seiting boards he must decide whether he is going to set his specimens in the “ English ” or “ continental”? fashion, J had better explain these terms, The following. figure (Fig. 1) gives a sectional view of an ‘‘ English ” setting board :— ‘The shaded portion is cork, glued — a thin strip of deal. A is the groove into which the body of the insect is pinned, The result of setting an insect on a board of this shape is that it will stand very low on the pin ; that is, when placed in the cabinet, it will be practically touching the cork and, in con- sequence, be more avcessible to mites, grease or mould, or any other enemy that occasionally invades the cabinet, and further that there will be a great length of ugly pin above it, so that an “ English ” collection often looks as much a collection of pins as of anything else. Of course, you can have the boards specially made with a double thickness of cork, but even then the wings, having been bent ina curve to suit the rounded shape of the board, always have an untidy drooping appearance and look as though they had been taken off the setting board before they were dry. There is another drawback to English FIRST HINTS ON COLLECTING BUTTERFLIES, EG set specimens, When packed away in collecting cases they cannot ordinarily be made to overlip, and this is a very important point for Indian collectors, who generally wish to pack up their collections as closely as possible, to send home. The “continental”? setting board is flat, and is either made with a great thickness of cork, or in the manner JT am going to describe, The drawback to the “ continental, method,’’ pure and simple, is that continental entomological pins are too long for the depth of the drawers inthe ordinary English-made cabinet, and owing to their length the finer qualities are very apt to get bent, The important point, however, is to have at least half an inch of pin- protecting on the underside of the specimen, and personally I like to see as. little pin on the upperside as is practicable. The most preferable method is to use Nnglish pins and continental setting boards, In Fig, 2 is shown one end of the kind of setting board I mean. Is consists of two long strips of deal or other scft wood (AA) attached at the ends to legs such as (BB), (CC ) is a small A A projecting foot to the leg by 0 LEE LEE means of which the board may WH___U[_[ ye: slid into a groove in the Y setting case, A small space is left between the two strips (AA.)and on their underside a Fig. 2. strip of cork is glued across it. The body of the insect is placed in the spac: or groove between the (AA.) strips and its pin can pass right through the cork into the space below since the board is supported on two legs and the inseci can thus be set as high on the pin as the height of the legs (BB.). I do not think boards like these can be had readymade anywhere put the Society’s carpenter has made me two setting-cases on this principle quite as well finished as the English-made model shown to him for a very reasone able price and is doubtless open to further orders, The next requisite is entomological pins, There are only two makeis of whom I have any experience, viz., D, F. Tayler & Co, and Kirby, I will not giv> either the advertisement of a preference here but will only remark that for some reason—probably the terms of commission— dealers do not, as a rule, stock Tayler’s pins and if you want them you must write direct io the factciy in Birmingham, Kirby’s pins can be got from any dealer, Three different sizes will be all a beginner, who is eclleciing Luiie:{ es only, need purchase to start with, I would advise him also to purchase a pair of entomological forceps, He will probably find them a clumsy tool to start with but when once he is accustomed to them he will never think of handling an insect without them, Armed with all this furniture and having properly relaxed our specimen we will now proceed to set it, 118 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XVII, The first and most important operation of allis the pinning, Jf the rest of the setting is badly done it can always be relaxed and reset but if the insect is not pinned properly it will in 9 cases out of 10 be spoilt for alltime. The pin should be inserted exactly through the middle of the thorax and perpendicular to it and the utmost care must be taken that it comes out exactly in the middle ou ths underside, #.¢., exactly between the middle pair of legs. If this is not done the legs will probably be broken off and the wings are almost certain to be put out of joint in the process of stretchingthem. Ji is almost equally important that the insect should be pinned exactly in the middle of the groove of the setting board and that the pin should be put in straight and not leaning forward or back or to one side. Not more than at most a quarter of an mch of pin should show above the thorax, just enough to catch hold of with the forceps. Pins are ugly. Unless these two operations are performed success- fuily the rest of the setting is mere waste of time so far as any hope of turning out a decent specimen is concerned, The details of the process of stretching the wings on the boards will depend mainly on the attitude in which the insect died and are impossible to describe thoroughly, But supposing it has died with them closed above the body—the most common attitude for butterflies—take a strip of paper (E E in Fig, 3.), slide it between the wings, then put the forceps between them and press them open until you can get the strip (K F) flut and then pin it to the board at one end (D) (with the ordinary pin of commerce ; entomological pins will generally bend at once if you try to put them into any substance harder than cork). FIRST HINTS ON COLLECTING BUTTERFLIES. BY, Then take the other end of the strip in your fingers and hold it tight close to the board and gradually raise the wings to the required angle (as in Fig, 5) with the point ofa needle, taking care that the point of the needle only catches against the stronger veins and does not actually pass through the wing. Generally speaking if this cannot be done easily the insect is not sufficiently relaxed but, of course, practice is required, This done pin the other end of the -strip tightly. Except in the very small species a second strip is nearly always required to prevent the ends of the wings curling particularly in the case of ‘relaxed specimens. I have used the expression ‘‘ raise the wings to the required angle” ; the -only way to set specimens so that the whole collection will be homogeneous, all the specimens being set with the wings at the same angle is to have the dower or inner margins of the forewings at right angles to the body so that the points (fF F) inthe figure are in astraight line. Then raise the hindwings antil the pattern of the markings, if any, fit on to that of the forewings, In I suvpose by far the majority of butterflies there are bands or lines running continuously across both wings, There are a few, but very few cases where it is impossible to fit the pattern -of the hindwings on to that of the forewings if ihe latter are set at the angle described above (Papilio sarpedon is an instance in point) ; but it is worth- ~whiie sacrificing the pattern for the sake of haying the setting of the whole collection uniform, In butterflies the Iegs are not as a rule visible from above and the only things left to arrange are the antennze, These should be pinned wide open ‘so as to lie close along the costa of the forewings, If they project at all they are almost certain to get broken off when the specimens are packed away ¢closely in collecting cases or cabinets, The setting is now finished and the spécimen must be left to dry, This in the cold weather may take only 24 hours, Jn the monsoon, on the other hand, it may take a month and in a very wet season become almost impossible. It will probably be less disappointing in the end to put all one’s captures in the monsoon in papers at the time and relax and set them afterwards in the ‘cold weather, A drop of benzine on the insect will greatly assist the process of drying and does not injure the specimen in the least, It has the further advantage of -absorbing or partially absorbing the greasy matter in the body and preventing the mischieveus form of rot known as “ greasing” setting in afterwards. As soon as the specimen is dry the papers can be taken off and the insect put away in the cabinet or collecting box. People who have anywhere at home where they can send things to and any one there to look after them will be wise if they send their whole accumulations home eyery hot weather before the monsoon breaks, Permanent or semi-permanent residents in the country will probably prefer io